Etching And Engraving

Prevent Car Theft With Glass Etching

2008-03-14T05:22:00.000-07:00

Phoenix, Arizona, achieves #4 in the list of top 10 cities with the highest vehicle theft! (2004 National Insurance Crime Bureau [NICB])

In 2002, Arizona had the highest car theft rate in the United States, with the vast majority occurring in Maricopa and Pima Counties. According to the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA), ?a vehicle theft occurs every nine minutes and 16 seconds.? This causes an estimated economic loss of $3.7M to residents of Arizona in 2002 alone!

Don?t be another statistic!

Help to deter theft by etching your auto glass with traceable numbers. This procedure is highly recommended by the NICB, police departments and insurance companies for effectiveness. Although vehicle manufacturers mark some parts, it's not enough. By permanently installing visible VIN and serial numbers into your vehicle's glass, you can greatly reduce auto theft and aid in recovery.

You can visit your local auto dealership or window tinting/glass repair facility; or you can do it yourself with an etching kit found on many different websites. In addition to glass etching, the NICB also recommends other popular visible or audible devices such as audible alarms, steering-column collars and locks, wheel locks, theft-deterrent decals and ID markers on the car.

Auto glass etching entails chemically marking the automobile with its own unique vehicle identification number (VIN) on all windows, including sunroofs and T?-Tops. The chemical process of etching involves using a mild acid that reacts only to the glass. Etching all the glass windows makes the vehicles less wanted by car thieves. The actual etching is small and does not mark or deface the window, but is one of the first details most car thieves see before attempting to steal a vehicle.

The recommended areas to be etched include the following:

Front Windshield - drivers side in lower corner by factory VIN number.
Side Windows - lower corner, near door lock or handle.
Rear Window - driver?s side in lower corner or towards the middle, lower edge.

These are the following steps for the glass etching kit for those handy, do-it-yourself types:

Clean area to be etched with glass cleaner - Remove the blue stencils from the white backing paper and apply to the outside of window glass in the desired locations. With fingertips, gently "pat" the stencil to ensure that it is in full contact with glass, paying specific attention to the area where the VIN number has been cut into the stencil.
Apply a film of etch cream - brush both left and right completely covering all characters.
After etching cream has been on for 5 to 7 minutes: Carefully remove and discard all stencils into a plastic bag or container. Spray etched area with plain water or glass cleaner and wipe dry with paper towel. Repeat process for all windows.
Warning decals - Apply to inside of windows in conspicuous locations. Suggested location: near handles on front doors.
Complete the Insurance "Proof of Etch" certificate.

However, it is recommended to have this done by a licensed professional as this process requires a very steady hand and must be done under optimum conditions.For example; do not etch glass in direct sunlight on very hot days, when the temperature is below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or in very windy or wet conditions.

SunTec Auto Glass is a family-owned business in Arizona specializing in Phoenix windshield replacement, windshield repair, window tinting and glass etching. Contact us to handle those chips and breaks in your line of vision at 480-QUALITY or http://www.SunTecAutoGlass.com

How To Start With Stretching Exercise

2008-03-13T00:18:00.001-07:00

In our modern society it may be difficult for you to find time for exercise. This is such a shame because stretching has so many great benefits. It gives you energy, it removes health problems, it assists you reduce unneeded fat, and it degrades stress. The only thing to do this is looking for a way to put exercise in your daily procedure without you having to completely rearrange your schedule to match it. You could go on to do this with just doing some basic exercises within your day or find small break to match it. By adding stretching into your procedure of every day, you can get a lot of the benefits of exercise. Stretching exercise for only ten minutes a day may not assist you lose weight, but it will reduce stress, reduce back pain and body aching, help reduce health problems, help bettering your mood, and provide you with more energy.

The best time to begin your stretching is first thing in the morning. If it is possible to arise ten minutes earlier than normal just to do stretching you will reap more benefits. Pick a spot in your home where you can do the stretching. If you have a spot close to your bed that will work, this will make it easy to scuttle out of bed and start. Go up with a few stretching routine to do everyday that includes stretching your arms, legs, back, and neck. By taking this time in the morning to do some stretching, you will find out that you get more energy in the morning and are able to get started faster and with a more positive mind-set on the day.

No matter what you do, it is significant that you try to stop once an hour for a couple of minutes to stretch out your body. You may be able to go on with some stretches that you can even do from a sitting position if you spend much of your time in lectures or meetings. When you first go on with some exercises to do, make sure that you aren't causing any pain to your body. If you feel ache, you are either stretching too far or are doing it incorrectly. You should stretch yourself just far enough to feel a little pulling on your muscles. In the course of the time you will find it easier to stretch a little farther as your body will become more flexible. Just keep in mind that stretching is something that will give you a lot of benefits for your body and mind. Since it takes only a little time to do, you needn't feel guilty for spending this time to yourself.

Diane Winter share information that gives you a lot of tips and ideas on how to get started with stretching. Check out her website to learn more about the benefits of stretching exercise

The Best Stretching Exercises For Your Body

2008-03-13T00:17:00.001-07:00

With beginning daily stretching exercises you can have a lot of wonderful benefits for your body. Typically by setting aside about ten minutes a day you can get in enough stretching to begin impacting your body in a favorable way. The matter that a lot of people have a hard time with is figuring out which stretching exercises are most beneficial for their body and for the effects they want. Fortunately, doing any type of stretching will give you positive results. But if you want to go on with a effective stretching exercise practice, you might ask for some assistance.

There are several wonderful places that you can go to that will serve you design a good stretching routine totally free. The best place to begin is on the web. At that place you'll find further information about stretching exercises than you'll ever need. You can find out what you need quickly and easily. As you begin looking online search for a number of different websites. That way you'll get the positions of several people and get additional variety in the cases of stretching exercises. Try out each stretching exercise at least once before completing a stretching routine. You might find out that your body has difficulty with certain stretches or that you do not feel the stretch the way you are supposed to. Many times you would get fine stretching tips on these websites too, as if how long to hold each position and how many repetitions to do.

As well consider looking at books that center on stretching. Some books will feature pages of different stretching exercises to try with good illustrations and steps that are easy to realize. Make sure that you take a book that displays stretches for a lot of various parts of the body, instead a book that only centers on upper legs or body. The most giving advantage to having a book of stretching exercises is that if you forget how to do a stretch or if you desire to vary your routine, you can forever look back at the book rather than taking time searching for the necessary information.

So have in mind to check out a number of sources when searching for stretching exercises and get a book that features pictures and easy to understand steps. If you find out the stretches on the web, add it to your favorites where you've found out the information, so that you can go back to it whenever you need to. Also, look up safety rules on stretching so that you don't overstretch and hurt yourself.

Diane Winter writes articles that gives you a lot of tips and information about great stretching exercises for your body. If you want learn more about the benefits try visiting her website about fitness and exercise to get a healthy body.

Using web fetching to create novel websites

2008-03-12T01:20:00.000-07:00

Collecting information from a website and presenting it to your visitors in a different, more useful/interesting format can be a valuable service. It can help attract new visitors and get existing visitors coming back for more.

The best way to collect data from a website is to use their web service if they provide one. Google, Yahoo, MSN, amazon, ebay, technorati and numerous others all offer web services. These are well documented interfaces through which you can easily collect data. The problems come when you want to collect data from a site that doesn't provide a web service.

If a site doesn't offer a web service or some other well structured version of their data then the only option remaining is web scraping. This can be messy, often requires extensive testing and debugging, and will break if ever the target website changes its design. With all these problems it should only ever be a last resort.

The reason it is so difficult is that you are collecting the data you need from the html used to display the website to each visitor. Each site is unique. Each web scraper is also unique.

If the site we are interested in doesn't offer a web service, no rss feed and we can't get the data we need from anywhere else then how do we go about building a web scraper?

The process can be broken down into three parts: get the html of the page, extract the data we need, and then do something with that data.

Depending on how the site you are fetching information from is set up fetching the html could be really very easy or exceedingly complicated. At its simplest all you will need to do is open up a file just as you would a file located on your local server. If you don't need to log in to view the data you want on the site then it may well be this easy. For your sake I hope it is this simple.

If you need to log in to the site to access the data you need then things can get complicated . . . really complicated. I'm currently trying to collect/develop scripts to fetch the contact lists from webmail services such as hotmail. Here the obstacles you must face include cookies and variables in the URL. These problems can be overcome but you'll need plenty of time.

Once you have the html for the page you need to clean it up so that you have just the data you need with no extra text. The best way to do this is with regular expressions. By defining patterns for the data you want you can cut out the chaff and just keep what you need. Unless you are extremely comfortable with regular expressions you may find it easier to use several simpler patterns one after each other. Your script may take a little longer to run but it will be far easier to develop.

Finally you want to do something with the data you gather. This may be as simple as storing it in a text file or displaying it immediately to a visitor to your site. You may also decide to do some more complex tasks with the data. The important thing is that once you have the data you have the choice of what to do with it.

Web scraping isn't easy but the benefits can be considerable. If a web service is available though save yourself some time and use that instead.

TorrentialWebDev focuses on developing the tools to build and promote Web Applications

Stretching and Flexibility: How Stretching Improves Quality Of Life

2008-03-10T23:30:00.000-07:00

It is common knowledge that stretching is important for maintaining and improving flexibility and proper flexibility helps keep muscles functioning and feeling well. Unfortunately, while most people know flexibility is important, few people take the time to adequately stretch their muscles.

As a result, I wrote this article to explain why stretching is so important and how it will improve your quality of life. There are also some basic stretching recommendations to get you started. My hope is this information will encourage you to make stretching part of your everyday routine.

Maintaining sufficient flexibility is important for preventing muscle stiffness, tightness, pain, and injuries. When muscles are not stretched on a regular basis, they will become tighter, shorter, and ultimately decrease in range of motion. When muscles are kept in a shortened position for an extended period of time, they require stretching to return to their original length.

For example, it is common for people sit for many hours every day and the hip flexors are kept in a shortened position during this time. If these muscles are not stretched on occasion, they will stay in a partially shortened position. If this happens over a long period of time, you will actually lose parts of your muscle, called sarcomeres, which are responsible for the contraction of the muscle. When this occurs, the muscle will maintain a shortened position and intensive stretching will be required to regain the lost sarcomeres and return the muscle to it?s original resting length.

This may not sound too bad, but when a muscle is kept in a shortened position, it has drastic effects on the body. The most common symptoms are increased soreness, stiffness, and pain. Short muscles are not as effective as optimal length muscles and they often develop knots and become overworked. When a muscle is chronically tight or overworked, you can experience pain any time the muscle contracts. Eventually, this may become so bad that the muscles stays contracted and you will feel almost constant pain.

To make matters worse, your body will try to compensate for the overworked muscle activating other muscles to do the work that the fatigued muscle is unable to perform. This leads to additional overuse of the muscles trying to help out. Going back to the sitting example, when hip flexors become too tight, they will cause the low back muscles to become overworked. Put simply, sitting for many hours without stretching is one of the main causes of lower back pain.

This is just one common example of how tight muscles cause everyday pain, but there are many others. The good news is that many instances of muscle and joint pain can be improved, completely relieved, or avoided altogether by a good stretching routine. Unfortunately most people do not realize the importance of stretching until they already develop significant muscle problems and then it becomes much more difficult to correct the problem.

There are many different types of stretching (dynamic, ballistic, PNF, etc.), but this article will only discuss static stretching. Static stretching is the most commonly used form of stretching and is considered very safe and effective for increasing flexibility. You are probably familiar with this type of stretching, which involves holding a particular stretch for a certain amount of time with minimal movement and no bouncing.

When performing static stretches, you should feel a moderate stretch, but you should never push the stretch to the point of pain. Overstretching a muscle can result in injury instead of improvement. Stretches are generally held between 15 and 30 seconds and performed 1 to 3 times. Usually the second and third times stretching a muscle will result in a larger stretch (without additional discomfort) than the first stretch.

Of course tighter muscles that need to be lengthened need to be stretched more than healthy muscles that just need to retain their normal length. Healthy muscles probably only need to be stretched once per day, while tight muscles should be stretched at least 2 or 3 times per day.

If you exercise, the most important time to perform static stretching is after your workout. Exercising is incredibly good for you, but it can cause muscles to become very tight and if they are not stretched they will remain in a shortened position. This will likely cause unnecessary stiffness, soreness, delays in recovery, decreased flexibility, or even muscle imbalances.

Stretching after exercise is also beneficial, because your muscles will still be warmed up. This allows the muscle to be more pliable and you will be able to stretch further without discomfort. It is a good idea to do something to warm up your muscles before any stretching and you should avoid stretching a cold (not warmed up) muscle whenever possible. You do not have to do activity before stretching; even a hot bath or shower can significantly improve the quality of your stretches and decrease the chances of overstretching or injury.

I am not going to recommend specific stretches, because there are too many different options and everyone responds differently to various stretches. There are however some general rules to follow. Most importantly, if a stretch does not feel comfortable or you are not feeling a decent stretch, find a different stretch. It is also a good idea to make minor changes in your body position at the beginning of the stretch to find the position that causes the best stretch. This is the position you should maintain during the duration of the stretch.

You are probably familiar with the expression "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" and this statement is certainly true when it comes to stretching. Incorporating stretching into your daily routine will help improve your current muscle and joint problems, as well as stop future problems before they start. Start today and learn first hand how much stretching can improve your quality of life.

Ross Harrison, CSCS, NSCA-CPT is a certified personal trainer, strength and conditioning specialist, and nutritional consultant who teaches people how to lose weight, get in shape, and improve their quality of life with exercise and nutrition. For more information or to sign up for his free health and fitness newsletter, visit http://precisionhealth-fitness.com.

Etched Glass: Etching Beauty

2008-03-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

Etched glass is a wonderful gift to give those that you love. The method of actually etching the glass can be done by you or by a professional. No matter who does it, by digging into the first layer of the glass, a shine and detail can be added to the glass, transforming it from a simple gift into something truly beautiful. But, why should you add etched glass to your list of things to purchase and give? There are actually several ways that this type of method can dress up your gifts and create a very unique and special look.

Etching can be done on many types of glass and other materials. For example, if you want to dress up the look of a mirror, you can etch the glass in a pattern. In a circle framed mirror, etch an intertwining vine long the edge of the frame, leaving the center completely open for viewing. It adds texture and depth to the look so that you get a more interesting piece to hand on your wall.

Etched glass can also be an ideal way to add element to your framed pictures. You can use etching to dedicate a picture or message. Or, you can use etching as a way to communicate with others the date and time of what happens in the photo. You can etch a poem onto the glass that is only visible if you really look for it. These things can help to transform an average piece of glass and an average frame into a meaningful, beautiful sentiment to the memory being depicted.

You can find professionals that sell ready made etched glass products. You can also find a number of different products on the market to purchase to help you to create your own etching. Whatever you do, find a way to create a beautiful image with the help of etching. You will adore all that it can provide to you.

Chad Baker has worked for many years as a photographer and has written amazing articles on picture frames, poster frames, photo gifts and many other useful topics related to photos and how to make them look more beautiful.

You can read more of Chad's articles about picture frames at http://www.pictureframesplanet.com

Digital Camera LED Laser Etching Trick

2008-03-10T01:50:00.000-07:00

It’s a common scene no matter where you go, everyone is taking pictures with their digital cameras. Part of the intrigue of digital photography is the instant feedback; after all, with a digital camera you can check and see if you need to re-take the photo. You might even feel a little creative and start changing some of your cameras setting to reflect your inner artist. That’s what makes digital camera so much fun; you can experiment and witness the results instantly.

Make sure and visit our site using the link at the bottom of the article. You'll be able to see photo examples!

Our digital camera LED Laser Etching Trick is super EASY to do and will create some truly creative photos. We’ve used it many times and each time people look at the photos with a bewildered look trying to figure out how the photo was created.

To the rational mind this type of photo tends to violate our sense of order. Cameras record objects, whether they are moving or stationary. Once we press the shutter our brains are fully prepared to see whatever we took the picture of, frozen in time. What our brains are NOT prepared for is to see a photo where the camera has frozen AND recorded the “track” of an object, which in this case is a simple LED light.

I have even had experienced digital camera owners look at an LED Laser Etching Trick and ask, “So you didn’t use video to do this?” When it comes to digital photos most people think in a linear manner and the LED Laser Etching Trick is cool because it forces our brains to think dimensionally.

If you try to explain the trick to someone without showing them an example they’ll act like they understand, but in reality, they really don’t. On the other hand, if you show someone an LED Laser Etching photo, they will be INSTANTLY intrigued, no matter what level of photographic experience they might have.

You see the fun part here is when you show someone an LED Laser Etching Trick you don’t need to say anything; the response is ALWAYS the same…

Wow, how cool!

And the next question is always…

How did you do that?

In fact I was at a party the other day and I pulled out my compact digital camera and then handed a small LED light to one of the guys and just said, would you help me with a trick? I gave him a cursory explanation and he was simply not impressed, period.

You see in his brain it was going to be a stupid photo of him standing there pointing the LED at the camera, big deal. That’s because his brain has been conditioned to the idea of how digital cameras work, no mystery here.

Until…

I showed him a photo that looked as though he had etched it in the air with a laser beam.

OK, so here’s a guy that initially was less than interested…

Now he’s running back and forth to the camera to see his latest laser etching creation.

This guy went nuts! Once he saw how cool it was he wanted to try all sorts of LED laser etching designs. Smiley faces, Christmas trees, the legendary Zorro “Z”, a crown, he went on and on. In the mean time more and more people were aware of what was going on and after a while literally EVERYONE wanted in on the fun.

Here’s the trick

I used a point-and-shoot digital camera and a cheap LED key ring light, or in other words, no fancy equipment.

My camera was set to “Fireworks” and since I didn’t have a tripod I winged it and just held the camera as steady as possible.

Note: For more consistent results it would be best to have secured my camera on a tripod.

Next, I went into a room that was fairly dark and handed the guy the LED light told him to point the LED at my camera and for a test just do a bunch of “squiggles” in the air. This was to give him an idea of how much time he had to “write in the air.” Since this was a basic point-and-shoot digital camera the only control I had was to set it on “fireworks.” No manual controls, nothing, just a plain old digital camera.

However, I knew with the “fireworks” setting the cameras lens would stay open longer than usual, long enough to record the LED light moving through the air. Now I know there are going to be people say that because it was hand held for so long the background AND the guy were going to be blurry.

Hey, all I was after was a neat looking creative photo; I really didn’t care if everything in the background was blurry.

I just wanted to record the motion of the LED light.

Then I held the camera up, told the guy to get ready, took a deep breath, pressed the shutter, and told the guy, GO.

Remember no flash, just nice and dark.

It took a couple of test shots for the guy to see just how much time he had to write. As I said though, once he saw the results he wanted to try all sorts of designs.

Ideas to try:

Use two different colors of LED lights at the same time.
Have 2 or 3 people with multiple lights at the same time.
Use a larger standard LED flashlight.

In Summary

This technique is for standard point-and-shoot digital cameras with basic settings. If you own camera that has manual settings you can hold your shutter open for much longer periods of time for more creative flexibility.

Either way, auto or manual control this is just a fun trick and impresses absolutely everyone, give it a go!

http://www.digitalcamerau.com/2006/12/26/digital-camera-led-laser-etching-trick/

Effective Stretching Routine Helps Avoid Injury for Adults Over 40 Who Enjoy Competitive Sports

2008-03-07T22:26:00.001-08:00

If you have reached your mid-40's and you enjoy playing in tennis, basketball or racketball leagues, there is a good chance that you have experienced lower back pain. Although you may not feel much different than you did in your 20's, your body has, in fact, changed and your exercise routine needs to change as well.

Assuming you have no significant medical issue such as a herniated disc or ligament tear, and you follow your doctor's advice about exercise, there is no reason why you cannot remain competitive in your leagues for many years to come. An effective warm up routine help prevent strains and sprains and may help prevent more serious injuries

as well. There are any number of effective warm up routines - you can use the following routine as a starting point for your own pre-exercise stretching.

Your warm up routine should become a habit. Middle aged bodies are extremely susceptible to muscle andligament strains and tears if you begin vigorous exercise without proper hydration and warm up. Hydration should be your starting point for effective warm-ups. Many of the foods and liquids we consume as part of our diet can dehydrate our bodies, and many adults in America exist in an almost constant state of dehydration. At least 30 to 60 minutes before your workout, begin drinking copious amounts of water. Appropriate hydration alone will guard against many muscle strains.

Next, start your exercise with a total body stretch. In my routine, I take a 10 lb. medicine ball, extend my arms and swing the ball side to side in a 180 degree arc as I walk the length of a basketball court and back. This stretching exercise loosens my lower back, the muscles of my arms and my legs.

The next part of my warm-up routine involves the use of exercise bands. Exercise bands are large rubber bands that are usually sold in a package of 3, with different tensions. In my case, the blue band is the thickest, followed by the red band, then the yellow. I put one of the bands around my ankles then I use a "crab walk" going forward for the length of a basketball court. I will then crab walk backwards the same distance. Next I turn and slide side to side down the court and back. These rubber band exercises loosen the hips and lower body.

With the rubber bands removed, I then "high step" the length of the basketball court and back. A high step looks like an exaggerated march where you raise your knee as high as it can go while walking. This exercise loosens your lower back, thighs and knees.

The final part of my warmup requires the use of an exercise mat. I lie on my side with my body in a straight line and one leg resting on the other. I bend my top leg and slowly swing my knee forward and backward as far as I can go. This stretch warms up my hips and lower backs and it also requires the use of the arms for balance. Twenty to thirty of these hip rolls should be sufficient.

This entire warm-up routine may take 15 to 20 minutes and will prepare your body for more strenous exercises. Like any exercise routine, stop if you become dizzy or experience any significant pain and seek prompt medical attention. I use this routine before my morning workout and before playing in my 40 and over basketball league.

Weekend warrior athletes and sedentary professionals who exercise regularly need to allow time for a regular warm-up routine before exerting themselves. If your warm-up routine covers all of your major muscle groups, you can avoid painful injuries.

Jonathan Ginsberg is a practicing Social Security disability lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to his law practice, Jonathan is the editor and publisher of several national Social Security disability related web sites, including the Social Security disability information, the Social Security disability blog at http://www.ssdAnswers.com and Social Security disability radio.

Stretching out with 5 Inch Heel Shoes

2008-03-05T23:26:00.000-08:00

There's just no way for you to imagine what it is like to wear 5 inch heel shoes if you have never worn a pair before. If you wear high heeled shoes, then you will be towering up on a tiny spike, perilously suspended above the ground. This is exactly how it feels when I wore one, although this may seem to be an exaggeration to you. I almost fell over when I put 5 inch heel shoes on for the first time.

I grew up as sort of a tomboy so wearing high heeled shoes for the first was kind of a rite of passage for me. I prefer climbing trees with the boys or playing football rather than doing the things other girls my age would do. I also felt that going to church was the worst activity because I hated all those fancy dresses and skirts. I would not even look at high heel shoes at that time. However, my older sister forced me to try her 5 inch heel shoes on.

My older sister literally made me put on her 5 inch heel shoes when she was babysitting me. I was trying so hard to escape that she had to hold me down and would not let me get up until I promised to try the shoes on. I felt very ashamed and I hated it at first when I wore the high heeled shoes. However, it started to grow on me after a while. I began to like the challenge of walking around the house in high heel shoes. I also liked the way it made me shake my hips while I walked. I was getting to the age where I liked attention from the boys, and wearing 5 inch heel shoes would give me just that, although I still felt like a tomboy.

However, my sister never allowed me to wear her 5 inch heel shoes again. My sister kept the 5 inch stiletto shoes away from me, once she found out that I liked it. Nonetheless, I did get to wear prettier shoes from then on. You see, my mom was willing to indulge me with a few trips to get new clothes because she was thrilled to see that I was getting more into girls? shoes and girls? fashion. It was really a lot of fun, and it actually gave me more freedom. I could still dress up like a boy when I wanted to, but I also got to dress up like a girl. I also bought my very own 5 inch heel shoes as soon as I got old enough.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning 5 Inch Heel Shoes. Visit our site for more helpful information about High Heel Sexy Shoes and other similar topics.

Stretching Flexibility Exercises - When Should You Stretch For Best Flexibility Gains

2008-03-05T23:25:00.000-08:00

Flexibility exercises are a very important part of any fitness program. There are many different kinds you can choose to do or you can incorporate several into your routine. Flexibility exercises are gentle stretching movements that help to increase the flexibility and length of your muscles. They also help to increase the range of motion in your joints. They may consist of a specific set of exercises or be part of a fitness program such as Pilates or Yoga.

One of the main goals of doing stretching exercises is to lengthen the connective tissue surrounding the muscles. They should be done after you have warmed up your muscles with a few minutes of aerobic exercises. A minute or two should be spent on each stretching exercise.

These exercises are not the same as aerobic exercises or resistance training, but doing stretching exercises several times a week are a great way to keep your body flexible. They improve your posture and are particularly good for those who have back injuries.

Flexibility exercises are an important part of any fitness program. They decrease sore muscles and provide a relaxed body. It prepares the body for the stress of the exercises that are part of your fitness program.

You should always stretch after you warm up because stretching with cold muscles could cause injuries. Make sure that you stretch all of the muscles you will be using in your workout. You should also stretch after you finish your workout, to help your muscles cool down.

Check out www.1-stop-fitness.com for articles on ab machines and discount home gyms.

Sketching Your Payment Plan

2008-03-04T23:04:00.000-08:00

When you are starting the debt settlement process, the most crucial part is to sketch your payment plan well. First, you have to be able to make the regular payments, and second, the creditor has to agree with it.

To sketch an optimal Payment Plan that will get you out of debt, you will need to follow the next steps one by one and review each topic thoroughly.

1. Interest Rate Negotiation: it is one of the most important parts of the plan because a successful interest rate negotiation can and will save you a lot of money. Try to reduce as much as you can in order to reduce the principal debt amount. Your interest rates could get eliminated if your payment plan ranges in a 6-month period.

2. Automatic Savings Deposit: you will need to setup your checking account to automatically transfer money to your savings account. When you accumulate a substantial amount of money, the debt settlement program can be closed for one of the accounts.

3. Old resources may be helpful: make use of old savings accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and any kind of investment to negotiate. By using a large sum of money you could achieve up to 60% of savings, .

4. Ask friends and family for help: do not feel ashamed to ask for help among your circle of friends or your family members. This is a great way to raise funds in order to negotiate a good deal.

5. Insurance policies: you can always use a percentage from your insurance policy to repay your debts. The great thing about it is that you do not have to repay it. Even better, the withdrawn amount is deducted from the policy.

6. Using your assets: if you have valuable assets, sell them to obtain funds. Having lots of assets may be a problem if you ask for Debt Settlement because the creditor could get the entire debt amount without giving you any reduction.

7. Procure an extra income: whenever you can, try to find a second job to increase your income. In doing so, you can reach the Debt Settlement requirements, and you can also start saving money to complete the debt settlement for certain accounts. A saving plan can also be very helpful in the long term. You can always count on the saved money to bargain for a major reduction on your debts.

Above all, we recommend people always look for professional help because counselors know the collection agencies and the creditors. That is why they have an edge during the negotiation process and will surely get you the best debt settlement plan in order to achieve the ultimate goal: become debt free. Start the process right now and see for yourself that you can become debt free once more.

Fill out our short on-line form and let us show you how Debt Settlement can stop harassment from collection agencies and can also solve your debt problems.

Check these links to learn more:

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Debbie White is a contributing writer to www.curadebt.com and is currently writing some special articles to guide business on how to manage debt and avoid bankruptcy. For Free Payment Plan Information and Debt Help Consultation, call toll-free 1-877-850-3328

Naturally Gain 2-3 Inches of Height Within a Few Weeks by Simple Stretching Exercises

2008-03-03T22:28:00.002-08:00

There are a lot of factors that come into play when it comes to height. Genetics is the main factors. Since we can't do anything about that, we will not address that part of it.

However, the good news is that you can add up to 2 inches (5 cm) in most cases to your natural height. More dedicated people can even add up to 4 or more inches (10 cm) to their height.

If you will just give us about 20-45 minutes a day for 5 days a week, you will gain height. If you can give use 45-75 minutes a day for 6-7 days a week, you can gain up to 2 inches in height within a few weeks.

Yes, you do have to have some dedication. The things you need to do to gain this height aren't particularly hard. In fact, most of them are quite easy to do. What you put into this endeavor is what you will get out of it. Dedication, persistence, and enthusiasm are the key factors.

A lot of the activities and exercises can be included in your normal daily routine. You can use the exercise and stretches as part of your workout routine. You can even do the stretches while you watch TV.

Can you expect to gain height fast?

Well, some people have gained over an inch in height within 2 weeks using the exercises and stretches we outline in the blog. So it is possible.

What if you can't do all or some of the exercises?

We give you a basic program that you can follow. The beauty in its that we give you a base to start from. you can adjust it to you schedule, time constraints, athletic ability, and enthusiasm.

We want you to succeed. To succeed we know you have to be dedicated and persistent. You have to have enthusiasm when you are doing this. For that we have a flexible program in which you can add your own input into it.

A lot of people fail at gaining height simply because they start off with an abundance of enthusiasm and energy only to quit within 3 weeks because they over did it.

Another reason people fail is because they don't make a routine of this. They are sporadic in doing this. If you are going to skip days, please make sure they are scheduled to be off days. Try to make your height increasing routine a habit, just like eating and sleeping. Now let's get tall.

For further details on the stretching exercises and their pictorial view (photos), please log on to http://tall-n-healthy.blogspot.com

Relax and Get Fit with Yoga Positions, Stretching and Meditation

2008-03-03T22:28:00.001-08:00

Often the most effective ways to lose weight and stay fit involve some extra time and effort. Yoga positions, stretching and meditation require no specialized equipment and little more than your time and the desire to learn, relax and feel healthy.

Hatha yoga is the most commonly practiced type of yoga in western civilizations. Yoga is a combination of breathing and positions that encourage harmony between the mind and body. By practicing conscious breathing and various postures, you tone your body and build muscle while relieving stress and improving your memory. Yoga also strengthens your back, reduces your need for sleep and increases your lifespan. For women, yoga is effectively used to prepare for birth as well as relieve painful menstruation and menopause. The benefits of yoga for men, women, children and senior citizens are promoted by many physicians today. However, a key element to remember when doing yoga is to take your time because it takes awhile to learn the positions correctly and coordinate your muscles, mind and energy.

Many of the positions used in yoga involve stretching, which relaxes your muscles and reduces tension. Basically, there are two types of stretching - dynamic and static. Dynamic stretching involves motion and static stretching requires no motion. Stretching makes you more limber and reduces the risk of physical injury to your joints, muscles and tendons, which is a great advantage when embarking upon other forms of exercise. Stretching also reduces soreness and tension in your muscles and tendons and increases suppleness, lubricates connective tissues and even relieves dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) in women.

Meditation is used to get in touch with your higher self and unify your consciousness to create optimal mental and physical health, enabling you to realize your full potential as a person. There are two types of meditation - active and passive. Active meditation involves use of a mantra, which is the repetition of a particular word, syllable or sound. Passive meditation involves observing your breath, much as you do during yoga. Benefits of meditating include lower blood pressure, decreased heart and respiratory rates and an overall feeling of calmness and well-being.

By developing a regular routine of yoga positions, stretching and meditation, you can keep your weight under control while enjoying a lifetime of mental and physical fitness.

Ryan Cote is the owner of WeightLoss-Programs-Reviewed.com, a website that reviews the top 5 best weight loss programs. A large directory of health and fitness articles is available as well.

Stretching By Power Yoga

2008-03-02T22:47:00.000-08:00

Have you dabbled in martial arts? If you ask this question to most people, they will give you some answer resembling "I took a Tae Kwon Do class at the YMCA, or I took Karate back in high school." Now, don't get me wrong; there's nothing bad about this. I am just bringing it up because it's such a norm in America. On the other hand, this minor experience isn't worth much in the real world either. In fact most people don't really have a clue what most self-defense and fighting arts are really like. Nor do they understand the hardcore training that's necessary. Take yoga for example. This is commonly thought of as a calm and relaxing regime that involves a lot of stretching. Does that sound about right? Well, you've probably never encountered power yoga or the real deal as some call it. It can be an overwhelming workout.

It's time for some power yoga, folks. This is a great way to get in shape. Not only does it offer exercise for the entire body, it also promotes blood circulation via stretching. This is a great way to stay in good shape as you age. Remember you want to age gracefully; not quickly. With power yoga comes a lot of devotion. This goes the same for any decent fitness regime or martial art. I have known a lot of martial artists in my day and most of them definitely do not train to fight or defend themselves. Now you may be wondering what I'm talking about. Maybe you take a particular martial art and think you've got skills. Well, let me ask you a few things. Do you train daily? Are you in good shape? Do you always work to improve and avoid becoming complacent? Do you spar with other regularly? Do you spar realistically with practitioners of other arts regularly? If you don't do these things, then you're probably not too effective with your art. That's just reality. If you don't put it to use, and instead just go through drills in a dojo or kwoon, you're probably not very good. How can you possibly know you can do it for real? This is why I always emphasize taking it to the next level. The same goes for boxing, Muay Thai, karate, judo or power yoga.

Learn all you've ever wanted to know about power yoga on the World-Wide-Web. You can even acquire DVDs on power yoga now days. Learn from the pros while you practice these regimes with your friends and family. Contemporary power yoga will definitely keep you in good shape.

TalkAboutFitness.Com provides readers with the latest reviews, articles,commentaries and write-ups on all power yoga, blood circulation, martial art related subjects

Stretching Made Simple Before and After Walking

2008-02-29T23:03:00.000-08:00

Have you had a desire to start a walking workout to achieve great health and wellness? Adding exercise and stretching into your daily life?s routine can help eliminate many health issues. It is very important to stretch before and after you go for you?re walking. Walking will help you to feel more energized and revitalized but just be sure to stretch before and after your walk!
Stretching can and will help you to avoid injury, reduce pain, and increase mobility. Stretching exercises are thought to give you freedom of movement, but stretching alone will not improve your health. It would be best to incorporate stretching with aerobic exercise to achieve complete health and wellness that a woman should possess.
? Standing Quad Stretch (front of thigh) Stand with foot flat on ground Bend knee toward buttock while grasping ankle with hand Pull foot directly toward buttock Do not twist knee Stretch can be done standing alone or balancing with partner or fence/wall.
? Standing Calf Stretch While standing, place your left foot near the wall. Bend forearms and rest them against the wall. Keeping the right foot flat on the floor, move right leg back until you feel the stretch in the calf muscle. Stretch the other leg.
? Hamstring Stretch Laying on your back raise your leg up to the ceiling. Supporting your thigh with both hands behind the knee. Slowly straighten your knee until a stretch is felt in the back of the thigh, and pull your leg towards your chest keeping your leg straight. Hold, and then repeat with the other leg.
Kimberly Jamieson www.healthypainfreeliving.com has achieved success in living and maintaining a healthy fit lifestyle and has helped thousands achieve this success by using her fitness, diet, lifestyle and motivation tips. She is committed to helping women?s fitness, and the womens health and wellness others achieve ultimate health and wellness.

Kimberly Jamieson www.healthypainfreeliving.com has achieved success in living and maintaining a healthy fit lifestyle and has helped thousands achieve this success by using her fitness, diet, lifestyle and motivation tips. She is committed to helping women?s fitness, and the womens health and wellness others achieve ultimate health and wellness

Are You Motivated to Be Successful or Do You Feel Life is Stretching You Like a Rubberband?

2008-02-29T23:01:00.000-08:00

The Principle of the Rubber Band:

This principle explains that being stretched can turn out to be very positive. Imagine you hold one end of a rubber band in one hand while stretching the opposite end with your other hand. The more you stretch the rubber band, the more it wants you to let go it so it can come back to its original position. In just wants to return to its place of comfort. Yet if we continue stretching it, that rubber band will eventually grow into a new size. When we let go of it now, it will come back some, but not the entire distance. In essence, it has developed a new dimension.

Now imagine that you dip this original rubber band into hot wax and remove it quickly. You then allow the wax to dry. At this point, if you repeat the stretching exercise you?ll notice that the wax caked around it cracks and crumbles, as you extend the rubber band. Then it falls off.

The same dynamic occurs with humans. We don?t want to get stretched, because it will involve letting go of some external layers. We are comfortable within those layers, and they may even seem to be protecting us. Yet, in fact, they are getting in the way of the new, evolving being who we already are on the inside. They are an impediment to our growth.

Also like that rubber band, we must temporarily experience being uncomfortable when we stretch and grow. In the process of becoming the butterfly we were metaphorically meant to be, we are outgrowing a cocoon. The butterfly doesn?t snip off its wings and re-enter the cocoon. It knows of no such thing. But we, as human beings, have a tendency to snip our own new-grown wings so we can retreat to the cocoon that represents our old zone of comfort. Unfortunately, the zone of comfort is seldom the territory of fulfillment. The butterfly has no choice.

The human has an ability to make such choice. The next time you are feeling stretched and uncomfortable, pat yourself on the back and say ?Good for me. I must be growing!? In fact, if you are not stretching, growing, and evolving, then you are probably too attached to being comfortable. A true lesson of life and a new level of wisdom will both arrive when you instead respect The Principle of the Rubber Band.

It is absolutely crucial that you must not judge, criticize, and compare yourself to others while you are being stretched. To do so will only make you feel stuck. You will focus on the pain of stretching, and want to go back to your old cocoon. Instead, treat yourself as compassionately as you would a child who is learning to ride a bicycle without training wheels. Give yourself extra nurturing. Drink a cup of hot tea, go for a walk, read a book, take a few deep breaths, and above all be patient. Training wheels have allowed that child to develop a sense of balance, to know how the bicycle is ultimately going to feel under their control. But if that child doesn?t eventually ride without training wheels, they will never experience how fast they can truly go, how sharply they can maneuver around obstacles, and how self-confident they can feel.

Therefore, always strive for the courage to take the extra wheels off. And one day you will do it. Because you realize that remaining in the ?training wheel zone? will prevent you from reaching a new level in life of manifestation and creation.

Now imagine that you are a gardener who tends a rose bush. You notice a new green bud that appears, but as the days go by it remains closed. It?s afraid of opening up. It is resisting the processes of blossoming, changing, and stretching.

Alongside it there is another new bud, one that has decided to open up and ? in spite of the possibility of cold rain, tornadoes, and hurricanes ? it has further decided to blossom. Once it has opened, people passing by are inspired to notice its beauty, smell its fragrance, and touch its silky pedals.

When eventually that rose dies, it?s petals fall all round. People who walk close by notice the pedals on the ground, and they know that a fully blossomed rose once existed. Meanwhile, the unopened bud also dies. It shrivels, crumbles, and falls away. No one but the gardener ever noticed that it was alive or even notices now that it has gone.

About Ellie Drake

Savvy businesswoman, in-demand motivational speaker, inspiration to men and women around the globe,
Ellie Drake is a multi-dimensional success. She maintains a demanding schedule of personal appearances as well as a series of web sites, each offering insights, newsletters and products designed to help individuals acheive their personal best. Each Monday night at 10;30 pm Eastern, Drake offers a free teleconference designed to empower her listeners. Visit http://EllieDrake.com/movie for more details. http://EllieDrake.com/report

Must Knows in How to Hold A Pencil When Drawing and Sketching

2008-02-28T21:29:00.001-08:00

How to Hold Your Pencil When Drawing and Sketching

When learning to draw, sometimes it's difficult to know what techniques are available to artists, which ones you should use, and which ones you should not use. How to hold a pencil seems to be trivial in nature but can make a huge difference in your drawings and sketches.

In this article you will learn a few different ways to hold the pencil and how to adopt them into your drawing practices. This is important because most people don't realize that there are more ways than one to grip a pencil when drawing and sketching. They generally pick it up like they were taught in school for writing. But writing and drawing are a lot different. So the way you hold your pencil should be different as well. A lot of problems such as hatched lines and unsteadiness originate from holding the pencil incorrectly.

The first grip is the basic tripod grip. It is the technique that they teach young children in school. It's probably the same one that you use for writing. You grip the pencil with the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger to form a tripod or triangle. This tripod is usually supported by your ring finger and pinky fingers. The grip allows the pencil to be controlled when making fine strokes and is great when applying fine details.

The fingers are in control of the pencil when using the tripod grip. It's also nice when doing the finer details because your hand can rest on the page as it lays these in.

Sometimes smudging can be a problem, but no fear, just lay down a sheet of paper to keep your drawing free from the smudges.

The problems of this grip are that it is a frustrating way to draw. A flowing line is impossible to do this way, your hatching and cross-hatching isn't done correctly and the lines become curved, the pencil pressure is off, and it's not the most comfortable.

The position that is closely related to this position is called the extended tripod grip. It is essentially the same as the basic tripod grip with the exception that the tripod is formed further up on the pencil. This benefits the artist because only a small movement of the fingers can produce greater movement of the pencil tip. One thing to remember with this is to not squeeze it too tightly.

The technique that a lot of artists use is called the overhand grip. This grip is where the pencil is held almost as if you were holding a bow for a violin. Your hand goes over the pencil and is held lightly against the fingers and the flat of your thumb.

This overhand grip is ideal for sketching with the side of the pencil and is the preferred grip among artists. It doesn't need a propped arm and the limitations are only your arm span. Not nearly as many limitations as the other grips have.

This overhand grip produces flowing, sweeping lines and is great for sketching, hatching, cross-hatching, value work, with the side of the lead. It is a huge preference for academic drawing. It's great when using a drawing surface such as an easel. One common rule in whichever grip you choose to use and whatever works for you is to never, ever choke the pencil tip. This is never a good thing to do for artists.

Just remember to use a grip that you are comfortable. There are many variations of these grips and do what you are comfortable with and you will see your drawings come alive.

Todd Harris is a master artist who is currently working as a concept art director for a multi-billion dollar corporation. He is trained in the Florence Academy Method. Learning2draw.com is a resource based website devoted to aspiring artists wishing to master figure drawing. Visit http://www.learning2draw.com to get tips, tricks, and techniques to master the human form

The Westernization of Yoga or Why Stretching & Flexibility is not Yoga

2008-02-27T02:30:00.000-08:00

Yoga has become extremely popular over the last decade. Today, almost everyone knows someone who says they are practicing Yoga. Many of these new yogis/yoginis are quite dedicated and go to class several times each week.

Let?s take a look at what they are practicing:

Most classes are 60-90 minutes of doing various Yoga poses/stretches/asanas, which can vary from gentle to intense. The intensity will vary from class to class, style to style and teacher to teacher.

And so, the student will say they are practicing Yoga regularly every week.

I do not wish to belittle anyone?s practice or imply that anyone is claiming to be or do something they are not. Yet, the fact remains that this is not Yoga.

To claim that this type of activity represents learning Yoga is similar to someone learning the hand and finger exercises practiced by great pianists and thinking that they are learning to play and indeed, even are playing the piano.

This is not the fault of the student. Imagine if most of the piano teachers only taught these exercises and called the practice ?Piano Class.? Why wouldn?t the student feel he/she was learning to play the piano?

Perhaps you are saying that this is silly. After all, great pianists make beautiful music when they are playing. That?s true. However, it is my contention that most people are only aware of the exercises and not what the exercises are meant to prepare them for. It?s as if somehow they never get to hear the music. They only see and hear the exercises. Usually, there is no time and sometimes no desire to learn more in class. Sometimes, the instructors themselves have not been taught more than these exercises, sometimes they do not practice them and sometimes they do not want to lose students who are not ready to transform themselves.

In Reality, classical pianists study the already written works of great composers and try to play them as the composer intended them to sound. Modern jazz pianists try to understand what their fellow musicians are playing and try to make up new, never played before music that fits in perfectly with what is going on around them.

You can play for yourself or you can go play for the enjoyment of others. This is similar to what true Yoga is like. You can study the ancient scriptures or you can go out into the World and practice Yoga in everyday life. You can practice Yoga for your benefit, or for the benefit of others.

I am not saying that going to a Yoga class and stretching for an hour is of no benefit. Not at all. There are plenty of benefits which anyone can and will get from even this limited practice. However, since their practice is on the gross or physical plane, most of the benefits will be limited to this physical plane: Better Health. And so the most Yoga, or Union, they can hope to achieve is that of uniting one part of their body with another, via the flow of their Pranas. I use the plural for Prana because by definition, you cannot unite just one flow. You can only unite separate and different flows.

This is another area where most Western Yoga Instruction falls short. Most instruction is only in the placement of the various body parts. And while it is true, that the flow of one?s Prana will flow be influenced by where one?s body parts are in relation to each other; this is also low level Yoga. The flow of one?s Prana should be directly regulated and controlled by one?s mind. Of the Yoga classes that do talk about the flow of Prana, they usually talk about the main flow of Prana in the Asana and not the counter flow.

Since Hatha Yoga is the Union of the Ha or the Sun Flows of Energy and the Tha or the Moon Flows of Energy, talking about only one flow means they are practicing either Ha Yoga or Tha Yoga. They cannot be practicing Hatha Yoga.

Most people are not aware that the practice of the Asanas or stretches is actually the third step in the classical school of Raja Yoga. The first step is the practice of 5 Restraints: Non-Harming, Truthfulness, Non-Stealing, Self-Restraint and Non-Possessiveness. The second is the practice of the 5 Observances: Purity, Contentment, Austerity, Self- Study and Surrender to God. (Notice there are 10, as in the 10 Commandments).

The concept behind this is that since the practice of the Yoga Asanas does make you Healthier and does give you more energy regardless of your State of Being.. iHowever, f you have not become a better person first, all the Yoga Asanas will have accomplished is making you better able to carry out your gross impulses. This is what happened to Darth Vader. He practiced the exercises of a Jedi Knight and they only fed the Flaws in his character.

My Yoga Teacher, Yogiraj Swami Bua, Maharaja of Hatha Yoga, sums this up when he says; ?The Lotus Pose will not take you to Heaven.?

Another way of looking at this is: Yoga is Union. How can one claim to practice Union only a few hours a week? Do we get married for a few hours a week? (OK. I can hear all the humorous comments about marriage this will generate.) I think we can legitimately question the validity of using the term Union to refer to a fleeting State of Being.

By this, I do not mean we are not practicing Yoga unless we are in the State of Union. I mean we must be trying to be in the state of Union. Whether we succeed or not, is another question.

My purpose in writing this article is to try and stop Yoga from following in the foot steps of the many Ancient Traditions which have been reduced by the market place to nothing but a hollow shell of their true selves.

There is no money to be made in not giving people what they want. Therefore, I hope this article will inspire some to examine what they want and lead them to true Yoga.

20th Anniversary Stretching - Stretching Review

2008-02-26T03:43:00.000-08:00

When I first purchased Bob Anderson's 20th Anniversary Stretching (Stretching) I couldn't put it down. Over the years I have read literally hundreds of fitness and exercise books, but nothing like Bob's latest book. Published by Shelter Publications, the 224 page paperback edition is the finest piece of work written about stretching for fitness or sports.

Most everyone knows how important muscle flexibility is in everyday life, let alone health and fitness, but far fewer understand how to do it. Bob Anderson's 20th Anniversary Stretching (Stretching) takes you through the step-by-step process of the how's and why's you must stretch your muscles.

No matter if you like to walk for fitness and exercise, you need to stretch your legs, thighs, calves, hamstrings, etc. Or, if you enjoy jogging, running, weightlifting, basketball, or any other sport for that matter, this book if for you.

20th Anniversary stretching is a complete encyclopedia so to speak on stretching. It's complete with over 1,000 pictures, 200 stretches, and stretching regimens for 36 different sports and activities. So, if you play golf, tennis, softball, or horseshoes, you will gain valuable help and information from reading this book.

I never realized just how stiff I was until I started stretching with the routines included in this book. What I enjoy so much about 20th Anniversary Stretching (Stretching) is how the pictures and drawings make things so easy to follow.

I had no trouble understanding how to do each particular stretching exercise that is outlined in the book. There was no guesswork on my part on what I needed to do. Within a couple of weeks of stretching, I never felt better. I feel like my level of strength and conditioning is what it used to be 20 years ago.

I found the book to be more than just a book of stretching exercises. It's like a complete fitness book for people of all ages and level of conditioning. In fact, I believe you could substitute this book for any other type of exercise program. Regardless if it's aerobics, pilates, yoga, or any other exercise activity, 20th Anniversary Stretching could be a replacement for all of them.

If you're looking to get your muscles, body, and mind in better condition, I would highly recommend picking up this book. Anyone, regardless of age, or whether they play recreational sports or not, can enjoy a higher level of health and fitness in their everyday life from 20th Anniversary Stretching (Stretching).

You can find out more about 20th Anniversary Stretching as well as much more information on health and fitness issues at http://www.Health-And-Fitness.InfoFromA-z.com

How To Use Golf Training Aids To Assist With Your Warm Up And Stretching

2008-02-14T05:00:00.001-08:00

How many times has this happened to you?

You get to the course 15 minutes before your tee time. By the time you get all your stuff together, pay the greens fees, etc., and then get yourself to the putting green there is less than 10 minutes left before game time. You hit some putts, some chips, and then take a few swings to loosen up. Feeling pretty good, you stroll to the first tee, put your bag down, and look down the fairway.

It's a dogleg right with OB on the right and tree trouble on the left. It's not long but it's tight, with the potential for a round-ruining big number. That's when you start to realize the full extent of the tightness that's still in your muscles. You take some more swings, desperately trying to get the muscles in your legs, back, and shoulders to warm up, but to no avail. Your tee time is up and you still don't have any kind of rhythm or feel to your swing, and the OB on the right looms ominously.

You tee it up and make a tight, nervous swing, overcompensating due to your fear of the OB. Your ball jumps left off the clubface, a nasty pull-hook that burrows deep into the trees. You groan and shove your club back into your bag, then stomp off to try to salvage something resembling a decent score.

If this type of thing happens to you on an all-to-frequent basis, trust me you are not alone. Fortunately, there are plenty of golf training aids out there that can help you avoid it. Swinging a weighted or increased-resistance club, for example, is a good way to get warm before a round. However, if you really want to be loose and feel confident for the opening drive, you probably need to get to the course a littler earlier and add a stretching routine to your warm-up.

There is no way to get your muscles prepared for the intense effort involved with the golf swing without stretching. Also, stretching helps to relax the mind as well as the body, which really helps with the first tee jitters. So in addition to resistance training aids like weighted clubs, consider adding a stretch routine. There are lots of books available with stretch programs that are tailored specifically for golfers. Here are some tips for finding a good stretching program:

1. A book is just as much a training aid as any of those gadgets that are designed to help your swing, so approach it the same way. As you would try out a training aid before you shell out the money, make sure you check out the contents of the book before you buy. It should have pictures for all the stretches. Stretches without visual aids are dangerous because you can never be quite sure if you're doing them correctly.

2. Make sure you find a book with a variety of stretches for daily stretching as well as a pre-round warm-up. Training for flexibility daily can add yards to your drives and years to your golfing career.

3. Get to the course early! Rushing through your warm-up stretches doesn't work and can cause injury. If you are short on time, do a smaller number of stretches correctly rather than trying to do them all quickly.

Good luck, and remember the mind is just as important as the body in golf, if not more so. Books are training aids for the mind, so get a few good ones and go to it!

Mike Gelhaus, once racquetball professional and published author for Racquetball Magazine, has turned his attention back to the game of Golf. With the use of golf training aids, he achieved a handicap of 3 only weeks before back surgery. Check out his site at http://the-best-golf-training-aids.com

The Importance Of Stretching In Muscle Sculpting Exercise

2008-02-13T21:45:00.000-08:00

By now you should already know that stretching is a prerequisite to every workouts that you are undertaking. It is vital that you do this before and after any one. In as much as it has been preached, many do not see the positive influence it can have on the muscles and joints. The main purpose of stretching is to allow for flexibility, coordination and quickness in response of the muscle system.

Other positive influence of stretches is its ability to reduce stress, injury and soreness of the muscles and joints. All the while strengthening the muscles. There is another form of stretching exercise called static stretches. This is the type of stretch exercise that actors and actresses engage in sculpturing their body. A vital point in carrying out this exercise is that you must avoid straining your muscles while stretching. This form of stretching also reduce soreness.

In the course of the exercise, you want to release tension build up along your joints and cartilages. This will increase the muscle movement length. It is always advised that stretches be performed before and after workouts. However, you can also stretch between workouts to help you in reaching peak performance in your muscle building exercises.

Do you know also that stretching makes the muscles to be longer and bigger as well as elongating its maximum capacity?

Now let's take up a typical stretching activity:

Stand straight with the legs slightly apart. Hold out your two arms over your head, rotate. Perform stretching as far as you can, you will notice some tension around your shoulders, neck, back and side. This is because the muscles in these areas are preparing themselves for further workouts, thus tension is leaving those areas. This exercise is ideal for someone with spinal pain or injury as it will help in healing it on time.

The above exercise can also be done in the morning while lying down flat on the floor. However, while doing it, you should know that your main aim is to release tension all over the body get you ready for workouts. If you are going through pain while doing it, it is advised you stop at once.

There are other stretch exercises you can do, but you will need to find out the procedures and adapt it to your program. Go to your local library and or the internet to source for more information on this topic.

Joe Okoro writes about Muscle Sculpting, fitness and Body building in his free reports. You can sign up for his courses and get additional information by visiting: musclesculptingonline.com

Stretching Exercises You Need To Employ In Muscle Building

2008-02-13T21:44:00.000-08:00

The achievement of a stunning physique is what every athlete or muscle builder will be proud to display among his peers. It gives a good feeling if you can eventually reach this level of peak performance in your muscle building endeavour. Through various rigorous exercises and proper diets this can be done. However, before the real workouts, you will need stretches to avoid damage to your muscles.

Stretches allows for the flexibility and elasticity of the muscles before the real workouts can take place. The following are the stretches that can be taken up by any serious muscle sculpter, passive stretches, static stretches, isometric, ballistic, dynamic, reach ups, and so on. You can also add other stretches not mentioned here to help the muscles. Among the stretches mentioned above, the ballistic exercise is the most recent. This stretching exercise encourages the thrusting of the body and allowing much energy to relax and loosen the body's legs. This allows for free movement of the muscles. Some of the stretches are.

Active stretches increases energy and promote movements or dynamics. This stretches relaxes the muscles and allows free movements.

Ballistic stretches brings flexibility and movement to the muscles, limbs and arms.

Isometric stretches is a form of stretching exercise where one presses his muscles against an object to get good results. While doing Isometrics, the muscles are under pressure and thus the muscles are restricted from contraction which is an essential muscle feature. Consequently, there is a great reduction in the flow of blood through the veins and arteries.

Personally, i strongly would not recommend Isometric stretches, especially if one is having a history of heart problems in the past. This could result in heart failure for such one.

Earlier, i mentioned one of the most recent stretching exercises, while it is good to use that in the stretching exercise, experience has shown that the older form of stretches are more effective than the new ones. You will need to understand your body and think of the best option for you. For detailed stretches procedure, read free articles on muscle sculpting from the web or your local library and start your exercises as soon as you can.

Joe Okoro writes about Muscle Sculpting, fitness and Body building in his free reports. You can sign up for his courses and get additional information by visiting: musclesculptingonline.com

How The Stretching Exercise Can Aid You In Muscle Sculpting Your Body

2008-02-12T03:33:00.000-08:00

One of the vital factors in muscle sculpting is consistency to purpose. When i say consistency i mean the regularity of the action plan needed to reach a stunning physique. What is the action plan? The action plan comprise of proper dieting and exercise workouts. Sometimes people give up on the way while trying to sculpt their bodies. There may be many reasons for this. It could be because of indiscipline, indicision, loss of motivation and so on.

Whatever the reason, it is important that anyone who is considering muscle sculpting to understand that the only true way one can get that fine shape is through the natural process of proper dieting and exercise. Some who may not have what it takes some time go ahead to perform surgeries that are quite too expensive. Granted, these people get a sculpted body, but the health effect is that it does not last. There are sad developments of the body later on in life.

For the muscle sculpturer who want to reach this goal of a finely sculpted body, consistency in exercise and dieting should not be restricted to a specified time, it should be life long if he realises that fitness comes with regular exercise and helps in reducing health risks that otherwise might attack one.

To get started you will need to see your doctor first for recommendations on the type of exercise that will be best suited for you. Once that is taken care of, you can now get ready to start. But before then you will need to soften your muscles using warm ups and stretches to get ready for these workout routines.

Are you ready? Here we go:

Your stretches should be basic warm ups and stretches. Stand erect and open your legs slightly while still standing. Extend or cross over your two arms over your head such that each hand touches the shoulder on the other side respectively. As you do these, you will notice that tension will start leaving your back, hip area, neck and shoulder areas.

Next in that position, try stretching right, left, front and up. Then swing your hips accordingly. Repeat this stretching four times. You can improve your stretches by combining it with dance aerobic warm up to get you fully ready for the piece of action that you will encounter in the real workouts. You can continue with the stretching exercise for some time till you are getting comfortable with it.

As you continue with this, you will see that you will start looking forward to this exercise. It will fully prepare you to fully involve yourself in the exercise options that will lead you to a sculpted body.

Joe Okoro writes about Muscle Sculpting, fitness and Body building in his free reports. You can sign up for his courses and get additional information by visiting: musclesculptingonline.com

Stretching Boundaries

2008-02-12T03:32:00.000-08:00

Each of us lives life in small selective secure environments, the size dependent upon our experiences, perception of ourselves and our capabilities. Our boundaries are the invisible lines, which produce a sense of inner security. Whenever we are challenged to extend our selves over these invisible lines we naturally interpret the experience as a feeling of fear. Remember the first time you rode a push bike, or got on a buss by you, or went for a job interview. Humans have a natural tendency to be afraid of the unknown. A good example of this is to get on an airplane for the first time, for many these is a terrifying experience.

So why do we give ourselves such a hard time over feeling this way? If fear is a natural state when experiencing something new or unknown, why do we think it a quality to be ashamed of? Stretching our boundaries reminds us that there are millions of experiences out there of which we have no practical experiential knowledge. Vulnerability comes to the fore, of our lack of confidence in an unknown situation often ultimately leaves us shaking and quaking in fear of being thrust into the unknown and our minds throwing in every negative self diminishing thought it can find. However it?s stepping into the unknown which challenges us to think positive, while expanding our experience of our world in turn provoking us to live our lives to the fullest. Everything we do requires we face some form of apprehension or resistance to the growth that is natural. For some people it?s more than for other people, for example one person may be absolutely terrified of riding a horse, and not even want to try, while another person may be afraid but desperately want to have a go. We are all individuals in what we experience. There is a great book that has been out for years called, ?Feel the fear and do it anyway.? If you have big issues with boundaries and trying new things I suggest you read this book. It will definitely help.

Stretching our boundaries reminds us that there are millions of experiences out there of which we have no practical experiential knowledge. Vulnerability comes to the fore, of our lack of confidence in an unknown situation often ultimately leaves us shaking and quaking in fear of being thrust into the unknown and our minds throwing in every negative self diminishing thought it can find. However it?s stepping into the unknown which challenges us to think positive, while expanding our experience of our world in turn provoking us to live our lives to the fullest. Everything we do requires we face some form of apprehension or resistance to the growth that is natural. For some people it?s more than for other people, for example one person may be absolutely terrified of riding a horse, and not even want to try, while another person may be afraid but desperately want to have a go. We are all individuals in what we experience. There is a great book that has been out for years called, ?Feel the fear and do it anyway.? If you have big issues with boundaries and trying new things I suggest you read this book. It will definitely help.

Stretching our boundaries isn?t always easy, the main reason is we only know what we know, and humans are creatures of habits. To change life circumstances, to step outside of our comfort square is somewhat unnerving for most people. Generally life has to ?toss? us into the deep end in order to expand our perception and develop our skills in life. Its amazing how many people say they just want a quiet life, and there is nothing wrong with that, the thing to remember however is, that if we are not learning, if we are not developing new skills, if we are not living life, we can become bored and in a sense separated from the very essence of spiritual energy, which is experienced through the feelings of ?joy ? excitement ? love ? happiness ? and well being.? So sometimes, life hands us a huge ?toss,? in order to make us get out of complacency. For some people without the provocation of things appearing to go badly, most would never dare to explore their potential, and the vast dimensions of unexplored possibilities would never be discovered and our spirit would lay dormant, boredom taking over and complacency prevailing bringing with it the experience of ~ sadness ? anger ? depression ? poverty and resentment. Every human being has a need to grow and expand in conscious awareness, some taking huge steps others small, the size irrelevant, the desire however lies within us all to move towards a better daily life experience.

I believe that most of the experiences I have had in my life time have been in the long term positive, the hardships have provoked me to rise above the limits of education, finances and the fear of standing in my power as a woman who is committed to making a difference. How do you ?Choose,? to think upon your life experience?

The only difference between success and failure is that to achieve success you never give up; you keep trying exploring, extending, learning, developing, believing. Where people who experience failure, experience the defeat predominately within their thinking. Just because something didn?t quite work out how you thought it would, does not mean you have failed. ?It?s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.? ?It?s better to have tried than never to have tried at all.? Right at this moment in time you have a choice, you can look for the good that has come out of every situation in your life, or you can focus on the bad. Right at this moment in your life you can A matter of perception: Right at this moment you may not feel abundantly wealthy, but to a child from Africa, your life would appear to be one of immense wealth.

Author of Book of Choices published by Amazon =>http://www.truityonline.com free self help website

Pivot Points in Forex: Mapping your Time Frame

2008-02-09T03:22:00.000-08:00

It is useful to have a map and be able to see where the price is relative to previous market action. This way we can see how is the sentiment of traders and investors at any given moment, it also gives us a general idea of where the market is heading during the day. This information can help us decide which way to trade.

Pivot points, a technique developed by floor traders, help us see where the price is relative to previous market action.

As a definition, a pivot point is a turning point or condition. The same applies to the Forex market, the pivot point is a level in which the sentiment of the market changes from "bull" to "bear" or vice versa. If the market breaks this level up, then the sentiment is said to be a bull market and it is likely to continue its way up, on the other hand, if the market breaks this level down, then the sentiment is bear, and it is expected to continue its way down. Also at this level, the market is expected to have some kind of support/resistance, and if price can't break the pivot point, a possible bounce from it is plausible.

Pivot points work best on highly liquid markets, like the spot currency market, but they can also be used in other markets as well.

Pivot Points

In a few words, pivot point is a level in which the sentiment of traders and investors changes from bull to bear or vice versa. Why PP work? They work simply because many individual traders and investors use and trust them, as well as bank and institutional traders. It is known to every trader that the pivot point is an important measure of strength and weakness of any market.

Calculating pivot points There are several ways to arrive to the Pivot point. The method we found to have the most accurate results is calculated by taking the average of the high, low and close of a previous period (or session).

Pivot point (PP) = (High + Low + Close) / 3

Take for instance the following EUR/USD information from the previous session:

Open: 1.2386 High: 1.2474 Low: 1.2376 Close: 1.2458

The PP would be, PP = (1.2474 + 1.2376 + 1.2458) / 3 = 1.2439

What does this number tell us? It simply tells us that if the market is trading above 1.2439, Bulls are winning the battle pushing the prices higher. And if the market is trading below this 1.2439 the bears are winning the battle pulling prices lower. On both cases this condition is likely to sustain until the next session.

Since the Forex market is a 24hr market (no close or open from day to day) there is a eternal battle on deciding at white time we should take the open, close, high and low from each session. From our point of view, the times that produce more accurate predictions is taking the open at 00:00 GMT and the close at 23:59 GMT.

Besides the calculation of the PP, there are other support and resistance levels that are calculated taking the PP as a reference.

Support 1 (S1) = (PP * 2) - H Resistance 1 (R1) = (PP * 2) - L Support 2 (S2) = PP - (R1 - S1) Resistance 2 (R2) = PP + (R1 - S1)

Where , H is the High of the previous period and L is the low of the previous period

Continuing with the example above, PP = 1.2439

S1 = (1.2439 * 2) - 1.2474 = 1.2404 R1 = (1.2439 * 2) - 1.2376 = 1.2502 R2 = 1.2439 + (1.2636 - 1.2537) = 1.2537 S2 = 1.2439 - (1.2636 - 1.2537) = 1.2537

These levels are supposed to mark support and resistance levels for the current session.

On the example above, the PP was calculated using information of the previous session (previous day.) This way we could see possible intraday resistance and support levels. But it can also be calculated using the previous weekly or monthly data to determine such levels. By doing so we are able to see the sentiment over longer periods of time. Also we can see possible levels that might offer support and resistance throughout the week or month. Calculating the Pivot point in a weekly or monthly basis is mostly used by long term traders, but it can also be used by short time traders, it gives us a good idea about the longer term trend.

S1, S2, R1 AND R2...? An Objective Alternative

As already stated, the pivot point zone is a well-known technique and it works simply because many traders and investors use and trust it. But what about the other support and resistance zones (S1, S2, R1 and R2,) to forecast a support or resistance level with some mathematical formula is somehow subjective. It is hard to rely on them blindly just because the formula popped out that level. For this reason, we have created an alternative way to map our time frame, simpler but more objective and effective.

We calculate the pivot point as showed before. But our support and resistance levels are drawn in a different way. We take the previous session high and low, and draw those levels on today's chart. The same is done with the session before the previous session. So, we will have our PP and four more important levels drawn in our chart.

LOPS1, low of the previous session. HOPS1, high of the previous session. LOPS2, low of the session before the previous session. HOPS2, high of the session before the previous session. PP, pivot point.

These levels will tell us the strength of the market at any given moment. If the market is trading above the PP, then the market is considered in a possible uptrend. If the market is trading above HOPS1 or HOPS2, then the market is in an uptrend, and we only take long positions. If the market is trading below the PP then the market is considered in a possible downtrend. If the market is trading below LOPS1 or LOPS2, then the market is in a downtrend, and we should only consider short trades.

The psychology behind this approach is simple. We know that for some reason the market stopped there from going higher/lower the previous session, or the session before that. We don't know the reason, and we don't need to know it. We only know the fact: the market reversed at that level. We also know that traders and investors have memories, they do remember that the price stopped there before, and the odds are that the market reverses from there again (maybe because the same reason, and maybe not) or at least find some support or resistance at these levels.

What is important about his approach is that support and resistance levels are measured objectively; they aren't just a level derived from a mathematical formula, the price reversed there before so these levels have a higher probability of being effective.

Our mapping method works on both market conditions, when trending and on sideways conditions. In a trending market, it helps us determine the strength of the trend and trade off important levels. On sideways markets it shows us possible reversal levels.

How we use our mapping method? We at StraightForex (www.straightforex.com) use the mapping method in three different ways: as a trend identification (measure of the strength of the trend), a trading system using important levels with price behavior as a trading signal and to set the risk reward ratio (RR) of any given trade based on where the is the market relative to the previous session.

Raul Lopez is the founder of www.straightforex.com A site dedicated to provide high quality training for Forex traders.

Leather Stretching

2008-02-08T01:05:00.000-08:00

Because leather is so pliable, (especially wet leather) you can change its shape and size. The basic principal is to make the leather moist (not soaked) and apply heat or cold.

For example, leather specialists will use extreme heat followed by extreme cold to coax torn leather back to its original shape and position before they apply adhesive when repairing tears. A commercial stripping gun and a decent size of metal that has been in the refrigerator are recommended, no kidding! Find out the proper technique first before attempting this maneuver.

If you have shoes, for example that are a bit small, you have a couple of different options for stretching them. You can take them to a cobbler and have them stretched with an industrial strength leather stretching shoe device, or if you want to risk it you can stretch your shoes on your own.

Home Remedy Leather Stretching

I've heard stories that some boot salespeople recommend wetting your shoes with rubbing alcohol and while still wet, putting the shoes back on, as almost any wet leather will stretch. The alcohol evaporates quickly so there should not be any spotting with this leather stretching technique.

Another thing I have heard is that some people have successfully filled a quart bag with water and placed it in the shoe. Put the whole deal in the freezer and as the water freezes, it will expand right along with the shoe. You might want to try this with an old boot first to see what happens.

If home remedy solutions make you nervous, you can buy your own leather stretching shoe device. Type "stretch shoe" into a search engine for some ideas.

Sizing a Hat

If you have a leather hat that feels too snug, consider buying a hat form or wig stand that is the right size and then placing the hat on it so the hat can dry to the right size. You could also wear the hat after getting it nice and pliable, but it may not dry while on your head because of your own natural moisture. So consider the humidity and temperature that day if you try this method

If the hat is big enough to fit even though it might be tight, wait to see if regular wear creates new memory. You can always take the hat to a cobbler since they have the equipment and should be able to stretch it out for you. If you are not sure where to look, start with your local yellow pages to see if you have a hat maker locally.

Breaking-In Shoes

One of the best ways to break in a new pair of shoes is to wear them around the house for short periods of time. Just remember that since the leather is stiff, if you walk around too long you'll develop blisters. However, the natural moisture produced from your feet helps to soften and break in the boots or shoes without using stretchers.

One option that should be a last resort before heading to the cobbler is to lightly wet them with a damp sponge inside and out, taking care not to soak them. After all, leather and water are not the best of pals. Wear them for a couple hours that way.

Just keep in mind that wearing new leather boots or shoes on a regular basis will keep the leather supple and help them form to your feet. If you don't use them for a long period, wear them for a couple of hours on occasion to keep the leather soft and pliable.

As your boots begin to break in, you will see two creases - one right behind the toe of the boot and the second higher up on the foot, but below your ankle. If the boots dry out from disuse, you may have to take it easy for a couple of days when you put them on again.

You can also hand break boots by bending them back and forth a bit. Lastly, you can buy boots that do not require a long break-in or painful break-in period. Having to break-in a boot is compensation for the boot being hard.

These days, most high quality boots are made in leathers that are strong without being crippling. It is possible to buy a pair of sturdy boots that will not cause pain every time you wear them. Ask the retailer about the break in period and the quality of boot in their line.

In reality, leather stretching can be relatively easy if you take your time and think it through.

*** Hey! Want To Make Something Out Of Leather? *** Discover How To Make Leather Crafts for Fun and Profit Leather Craft

Jake's love of leather and the constant questions drove him to write everything down.

Sketching a Car without getting a headache

2008-02-07T00:47:00.001-08:00

Yes many of us have made attempts on sketching that dream car of ours, and more often than not it has made us frustrated that it looks not even close to what we had in our mind. I finally learned to get the right proportions and make the sketches not look like it was a pile of garbage and instead make them look like a Cadillac, Shelby, Corvette, Ferrari or whatever I try to sketch.

What you need to do is to look at the outward lines of the car, try to get a shape by simply trying to sketch a few lines. Then compare that to your reference car and simply fine tune the lines little by little without erasing the old lines.

My best advise is to leave the wheels while you are sketching the lines of the cars. Why you may ask, well simply because the wheels are usually the hardest part of car sketches. Then when you are starting to get satisfied with the general shape of the car-sketch, try adding the wheels. But don't be surprised if getting the wheels correct takes longer time than the the whole car!

How long does it take to do a good car sketch then? Well it is very different, depending on how the perspective of the car is. Usually getting the right proportions should take between 1-3hours. Then fine tuning it is what take lot of time, I can spend easily 10 hours on a car sketch before starting to shade it! So it all depends on how much patience and time you want to spend on this sketch of you dreamcar!

The kind of pencils I use is different, but try some and you will probably find the one you feels most comfortable with and then go with that. And remember to not be afraid of using the eraser!

Lukas Niklasson is the associated editor to the website http://www.autodrawings.net . It is a website that focus on car drawings of all sorts. It get updated regurarly with new drawings and interesting information regarding car artwork.

Dynamic Stretching

2008-02-06T02:23:00.001-08:00

Dynamic stretches For sports that involve sprinting and changes of direction, the general warm-up prior to dynamic stretching should include jogging as well as short sprints and multi-directional running (such as sideways and backwards). Dynamic stretching is good for 'waking muscles up' to get them ready to work hard. This involves moving your limbs through the full range of motion that they will be used in during the game or training. Gradually increase the range of the movement over a series of repetitions.

Do not force movements or lose control of the movement. Repeat the following examples about 12 times - you may need to do more or less than this number depending on how tight your muscles feel. This period should take about 3-5 minutes.

Dynamic Stretches

Leg swings forward and back (Gluteals, hamstrings, hip flexors) * Hold on to a solid object and balance on one leg * Swing the other leg forwards to a comfortable height ensuring that your trunk and lower back stay rigid and do not bend. * Then swing the leg back, again ensuring that there is minimal movement in the back. * Change legs and repeat. * Swing to a height that suits your flexibility. * Forcing the leg high by swinging too hard may result in injury.

Leg swings side to side (Hamstrings, adductors) * Hold on to a solid object and balance on one leg. * Turn your foot on the leg you are balancing on outwards. * Swing that leg away from the body turning the foot to point at the sky. * Then swing the leg across the body pointing the toes in the direction your leg is moving. * Check that you are minimizing the amount of movement through your lower back.

Hurdle step overs (Gluteals, adductors) * Hold on to a solid object and stand with one leg slightly further back than the other. * Lift the back leg knee high and then rotate leg outwards and step down. Then reverse the movement by rotating the leg outwards then taking the knee night to the front. * Return to the start position. Check that you are minimizing truck movement. Alternate legs and repeat

Lower leg calf raises (Calves) (soleus and gastrocnemius) * Start with your body in a push-up position, with your feet side by side. * Support your weight with your hands and feet. * Start stretching your calves by pushing one heel towards the ground then onto the ball of the foot and then back again. * Alternate between legs.

Upper body trunk rotation (Trunk muscles - abdominals, back and chest) * Stand with the back straight and knees slightly bent. * Start swinging your body at waist height - you should feel this mostly in your lower back. * Move your arms higher to around shoulder height to feel a stretch through the middle back. * Now raise your arms to above your head to feel the stretch higher in the back. * If you find any tight areas do extra repetitions without forcing the movement. * In this exercise you should concentrate more on gradually increasing the range of movement rather than the speed of movement.

Bent over upper body rotation (Trunk muscles - abdominals, back and chest, adductors, hamstrings) * Bend at the hips so that your lower back still keeps its natural inward curve - you might need to bend your knees a little. * Rotate the trunk and arms to reach towards the opposite toe while bending that leg. * Alternate sides. * Reach as low as your flexibility allows - its not necessary to touch the toes if you can't reach that low.

Arm circles (Muscles around the shoulder) * Stand with the back straight and knees slightly bent. * Swing both your arms around in circles starting with small circles progressing towards larger ones. * Circles should be done both forwards and backwards. * If you find tightness in an area, spend more time working on that area to loosen it up

To know more information Visit Getfitsource.com

Optimafitness.co.uk

Discover How Stretching Can Help You In Reaching Top Performance!

2008-02-05T02:49:00.000-08:00

Stretching is a form of exercise that helps one to achieve peak performance in any sport activity. When you do stretch, you are exercising your body for peak performance. Though other work out exercises can equally contribute in giving you a strong body for top activity.

In performing stretching activity, good attire is needed for flexibility of movements. You will put on a good shoes, a sleeveless wear that gives fitting to your physique. Before any good exercise is started, stretching and warm ups are mandatory as it prepares the body for the exercise. Even at the end of the whole exercise, stretching is also recommended. Stretching gives the body flexibility, strenght, and elasticity of the muscles.

When you stretch, your muscles is drawn out evenly thus extending and elongating it. This in turn gives the muscle strenght and elasticity. Initially you will feel some pain, but you have to endure it unless it is excruciating. After continuous practice of stretching, you will notice that your body will start getting used to it and the pain will no longer be there. To understand what i'm trying to say do this: Try stretching your hand in the following way, put your arm across your head and use it to pull up your shoulder, what do you feel? Did you notice the slight pain in your body? What about your neck, did you feel any pain there? Well it is normal, you can ignore them when you have started stretching.

You will notice that after repeated trials that you will start feeling comfortable with the stretching exercise. You can now do leg stretching by sitting straight and spreading your legs across the floor, you will also notice that you feel a sharp pain between your thigh muscles, again this is normal. Your body will adapt to it after a while. Now try holding your leg with one of your hands. Now stretch to the right and wait a while, do the same to your left side. Now stretch up by sitting straight. It is advised that you perform this stretch exercises with different arm and leg positions. Repetition will perfect it for you and all the pain you feel will be gone.

The end result is in-built muscle flexibility, strenght, and elasticity that will enhance your body and make you a top performer in any sports event you want to excel in as long as you continue to apply yourself to warm ups, stretching and regular exercises. Joe Okoro writes about how to become an Ace Athletes in his free reports. You can sign up for his courses and get additional information by visiting http://www.coolcashjackpot.com/aceform.htm

Penis Enlargement STRETCHING devices?

2008-02-04T02:07:00.001-08:00

Apparently having a small penis just will NOT do in the world that is today! After a wide and thourough search on the internet, I came across an rather weird looking contraption that was specifically designed to stretch your penis out to increase its length and girth! I was struck by an immense curiosity and had to investigate!!

After reading numerous articles about these alien looking devices, and talking to various individuals, I was amazed to discover that this is actually a means to a (longer) end! Being that thousands of guys out there have purchased these products, it is definately a safe and cheaper way to a happier sex life. Doctors even recommend these devices to their patients!

Most companies sell their stretching devices with pills, patches and sexual guidelines and dvds, and the going rate for these "mirracle packages" is in the $300 price range. Now for what you get, this is really not a bad price, and best of all, if you're not happy, a full money back guarantee is given on all of the top products out there!

Check out this page with a few comparrisons on these devices, or click here for a wider range of products. What have you got to lose?

A legitimate company doing research in male enhancement products

The Importance of Proper Hydration and Stretching

2008-02-02T01:18:00.000-08:00

Whether you're taking a brisk walk or running a 26 mile marathon, hydration and stretching are extremely important to preventing injury and to maintaining optimum fitness. However, there are many myths about both these things that have crept into most people's thinking.

The number one myth about hydration is that you should let your level of thirst signal when you need to drink. This is absolutely untrue. Most athletes only replace about 2/3 of the water they lose when they follow this rule. Instead, drink fluids on a schedule. A general rule of thumb, depending on your weight and weather conditions is to drink 8 ounces of water about 15 minutes before beginning exercise and 8 ounces for each 15 minutes during your workout.

Another hydration myth is that everyone needs eight glasses of water a day. This may not be enough for some people who engage in higher intensity sports. It may be too much for sedentary people. This is because, although it is true that the average person loses 80 ounces of water a day, he or she also gains about 32 ounces of water from food. That means, in order to replace lost fluids a person only needs to drink about 48 ounces of water rather than the 64 ounces contained in eight glasses of water.

A recent study about over hydration has scared people into believing that you can get sick from drinking too much water during exercise. While this may be true in isolated cases, typically among endurance athletes, the average person will not get sick from drinking too much water unless they have an existing heart, liver or kidney problem. If you have one of these conditions, checking with your doctor about the proper amount of liquid to drink during exercise is advisable.

Stretching is another source of myths and misinformation. Contrary to popular belief, stretching will not "warm you up." Warming up is done by starting a low level of activity and working up to your desired intensity. Stretching before exercise also will not prevent injury although research has shown that it will reduce pain and muscle soreness after exercise. Only a proper warm-up routine will help prevent injuries.

Many people also believe that stretching is most beneficial when done before a workout. Actually, gentle stretching after a workout can help reduce cramping and muscular pain. Also, there is the belief that any stretching is better than none. Improper stretching can actually increase the risk of muscular injuries. It's worth taking the time to learn stretches appropriate to the activity you're planning to perform.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Fitness, Food, and Consumer Information

Stretching for Home Office Productivity

2008-02-01T00:14:00.001-08:00

DON'T BECOME SEDENTARY

Working from home has truly become a revolution in business. More and more of
us are opting for telecommuting on our current jobs, or building our own
businesses at home. The elimination of commuter stress is hard to beat, not to
mention the convenience and comfort of the home environment. The ergonomics of
home offices, while helping to increase efficiency and reduce injury, can
encourage a sedentary existence. It means that we hardly ever move.

While keeping good ergonomics in mind, make sure your office is setup so that
you have to get up and move around. In other words, do not make your home office
too comfortable. Sitting for long periods can cause fatigue and poor mental
performance.

STAND, STRETCH, AND FLEX

Once every hour get up and move around. Take a five-minute break to stand,
stretch and flex.

Tensed muscles are deprived of oxygen which is needed for their proper
functioning. Standing, stretching and flexing periodically will keep your
muscles flexible and decrease the chance of cramping and other muscular
discomfort. Stretching and flexing for a few minutes each hour will help your
muscles to relax while restoring its vital blood flow.

Time can pass so very quickly once we become engrossed in work, making it
easy to lose track of time. Doing these stretches once an hour throughout the
day will most likely increase your productivity. To help keep track of the
passing hours I use a talking clock that I installed on my computers. I have
found AlphaClock particularly useful.

Here are some simple stretches to use:

Stand-up

- Stand with your feet apart. With your hands on your hips bend forward slowly
as far as you can and hold for 5 seconds. Slowly straighten and then place both
hands on your lower back and bend back gently. Hold for five seconds and repeat.

- Stand up straight and spread your arms out to the sides, with your palms
facing forward. Stretch your arms as far back as you can and hold for 5 seconds.

- Open your hands as far as you can, spreading your fingers apart as far as they
will go. Close and repeat 10 times

- Slowly stretch your arms over your head and hold for 5 seconds, repeating hand
stretch

Neck stretch

Face forward. Gently turn head to right. Place your right hand on your left
cheek, with your left hand reaching behind your head touching your right ear.
Gently press your head to the right. Switch hand positions for the left side.

Face forward. Tuck in chin. Tilt head toward right shoulder. With right hand
on head, press down gently. Repeat on left side.

Face forward. Bend head down toward floor. With both hands on head, press
down.

Glut Stretch
Standing up bring first one knee up to your chest as you can and hold for 5
seconds. Switch legs. Repeat several times.

Work at home and stay fit

A fitness routine is even more important for those of us who work from home.
Sacrificing our health for our convenience should not be an option! These
stretches are only a small, but important part of keeping fit for home office
workers.
Specializing in Sports and Therapeutic massage, Sidney maintains the PrimalWellness.com website.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Etching with Beam-Steered Laser

2008-02-01T00:12:00.000-08:00

The beam-steered marker can duplicate virtually any vector graphic image including variable line widths and images as small as 0.010 inch or less. Typical uses include serialization of ceramic and plastic products that require high-quality graphics such as company logos and/or significant amounts of additional alphanumeric text.

This year, over one-third of all material processing lasers will be installed for product or package marking applications. Since their introduction in the early-1970's, laser markers have evolved as an effective tool for manufacturers who require a combination of speed, permanence, and image flexibility not available from more traditional marking technologies.

Two marking system designs have emerged with notably different strengths and weaknesses. Careful consideration of these laser and imaging optics combinations can provide the optimum tool for a wide range of marking requirements.

Process FundamentalsLaser marking is a thermal process that employs a high-intensity beam of focused laser light to create a contrasting mark. The laser beam increases the surface temperature to induce either a color change in the material and/or displace material by vaporization to engrave the surface. Both marking system configurations utilize this principle of surface modification but differ in the method used to project the laser beam and create the marking image.

The beam-steered laser marker provides the greatest degree of image manipulation. To create the marking image, two beam-steering mirrors mounted on high-speed, computer-controlled galvanometers direct the laser beam across the target surface. Each galvanometer provides one axis of beam motion in the marking field. The beam projects through a multi-element, flat-field lens assembly after reflecting off the final steering mirror. The lens assembly focuses the laser light to achieve the highest power density possible on the work surface while maintaining the focused spot travel on a flat plane. The laser output is gated between marking strokes. This design offers the user the advantages of a computer generated marking image and utilization of the entire laser output for the highest marking power possible.

The mask or "stencil" marking system sacrifices image quality and versatility for significantly increased marking speed. The marking image is created by enlarging the laser beam, projecting it through a copper stencil of the desired image, and refocusing the beam on the target surface to "burn" the image into the material. A single pulse of the laser creates the entire image. If the alphanumeric characters must be altered part-to-part, (i.e., serialization, etc.), computer-controlled rotary stencil wheels index the characters. This technique is aesthetically limiting in that images exhibit a "stencil" appearance with breaks in the marking lines. Since the mask blocks a high percentage of the laser beam, marking power and resultant surface penetration is limited.

Laser and Imaging CombinationsBeam-steered Nd:

YAG

The combination of the Nd:

YAG (Neodymium:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser and the beam-steered delivery optics marks the widest range of materials and provides the versatility of computer controlled image generation. Nd:YAG lasers amplify light in the near-infrared at 1.06 mm. Metallic materials absorb a comparatively high percentage of the light in this region of the spectrum. In the pulsed mode, the Nd:YAG laser produces peak powers considerably higher than the normal continuous-wave output. A 90 watt CW Nd:YAG laser, pulsed at 1 kHz, will emit a train of pulses with peak powers of 110,000 watts. The Nd:YAG lasers ability to emulate an "optical capacitor" provides the power necessary to vaporize metallics and other materials. The high peak power will vaporize material up to 0.005 inches deep in a single pass or greater with multiple passes. The non-metallic materials normally associated with the far-infrared wavelength of the CO2 laser are usually highly reflective to the Nd:YAG. However, the high peak power of the Nd:YAG can often overcome the higher reflectivity. Some overlap does occur among many plastics that absorb both wavelengths equally well.

The beam-steered marker can duplicate virtually any vector graphic image including variable line widths and images as small as 0.010 inch or less. In addition, the computer can instantly change any graphic element or the entire marking program before a new part is positioned for marking.

The Nd:YAG laser offers a greater range of adjustable process variables to achieve a specific material modification but at a correspondingly higher purchase price than the CO2 laser.

Beam-steered CO2

The continuous-wave CO2 laser can also be combined with the beam-steered delivery system. CO2 lasers emit a narrow bandwidth of light in the far infrared at 10.6 mm. This wavelength is most suitable for organic materials such as paper and other wood products, many plastics, removing thin layers of ink or paint from a substrate, and for marking ceramics. It does not produce high peak powers when pulsed.

Typically utilizing laser powers up to 50 watts, these systems combine the far infrared wavelength with the image control and flexibility of beam-steered image generation. Typical uses include serialization of ceramic and plastic products that require high-quality graphics such as company logos and/or significant amounts of additional alphanumeric text. The lower power CO2 marker does not provide the power to "engrave" substrates but, due to the comparative simplicity of design, can be purchased at a lower cost than the beam-steered Nd:YAG marker.

Mask CO2

Applications that require high speed but not high power and do not vary the marking image except for alphanumeric text (i.e., serialization, date code, etc.) utilize the mask CO2 marker. The CO2 laser is pulsed at rates of up to 1,200 pulses per minute. The high repetition rate provides marking of parts "on-the-fly" at high part-transfer speeds. Computer controlled masks can alter up to three lines of text at speeds of up to 720 parts per minute if the alphanumeric code must be changed.

Advantages and DisadvantagesBeam-steered Nd:

YAG

The beam-steered Nd:

YAG provides more marking power and far superior imaging than any other laser marker configuration. The available high peak power can mark or engrave a wide variety of materials including hardened metallics. Present computer technology produces highly intricate graphics with linewidths and accuracy's of less than 0.001 inch. Because ?drawing? with the laser beam creates the image, the marking time is dependent on the amount of text and the complexity of any graphics. The Nd:YAG laser marker is the most costly of the three system configurations.

The beam-steered Nd:YAG marker frequently replaces acid and electro-etch systems, stamping and punching systems, and those other marking systems which permanently mark products by imprinting or engraving. It also replaces ink jet and other color printing systems. Typical applications include marking pistons, bearings, valves, gears, and a multitude of other components in the automotive industry; heart pacemakers, replacement hip joints, and surgical tools in the medical industry; computer chassis, disk drives, and integrated circuits in the electronics industry; tool holders, drill bits, and cutting tools in the tool industry; and writing pens, nameplates, and golf club grips.

Beam-steered CO2

The acquisition and operating costs of the beam-steered CO2 marker are lower than the Nd:YAG marker due to the relative simplicity of the laser. Image generation is equal to that of the other beam-steered system while speed and depth of penetration are considerable lower due to the lower power of the CO2 laser. Although not as popular as the beam-steered Nd:YAG and mask CO2 markers, the beam-steered CO2 system is frequently used for marking general plastics and plastic and ceramic connectors and packages within the electronics industry.

Mask CO2

Although the mask CO2 does not offer the imaging capabilities of the beam-steered design, it is far superior in speed. Because a single pulse of the laser creates the entire image, throughput is typically limited only by the pulse rate of the laser and the transfer speed of the parts handling system. While the part must be stationary while marking with the beam-steered design, parts are marked in motion with mask systems. Depth of penetration is less than the beam-steered CO2 marker since the laser output is spread over a large area with correspondingly low power density. Masked CO2 markers most frequently compete with ink-jet marking. The mask CO2 laser is often the marker of choice for sequenced coding, batch coding, open or closed date coding, and real-time coding of paper or cardboard, ink or paint coatings, glass, plastics, coated metals, and ceramics.

While the beam-steered design provides superior imaging and material penetration and the mask design provides superior speed, either system provides a better combination of speed, permanence, and imaging flexibility than other marking techniques. Many users also benefit from the non-contact nature of laser marking and the elimination of additive materials such as inks or paints.

The development of a successful marking application requires careful consideration of the laser output characteristics, the design of the optical beam delivery and image generation system, the properties of the target material, and the aesthetic and physical properties of the desired mark. Industrial laser marking systems provide prospective users with several system designs from which to choose to match the optimum marking performance with the users unique requirements.

Richard Stevenson is the Sales Director for Control Micro Systems, Inc. a manufacturer of beam-steered laser marking systems. He has published and presented numerous technical papers and articles on laser marking in trade publications. For information on Lazer Engraving, Welding, Etching, Cutting or Marking call 407-679-9716 or email sales@cmslaser.com

Laser Marking and Laser Etching on Glass for Industrial Applications

2008-01-30T00:41:00.000-08:00

The marking of glass for industrial use has been done for hundreds of years. In the past the methods used have included ink stamp marking, sand blasting, air grit, acid etching, scribing etc.

Industrial applications of glass marking include:

1. Marking of safety information on safety glass used in commercial and residential construction. This includes glass areas around doors and/or entrance and exit locations. 2. Marking of glass for commercial and residential construction to identify the glass or door manufacturer [for product identification and marketing/sales activity] 3. Marking of headlamp or tail light lens in automotive applications for manufactures name, year of manufacture and/or part number. Also used in the manufacture of televisions for marking mirrors and lens. 4. Marking of serial number, product identification, or other manufacturing information for the prevention of theft and validation of warranty claims 5. Marking serial numbers, part numbers, text, or bar codes allowing for parts to be tracked though the production process until final assembly and shipment

The traditional methods of glass marking all involve contact with the surface of the glass product which exposes the product to stress and potential damage. Co2 lasers offer significant advantages for marking glass products. The RF excited sealed beam Co2 laser coupled with a galvo head and software offers the fastest, cleanest, most reliable method for marking and etching glass.

A Co2 laser can laser mark glass with bar codes, especially 2-D or data matrix bar codes, which can easily be coupled with vision systems for reading the data contained in the bar code. The use of bar codes on glass allows for the product to be tracked all the way through the production process until final assembly. This helps assure a continuous uninterrupted supply of product. The laser marked or laser etched bar code can also be used after the sale of the product for identification purposes and validation. This helps to eliminate warranty costs related to counterfeit or unauthorized products.

A Co2 laser marked or laser etched bar code can also be read by vision systems in the manufacturing process to determine the identity of the part. Examples include prescription strength of eye glass lens, or the type of front headlamp lens used in a Honda Civic. This ensures that the part is sorted and used properly throughout the manufacturing process and that the correct number of parts is produced based on anticipated sales for final assembled components.

The advances of Co2 laser marking of glass over traditional methods are extensive. These include:

* No contact with the part as in scribing methods thereby reducing the possibility of breakage to and damage of the part, as well as elimination of the maintenance required for the scribe unit * No solvents, thinning, or cleaning agents to purchase and keep in stock as in the case of ink marking or ink printing systems, thereby significantly reducing costs of operation and eliminating the need for continuous maintenance associated with these various ink printing technologies * No pads for ink printing to maintain as they can fall to an angle or become turned sideways causing the printed image on the glass to appear sideways or not square. * No need to stop the glass in place and make sure a secure fit with the rubber mask is formed as in the case of Airgrit marking * With Co2 laser marking for industrial glass applications the product can be marked on the fly [while moving]. If stopped or 'squared' for marking, five to eight lines of text plus logo's can be laser etched in less than 0.5 of a second. * With Co2 laser marking no supplies are necessary and no secondary process exists for cleaning or maintenance. * With Co2 laser marking changes to the mark [different text, different logo, difference shape, etc] can be accomplished with a simple click and drag command of the mouse.

Co2 laser marking for glass in industrial applications is the fastest, most effective, least costly method in which to mark the product

Jim Morin writes for Worldwide Laser Service Corporation a company that specializes in T.E.A. Co2 lasers. For more information visit http://www.wlsc.com

America's National Pastime - Blogging

2008-01-30T00:25:00.000-08:00

According to the latest Time - CNN poll as reported by Wolf Blitzer in the situation room, Kvetching and Internet Poker have replaced Baseball as America's favorite pastime. Kvetching has spawned a huge industry in the United States of America now that the manufacturing jobs have been relocated to China. "Kvetch": "to complain, blame, harangue, scapegoat, get freaked out about, drive crazy, whine about, gossip, spin, twist the truth, lie and tell the truth about but do nothing about it except kvetch."

Kvetching is the fuel of the internet, a multi billion dollar industry. The internet has turned the Earth into a worldwide Kvetchfest. Every blog is a series of daily kvetches by literally hundreds of millions of people world wide. Blogging is now replacing psychiatry as a way for people to vent their fear, frustration, anger, and sense of worthlessness. Soon blogging will render psychiatry obsolete. Instead of lying on a couch for 45 minutes complaining about what your father said to you when you were 5 years old, as your Doctor sits silently thinking about what to buy his mistress for her birthday, and then saying, "I'm sorry our time's up for this week I'll see you next Wednesday", for $100 per session, people can now sit down at their computer and kvetch for free for as long as they like to the entire world.

Not only this, but the search engines' super computers index every single word of every single person's kvetch, so that if you search "Bush" you will come up with 228 million search results. Unfortunately the search engines do not yet display all 228 million results for each word, but they do display a thousand, and getting your kvetch into the top thousand has spawned an entire industry of snake oil salesmen called SEO experts. For a modest fee these people will tell you which words to use in your kvetch, submit your kvetch to millions of search engines, and promise to get your kvetch into the top ten kvetches for your keyword, the big time, where millions of people can read about your problem and feel sorry for you and send you comments, emails, and invite you to join their group of people with similar complaints. The NSA is now recording every telephone conversation that you make, writing down the name and number of the person you called, and recording every word of every blog that you write. It is as though they are recording on super computers every thought that comes into your mind. Even George Orwell could not have imagined this. It is like we are robots gone mad and our brains are mini computers and the government is the main computer trying to reign us all in, to defragment the system before we blow up the earth once and for all.

Kvetching is the fuel of the media, newspaper commentators and television commentators. You can now watch the talking heads in high definition. They have divided up into groups, Democrats and Republicans. Now the Republicans are kvetching about the other Republicans, as well as the Democrats. The Shiites are kvetching about the Sunnis and the Kurds and the Muslims are kvetching about the Hindus. The Americans are kvetching about the Iranians and the Iranians are kvetching about the Jews and the Americans. The psychiatrists only exist now because the search engines are not permitted to hand out medications, although that is changing. Drug companies are buying up our email addresses and spamming our mail boxes with invitations to purchase anti depressants over the internet without the intervention of any doctors. They are not concerned that many of these anti depressants cause even worse depression and cause the bloggers to commit suicide. The doctors are getting their revenge on patients who left them for their keyboards.

There is a deeply spiritual reason why computers are so popular. We know from countless people who have had near death experiences that after death many of us go back into a tunnel of brilliant white light. We experience a sense of complete relief and ecstasy, not a care in the world, all of our troubles left behind. Looking into the white light of our computer screens for hours on end we become one with the white light that is our holy spirit. We feel as though we are back in the womb, back in heaven from where we came, free from all worldly cares, like nuclear world war 3, global warming, Armageddon, pollution, crumbling economies, which worries are shouted at us constantly by the newspapers, televisions, and computer screens, sending us reeling to psychiatrists, drugstores, and SEO experts.

More American soldiers have committed suicide in Iraq than have been killed in combat. Imagine the stress they are under. They are in a country where they are universally hated, protecting people who hate their guts, watching their best friends get killed and their legs and arms blown off every single day, frightened to death that this will be their fate as they round the next turn, all for a country which was tricked into going to war and no longer believes in the war. Instead of sending more troops, the United States needs to send over more SEO experts. Don't worry. Soon it will all be over. Jesus is coming on a flying white horse to save us all again, and to meet George Bush in Jerusalem, to congratulate him on his successful crusade, reclaiming the Holy Land for Christianity as the Pope did with his Christian Army 1,000 years ago. As Albert Einstein said to his lover of 20 years, "If you didn't kvetch you'd have nothing to say at all. So keep on kvetching, you kvetch."

About the Author

Karen Fish is a writer currently living in Los Angeles California. The Temple of Love http://www.thetempleoflove.com/

5 Tips for Stretching Your Remodeling Budget

2008-01-28T03:32:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again, spring is in the air, and that means fresh thoughts, new beginnings, and ideas for home renovation start to take shape. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) reminds homeowners that May is Home Improvement Month, marking the time when homeowners across the country seek out contractors who can turn their dream homes into reality.

"Preparing for a remodeling project is a lot like preparing to buy a car," said Everett Collier, CR, of Collier-Ostrom Remodeling, and President of NARI, "you may know which room and style you'd like, but the options you choose may drive the price higher than you can reasonably afford." He adds, "However, there are ways to stretch your remodeling budget."

Below are NARI's tips for stretching that budget:

Getting Started

? Hire a professional contractor who is familiar with the building codes in your area. Replacing work that does not meet code can be extremely expensive.

? A well-written contract can prevent costly mistakes or additions to the scope of your project. It is a critical step in maintaining your budget.

? Save money by planning ahead. Go through the design process with your remodeler first and choose everything you want to include in the new room(s), from appliances to light fixtures. This will define your budget and prevent hasty (and costly) changes later in the project.

? Compare products and their prices carefully before you make final decisions. And keep an open mind when you discuss product and design ideas with your contractor.

? Aside from product choice, another way to decrease the cost of your remodeling project is to pay attention to how labor-intensive some design features may be. For instance, laying a ceramic tile mosaic backsplash would be costly vs. a backsplash laid with conventional-sized tiles.

The remodeling market, a $275 billion industry in the U.S. in 2005, is expected to continue to experience significant growth. It is estimated that more than a million homes per year undergo major renovation or remodeling.

NARI is a professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics. Consumers may wish to search www.RemodelToday.com to find a qualified professional who is a member of NARI. Consumers can also call the NARI National hotline at 800-611-NARI and request a free copy of NARI's brochure, "How to Select a Remodeling Professional," or visit www.RemodelToday.com and click on the homeowner's guide for more information. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only trade association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry. With more than 7,000 member companies nationwide, the Association -- based in Des Plaines, Illinois -- is "The Voice of the Remodeling Industry."TM For membership information, or to locate a local NARI chapter or a remodeling professional, visit NARI's website at www.RemodelToday.com, or contact the national headquarters office at 800-611-NARI.

EDITORS NOTE: HIGH-RES BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS OF WINNING REMODELING PROJECTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. Contact Michelle Hillgoth at 847-298-9200 or e-mail marketing@nari.org

NARI members are committed to being professional, ethical and honest, and committed to high standards. If you DO NOT wish to continue receiving e-mail from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, please e-mail marketing@nari.org with the word "remove" in the subject line.

Director of Marketing and Communications National Association of the Remodeling Industry

Chemical etching -an innovative process for your all nameplate requirements

2008-01-23T03:34:00.000-08:00

Chemical etching is a skilled practice of engraving your brand name on a nameplate. Texas Nameplate Company etches your emblem directly or indirectly on the metallic or non-metallic base and makes it more pliable to any lacerations. Chemical etching can be a substitute for embossing. The chemical etched nameplates are made by masking certain areas of metal by acid resistant material and then taking off desired amount of exposed material by acid. Widely custom name plates are etched on aluminum, stainless steel, brass, alloys etc and then baked after stuffing with varnishes for a perfect finish. The depth of industrial name plates etching varies from 0.0015 to 0.003 inches, depending on the height and stroke of letters and the type of metal or alloy. Along with chemicals gas and electric processes can also etch these wide ranges of metals.

Etching, also termed as 'milling' is of different types like laser etching, abrasive etching in which abrasives are used, photo chemical etching which is quite inexpensive and a high quality etching method. Photo chemically etched metals thus produced can be used as cost effective name tags, custom labels, panel boards, personalized name tags, industrial name plates for commercial uses and personalized name plate. Electro etching in which electric current is used instead of chemicals, dry etching does not use chemicals at all, Reactive ion etching which uses electric circuits and gas having chlorine or fluorine as iodized particles and vapor phase etching which also make use of reactive gases and many others to add to the list.

Chemical etching is preferred for practical applications and product identification tag. Name Tags made by chemical etching are durable items, which withstand even the harsh surroundings. Chemical etching makes your custom name tags withstand toughest environments, high temperatures and extreme outdoor conditions. Thus solve your purpose year after year. Texas Nameplate Company compliments the etching with screen-printing to avoid splitting or other form of wear and tear. Various adhesives are also added to etched metal name tags according to your specifications for pasting or welding. You can use our chemical etching nameplates on truck, tankers and trailer, control panels, dials and gauges of aircrafts, asset and property plates; and operating and warning signs for numerous electronics, military vehicles, and machinery etc. Chemical etching is also used to create stencils for commercial art and woodworks.

You can always depend upon TNC for any queries regarding the etching of your nameplates and sort out material suiting your specific requirements.Prabhjot kaur, working with Mileston Consultants www.milestone.cc in Plano as a Sr. SEO Analyst. Milestone Consultants is a global solutions organization providing expertise and business solutions in Project Management, Web Solutions, Business Process Outsourcing and Search Engine Optimization.

How to Draw Manga, Keen Style CG - Part 1: Sketching

2008-01-19T03:20:00.000-08:00

Well this is the first part of my drawing series. This tutorial assumes that you already have some knowledge on drawing anime or manga. The beginners can still learn from this, but the drawing parts wont be in depth, just some tips and techniques on drawing to optimize the picture, that I use during the sketching process.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Since this is a drawing tutorial, images are vital for the teaching of some techniques. That is why I have so many. However, since this site doesn't allow the use of image tags in articles, so I have to make do with the limited links I can use. If you want to see the whole article which all the images, you can go to my website or the article, How to Draw Manga, Keen Style CG - Part 1: Sketching

Initial Sketch [Image] Firstly, before any CG (which stands for Computer Graphics by the way), I start with a nice sketch. Here is the end result. (Click on the picture for a larger size). In this tutorial I'll show the process of making this picture.

There's a whole lot of symbolical detail in this picture, but I'll elaborate on that later on in the tutorial =)

The program I use is called OpenCanvas, at this point in CGing, where you have to do sketching, it doesn't really matter. It is a basic sketch after all so you can use paint if you wanted (though the fact that it only has 3 undos' was really off-putting for me =D ).

This picture took 3 hours to draw. Yep 3 hours =D. Why did it take so long you say? Because it didn't turn out the way I like it =D. Sometimes I take 20 minutes to sketch something up, up to the massive 3 hour mark, especially if I'm drawing on the computer. Drawing on the computer has its benefits, as you can fix up errors that you see, while for drawing, sometimes you just can't be bothered to fix those errors you see =D. And the computer has the blessed undo-key. Ahh, what would we do without that? =)
Contest And Description I decided to enter a contest of a good friend of mine on DeviantArt, over at AkitoMaru.deviantart.com. This contest was in celebration of her 6,000th hit (yes I am well aware that that figure is more than double my current page views of my own deviantart account (http://keenfoong.deviantart.com/ ) at the time of this writing -_-). Well anyway, for this contest, I had to draw one of her three original characters. I chose Vampire Mello, you can see her picture and description here.

Now that I've chosen, I read her description of that character, Mello:

"This little vampire doesn't drain people of their blood, rather drains their souls in hopes to recover her other wing... o_o the bunny on her shoulder is BonBon and does most of her talking for her... her location are usually around graveyards or abandoned churches. "

Good, now that I've got this description, I have this great picture in mind. This is greatly important. Having a clear, sharp picture in mind is vital for a breath-taking picture, even if your skills aren't too great, this can still help make a nice picture (not that I'm claiming that mine are extremely good =P). Also, make sure you have a description of the character that you're drawing in mind, it adds to the feel of the character.

For this picture I had a couple things in mind:

I wanted to emphasise the fact that she did only have one wing (as it was a surprise for me seeing only one wing when I first saw her picture).
I also wanted to show her sadness for only having one wing (I'm not sure if this is true to that character or not, but I got this impression).
The abandoned churches and around graveyards said to me that she would be lonely (also further emphasised by her lack of speech, BonBon (the little rabbit thingo), would do the talking).

Err... that's it I guess, =) I'm sure I had more in mind while I was drawing it, but I've forgotten it. =P Anyway, it's good to have the description in mind, so you can actually draw the features on to the picture, and thus adding to the overall feel to the art work.
Sketching With that out of the way, lets start drawing!

Sometimes I draw on paper, sometimes I draw on computer. This time I drew on the computer because I was lazy to draw on paper. So lets start with the basic sketching.

[Image] You might notice that this picture is pretty different to the end product. Yep, I didn't really have a clear enough image in mind, (even if I did have a clear-ish image in mind at the time). So make sure you image is very clear before you start.

By the way, don't be afraid of making mistakes. Just let your mind flow, since you've already had the clear image in mind, your mind should automatically go towards that image. Oh yeah, btw, the brush I used was Sharp Pencil, Radius 0.5 for OpenCanvas, not that it's necessary.

[Image] Added more detail (legs and other arm), twisted it a bit.
Perspective Change [Image] Sometimes I flip it over to change the perspective a bit. You know that tip where you ask peoples opinions of your picture? then you ask them they can immediately spot errors you didn't see before, right?

Wouldn't it be nice if you would always see the errors, without the pain of getting people (and sometimes the harsh crit), which might put you off drawing that pic altogether? Well flipping is the technique for you!! Well sorta =D.

Flipping the picture gets you to see the picture in a different perspective instead of your locked view, which disallowed to see even the most obvious of errors. This is the same as going away from you picture for a while (5 minutes to a few days), then coming back, and seeing all those nasty errors pop-up! Same thing, except for the huge time lag =).

By the way, I sometimes flip it vertically also (though not often) since you also get used to seeing the second, flipped view. When I first started drawing, I never used it. I learned this technique from some place and decided to try it out on my pictures that I drew. I flipped it, and voila! So many errors were there that I nearly kicked myself seeing all of them! That is because this is how other people see it, with your approximate skill level in drawing. I had a fun time fixing those errors.

Now, when I flip the image, the errors don't come out so much anymore. Might be because I was a little better when I first started (I'd better be, other wise I'd go ballistic because I've wasted a couple of years =)), or maybe I've gotten used to seeing the other view, and get locked with it too.

I try to avoid this locked view, by looking at this picture as a whole, taking in the whole picture, all four corners (sometimes by zooming out or taking a step back to have a look at the picture if you're drawing on paper).
Problem! [Image] (Added some additional details)

BAH! Problem Encountered!

At this point, I realized that the wing was going to be a problem. I wanted to show that she had a lack of wing, but with the wing on this side, the lack of wing is going to be on the other side. What's wrong with that you say? Take a look! =P

With the wing on this side, some viewers may assume that there is actually a wing on the other side, but he's actually blocking it. AAAH! Why didn't I think of that before! At this point I was torn to whether to leave it be, or get rid of all the arms (and those hard to do hands )= ), switching the wing to the other side, and having her hold her wingless side, since that was my original intention, (symbolical blah blahs).

In the end I decided to do it. That this, in itself says, how important it is to have a clear picture in mind! =)
Hands and Other Little Details

[Image] Added little BonBon, and her wing.

[Image] Just to say, I had a WHOLE lot of trouble doing this hand. I must of tried 5 different techniques, redrawing the hands many times more than I care to remember! In the end I just gave up and let my mind do what it felt like it by scribbling anything, not caring if the end result came up right or not.

It turned out alright =D Well better than some of the other hands I had, I just need to do some tweaking now.
Background [Image] Added a basic sketch of a window, and some cloth behind her, made to kinda look like her missing wing (more symbolical blah blahs).

In case you're wondering, the reason why are some areas of the pictures are bold is because those are the areas I drew over many times =P So I had a little trouble drawing those bits =D.

[Image] Added a bit of shading to set the mood.
Clothing [Image] Some tweaking, and added some clothes.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention earlier. I tend to draw the naked body underneath first. =P Not because I'm perverted =), but because the clothing fits better around it, that way you can't have clothing looking like it is the body, like you see in some amateurish drawings =D.

Oh, and also, I didn't draw breasts for this girlie this time, I usually do, but from the looks of the original picture, she was kinda flat =P So I omitted it this time =)

Also, it helps for practicing anatomy.
Finish [Image] Then the end result. Did more tweaking and finished the wing. Still not entirely happy with the hand, and her left arm doesn't look relaxed enough.

But yeah, never mind. Sometimes you see errors after you've done too much. If this happens, make sure you make note of this, to make sure you don't make the same mistake ever again.

Conclusion Well there you have it! My 3 hours of sketching! =P Most of the time was spent just fixing the arms and the hands, and getting her body right. At the time of this writing, I still had trouble getting the arms and hands to0evoke the feeling I wanted. Getting the whole picture to evoke ghat you want to feel is pretty difficult, especially for learners like me. Making it not awkward, and making each part of the body (i.e body language), work fob the feeling of the picture is key.
Symbolical Stuff Well time for me to explain some of the symbolical stuff in here. People are welcome to skip this part, if you wish, but for those people who are just curious, I'll put it down here. Well firstly, lets get the description down here:

This little vampire doesn't drain people of their blood, rather drains their souls in hopes to recover her other wing... o_o the bunny on her shoulder is BonBon and does most of her talking for her... her location are usually around graveyards or abandoned churches.

Other than the obvious cuteness elements and possible sexy elements, the arms and hands, and legs, were put there for a purpose. Her left arm is holding her wingless shoulder/back. This represents her sadness for her lost wing.

The cloth behind her is there to represent her attempts in regaining this wing (though it does look kinda bad/comical, so I might remove it, but then again, I might not too =D). I wanted her right hand to grip her shirt, but it didn't really happen, but this was going to represent her pain and suffering, and loneliness. Her eyes would show that too, since in anime, this is the most easiest place to see their expression and feeling.

Her wing is opened out just to show her one and only wing. Legs, and the surrounding cloth on the floor, are there to show her chaos and suffering.

Woo, now that's done, you now can laugh at my description. Laugh at me if you will, but this little description helps me draw a whole lot better in my opinion, that way I can get a nice feel from the picture.

Now that you've read my article, you might want to visit my own website. There are more articles there if you wish to learn and read.

AniKC - a Place for Manga, Tutorials, Games and Articles and Other Useful Resources.

Stretching, It's Not Just For Your Body Anymore.

2008-01-19T03:19:00.000-08:00

"Where Your Mind Goes, Your Body Follows."

Wade McNutt Natural Champion Bodybuilder

Flexibility is critical for proper body movement. And to achieve that requires proper stretching. You instinctively stretch, usually after first awakening. You push your limbs in extended movements to get that 'good stretch' feeling.

This book is insufficient to devise a stretching program to meet your total needs. There are plenty of good books out there. The one I have used for years is called 'Stretching' by Bob Anderson. He now has a DVD version if you prefer a visual approach. Both are available through Amazon.com.

The Key to stretching is when to do it. It was once thought that stretching should be part of your warm-up. Stretch and be ready for your workout. Now we know differently.

Stretching should be done at the end of your workout, after the muscles are warmed and supple. The problem is that you are usually pushing to finish your workout and get out of the gym, not trying to find a way to stay longer. However, allow me to encourage you to plan your stretching as part of your workout.

Taking less than 5 minutes to stretch out the major muscles just worked not only feels good but gives you lasting physical benefits. I had the pleasure to train a married couple, who first met at yoga class. These two had stretching down pat! While they and most yoga practitioners will bend your ear with the positives of stretching, you don't have to do yoga to feel real benefits.

Get Bob Anderson's book and incorporate stretching into your regular workout routine. Plan for it, do it.

While stretching the muscles is important, this title of this chapter implies something more than physical stretching. I believe there is a form of stretching that is essential key to long term success for you.

Recently, Forbes Magazine interviewed billionaire Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways. During the course of the interview he said something very interesting while talking about his mentor, Freddie Laker.

Richard Branson said, "At the time, I was running a little record company; I was about 17 years old. The first time I met him was some years later. I was thinking about setting up my own airline. He gave me this advice: 'You'll never have the advertising power to outsell British Airways. You are going to have to get out there and use yourself. Make a fool of yourself. Otherwise you won't survive'."

I won't ask you to make a 'fool' out of yourself, however, I believe you must stretch. Stretch your mind.

All of my clients, at one time or the other, have heard me say this, "we all have limits in the gym, and over 80% of your limitation is mental. My job as your personal trainer is to push you to your limit, and a little bit beyond, so that your limit is stretched. Each time you go into the gym you are pushed against your new limits. You will always feel like your head is 'banging against the wall'. But over time, in retrospect, you will be able to see the progress that you cannot really see each day because of the frustration of 'hitting your limit'."

Now that is a poorly worded way of saying that you are either stretching your limitations or your dying. Your limits are really only limits of your mind, your faith, your belief. You must know that although you don't realize all your goals now, you are making progress toward those each day.

My book of faith and doctrine puts it this way, "faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen."

You don't wake up one day and magically get the body you want (or endurance, or self-confidence or whatever your goal is). You take small steps each day, make small decisions each day, each of which either gets you closer, or further away, from your goal.

Remember to stretch your mind and body. Both are essential to your long term success.

Daily disciplines help 'stretch' your mind. If you need a tool, or aid, in focusing on what is most important to you allow me to recommend a website called Simpleology.com. I don't make any money from this recommendation, but I have received tremendous value from what Mark Joyner has done there. Don't let the name fool you. Check it out!

Lance Curtis is a personal trainer and author of "7 Keys to Unlock The Sexy Dream Body Inside You!" To claim your free copy go to http://ThePersonalTrainingGuru.com

Stretching, It?s Not Just For Your Body Anymore

2008-01-18T03:32:00.001-08:00

Wade McNutt Natural Champion Bodybuilder

Flexibility is critical for proper body movement. And to achieve that requires proper stretching. You instinctively stretch, usually after first awakening. You push your limbs in extended movements to get that ?good stretch? feeling.

This book is insufficient to devise a stretching program to meet your total needs. There are plenty of good books out there. The one I have used for years is called ?Stretching? by Bob Anderson. He now has a DVD version if you prefer a visual approach. Both are available through Amazon.com.

The Key to stretching is when to do it. It was once thought that stretching should be part of your warm-up. Stretch and be ready for your workout. Now we know differently.

Stretching should be done at the end of your workout, after the muscles are warmed and supple. The problem is that you are usually pushing to finish your workout and get out of the gym, not trying to find a way to stay longer. However, allow me to encourage you to plan your stretching as part of your workout.

Taking less than 5 minutes to stretch out the major muscles just worked not only feels good but gives you lasting physical benefits. I had the pleasure to train a married couple, who first met at yoga class. These two had stretching down pat! While they and most yoga practitioners will bend your ear with the positives of stretching, you don?t have to do yoga to feel real benefits.

Get Bob Anderson?s book and incorporate stretching into your regular workout routine. Plan for it, do it.

While stretching the muscles is important, this title of this chapter implies something more than physical stretching. I believe there is a form of stretching that is essential key to long term success for you.

Recently, Forbes Magazine interviewed billionaire Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways. During the course of the interview he said something very interesting while talking about his mentor, Freddie Laker.

Richard Branson said, "At the time, I was running a little record company; I was about 17 years old. The first time I met him was some years later. I was thinking about setting up my own airline. He gave me this advice: 'You'll never have the advertising power to outsell British Airways. You are going to have to get out there and use yourself. Make a fool of yourself. Otherwise you won't survive'."

I won?t ask you to make a ?fool? out of yourself, however, I believe you must stretch. Stretch your mind.

All of my clients, at one time or the other, have heard me say this, ?we all have limits in the gym, and over 80% of your limitation is mental. My job as your personal trainer is to push you to your limit, and a little bit beyond, so that your limit is stretched. Each time you go into the gym you are pushed against your new limits. You will always feel like your head is ?banging against the wall?. But over time, in retrospect, you will be able to see the progress that you cannot really see each day because of the frustration of ?hitting your limit?.?

Now that is a poorly worded way of saying that you are either stretching your limitations or your dying. Your limits are really only limits of your mind, your faith, your belief. You must know that although you don?t realize all your goals now, you are making progress toward those each day.

My book of faith and doctrine puts it this way, ?faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.?

You don?t wake up one day and magically get the body you want (or endurance, or self-confidence or whatever your goal is). You take small steps each day, make small decisions each day, each of which either gets you closer, or further away, from your goal.

Remember to stretch your mind and body. Both are essential to your long term success.

Daily disciplines help ?stretch? your mind. If you need a tool, or aid, in focusing on what is most important to you allow me to recommend a website called Simpleology.com. I don?t make any money from this recommendation, but I have received tremendous value from what Mark Joyner has done there. Don?t let the name fool you. Check it out!

Etching Automobile History With the Lincoln Mark VII

2008-01-18T03:31:00.000-08:00

The Lincoln Mark VII is a vehicle that is from the Ford Motor Company's Lincoln division of luxury cars and vehicles. Before it was known as the Lincoln Mark VII, this vehicle actually was called and named as the Lincoln Continental Mark VII. Since it holds the Lincoln brand, it has been crafted to be a luxury car and it has been designed to be a large car. In fact, it has been produced as a coupe with an installed rear wheel drive system.

The lifespan of the Lincoln Mark VII started in 1984. Production for this vehicle continued up until 1992. The vacant spot and the niche in automobile history that the Lincoln Mark VII left behind were filled come the following year when the Lincoln Mark VIII took that spot.

The platform that the Lincoln Mark VII is mounted and constructed on is actually the very same platform that has already been used in other vehicles from the Ford Motor Company. This includes the Ford Thunderbird, the Ford Mustang, and the Lincoln Continental. During the period that the Lincoln Mark VII was introduced and that same period when this vehicle still roamed the streets, it has been said that the Lincoln Mark VII held the most high technology features when it came to comfort and convenience. This was when the vehicle was compared to all the other vehicles out in the market that time. These high class features included power accessories like the power windows, power locks, and power seating. The vehicle also held leather seating, a keyless entry system installed, an onboard computer and message center, as well as digital instruments and gauges.

In automobile history, this vehicle has also etched its name for this was the very first vehicle from the United States that came with the electronic four channel anti lock brakes. This happened back in November 1984. It was good timing though for after six months, the Corvette came out with a vehicle that held the same feature.

Lincoln Parts and Car Parts is the right place to find top of the line Lincoln Mark VII parts, replacement parts, performance parts, OEM parts, and Lincoln accessories. This online store has a huge inventory that includes Lincoln Mark VII a/c condensers, catalytic converters, engine parts, exhaust manifolds, fuel tanks, mirrors, radiators, radiator supports, starters, and much more.

Pamela Hewitt is marketing consultant of a successful auto body shop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This 39 year old is also a prolific writer, contributing automotive related articles to various publications. She is also an offroad enthusiast.

The Importance of Stretching

2008-01-17T03:38:00.001-08:00

Among the methods applied in sport training, one that has been used more and more lately is stretching. The word, English in origin, is used as such in many other languages and it comes from the verb to stretch (meaning, in this sense, 'to make your arms, legs and body as straight as possible so that your muscles become long and tight'). More exactly, we talk about stretching the muscles, the joints, the tendons, the ligaments, etc.

Even before the term itself and the specific methods gained individuality, stretching was used a lot, especially in sports or activities which require a very good mobility of the joints and special muscle suppleness (gymnastics, martial arts, ballet, etc.). The positions specific to hatha yoga were a source of inspiration for the different movements practiced in stretching, but these positions underwent many transformations, adaptations and simplifications.

The most important effect of stretching is suppleness of muscles and joints, which enables increased effectiveness during the training. There are different opinions about the exact time when stretching should be introduced in the training program.

Thus, there are authors who support the idea that stretching is indicated for both warming up and relaxation, and even for the main part of the training. On the other hand, there is the opinion that stretching must be done only in the relaxation faze, because the movements that are specific to it induce a state of relaxation that you do not want at the beginning of the training. This state comes as a result of maintaining the passive faze of the positions.

Anyway, everybody agrees that stretching needs to be anticipated by general warming up, this way the practitioner will avoid tightening of the muscles.

General warming up takes about 5 minutes and it contains aerobic exercises. Stretching muscles that have not been warmed up might be dangerous for the integrity of the muscle fibers, which could rupture easily.

Both weight and resistance training should include stretching; the effectiveness will only increase once this type of movement is done during training.

Another reason for higher effectiveness is the fact that a bigger number of motive units are involved in the movement and they are mobilized faster once the volitional order is transmitted, through the motive impulse, to the muscles. Given the fact that the range of the movements is larger, the sportsman can cover bigger distances, larger scopes, saving, at the same time, energy, which is important especially in very demanding sports (athletics, canoeing, etc.).

You can have a whole training only with stretching exercises. However, this is not advisable: the muscles will quickly get used to only relax, without contracting, which can produce a certain misbalance.

Another possible negative effect of exaggerated stretching movements (over the physiological limit of a joint) is laxity of the joints or even accidents like sprains, dislocations, tightening of ligaments or tendons, etc.). The main joints (knee, shoulder, elbow, etc.) are protected not only by their own mobility, but also by the elasticity of the muscles which surround them (periarticular).

In conclusion, stretching must be accompanied by other forms of training so that the sportsman will have a complete and secure fitness program.

Isabel Curini, fitness trainer and editor at http://www.healthfitnessworld.com. HealthFitnessWorld.com is dedicated to providing high-quality, free advices, tips and resources on exercise, fitness, body building, supplements, nutrition, weight loss.This article may be reprinted as long as the "About" and "weblinks" are kept intact and active.

The Power of Stretching

2008-01-14T02:25:00.001-08:00

Your muscles ache from a good stretch. This is quite normal and is part of the process. Stretching has seemingly been with us and particular with athletes since the beginning of time.

A very key point to good stretching is to hold the stretch for at least seventeen seconds. This is a pearl of wisdom gleaned from a ballet teacher a few years back. She said that any stretch under 17 seconds was just not effective.

The 17 second rule is exceeded in the high intensity Bikram's yoga where stretches are held for about 30 seconds. Don't forget the high level of heat that is used in Bikram's to extract that last little bit of stretch out of your muscles. An interesting twist that is not necessary to gain benefits from stretching. But, it can't hurt, right?

So what kind of benefits can you expect from stretching? That's an easy one. Have you ever seen the movie, Blood Sport? Did you know that Frank Dux could truly stretch his body to the extreme. The actor that played him was quite elastic as well.

Great elasticity is also something you might see in well trained Spetsnaz(Russian)agents. They often work out with Russian kettlebells too. They are for superior strength gains and the ability to withstand ballistic shocks.

Why are stretching and flexibility considered important to these people? Stretching gives one the ability to have explosive power available at one's fingertips without the need to warm up. Of course most of us are not martial artists or agents. But, you'll be happy to know there are plenty of other benefits.

Let me give you an example. After learning to sit in the full lotus position for long periods of time, my ankles became very flexible. One day I was walking along and my left foot fell into a pothole. This mishap pushed my ankle sideways to about 90 degrees from it's normal position.

Amazingly, this didn't even hurt, not one bit. If my ankle hadn't been so flexible, I may have suffered a sprained ankle. At the very least, it would have hurt for days.

Key point: stretching helps us to avoid injuries. Not only that but if you do have a muscle, tendon or ligament injury it should heal faster, theoretically speaking.

Stretching actually grows the ligaments, tendons and muscles being stretched. They really grow longer over time.

Check with your physician before undertaking any type of exercise, including stretching.

Dave writes for To Be Informed: http://tobeinformed.com

Anti Aging Benefits Of Stretching Exercises| Why Stretch Muscles?

2008-01-14T02:24:00.000-08:00

In many exercise programs, be it weight lifting for building and toning muscles or cardio vascular exercises for increasing stamina and to lose weight, most people do not perform enough stretching exercises even though stretching exercises can be performed by anyone at any age unless that person has some physical restriction to stretch. What is worse, many people do not even stretch before and after exercising. Unknown to most people, stretching also has anti aging benefits.

?Benefits of stretching exercises for muscle growth

Stretching is an important aspect of exercising and should be a part of any exercise routine and program. There are many wonderful benefits when you perform regular stretching exercises. Stretching exercises not only help you to warm up and cool down before and after your workouts, it can and will actually help your muscles to grow bigger and stronger too. Don?t believe me? Then read on.

Stretching exercises help muscle growth because stretching lengthens your muscles and thus giving your muscle fibers a greater range of motion when lifting weights. So in effect, it recruits more muscle fibers and thus causing your muscles to grow stronger and bigger from your weight training.

By stretching your muscles after an intensive workout will reduce muscle soreness commonly known as DOMS (delayed onset muscle sore) which usually occurs a day after your workout.

Performing stretching exercises before your workout or before a physically demanding sporting activity will also decrease your chances of sustaining injuries and muscle cramps which will certainly destroy the joy of your activity.

When you stretch regularly, stretching exercises will help you gain agility which will make your daily chores much more pleasant and if you play sports, you will notice your agility is much better than others who do not stretch. This will put you in a more beneficial position against your opponents.

?Anti Aging Benefits Of Stretching Exercises

If you are a baby boomer and age is catching up, this agility will make your life so much more pleasurable because you will be able to avoid stiff muscles and stiff joints unlike your peers who do not stretch. You will be more mobile, agile and suffering from less pain associated with aging and stiff body parts. These anti aging benefits from stretching regularly are priceless. Benefits that money can never be able to buy.

What is more, you can stretch anytime any where as and when you like. Stretching exercises need not be limited as a pre and post workout activity. So start a stretching exercise routine soon and make it part of your everyday lifestyle. You will surely enjoy the pleasures and anti aging benefits that a regular stretching routine can bring you.
Chris Chew is a fitness personal trainer of actors, pageant winners, fashion models and other celebrities. His websites Enjoy Fitness and Great Health Forever and Fitness Trainers In Singapore

Baseball Pitcher Warm-Up and Stretching

2008-01-11T03:09:00.000-08:00

Pitching a baseball game begins long before you even step onto the pitching mound. It is important to prepare both physically and mentally for pitching in a game. Below are some mental and physical steps you can do to prepare for pitching on the day of the big baseball game.

When you wake up in the morning, begin mentally visualizing your pitching experience. Start imagining how your pitching will be that day. While taking your morning shower, think about how you want your pitching strategy to be. Do you want to throw many fastballs? Do you want to vary your pitching a lot in the game? Do you want to try and strike every batter out? Or would you want to pitch each batter in such a way as to try to get them to ground out to the infielders on the first pitch? All of this mental preparation can help visualize how you want to win.

During the day, conserve your energy and keep thinking about how you are going to pitch the best game ever. Your positive attitude will help you win. All of the positive thoughts will get you very excited about pitching in the game.

When you are getting dressed for the game, keep a clear head and positive attitude. If you pitching coach gave you advice on pitching strategy, repeat key concepts in your head. Consider the strategies for each batter. If you did research on the other team's players, remind yourself of which batters to pitch fastballs to, and which batters to throw curveballs to. You don't need to quiz yourself, but simply review the concepts in your head.

Before going into the pitching bullpen, gently jog around the field. Get the blood flowing. Gently stretch, and then jog a little more. It's important to loosen up your arms and your legs. Your entire body is needed for baseball pitching, so be sure to warm-up your entire body.

Once you've returned to the bullpen, go to a grassy spot away from other players and gently stretch your arms and arm joints. Focus on your shoulders, forearms, wrists, and elbow.

After stretching for about 5 or 10 minutes, find a teammate to have a simple catch with. Stand about 20 feet apart and simply throw the ball to each other. There's no need to throw any pitches at this point. Just throw the ball. Catching and throwing the ball will actually help you stretch some more before you even throw a single pitch. After a minute or two, extend the distance to about 50 feet apart. After a few more minutes of having a casual game of catch with your teammate, you should start casually going through the pitching motion. Use your legs in throwing the ball. Do a casual wind-up and lift your leg a little bit in the pitch.

Now that you've warmed up, you can start your pitching activities. Have a teammate, preferably a catcher; assume the catching position while you throw some practice pitches. Start with a very slow pitch and practice the pitching motions. Don't worry about speed. Pay attention to your pitching mechanics. The web site www.2PlayBall.com has books and videos that discuss the mechanics of baseball pitching. Besides reading and watching videos, you can also watch other pitchers and study how they pitch the ball.

Once you've thrown about 15 simple pitches while focusing on the delivery, start to warm-up your pitching aim. Focus on inside and outside pitching corners. Practice your aim with each of your pitches. Throw a fastball, curve, change-up, slider, and other pitches.

Ask your warm-up catcher and another teammate to go to home plate and practice with you while you stand on the pitcher's mound. Your practice catcher should assume the catching position, and your other teammate should stand in the batters box with a baseball bat in hand. The practice batter should not hit your practice pitches, but simply stand in the hitting stance and occasionally swing very lightly at the pitches. All of this will help you visually prepare for real game pitching.

If you have not already done so, go see your pitching coach and say hello. Ask any questions that you may have. If you don't have any questions, review with your pitching coach any pitching strategies for the game.

Before you enter the game, be sure to go to the bullpen and throw some more warm-up pitches. Also, throw just a few pitches at full speed. Don't throw too many, but throw maybe 3 or 4 full speed pitches.

If you are not the starting pitcher, be sure to keep your body warm and loose. And remember to keep warm and loose in-between innings even when you are the active pitcher.

And of course, enjoy your pitching experience! After all, that's why you play baseball...to have fun!

Mike S. has been a baseball fan for nearly 30 years. As a child he enjoyed playing catch with very old, well worn baseball gloves. He now plays ball with friends and teaches his family and kids how to play ball. You can read more of his articles at http://www.2PlayBall.com and he also writes for http://www.TeachMeSports.com Mike hopes that his passion for writing about baseball will help everyone more thoroughly enjoy the game

Sports Injury and Stretching - The Facts

2008-01-11T03:02:00.000-08:00

Since an injury causes loss on both fronts, one on the body issue which needs time to repair and recoup and two on the time loss which could have been put to better use for training and betterment. It is very similar to a financial loss, one you lose the money, second you spend more time to make it up. Serious sportsmen fear injuries more than anything else.

Some hard facts:

- Over 25,000 Americans sprain their ankles daily - 1 out of every 17 athletes suffer sports injury while playing the sport. - More than 50% of these injuries are preventable.

There are a few preventive measures that could be taken to prevent sports injuries, but most sportspersons do not practice them. These measures are not yet popular. Some techniques to prevent sports injuries are:

1. Good warm up: A good and gradual warm up would help increase the body temperature gradually, increasing the circulation and oxygen supply to the muscles. It prepares the body and the mind together for hectic physical activity that may follow. 2. Good cool down: Like a good warm up, a good cool down in immensely important to bring down the body temperature. It prevents pooling of blood in excessively used muscles and limbs and prevents build up of toxic matter like lactic acid in the muscles. It relaxes the muscles and your body entirely fighting away the stiffening and tightening.

However a good magical procedure to prevent sports injury by 50% is stretching. By making stretching a consistent part of a sportsman's exercise regimen, you could prevent major injuries. Stretching is a simple process of relaxing your body and most sportsmen tend to put it away as it is too simple and hence ineffective. This is a gross error in judgment, as stretching is vital to any exercise regimen, sportsmen or not.

Stretching improves flexibility and flexible muscles are prone to much lesser injuries. The benefits of stretching are yet to be realized by most sportsmen and coaches. Those who have already incorporated stretching are getting invaluable results from it by staying injury free.

How Stretching Works?

Stretching increases the length of tendons and muscles, resulting in increase of "range of movement". This implies that muscles and tendons can stretch a little further before injury inflicts them.

Lets us suppose the muscles of your neck are stiff and your ability to look around or turn your head is limited. While participating in your favorite sport, if you neck has to go beyond its normal range of movement, it would result in muscle tear or strain. If you do regular stretching of your neck muscles, its range of movement would improve and you might not be prone to such injuries in the future because your neck now has a better range of movement.

Stretching promotes recovery and prevents soreness. Stretching also makes sure that your muscles and tendons are in good working shape. Stretching in short conditions your muscles and conditioned muscles are prone to fewer injuries because they can handle more stress of sports and exercise.

There is certainly more to stretching than commonly believed. All the best for an injury free life.

Julian Hall - Director of Claims Master Group. Personal Injury Claim,No Win No Fee, Sports Injury Advice

How to Enlarge Your Testicle Stretching

2008-01-09T02:11:00.001-08:00

Many men wonder if it may be possible to enlarge their testicles through testicle stretching. Big testicles hanging under the penis are taken as a sign of manliness, power and virility, which is why men like both their penis and testicles on the large side.

The scrotum is an elastic sac that stretches or shrinks to accommodate bigger or smaller testicles. It also goes up and down in order to protect the testicles or to facilitate spermatogenesis and ejaculation. As men grow older, the testicles start shrinking, much to the embarrassment of some.

However, the scrotum can be made to appear larger and fuller with the help of a simple surgical procedure or testicle stretching. Please bear in mind that this procedure is still in its early stages and long-term observation of its effects has not been poss ible yet. The scrotal wall consists of seven separate layers and fat cells from other parts of the body are injected between the layers. It seems that even a small amount of fat can make the testicles look significantly bigger.

This procedure is limited at the moment to men who are not interested in becoming parents, since there is no solid proof that the sperm count is not affected in any way. Also, men who are interested in this procedure should know that an added layer of fat may complicate attempts of finding testicular cancer nodules.

Still, one good news is that fat does not seem to be resorbed by the body. At least that's the conclusion of early reports. Time will certainly provide more data on the success of this testicle stretching.

Patrick Flanagan is a writer, and webmaster; for more information and to

subscribe to recieve the Free Penis Enlargement Exercises 5 Day Free eCourse

visit http://www.1st-Penis-Enlargement-Product-Review.com.

Patrick Flanagan

1728 Wilson Dr

Tampa, Fl 33602

Email: stpenise@1st-penis-enlargement-product-review.com

Phone: 813-938-2821

Clothes and Shoes and Stretching

2008-01-09T02:10:00.000-08:00

Now that we have a trainer, our next concern is to be equipped with the proper shoes and clothes, so our training experience can be maximized. If your trying to create a great body you need to start with clothes and shoes that will make you feel good as well as look good! {The reason behind that is if you look and feel good you will tend to be in a motivated state of mind, and in this state we build consistency, this is where results come from.}

What kind of clothes and shoes do I need you may ask? You could spend a few hundred dollars for designer workout gear and that would make you feel and look better, but all you need is some clean and comfortable clothes and shoes. Most discount stores sell designer replicas at a fraction of the cost. I recommend layering your clothes and as you warm up take a piece of clothing off. Keeping warm helps protect your joints, until you fully warm up, so you don't get hurt. Now we have the proper equipment to get started.

Next I highly recommend incorporating a consistent stretching program, which will reduce injuries and produce greater results. I do 15 to 25 minutes per day as well as stretching in between exercises. The benefit of stretching is huge; it can make or break your training progress. As I describe training techniques each month I will go over the stretching to do for each body part. So you can achieve optimum results!!!

Here are some basic stretches you can start with to enhance your training and or walking program. Trunk Twists- Standing big and tall with good posture, feet shoulder distance apart, place your hands on your hips rotate your upper torso from right to left in a nice controlled manner. Repetitions of 15 to 30 per side will be enough. Side Stretches- also standing tall with good posture, feet shoulder distance apart, your arms hanging to your side, slowly with your head up bend from one side, then the other. This focus is on stretching the outer muscles of your abs which is the oblique {commonly referred to as love handles} Toe Touches- Standing tall with feet shoulder distance apart, arms hanging to your side, slowly, bend your torso touching your fingertips as close to your toes as you can get, without bouncing. This is a great stretch for your hamstrings and your lower back. I normally recommend finishing your stretching warm up with a series of push- ups and sit-ups. All movements are to be slow and controlled at all times. While doing these stretches stand with your knees slightly bent to alleviate the pressure off your lower back.

Remember that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

I believe that the key of everybody's personal journey is to develop faith in yourself, your creator and the people around you. Also condition yourself to believe that there is always a way if you're committed.

If you fail just keep changing your approach until you succeed!!! Remember to always be good to yourself and others

To learn more, please visit http://building-muscle-information.info/

To learn more, please visit http://building-muscle-information.info/

Keith Londrie II

klondrie @ yahoo.com

http://building-muscle-information.info/

The Art of Etching Through Time

2008-01-07T01:22:00.001-08:00

Etching is the method of engraving using acid on a metal surface. It is also a printmaking method wherein the image is carved into a surface of a metal plate with the use of an acid. This acid bores into the metal surface, and leaves behind rough areas or lines if the surface is too narrow.

Etching is a process which is believed to have started in Augsburg, Germany, by Daniel Hopfer who used the technology in armor making. Later on, the method was applied to printmaking.

The metal plate used in etching is usually copper or zinc, which has a thin coating of resin that is resistant to acid. This coating can also be made of some waxy material. The metal plates are usually smoked so that the engravings and lines become clearly visible through the resin. A sharp tool then scratches the metal and exposes it without actually penetrating it.

As the etching design is completed, the plate is immersed in an acidic solution that attacks the exposed metal parts. During this process, called a bath, the plate is immersed, but frequently removed until the lines are etched to their satisfactory depth.

A coating varnish is then applied to stop the acid from attacking the metal surface further. In this process, the lines which were exposed to the acids longer get the darker prints. Other etchers also apply the acids directly on the plate's surface.

In printmaking; however, the varnish is removed, and the plate is coated with ink after being warmed or heated. The ink is then wiped carefully so that enough amounts remain the etched depressions. A soft, moist paper is then used to cover the plate, and ran through an etching press.

There is a wide range of modifications in etching techniques. Some etchers modify their products by removing undesired lines. They do this by burnishing or by modifying the original state of the plate after their trial print.

Prints appear differently in various stages, and only a few first prints can be made out of a single plate. Etchers also destroy these plates after making a number of prints.

Several methods of etching produce different effects. Soft-ground etching looks like a pencil drawing, while aquatint produces an effect similar to wash drawing. Aquatint is usually used in combination with hard-ground etching.

Pictorial etching, which evolved from burin engraving also originated from Germany, where artists etched on iron as the earliest example of this delicate form of art.

Nowadays, the popular methods of etching are wet and dry etching. Wet etching is a simple method that requires a container or bin with a solution that is meant to dissolve the metal used.

The downside of this process is that it needs a mask to selectively etch the plate, and one has to find a mask that will not dissolve in the prepared solution. This process is fairly suitable for etching on thin films.

Dry etching, is divided into three classes, namely, reactive ion etching (RIE), sputter etching, and vapor phase etching. Several gases are introduced in the RIE method, where plasma is mixed in the gas to break gas molecules into ions. The ions are then accelerated and start reacting to the metal surface.

Sputter etching is similar to RIE, but without the reactive ions. Vapor phase method is the simplest dry etching technique. In this method, the metal plate is placed inside a chamber, where gases are introduced. The design is then dissolved at the metal surface by the chemical reaction with the gas molecules.

The most popular vapor phase etching techniques are silicon dioxide etching (uses hydrogen fluoride) and silicon etching (uses xenon diflouride).

James Monahan is the owner and Senior Editor of EtchingHouse.com and writes expert articles about etching.

STRETCHING; Why Should I?

2008-01-04T00:35:00.000-08:00

by: Brad Walker

This short article looks at some of the tips, tricks and helpful hints you can use to help prevent sports injury and do-away with stiff, aching muscles & joints. It's been put together to answer some of the more common questions we get regarding stretching and sports injury, and details a number of useful sports injury prevention techniques. I hope it proves useful to you.

* Overcoming & Preventing Sports Injury

If youre involved in the health & fitness industry, whether it be participating in your favourite sport, coaching, training or just keeping fit, you'll know how annoying and debilitating a sports injury can be. In reality, when you have a sports injury youre actually losing on two fronts. Firstly, youre losing simply because your body has been hurt and now needs time and care to repair itself. And on top of this, youre also losing the time you could have been putting into training and improving your sporting ability.

A sports injury is a bit like losing money. Not only do you lose whatever you were going to buy with that money, but you also have to work hard to make up the money you've lost. Take it from me; a sports injury is one of the most frustrating and debilitating occurrences that can happen to anyone whos serious about their health, fitness, sport or exercise.

* The Cold, Hard Facts

I recently read an article titled "Managing Sports Injuries" where the author estimated that over 27,000 American's sprain their ankle every day. (And no, that's not a typo, EVERY DAY!) On top of this, Sports Medicine Australia estimates that 1 in every 17 participants of sport and exercise are injured playing their favourite sport. This figure is even higher for contact sports like Football and Gridiron. However, the truly disturbing fact is that up to 50 percent of these injuries may have been prevented.

* The Professionals Secret Weapon

While there are a number of basic preventative measures that will assist in the prevention of sports injury, there is one technique that has slowly been gaining in popularity. Its still not used as often as it should be by the average sports participant, but with the professionals using it more and more, its only a matter of time before it starts to catch on. Before we dive into this little used technique for minimizing your likelihood of sports injury, let's take a quick look at some other techniques to help you prevent sports injury.

* So, Where Do You Start?

Most people are coming to understand both the importance and the benefits of a good warm-up. A correct warm-up will help to raise body temperature, increase blood flow and promote oxygen supply to the muscles. It will also help to prepare the mind, body, muscles and joints for the physical activity to come.

While warming-up is important, a good cool-down also plays a vital role in helping to prevent sports injury. How? A good cool-down will prevent blood from pooling in your limbs. It will also prevent waste products, such as lactic acid, building up in your muscles. Not only that, a good cool-down will help your muscles and tendons to relax and loosen, stopping them from becoming stiff and tight.

While preventative measures such as warming-up and cooling-down play a vital role in minimizing the likelihood of sports injury, other techniques such as obeying the rules, using protective equipment and plain common sense are all useful.

* The One Technique to Cut Your Chance of Injury by More Than Half

So what is this magic technique? Why is it such a secret? And how come you haven't heard of it before? Well chances are you have, and also, its not that secret and its definitely not magic. You've probably used this technique yourself at some point or at least seen others using it. But the real question is, how dedicated have you been to making this technique a consistent part of your athletic preparation?

What is it? STRETCHING. Yes, stretching. The simple technique of stretching can play an imperative role in helping you to prevent the occurrence of sports injury. Unfortunately stretching is one area of athletic preparation often neglected. Do not underestimate its benefits. Don't make the mistake of thinking that something as simple as stretching won't be effective. Stretching is a vital part of any exercise program and should be looked upon as being as important as any other part of your health and fitness.

In recent time the professionals have been getting more and more serious about stretching and ultimately, their flexibility. The coaches and trainers are just starting to realize how important flexible muscles are to helping prevent sports injury. Flexibility has often been neglected in the overall conditioning of modern athletes. Its only now that its benefits are proving invaluable to all those serious about staying injury free.

* How Does Stretching Prevent Injury?

One of the greatest benefits of stretching is that youre able to increase the length of both your muscles and tendons. This leads to an increased range of movement, which means your limbs and joints can move further before an injury occurs. Let's take a look at a few examples.

If the muscles in your neck are tight and stiff this limits your ability to look behind or turn your head around. If for some reason your head is turned backwards, past its' normal range of movement, in a football scrum or tackle for example, this could result in a muscle tear or strain. You can help to prevent this from happening by increasing the flexibility, and the range of movement, of the muscles and tendons in your neck.

And what about the muscles in the back of your legs? The Hamstring muscles. These muscles are put under a huge strain when doing any sort of sport which involves running and especially for sports which require kicking. Short, tight hamstring muscles can spell disaster for many sports people. By ensuring these muscles are loose and flexible, you'll cut your chance of a hamstring injury dramatically.

How else can stretching help? While injuries can occur at any time, they are more likely to occur if the muscles are fatigued, tight and depleted of energy. Fatigued, tight muscles are also less capable of performing the skills required for your particular sport or activity. Stretching can help to prevent an injury by promoting recovery and decreasing soreness. Stretching ensures that your muscles and tendons are in good working order. The more conditioned your muscles and tendons are, the better they can handle the rigors of sport and exercise, and the less likely that they'll become injured.

So as you can see, there's more to stretching than most people think. Stretching is a simple and effective activity which will help you to enhance your athletic performance, decrease your likelihood of sports injury and minimise muscle soreness. If you'd like to know more about stretching and how it can help you, visit http://www.TheStretchingHandbook.com/ today.

Article by Brad Walker. Brad is a leading stretching and sports injury consultant with over 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. For more information and articles on stretching and the prevention & treatment of sports injury, subscribe to The Stretching & Sports Injury Newsletter by visiting http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/.admin@thestretchinghandbook.com

Stretching Can Explode Your Muscle Growth

2008-01-04T00:34:00.000-08:00

by: Nick Nilsson

When you think about gaining muscle, stretching is probably not the first thing that pops into your head. But did you know that stretching plays a critical role in building muscle?

Every muscle in your body is enclosed in a bag of tough connective tissue known as fascia. Fascia is important for holding your muscles in their proper place in your body.

But your fascia may also be holding back your muscle growth. Think for a moment about your muscles. You train them and feed them properly. They want to grow and will grow but something is holding them back. They have no room to grow!

Because fascia is so tough, it doesnt allow the muscle room to expand. It is like stuffing a large pillow into a small pillowcase. The size of the muscle wont change regardless of how hard you train or how well you eat because the connective tissue around your muscles is constricting the muscles within.

The best example of this is the calf muscle. The lower leg is riddled with fascia because of its tremendous weight-bearing duties in the body. It is because of this fascia that many trainers have great difficulty developing their calves.

The solution: stretching.

Using the pillowcase example from above, imagine you can expand the size of the pillowcase by stretching it. Suddenly, the pillow within has more room and will expand to fill that new space.

By stretching your muscles under specific conditions, you can actually stretch your fascia and give your muscles more room to grow.

The key to effective fascial stretching is the pump. The best time to stretch to expand the bags that are holding in your muscles is when your muscles are pumped up full of blood.

When your muscles are fully pumped up, they are pressing against the fascia. By stretching hard at that time, you increase that pressure on the fascia greatly, which can lead to expansion of the fascia.

One of the major reasons Arnold Schwarzenegger had such incredible chest development was that he finished his chest workouts with dumbell flyes, an exercise that emphasizes the stretched position of the pectoral muscles. He would pump his chest up full of blood during the workout then do flyes, holding the stretch at the bottom of the flye. This gave his chest room to grow to amazing proportions.

Fascial stretching is more rigorous than regular stretching but the results can be amazing. When you stretch hard enough to cause the fascia to expand, you will really feel it! When you are stretching the fascia, you should feel a powerful pulling sensation and pressure as the muscle works against the fascia to expand it.

Be sure you do not stretch so hard that you cause the muscle to tear or cause injury to yourself. You will rapidly learn to distinguish the difference between a good stretch and a bad stretch. You should not feel any sharp pain, just a steady pull.

Hold each stretch for at least 20 to 30 seconds as you must give your fascia time to be affected by the stretch. Stretch hard like this only when you have a fully pumped muscle as you must give your fascia a reason to expand. If your muscles arent pumped, just stretch normally.

You can find instructions for stretching at: http://www.fitstep.com/Library/Info/Stretching1.htm

One set of hard stretching after each set you do for a muscle group, besides the obvious benefits of increased flexibility, can have an incredible effect on the size of your muscles and their further ability to grow.

Nick Nilsson is Vice President of BetterU, Inc., an online exercise, fitness, and personal training company. Check out his latest eBook "The Best Exercises You've Never Heard Of" at http://www.thebestexercises.com or visit http://www.fitstep.com. You can contact him at betteru@fitstep.com or subscribe to BetterU News, his fitness newsletter at betterunews@fitstep.com.

Stretching with Your Golf Partner

2008-01-01T22:54:00.000-08:00

Improve your golf game.

If you want to improve your game you have got to be in condition to do the job.

Stretching is often an over looked part of the game by many golfers.

Its all about the swing. If youre stiff you wont be able to consistently make your golf swing to your maximum potential. Stretching improves flexibility, which allows you to move your joints through their full range of motion. Flexibility is a key element of golf fitness; it can enhance physical performance and relieve muscle tension and stiffness. You should stretch after a warm-up and/or when cooling down after a workout, since it is easier and safer to stretch a warm muscle than a cold one. Warm-ups bring blood to the muscles and make injuries from stretching less likely.

Warm up first then stretch.

The golden bear of golf and girls starts with an 18 year old golf assistant. My favorite has blonde hair and blue eyes and looks just liked she stepped out of Vogue in or out of her sweat pants. The girl is crazy about the golden bear of seduction. Your author enjoys golf but he does not over look another game and that game is the playboy game. I have many beautiful young golf assistants. Life is about golf and GIRLS. What is success without golf and girls. Most men play golf but over look the real joys of living. Beautful young women. No I am not talking about a get away with your secretary, I am talking about golf car loads of hot young golf babes.

To prevent injury I have a ten minute warm up session with my 18 year old girlfriend which includes me on top, her on the bottom and various other exciting positions.

Afterwards I use light weight dumbbells just to give me a little arm strength.

After a good workout in bed with one of my favorite girlfriends then I am less likely to sustain an injury from the stretching exercises and my golf game.

I find the butterfly stretch quite exotic. (for adductor muscles in groin). Sit on floor, bringing heels together near groin and holding feet together by the ankles. Have your sexy 18 year old playmate partner gently push your knees down; hold for 5 seconds. Try to bring your knees upward as partner provides resistance. Relax, then have her gently push down again for a greater stretch. Repeat. If you are having trouble locating such a beautiful golf assistant contact the golden bear of seductionElvis Preston King and your golf game and playboy game will change drastically for the better!

Elvis Preston King is the worlds most renowned and respected playboy. His job is picking up and seducing classy young women globally for the gentleman conoseiur who realizes that there is more to life than just accumulating money and the same old same old boring wife. You can email him at loverboybachelor@yahoo.com or visit http://bachelortours.blogspot.com and http:www.msnusers.com/BachelorDreamTours

Stretching Your Marketing Dollars is not Always Money!

2007-12-29T02:26:00.001-08:00

Advertising takes time, planning and money. But how much
time, how much planning and how much money is something
that needs to be investigated. Here are three strategies
that you should be doing.

1.) Time - The time you spend on your business is going to
depend on you and your schedule. Did I say schedule?
Yes, I did. The internet is full of "cool" this and "wow"
that, but the old adage of "time is money," is very true.

Make a list each evening before you shut down your computer
of what you want to accomplish the next time you turn your
computer on. Print it and tape it to your computer.
Do not go off to do other things until that list is checked
off.

2.) Planning - Your daily business should be planned. Sure it is
great to be your own boss. But, if you are not disciplined, you
will soon find yourself aimlessly surfing the net without
any direction and very little money coming in.

3.) Spending - Spending money involves how much you need whatever
it is that you want. There is a vast difference between "need"
and "want."

Before buying anything, ask yourself what exactly you plan
on doing with what you are contemplating on purchasing.
A rule of thumb is to put back at least 20% of your
income into advertising or getting what you need to
improve your business.

Things you might think about:

How much is your time worth?
Would you hire yourself to manage your business? If so, how
much would you pay yourself? If not, what can you do to make
yourself a valuable employee for your own company?

Spending is not always cash. Sometimes, spending is cashing in
on your own time. ie. I have searched the net for hours for the
perfect free thing that I needed. I could have spent $15.00
for what was in front of my face and saved myself time to
advertise. How valuable is your time? How much in all honesty,
would you pay yourself for what you do on your net business?

Start focusing on what your goals are, and do not let a lot of
outside interference keep you from getting your work done.
Interruptions come from all around you. Your family and
friends are important; do make time for them. But make it time
on your terms. When you take control of building your business
time, you will start reaping the fruits of your efforts.
Teresa King (c) 2001
Teresa is the author of "Ezine Marketing Made Easy," and
"Profit on the Net for Beginners." She invites you to stop
by her ebook and marketing site at http://www.tipsfortop.com

Stretching That Comfort Zone

2007-12-27T00:22:00.000-08:00

Where is your "Comfort Zone"?

Every person on Earth has a comfort zone, whether it be in their personal life and/or their business life. I define this zone as "the place where one feels safe that is devoid of challenges or threatening circumstances".

When in business, this zone can be the determining factor of whether one succeeds or fails. It is very easy to get locked into that which is comfortable to us and just try to work a business within those boundaries. But it doesn't work, it doesn't stretch us to better our business or become the successful, enlightened person most of us want to be.

Again I ask, where is your "Comfort Zone"?

What part of working your business makes you most uncomfortable?

Is it still being done anyway?

For some it, is picking up the phone and making that business contact, or writing their first newsletter or setting short and long term goals and sticking by them or revising them as things change. For others, it might be talking person-to-person trying to network, or writing a vision statement of where they eventually want to end up or even asking someone to be their mentor.

The first step to "stretching that comfort zone" is to replace the negative thought:

I can't...
I will fail...
Who will listen to me... They will just say no... I'm not a writer...
I'll make a fool of myself... and so on and so on......

With just the opposite:

I can...
I will succeed...
They might just listen and if they don't, well I'll move on to the next person... Hey, let's ask, they could say "yes"... I've never written anything before but I can give it a shot...
I will only make a fool of myself if I don't try...

Believe me, there is no quick fix here. It takes constant positive mind talk to get to the place where one's self- confidence and "I can do it" attitude kick in.

The second step after working on the mind, replacing those negative thoughts, is to take ACTION! The only true way to break out of that comfort zone is to do the thing in business that we want to constantly put off - possibly due to fear or lack of self-confidence. To coin the Nike phrase -- "Just Do It!".

Yes, it is easier said than done but how important is it to us to succeed in our businesses?

How important is it to us to make contact with the right kind of people?

How important is it to build a customer base or find the perfect partners?

To most, these things are very important but they will not be possible unless we are willing to do the things that are the most uncomfortable to each of us.

For me personally, the 2 major struggles were writing a newsletter and making phone contacts. With the newsletter, I had never written one and just didn't know where to start. After spending several days reviewing other online newsletters to get a feel for the formats that could be used, I made myself sit down and write one. I told myself I couldn't do anything else until it was done.

Because I did this mind talk and mentally prepared myself for the task, it was done in about 2 hours. I did, later, do some fine tuning but the point it I sat down and got it done.

With the phone calls, I told myself I had to make at least 5 calls before I could move on to other business issues. Right from the start, I found after the first 5, I wanted to make more. I still struggle from time to time pushing my comfort zone to make the first call but after that it gets easier.

What can you do today that would stretch you and be good for your business?

Sit down, make that call, write that newsletter, write down your goals, network your business or whatever it is that makes you uncomfortable (or may even scare you). Push yourself and do it now! Not only will it help you build your business but think how good you will feel afterwards to be able to say, "I did it and it wasn't so bad after all!"

Make a commitment to yourself to either once a day or once a week (depending on your schedule) to do at least one "uncomfortable" act to build your business and put you closer to succeeding.

STRETCH THAT COMFORT ZONE!!

Teri Mitchell is a stay-at-home mom with her own online business. She is committed to helping others succeed personally and in business. Visit her website at http://www.discountbenefits4u.com or email her: "mailto:terimitchell96@earthlink.net". To subscribe to her bi-monthly newsletter: "mailto:WMONews@quicktell.net"

Stretching For Fitness

2007-12-23T23:08:00.001-08:00

An ideal fitness routine comprises of exercises to improve cardiovascular efficiency, create muscular strength and endurance along with improved suppleness .Flexibility exercises are those that serve to keep the joints flexible ,especially the vertebral column and its various sections.
Stretching independently or as a part of a fitness routine has many beneficial effects that can be felt even during exercises themselves. In order to understand the benefits of stretching or flexibility exercises, it is essential to understand how the various body tissues are nourished .

What happens when you stretch?

As in case of muscles which recieve their nutrients directly via the vascular system through rapid exchange rhythm ,there is no such active supply system for cartilage tissues covering the ends of bones in joints .Cartilage instead is fed by the migration of particles from the joint fluid surrounding it ,know as the synovial fluid . To be able to absorb the synovial fluid optimally, the cartilage has recourse to an alteration of pressure and suction forces .

It is precisely this regular rhythmic exchange optimizing the supply to the cartilage that is achieved with the flexibility exercises . Indulging in regular stretching exercises leads to enhanced cartilage nutrition and loosening up of all the connective tissues . While performing stretching exercises both outward and inward concentration is necessary .

Remember these stretching tips when doing the following exercises:

Always warm up before stretching. Warming up gives your body a chance to deliver plenty of nutrient rich blood to areas about to be exercised, which warms the muscles and lubricates the joints
Do not bounce or bob when you stretch -- not only is this not effective, but you could injure yourself.
Take each stretch slow to the point where tension can be felt, but not pain.
Never stretch torn or injured muscles unless you have consulted with your doctor.
Hold each stretch for 20 to 30 seconds.
Always complete each stretch for both sides of your body, when applicable.
Always cool down and relax after a stretching routine. By cooling down, you can help prevent injuries and muscle soreness from your workout.

She is the creator behind WF, has studied in-depth about nutrition, both normal, therapeutic and exercises. President of Women Fitness (WF), she is the author of the "on-line book" on complete fitness. She has designed the customized strength training, cardiovascular training and flexibility training programs and has trained many women in this field. She is a certified Aerobics & Fitness Instructor certified from International Fitness Association (IFA).

How Stretching Can Explode Your Muscle Growth!

2007-12-20T23:06:00.001-08:00

When you think about gaining muscle, stretching is probably not the first thing that pops into your head. But did you know that stretching plays a critical role in building muscle?

Every muscle in your body is enclosed in a bag of tough connective tissue known as fascia. Fascia is important for holding your muscles in their proper place in your body.

The solution: stretching.

Using the pillowcase example from above, imagine you can expand the size of the pillowcase by stretching it. Suddenly, the pillow within has more room and will expand to fill that new space.

By stretching your muscles under specific conditions, you can actually stretch your fascia and give your muscles more room to grow.

The key to effective fascial stretching is the pump. The best time to stretch to expand the bags that are holding in your muscles is when your muscles are pumped up full of blood.

You can find instructions for stretching at:

http://www.fitstep.com/Library/Info/Stretching1.htm

Stretching, Part 1: Why & When

2007-12-18T23:19:00.000-08:00

A martial artist friend came to me a few weeks ago, a little confused about stretching. Hed heard a lot of conflicting information about why, when and how to stretch for maximum benefit, and he wanted to some clear guidance. Ive since had two other subscribers ask me exactly the same question which suggests that its an excellent topic for a feature article.

WHY STRETCH?
If you try to stretch a rubber band to its limits when its cold, one of two things will happen. Either it wont stretch very far or it will simply snap. If, however, you roll it around in your hands and give it a few less intense practice stretches, stretching it to its full extent becomes easy, and the likelihood of snapping it is minimal.

Your muscles work very similarly. Doing any kind of exercise involving a range of movement your body isnt used to is just like stretching the rubber band. If you try to do it cold, youll either get a very small range of movement or you move too far and snap (or tear) the muscle tissue. Warm up first however do a few practice stretches and your full range of motion is easy to achieve safely.

Its not only during your workout that this flexibility is important. Your body works on a use it or lose it basis which means that, unless you stretch regularly, your joints grow less flexible over time. Less flexibility means less range of movement in your daily life so if you have to reach or twist to pick something up, youre more likely to injure yourself. And if you take part in a sport or training programme that involves regularly contracting your muscles (without including some kind of stretching), youll find your general flexibility decreases even faster.

Theres a third reason that many of us have been taught to stretch and thats to avoid sore muscles the next day. Unfortunately, theres not a lot of evidence that it will actually help. DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) is the aching you feel when youve pushed your muscles hard the day before. It happens because the exercise has stressed your muscles to the point theyve developed microscopic tears in the fibres. And although stretching may feel good after a long workout, there isnt a lot it can do to heal this microtrauma, so it wont have much effect on your level of soreness the next day.

WHEN SHOULD YOU STRETCH?
Many of us were taught to stretch before we do any kind of exercise. In fact, the best time to stretch depends on the kind of exercise well be doing. For simplicitys sake, were going to separate exercise into three categories: strength training that involves slow, controlled movements; training that involves quick, uncontrolled movements, and anything else.

For strength training, theres evidence that stretching before a workout is counter-productive. Strength training requires muscles to contract tightly against a heavy weight, and loosening the muscle fibres by stretching them first reduces their ability to do this. This doesnt mean you shouldnt warm your muscles up before strength training just avoid stretching them first. If you want to include stretching in the same workout as strength training, its better to wait until after youve finished your weights work.

For anything involving uncontrolled dynamic movements, however (and this would include most sports, dance methods and martial arts), stretching beforehand is important to avoid injury. Just think back to the rubber band metaphor.

For anything that doesnt fit into either of these categories, you can probably include your stretching whenever you want to. For example, if your exercise is walking (and you do a lot of walking, so its within your usual range of motion), you could stretch before, after, during or any combination of the three.

The important thing about stretching is that it should never be done on cold muscles. If youre stretching at the end of a workout, this isnt usually a problem, as your muscles will be well and truly warmed up. If youre stretching before your workout, however, experts recommend warming up (doing some kind of light exercise that gets your heart beating faster, and blood flowing to your muscles) for at least 5-10 minutes before you begin to stretch.

In Part 2 of this article, well look at different types of stretching and the right and wrong ways to go about stretching safely and effectively. Until then, if you have any specific questions about how the information in this article applies to you, and would like to go through it with a personal trainer, please contact me.
Optimum Life's Tanja Gardner is a Personal Trainer and Stress Management Coach whose articles on holistic health and relaxation have appeared in various media since 1999. Optimum Life is dedicated to providing fitness and stress management services to help clients all over the world achieve their optimum lives. To find out more about how you could benefit from online personal training, please visit http://www.trainerforce.com/optimumlife/. To find out more about holistic fitness and stress management please visit http://optimumlife.co.nz,or contact Tanja on tanja@optimumlife.co.nz.

PNF Stretching for Improved Flexibility and Improved Sports Performance

2007-12-17T21:45:00.001-08:00

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is a more advanced form of flexibility training that involves both the stretching and contraction of the muscle group being targeted. PNF stretching was originally developed as a form of rehabilitation, and to that effect it is very effective. It is also excellent for targeting specific muscle groups, and as well as increasing flexibility, (and range of movement) it also improves muscular strength.

Warning! Certain precautions need to be taken when performing PNF stretches as they can put added stress on the targeted muscle group, which can increase the risk of soft tissue injury. To help reduce this risk, it is important to include a conditioning phase before a maximum, or intense effort is used.

Also, before undertaking any form of stretching it is vitally important that a thorough warm up be completed. Warming up prior to stretching does a number of beneficial things, but primarily its purpose is to prepare the body and mind for more strenuous activity. One of the ways it achieves this is by helping to increase the bodys core temperature while also increasing the bodys muscle temperature. This is essential to ensure the maximum benefit is gained from your stretching. For a more detailed article on warming up properly, refer to the following link. http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/archives/warm-up.htm

How to perform a PNF stretch

The process of performing a PNF stretch involves the following. The muscle group to be stretched is positioned so that the muscles are stretched and under tension. The individual then contracts the stretched muscle group for 5 - 6 seconds while a partner, or immovable object, applies sufficient resistance to inhibit movement. Please note; the effort of contraction should be relevant to the level of conditioning.

The contracted muscle group is then relaxed and a controlled stretch is applied for about 30 seconds. The muscle group is then allowed 30 seconds to recover and the process is repeated 2 - 4 times.

Information differs slightly about timing recommendations for PNF stretching depending on who you are talking to. Although there are conflicting responses to the question of how long should I contract the muscle group for and how long should I rest for between each stretch, I believe (through a study of research literature and personal experience) that the above timing recommendations provide the maximum benefits from PNF stretching.

Article by Brad Walker. Brad is a leading stretching and sports injury consultant with over 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. For more articles on the prevention & treatment of sports injury, subscribe to The Stretching & Sports Injury Newsletter by visiting

Stretching Your Grocery Dollars

2007-12-13T22:41:00.000-08:00

Shopping for groceries is an inevitable fact of our ever busy lives. We may imagine that we are saving time by dashing in, roaming the aisles and throwing whatever looks good into the cart. Most often, what we end up with is repetitive, nutritionally unbalanced meals and ballooning grocery bills. Or worse, frequent fast-food stops and pizza calls. Brighten your meals and save time and money by planning ahead an added bonus you may even save a few calories.

Some money saving tips:

Before you visit the grocery store each week, check out the Sunday circulars. Clip coupons while you watch television or get your children to lend a hand. Organization is the key to the coupon game, so invest in an accordion coupon file. Trust me, it's infinitely easier than rifling through small slips of paper or finding yourself without the coupon you need when you get to the store. You can find some very user friendly organizers for around $10.00 at sites such as www.galison.com.

Look through the food section of your local newspaper. You'll get some great ideas about bargains to look for as well as what produce, seafood, etc. is in season. The circulars and the food section are two places to begin building a weekly menu, that isn't boring, on a budget. It's also a good idea to comb the Internet. There are a wealth of sites offering ideas for budget menus.

Consider joining a shopping club such as Sam's or Costco. If you don't have the storage space, but would like to benefit from the savings and convenience of buying in bulk share the bounty with a friend. You can each take a turn shopping from a list once a month or so.

Keep your receipts for a month or so and notice the high, low and average prices on the items you buy most. When the price hits its low, buy a few so that you can skip it when it slides into the high range.

Experiment with 5 ingredient meals. There are a number of books, videos and web sites that help you make great meals with only a few ingredients even on weeknights.

Check out sites like www.cutouthunger.org/get_coupons!.htm; www.refundsweepers.com; www.refundcents.com; and www.aplusfreestuff.com for information on rebates, refunds, freebies and other savings. If you do take advantage of rebates, complete forms meticulously and keep copies of receipts, UPC, proof of purchase documentation and contact information for the vendor.

Include your local grocer's weekly circular in your savings plan. When store sales are coupled with the savings cards now offered by many grocer's you can save hundreds of dollars each year.

Pay attention to promotionals. Some grocer's offer reward if you spend the target amount within a specified period. Rewards generally include a percentage off of your grocery bill at a later date or cash back.

Curb impulse buying. Grocer's have developed their floor plans with your dollars in mind; the object, get as many as possible with proper product placement. Learn the layout of your store and make a beeline to your destination. Temptation is especially tough in the check out aisles. Fight the urge to succumb to these powerful marketing practices by making, and sticking to, a list.

Try not to shop when you are starved. It makes sense that you are more vulnerable to impulse buying when you are hungry.

Make a budget and take a calculator to the store.

Compare prices. Store brands are not necessarily least expensive. Take just a moment to scan the shelves for best prices on the items you buy. When comparison shopping, make sure to take note of per unit costs.

Look below eye level. Bargain priced items are often shelved below eye level and out of your immediate view.

Grocery shopping can take a big chunk out of your budget if you are not careful. With just a small investment of time you will realize savings that you can take to the credit union. http://www.CreditUnionRate.com

Nicole Soltau is the President and Founder of http://CreditUnionRate.com -
The Leading Credit Union Directory
Search, Find ,Join.
- http://CreditUnionRate.com

A Guide to Choosing the Right Engraving Fonts for Your Personalized Gifts

2007-12-07T23:19:00.001-08:00

A personalized gift is such a great way to show someone that they are special to you and that you cared enough about them to add a personal touch to their present. When you add a name or initials or a significant date to an item, it becomes a keepsake and a memento of an occasion. Often, it is passed down from generation to generation.

There are different type of personalization, depending on the material. There is embroidering for fabrics. This is basically when lettering is sewn into something like a shirt or a hat. Being a child of the 80?s, my favorite examples of this are the initials that Laverne and Shirley wore on every article of clothing that they owned. A script font often works terrifically well with embroidery. As with all personalization methods, the type of lettering that you are employing really helps determine the font you?ll choose.

Embossing or debossing is another personalization method that uses an imprint of lettering to convey a message. An example of embossing would be a raised seal into a piece of paper. This really won?t apply to gift too often so we?ll continued onto debossing. We?re more interested in debossing, particularly on leather, because debossed leather goods make for great gifts. When you deboss a leather gift like a wallet or a briefcase, you imprint a hot stamp directly into it. This creates an impression into the leather with the lettering of your choice. This is an elegant way to personalize a high end gift. Debossing is almost exclusively done in a block font, like new times roman or century block. Due to the nature of leather goods being high end gifts, you?ll tend to keep the personalization short and to the point. Initials or a name work great for these type of goods.

Engraving is by far the most popular way to personalize gifts. It lends itself to a variety of items and materials. Due to the sheer volume of items that can be engraved, we?ll instead focus on the engraving methods themselves. If you are getting initials done, you?ll usually want to stick with a block or old English style font. A script style font doesn?t lend itself particularly well to initials because the spacing often gets out of line. If you?re looking for a name or message like ?Happy Birthday?, a script font is great. Script letters are made to connect, which is another reason to avoid using them when having initials done. You can?t go wrong with block lettering for words as well. You?ll usually want to avoid an Old English font for words as it is very intricate and is often tough to decipher. Old English works best for initials. So basically, you can?t go wrong with block style fonts for any type of personalization, stick with initials for Old English style fonts and stick with words for a script style font.

One final area that people often get fouled up over is whether or not to make their engraving of initials a traditional monogram or a contemporary monogram. For those not aware, a traditional monogram features the initial of the person?s last name in the middle and enlarged. An example for the name Mary Ann Smith would be: MSA. A contemporary monogram for the same name would be MAS. Both are appropriate these days. The important thing to make sure is that everyone is aware of what is being done. If you want a traditional monogram, make sure you let whoever is doing it know so that they do it appropriately. With everything being done online these days, you don?t want to assume that a traditional monogram is being done, enter the last initial in the middle and have all the letters in the monogram be done the same size.

Simon Brady is a freelance writer and the head of content for Executive Gift Shoppe. They specialize in personalized gifts including money clips, engraved men's cufflinks, pocket watches and business card holders. They offer a variety of personalization options for today?s consumer.

Engraving Your Diamond Wedding And Engagement Ring

2007-12-04T22:31:00.003-08:00

A diamond ring is forever.

It is perhaps the most romantic symbol of love for most couples and has actually become an essential in engagements and weddings. Nothing can be more romantic? except of course a diamond ring with an engraving inside.

Engraving your diamond wedding rings is one of the ways that would make your rings special and personalized. Putting messages for your spouse in the ring will ensure that your message of love will always be with him or her.

Most jewelers offer this additional service of engraving wedding and engagement rings. Often this service is only offered with plain wedding bands with no stone but some jewelry shops can engrave diamond engagement and wedding rings.

Here are some of the ways that jewelers do this.

One of the ways is by hand engraving where an expert will use a hand tool to engrave the words in the metal. Because this is done by hand, the process is not perfect and the letters are not as precise as one would like. Still, because it is handmade, the effect is more natural and far more unique than when done by machines. In choosing this process, make sure that the expert, often called the artisan, is skilled and experienced in doing the craft.

Another process is of course through the use of the engraving machine. Unlike the hand-made engraving process, this is much faster and more precise. Mistakes are minimized and the letters appear crisp. One disadvantage of using the engraving machine is the fact that one can only put up to 20 characters only. Although this is more than enough for the space provided by the ring, some prefer to put longer verses in smaller fonts.

One of the most modern processes is the use of the laser technology in engraving. The discovery and later use of laser has opened a whole lot of possibilities for jewelry engraving. Unlike the old engraving machine, couples can now put up to 225 characters in the metal. This is quite long and will be more than enough for one ring to take.

What is more, the engraver can be customized. One can choose the size of the font, the slant and sometimes even the kind of font that is used. That is why this process is not only used in engraving wedding and engagement rings but also bracelets and necklaces. Some are even able to put vows and verses from the bible with this kind of machine.This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Diamond Rings & other useful information, please visit http://diamond-ring.articlekeep.com

Door Knocker Engraving

2007-12-04T22:31:00.001-08:00

An engraved door knocker makes a wonderful personalized gift or addition to your home. With a little forethought it can become a treasured family heirloom.

Over the years I have engraved scores of door knockers. Many of which were similar in style but each unique in its own way due to the message it carries.

It seems that there are a lot of choices to consider. As an engraver all I can do is offer advice and information.

First of all, think about what you would like to accomplish before you purchase your door knocker. They come in different shapes and sizes all offering differing engraving opportunities. Some are not engraveable at all. Be sure of what you are purchasing. It may be safest to purchase from the same place that is doing the engraving if possible.

When it comes to the engraving itself, there are quite a few choices to be made, for example:

Names, addresses, greetings, a combination of all of these.

Lets address the most common question, the engraving of a name.

Is it proper the engrave just the last name, the last name with an s making it plural, or the last name with an apostrophe s making it a possessive?

Any one of these would be correct given the message you want to convey.

Name only: This is always nice and is easily understood as the name of the family living behind in this home.

Names plural: Also nice as it states that more than one family member lives in this home.

Name's possessive: This method states that this residence belongs to this family.

Just to throw another cog into the wheel, How about putting the work "The" in front of the name?

The Shaylers -or- The Shayler's -or even- The Shayler Family if room allows.

I'll bet you did not think that there was so much to consider just getting a door knocker engraved. Well, there is more.

A name does not need to be used at all. You may want the street address or simply "Welcome". How about "Howdy"? Maybe "Bless This House"

Perhaps you are engraving a door knocker as a wedding or anniversary gift. Typically the engraving includes the new last name and a line with "Est. 2006" Est. being short for established.

All of these choices are very nice and are correct given the situation they are to be used in.

The words themselves are not the only choice to be made. You must also choose a font. Depending on the font used you may want all upper-case letters or mixed case letters.

A general rule of thumb is, if you are using a script or ornamental font always use mixed case (upper and lower case letters). Most just do not look right in all upper case.

Roman and block fonts look very nice in either case, all upper or mixed. The Roman and block fonts may not be the most attractive but they are definitely the easiest to read.

The shape and style of the door knocker may dictate the font and case used. A small engraving area may prefer all upper case to prevent a descender ( letters like y or g that go below the base line ) from making the words to small to read easily. All upper case has no descenders and may fill the area more uniformly.

Most engravers can advise you as to what the limitations are but again the final decision lies with the customer. I have engraved some ornamental fonts in all upper case (ugh!) because this is what was wanted.

Be sure to use a bold font that stands out well. Door knockers as a rule do not offer a lot of contrast for the engraving so thin fine letters really do not show up well at all. Here again the engraver is a great source of advice.

All in all a little planning before the purchase will make the experience a brighter one.

Bill Shayler is a professional engraver and thEe owner of Shayler Engraving. For more information or to contact Bill, please visit: www.your-door-knocker.com a web site owned and operated by Shayler ngraving.

Plaque Engraving

2007-12-03T03:26:00.001-08:00

Plaque engraving is a popular process of engraving and is widely used to create printing plates and presentation plaques. Plaque engraving is the craft or technique of engraving on plaque. There are several companies that utilize the latest plaque engraving techniques to create award and memorial plaques in wood, acrylic or glass. These manufacturers offer a variety of styles and shapes for their customers to choose from. Most of these companies use large machinery to produce plaque engravings because this ensures more speed and consistency for the products.

For the business world, engraving companies create customized door and wall plaques and presentation labels with the desired company logo and information. This gives a professional touch to the business and helps to promote specific corporate brands at award ceremonies and other corporate events. The plaques are usually brushed and lacquered to safeguard them from natural elements. There are also options to select from various fonts and font styles to make these plaques stand out from the rest. Awards and memorial plaques in acrylic, wood or glass are also available.

With the advent of the Internet, one can also purchase plaque engravings from the home or office. There are several websites that offer this option and the sites also allow customers to choose from various designs and styles, providing plaques catering to individual taste. Online payment facilities provided by these companies enable easy payment, either through credit card or any other online money transfer method. The price range of plaque engravings vary according to the intricacy and exquisite nature of the engraving.

Engraving provides detailed information on Engraving, Photo Engraving, Laser Engraving, Plaque Engraving and more. Engraving is affliated with Moissanite Jewelry

Engraving Your Wedding Bands

2007-12-01T02:58:00.000-08:00

For many engaged couples, one of the most exciting experiences is the purchase of the wedding bands. The rings are a symbol of permanence and undying love, a sign of a groom's love for his bride and vice-versa. Some couples like to make the moment when the rings are exchanged even more personal by having the wedding bands engraved.

Why Engrave?

There are many good reasons to engrave your wedding bands. For example, it's a wonderful way to show your solidarity with your new spouse. For another, it can be a means of expressing special sentiments, such as words of affection that have been exchanged between you and your beloved. Finally, it can truly personalize your ring, making it a treasured keepsake for your family.

Popular Engraving Options

Of course, when it comes to engraving, there are a number of options that you can choose from. For instance, many couples prefer something simple, such as engraving their initials with a plus sign between them. Others like including their first names, while still others prefer a phrase that is particularly special to them. Or, to remember your destination wedding place and date.

History Behind the Tradition

You should be aware of the fact that there is a significant history behind the tradition of engraved rings. According to long-standing custom, the wedding ring is the last in a series of gifts, preceded by the engagement ring, which celebrates betrothal, and the promise ring, which symbolizes courting. The practice of engraving may have begun in Europe, where the name of one's spouse and the date of the impending wedding served as a symbol of family. Over the years, some couples have taken the tradition in a humorous direction, engraving their rings with funny phrases. Others strike a religious tone with their engravings.

A Lasting Memory

You'll Treasure In the end, an engraved wedding ring represents a lasting memory-a memory of the moment that two hearts joined together in a union of body, mind, and soul. It's the type of fashion accessory that never goes out of style-that is appropriate for every outfit, for every mood. For a lasting memory for your guests, leave them with personalized wedding favors to remember your special day by.

By Michelle O'Connor, Wedding Keepsake Albums

Photo Engraving

2007-11-30T02:31:00.000-08:00

Photo engraving is the process of engraving using photographic techniques. This unique and innovative concept is widely used for replicating graphic objects by transferring the image photographically onto a plate or some other surface and then engraving. Photo engraving is a very popular process and is used to create printing plates, presentation plaques, printed circuit boards, embossing dies boards and foil-stamping dies.

The photo engraving technique involves using a photosensitive material, known as photoresist. This material, which is resistant to acids or other engraving objects, is employed to a metal to be etched. It is then exposed to light, normally heavy ultraviolet rays, through a photographic negative. This helps it to harden at places where the negative permits light to pass. It is then washed in a solvent that eliminates the untempered components, thereby developing the photoresist. After this process, the metal to be carved is exposed to any etching compound or acid which liquefies the exposed parts of the metal.

One of the popular methods of photo engraving results in a shallow depression in the metal. This method is mainly used for printed circuit boards, decorative purposes or for intaglio printing plates. The etching is usually done on brass or copper. Another method of engraving is used to make a deep etching with sloped shoulders. For this process, the metal, mostly magnesium or zinc, is placed facedown and a combination of soap-like oil and nitric acid is poured onto it. This method of engraving is popular for making embossing dies, foil stamping dies and printing plates.

Today, there are several companies that utilize the latest photo engraving technology to replicate an image on gold, silver, brass, copper, acrylic and stainless steel. The most popular photo engraving products available in stores include gold and silver pedants, name cardholders, promotional key rings, compact mirror, badges, lighters and acrylic plaques.

Engraving provides detailed information on Engraving, Photo Engraving, Laser Engraving, Plaque Engraving and more. Engraving is affliated with Moissanite Jewelry

Laser Engraving

2007-11-30T02:30:00.002-08:00

Laser engraving is a method using lasers to mark, engrave or etch on an object. Laser engraving techniques are considered technical, and in most cases, a computer system is utilized to operate the laser head. Even though the whole process is considered complex, one can achieve very clean and precise engravings. Laser engraving does not include tool bits that contact the engraving surface and wear out. This is a benefit when compared to the other engraving technologies where bit heads need to be changed frequently.

Laser engraving is done by focusing a parallel beam of light (laser) through a lens to a pinpoint where the heat produced is vaporizing the subject material. Laser engraving techniques are more widely used for specifically designed laser-able materials. These include novel metal alloys and polymer.

Laser engraving has several advantages when compared to conventional engraving methods. As laser engraving uses a beam of light as a tool, it only produces a non-contract mark that results in less wear and tear on tooling and other related expenses. There is also less chance for product deformation and damage. Another advantage is that lasers are much faster than other conventional methods of product imprinting and also provide better versatility in material choices. Laser engraving can be applied to wood, plastic, glass; coated metals and laser cut machine gaskets.

In certain cases where physical modification of a surface by engraving is unsuitable, there is an alternative way known as laser marking. Laser marking is a broad term which covers a wide range of surfacing techniques such as hot-branding and printing.

Today?s laser engraving equipments are affordable, easy to use and maintain. Most of the latest laser engraving equipment also offer greater speed and adaptability.

Engraving provides detailed information on Engraving, Photo Engraving, Laser Engraving, Plaque Engraving and more. Engraving is affliated with Moissanite Jewelry.

Engraving - Types And Varieties

2007-11-30T02:30:00.001-08:00

Process of engraving

The process of engraving is purely scientific. The engravers use a hardened steel tool called burin to cut design into the surface, mostly that of copper. The burin cuts a unique quality of line that is characterized by its steady appearance and clean edges. The gravers often use angle tint tool that is more commonly used in printmaking. When the gravers have to carve on larger areas, they use Florentine liner tool that carves multiple engravings. While flat gravers are particularly used for doing fill work on letters, the round gravers are used specially on silver, nickel and steel to create bright cuts. However, other tools like roulets, burnishers and mezzotint rockers are used particularly to bring in a texturing effect.

Engravings are used on different forms like paintings, postage stamps, walls and other items. Following are the different types of engravings:

Modern engravings

These types of hand engravings are basically available in the firearms and other metal weaponry, musical instruments and jewelry pieces. In most of industrial uses like production of Intaglio plates for commercial purposes, hand engravings are often replaced with CNC engravings done by milling machines.

Laser engraving

It is a practice of using lasers to engrave, mark or etch on an object. Although laser engravings are more applicable on "laserable" materials like polymer and novel metal alloys, they are mostly applicable on materials like plastics, coated metals, stones and glasses, woods and natural materials.

Music engraving

This is the art of drawing music notations at high quality. In the early 20th century, music staff paper was printed onto vellum or onionskin, which makes it possible to easily rectify any type of mistakes done while engraving. With the advent of personal computers, hand engravings have basically become a past. Now individual parts of an orchestral score can be easily extracted and printed using numerous computer programs.

To decorate your home and office, you can use hand engravings and give an aesthetic touch to the d?cor.

Sharon Albright is the owner of Engraving Site. Read more articles on Engraving and visit her recommended resources

Engraving ? Types And Varieties

2007-11-30T02:28:00.000-08:00

Engraving is a piece of carved structure, which is made with incisions designed into a hard and flat surface by carving grooves on it. The results of engraving are decorative objects that provide unique d?cor to the surrounding arena. You can carve engravings on materials like silver, gold, copper, relief print block, wood or copper. With proper backgrounds, different types of engravings truly add a touch of wonder and variety to room d?cor.

Process of engraving

The process of engraving is purely scientific. The engravers use a hardened steel tool called burin to cut design into the surface, mostly that of copper. The burin cuts a unique quality of line that is characterized by its steady appearance and clean edges. The gravers often use angle tint tool that is more commonly used in printmaking. When the gravers have to carve on larger areas, they use Florentine liner tool that carves multiple engravings. While flat gravers are particularly used for doing fill work on letters, the round gravers are used specially on silver, nickel and steel to create bright cuts. However, other tools like roulets, burnishers and mezzotint rockers are used particularly to bring in a texturing effect.

Engravings are used on different forms like paintings, postage stamps, walls and other items.
Following are the different types of engravings:

Modern engravings

These types of hand engravings are basically available in the firearms and other metal weaponry, musical instruments and jewelry pieces. In most of industrial uses like production of Intaglio plates for commercial purposes, hand engravings are often replaced with CNC engravings done by milling machines.

Laser engraving

It is a practice of using lasers to engrave, mark or etch on an object. Although laser engravings are more applicable on ?laserable? materials like polymer and novel metal alloys, they are mostly applicable on materials like plastics, coated metals, stones and glasses, woods and natural materials.

Music engraving

This is the art of drawing music notations at high quality. In the early 20th century, music staff paper was printed onto vellum or onionskin, which makes it possible to easily rectify any type of mistakes done while engraving. With the advent of personal computers, hand engravings have basically become a past. Now individual parts of an orchestral score can be easily extracted and printed using numerous computer programs.

To decorate your home and office, you can use hand engravings and give an aesthetic touch to the d?cor.

Sharon Albright is the owner of Engraving Site. Read more articles on Engraving and visit her recommended resources.

Little Known Uses Of Engraving ? Tips And Techniques!!

2007-11-30T02:27:00.000-08:00

Engraving and its Many Applications

What is Engraving?

When lines or grooves are carved, etched or cut into a hard surface, we say it has been engraved. Engraving is commonly used on materials like metal, wood and stone. There are many applications for engraving, both decorative and functional. For example, printing, manufacturing and jewelry making all commonly incorporate engraving to produce the final product.

Engraving in Printing

Engraving is often used for printing. Most paper money produced today is engraved, and wedding invitations, personalized stationery, business cards and birth announcements are commonly custom ordered and engraved. The words and designs to be printed are engraved in a metal die, and the grooves are filled with ink. The die is then pressed to a card or paper, transferring the ink onto the paper. If you run your fingertips over the paper, you can feel the raised ink of the letters.

Laser Engraving

Laser engraving is currently a popular form of engraving. A laser is used to cut designs into the surface of the object being engraved. It is easier to get into small or difficult spots with a laser than with a hand tool. The laser is often used in conjunction with a computer program that controls its movements. Laser engraving can be used to etch a logo and phone number on marketing tools such as pens, key chains and paperweights. Because the logo is engraved in the item, it does not rub off with use over time as printed logos often do. Leather, glass and plastic can also be engraved with lasers, and laser engraving can be used for industrial applications.

Engraving in Art

Engraving was commonly used to illustrate books and newspapers before photography was invented. Until the late 19th century, wood engraving was used to produce most of the pictures seen in printed material. An artist would draw the image on a wood block, then an engraver would engrave the picture into the wood. Engraving was also used to reproduce paintings.

Engraving Jewelry

Engraved jewelry has been around for a long time, and engraved designs have been seen on jewelry that is thousands of years old. It is common to give engraved jewelry as a gift. Silver and gold jewelry is often engraved with the name or initials of the owner or an inscription. Enamel is sometimes used to fill the grooves made by engraving the jewelry. Designs have long been engraved on gemstones, and jade and ivory are commonly engraved with beautiful images.

Engraving Gifts

Giving engraved items as gifts has been popular for years, and there are several shops that specialize in engraving gifts. Jewelry such as rings and bracelets are often engraved with initials or a short message. Pendants and lockets are frequently engraved with a dedication. Popular engraved gifts for men include cuff links, pocketknives, money clips and flasks. Aside from jewelry, popular engraved gifts for women include trinket boxes and key chains. For children, banks engraved with the child?s name are appreciated, and engraved photo frames make a nice gift for everyone. WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ENGRAVING? Learn all about engraving at our engraving resource website ? your one-stop-shop for engraving!!! If learning the latest engraving techniques is important to you, then visit our site now!!!! http://www.engraving-hq.com