tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63706385567982978862024-03-04T20:25:23.044-08:00Sports ConversionSports, Fashion and Game AccessoriesGiovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-12887906617732057642009-09-08T22:03:00.000-07:002009-09-08T22:09:42.451-07:00Protein: A Hikers Best Friend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPaNpFa8OvN5ur2Nx3Plf_nvhubzMXmCkgWxJS2U48pGqFUkBPfrauTe8X4t3hA-c0guB0NSB3Zk-LR7HJbr1MzjolGuCnJIsfnP0lKn6nh1u8INCBERtSIPCs4-aUbzk-DOf4guJXMOp/s1600-h/protein.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPaNpFa8OvN5ur2Nx3Plf_nvhubzMXmCkgWxJS2U48pGqFUkBPfrauTe8X4t3hA-c0guB0NSB3Zk-LR7HJbr1MzjolGuCnJIsfnP0lKn6nh1u8INCBERtSIPCs4-aUbzk-DOf4guJXMOp/s320/protein.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379330426901707666" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><b style="font-family: times new roman;">Author:</b><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.1888articles.com/author-gerald-fitz-23025.html" class="CategoryLink">Gerald Fitz</a></span><br /><br />While it is true that carbohydrates provide for lasting energy; people often overlook the need for protein. In fact, protein can be the most valuable nutritional tool in a hiker’s toolkit, especially on the most difficult and rewarding backcountry trails.<br /><br />While carbohydrates provide energy that is sorely needed on a long calorie burning trek; protein is essential and often overlooked. While hiking you work out muscles over long periods of time. If carrying a pack you are also working out often overlooked (and under-exercised) muscles in your legs and back. The evidence of this is plain; your muscles get sore and tired, often in strange spots. The reason for this is that muscles degrade over time when used. Over the course of a long hike, muscles need the tools to repair themselves, and that is where protein comes in. Protein is the building block of muscle, and providing your body with a good source of protein can greatly reduce recovery times while on the trail.<br /><br />The most common source of protein for hikers comes in the form of food on the trail. However, it is important to pay special attention to what the snacks you are eating are giving you. Many “power” bars advertise their protein content, and can be a good source of protein. However, that protein often comes with lots of extra fat and sugars that aren’t going to provide the most stable trail diet. Beef Jerky can also be a good source of protein, but it comes with a heavy cost. Jerky dehydrates your body, and will increase your need to intake water in order to stay hydrated. Nuts and dehydrated berries are other common munchies on the trail that pack a similar need to drink extra water.<br /><br />One way of getting protein that is often overlooked is through dietary supplements. Because its dairy based, whey protein is easier to digest than soy protein making it perfect for the trail. Also, studies show that whey protein is more effective than soy based protein; which is often the protein that gets added to power bars. Since whey protein usually involves mixing powder with water; it is easy to get your protein while hydrating yourself. This makes whey protein a decent way to re-hydrate yourself rather than simply dehydrating yourself with salty nuts or jerky. And since whey protein isn’t packed with unnecessary fats or sugars, you’ll be able to incorporate it into a stable trail diet. For both of those reasons, whey protein can be an excellent way to get protein over a long hike; and protein is the hidden crux of a hiker’s nutritional needs on a long rewarding backcountry trail. </div><p style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: italic;" class="abt_au_htext"><span style="font-size:85%;">About Author: For more info on whey protein, visit Top Form Supplements.</span></p> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;"><span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Related Sites:</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"><a href="http://filipinastudes.blogspot.com/">Naked Pinay Views</a>,</span> <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://yourfriendsremark.blogspot.com/">Friendly Remarks</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); 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height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/c962b047-7d2b-42c6-833f-48d32c545003/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=c962b047-7d2b-42c6-833f-48d32c545003" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related more-info pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-75701546945110600772009-09-08T21:51:00.000-07:002009-09-08T22:03:39.307-07:00Internet Gaming Tips for Newbies<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: right; display: block; width: 170px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66327609@N00/134949448"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/134949448_1e6c2c05d6_m.jpg" alt="Rihanna Xbox Live Game With Fame" style="border: medium none ; display: block;" height="240" width="160" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution"></span></p> <div style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: italic;" class="author"><span style="font-size:85%;">By: Paul Wilson</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">Internet games use the <a href="http://onlineshopster.blogspot.com">cyber world</a> technology for playing. Games are extremely popular and constantly evolving. </span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: arial;"> There are: </span></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="indent20"> <ul><li>Games played using e-mail.<p> </p></li><li>Games played on a browser window by using a web address.<p> </p></li><li>Games played using Internet Relay Chat, Telenet, MUD client, or a Web based forum.<p> </p></li><li>Games that are graphic need stand-alone software that permits players to play with or against one another using an Internet connection.<p> </p></li></ul> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The first game, MUD, was developed in 1978, and the market has burgeoned since then.</span><br /> <br /> <strong style="font-family: arial;">To play, one needs:</strong><br /> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="indent20"> <ul><li>A reliable Internet connection.<p> </p></li><li>A personal computer or game console.<p> </p></li><li>Selected software required by specific games.<p> </p></li></ul> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> One can play simple board games like scrabble, or bingo, or games like poker, mahjong, and pool. Another popular category is simulation games-these imitate real-life situations and cover aspects like combat, city planning, strategies, as well as flight simulation. </span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: arial;"> For serious gaming the computer performance must be optimized. This can be done by: </span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="indent20"> <ul><li>Running the disk defragmenter and organizing the computer files. This should ideally be done once a month at least.<p> </p></li><li>Correct folder and file errors by using scandisk---use once a week and the computer will give trouble free performance.<p> </p></li><li>Clean your hard drives-get rid of Internet files, temporary files, as well as files in the trash/recycle bin. Clear the cache and uninstall programs that are not in everyday use.<p> </p></li><li>Update the operating system software. Download any new security patches. Keep video drivers updated.<p> </p></li><li>Clear space on the hard drive---store files on a back up system.<p> </p></li><li>Clear any spyware you have inherited from websites.<p> </p></li><li>Minimize number of programs running-when playing a graphic intensive game if there are too many programs running simultaneously the graphics will become choppy and game will be slow.<p> </p></li><li>Delete add on game files-wall papers and other paraphernalia will just clutter the computer.<p> </p></li><li>Run an anti-virus program regularly but disable it when you are loading/playing games. Antivirus programs slow down games.<p> </p></li><li>Always shut down the computer properly.<p> </p></li></ul> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The Internet allows gamers to compete with people across oceans, on the other side of the world and anywhere in the universe. Some use PCs while others use consoles. What you use is a <a href="http://blogfinale.blogspot.com">personal choice</a> and depends on issues like costs and so on.</span><br /> <br /> <strong style="font-family: arial;">Before you buy a game you must:</strong><br /> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="indent20"> <ul><li>Consider "system requirements" - some games can run on systems that are not exact others need specific hardware.<p> </p></li><li>Find out if the game is single player or multi-player. Many games need the Internet-and, the broadband connection is more efficient than the dial-up connection. Many like Xbox Live only work on a broadband connection.<p> </p></li><li>Find out if the game can be played using a mouse/keyboard or whether it will need a full-featured joy stick.<p> </p></li></ul> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Be wise and try a demo before making an actual purchase. Playing a demo benefits the player as well as game developer. Many <a href="http://onlineshopster.blogspot.com">online games</a> offer free trial periods - beta testing is a great <a href="http://amusdisc.blogspot.com">opportunity to find out</a> if the game suits your taste as well as pockets.</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: arial;"> Do your research thoroughly-usually there are several games competing for players within a genre. Read game reviews before taking the final step. </span></div><p style="font-family: times new roman; text-align: justify; font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Author Bio</strong>: Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for <a href="http://www.1888freeonlinegames.com/" target="_blank">www.1888FreeOnlineGames.com</a>, the premier website to play thousands of free online games including arcade games, action games, card games, flash games, strategy games, puzzle games and more. He also freelances for the premier Computer Article Submission Directory Site www.1888Articles.com/computer-articles-11.html </span></p><fieldset class="zemanta-related"><legend class="zemanta-related-title">Related articles<br /></legend><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.businesspundit.com/monopoly-city-streets-blends-board-games-with-social-media/">Monopoly City Streets Blends Board Games with Social Media</a> (businesspundit.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://pc.ign.com/articles/102/1020339p1.html?referer=zemanta">Outspark To Launch New Online Casual Rhythm, Action and Dancing Game in North America</a> (pc.ign.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://filipinastudes.blogspot.com">Pinays Online</a> (filipinastudes.blogspot.com)<br /></li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/996/996791p1.html?referer=zemanta">Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers Review</a> (xboxlive.ign.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://yourfriendsremark.blogspot.com">Friendly Games</a> (yourfriendsremark.blogspot.com)<br /></li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.destructoid.com/hands-on-critter-crunch-psn--147880.phtml">Hands-on: Critter Crunch (PSN)</a> (destructoid.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/08/exploring-online-play-film-making-with-uncharted-2.ars">Exploring online play, film-making with Uncharted 2</a> (arstechnica.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://danielgreenz.blogspot.com">Fashionably Green</a> (danielgreenz.blogspot.com)<br /></li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.jaysdad.com/2009/05/18/things-you-should-know-about-online-cooking-games/">Things You Should Know about Online Cooking Games</a> (jaysdad.com)</li></ul></fieldset> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/f0d9e4a9-c638-4bf0-b145-73b009eac70e/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=f0d9e4a9-c638-4bf0-b145-73b009eac70e" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related more-info pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-90847996644605702672009-08-22T05:42:00.000-07:002009-08-22T05:58:15.087-07:00<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">!-- ctxt_ad_partner = "2737249070"; ctxt_ad_section = ""; ctxt_ad_bg = ""; ctxt_ad_width = 300; ctxt_ad_height = 250; ctxt_ad_bc = "FFFFFF"; ctxt_ad_cc = "FFFFFF"; ctxt_ad_lc = "0000FF"; ctxt_ad_tc = "000000"; ctxt_ad_uc = "999999"; // --> </script><script language="JavaScript" src="http://ypn-js.overture.com/partner/js/ypn.js"></script><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Fernando/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="articletext">Beach volleyball is a great impromptu game. Almost anywhere that there is sand and a net; groups of <a href="http://yourfriendsremark.blogspot.com">friends, acquaintances, and sometimes even strangers</a> will gather for a few rounds of beach volleyball. A playful game of beach volleyball doesn’t have to be too strenuous, so it is easy to have teams with people of all different ages and with mixed levels of fitness. This makes beach volleyball an ideal family game for a lively summer afternoon. <img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Fernando/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />Of course, beach volleyball can be also be a very strenuous game in a<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75CSKU9DqYpNWDkw5fy1kY51gTTs_lkjWi4tHtTlg9nenpf0s20H2rI92DXQHi1sxHY6AOfo9TqdCPvO1Qpch8PIXetnC_4FscVKzMR5KW8YpGf63Zxa3WfKr06Cn04o4nBLFkIS8Qogg/s1600-h/BeachVolleyball_450x300.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75CSKU9DqYpNWDkw5fy1kY51gTTs_lkjWi4tHtTlg9nenpf0s20H2rI92DXQHi1sxHY6AOfo9TqdCPvO1Qpch8PIXetnC_4FscVKzMR5KW8YpGf63Zxa3WfKr06Cn04o4nBLFkIS8Qogg/s320/BeachVolleyball_450x300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372770385432288994" border="0" /></a> competitive setting. When serious athletes get together for a beach volleyball tournament, the ball flies through the air fast and viciously.<br /><br />To play beach volleyball, you only need a minimum of two people per team for a total of four players. However, the less experienced and skilled the players are, the more people you will probably want to have on each team in order to keep the ball in the air. The more players that are involved, the less ground each player will be responsible for covering. A game with just a few participants is likely to be quite a workout as everybody scrambles across the sand to reach the ball; whereas in a game with a large team different players can concentrate on their own areas of the sand, enabling them to rest a bit when the ball is elsewhere. The fact that beach volleyball can be a fun, low-key game for <a href="http://yourfriendsremark.blogspot.com">a friendly crowd</a> of casual players or a serious endeavor with a quartet of accomplished athletes makes it one of the most versatile sports.<br /><br />The rules of beach volleyball are the same as the rules for any form of volleyball, but play on the sand tends to be a bit different than play on a court. It is much more difficult to move quickly on sand than it is on most surfaces, so play is generally slower than in court volleyball. To train for beach volleyball, athletes must spend a lot of time developing their lower body strength so they can move quickly and accurately across the ground despite the friction and resistance of the sand. While powerful legs are an important part of successful volleyball play, the ability to jump high and hard and land without injury are substantially more vital in beach volleyball than in court volleyball.<br /><br />Even experienced court players often don’t anticipate how difficult it will be to run and jump on sand, so volleyball players who are new to the beach often sustain injuries because they misjudged how much resistance the sand would give them. Skinned knees and elbows are par for the course among players at all levels of the game, especially because a player often forgets to protect him or herself when diving for the ball in the heat of the game.</p><p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-align: justify;" class="" articletext=""><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.sportsarticlelibrary.com/">Article Source</a>: http://www.sportsarticlelibrary.com</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-align: justify;" class="articletext"> </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="articletext"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > Gray Rollins is a featured writer for VolleyballAdvice.com. To learn more about <a href="http://www.volleyballadvice.com/beach/" target="_blank">beach volleyball</a><a href="http://www.volleyballadvice.com/howtoplayvolleyball/" target="_blank">how to play volleyball</a>, visit us.</span><br /></p><fieldset class="zemanta-related"><legend class="zemanta-related-title">Related articles</legend><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.pinkisthenewblog.com/2009/08/ballin-at-the-beach/">Ballin' At The Beach</a> (pinkisthenewblog.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story%3Fid%3D4385395%26campaign%3Drss%26source%3DOLYHeadlines&a=6790125&rid=05b44122-a275-48e8-bdd1-1c738a545c65&e=0542aff57f6a3e38be9a7a73e6d5ed27">Kerri Walsh loses in beach volleyball return</a> (sports.espn.go.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/2009/08/02/how-facebook-spikes-beach-volleyball/31403/">How Facebook spikes beach volleyball</a> (lansner.freedomblogging.com)</li></ul></fieldset> <br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Play around these sites also:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"><a href="http://filipinastudes.blogspot.com/">Naked Pinay Views</a>,</span> <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://yourfriendsremark.blogspot.com/">Friendly Remarks</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://blogfinale.blogspot.com/">Money Talk</a><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://blogfinale.blogspot.com/">s</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://marcnand.wordpress.com/">Marc Nand's Blog</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://noddingnanding.livejournal.com/">Nodding Nanding's Journal</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">, </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://amusdisc.blogspot.com/">Amusing Disclosur</a><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://amusdisc.blogspot.com/">e</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://cybertwixt.blogspot.com/">Cyber Tweaks</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://fernmarc.page.tl/">PC Operatis</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://bytamini.blog.com/">Bytamin I</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://coolgizmodgets.blogspot.com/">Cool Gizmodgets</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://onlineshopster.blogspot.com/"> Online Shopster</a></span></span></span></span><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/05b44122-a275-48e8-bdd1-1c738a545c65/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=05b44122-a275-48e8-bdd1-1c738a545c65" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-87217569752582581042009-07-26T04:38:00.000-07:002009-07-26T05:01:24.231-07:00Fashion and Sports Commingled at the Olympics<div class="post-body entry-content"><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSBUoqLJFGWxEJxD0PgvlpDKNbdtNesu_chuUq6V02F1HoTvD5EOWNK4hjOTH_7saRidAd0eA9sv4qQLBtDi0NFtDOahmMOb_IeF85SeUw9IbFmID_gXXrFElPD3bVZ0Cgy6y2L-8-ZF8/s1600-h/Fashio.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 88px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSBUoqLJFGWxEJxD0PgvlpDKNbdtNesu_chuUq6V02F1HoTvD5EOWNK4hjOTH_7saRidAd0eA9sv4qQLBtDi0NFtDOahmMOb_IeF85SeUw9IbFmID_gXXrFElPD3bVZ0Cgy6y2L-8-ZF8/s400/Fashio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238298614283187186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">The euphoria of Olympic victories has not only slithered into the thumping heartbeats of athletes and coaches but has also crept into the steady admiration of fans, supporters, enthusiasts and <a href="http://onlineshopster.blogspot.com/">viewers worldwide</a>. The Beijing Olympics is one event that everyone, in some way, has creatively identified with. The global sporting extravaganza brought out drawn awareness in people not normally predisposed to national pride and levels of sporting interest. The fact is that Olympic fever has a habit of <a href="http://amusdisc.blogspot.com/">creeping up</a> in point-up corners and one such bend is the fashion world.</span><br /><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-2"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">International sports events, just like the Olympics, offered the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://blogfinale.blogspot.com/">best opportunity</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> for visibility. The </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://yourfriendsremark.blogspot.com/">collaboration</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> between fashion and sports, with joint ventures between athletes and labels other than Nike, Adidas, Converse, Puma, Asics, Reebok, Speedo, Diadora, Umbro, Fila, Spandex, and New Balance is nothing new. Fashion has the freedom of creativity, while sportswear has the knowledge of the best fabrics to make items functional. The upshot is greater sports awareness and participation, more </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://yourfriendsremark.blogspot.com/">creative expression</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and enthusiasm, </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://onlineshopster.blogspot.com/">quality training accessories</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and materials, enhanced pride and glory in achievements, as well as better </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://blogfinale.blogspot.com/">opportunities for business</a><span style="font-family:arial;">, entrepreneurship and employment. It has become a global mission for sports and fashion to come together to do something good, despite the political drama surrounding the games.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">For one, Beijing Olympics showed the scope of these two worlds’ commingling in a number of guises, illustrating how far-reaching their </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://yourfriendsremark.blogspot.com/">mutual influence</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> really is. From the realms of high fashion to the mainstream, </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://danielgreenz.blogspot.com/">fashion and sports</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> have far more in common than you might assume. The relationship between contemporary fashion and global sportswear brands have been inspired by street style and have been working in closer collaboration in recent years. The link between fashion and sport is undeniable, even the fashion heavyweights such as Ralph Lauren, Polo, Lacoste, and Fred Perry have history in sporting activities of various types. If you think fashion and sport are unlikely teammates, Beijing Olympics Opening doubles as the sportiest catwalk on earth, the wisdom being that, in appealing to a huge, new audience, sports brand’s own label would reap the benefits. The link is even more noticeable in the street fashion scene with dominant sport's companies like Adidas and Nike pretty much owning the game with vintage re-releases and limited editions.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">There’s no excuse for poor shapes and bad colors, they don’t make you run faster. Designing sportswear perceives no compromise; it should keep pushing till it gets the best results – just like Olympic athletes. What the athletes wear may not be quite as important as how fast they will run, but, with an unprecedented worldwide audience of more than four billion viewers, that’s a huge amount of brand exposure. Today, fashion needs sport and sport needs fashion. In an increasingly casual world, how many people wear couture? But the sportswear giants now face the opposite challenge: over-distribution has threatened to make their garments too ubiquitous – thus their need for an injection of style savvy. When you’re working out, you don’t have to look like rubbish. Fashion keeps the true sports performance there and complements its needs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Fashion sense has played a role in sportswear today. </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://filipinastudes.blogspot.com/">Women athletes</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and delegates at the Beijing Olympics generally showed national pride in the modern or unique print. American Olympic team looked sporty and sophisticated, the image that they would like to </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://amusdisc.blogspot.com/">voice out</a><span style="font-family:arial;">. Canada flashed modern sensuality. It’s true that Summer Olympics are all about running harder, jumping higher and swimming faster, but looking better is important, too. The business target is making sportswear fashionable as well as </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://yourfriendsremark.blogspot.com/">performance-friendly</a><span style="font-family:arial;">. Athleticism was not the only one on display at the Olympics. Outstanding personal, national and international qualities were carried on display from the bleachers to TV screens and newsprints around the world. Fashion in Sports kicks off the complexities in human undertakings into a more tangible, descriptive and gainful level.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Assuming you're not head to toe in made-to-order outfit and a pair of wingtips it's an almost certainty that you're wearing some kind of sportswear, unless of course you're reading this article </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://filipinastudes.blogspot.com/">naked</a><span style="font-family:arial;">. Check out the slideshow below and see for yourself the extent of sporty fashion at the 2008 Olympics:</span><br /></div><br /><div style="width: 425px; text-align: left;" id="__ss_555976"><a style="margin: 12px 0pt 3px; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; display: block; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/cathina/fashion-and-the-olympics-presentation?src=embed" title="Fashion And The Olympics">Fashion And The Olympics</a><object style="margin: 0px;" width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=fashion-and-the-olympics-1218771477148656-8&stripped_title=fashion-and-the-olympics-presentation"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=fashion-and-the-olympics-1218771477148656-8&stripped_title=fashion-and-the-olympics-presentation" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,arial; height: 26px; padding-top: 2px;">View SlideShare <a style="text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/cathina/fashion-and-the-olympics-presentation?src=embed" title="View Fashion And The Olympics on SlideShare">presentation</a> or <a style="text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/upload?src=embed">Upload</a> your own. (tags: <a style="text-decoration: underline;" href="http://slideshare.net/tag/olympics">olympics</a> <a style="text-decoration: underline;" href="http://slideshare.net/tag/fashion">fashion</a>)</div></div><span class="post-icons"><span class="item-control blog-admin pid-1390269641"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6370638556798297886&postID=5367750751523654034" title="Edit Post"></a></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span>Sports fashion Links:<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span><a href="http://mizunoz.blogspot.com/">Mizuno</a>, </span></span></span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" href="http://calvinkleinz.blogspot.com/">Calvin Klein</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">, </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" href="http://mynikez.blogspot.com/">Nike</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">, </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" href="http://moschinoz.blogspot.com/">Moschino</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">, </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" href="http://myadidasz.blogspot.com/">Adidas</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span><a href="http://mypumaz.blogspot.co/">Puma</a>, </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span><a href="http://conversekidsz.blogspot.com/">Converse</a>, </span></span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" href="http://dickiesz.blogspot.com/">Dickies</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">,</span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" href="http://myskechersz.blogspot.com/"> </a><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" href="http://myskechersz.blogspot.com/">Skecher</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">, </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" href="http://dknyz.blogspot.com/">DKNY</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-style: italic;"><span><a href="http://emericaz.blogspot.com/">Emerica</a>, </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span><a href="http://kaylandz.blogspot.com/">Kayland</a>, <a href="http://misssixtyz.blogspot.com/">Miss Sixty</a>, <a href="http://umikidsz.blogspot.co/">Umi Kid</a><a href="http://umikidsz.blogspot.co/">s</a>, <a href="http://tommybahamaz.blogspot.com/">Tommy</a>, <a href="http://weeboxkidsz.blogspot.com/">Wee Box</a>, <a href="http://onexz.blogspot.com/">Onex</a>, <a href="http://olukaiz.blogspot.com/">Olukai</a>, <a href="http://flyflotz.blogspot.com/">FlyFlot</a>,<a href="http://fratelliz.blogspot.com/"> Fratelli</a>, <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://gravatiz.blogspot.com/">Gravati</a>, <a href="http://danielgreenz.blogspot.co/">Daniel Green</a>, <a href="http://jumpingjacksz.blogspot.com/">Jumping Jack</a>, <a href="http://yellowboxz.blogspot.com/">Yellow Box</a>, <a href="http://ninewestz.blogspot.com/">Nine West</a>, <a href="http://tatamiz.blogspot.com/">Tatami</a>, <a href="http://coclicoz.blogspot.com/">Coclico</a>, , <a href="http://viaspigaz.blogspot.com/">Via Spiga</a>, <a href="http://naturalizerz.blogspot.com/">Naturalizer</a>, <a href="http://eccogolf.blogspot.com/">Ecco Golf</a><br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;"><span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">DON'T FAIL TO SEE:</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"><a href="http://filipinastudes.blogspot.com/">Naked Pinay Views</a>,</span> <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://yourfriendsremark.blogspot.com/">Friendly Remarks</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://blogfinale.blogspot.com/">Money Talk</a><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://blogfinale.blogspot.com/">s</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://marcnand.wordpress.com/">Marc Nand's Blog</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://noddingnanding.livejournal.com/">Nodding Nanding's Journal</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">, </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://amusdisc.blogspot.com/">Amusing Disclosur</a><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://amusdisc.blogspot.com/">e</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://cybertwixt.blogspot.com/">Cyber Tweaks</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://fernmarc.page.tl/">PC Operatis</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://bytamini.blog.com/">Bytamin I</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://coolgizmodgets.blogspot.com/">Cool Gizmodgets</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> , </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://onlineshopster.blogspot.com/"> Online Shopster</a><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></span> </div> </div> <fieldset class="zemanta-related"><legend class="zemanta-related-title">Related articles<br /></legend><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.shoppingblog.com/cgi-bin/sblog.pl?sblog=7020919"> Polo Ralph Lauren Signs Deal For 2010, 2012 U.S. Olympic Outifts </a> (shoppingblog.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//www.canada.com/Winter%2Bsummer%2Bsupport%2Bgroups%2Bmerge/1685860/story.html&a=5536010&rid=9c41f010-92fb-47b0-9acf-2a5790bc536c&e=aefe6550c0fffb771eb1368c83198607"> Winter, summer support groups merge </a> (canada.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jul/26/olympics-brabants-hoy-ayton-webb&a=6464440&rid=9c41f010-92fb-47b0-9acf-2a5790bc536c&e=0cb2e455dc23f2bbf84f7d4e3a6296e4"> What happened next </a> (guardian.co.uk)</li></ul></fieldset> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/22f759af-55ab-4683-9d01-f453b2e5ffff/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=22f759af-55ab-4683-9d01-f453b2e5ffff" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-53677507515236540342008-08-24T18:18:00.000-07:002008-08-24T20:56:08.279-07:00Sporty Fashion at the Olympics<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSBUoqLJFGWxEJxD0PgvlpDKNbdtNesu_chuUq6V02F1HoTvD5EOWNK4hjOTH_7saRidAd0eA9sv4qQLBtDi0NFtDOahmMOb_IeF85SeUw9IbFmID_gXXrFElPD3bVZ0Cgy6y2L-8-ZF8/s1600-h/Fashio.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 88px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSBUoqLJFGWxEJxD0PgvlpDKNbdtNesu_chuUq6V02F1HoTvD5EOWNK4hjOTH_7saRidAd0eA9sv4qQLBtDi0NFtDOahmMOb_IeF85SeUw9IbFmID_gXXrFElPD3bVZ0Cgy6y2L-8-ZF8/s400/Fashio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238298614283187186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The euphoria of recent Olympic victories has not only slithered into the thumping heartbeats of athletes and coaches but has also crept into the steady admiration of fans, supporters, enthusiasts and viewers worldwide. The Beijing Olympics is an event that everyone, in some way, has creatively identified with. The global sporting extravaganza brought out drawn awareness in people not normally predisposed to national pride and levels of sporting interest. The fact is that Olympic fever has a habit of creeping up in point-up corners and one such bend is the fashion world.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><br />Olympics 2008 offered the best opportunity for visibility. The collaboration between fashion and sports, with joint ventures between athletes and labels other than Nike, Adidas, Converse, Puma, Asics, Reebok, Speedo, Diadora, Umbro, Fila, Spandex, and New Balance is nothing new. Fashion has the freedom of creativity, while sportswear has the knowledge of the best fabrics to make items functional. The upshot is greater sports awareness and participation, more creative expression and enthusiasm, quality training accessories and materials, enhanced pride and glory in achievements, as well as better opportunities for business, entrepreneurship and employment. It has become a global mission for sports and fashion to come together to do something good, despite the political drama surrounding the games.<br /><br />Beijing Olympics showed the scope of these two worlds’ commingling in a number of guises, illustrating how far-reaching their mutual influence really is. From the realms of high fashion to the mainstream, fashion and sports have far more in common than you might assume. The relationship between contemporary fashion and global sportswear brands have been inspired by street style and have been working in closer collaboration in recent years. The link between fashion and sport is undeniable, even the fashion heavyweights such as Ralph Lauren, Polo, Lacoste, and Fred Perry have history in sporting activities of various types. If you think fashion and sport are unlikely teammates, Beijing Olympics Opening doubles as the sportiest catwalk on earth, the wisdom being that, in appealing to a huge, new audience, sports brand’s own label would reap the benefits. The link is even more noticeable in the street fashion scene with dominant sport's companies like Adidas and Nike pretty much owning the game with vintage re-releases and limited editions.<br /><br />There’s no excuse for poor shapes and bad colors, they don’t make you run faster. Designing sportswear perceives no compromise; it should keep pushing till it gets the best results – just like Olympic athletes. What the athletes wear may not be quite as important as how fast they will run, but, with an unprecedented worldwide audience of more than four billion viewers, that’s a huge amount of brand exposure. Today, fashion needs sport and sport needs fashion. In an increasingly casual world, how many people wear couture? But the sportswear giants now face the opposite challenge: over-distribution has threatened to make their garments too ubiquitous – thus their need for an injection of style savvy. When you’re working out, you don’t have to look like rubbish. Fashion keeps the true sports performance there and complements its needs.<br /><br />Fashion sense has played a role in sportswear today. Women athletes and delegates at the Beijing Olympics generally showed national pride in the modern or unique print. American Olympic team looked sporty and sophisticated, the image that they would like to voice out. Canada flashed modern sensuality. It’s true that Summer Olympics are all about running harder, jumping higher and swimming faster, but looking better is important, too. The business target is making sportswear fashionable as well as performance-friendly. Athleticism was not the only one on display at the Olympics. Outstanding personal, national and international qualities were carried on display from the bleachers to TV screens and newsprints around the world. Fashion in Sports kicks off the complexities in human undertakings into a more tangible, descriptive and gainful level.<br /><br />Assuming you're not head to toe in made-to-order outfit and a pair of wingtips it's an almost certainty that you're wearing some kind of sportswear, unless of course you're reading this article naked. Check out the slideshow below and see for yourself the extent of sporty fashion at the 2008 Olympics:<br /><br /><div style="width: 425px; text-align: left;" id="__ss_555976"><a style="margin: 12px 0pt 3px; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; display: block; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/cathina/fashion-and-the-olympics-presentation?src=embed" title="Fashion And The Olympics">Fashion And The Olympics</a><object style="margin: 0px;" width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=fashion-and-the-olympics-1218771477148656-8&stripped_title=fashion-and-the-olympics-presentation"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=fashion-and-the-olympics-1218771477148656-8&stripped_title=fashion-and-the-olympics-presentation" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,arial; height: 26px; padding-top: 2px;">View SlideShare <a style="text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/cathina/fashion-and-the-olympics-presentation?src=embed" title="View Fashion And The Olympics on SlideShare">presentation</a> or <a style="text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/upload?src=embed">Upload</a> your own. (tags: <a style="text-decoration: underline;" href="http://slideshare.net/tag/olympics">olympics</a> <a style="text-decoration: underline;" href="http://slideshare.net/tag/fashion">fashion</a>)</div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-1116009767031242472008-08-17T03:45:00.000-07:002008-08-17T03:54:27.668-07:00GPS Insight: the best tracking system that offers much more<div style="text-align: justify;">Managing successfully a vehicle-based business requires close monitoring. One should regularly verify to ensure that his business is operating efficiently and to the required standards. Equipments, activities, persons and service locations should be carefully checked in order that essential services are delivered within the shortest latency from unexpected obstructions. However, these intentions and processes remain intricately difficult to sustain even with popular communication facilities and this is especially so with service and trucking companies (long haul trucking, delivery vehicles, sales forces, HVAC, roofing, plumbing, construction, etc). Now, this uncertainty can be addressed with a more precise data-gathering technology <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwmTEnP7Dq4KWx5PZ0W8WR9g7QLMI2m4Om3IRz2KhjivEs5JoQuJTmjf8tEe6GmpmOhovJ4uh4YhCgXg8oQ2uGQwmcFcMqcZFauX5Gbo_m9HnVhio0V_U8cesMbSuTfyooQbl1oah8DRe/s1600-h/GPS0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwmTEnP7Dq4KWx5PZ0W8WR9g7QLMI2m4Om3IRz2KhjivEs5JoQuJTmjf8tEe6GmpmOhovJ4uh4YhCgXg8oQ2uGQwmcFcMqcZFauX5Gbo_m9HnVhio0V_U8cesMbSuTfyooQbl1oah8DRe/s320/GPS0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235438003178199714" border="0" /></a>that is universally encompassing. You can now closely and even remotely monitor your business operations and eventually effect cost-effective and sound management decisions based on accurate and reliable data. 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The number of problems associated with the routing and dispatch of commercial vehicles is considerably reduced or eradicated with the GPS assistance.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">With a <span style="font-style: italic;">GPS tracking device</span>, you can use GPS to establish the precise location of a vehicle, person, or other asset to which it is attached and to record the position of the asset at regular intervals. The recorded location data can be stored within the tracking unit, or it may be transmitted to a central location data base, or internet-connected computer, using a cellular (GPRS), radio, or satellite modem set in the unit. This allows the asset's location to be displayed against a map backdrop either in real-time or in post analysis, using customized software. </span><br /><br />With your service or trucking business now on focus, <a href="http://www.gpsinsight.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">GPS Insight Vehicle Tracking System</span></a>, a hardware and web-software vehicle-tracking product, pooled together GPS, wireless networks (AT&T/T-Mobile), internet access and Google Earth to create at your convenience, detailed reports on vehicle locations, driver activities and driving habits. <span style="font-style: italic;">GPS Insight</span> draws together some modern advances in 3D and satellite mapping with real-time updates in a Web-based configuration to generate reports on trip and stop times, as well as their averages and variances, which sustain operational scrutiny/exploration. Additional reports can also be generated quantifying who is speeding, how long vehicles are used during the day, vs. payroll hours, when vehicles are used outside of regular business hours, whether or not the prearranged route is taken, how many miles/hours are used-up driving in each state, etc.<br /><br />It is really quite difficult to accurately monitor your business to success, but with <span style="font-style: italic;">GPS Insight </span>you can rest with real-time assurance. Your purchase of such an avant-garde product also builds a gainful partnership with <span style="font-style: italic;">GPS Insight</span>. You will be equipped with the finest and most accurate tool to gear up your business, whether you are working with vehicles or working in the field to make business happen. <span style="font-style: italic;">GPS Insight</span> provides for synchronization and operational efficiency because accuracy and timing are essential to every economic activity everywhere. Moreover, expansions on complimentary data warehousing and data mining service are underway to facilitate clients’ filtering of relevant data. <span style="font-style: italic;">GPS Insight</span> reduces uncertainty on many quantities efficiently; it qualifies as a very practical measurement tool and thus, renders this vehicle-tracking mechanism absolutely necessary for your vehicle-based business.<br /><br />With your convenience as the top priority, the <span style="font-style: italic;">GPS Insight </span>website comes very friendly with its online offer of vehicle-tracking product which are equally friendly and easy to use. <a href="http://support.gpsinsight.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">GPS Insight support wiki for customers</span></a> provides support information, helpful tips, and general information about the GPS Insight product. 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The <a href="http://www.gpsinsight.com/blog"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Blog for GPS vehicle tracking</span></a> provides detailed illustrations, feedback, reports and other relevant specifics to keep you on track and well-informed. Live demos can be gladly arranged for you in their offices, at your location, or via WebEx presentations.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">GPS Insight</span> as a fast evolving product, takes input and advice from customers to extend further the capabilities and functions of the product and its website which is being updated regularly. All of these requirements and enhancements, combined with the best in modern technology and 3D mapping, are what makes <span style="font-style: italic;">GPS Insight</span> the best so far. 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I didn't find the notes that hard when I was a kid; I could produce a tune without too many tears, but my tunes just didn't sound very nice until I'd got to about grade 6. A lot of young players experience the same problem, and the problem is really twofold- 1) producing a beautiful sound takes lots of practice, and 2) producing a really beautiful sound depends on your reed.<br /><br />What a Reed is All About<br /><br />If you don't play a reed instrument you may well be wondering what I'm talking about, so I'll explain a little bit here. (For the already initiated, feel free to skip this bit!)<br /><br />A clarinet is fundamentally a tube which is approximately 2 feet long; in fact it's the same length as a flute or an oboe. The flute has a small hole which you blow across. This makes the air inside the tube start vibrating, (like if you blow across the top of a bottle and hear a note). The oboe and the clarinet, however, use reeds. These are small bits of cane, (or sometimes plastic), which are attached to the top of the instrument. The cane goes in your mouth and you make it vibrate with your lips and jaw; this sets the column of air vibrating, and hey presto a note sounds. (It's very hard to describe how you actually do this because it all happens inside your closed mouth!) You can't play the clarinet (or the oboe or bassoon) unless you have a reed attached to the top, and these essential bits of kit have, unfortunately, quite a short life span. How long a reed lasts depends on lots of things, like how often you play, what brand you're using, and even what the weather's like. (It's a natural material so it's affected by the humidity of the atmosphere).<br /><br />The Reed you really Need<br /><br />So now you know you need a reed, off you pop down to your local music shop, or find one online. The first question they'll ask you is what kind of reed do you need? Narrowing it down to just "a clarinet reed" won't get you very far. You have to specify the strength of your reed. And choose a brand. And choose one of a range of reeds within that brand. And how many do you need to buy?<br /><br />So how can a little bit of cane be so diverse and complicated? How can you possibly choose?! Let's take a look at the first dilemma: Strength.<br /><br />Reeds are categorised by their thickness, and given a grading from 1 to 5, including half grades. Basically speaking, the thicker the reed, the more difficult it is to produce a note, but the nicer the note will sound. So, if you are a beginner, (and therefore in possession of relatively weak jaw muscles compared to a veteran), you should choose a low number, known as a "soft" reed. Around 1.5 would be good, but go for a 1 if the 1.5 is too difficult to blow on. As you get better, you'll gradually be able to progress to thicker reeds (known as "hard"). To get a decent sound, you need to be playing on a minimum 3.5, and most professionals will be playing on 4.5 to 5s. Personally, I play on a 3.5. OK, let's move on to brand and product:<br /><br />In the UK there are mainly 2 companies battling it out in the clarinet reed field, and they are Vandoren and Rico. I'll try to make a comparison between them, since your basic purchasing decision will be between these two brands. Here's what Vandoren say about their standard B flat clarinet reeds:<br /><br />"The most widely played reeds in the professional world."<br /><br />And here's what Rico claim about their most similar product:<br /><br />"The world's most popular reed." One thing you may be able to deduce from this is that Vandoren reeds are better and also more expensive. They produce a better tone for professionals, who are more picky about these things than amateurs. However, there are many more amateurs piping away in their bedrooms on a Sunday afternoon than there are professionals, and they tend to choose Rico, so they can't be all bad.<br /><br />Here's how the prices compare from 2 reputable online firms, for a box of 10, (the normal number you get in a box).<br /><br />>From www.myatt.co.uk Rico Reeds cost £8.50 and Vandoren cost £11.00<br /><br />>From www.dawkes.co.uk Rico cost £6.25 and Vandoren cost £10.25 <br /><br />Rico are well ahead in the tasty price league, so why is it that all these professionals are choosing Vandoren? It really boils down to the sound that comes out when you blow, which to the professional is the only major issue. For us mere mortals though, there are another couple of points to consider- how many of these 10 newly purchased reeds actually work properly, and how long will one last before I have to change it? I've played on both these brands of reeds over the 20 and a bit years I've been playing this instrument, and I believe that Rico are more consistent in the strength grades they put in the box, and they last for the same length of time as Vandoren's, but whereas a box of Vandoren sometimes produces a really stunning beautiful reed, a box of Rico never does.<br /><br />When you buy a box of reeds, it is quite normal to find that some of them just won't work. This is rather annoying, (especially if you're paying more than a pound a piece), but it's a fact of life. The cane is rigorously tested by both companies, and left to mature for a considerable time, but nothing can stop the cane from becoming slightly modified once it's been packaged up in its box. My personal average from Vandoren is 50% usable reeds per box, while Rico usually gives me 7 or 8 that are playable. So, in effect, they work out even cheaper than you'd bargained for. I think that Rico's testing technology is perhaps superior to Vandoren's, to produce these results. They are more effective at eliminating inferior cane earlier in the process, before it actually gets in the box. In my mind there is no doubt that Vandoren Reeds sound better, but the large difference in price is not justified by the small difference in sound. Going back to my earlier point about the quality of!<br /><br />my early attempts at the clarinet, I should point out that playing on the correct strength of reed, (and one that isn't too old), will ensure an acceptable sound from anyone. So how to find the correct strength? Read on!<br /><br /><br />How Strong is your Jaw?<br /><br />Rico Reeds come in strengths 1-5 (not all brands do). If you're a complete beginner, buy a 1, a 1.5 and a 2. (You can buy reeds singly, both online and in shops. Some shops let you try the reed out before you buy it just in case it's a duffer (see above), but not all of them.) Try the 2 first. If you produce a sound quite easily and without pain, congratulations! You've found the right strength. If you find it takes lots of breath to get a note and you can hear air escaping from the side of your mouth as you blow, the reed is too hard. Try the 1.5, and repeat the process. Remember that with clarinet reeds, the only way is up! When you have been playing on your 1.5 for some time, try the 2 from time to time. Don't play for too long, as your jaw will tire easily and you may bite into your bottom lip. If this happens, your mouth will be too sore to play until it's healed, and you'll have to start with a softer reed again. Gradually increase your playing time, until you can play on the 2 with no problems. Then move on to the 2.5, and repeat the process.<br /><br />If you stick with a softer reed once your jaw muscles have become stronger, your sound will deteriorate. Playing on a soft reed produces a buzzy kind of tone and can sound flat. Higher notes on the instrument are more difficult to reach with a softer reed, which is another reason why you need to climb that reed ladder! Sometimes reeds are a little bit too hard or a little bit too soft, without being impossible to play on. You don't have to chuck them away in cases like this, you can "doctor" them slightly to make them more playable: if the reed is too soft, trim a VERY narrow (hair's breadth) strip from the tip of the reed with a sharp knife. Or push another reed between it and the mouthpiece of the instrument, pushing it away from the rectangular hole in the mouthpiece slightly. If the reed is too hard, you can sand it a little. Use a piece of 220-grain sandpaper. Rub just a little, then test the reed- a tiny rub can produce a large difference (which is why they don't always get it right in the factory- it's a precision art!)<br /><br />Breaking in Reeds<br /><br />All new reeds need to be "broken in". They won't produce a consistent sound until they've been used a few times. Rico reeds are faster to break in than Vandoren. You need to wet the reed (in your mouth or with water- I prefer my mouth, but Rico advise water, as some people have very acidic saliva apparently, eeww), then play on it for just a few minutes each day, until the sound becomes consistent. It's good to have a few reeds "breaking" as you never know when you'll need a new one.<br /><br /><br />Replacing Reeds<br /><br />It's easy to tell when your reed needs replacing- after serving you well for a week or 3 (depends how much you play), one day it'll just sound rubbish, completely different to the last time you used it. Every time it goes in your mouth the reed is getting attacked by various germs and other organisms, and your saliva begins the process of breaking down organic matter ready for your tummy, so it's no wonder that they don't last forever! Another obvious sign that you need a new reed is when you accidentally slice it in half while attaching it to the instrument, a tragically common event. (It's held onto your plastic mouthpiece by metal band called a ligature. This has quite sharp sides and if you're not careful it'll cut right through in one go. Don't worry though, I've never heard of anyone cutting their finger on one!)<br /><br />Arundo Donax<br /><br />This is the technical name for the reed plant which Rico and Vandoren use to make their reeds. It grows in India and the Mediterranean, and can get as high as 6 metres tall. If you live in the right climate you can grow it in your garden, but I wouldn't suggest trying to grow and make reeds yourself from scratch, although some fanatics do.....<br /><br />Other Types of Reed<br /><br />For the standard clarinet, you will be buying B♭ clarinet reeds. It's unlikely that you would buy the wrong reed size, as this is what 99% of people play on, but just for the record, there are also E♭ and bass clarinet reeds. E♭ reeds are for a smaller instrument, and bass clarinet reeds for a beast of an instrument, so neither will fit. The A clarinet takes the B♭ reed, as it is only very fractionally bigger than the B♭ instrument. (Orchestral players need two instruments, an "A" and a "B♭"; see for more on transposing instruments). <br /><br />Final Verdict<br /><br />The Rico clarinet reed is a great choice for the amateur player. They are reasonably priced, reasonably consistent within the box, and produce a nice sound. They are easy to get hold of and excellent value for money, especially if you frequently slice them in half! If you want to get serious on the instrument, you should probably move on to more expensive reeds from Vandoren.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-40071039928756311422008-03-11T20:43:00.001-07:002008-03-11T20:46:18.885-07:00Web-Programming: An Alternative To Unproductive AdvertisingAs of this writing the television writers in Hollywood are on strike. The significance of this strike will be felt far beyond the current television season and impact what and where people will get their entertainment in the future. People are now not only embracing the Web for their information needs but are also increasingly turning to it for their entertainment needs as well.<br /><br />The Web will soon be 'the place' that fills the programming vacuum that network broadcasters have been unwilling and/or unable to fulfill. People were prepared to tolerate constant reruns, dreadful programming, and incessant repetitive ads as long as there was no alternative, but that is no loner the case. Viewers now have an option to bad television and it's the Web, but why should you care and more importantly how can you take advantage of the opportunity it creates?<br /><br />Why Should You Care?<br /><br />Information and entertainment have melded in recent years creating what has been dubbed 'infotainment.' It can be argued that the evening news has become more entertainment than hard news and let's not even get into venues like the History Channel where fact and fiction seem to be presented in equal and indistinguishable doses. So what does all this have to do with you and how you deliver your marketing message?<br /><br />The time is coming, if it is not here already, that companies will not be able to get away with merely uploading online brochures and catalogues, or even extensive screeds singing the praises of every feature and benefit associated with their offering. People demand more, they insist your website be interesting, informative, and entertaining; and it is this aspect of entertainment that potentially makes your marketing presentation memorable.<br /><br />What Is Web-Programming?<br /><br />Web-programming takes the creative Web-video campaign concept and pushes it one step further up the evolutionary marketing scale by integrating the message into a programming environment.<br /><br />This concept is not an entirely new idea, in fact one of the most noted television commercial campaigns of 1991 was the Taster's Choice soap opera-like series of spots that wove the marketing message into a courtship relationship between two apartment neighbors. In an environment where information and entertainment blur, it seems like an ideal solution to capturing an audience's attention and interest, and creating a viral buzz that few products or services can generate by presenting a bulleted list of features.<br /><br />Build Brand Relationships<br /><br />James E. Aisner, in his article 'More Than A Name: The Role of Brands in People's Lives' (HBS Working Knowledge For Business Leaders) references the research of Harvard Business School Professor, Susan M. Fournier, "Fournier has created a typology of fifteen different types of relationships between consumers and their brands." These brand relationships include the secret affair, the best friend, kinship, the fling, courtship, the marriage-of-convenience, casual friendship, childhood friendship, mother and child, and master-slave.<br /><br />What kind of relationship does your brand have with your audience? Is it a short-term fling that starts with a lot of heat and passion and then quickly cools-off, or is it a long-term marriage that will last a lifetime? Finding, and promoting the most appropriate and beneficial brand relationship is the marketing goal of your Web-programming marketing initiative.<br /><br />Part of the problem many smaller organizations have in developing successful marketing campaigns is that they think in terms of products and services rather than brands; features and benefits rather than relationships. Almost every product or service on the market can be replaced with a competitive substitute, but brands are much harder to replace; brands create a competitive barrier through the development of relationships based on prototypical psychological and emotional factors, the same kinds of factors that govern your personal relationships.<br /><br />Generate Trust, Confidence, Loyalty and Passion<br /><br />In his article, "A Brand New You," (Psychology Today), W. Eric Martin tells us that brands came into vogue in the post Civil War era as a response to an increasing mobile population that began to lose touch with local merchants and shopkeepers. Brands became a substitute for the personal relationships that people had with their suppliers. This seemingly minor historic fact helps us understand the significance of brands in today's Web-centric marketplace.<br /><br />Today's consumer-client, whether retail or business-to-business is more remote, more isolated from the supplier than ever before. The Web allows us to market our products and services anywhere in the world, but in order to actually make a sale, we must establish a relationship that generates a sufficient level of trust, confidence, loyalty and passion. Sneer if you will at the passion and loyalty most Macintosh users have for their computers, but what other computer company can claim such brand allegiance?<br /><br />Relationships Are Based On Psychological Needs<br /><br />At the heart of any relationship is the emotional or psychological need that that relationship fulfills. If you haven't found that connection in what you do then you are at a definite competitive disadvantage; and you are competing on the most fickle and transient of factors: price and features. In business, there will always be someone who is prepared to sell a substitute product or service for less, or with more bells and whistles. So why would you ever want to compete on that basis?<br /><br />It really doesn't matter what business you're in, there is always some emotional or psychological component to what you do. The iPod is the market leader in its category despite numerous competitors; it holds that position not because it's the cheapest, which it definitely isn't, or the product with the most features, which it probably is, but because it's an iPod - not a tool but a status symbol, a badge of intelligence and taste, a brand relationship akin to being a member of the coolest club in town.<br /><br />Web-programming Development<br /><br />In short, Web-programming is a marketing campaign based on a series of episodic Web-videos tied together by plotline and character development; an ongoing initiative that weaves into its storyline the marketing pitch. The integration of the marketing pitch can be done subtly using product placement techniques or overtly making the pitch part of the story arc.<br /><br />This marketing technique is not for everyone; it is certainly not for the unsophisticated or for the marketer who is afraid to experiment or to take a chance.<br /><br />If you are looking for an instant direct financial return like a big sale sign in your storefront window then you are not looking for marketing, you're looking for promotions. Marketing is all about building a brand relationship with your audience. The more time and effort you invest in marketing, the more solid your brand relationship will be, and the more appropriate the clients you'll attract and keep.<br /><br />Web-programming - Where To Begin<br /><br />There are four minimal requirements needed to create an episodic Web-video marketing campaign: need identification, point-of-view, attitude, and transformation. These are the same elements defined by Syd Field, the well-respected author, producer, screenwriter, and lecturer, in his book, "The Screenwriter's Workbook;" and they are the same elements that all top-notch salesmen use to build client-relationships - ask yourself - have you ever met a top salesman who wasn't a great storyteller?<br /><br />Need Identification<br /><br />Like all episodic series yours will need a hero or protagonist; this is the person your audience will identify with and who will act as their surrogate.<br /><br />Your protagonist must be searching for something that relates to the emotional or psychological need fulfilled by your product or service. Anyone who has ever had to deal with an insurance company certainly understands the Geico caveman's need for respect. His frustration is the perfect foil for the company's marketing message, 'it's so easy a caveman can do it.' We are all cavemen at heart, seeking respect from big business bureaucracies that make us jump through hoops just to place an order.<br /><br />Point-of-View<br /><br />You must present your material from a particular point-of-view. Is your presentation told from the protagonist's point-of-view or is it told from an objective observer's, perhaps through voice-over. It can even be counter-intuitive and be told from an antagonist's point-of-view.<br /><br />If your scenario is more procedural based, you can even present it from different points-of-view each delivering alternative perspectives, each highlighting different aspects of the emotional fulfillment.<br /><br />Attitude<br /><br />Attitude is especially important for Web-based presentations, but it is also one of the scariest aspects of marketing for the faint-of-heart. All too often businesses shy away from bold statements, or extreme displays for fear of alienating some segment of the audience, but it's attitude that grabs people's attention, makes the presentation memorable, and qualifies leads and inquiries.<br /><br />Transformation<br /><br />One of the hardest things a commercial-based episodic series has to deal with is story arc. What change takes place over the life of the series and is the campaign concept strong enough to sustain itself? What transformation takes place? Does your protagonist find fulfillment or does he fail to find the emotional or psychological answer he's looking for. If you're not sure what deep-seated need your product or service satisfies, find the conflict.<br /><br />All stories are based on conflict, frustration, and desire, whether it's the search for 'whiter whites' or better insurance. If your concept is without conflict, you are not illustrating the need for your solution.<br /><br />You can show successful transformation based on the adoption of your solution or you can show failure whichever works best for what you're marketing and the audience you are trying to attract.<br /><br />Conclusion<br /><br />The Web has from its infancy provided business with enormous marketing opportunities. As the Web's capabilities increase over time, these opportunities increase as well. As much as other media tries to adapt to the competitive pressures created by the Web, old methods and attitudes die-hard; the writer's strike being just one example of a group trying to maintain dominance in an environment they cannot control. The opportunities are there to make your marketing mark if you have the courage to act.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-35409357982436567532008-03-11T20:43:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:46:13.230-07:00Web-Programming: An Alternative To Unproductive AdvertisingAs of this writing the television writers in Hollywood are on strike. The significance of this strike will be felt far beyond the current television season and impact what and where people will get their entertainment in the future. People are now not only embracing the Web for their information needs but are also increasingly turning to it for their entertainment needs as well.<br /><br />The Web will soon be 'the place' that fills the programming vacuum that network broadcasters have been unwilling and/or unable to fulfill. People were prepared to tolerate constant reruns, dreadful programming, and incessant repetitive ads as long as there was no alternative, but that is no loner the case. Viewers now have an option to bad television and it's the Web, but why should you care and more importantly how can you take advantage of the opportunity it creates?<br /><br />Why Should You Care?<br /><br />Information and entertainment have melded in recent years creating what has been dubbed 'infotainment.' It can be argued that the evening news has become more entertainment than hard news and let's not even get into venues like the History Channel where fact and fiction seem to be presented in equal and indistinguishable doses. So what does all this have to do with you and how you deliver your marketing message?<br /><br />The time is coming, if it is not here already, that companies will not be able to get away with merely uploading online brochures and catalogues, or even extensive screeds singing the praises of every feature and benefit associated with their offering. People demand more, they insist your website be interesting, informative, and entertaining; and it is this aspect of entertainment that potentially makes your marketing presentation memorable.<br /><br />What Is Web-Programming?<br /><br />Web-programming takes the creative Web-video campaign concept and pushes it one step further up the evolutionary marketing scale by integrating the message into a programming environment.<br /><br />This concept is not an entirely new idea, in fact one of the most noted television commercial campaigns of 1991 was the Taster's Choice soap opera-like series of spots that wove the marketing message into a courtship relationship between two apartment neighbors. In an environment where information and entertainment blur, it seems like an ideal solution to capturing an audience's attention and interest, and creating a viral buzz that few products or services can generate by presenting a bulleted list of features.<br /><br />Build Brand Relationships<br /><br />James E. Aisner, in his article 'More Than A Name: The Role of Brands in People's Lives' (HBS Working Knowledge For Business Leaders) references the research of Harvard Business School Professor, Susan M. Fournier, "Fournier has created a typology of fifteen different types of relationships between consumers and their brands." These brand relationships include the secret affair, the best friend, kinship, the fling, courtship, the marriage-of-convenience, casual friendship, childhood friendship, mother and child, and master-slave.<br /><br />What kind of relationship does your brand have with your audience? Is it a short-term fling that starts with a lot of heat and passion and then quickly cools-off, or is it a long-term marriage that will last a lifetime? Finding, and promoting the most appropriate and beneficial brand relationship is the marketing goal of your Web-programming marketing initiative.<br /><br />Part of the problem many smaller organizations have in developing successful marketing campaigns is that they think in terms of products and services rather than brands; features and benefits rather than relationships. Almost every product or service on the market can be replaced with a competitive substitute, but brands are much harder to replace; brands create a competitive barrier through the development of relationships based on prototypical psychological and emotional factors, the same kinds of factors that govern your personal relationships.<br /><br />Generate Trust, Confidence, Loyalty and Passion<br /><br />In his article, "A Brand New You," (Psychology Today), W. Eric Martin tells us that brands came into vogue in the post Civil War era as a response to an increasing mobile population that began to lose touch with local merchants and shopkeepers. Brands became a substitute for the personal relationships that people had with their suppliers. This seemingly minor historic fact helps us understand the significance of brands in today's Web-centric marketplace.<br /><br />Today's consumer-client, whether retail or business-to-business is more remote, more isolated from the supplier than ever before. The Web allows us to market our products and services anywhere in the world, but in order to actually make a sale, we must establish a relationship that generates a sufficient level of trust, confidence, loyalty and passion. Sneer if you will at the passion and loyalty most Macintosh users have for their computers, but what other computer company can claim such brand allegiance?<br /><br />Relationships Are Based On Psychological Needs<br /><br />At the heart of any relationship is the emotional or psychological need that that relationship fulfills. If you haven't found that connection in what you do then you are at a definite competitive disadvantage; and you are competing on the most fickle and transient of factors: price and features. In business, there will always be someone who is prepared to sell a substitute product or service for less, or with more bells and whistles. So why would you ever want to compete on that basis?<br /><br />It really doesn't matter what business you're in, there is always some emotional or psychological component to what you do. The iPod is the market leader in its category despite numerous competitors; it holds that position not because it's the cheapest, which it definitely isn't, or the product with the most features, which it probably is, but because it's an iPod - not a tool but a status symbol, a badge of intelligence and taste, a brand relationship akin to being a member of the coolest club in town.<br /><br />Web-programming Development<br /><br />In short, Web-programming is a marketing campaign based on a series of episodic Web-videos tied together by plotline and character development; an ongoing initiative that weaves into its storyline the marketing pitch. The integration of the marketing pitch can be done subtly using product placement techniques or overtly making the pitch part of the story arc.<br /><br />This marketing technique is not for everyone; it is certainly not for the unsophisticated or for the marketer who is afraid to experiment or to take a chance.<br /><br />If you are looking for an instant direct financial return like a big sale sign in your storefront window then you are not looking for marketing, you're looking for promotions. Marketing is all about building a brand relationship with your audience. The more time and effort you invest in marketing, the more solid your brand relationship will be, and the more appropriate the clients you'll attract and keep.<br /><br />Web-programming - Where To Begin<br /><br />There are four minimal requirements needed to create an episodic Web-video marketing campaign: need identification, point-of-view, attitude, and transformation. These are the same elements defined by Syd Field, the well-respected author, producer, screenwriter, and lecturer, in his book, "The Screenwriter's Workbook;" and they are the same elements that all top-notch salesmen use to build client-relationships - ask yourself - have you ever met a top salesman who wasn't a great storyteller?<br /><br />Need Identification<br /><br />Like all episodic series yours will need a hero or protagonist; this is the person your audience will identify with and who will act as their surrogate.<br /><br />Your protagonist must be searching for something that relates to the emotional or psychological need fulfilled by your product or service. Anyone who has ever had to deal with an insurance company certainly understands the Geico caveman's need for respect. His frustration is the perfect foil for the company's marketing message, 'it's so easy a caveman can do it.' We are all cavemen at heart, seeking respect from big business bureaucracies that make us jump through hoops just to place an order.<br /><br />Point-of-View<br /><br />You must present your material from a particular point-of-view. Is your presentation told from the protagonist's point-of-view or is it told from an objective observer's, perhaps through voice-over. It can even be counter-intuitive and be told from an antagonist's point-of-view.<br /><br />If your scenario is more procedural based, you can even present it from different points-of-view each delivering alternative perspectives, each highlighting different aspects of the emotional fulfillment.<br /><br />Attitude<br /><br />Attitude is especially important for Web-based presentations, but it is also one of the scariest aspects of marketing for the faint-of-heart. All too often businesses shy away from bold statements, or extreme displays for fear of alienating some segment of the audience, but it's attitude that grabs people's attention, makes the presentation memorable, and qualifies leads and inquiries.<br /><br />Transformation<br /><br />One of the hardest things a commercial-based episodic series has to deal with is story arc. What change takes place over the life of the series and is the campaign concept strong enough to sustain itself? What transformation takes place? Does your protagonist find fulfillment or does he fail to find the emotional or psychological answer he's looking for. If you're not sure what deep-seated need your product or service satisfies, find the conflict.<br /><br />All stories are based on conflict, frustration, and desire, whether it's the search for 'whiter whites' or better insurance. If your concept is without conflict, you are not illustrating the need for your solution.<br /><br />You can show successful transformation based on the adoption of your solution or you can show failure whichever works best for what you're marketing and the audience you are trying to attract.<br /><br />Conclusion<br /><br />The Web has from its infancy provided business with enormous marketing opportunities. As the Web's capabilities increase over time, these opportunities increase as well. As much as other media tries to adapt to the competitive pressures created by the Web, old methods and attitudes die-hard; the writer's strike being just one example of a group trying to maintain dominance in an environment they cannot control. The opportunities are there to make your marketing mark if you have the courage to act.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-10541131746593279922008-03-11T20:42:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:47:08.390-07:00Web-Programming: An Alternative To Unproductive AdvertisingAs of this writing the television writers in Hollywood are on strike. The significance of this strike will be felt far beyond the current television season and impact what and where people will get their entertainment in the future. People are now not only embracing the Web for their information needs but are also increasingly turning to it for their entertainment needs as well.<br /><br />The Web will soon be 'the place' that fills the programming vacuum that network broadcasters have been unwilling and/or unable to fulfill. People were prepared to tolerate constant reruns, dreadful programming, and incessant repetitive ads as long as there was no alternative, but that is no loner the case. Viewers now have an option to bad television and it's the Web, but why should you care and more importantly how can you take advantage of the opportunity it creates?<br /><br />Why Should You Care?<br /><br />Information and entertainment have melded in recent years creating what has been dubbed 'infotainment.' It can be argued that the evening news has become more entertainment than hard news and let's not even get into venues like the History Channel where fact and fiction seem to be presented in equal and indistinguishable doses. So what does all this have to do with you and how you deliver your marketing message?<br /><br />The time is coming, if it is not here already, that companies will not be able to get away with merely uploading online brochures and catalogues, or even extensive screeds singing the praises of every feature and benefit associated with their offering. People demand more, they insist your website be interesting, informative, and entertaining; and it is this aspect of entertainment that potentially makes your marketing presentation memorable.<br /><br />What Is Web-Programming?<br /><br />Web-programming takes the creative Web-video campaign concept and pushes it one step further up the evolutionary marketing scale by integrating the message into a programming environment.<br /><br />This concept is not an entirely new idea, in fact one of the most noted television commercial campaigns of 1991 was the Taster's Choice soap opera-like series of spots that wove the marketing message into a courtship relationship between two apartment neighbors. In an environment where information and entertainment blur, it seems like an ideal solution to capturing an audience's attention and interest, and creating a viral buzz that few products or services can generate by presenting a bulleted list of features.<br /><br />Build Brand Relationships<br /><br />James E. Aisner, in his article 'More Than A Name: The Role of Brands in People's Lives' (HBS Working Knowledge For Business Leaders) references the research of Harvard Business School Professor, Susan M. Fournier, "Fournier has created a typology of fifteen different types of relationships between consumers and their brands." These brand relationships include the secret affair, the best friend, kinship, the fling, courtship, the marriage-of-convenience, casual friendship, childhood friendship, mother and child, and master-slave.<br /><br />What kind of relationship does your brand have with your audience? Is it a short-term fling that starts with a lot of heat and passion and then quickly cools-off, or is it a long-term marriage that will last a lifetime? Finding, and promoting the most appropriate and beneficial brand relationship is the marketing goal of your Web-programming marketing initiative.<br /><br />Part of the problem many smaller organizations have in developing successful marketing campaigns is that they think in terms of products and services rather than brands; features and benefits rather than relationships. Almost every product or service on the market can be replaced with a competitive substitute, but brands are much harder to replace; brands create a competitive barrier through the development of relationships based on prototypical psychological and emotional factors, the same kinds of factors that govern your personal relationships.<br /><br />Generate Trust, Confidence, Loyalty and Passion<br /><br />In his article, "A Brand New You," (Psychology Today), W. Eric Martin tells us that brands came into vogue in the post Civil War era as a response to an increasing mobile population that began to lose touch with local merchants and shopkeepers. Brands became a substitute for the personal relationships that people had with their suppliers. This seemingly minor historic fact helps us understand the significance of brands in today's Web-centric marketplace.<br /><br />Today's consumer-client, whether retail or business-to-business is more remote, more isolated from the supplier than ever before. The Web allows us to market our products and services anywhere in the world, but in order to actually make a sale, we must establish a relationship that generates a sufficient level of trust, confidence, loyalty and passion. Sneer if you will at the passion and loyalty most Macintosh users have for their computers, but what other computer company can claim such brand allegiance?<br /><br />Relationships Are Based On Psychological Needs<br /><br />At the heart of any relationship is the emotional or psychological need that that relationship fulfills. If you haven't found that connection in what you do then you are at a definite competitive disadvantage; and you are competing on the most fickle and transient of factors: price and features. In business, there will always be someone who is prepared to sell a substitute product or service for less, or with more bells and whistles. So why would you ever want to compete on that basis?<br /><br />It really doesn't matter what business you're in, there is always some emotional or psychological component to what you do. The iPod is the market leader in its category despite numerous competitors; it holds that position not because it's the cheapest, which it definitely isn't, or the product with the most features, which it probably is, but because it's an iPod - not a tool but a status symbol, a badge of intelligence and taste, a brand relationship akin to being a member of the coolest club in town.<br /><br />Web-programming Development<br /><br />In short, Web-programming is a marketing campaign based on a series of episodic Web-videos tied together by plotline and character development; an ongoing initiative that weaves into its storyline the marketing pitch. The integration of the marketing pitch can be done subtly using product placement techniques or overtly making the pitch part of the story arc.<br /><br />This marketing technique is not for everyone; it is certainly not for the unsophisticated or for the marketer who is afraid to experiment or to take a chance.<br /><br />If you are looking for an instant direct financial return like a big sale sign in your storefront window then you are not looking for marketing, you're looking for promotions. Marketing is all about building a brand relationship with your audience. The more time and effort you invest in marketing, the more solid your brand relationship will be, and the more appropriate the clients you'll attract and keep.<br /><br />Web-programming - Where To Begin<br /><br />There are four minimal requirements needed to create an episodic Web-video marketing campaign: need identification, point-of-view, attitude, and transformation. These are the same elements defined by Syd Field, the well-respected author, producer, screenwriter, and lecturer, in his book, "The Screenwriter's Workbook;" and they are the same elements that all top-notch salesmen use to build client-relationships - ask yourself - have you ever met a top salesman who wasn't a great storyteller?<br /><br />Need Identification<br /><br />Like all episodic series yours will need a hero or protagonist; this is the person your audience will identify with and who will act as their surrogate.<br /><br />Your protagonist must be searching for something that relates to the emotional or psychological need fulfilled by your product or service. Anyone who has ever had to deal with an insurance company certainly understands the Geico caveman's need for respect. His frustration is the perfect foil for the company's marketing message, 'it's so easy a caveman can do it.' We are all cavemen at heart, seeking respect from big business bureaucracies that make us jump through hoops just to place an order.<br /><br />Point-of-View<br /><br />You must present your material from a particular point-of-view. Is your presentation told from the protagonist's point-of-view or is it told from an objective observer's, perhaps through voice-over. It can even be counter-intuitive and be told from an antagonist's point-of-view.<br /><br />If your scenario is more procedural based, you can even present it from different points-of-view each delivering alternative perspectives, each highlighting different aspects of the emotional fulfillment.<br /><br />Attitude<br /><br />Attitude is especially important for Web-based presentations, but it is also one of the scariest aspects of marketing for the faint-of-heart. All too often businesses shy away from bold statements, or extreme displays for fear of alienating some segment of the audience, but it's attitude that grabs people's attention, makes the presentation memorable, and qualifies leads and inquiries.<br /><br />Transformation<br /><br />One of the hardest things a commercial-based episodic series has to deal with is story arc. What change takes place over the life of the series and is the campaign concept strong enough to sustain itself? What transformation takes place? Does your protagonist find fulfillment or does he fail to find the emotional or psychological answer he's looking for. If you're not sure what deep-seated need your product or service satisfies, find the conflict.<br /><br />All stories are based on conflict, frustration, and desire, whether it's the search for 'whiter whites' or better insurance. If your concept is without conflict, you are not illustrating the need for your solution.<br /><br />You can show successful transformation based on the adoption of your solution or you can show failure whichever works best for what you're marketing and the audience you are trying to attract.<br /><br />Conclusion<br /><br />The Web has from its infancy provided business with enormous marketing opportunities. As the Web's capabilities increase over time, these opportunities increase as well. As much as other media tries to adapt to the competitive pressures created by the Web, old methods and attitudes die-hard; the writer's strike being just one example of a group trying to maintain dominance in an environment they cannot control. The opportunities are there to make your marketing mark if you have the courage to act.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-584699271196936612008-03-11T20:40:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:41:45.519-07:00Sex Crimes and Their Defense in MinnesotaUnder Minnesota law, criminal sexual conduct or sex crimes may include: rape, statutory rape, unwanted sexual contact, criminal sexual assault, child pornography, child solicitation or child enticement, solicitation of mentally impaired persons, sodomy, incest, fornication, pimping, and prostitution. Some prohibitions, like those against sodomy and fornication, are technically still on the books, but rarely enforced.<br /><br />The Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor has the following statistics on sexual conduct and sexual assault crimes: <br /><br />The number of reported sex offenses in Minnesota increased almost threefold between 1971 and 1984, but has remained relatively constant since then.<br /><br />The number of sex offenses (sexual assault, rape, sexual conduct) reported to the police increased from 2,303 offenses in 1971 to 6,589 offenses in 1984. In 1993, 6,439 sex offenses were reported, of which 49 percent resulted in an arrest.<br /><br />Between 1981 and 1992, adult convictions for sex offenses involving force remained at the level of 145 to 190 each year, but convictions for child sexual abuse nearly tripled, rising from 160 to 461, and convictions for interfamilial sex abuse increasing from 3 to 154.<br /><br />Reflecting these trends, about 90 percent of the victims of convicted sex offenders were children or adolescents. Nearly all of the victims of adjudicated juvenile offenders were under 18 years old, as were 84 percent of the victims of adult offenders (with 46 percent under age 13). Nearly all convicted sex offenders (97 percent) were male and most of their victims were female, although 18 percent of the victims of juvenile offenders and 13 percent of the victims of adult offenders were male.<br /><br />Criminal sexual conduct is divided into four degrees depending upon the age of the victim, age of the accused, whether force is used, and the existence of any special relationship between the parties, such as parent-child or physician-patient. In Minnesota, judges are required to double the punishment imposed on a pattern sex offender, which is someone who repeats or is likely to repeat a sex crime, or someone who plans the crime. Moreover, if convicted of a sex crime, offenders must register with police departments across the state.<br /><br />FIRST DEGREE. First Degree sexual conduct/assault requires sexual penetration with another person. Remember - A mistake regarding the complainant's age or consent by the underage person is not a defense to a sexual conduct crime.<br /><br />Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant; or the complainant is at least 13 years of age but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority.<br /><br />Fear of Great Harm. Circumstances existing at the time of the act cause the complainant to have a reasonable fear of imminent great bodily harm to the complainant or another;<br /><br />Armed with Weapon. The actor is armed with a dangerous weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the complainant to reasonably believe it to be a dangerous weapon and uses or threatens to use the weapon or article to cause the complainant to submit;<br /><br />Personal Injury. The actor causes personal injury to the complainant, and either of the following circumstances exist: <br /><br />The actor uses force or coercion to accomplish sexual penetration; or <br /><br />The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless;<br /><br />The actor is aided or abetted by one or more accomplices and force or coercion is used or the accomplice is armed with a dangerous weapon.<br /><br />Significant Relationship. A significant relationship generally means that the parties live together. It is a crime if the actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was under 16 years of age at the time of the sexual penetration.<br /><br />Penalty. Not more than 30 years and a fine of not more than $40,000. There is a presumptive executed sentence of 144 months. <br /><br />SECOND DEGREE. Second degree criminal sexual conduct/assault does not require penetration. Instead, it involves "sexual contact." Sexual contact has been defined by case law to mean touching of the genital area, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks with a sexual intent. The sexual touching may occur on the flesh or through the clothing.<br /><br />Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant; or the complainant is at least 13 years of age but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority.<br /><br />Fear of Great Harm. Circumstances existing at the time of the act cause the complainant to have a reasonable fear of imminent great bodily harm to the complainant or another;<br /><br />Armed with Weapon. The actor is armed with a dangerous weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the complainant to reasonably believe it to be a dangerous weapon and uses or threatens to use the weapon or article to cause the complainant to submit;<br /><br />Personal Injury. The actor causes personal injury to the complainant, and either of the following circumstances exist: <br /><br />The actor uses force or coercion to accomplish sexual penetration; or <br /><br />The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless;<br /><br />The actor is aided or abetted by one or more accomplices and force or coercion is used or the accomplice is armed with a dangerous weapon.<br /><br />Significant Relationship. A significant relationship generally means that the parties live together. It is a crime if the actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was under 16 years of age at the time of the sexual penetration.<br /><br />Penalty. Not more than 25 years and payment of a fine of not more than $35,000. <br /><br />THIRD DEGREE. Third degree criminal sexual conduct is similar to first degree in that it requires sexual penetration. Penetration is liberally construed to included penetration of the anal or genital openings and specifically includes digital and oral penetration. Third degree sexual conduct is generally charged for behavior that is not as extreme as first degree sexual assault.<br /><br />Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant; or the complainant is at least 13 but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 24 months older than the complainant. In any such case it shall be an affirmative defense, which must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence, that the actor believes the complainant to be 16 years of age or older. Consent by the complainant is not a defense.<br /><br />Force or Coercion. the actor uses force or coercion to accomplish the penetration <br /><br />Mental & Physical Infirmity of Victim. The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.<br /><br />Position of Authority. The complainant is at least 16 but less than 18 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority over the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense.<br /><br />Penalty. If the actor in such a case is no more than 48 months but more than 24 months older than the complainant, the actor may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years. Otherwise a person convicted may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 15 years and a payment of not more than $30,000.<br /><br />FOURTH DEGREE. A person who engages in sexual contact with another person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree if any of the following circumstances exists:<br /><br />Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is no more than 36 months older than the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age or consent to the act by the complainant is a defense. In a prosecution under this clause, the state is not required to prove that the sexual contact was coerced. Additionally, if the complainant is at least 13 but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant or in a position of authority over the complainant fourth degree sexual conduct may be charged. Consent by the complainant to the act is not a defense. In any such case, it shall be an affirmative defense which must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the actor believes the complainant to be 16 years of age or older.<br /><br />Force or Coercion. The actor uses force or coercion to accomplish the sexual contact. <br /><br />Mental & Physical Infirmity of Victim. The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.<br /><br />Position of Authority. The complainant is at least 16 but less than 18 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority over the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense.<br /><br />Significant Relationship. The actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was at least 16 but under 18 years of age at the time of the sexual contact.<br /><br />Penalty. A person convicted may be sentenced to not more than ten years and a payment of a fine of not more than $20,000. <br /><br />FIFTH DEGREE. A person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree: <br /><br />(1) if the person engages in nonconsensual sexual contact; or <br /><br />(2) the person engages in masturbation or lewd exhibition of the genitals in the presence of a minor under the age of 16, knowing or having reason to know the minor is present.<br /><br />"Sexual contact" does not include the intentional touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the buttocks. Sexual contact does includes the intentional removal or attempted removal of clothing covering the complainant's intimate parts or undergarments, and the nonconsensual touching by the complainant of the actor's intimate parts, effected by the actor, if the action is performed with sexual or aggressive intent.<br /><br />. Penalty. A person convicted may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year and payment of a fine of not more than $3,000. The charge may be increased to a felony with imprisonment for not more than five years and payment of $10,000, if the person has prior violations.<br /><br />AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE <br /><br />In today's world much hysteria and controversy swirls around sexual abuse. A person accused may find that even if acquitted they are looked upon with suspicion and fear. The allegation itself can carry with significant stigma and social repercussions. Too often, prosecutors charge out criminal sexual conduct cases based solely on an allegation. There is often little physical evidence. Though it may seem the case is weak, an aggressive and proactive defense is necessary. That may include hiring experts to review witness interviews for suggestive language and improper techniques.<br /><br />If you are accused take these steps: <br /><br />Do not give any statements to law enforcement and do not discuss the case with any other people until you have retained legal counsel;<br /><br />Hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer; <br /><br />Write down the names of potential helpful witnesses; <br /><br />Only after retaining a lawyer should you make written notes regarding the allegations. these should be provided to your lawyer.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-90976590265280036772008-03-11T20:38:00.001-07:002008-03-11T20:41:14.026-07:00Sex Crimes and Their Defense in MinnesotaUnder Minnesota law, criminal sexual conduct or sex crimes may include: rape, statutory rape, unwanted sexual contact, criminal sexual assault, child pornography, child solicitation or child enticement, solicitation of mentally impaired persons, sodomy, incest, fornication, pimping, and prostitution. Some prohibitions, like those against sodomy and fornication, are technically still on the books, but rarely enforced.<br /><br />The Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor has the following statistics on sexual conduct and sexual assault crimes: <br /><br />The number of reported sex offenses in Minnesota increased almost threefold between 1971 and 1984, but has remained relatively constant since then.<br /><br />The number of sex offenses (sexual assault, rape, sexual conduct) reported to the police increased from 2,303 offenses in 1971 to 6,589 offenses in 1984. In 1993, 6,439 sex offenses were reported, of which 49 percent resulted in an arrest.<br /><br />Between 1981 and 1992, adult convictions for sex offenses involving force remained at the level of 145 to 190 each year, but convictions for child sexual abuse nearly tripled, rising from 160 to 461, and convictions for interfamilial sex abuse increasing from 3 to 154.<br /><br />Reflecting these trends, about 90 percent of the victims of convicted sex offenders were children or adolescents. Nearly all of the victims of adjudicated juvenile offenders were under 18 years old, as were 84 percent of the victims of adult offenders (with 46 percent under age 13). Nearly all convicted sex offenders (97 percent) were male and most of their victims were female, although 18 percent of the victims of juvenile offenders and 13 percent of the victims of adult offenders were male.<br /><br />Criminal sexual conduct is divided into four degrees depending upon the age of the victim, age of the accused, whether force is used, and the existence of any special relationship between the parties, such as parent-child or physician-patient. In Minnesota, judges are required to double the punishment imposed on a pattern sex offender, which is someone who repeats or is likely to repeat a sex crime, or someone who plans the crime. Moreover, if convicted of a sex crime, offenders must register with police departments across the state.<br /><br />FIRST DEGREE. First Degree sexual conduct/assault requires sexual penetration with another person. Remember - A mistake regarding the complainant's age or consent by the underage person is not a defense to a sexual conduct crime.<br /><br />Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant; or the complainant is at least 13 years of age but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority.<br /><br />Fear of Great Harm. Circumstances existing at the time of the act cause the complainant to have a reasonable fear of imminent great bodily harm to the complainant or another;<br /><br />Armed with Weapon. The actor is armed with a dangerous weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the complainant to reasonably believe it to be a dangerous weapon and uses or threatens to use the weapon or article to cause the complainant to submit;<br /><br />Personal Injury. The actor causes personal injury to the complainant, and either of the following circumstances exist: <br /><br />The actor uses force or coercion to accomplish sexual penetration; or <br /><br />The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless;<br /><br />The actor is aided or abetted by one or more accomplices and force or coercion is used or the accomplice is armed with a dangerous weapon.<br /><br />Significant Relationship. A significant relationship generally means that the parties live together. It is a crime if the actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was under 16 years of age at the time of the sexual penetration.<br /><br />Penalty. Not more than 30 years and a fine of not more than $40,000. There is a presumptive executed sentence of 144 months. <br /><br />SECOND DEGREE. Second degree criminal sexual conduct/assault does not require penetration. Instead, it involves "sexual contact." Sexual contact has been defined by case law to mean touching of the genital area, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks with a sexual intent. The sexual touching may occur on the flesh or through the clothing.<br /><br />Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant; or the complainant is at least 13 years of age but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority.<br /><br />Fear of Great Harm. Circumstances existing at the time of the act cause the complainant to have a reasonable fear of imminent great bodily harm to the complainant or another;<br /><br />Armed with Weapon. The actor is armed with a dangerous weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the complainant to reasonably believe it to be a dangerous weapon and uses or threatens to use the weapon or article to cause the complainant to submit;<br /><br />Personal Injury. The actor causes personal injury to the complainant, and either of the following circumstances exist: <br /><br />The actor uses force or coercion to accomplish sexual penetration; or <br /><br />The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless;<br /><br />The actor is aided or abetted by one or more accomplices and force or coercion is used or the accomplice is armed with a dangerous weapon.<br /><br />Significant Relationship. A significant relationship generally means that the parties live together. It is a crime if the actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was under 16 years of age at the time of the sexual penetration.<br /><br />Penalty. Not more than 25 years and payment of a fine of not more than $35,000. <br /><br />THIRD DEGREE. Third degree criminal sexual conduct is similar to first degree in that it requires sexual penetration. Penetration is liberally construed to included penetration of the anal or genital openings and specifically includes digital and oral penetration. Third degree sexual conduct is generally charged for behavior that is not as extreme as first degree sexual assault.<br /><br />Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant; or the complainant is at least 13 but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 24 months older than the complainant. In any such case it shall be an affirmative defense, which must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence, that the actor believes the complainant to be 16 years of age or older. Consent by the complainant is not a defense.<br /><br />Force or Coercion. the actor uses force or coercion to accomplish the penetration <br /><br />Mental & Physical Infirmity of Victim. The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.<br /><br />Position of Authority. The complainant is at least 16 but less than 18 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority over the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense.<br /><br />Penalty. If the actor in such a case is no more than 48 months but more than 24 months older than the complainant, the actor may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years. Otherwise a person convicted may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 15 years and a payment of not more than $30,000.<br /><br />FOURTH DEGREE. A person who engages in sexual contact with another person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree if any of the following circumstances exists:<br /><br />Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is no more than 36 months older than the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age or consent to the act by the complainant is a defense. In a prosecution under this clause, the state is not required to prove that the sexual contact was coerced. Additionally, if the complainant is at least 13 but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant or in a position of authority over the complainant fourth degree sexual conduct may be charged. Consent by the complainant to the act is not a defense. In any such case, it shall be an affirmative defense which must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the actor believes the complainant to be 16 years of age or older.<br /><br />Force or Coercion. The actor uses force or coercion to accomplish the sexual contact. <br /><br />Mental & Physical Infirmity of Victim. The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.<br /><br />Position of Authority. The complainant is at least 16 but less than 18 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority over the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense.<br /><br />Significant Relationship. The actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was at least 16 but under 18 years of age at the time of the sexual contact.<br /><br />Penalty. A person convicted may be sentenced to not more than ten years and a payment of a fine of not more than $20,000. <br /><br />FIFTH DEGREE. A person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree: <br /><br />(1) if the person engages in nonconsensual sexual contact; or <br /><br />(2) the person engages in masturbation or lewd exhibition of the genitals in the presence of a minor under the age of 16, knowing or having reason to know the minor is present.<br /><br />"Sexual contact" does not include the intentional touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the buttocks. Sexual contact does includes the intentional removal or attempted removal of clothing covering the complainant's intimate parts or undergarments, and the nonconsensual touching by the complainant of the actor's intimate parts, effected by the actor, if the action is performed with sexual or aggressive intent.<br /><br />. Penalty. A person convicted may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year and payment of a fine of not more than $3,000. The charge may be increased to a felony with imprisonment for not more than five years and payment of $10,000, if the person has prior violations.<br /><br />AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE <br /><br />In today's world much hysteria and controversy swirls around sexual abuse. A person accused may find that even if acquitted they are looked upon with suspicion and fear. The allegation itself can carry with significant stigma and social repercussions. Too often, prosecutors charge out criminal sexual conduct cases based solely on an allegation. There is often little physical evidence. Though it may seem the case is weak, an aggressive and proactive defense is necessary. That may include hiring experts to review witness interviews for suggestive language and improper techniques.<br /><br />If you are accused take these steps: <br /><br />Do not give any statements to law enforcement and do not discuss the case with any other people until you have retained legal counsel;<br /><br />Hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer; <br /><br />Write down the names of potential helpful witnesses; <br /><br />Only after retaining a lawyer should you make written notes regarding the allegations. these should be provided to your lawyer.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-4427968051994775642008-03-11T20:37:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:41:09.124-07:00Sex Crimes and Their Defense in MinnesotaUnder Minnesota law, criminal sexual conduct or sex crimes may include: rape, statutory rape, unwanted sexual contact, criminal sexual assault, child pornography, child solicitation or child enticement, solicitation of mentally impaired persons, sodomy, incest, fornication, pimping, and prostitution. Some prohibitions, like those against sodomy and fornication, are technically still on the books, but rarely enforced.<br /><br />The Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor has the following statistics on sexual conduct and sexual assault crimes: <br /><br />The number of reported sex offenses in Minnesota increased almost threefold between 1971 and 1984, but has remained relatively constant since then.<br /><br />The number of sex offenses (sexual assault, rape, sexual conduct) reported to the police increased from 2,303 offenses in 1971 to 6,589 offenses in 1984. In 1993, 6,439 sex offenses were reported, of which 49 percent resulted in an arrest.<br /><br />Between 1981 and 1992, adult convictions for sex offenses involving force remained at the level of 145 to 190 each year, but convictions for child sexual abuse nearly tripled, rising from 160 to 461, and convictions for interfamilial sex abuse increasing from 3 to 154.<br /><br />Reflecting these trends, about 90 percent of the victims of convicted sex offenders were children or adolescents. Nearly all of the victims of adjudicated juvenile offenders were under 18 years old, as were 84 percent of the victims of adult offenders (with 46 percent under age 13). Nearly all convicted sex offenders (97 percent) were male and most of their victims were female, although 18 percent of the victims of juvenile offenders and 13 percent of the victims of adult offenders were male.<br /><br />Criminal sexual conduct is divided into four degrees depending upon the age of the victim, age of the accused, whether force is used, and the existence of any special relationship between the parties, such as parent-child or physician-patient. In Minnesota, judges are required to double the punishment imposed on a pattern sex offender, which is someone who repeats or is likely to repeat a sex crime, or someone who plans the crime. Moreover, if convicted of a sex crime, offenders must register with police departments across the state.<br /><br />FIRST DEGREE. First Degree sexual conduct/assault requires sexual penetration with another person. Remember - A mistake regarding the complainant's age or consent by the underage person is not a defense to a sexual conduct crime.<br /><br />Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant; or the complainant is at least 13 years of age but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority.<br /><br />Fear of Great Harm. Circumstances existing at the time of the act cause the complainant to have a reasonable fear of imminent great bodily harm to the complainant or another;<br /><br />Armed with Weapon. The actor is armed with a dangerous weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the complainant to reasonably believe it to be a dangerous weapon and uses or threatens to use the weapon or article to cause the complainant to submit;<br /><br />Personal Injury. The actor causes personal injury to the complainant, and either of the following circumstances exist: <br /><br />The actor uses force or coercion to accomplish sexual penetration; or <br /><br />The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless;<br /><br />The actor is aided or abetted by one or more accomplices and force or coercion is used or the accomplice is armed with a dangerous weapon.<br /><br />Significant Relationship. A significant relationship generally means that the parties live together. It is a crime if the actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was under 16 years of age at the time of the sexual penetration.<br /><br />Penalty. Not more than 30 years and a fine of not more than $40,000. There is a presumptive executed sentence of 144 months. <br /><br />SECOND DEGREE. Second degree criminal sexual conduct/assault does not require penetration. Instead, it involves "sexual contact." Sexual contact has been defined by case law to mean touching of the genital area, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks with a sexual intent. The sexual touching may occur on the flesh or through the clothing.<br /><br />Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant; or the complainant is at least 13 years of age but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority.<br /><br />Fear of Great Harm. Circumstances existing at the time of the act cause the complainant to have a reasonable fear of imminent great bodily harm to the complainant or another;<br /><br />Armed with Weapon. The actor is armed with a dangerous weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the complainant to reasonably believe it to be a dangerous weapon and uses or threatens to use the weapon or article to cause the complainant to submit;<br /><br />Personal Injury. The actor causes personal injury to the complainant, and either of the following circumstances exist: <br /><br />The actor uses force or coercion to accomplish sexual penetration; or <br /><br />The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless;<br /><br />The actor is aided or abetted by one or more accomplices and force or coercion is used or the accomplice is armed with a dangerous weapon.<br /><br />Significant Relationship. A significant relationship generally means that the parties live together. It is a crime if the actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was under 16 years of age at the time of the sexual penetration.<br /><br />Penalty. Not more than 25 years and payment of a fine of not more than $35,000. <br /><br />THIRD DEGREE. Third degree criminal sexual conduct is similar to first degree in that it requires sexual penetration. Penetration is liberally construed to included penetration of the anal or genital openings and specifically includes digital and oral penetration. Third degree sexual conduct is generally charged for behavior that is not as extreme as first degree sexual assault.<br /><br />Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant; or the complainant is at least 13 but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 24 months older than the complainant. In any such case it shall be an affirmative defense, which must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence, that the actor believes the complainant to be 16 years of age or older. Consent by the complainant is not a defense.<br /><br />Force or Coercion. the actor uses force or coercion to accomplish the penetration <br /><br />Mental & Physical Infirmity of Victim. The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.<br /><br />Position of Authority. The complainant is at least 16 but less than 18 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority over the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense.<br /><br />Penalty. If the actor in such a case is no more than 48 months but more than 24 months older than the complainant, the actor may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years. Otherwise a person convicted may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 15 years and a payment of not more than $30,000.<br /><br />FOURTH DEGREE. A person who engages in sexual contact with another person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree if any of the following circumstances exists:<br /><br />Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is no more than 36 months older than the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age or consent to the act by the complainant is a defense. In a prosecution under this clause, the state is not required to prove that the sexual contact was coerced. Additionally, if the complainant is at least 13 but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant or in a position of authority over the complainant fourth degree sexual conduct may be charged. Consent by the complainant to the act is not a defense. In any such case, it shall be an affirmative defense which must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the actor believes the complainant to be 16 years of age or older.<br /><br />Force or Coercion. The actor uses force or coercion to accomplish the sexual contact. <br /><br />Mental & Physical Infirmity of Victim. The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.<br /><br />Position of Authority. The complainant is at least 16 but less than 18 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority over the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense.<br /><br />Significant Relationship. The actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was at least 16 but under 18 years of age at the time of the sexual contact.<br /><br />Penalty. A person convicted may be sentenced to not more than ten years and a payment of a fine of not more than $20,000. <br /><br />FIFTH DEGREE. A person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree: <br /><br />(1) if the person engages in nonconsensual sexual contact; or <br /><br />(2) the person engages in masturbation or lewd exhibition of the genitals in the presence of a minor under the age of 16, knowing or having reason to know the minor is present.<br /><br />"Sexual contact" does not include the intentional touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the buttocks. Sexual contact does includes the intentional removal or attempted removal of clothing covering the complainant's intimate parts or undergarments, and the nonconsensual touching by the complainant of the actor's intimate parts, effected by the actor, if the action is performed with sexual or aggressive intent.<br /><br />. Penalty. A person convicted may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year and payment of a fine of not more than $3,000. The charge may be increased to a felony with imprisonment for not more than five years and payment of $10,000, if the person has prior violations.<br /><br />AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE <br /><br />In today's world much hysteria and controversy swirls around sexual abuse. A person accused may find that even if acquitted they are looked upon with suspicion and fear. The allegation itself can carry with significant stigma and social repercussions. Too often, prosecutors charge out criminal sexual conduct cases based solely on an allegation. There is often little physical evidence. Though it may seem the case is weak, an aggressive and proactive defense is necessary. That may include hiring experts to review witness interviews for suggestive language and improper techniques.<br /><br />If you are accused take these steps: <br /><br />Do not give any statements to law enforcement and do not discuss the case with any other people until you have retained legal counsel;<br /><br />Hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer; <br /><br />Write down the names of potential helpful witnesses; <br /><br />Only after retaining a lawyer should you make written notes regarding the allegations. these should be provided to your lawyer.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-58707612765563984582008-03-11T20:32:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:35:34.756-07:00Getting The Right Vacuum Cleaner For Your HomeBuying a vacuum cleaner might seem easy, but there are important issues to consider. These include price, features, and what type and size of house a person has. A large house needs a stronger vacuum if the house is carpeted. In addition, pets or children can affect how often a home is vacuumed and how hard a vacuum cleaner will need to work to ensure cleanliness. People with hardwood floors may also want vacuum cleaners, but they will likely be more interested in a canister vacuum as opposed to an upright. A canister vacuum is better designed to handle rugs and draperies, as well as upholstery. These kinds of vacuums do not do well, however, for individuals with wall to wall carpet, because their cleaning power is not the same.<br /><br />The price of a vacuum cleaner is very important, but not to everyone. Some people have more money than others, and those who are rich simply buy what they want. For the majority of individuals, however, how much a vacuum cleaner costs affects whether a person buys it or not. In addition, many people look at the price of a vacuum cleaner based on several factors, such as the width of the cleaning path, the size of the motor, and what kinds of attachments come along with it. A vacuum with a stronger motor and more attachments should generally cost more. However, there are some discrepancies in price in almost any category of vacuum cleaner, and taking one’s time to find the best deal is often worth it.<br /><br />The brand of vacuum cleaner that is purchased can also affect price and be very significant for many people. There are some people who swear by a particular brand and will not purchase anything else, just as there are some people who do not care what brand they buy, as long as it works well and is priced right. Most people fall somewhere in the middle. They have certain brands that they like, but they will pick from among those brands based on price and other factors. In addition, they might consider going outside of that group of brands if they find something that seems to be a particularly good deal, or if something else has been recommended to them from someone who they trust.<br /><br />There are some vacuum choices that a lot of people do not consider, but which are still good options for many people. For those who have multi-story homes, having a vacuum cleaner on each floor is generally a good option, to avoid carrying a vacuum cleaner up and down stairs. Some of these individuals will opt to have a central vacuum cleaner installed in a home so that there is only a very lightweight hose to carry around when vacuuming. In addition, some people use a robotic vacuum if they have a small area of hard floor which they want to clean very easily. These are not designed for large areas, however, or for carpeted areas. There are so many choices for a vacuum cleaner today that people can generally find whatever it is that they are looking for, making their cleaning easier.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-23704412269381367982008-03-11T20:31:00.001-07:002008-03-11T20:35:12.601-07:00Getting The Right Vacuum Cleaner For Your HomeBuying a vacuum cleaner might seem easy, but there are important issues to consider. These include price, features, and what type and size of house a person has. A large house needs a stronger vacuum if the house is carpeted. In addition, pets or children can affect how often a home is vacuumed and how hard a vacuum cleaner will need to work to ensure cleanliness. People with hardwood floors may also want vacuum cleaners, but they will likely be more interested in a canister vacuum as opposed to an upright. A canister vacuum is better designed to handle rugs and draperies, as well as upholstery. These kinds of vacuums do not do well, however, for individuals with wall to wall carpet, because their cleaning power is not the same.<br /><br />The price of a vacuum cleaner is very important, but not to everyone. Some people have more money than others, and those who are rich simply buy what they want. For the majority of individuals, however, how much a vacuum cleaner costs affects whether a person buys it or not. In addition, many people look at the price of a vacuum cleaner based on several factors, such as the width of the cleaning path, the size of the motor, and what kinds of attachments come along with it. A vacuum with a stronger motor and more attachments should generally cost more. However, there are some discrepancies in price in almost any category of vacuum cleaner, and taking one’s time to find the best deal is often worth it.<br /><br />The brand of vacuum cleaner that is purchased can also affect price and be very significant for many people. There are some people who swear by a particular brand and will not purchase anything else, just as there are some people who do not care what brand they buy, as long as it works well and is priced right. Most people fall somewhere in the middle. They have certain brands that they like, but they will pick from among those brands based on price and other factors. In addition, they might consider going outside of that group of brands if they find something that seems to be a particularly good deal, or if something else has been recommended to them from someone who they trust.<br /><br />There are some vacuum choices that a lot of people do not consider, but which are still good options for many people. For those who have multi-story homes, having a vacuum cleaner on each floor is generally a good option, to avoid carrying a vacuum cleaner up and down stairs. Some of these individuals will opt to have a central vacuum cleaner installed in a home so that there is only a very lightweight hose to carry around when vacuuming. In addition, some people use a robotic vacuum if they have a small area of hard floor which they want to clean very easily. These are not designed for large areas, however, or for carpeted areas. There are so many choices for a vacuum cleaner today that people can generally find whatever it is that they are looking for, making their cleaning easier.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-4038166254153284572008-03-11T20:31:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:35:07.479-07:00Getting The Right Vacuum Cleaner For Your HomeBuying a vacuum cleaner might seem easy, but there are important issues to consider. These include price, features, and what type and size of house a person has. A large house needs a stronger vacuum if the house is carpeted. In addition, pets or children can affect how often a home is vacuumed and how hard a vacuum cleaner will need to work to ensure cleanliness. People with hardwood floors may also want vacuum cleaners, but they will likely be more interested in a canister vacuum as opposed to an upright. A canister vacuum is better designed to handle rugs and draperies, as well as upholstery. These kinds of vacuums do not do well, however, for individuals with wall to wall carpet, because their cleaning power is not the same.<br /><br />The price of a vacuum cleaner is very important, but not to everyone. Some people have more money than others, and those who are rich simply buy what they want. For the majority of individuals, however, how much a vacuum cleaner costs affects whether a person buys it or not. In addition, many people look at the price of a vacuum cleaner based on several factors, such as the width of the cleaning path, the size of the motor, and what kinds of attachments come along with it. A vacuum with a stronger motor and more attachments should generally cost more. However, there are some discrepancies in price in almost any category of vacuum cleaner, and taking one’s time to find the best deal is often worth it.<br /><br />The brand of vacuum cleaner that is purchased can also affect price and be very significant for many people. There are some people who swear by a particular brand and will not purchase anything else, just as there are some people who do not care what brand they buy, as long as it works well and is priced right. Most people fall somewhere in the middle. They have certain brands that they like, but they will pick from among those brands based on price and other factors. In addition, they might consider going outside of that group of brands if they find something that seems to be a particularly good deal, or if something else has been recommended to them from someone who they trust.<br /><br />There are some vacuum choices that a lot of people do not consider, but which are still good options for many people. For those who have multi-story homes, having a vacuum cleaner on each floor is generally a good option, to avoid carrying a vacuum cleaner up and down stairs. Some of these individuals will opt to have a central vacuum cleaner installed in a home so that there is only a very lightweight hose to carry around when vacuuming. In addition, some people use a robotic vacuum if they have a small area of hard floor which they want to clean very easily. These are not designed for large areas, however, or for carpeted areas. There are so many choices for a vacuum cleaner today that people can generally find whatever it is that they are looking for, making their cleaning easier.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-16555317595180123372008-03-11T20:26:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:29:15.474-07:00How to Make Warhammer Modeling FlockSpending almost $200 of your budget for a modeling flock is too big just to produce a 4' x 4' grassland gaming board. Is always be a problem you will face in making a gaming terrain but this will not be a hindrance for you to experiment on what decision to undertake. Because you want to work on a small budget this is something you had get over.<br /><br />Doing research on Yahoo or Google on how to create a modeling flock or by just simply asking a friend who knows how to create one. That can lower the $200 to a $10 or less. But be sure to watch and read on the instructions for they will cause you problems in the results of your modeling flock. You should admit that making your first modeling flock will not be that easy for it will not produce similar to the modeling flock that cost $200. You should not be afraid to try every thing every possible way to have your modeling flock be the flock you want.<br /><br />Without further delay the content of this article is the detailed instruction on how to make a modeling flock. <br /><br />Step 1 - Get Your Materials Ready<br /><br />Here is what you’ll be needing:<br /><br />-a container to mix it in (we use a gallon sized ice cream container)<br /><br />-a cookie sheet to dry the modeling flock on (don’t use new ones, your mother / wife won’t be happy)<br /><br />-a tube of green paint (in the picture it shows a tube of blue paint and a tube of yellow paint, but we found it easier to just get a tube of green paint)<br /><br />-water<br /><br />-a stirring stick<br /><br />-sawdust (that’s right, modeling flock is just dyed sawdust!)<br /><br />-a fine strainer<br /><br />The tubes of paint that we use are 4 U.S. fl oz, or 118 mL. We buy them at the dollar store for $1.<br /><br />You can get the sawdust from any lumber mill that near your place. They should be more than happy to hand over a garbage bag full free of charge. If not, then just find someone you know who is a carpenter.<br /><br />Take note that the sawdust should have been made from sanding, not from cutting wood.<br /><br />Step 2 - Dilute The Paint<br /><br />First you will need to dilute the paint that you are going to use to dye the saw dust. The amount of paint that you water down will determine how much flock you will make.<br /><br />You will discharge the entire 118 mL tube of green paint into the container and then fill the container 3cm (about 1 1/4 inches) full of water.<br /><br />WARNING: If you water down the paint too much your flock will be brown. <br /><br />This is the common mistake which will end up with ugly stuff and waste. Even though it started out a nice green it will end up an ugly brown, which was useful only to be used as dirt and not grass. But we are going to create a grassland so better careful.<br /><br />Mix the water and paint with a stirring stick. You can use any typical stirring sticks that you get from the paint stores, but you can really use anything that you don’t care getting stained with green paint.<br /><br />(Important Note: The colour of your flock will be slightly browner than the green paint that you mix, so choose a colour paint that is slightly brighter than your desired modeling flock colour.)<br /><br />Step 3 - Add the Sawdust<br /><br />The next procedure is to add the sawdust on the paint. First add a small amount just to turn the watered down paint mixture into a compact sludge. Then continue adding more and more sawdust until it is mixed in well with the paint.<br /><br />The easiest way to tell when to stop adding sawdust is when you add a bit more and it is very hard to mix in (i.e. it is hard to get rid of the brown sawdust). This is the point where you should stop.<br /><br />Warning: If you stop sooner your flock will not be fine enough. <br /><br />However, don’t expect your flock to be as fine as the Games Workshop version at this point for they already perfected the mixing of the paint and the sawdust. That will come sooner or later.<br /><br />Once you have finished mixing the flock you are ready to move to next step.<br /><br />Step 4 - Spread Out Your Modeling Flock to Dry<br /><br />You will now need to spread out the modeling flock to dry. You can use two cookie sheets to dry out the amount of flock made with your desired proportions.<br /><br />In spreading out the damp modeling flock it should be evenly as possible, then put it in a cool dry place and not be hit by strong winds for 24-48 hours. Make sure it is completely dry before proceeding to the next step, or else you will not get the same quality results as what Games Workshop produces.<br /><br />Step 5 - Screen the Modeling Flock To Make It Finer<br /><br />A fine strainer with a small openings you will have in doing the last step and that is to screen the modeling flock through it. There may be bunches that are just too hard deal with. You should really work if this happen until you cannot screen a dust from it. This will not be garbage cause it can be use as a mossy rock on another models.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-27285918514570121492008-03-11T20:25:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:29:49.598-07:00How to Make Warhammer Modeling FlockSpending almost $200 of your budget for a modeling flock is too big just to produce a 4' x 4' grassland gaming board. Is always be a problem you will face in making a gaming terrain but this will not be a hindrance for you to experiment on what decision to undertake. Because you want to work on a small budget this is something you had get over.<br /><br />Doing research on Yahoo or Google on how to create a modeling flock or by just simply asking a friend who knows how to create one. That can lower the $200 to a $10 or less. But be sure to watch and read on the instructions for they will cause you problems in the results of your modeling flock. You should admit that making your first modeling flock will not be that easy for it will not produce similar to the modeling flock that cost $200. You should not be afraid to try every thing every possible way to have your modeling flock be the flock you want.<br /><br />Without further delay the content of this article is the detailed instruction on how to make a modeling flock. <br /><br />Step 1 - Get Your Materials Ready<br /><br />Here is what you’ll be needing:<br /><br />-a container to mix it in (we use a gallon sized ice cream container)<br /><br />-a cookie sheet to dry the modeling flock on (don’t use new ones, your mother / wife won’t be happy)<br /><br />-a tube of green paint (in the picture it shows a tube of blue paint and a tube of yellow paint, but we found it easier to just get a tube of green paint)<br /><br />-water<br /><br />-a stirring stick<br /><br />-sawdust (that’s right, modeling flock is just dyed sawdust!)<br /><br />-a fine strainer<br /><br />The tubes of paint that we use are 4 U.S. fl oz, or 118 mL. We buy them at the dollar store for $1.<br /><br />You can get the sawdust from any lumber mill that near your place. They should be more than happy to hand over a garbage bag full free of charge. If not, then just find someone you know who is a carpenter.<br /><br />Take note that the sawdust should have been made from sanding, not from cutting wood.<br /><br />Step 2 - Dilute The Paint<br /><br />First you will need to dilute the paint that you are going to use to dye the saw dust. The amount of paint that you water down will determine how much flock you will make.<br /><br />You will discharge the entire 118 mL tube of green paint into the container and then fill the container 3cm (about 1 1/4 inches) full of water.<br /><br />WARNING: If you water down the paint too much your flock will be brown. <br /><br />This is the common mistake which will end up with ugly stuff and waste. Even though it started out a nice green it will end up an ugly brown, which was useful only to be used as dirt and not grass. But we are going to create a grassland so better careful.<br /><br />Mix the water and paint with a stirring stick. You can use any typical stirring sticks that you get from the paint stores, but you can really use anything that you don’t care getting stained with green paint.<br /><br />(Important Note: The colour of your flock will be slightly browner than the green paint that you mix, so choose a colour paint that is slightly brighter than your desired modeling flock colour.)<br /><br />Step 3 - Add the Sawdust<br /><br />The next procedure is to add the sawdust on the paint. First add a small amount just to turn the watered down paint mixture into a compact sludge. Then continue adding more and more sawdust until it is mixed in well with the paint.<br /><br />The easiest way to tell when to stop adding sawdust is when you add a bit more and it is very hard to mix in (i.e. it is hard to get rid of the brown sawdust). This is the point where you should stop.<br /><br />Warning: If you stop sooner your flock will not be fine enough. <br /><br />However, don’t expect your flock to be as fine as the Games Workshop version at this point for they already perfected the mixing of the paint and the sawdust. That will come sooner or later.<br /><br />Once you have finished mixing the flock you are ready to move to next step.<br /><br />Step 4 - Spread Out Your Modeling Flock to Dry<br /><br />You will now need to spread out the modeling flock to dry. You can use two cookie sheets to dry out the amount of flock made with your desired proportions.<br /><br />In spreading out the damp modeling flock it should be evenly as possible, then put it in a cool dry place and not be hit by strong winds for 24-48 hours. Make sure it is completely dry before proceeding to the next step, or else you will not get the same quality results as what Games Workshop produces.<br /><br />Step 5 - Screen the Modeling Flock To Make It Finer<br /><br />A fine strainer with a small openings you will have in doing the last step and that is to screen the modeling flock through it. There may be bunches that are just too hard deal with. You should really work if this happen until you cannot screen a dust from it. This will not be garbage cause it can be use as a mossy rock on another models.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-3513375148485993462008-03-11T20:22:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:24:06.402-07:00About Essential Fatty Acids and Fish OilBy now, most of us have heard of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and their potential health benefits. They’re said to sustain cognitive function and memory, benefit the heart and immune system, aid in cell reproduction and repair, and even help balance hormones. Fish oil, duly noted by the medical community as having similar benefits, contains high levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids, thus establishing the link between a daily regimen of fish oil and good health. Fish oil is sold in the U.S. as a dietary supplement and comes in both liquid and capsule form.<br /><br />What are essential fatty acids?<br /><br />Essential fatty acids are unsaturated fats typically found in the oils of vegetables, certain nuts and seeds and some fish. They’re said to benefit health more than the saturated fats found in meat and dairy products and may even have a positive impact on cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Essential fatty acids are referred to as "essential" because they must be obtained through diet and are essential to the normal growth and function of muscles, nerves, cells and organs in humans. There are two families of essential fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids.<br /><br />Omega-3 fatty acids – the fatty acids found in fish oil <br /><br />Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat present in many coldwater fish including trout, salmon, sardines, anchovies, herring, mackerel, tuna and cod. The two most potent forms of omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), both known as "good fats" – unlike saturated fats, which when consumed in excess can lead to cardiovascular problems, neural and brain disorders.<br /><br />EPA helps to produce the prostaglandins (hormone-like substances) which help control blood-clotting and arterial functions. EPAs may also help to lower serum triglyceride levels.<br /><br />DHA is a major component of human brain and retinal tissue and aids the transmission of nerve impulses.<br /><br />The term "omega-3 essential fatty acid" has become synonymous with "fish oil" in modern American marketing literature. <br /><br />Sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids other than fish oil include, but are not limited to:<br /><br />• Avocadoes (whole or oil)<br />• Brazil nuts <br />• Flaxseed<br />• Flaxseed oil<br />• Fortified milk products<br />• Hempseeds<br />• Hempseed oil<br />• Omega-3 eggs<br />• Pumpkin seeds<br />• Sesame seed<br />• Soybean oil<br />• Walnuts<br />• Wheat germ oil<br /><br />Omega-6 fatty acids – not found in fish oil <br /><br />Omega-6 EFAs are found in animal products such as dairy and meat and are common in cooking oils such as safflower, olive, sunflower, hemp, soybean, pumpkin, sesame, walnut and flaxseed oils. Too many omega-6 EFAs, say nutritionists, can throw off the balance of prostaglandins and lead to health problems. Experts recommend a ratio of three parts omega-3 essential fatty acids to every one part omega-6 fatty acid in the diet. Research indicates that Americans consume far more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 as a result of overindulging in fried foods, red meat and cheese.<br /><br />Omega-6 fatty acids are dependent on interactions with omega-3 essential fatty acids in order to benefit good health, which is why a balance of the two is crucial in the diet. The American Heart Association cautions against a high dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids as it can lead to the development of gallstones and promote tumors.<br /><br />Prostaglandins<br /><br />Prostaglandins encompass a number of hormone-like substances found in every cell in the body. They’re critical to the dilation and constriction of blood vessels, the contraction and relaxation of muscles, the regulation of blood pressure and the modulation of inflammation. Prostaglandins are needed for overall good health and maintenance and must be replenished constantly. It’s easy to understand why having a good balance of prostaglandins in the body is essential to well-being.<br /><br />Where does fish oil come from?<br /><br />Most fish oil is extracted from the fatty flesh of the fish, unless a product specifically states otherwise, as is the case with cod liver oil or shark liver oil – extracted from fish liver. Nutritious fish oil is usually derived from deep, coldwater fish and those swimming in the wild (wild fish eat other fish and marine animals and vegetation to survive, whereas farm-raised fish are typically fed some type of less nutritious, less expensive, commercial-grade pellet). Some experts say the best fish comes from the deep Atlantic of Norway and other Scandinavian countries: the deeper and colder the water, say experts, the less chance of toxins such as mercury, lead, dioxins, furans and PCBs occurring in the fish oil. Fish from eastern Pacific waters is known to contain elevated levels of mercury.<br /><br />Fish oil supplements – good ones / bad ones<br /><br />"Product disclosure" is the operable phrase when seeking out nutritious fish oil supplements. From what kind of fish is the oil extracted and from where is it extracted naturally through pressing or with a centrifuge; or are petrochemical solvents such as hexane used to extract the oil from the source? How is the fish oil refined? Is it molecularly distilled, which to date is the most reliable form of fish oil purification, or does the label read something like "extra-distilled" or "super-distilled?" Such terms have no bearing on quality or safety. Because the hundreds of thousands of fish oil supplements on the market remain unregulated by the FDA, the safety, consistency, efficacy and strength of these products varies immensely among brands.<br /><br />When reading fish oil supplement labels:<br /><br />• Make sure the type of fish from which the fish oil is extracted is listed.<br />• Look for terms "coldwater," "deep water" and "wild" as opposed to "farm-raised."<br />• In what ocean or hemisphere was the fish caught? North Atlantic, deep, coldwater is said to be the most nutritious. <br />• Make sure the fish oil is molecularly distilled, which better ensures the absence of PCBs, heavy metals and other contaminants.<br />• What parts of the fish were used? Fish oils extracted from fish liver may be higher in heavy metals and contaminants.<br />• What fish oil extraction method was used? Cold or modified expeller pressing means that the oil was produced without damaging temperatures or unnecessary pressure.<br /><br />Marketing claims that have no defined meaning in relation to fish oil supplements, and which often mislead consumers, include:<br /><br />• Ultra-pure<br />• Professional grade<br />• Pharmaceutical grade<br />• High-potency<br />• Super-distilled<br />• Natural<br />• Extra-distilled<br />• Best<br />• Finest<br />• Highest quality<br />• Pure<br />• Purest<br />• Purified<br /><br />Essential fatty acid health benefits and risks<br /><br />Few argue the benefits of fish oil and essential fatty acids in the diet. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the omega-3 fatty acids can benefit cardiovascular health and that "good unsaturated fats" derived from vegetables and fish are far more nutritious than "bad saturated fats" which come from red meat, animal products and dairy. The cardiovascular benefits to balancing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the diet include lowered serum cholesterol, decreased serum trigylcerides and reduced platelet aggregation. Although many fish oil supplement companies claim that fish oil supplementation may aid brain function and strengthen the immune system, a complete body of evidence has yet to be produced.<br /><br />Along with the health benefits of fish oil come some risks, most associated with taking too high doses of fish oil or having dangerously high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids in the blood. Some of these risks can include:<br /><br />• Thinning of the blood and reduced ability of the blood to clot.<br />• Increased risk of bleeding.<br />• Too large doses can increase glucose levels in persons with already elevated blood sugar levels.<br />• In excess, fish oil may suppress the immune system.<br />• Increase the occurrence of nosebleeds and easy bruising.<br />• Upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea and belching.<br />• Poisoning from heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins and pesticides.<br /><br />Experts and nutritionists are convinced that the health benefits of fish oil far outweigh the risks. However, many warn that fish oil shouldn’t be taken with blood-thinning medication such as warfarin or aspirin and shouldn’t be taken by anyone with bleeding disorders or uncontrolled hypertension. It is highly advisable to consult a physician before supplementing a diet with fish oil.<br /><br />EPAs, DHAs, efficacy and the FDA <br /><br />In September of 2004, the FDA announced they would allow a qualified health claim for reduced risk of coronary heart disease for conventional foods that contain EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids as outlined in FDA’s "Interim Procedures for Qualified Health Claims in the Labeling of Conventional Human Food and Human Dietary Supplements." Notwithstanding inconclusive research at the time of release, the FDA said it would exercise its enforcement discretion with respect to the following qualified health claim:<br /><br />"Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One serving of [name of food] provides [x] grams of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. [See nutrition information for total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol content.]"<br /><br />In 2000, the FDA announced a similar qualified health claim for dietary supplements containing EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids and the reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The FDA recommends that consumers not exceed more than a total of three grams per day of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, with no more than two grams per day from a dietary supplement.<br /><br />Be sure to shop at www.vitacost.com for all your essential fatty acid and fish oil needs!<br /><br />References<br /><br />1. Supplement from the sea: the fat from fish oil can benefit your heart, eyes, joints, and brain. Tom Weede. Natural Health. Oct 2007 v37 i9 p105 (2).<br /><br />2. Omega medicine. Is fish oil good for what ails you? Bonnie Liebman. Nutrition Action Healthletter. Oct 2007 v34 i8 p1 (5).<br /><br />3. The government’s big fish story: Pick the perfect fish oil supplement. Men's Health. July-August 2007 v22 i6 p158.<br /><br />4. Fish oil and brain development. Alan R. Gaby. Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine. Oct 2007 i291 p49 (2).<br /><br />5. Effects of fish oil supplementation on myocardial fatty acids in humans. R.G. Metcalf, M.J. James, R.A. Gibson. Alternative Medicine Review. Sept 2007 v12 i3 p307 (1).<br /><br />6. Essential fatty acids. Douglas Dupler and Teresa G. Odle. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 4 vols. Updated July 1, 2006.<br /><br />7. Mighty omegas (ways to score more essential fats). Nancy Duncan. Women's Health. Dec 2006 v3 i10 p47.<br /><br />8. Essential fatty acids and eicosanoids: their role in preventing inflammation, cardiovascular disease and cancer. James Meschino. Dynamic Chiropractic. Dec 3, 2007 v25 i25 p28(3).<br /><br />9. Fish oil. Mai Tran and Teresa Odle. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 4 vols. Updated July 1, 2006.<br /><br />10. On call: Fish oil revisited. Staying Healthy from the Faculty of Harvard Medical School. August 21, 2006 pNA.<br /><br />11. By the way, doctor: How much fish oil should I be taking? Staying Healthy from the Faculty of Harvard Medical School. August 21, 2006 pNA.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-16412974122950179502008-03-11T20:19:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:24:29.857-07:00About Essential Fatty Acids and Fish OilBy now, most of us have heard of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and their potential health benefits. They’re said to sustain cognitive function and memory, benefit the heart and immune system, aid in cell reproduction and repair, and even help balance hormones. Fish oil, duly noted by the medical community as having similar benefits, contains high levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids, thus establishing the link between a daily regimen of fish oil and good health. Fish oil is sold in the U.S. as a dietary supplement and comes in both liquid and capsule form.<br /><br />What are essential fatty acids?<br /><br />Essential fatty acids are unsaturated fats typically found in the oils of vegetables, certain nuts and seeds and some fish. They’re said to benefit health more than the saturated fats found in meat and dairy products and may even have a positive impact on cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Essential fatty acids are referred to as "essential" because they must be obtained through diet and are essential to the normal growth and function of muscles, nerves, cells and organs in humans. There are two families of essential fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids.<br /><br />Omega-3 fatty acids – the fatty acids found in fish oil <br /><br />Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat present in many coldwater fish including trout, salmon, sardines, anchovies, herring, mackerel, tuna and cod. The two most potent forms of omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), both known as "good fats" – unlike saturated fats, which when consumed in excess can lead to cardiovascular problems, neural and brain disorders.<br /><br />EPA helps to produce the prostaglandins (hormone-like substances) which help control blood-clotting and arterial functions. EPAs may also help to lower serum triglyceride levels.<br /><br />DHA is a major component of human brain and retinal tissue and aids the transmission of nerve impulses.<br /><br />The term "omega-3 essential fatty acid" has become synonymous with "fish oil" in modern American marketing literature. <br /><br />Sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids other than fish oil include, but are not limited to:<br /><br />• Avocadoes (whole or oil)<br />• Brazil nuts <br />• Flaxseed<br />• Flaxseed oil<br />• Fortified milk products<br />• Hempseeds<br />• Hempseed oil<br />• Omega-3 eggs<br />• Pumpkin seeds<br />• Sesame seed<br />• Soybean oil<br />• Walnuts<br />• Wheat germ oil<br /><br />Omega-6 fatty acids – not found in fish oil <br /><br />Omega-6 EFAs are found in animal products such as dairy and meat and are common in cooking oils such as safflower, olive, sunflower, hemp, soybean, pumpkin, sesame, walnut and flaxseed oils. Too many omega-6 EFAs, say nutritionists, can throw off the balance of prostaglandins and lead to health problems. Experts recommend a ratio of three parts omega-3 essential fatty acids to every one part omega-6 fatty acid in the diet. Research indicates that Americans consume far more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 as a result of overindulging in fried foods, red meat and cheese.<br /><br />Omega-6 fatty acids are dependent on interactions with omega-3 essential fatty acids in order to benefit good health, which is why a balance of the two is crucial in the diet. The American Heart Association cautions against a high dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids as it can lead to the development of gallstones and promote tumors.<br /><br />Prostaglandins<br /><br />Prostaglandins encompass a number of hormone-like substances found in every cell in the body. They’re critical to the dilation and constriction of blood vessels, the contraction and relaxation of muscles, the regulation of blood pressure and the modulation of inflammation. Prostaglandins are needed for overall good health and maintenance and must be replenished constantly. It’s easy to understand why having a good balance of prostaglandins in the body is essential to well-being.<br /><br />Where does fish oil come from?<br /><br />Most fish oil is extracted from the fatty flesh of the fish, unless a product specifically states otherwise, as is the case with cod liver oil or shark liver oil – extracted from fish liver. Nutritious fish oil is usually derived from deep, coldwater fish and those swimming in the wild (wild fish eat other fish and marine animals and vegetation to survive, whereas farm-raised fish are typically fed some type of less nutritious, less expensive, commercial-grade pellet). Some experts say the best fish comes from the deep Atlantic of Norway and other Scandinavian countries: the deeper and colder the water, say experts, the less chance of toxins such as mercury, lead, dioxins, furans and PCBs occurring in the fish oil. Fish from eastern Pacific waters is known to contain elevated levels of mercury.<br /><br />Fish oil supplements – good ones / bad ones<br /><br />"Product disclosure" is the operable phrase when seeking out nutritious fish oil supplements. From what kind of fish is the oil extracted and from where is it extracted naturally through pressing or with a centrifuge; or are petrochemical solvents such as hexane used to extract the oil from the source? How is the fish oil refined? Is it molecularly distilled, which to date is the most reliable form of fish oil purification, or does the label read something like "extra-distilled" or "super-distilled?" Such terms have no bearing on quality or safety. Because the hundreds of thousands of fish oil supplements on the market remain unregulated by the FDA, the safety, consistency, efficacy and strength of these products varies immensely among brands.<br /><br />When reading fish oil supplement labels:<br /><br />• Make sure the type of fish from which the fish oil is extracted is listed.<br />• Look for terms "coldwater," "deep water" and "wild" as opposed to "farm-raised."<br />• In what ocean or hemisphere was the fish caught? North Atlantic, deep, coldwater is said to be the most nutritious. <br />• Make sure the fish oil is molecularly distilled, which better ensures the absence of PCBs, heavy metals and other contaminants.<br />• What parts of the fish were used? Fish oils extracted from fish liver may be higher in heavy metals and contaminants.<br />• What fish oil extraction method was used? Cold or modified expeller pressing means that the oil was produced without damaging temperatures or unnecessary pressure.<br /><br />Marketing claims that have no defined meaning in relation to fish oil supplements, and which often mislead consumers, include:<br /><br />• Ultra-pure<br />• Professional grade<br />• Pharmaceutical grade<br />• High-potency<br />• Super-distilled<br />• Natural<br />• Extra-distilled<br />• Best<br />• Finest<br />• Highest quality<br />• Pure<br />• Purest<br />• Purified<br /><br />Essential fatty acid health benefits and risks<br /><br />Few argue the benefits of fish oil and essential fatty acids in the diet. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the omega-3 fatty acids can benefit cardiovascular health and that "good unsaturated fats" derived from vegetables and fish are far more nutritious than "bad saturated fats" which come from red meat, animal products and dairy. The cardiovascular benefits to balancing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the diet include lowered serum cholesterol, decreased serum trigylcerides and reduced platelet aggregation. Although many fish oil supplement companies claim that fish oil supplementation may aid brain function and strengthen the immune system, a complete body of evidence has yet to be produced.<br /><br />Along with the health benefits of fish oil come some risks, most associated with taking too high doses of fish oil or having dangerously high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids in the blood. Some of these risks can include:<br /><br />• Thinning of the blood and reduced ability of the blood to clot.<br />• Increased risk of bleeding.<br />• Too large doses can increase glucose levels in persons with already elevated blood sugar levels.<br />• In excess, fish oil may suppress the immune system.<br />• Increase the occurrence of nosebleeds and easy bruising.<br />• Upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea and belching.<br />• Poisoning from heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins and pesticides.<br /><br />Experts and nutritionists are convinced that the health benefits of fish oil far outweigh the risks. However, many warn that fish oil shouldn’t be taken with blood-thinning medication such as warfarin or aspirin and shouldn’t be taken by anyone with bleeding disorders or uncontrolled hypertension. It is highly advisable to consult a physician before supplementing a diet with fish oil.<br /><br />EPAs, DHAs, efficacy and the FDA <br /><br />In September of 2004, the FDA announced they would allow a qualified health claim for reduced risk of coronary heart disease for conventional foods that contain EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids as outlined in FDA’s "Interim Procedures for Qualified Health Claims in the Labeling of Conventional Human Food and Human Dietary Supplements." Notwithstanding inconclusive research at the time of release, the FDA said it would exercise its enforcement discretion with respect to the following qualified health claim:<br /><br />"Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One serving of [name of food] provides [x] grams of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. [See nutrition information for total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol content.]"<br /><br />In 2000, the FDA announced a similar qualified health claim for dietary supplements containing EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids and the reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The FDA recommends that consumers not exceed more than a total of three grams per day of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, with no more than two grams per day from a dietary supplement.<br /><br />Be sure to shop at www.vitacost.com for all your essential fatty acid and fish oil needs!<br /><br />References<br /><br />1. Supplement from the sea: the fat from fish oil can benefit your heart, eyes, joints, and brain. Tom Weede. Natural Health. Oct 2007 v37 i9 p105 (2).<br /><br />2. Omega medicine. Is fish oil good for what ails you? Bonnie Liebman. Nutrition Action Healthletter. Oct 2007 v34 i8 p1 (5).<br /><br />3. The government’s big fish story: Pick the perfect fish oil supplement. Men's Health. July-August 2007 v22 i6 p158.<br /><br />4. Fish oil and brain development. Alan R. Gaby. Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine. Oct 2007 i291 p49 (2).<br /><br />5. Effects of fish oil supplementation on myocardial fatty acids in humans. R.G. Metcalf, M.J. James, R.A. Gibson. Alternative Medicine Review. Sept 2007 v12 i3 p307 (1).<br /><br />6. Essential fatty acids. Douglas Dupler and Teresa G. Odle. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 4 vols. Updated July 1, 2006.<br /><br />7. Mighty omegas (ways to score more essential fats). Nancy Duncan. Women's Health. Dec 2006 v3 i10 p47.<br /><br />8. Essential fatty acids and eicosanoids: their role in preventing inflammation, cardiovascular disease and cancer. James Meschino. Dynamic Chiropractic. Dec 3, 2007 v25 i25 p28(3).<br /><br />9. Fish oil. Mai Tran and Teresa Odle. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 4 vols. Updated July 1, 2006.<br /><br />10. On call: Fish oil revisited. Staying Healthy from the Faculty of Harvard Medical School. August 21, 2006 pNA.<br /><br />11. By the way, doctor: How much fish oil should I be taking? Staying Healthy from the Faculty of Harvard Medical School. August 21, 2006 pNA.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-77337328061376241232008-03-11T20:15:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:18:24.297-07:00Viva La Vegan - Why it's not hard to be a veganPeople are generally pretty shocked that I choose not to eat animal products of any kind. “Don’t you feel like you’re missing out?” they ask wide-eyed with their eyebrow raised. The answer is no. The only thing I feel I’m missing out on is contributing to the mass slaughter of farmed animals. Eating meat; fish and dairy causes environmental destruction, damages human health, contributes to global hunger and inflicts immense suffering on billions of animals across the world.<br /><br />Sometimes they get the vegetarian thing. Most people have seen images of factory farming, which are pretty shocking. They push it to the back of their minds, but kind of understand vegetarians. Vegans on the other hand seem like freaks, after all what’s wrong with taking the cows excess milk right? Well the cow wouldn’t have had milk without a calf and what happens to the calf? They get ripped away from their mother within the first days, the males often going to veal crates, or being killed on the spot and the females enduring the same fate as their mother; Excessive milking, mastitis and slaughter when she gets worn out due to overwork.<br /><br />Chickens bred for laying eggs are only useful if they are female. Thousands of male chicks (yes the cute yellow fluffy ones) are crushed alive or left to die in rubbish bags, suffocating and squashed by the other chicks. Therefore even free-range eggs raise ethical questions and as for battery cages, they are outdated and extremely cruel.<br /><br />The hardest thing about being a vegan, isn’t resisting temptation to eat meat, but trying to avoid hidden animal products in everything from sweets and beer to bread and even soy products. The best thing to do is to get used to reading ingredients. If a product that you like contains an animal product that could be easily replaced, write the company a letter and explain why you won’t be using their product anymore and suggest a simple change they could make.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-49417082981831489762008-03-11T20:12:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:18:49.231-07:00Viva La Vegan - Why it's not hard to be a veganPeople are generally pretty shocked that I choose not to eat animal products of any kind. “Don’t you feel like you’re missing out?” they ask wide-eyed with their eyebrow raised. The answer is no. The only thing I feel I’m missing out on is contributing to the mass slaughter of farmed animals. Eating meat; fish and dairy causes environmental destruction, damages human health, contributes to global hunger and inflicts immense suffering on billions of animals across the world.<br /><br />Sometimes they get the vegetarian thing. Most people have seen images of factory farming, which are pretty shocking. They push it to the back of their minds, but kind of understand vegetarians. Vegans on the other hand seem like freaks, after all what’s wrong with taking the cows excess milk right? Well the cow wouldn’t have had milk without a calf and what happens to the calf? They get ripped away from their mother within the first days, the males often going to veal crates, or being killed on the spot and the females enduring the same fate as their mother; Excessive milking, mastitis and slaughter when she gets worn out due to overwork.<br /><br />Chickens bred for laying eggs are only useful if they are female. Thousands of male chicks (yes the cute yellow fluffy ones) are crushed alive or left to die in rubbish bags, suffocating and squashed by the other chicks. Therefore even free-range eggs raise ethical questions and as for battery cages, they are outdated and extremely cruel.<br /><br />The hardest thing about being a vegan, isn’t resisting temptation to eat meat, but trying to avoid hidden animal products in everything from sweets and beer to bread and even soy products. The best thing to do is to get used to reading ingredients. If a product that you like contains an animal product that could be easily replaced, write the company a letter and explain why you won’t be using their product anymore and suggest a simple change they could make.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6370638556798297886.post-79757414489143189782008-03-11T20:03:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:10:04.983-07:00Playing Cornhole At A Tailgate PartyCornhole is a very popular game in some areas of the country, and not so popular in others. For the areas of the country where the game has a following, however, it is often played at tailgate parties and other gatherings. One of the reasons that cornhole does so well at a tailgate party is because it is so easy to transport. The board that is traditionally used in the cornhole game is four feet by two feet, which fits in the bed of a truck, and it will also go in the trunk of a larger car. In addition, there are some smaller versions of the board made. These are three feet by two feet, and they are often called by the name of beanbag toss, instead of cornhole.<br /><br />Because of this, the cornhole game is popular at many different gatherings, and the game is very often played at tailgating parties in the Northern part of the country. While the game does not seem to be as popular in the South, there are pockets of interest in it. In these areas, the individuals who like to play the cornhole game will bring their cornhole game boards and the bags to tailgate parties and other gatherings so that everyone has a chance to play. They organize tournaments, play the game at backyard barbecues, and predict that the game will one day be big enough to be televised like bowling and other activities that some people believe is a sport and others do not.<br /><br />One of the best things about the cornhole game, however, is the ease with which it can be played. This is a great thing for any kind of party, because virtually anyone can play it without worrying about how to understand the rules. The game is not difficult, and the rules are not complex, making the game something that can be enjoyed by anyone, young or old, at any skill level. People can also make their own cornhole boards and cornhole sets. There are plans available on the Internet for almost everyone to use. The cornhole board can be made quite easily with a few simple tools by someone with only a moderate level of skill.<br /><br />Even a beginner can make a cornhole board by following the instructions carefully. Most cornhole boards � either homemade or factory made � are made of wood. Some of them, however, are made of plastic, but they are often not as popular. For those who make their own boards for tailgate parties, however, there are also cornhole bags that need to be made. The older ones were made of a heavy cloth such as denim or burlap and stuffed with corn. Today�s cornhole bags are usually made of a somewhat softer cloth, and they are either stuffed with beans or with plastic pellets. Either way, however, they are easy to make and can last a long time when made correctly. They need to be sewn very tightly and they have to be the correct size and weight. By either buying or building a cornhole board the next tailgate party can be a huge success.Giovshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618764204918987843noreply@blogger.com0