How To Make A Fire With Your Survival Knife

You ought to know how to make a fire, even when matches or a lighter are not available to you. This proficiency can be a lifesaver, particularly if you find yourself without matches or a lighter in a survival situation.

What do you need?

You will need a Survival Knife with a carbon steel blade. This is essential because a survival knife with a stainless steel blade might not produce the spark you're looking for. The spark comes from little pieces of metal coming off of the striker or Survival Knife in our case. That's why we use the backside of the blade and not the cutting surface. Using the sharp surface will make your blade dull. That is also why a stainless steel blade might not work. The stronger the steel, the smaller and hotter the pieces that come off will be, making it easier to burn the tinder and get our flame going.

You will also need a strike rod. No, not the style they used to beat a red-headed stepchild in years past. A strike rod is usually made of magnesium or a combination of steel and magnesium. I propose you use a string to affix it to your survival knife if the handle of your knife has a hole that you can use, or attach it to your survival knife's sheath. At the very least a strike rod should be easily accessible in your survival kit.

You will also need properly prepared tinder. Use your Survival Knife to shave dry bark off of trees, ideally dead tree limbs. Dried grass or the cotton like material behind some tree barks like a cottonwood make excellent tinder. Shape the tinder in to a bird's nest, this can provide the glowing embers some defense from the wind. Try to keep the material as loose as possible. Don't bunch it together like a snowball. Loose material has more gaps where oxygen can satisfy the flames.

How do you actually make a fire with your Survival Knife?

Clean the ground of debris where you are going to build the fire. Clean an area wider than you need to. Safety is always very important. You want to use the fire for warmth and to cook food for survival. You don't want to discover how the U.S. Forest Service trains their firefighters.

Pre Build your bundle of kindling, making a tee-pee frame. Leave yourself a space to place the burning tinder in to the middle of the tee-pee configuration of kindle wood. Make an effort to use the cover of your surroundings to prevent strong winds or rain from directly hitting the site where you plan to build your fire. This will make your job less difficult when conditions are less than perfect.

Gather your tinder. You want loosely spaced, very fine thread-like shavings In conjunction with slightly thicker shavings. A birds nest configuration should work well because it has built-in protection from the wind. If you need to, you can smash thicker bark against a rock to expand the fibers of the wood. You can use your survival knife to make small thin shavings from bark. Some barks like Juniper or Cottonwood are especially great for tinder but any dry bark should do well. Dried grass can also be used. It isn't a bad idea to stash this kind of tinder in a dry Ziploc bag for future use. The tinder will need to be dry. While you can most likely get away with wood or even kindling that isn't entirely dry, you will be up the creek if your tinder is wet.

Put your tinder near to the site you made. Place the strike rod just a little above the tinder or lightly touching the tinder and strike the rod with the backside of the blade of your survival knife in a downward motion. This will cause the spark to shoot off the blade and on to the tinder. You can also keep the knife stationary and drag the strike rod down the length of the backside of the blade of your survival knife if you choose. I prefer to leave the strike rod stationary and as close to the tin der as possible, but this is based on preference. The moment an actual spark catches on the tinder you will need to apply air to your budding fire by blowing softly on the glowing tinder. As the red glow grows bigger, apply more air. Remember you aren't the big bad wolf blowing down the three little pig's house.

When the tinder is hot enough (glowing) or in fact has a flame of some sort, cautiously move it underneath your pre-built kindling pile. Continue to provide a supply of air by blowing directly on to the glowing tinder. Once the tinder is lit to a flame, you may need to continue adding tinder to get the flames high enough to burn the kindling. Once the kindling has caught fire you can continue adding kindling to get the fire healthy enough to add smaller pieces of wood and bigger ones after that.

Remember making a fire with just a Survival Knife and a strike rod can be tricky, even when conditions are ideal. The best thing you can do, is b e prepped by practicing. Once you have the skill of making fire with your survival knife down pat, practice as often as possible. You want to have this skill already mastered when you find yourself in a survival situation. That is NOT the time to learn or practice fire making skills. Rehearse not only in favorable conditions but try to practice in unfavorable conditions as well. Some windy or damp situational practice will make you a pro in no time, or just cold, wet and frustrated.

　

Points to consider before you buy a Pit Bike

Biking is an experience that once you have tasted you will want to have more and more the next time. There are pit biking experience days for the ones who do not own a pit bike. For those who wish to own a pit bike the options are endless. Below are some points you should consider before buying a pit bike.

The age of the biker: Any person can ride a pit bike, from kids to youngsters and the professional pit bikers. Make sure you know which bike you are choosing and the reason behind it. For instance, a pit bike for children will be high on safety. The handles of the bike will provide a strong grip for kids to hold and ride the bike. Also the speed limit would be set and if not you will have the option to do so to make sure no mishap happens. For youngsters the pit bikes are a bit advanced in terms of looks and speed. For the ones who love dirt and want to explore pit biking to its ultimate potential, Pit Bikes just keep getting better. These bikes are loaded with performance, looks, adventure and action, be it kids or the pros. You just need to make the right choice.

Choose your bike dealer carefully: There are numerous bike dealers but you need to make sure the one you choose is an authorized one. A lot of illegal selling of bikes happens to reduce the final price of the bike. Never go for a pit bike which does not give you legal document proof, such dealers can even sell you fake bikes at the price of the original. Search for a trusted dealer who will give you good after sales service also as you will need advice on servicing and maintaining your pit bike too.

Your pit bike purchasing experience should be a memorable one for you and not end up being a complicated procedure. Remember to keep the age of the biker in mind and the bike dealer you choose. These 2 simple steps can prove to be of great help to you in the long run.

The Importance of Regular Grounds Maintenance

Grounds maintenance is an essential part of grounds / site management for all establishments. Schools and retail centres are two of the most common institutions to require regular grounds maintenance, and it is highly recommended for all commercial grounds, business parks, stately homes, and public sector grounds.

Grounds maintenance incorporates lawn / grass care, trimming and tending to hedges / shrubs, general gardening duties and pest control, sports field maintenance, car park road markings, ground gritting, and hard surface care.

Grounds maintenance is essential because:

• To protect outdoor hard surfaces - patios, stone walkways, paths and decking all need to be maintained to a certain level in order to increase longevity and to protect from damaging elements. Grounds maintenance can cover tasks such as weed control, moss control, leaf clearance and outdoor sweeping.
• Pleasing guests / visitors - contracted grounds maintenance will ensure that your grassy areas and your lawns are always taken care of. Aesthetics in a retail or commercial environment is particularly important for attracting guests and customer satisfaction. Upkeep for on-site facilities is a big responsibility for any retail organisation.
• To adhere to health & safety - if you want your grounds to abide by health and safety guidelines, it is essential to keep your grounds maintained in the best possible way; road markings need to be clear, gritting needs to applied during the testing seasons, pest control needs to be evident and all outdoor surfaces need to be clean, safe and hazard-free.
  

Premier League Picks: Premier League Odds

After the midweek European action, the weekend sees the teams in England's top flight concentrate on the Premier League again. There is a full round of 10 matches. Let's have a look at the top picks from the weekend schedule.

Arsenal vs. Manchester City

The biggest game of the weekend is the final game as Manchester City host Arsenal at Eastlands on Sunday evening. Both sides will be in good form for this match with City having won their last three league matches, including beating Chelsea at Eastlands, while Arsenal have bounced back well from losses to Chelsea and West Brom by scoring seven goals in two matches this week. This game could either way, but one thing I feel confident of is goals. As a result of that, we're backing over 2.5 goals in the game. Odds at many online sportsbookare around 1.88.

Wolves vs. Chelsea

In action on Saturday afternoon are Chelsea and Wolves at Stamford Bridge. Both of these teams drew last weekend, but both are in excellent form with Chelsea topping the Premier League and Wolves kept off the bottom by Liverpool and West Ham's worse goal differences. Chelsea have won six, drawn one and lost one of their eight games this season, while Wolves have not won a match since the opening weekend. We're expecting a massive rout for Chelsea here and this is another match we're on the over 2.5 goals market. Back it @ 1.35.

Everton vs. Tottenham

The early game on Saturday sees Tottenham Hotspur welcome Everton to White Hart Lane. Spurs are fresh from a 4-3 defeat against reigning Champions League champions Inter Milan of Italy, while Everton have had the midweek off, but will they make that extra rest work to their advantage? Spurs will definitely be more tired after travelling to Italy and playing 90 minutes before returning for action on Saturday morning and Everton have not conceded a goal in the Premier League in more than 5 hours of football. Everton are finding their feet now too. After picking up 2 points from their first 5 matches they've secured 7 from their last three and I feel that they'll claim another 3 points here. We're suggesting toback them @ 3.3.

Enjoy the games and good luck.

You can check the updated Premier League Odds.

Algarve Resident Algarve resident to pedal the world

Aviation legend Gerry Breen, the first person attributed to flying a microlight, set off on a unique around-the-world tour starting from Lagos on Monday.

Gerry, who founded the Algarve Airsports Centre in Lagos in 1985, plans to travel the world in a Pedalcar which will see him cycling, unsupported, firstly across the United States from Orlando to San Diego before then journeying through South America to Tierra del Fuego at the tip of the continent.

After South America, Gerry plans to fly to Canada then cycle onto Alaska before crossing the Pacific to Japan, China and the Far East to then head back via New Zealand and Australia to complete the final leg through Europe.

Although Gerry is known for his skills in the air after flying more than 200 different types of airc raft, the entire journey will be made in a Pedalcar, affectionately known as the Breen Machine.

Read the full article

Winter Running Mistakes Revealed

Running on a winter season can be as fun as running on fall or spring seasons. The only difference is that you need to get dressed as warm as possible and prepare for cold weather outside. However, some people do it the wrong way and they end up getting sick on bed. Yet, below are some of the winter-running mistakes that many people fail to notice:

Mistake Number 1- Not listening or watching to weather forecasts before running

Most people forget to check the weather forecast of the day before running outside. In the end, they face worse weather conditions rather than having a good one. It is an important rule to check to weather forecast before running, especially when you are doing it on winter. There may be possibilities of blizzards and other natural calamities that may occur. But, most importantly, check the temperature outside, as well as the wind chill. Temperature less than zero degrees and wind chill of below 20 degrees can be very dangerous for running. Thus, better stay at your house running on the treadmill.

Mistake Number 2- Wearing of thick coats instead of dressing up in layers

Some people actually believe that thick coats can insulate them well against cold weather. However, strong wind can simply pass right through your clothes and remove the warm air covering your body. When you wear clothes in layers, the air will be trapped in between. Aside from that, it would be easy to remove and add layers of clothes once the temperature increases or decreases, respectively.

Mistake Number 3- Choosing cotton clothes

The best clothing material for running is called polypropylene or Lycra because it can wick away moisture rather than absorbing it, which are often observed in cotton materials. Cotton will keep your body moist, which makes you feel cooler that can eventually lead to chills. Usually, running clothes made from Lycra is used as the first layer of clothing over several other layers of clothes when running on winter season.

Mistake Number 4- Forgetting to wear hats or mittens, as well as foot covers

Covering your head, feet and hands is as important as covering your body. Large amount of heat loss is made through these body parts. Thus, runners who are up for winter running should also protect their head, feet and hands from extreme cold. The head may be covered with wool hat, while the hands can be covered with mittens. The feet should be worn with warm wool sacks and a wicking sock liner.

Mistake Number 5- Not keeping their body well-hydrated

Even though winter does not dry up the skin as fast as the summer season, runners should still keep their body well-hydrated. Putting moisturizer and sun screen protector is important since this will help you avoid frost bite and redness on the skin. Aside from that, getting enough glasses of water a day can keep you away from colds or flu.

Buying Paintball Sniper Rifles and Pump Paintball Markers

The game of paintball is a fun and entertaining sport to learn how to play. Obviously to play paintball, you need paintball markers. Paintball markers can be expensive. Paintball sniper rifles and pump paintball guns are two popular markers to purchase. The pump paintball marker was the original paintball gun used. It's a single shot paintball marker, and over the years, it has been replaced by the semi-automatic and the fully automatic paintball marker. So the pump paintball gun might be a little harder to come by online.

The advantages to buying pump paintball markers is to learn how to shoot with precision and accuracy. If you learn to preserve each shot, you'll become a much better paintball marker. You'll use strategy and skill to become a better player for your team. When purchasing paintball guns, the hopper isn't always included and you'll have to purchase that separately.

Paintball sniper rifles are extremely popular for those who want to become a good marksman. Sniper rifles require precision, skill, and accurate shooting as well. Just like the pump paintball marker, the sniper rifle can help you become more skilled at the game. Paintball sniper rifles can be very expensive to purchase. Prices can range anywhere from $100-$500 dollars or more even. Some of the popular sniper rifle brands like Pro-Team, Leapers, Tippmann, Palco, and Tiberius Arms have some good sales going for paintball sniper rifles online.

You'll save money shopping for paintball guns at online stores like amazon, direct paintball, and paintball gateway. You can find what you need and compare prices online.

Achilles Tendinopathy- Frequently Asked Questions

There are several running injuries that may be completely prevented if only runners will have ample time to learn more about them. Getting a running injury is never fun because it can hinder you from achieving your fitness goals and it can greatly affect your running performance. One of the running injuries that may be prevented by taking proper measures is a condition called Achilles tendinopathy.

If you want to learn more about this condition and how to totally prevent it, then read on the following frequently asked questions about Achilles tendinopathy:

1. What is Achilles tendinopathy?

Achilles tendinopathy, also called Achilles tendonitis, is a condition that often occurs to runners aging 40 years old and above. However, some runners may also experience this at an earlier time with continuous exposure to causative factors. This injury is characterized by an inflammatory and degenerative condition of the Achilles tendon found at the back of the heel.

2. How does this occur?

Stress is the main factor that causes this injury. When the tendon is exposed to a great deal of stress, it can work hard and tighten. When this is not corrected, the tendon might wear and tear losing its normal tensile strength. This causes the pain and inflammation. However, the tendon may be covered with scar tissues, which further decrease its efficiency. With prolonged stress exposure, the tendon may eventually rupture.

3. What factors cause this injury?

There are several factors that might cause stress on the Achilles tendon. First, this may be due to poor stretching techniques that can cause tightening of the calf muscles, which then transfers the burden to the tendon. The calf muscles and the tendon may also be over fatigued due to excessive training or rapid progression in the running regimen. Excessive hill running, overpronation, and use of improper running shoes can also stress the Achilles tendon.

4. What are the manifestations of this condition?

Achilles tendinopathy is mainly characterized by pain on the back of the heel. The pain may be sharp or dull in nature and it may be worse when waking up in the morning and under on-going physical activity. Redness and warmth may be noted on the skin around the affected area. The tendon may also feel tender when touched. Sometimes, there may be an appearance of nodule, which is a sign of scarred tendon.

5. How do you prevent Achilles tendonitis?

This condition may be prevented if the above factors that cause this injury are avoided. Thus, runners should do proper warm-up and stretching technique before and after running to relax the calf muscle and Achilles tendon. Training errors should be avoided. Aside from that, this injury may be avoided through the use of proper running shoes based on the runner's foot type.

Quad bikes for kids; a buying guide

Electric quads

Electric quads are best for very young children, due to their extremely low top speeds, ease of use and lack of maintenance requirement. They vary from 6V for the smaller models suited to ages 2 and upwards, and 12V models for older children. Another advantage is that these bikes are extremely cheap to buy, with prices from below £100; ideal for presents and as a low cost introduction into the world of the quad bike (which is helpful if you are unsure that your children will want to continue with it, which would make buying an expensive bike a risk).

Petrol quads
The other type of quad is the petrol engine quad, which uses an engine similar to those found in a motorbike. These quad bike therefore have more powerful engines and can reach a higher top speed. They are more suited to off road riding, due to their ruggedness and higher power for scaling inclines and obstacles. Engine sizes start at 50cc, which are ideal for children and beginners, as they will be great fun, without the high top speed that could be dangerous for beginners who have not attained high levels of control yet.

Children's sized quads are generally not allowed to be driven on public roads, and so children should be monitored when riding their quad bike at all times. Safety is a major concern with children, due to their lack or riding skills and weaker bone structure. Be sure that your child is wearing protective gear at all times such as:

• Long sleeves for skin protection
  
• Long trousers for skin protection
  
• A helmet for protecting their head from concussion and such injuries
  
• Kneepads and elbow pads for protection of joints, which can break or splinter
  

These are especially essential if the child is very young, or if they are using the more powerful variety of quad bike.

You should also aim to supervise your children at all times when riding a quad bike, as regardless of safety precautions used, they are still powerful vehicles that can be dangerous if not used correctly. If you do keep to all the safety precautions and measures put down in this guide, you should enjoy many years of fun with your children and their quad bikes, with a few odd hours of riding perhaps developing into a passion that will stay with them for their lifetime; you may be starting your child on to a path as a champion quad bike or motocross rider.

What are the Main Reasons for Taking Part in Endurance Sports

I do not have any official research or statistics about this trend, but a lot of things indicate that endurance sports might be extending the ranks of its enthusiasts at a rate matched only by a precious few other activities. Magazines and websites dedicated to running a marathon, completing a triathlon or getting ready for an iron man race sprout out like mushrooms, responding to a growing interest in these disciplines. The market for training services and equipment has developed to a point where it is not a problem whatsoever to get quality products at affordable prices. This opens up the area for even more newcomers as it takes less and less in terms of effort or money to join in. However, the question why so many regular guys would want to join in a subset of sport that pushes people to the limits of their endurance, puts them in a tight training harness and requires mad determination even to pull through a single race. Here are possible answers.

The challenge factor cannot be underestimated as endurance sports have a reputation for being made for tough individuals. When something if off-limits to most people, there will surely be a group of naysayers determined to prove everybody wrong by going to places where others fear to tread. Marathons or triathlons do exactly that for sporting experiences, as the vast majority of the population might never even think seriously of trying to complete it, while some random jogging, aerobics or swimming are part of their everyday routine. Whoever decides to run for 42 kilometres or cover another gruelling distance by bike is clearly inspired by the extraordinary value of what most people see as a feat.

But it is not only adventurers who take part in endurance sports. It is also amateurs who simply love physical effort and have progressed naturally from such disciplines as tennis, football or track and field. Over time, they learned enough about their capabilities to add yet another level to their training load and finally have a go at long-distance, high-intensity events. In fact, for people who are fairly and no strangers to physical exertions getting ready for and taking part in a triathlon are not the most difficult things in the world. In many cases, they are not even challenges. They represent another frontier in their development as athletes.

Others, quite simply, want to do something new and fun. Isn't it exciting to look for the best cycling apparel for the biking leg of the triathlon and then training for the smoothest possible transition from running? Who would not want to make small increments during the training program to finally shine during the bid day? There is also a fantastic atmosphere at races, created largely by the community of people who share a true infatuation with sport. Some of them are so engaged in trying to get better that they report their progress by recording regular reports on a webcam and posting them on YouTube.

5 Easy Steps to Prevent Running Injuries

So, you want to know how to prevent running injuries? Well then, you've come to the right place as we will give you five easy steps on how you can protect yourself from these debilitating injuries. Although running injuries can attack anyone at anytime, just follow the given steps and you will be safe from this painful culprit:

Step 1- Get the right pair of running shoes.

Your running shoes are the most important shield that you can have from running injuries. When you run, it is only your shoes that come in contact with the ground. The impact created on the ground can cause so much stress on the feet. However, if you are wearing the right pair of running shoes, it will absorb the force created, which will lessen the stress on your feet. Getting an appropriate pair of running shoes should be based on your foot type, foot strike and running event.

Step 2- Do warm-ups first and proceed to stretching exercises before running.

Warm-up exercises include walking and jogging before starting to run, aerobic exercises such as swimming and cycling. This should be done on the first few minutes on each of your running session. Then, when your muscles are warm, perform the stretching exercises. But, never stretch farther than what you can handle. It might cause severe muscle pain after it.

Step 3- Assess your running form.

Your running form is also a vital part of both preventing and exacerbating a running injury. If you have a correct running form, you will experience less discomfort caused by running injuries. When running, take time to check your running form. Your eyes should not be looking down on the ground; instead it should be looking several meters away from where you are. Your head and shoulders should be relaxed, with the shoulders held not too high. The arms should sway at the side and not over your chest. Lastly, your feet should land right under your body, not unless you are a sprinter.

Step 4- Run slowly, and not too far and not too soon.

If you are a beginner, it is important that you increase your running distance and frequency in a timely manner. Runners should never increase their distance, speed, and running frequency abruptly. They should allow time to make their body adapt to the vigorous activity of running. This way, they are prone to less running injuries.

Step 5- Stretch every after running session.

Although you've started your session with warm-up and stretching exercises, stretching your warm muscles after running can also decrease muscle sores and body pain. This is because you are slowly cooling down your body, as opposed to warming it up in the beginning. This prevents an abrupt change in the body system after taking the whole running course.

The US Tennis Open

The US Tennis Open sometimes gets confused with the Golf tournament since its also called the US Open. The US Open for the tennis sport is also known as the United States Open tennis championships. Its recognized as one of the oldest and largest tennis tournaments in the world. Each year the tournament lasts two weeks in the end of August and the beginning of September.

The Us Open started in 1881 where men only competed and it was only played by singles. Now it is known as one of the most popular tennis tournaments paying men and female in both singles and double competitions.

Through history, the court's surface has played on many different surfaces. From its start until 1974, it was played on grass and then it was played on clay from 1975-1977. Now it is played on a much faster surface called DecoTurf. Its known to be very fast paced with less friction and bounce rate.

Some of the big names to watch for in the US Open is Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Venus Williams, and Rafael Nadal.

Getting The Right Gear For A Great Game Of Golf In The Winter

If you have ever tried your hand at playing a round of golf in the winter, you most probably realize just how challenging it can be, especially when weather conditions are not at their best. Many people who decide to try playing a round of golf in the wintertime for the first time neglect to consider that the weather necessitates certain extra measures when it comes to clothing and golf gear. Without taking such measures, you will undoubtedly not have anywhere near as good a game as you might be able to if you were to go fully prepared. Among the various additional pieces of equipment that you should consider are good golf winter gloves and golf standbags.

Golf winter gloves are an absolute necessity when playing in any season other than summer because otherwise, your hands would get cold. While you might assert that you are not afraid of a little cold, there are good reasons to keep your hands warm that go beyond simply being unable to brave the cold. The fact is that the human body, and hence the muscles, are designed to function within a certain limited range of temperatures. When your body temperature moves outside of this range, muscles start to function less effectively, becoming stiffer and slower to respond.

By wearing good golf winter gloves, you keep your hands warm, ensuring that your grip and swing are not affected by the cold. As even the most amateur golfer should know, the grip is one of the most important parts of playing golf, and having cold hands will certainly affect your grip greatly. Some people have even been known to lose so much function in the muscles of their hands when playing unprotected in the cold that they lose their grip on their golf club on the downswing and send the club flying instead of the ball. Not only is this extremely embarrassing, it can also be very dangerous to yourself and other people playing alongside you.

Golf standbags are another winter essential. Many people question the need for a standbag, given that most golf bags manufactured today are able to stand relatively well on their own, without the need for a stand. This is only in good weather, however, and circumstances are certainly different in the fall and winter when rain and snow make ground conditions a real challenge to cope with. Rain, for example, makes the ground soft and muddy. This makes it difficult not only to play a good game, but also to get your golf bag to stand upright without the aid of a stand.

With golf standbags, however, you need not worry about having to find firm ground on which to set your golf bag down so it can stand upright. Instead, you will be able to set it down anywhere on the ground, and still have easy access to your clubs. This way, you need not suffer needless inconveniences, and you will have a much more enjoyable game.

Golf winter gloves and golf standbags are therefore a necessity whenever you wish to play golf in the winter. With good golf winter gloves and golf standbags in your arsenal of golfing equipment, you will be ready to play golf in any weather, and still have a great game.

Four Reasons to Collect Beswick Animals

Everyone starts their own personal collection at some point in their lives, whether this may be colourful handmade friendship bracelets or Pokémon cards. If you are looking for a new hobby, here are four reasons to start a collection of Beswick Animals.

Timeless-Unlike the latest fad, Beswick animals are a classic collector's item that will never be considered dated or a passing trend. This is what makes these figurines so valuable as a collector's item. For this reason, they make fantastic gifts and could inspire the recipient to start a collection of their own.

Visually appealing-Unlike some collectable items that can cause clutter and mess, Beswick animals are designed to be put on show. Enhance your home with your favourite high quality figurines.

Affordable-Beswick animals are the ideal collector's items for those on a budget. Many people are put off starting a collection due to the expense involved. However, there are plenty of collector's items tha t won't break the bank.

Convenient-If you are looking for a hassle free pastime that you can conveniently fit in to your spare time, collecting Beswick animals involves minimum effort. Sourcing your favourite figurines is simple online. Beswick animals are available from a number of online stores and can be purchased online at ease.

The Mushroom World Is Not Enough - Mario Leaps to Galaxy 2

Princess Peach aka Toadstool being kidnapped by the wicked King Koopa back in 1985, Nintendo Entertainment Systems gave birth to a new hero "Prince Mario". Though we are not sure if it was a good time for Princess Peach or a great time for Nintendo itself (for creating the most successful gaming character ever), it was definitely a glorious time for the gamers out there and a real bad time for King Koopa. Millions of gamers around this planet fought the henchmen of the wicked king and many of them succeeded in saving the princess. Nintendo succeeded in creating one of the most addictive games even in the 2D world with the 8 bit gaming technology. Years passed by and Mario grew and so did the technology. With improved visuals and better looking Mario, the journey continued and the prince appeared in PC games and in all gaming consoles as well.

Mario Is 25 and the World has changed a lot

It seems that the advancements in technology are not just in the real world. With the technological advancements, Mario is to continue the adventure in the Galaxy for the second time. Now, instead of jumping from mushroom to another mushroom, Mario can leap between different Galaxies. Thanks to the cutting edge graphics - the prince is now leaping on a colorful 3D galaxy for the second time in Super Mario Galaxy 2. This time it is "Bowser" whom Mario is gonna deal with. The game plot is again about rescuing Princess Peach. It looks like as long as Princess Peach never stays home, the gamers will be having all the fun. Nintendo was successful in brining great detail to the character even with the 8bit technology. Imagine what they could do with dedicated GPUs of the modern gaming world?

Mario Kart Still Adds fun - For those who don't care about the Princess Or the Kingdom

Mario has developed many skills through the recent years. And Nintendo has taught the prince how to race back in 2008. Forget about saving the princess and its time to burn some rubber. Mario cart is still the best fun filled kart racing game with a variety of circuits. And guess what it is not just a race against time and the prince has to deal with skill based missions as well.

Nintendo Wii - The Best Console For Mario Games

Though both these Mario titles are available with all the gaming consoles, it is real fun with the Nintendo Wii. As usual, the innovative Nintendo Wii control is what it makes playing Mario game titles real fun. The Wii Wheel that comes packed with Mario Kart transforms the Wii remote into a sporty steering wheel. When it comes to galaxy 2, the Wii controls are simply superb. Nintendo has learned from the confusing controls of the super Mario Galaxy and has made them real simple this time.

So, on the 25th Birthday of Prince Mario, do you choose to save the princess or would you like stick around with the classic old kart racing?

Holiday Season Sporting Events

Did you know that football was a very important part of thanksgiving since 1934? No? Many people don't. Most of the professional games are held on thanksgiving and the only games played on this day until recently. There are many football games played around the time of thanksgiving weekend. These games include the Border Showdown, Egg Bowl, Holy War, Lone Star Showdown, Sunshine Showdown, Backyard Brawl, Iron Bowl, and more.

Another sport people might enjoy watching over thanksgiving holidays would be college basketball which is shown on television takes place on thanksgiving and during thanksgiving weekend. These tournaments have only been around since 2006 but have held tradition since then. Golf and auto racing are not sports that normally take place during thanksgiving but there are some games that take place during this time.

In NYC, they have what is called a "Turkey Trot Race" which doesn't get a whole lot of publicity but it has become an important sport to the park and residents there. It takes place every year around 9 in the morning. The race starts off as being five miles but for those who still feel the need to run afterwards can participate in the ten mile race if they like, giving them a chance to work off that good ole turkey before demolishing it.

There are many activities and sports that take place during our feasting day we like to call thanksgiving. Some sports are national sports while others are just active ways to have fun and enjoy you with family and friends during such a lovely holiday. Many people use this time to draw closer to their families and loved ones and if you think about it, what better way to do this than through a couple of fun filled sports?

Features of Jumping Saddles for Horse Riding

To enable horse riders to jump in the correct jumping position both for comfort of the horse and for efficient transfer of momentum, jumpers should use the correct kind of saddle: jumping saddles. Jumping saddles are designed specifically for activities that involve the horse jumping over obstacles. This includes show jumping, hunt seat equitation, foxhunting, and the stadium and cross-country phases of eventing.

• Jumping saddles have a forward-cut flap that allows for a shorter stirrup length. This makes it easier for the rider to rise up and over the saddles to the correct jumping position, allowing the horse freedom of movement during the jump. Sometimes, the knee flaps are padded for additional comfort ad support.
• The jumping seat is balanced further back and is comparatively flat, allowing the rider to move forward easily and providing a sufficient level of counterbalance.
• The position of the cantle and pommel are low down so that they do not interfere with the rider's jumping position.
• The jumping saddle normally has three short billets. Some of the newer styles, like monoflap jumping saddles, have billets that are longer, mirroring the dressage saddle. This means that riders do not then have to ride with any extra bulk under their legs.

It is important that the rider's leg fit appropriately into the flap of the jumping saddle when the stirrups are shortened. If the knee is too far forward or back, the rider's balance will be incorrect and the saddle becomes a hindrance rather than an advantage while jumping obstacles.

Rafael Nadal's Great Accomplishment

Rafael Nadal, world's top ranking professional, has climbed a new summit by becoming the second tennis professional player in the new era to have completed the career Grand Slam.

In professional tennis circuit, four major tournaments held in a year assume prime importance. They are the Australian Open tournament, the French Open tournament, the Wimbledon and the US Open tournament. Each tournament has its own special features. The Australian Open and the US Open tournaments are played in hard courts, the French Open tournament is played in clay court and the Wimbledon tournament is played on a grass surface.

A player winning all the four titles will be called as a Grand Slam winner. Career Grand Slam is a step further than Grand Slam. In addition to winning these four tournaments, player should have won the Gold Medal in Olympic Games featuring Tennis.

After winning the US Open tournament on September 12, 2010, Rafael Nadal achieved this rare feat of Career Grand Slam, having won all the four major tournaments in addition to the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics tournament. The only other player to have achieved this coveted feat is Andre Agassi of the US.

Rafael Nadal, a Spanish professional player, has achieved many laurels in the young age of 24 years. He has won French Open Titles for five successive years and is rightly called as the King of Clay among the tennis professionals.

He has won French Open tournaments five times in the last six years, Australian Open tournament once in 2009, Wimbledon twice and the US Open tournament in this year, thus making nine Grand Slam singles titles, in addition to the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

With age on his side, Rafael Nadal is sure to set new milestones and rule the World of Professional Tennis for a long period of time, experts believe.

ICC Cricket World Cup - Magic of Bats and Balls not far from you!!!

The 2011 cricket world cup will be starting from 19th February 2011 to 2nd April 2011 and will jointly host by three countries those are India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Here are details of groups, fixtures, and venues and cricket world cup dates 2011.

India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will together hosting the 2011 Cricket World Cup. All the required information like the
1. Dates
2. Groups
3. Fixtures
4. Venues
All the above has already been confirmed for the tournament which will be one of the biggest highlights of the 2011 icc world cup matches calendar.
Two Groups have been made for the 2011 Cricket World Cup
Group A:
1. Australia
2. Pakistan
3. New Zealand
4. Sri Lanka
5. Zimbabwe
6. Canada
7. Kenya
And
Group B:
1. India
2. South Africa
3. England
4. West Indies
5. Bangladesh
6. Ireland
7. Netherlands


Venues for the 2011 Cricket World Cup
India:
1. Mumbai
2. Mohali
3. Ahmedabad
4. Nagpur
5. Kolkata
6. Bangalore
7. Chennai
8. New Delhi
Sri Lanka:
1. Colombo
2. Hambantota
3. Pallekele
Bangladesh:
1. Dhaka
2. Chittagong
Dates for the 2011 Cricket World Cup
February:

19: India v Bangladesh, Dhaka
20: New Zealand v Kenya, Chennai and Sri Lanka v Canada, Hambantota
21: Australia v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad
22: England v Netherlands, Nagpur
23: Pakistan v Kenya, Hambantota
24: South Africa v West Indies, New Delhi
25: Australia v New Zealand, Nagpur and Bangladesh v Ireland, Dhaka
26: Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Colombo
27: West Indies v Netherlands, New Delhi and Zimbabwe v Canada, Nagpur
March:
1: Sri Lanka v Kenya, Colombo
2: England v Ireland, Bangalore
3: South Africa v Netherlands, Mohali and Pakistan v Canada, Colombo
4: New Zealand v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad and Bangladesh v West Indies, Dhaka
5: Sri Lanka v Australia, Colombo
6: India v Ireland, Bangalore and England v South Africa, Chennai
7: Kenya v Canada, New Delhi
8: Pakistan v New Zealand, Pallekele
9: India v Netherlands, New Delhi
10: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Pallekele
11: West Indies v Ireland, Mohali and Bangladesh v England, Chittagong
12: India v South Africa, Nagpur
13: New Zealand v Canada, Mumbai and Australia v Kenya, Bangalore
14: Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Pallekele and Bangladesh v Netherlands, Chittagong
15: South Africa v Ireland, Kolkata
16: Australia v Canada, Bangalore
17: England v West Indies, Chennai
18: Sri Lanka v New Zealand, Mumbai and Ireland v Netherlands, Kolkata
19: Australia v Pakistan, Colombo and Bangladesh v South Africa, Dhaka
20: Zimbabwe v Kenya, Kolkata and India v West Indies, Chennai
Knockout Stages for the 2011 World Cup matches
23: First Quarter Final, Dhaka
24: Second Quarter Final, Colombo
25: Third Quarter Final, Dhaka
26: Fourth Quarter Final, Ahmedabad
29: First Semi Final, Colombo
30: Second Semi Final, Mohali
The Final day for the 2011 Cricket World Cup
2 April: Mumbai


2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 World Cup guaranteed to be an exciting, atmospheric and very competitive tournament. Australia will be seeking the fourth successive crown but will no doubt face stern competition for their title, particularly from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.


The International Cricket Council has unveiled the logo for the World Cup 2011, which is pictured soon in front of people, at a ceremony in Mumbai.
The logo has been beautifully designed by Australian creative firm Witekite.
The unveiling was attended by the honorable ICC Vice-President and the Chairman of the tournament's Central Organizing Committee Mr. Shared Pawar, ICC Chief Executive Mr.Haroon Lorgat and the much known Tournament Director Professor Ratnakar Shetty.



Cricket lovers are eagerly waiting for cricket world cup 2011. It is going to take place in the Indian subcontinent. 123newyears is a right place to collect compleate information about the icc cricket world cup. In 2011 cricket world cup, 49 matches will be held and it is a 43 days mega events, we get more information about cricket world cup schedule, cricket world cup dates, icc cricket world cup groups, cricket world cup 2011 time table and more...

Shop at Country Village Shoppe for Great Country Décor Gift Ideas

Do you have a friend or family member who adores country décor? If so, one of the best places to shop for gifts is at CountryVillageShoppe.com. It is here that you will find the absolute best gift ideas ranging from decorative flags to country shower curtains. Shopping for country décor used to be rather difficult. If you were lucky perhaps one of the large department stores offered a small amount of products suited for the home featuring country-inspired décor. However, today it is much easier to find the exact type of gift you need to delight your friend or family member as Country Village Shoppe has every category covered, and then some.

The ultimate country décor gift has to be a charming quilt. Because the bed is the focal point of any bedroom, it is important to have bedding that showcases the entire room and pulls the entire look together. Country Village Shoppe has a wide selection of beautiful and charming quilts ranging from those with a stars and stripes motif to a luxury quilt featuring falling leaves which is of course perfect for the cooler fall weather.

Battery operated candles are never a bad idea as there are no flames to concern yourself with. These candles would surely delight your friend as they are pretty, simple to use and very safe. The gorgeous Grubby battery operated candles are perfect for any area in the home as the warm colors match any décor wonderfully.

Many people find it rather difficult to find country décor for their bathrooms but at Country Village Shoppe there is plenty to choose from. The stunning Black Bear Lodge shower curtain would be ideal for the person who has a home deep in the woods. Or perhaps one of the other country shower curtains for sale here would add that perfect finishing touch to the bath. There is a wide variety of other bathroom coordinates available which would also brighten up the bathroom ranging from lotion pumps to tissue box covers, toothbrush holders and wastebaskets.

When you are ready to go beyond the bath and find a lovely gift for the kitchen, the offering is wide and diverse. There are old-world breadboxes to choose from, dishes, kitchen scents, linens and even specialty foods to consider. A forged, five piece set of silverware may be the perfect gift for the gourmet in your life. Or maybe an old-world inspired napkin holder would offer the right finishing touch to an antique kitchen table.

If your friend enjoys gardening, there are many decorative flags to choose from which would look great in the yard or on the porch or patio. Or maybe you would be interested in giving your friend or family member one of the many charming board signs that have sayings such as 'home sweet home', 'scatter kindness' or 'grow old with me' printed on them. These are perfect for hanging on garden sheds, porches or anywhere inside a home.

When you shop at Country Village Shoppe, buying country-inspired gifts is easy. Not only is it easy it is downright fun. The selection is wide, unique and simply wonderful. The staff at this store pride themselves on the wide selection. Many of the products are regularly featured in Country Sampler magazine which is quite impressive indeed. Regardless of who it is you are buying for, if they love country décor you are all but guaranteed to find the perfect gift idea when you shop at Country Village Shoppe.

Monday Night Football - Green Bay at Chicago

The Packers started the season with a decisive win in Philadelphia and backed it up with a proper throttling of Buffalo in Week 2 at Lambeau Field. Last season Green Bay had made a habit of beating up on lesser foes (by an average of more than 25 points per game) and last week's 34-7 final was right in line.

Sportsbook have the line in this one posted as the Packers -3, with a Total of 46.

Chicago barely avoided an opening week upset at the hands of the Detroit Lions, while they were big underdogs Week 2 in Dallas, a game they won straight up.

Now Chicago is 2-0 SU on the season and looking for its first 3-0 start since a memorable 2006 campaign that ended with Super Bowl loss to the Colts.

In 2009, the Bears did start the year with a 3-1 SU/ATS record but the loss was suffered in Week 1 against these same Packers.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

Chicago won only seven games last season so it's not surprising they were 0-2 SU/ATS against the 11-win Packers. Green Bay also swept the Bears in 2008 against the number. In fact Chicago bettors have not had a winning season backing the Bears against the division since 2005 (4-1-1 ATS)

BACK IT UP

Green Bay was 5-1 SU/ATS against low-tier opponents last year, all five wins coming by a margin of 19 points or more (26.6 ppg avg). In the contest that immediately followed the five blowout victories Green Bay was 3-2 SU/ATS with 2 overs and 3 unders.

Worth noting is that both losses were against divisional foes and both of those game went "Over" the total.

GAMEPLAN

Green Bay was No. 1 against the rush last year and has to be expecting Chicago to go airborne in an attempt to free up lanes for Matt Forte. The Packer have to be on the lookout for swing passes, though, as all three of Forte's TDs this year have come via the pass.

The Packers run game is still a bit of a mystery since Ryan Grant went down, as Green Bay split carries between Brandon Jackson (11, 29 yards) and John Kuhn (9, 36 yards). Expect Jackson to get a slightly heavier workload but for Green Bay's offense to focus mainly on the passing game.

Monday Night Pick

Chicago is 6-14-2 ATS after its past 22 wins and has covered the spread back-to-back times just twice in the past two years. Their early season performance has forced online books to post a modest line for this game but getting at least three, we like the home underdog in this primetime matchup.

Take the Bears

You can check the props and NFL odds for the Monday nighter at Sportsbetting.com

Athletic training to improve in sports

Sports Fitness Advisor sells a range of fitness and work out routines covering topics such as fat loss, muscle building and fitness for various sports, athletic training programs. You will be provided with the program and all you have to do is follow the workouts. Each exercise has a video example for you to easily follow.
These two things, will help in preventing injuries, and prevent lactic acid build up. You not only do leg extension for the quads, do hamstring curls as well for the hamstrings.
Diet and nutrition are important to keep your body in shape. You need to have proper food intake which plays a great deal in the susceptibility of injury. If you have a poor diet it can lead to less muscle strength, endurance, and health of your body structures. Proper nutrition will keep your body working at its optimum level and strengthen your muscles.

Sports training progra ms In order for your body to recover you need to rest. This will help your body recuperate from sports activity. By not getting enough rest it can lead to overuse of muscles, which will lead to injuries and burnout. If you are in pain, you are not gaining anything except more pain. you need to stop and evaluate your situation. Pain is our bodies way of telling us something is not right. You need to practice rest and recovery to prevent the most common athletic injuries. Cooling down after sports or exercise gets the body back down to its normal state.

Running: Frequently Asked Questions about Warm up Exercises

Most often, people neglect the importance of warming up before running. Warming up and stretching is a vital part in every person's running regimen. It should be done appropriately to achieve its maximum benefits. If you want to know more, then here are the answers to runner's frequently asked questions about warming up:

1. What is a warm up exercise?

Warming up is the preparatory phase in every running session or any strenuous physical activity. It usually consists of mild forms of physical exercises that increase in intensity to prepare the body from demanding activities ahead. It involves activities that increase the heart rate, joint mobility activities, stretching and other sport-related activities.

2. What are the two types of warming up?

Ballistic stretches, also called dynamic stretch and static stretches are the two types of warming up. Ballistic stretching involves bouncing or jerking activities. It involves light increase in a joint's range of motion to make it more flexible and agile. Static stretching, on the other hand, flexes the muscles to loosen it up. However, some precautions should be made when performing this because researchers believe that injury is more prone when static warm up is done in a cold muscle.

3. What is difference between warming up and stretching?

Warming up usually consists of stretching exercises. However, stretching activities should be done on the later part of warm up exercises. At first, runners can do little walking for a few minutes before starting to a jog. This is considered as the first part of warm up exercises. Then, runners can proceed to stretching exercises where they stretch their muscles for a few minutes and not for too long when they already feel pain. Some people consider the static stretches, which is a particular type of warming up, as part of the stretching exercises.

4. What are the benefits of warming up before running?

Warming up can prevent runners from experiencing body aches and fatigue after thorough running exercises. It helps increase blood flow to deliver sufficient oxygen in the muscles and other parts of the body. Not only that, it reduces friction between joints, which allows better joint mobility. It improves a runner's overall performance. Also, it helps a person get ready physically and mentally for a rigorous activity ahead.

5. What are some examples of warm up exercises?

Brisk walking, slow jogging and cycling on a stationary bike are considered warm up exercises. For some, swimming and yoga are part of this regimen. Shrugging the shoulders, gentle swinging of the hands, twisting the hips around, and circling the wrists are also included. Others include stretching the legs, bending down the waist while reaching the toes and pushing on a wall or stationary object.

Tips For Catching Snook From Shore

A lot of people think that you have to have a boat to fish, especially to fish for snook. This is just not true. I have spent the last 5 to 6 years fishing for snook on shore. I have also fished for them in a boat, but I have found out that I am more successful when fishing for snook from shore.

The trick is to know where they will be; I have found over the years to look in the places that other people just go right by. In the summer months, for instance, when the water temperature is in the 80's, you will find a lot of snook cruising the beaches. I have watched people fishing from the beaches in hopes of catching a big snook, but they fail to realize that the snook are right in front of them. They are so focused on casting their bait as far out as they can, and the snook are only feet off the beach. I also have seen where someone is fishing on one side of a sandbar and the fish are just sitting on the other side. The truth is, these people did not do their homework. They heard somewhere that they can catch snook off the beach so they went and got some fishing gear and some bait and think that's all there is to it. If you have tried to fish for snook, you know that there is a bit more to it than that. Not to say that you won't catch one, just not on a regular basis.

In this article I hope to open your eyes some, to look a little differently at the waters around you. You may find that you have been passing up some really great fishing spots.

I'd like to show you that you can save a lot of money by fishing on shore. No more money spent on fuel, wasted time trying to find a boat launch that still has parking, or getting back tired after a long day on the water and still having to rinse the boat down and clean it.

Looking for spots

When I drive down the road I am always looking for a spot to fish. If I am driving down the beach, I'll look for vacant lots and dead end roads that have access t o the water. I will look for parks that are on the water. Sometimes I'll find a place, and while I am fishing there, I'll see another good spot across the water.

Snook love structure. Bridges are a great place to fish for snook. Try to get down on the shore of a bridge, so that you can cast underneath it. Don't just cast under it either. Often, snook will be moving along the shore there also. If you can get around docks, for instance in canals, you will usually find snook.

Another place that I often search for snook is around causeways. There are mangroves along many of Florida's causeways and in between them is access to the water. These are great places to fish. Often you will find shallow water there, and guess what! Snook like shallow water. If there is a channel there also, well that's a plus. If there are mangrove islands and/or oyster beds there also, that's another plus - There is your structure.

In the wintertime move inland; again look for parks o n the water, like on main rivers that dump into the gulf or ocean. Snook cannot tolerate cold water. If the temperature drops down into the low 60's they can die, so they tend to move where they know the warmer water will be. Power plants are a great place to fish; OK, since 9/11 we cannot even get close to power plants anymore, but if you look around you can find places that are close to warm water runoffs. In the winter you will find both snook and tarpon in warm water runoffs. There is a place near me called the manatee park. This is where many manatees come for the winter and yes, it has a warm water runoff. Now you cannot fish in the manatee zone, but they do have a fishing pier where you can fish and cast into the runoff just outside the park. This is also a great kayaking spot.

There are also locks on many rivers; these are also great fishing spots in the winter.

Another good thing to look for is running water. Snook like to sit and wait in a good current and let the food come to them. I have noticed that on small bridges, people just drive by thinking that there is not much water there, so there must not be any fish. But I have learned that if mullet are there, then snook have no problem being there either. Remember mullet are a primary part of their food base.

The key to all of this is to open your eyes and look at the environment. You may find a property that you know would be a great fishing spot. Try to find out who owns the property, and then call them for permission. You may even offer to help keep the lot or property clean for them, which is a small price to pay for a great fishing spot.

I have many spots I fish and tend to not stay at any one of them for very long. For one reason, I use lures and cover a lot of area in a short time. Another reason is that I don't want people to see me catching fish. They're my spots. Every spot that I like to fish is a little different than the next; this gives me a wide variety to choose from, and depending on the weather I can usually find fish.

My best day so far is over 40 snook in one day. Actually, I stopped counting at 40. All of them were caught on shore. I catch at least 2 or 3 good-sized snook every time I go out, but those are on bad days!

So to recap, there are a few things that snook prefer. Look for areas with structure (bridges, mangrove islands, oyster beds, docks, & locks), a current (even in shallow water), and schools of mullet. These will be great fishing spots. Don't limit yourself to the places that have a sign saying 'fishing allowed.'

The trick is to keep your eyes peeled for the right signs - They're out there. Just remember to respect the signs that say 'no trespassing'.

Tackle

The farther you can cast, the more coverage you will have when fishing on shore, so your setup needs to be focused on being able to make long casts. I personally use a 6 ½ - 7' rod ( Shimano Compre), with medium-heavy to heavy action. Always use a good spinning reel (I use the Shimano Symetre 4000FJ), with 15 to 20 pound Power Pro line and 30 lbs fluorocarbon leader tied directly to the braided line. You do not want your leader to be over 2 feet long because it will drag the front of your plug down. Shorten the leader until your plug remains buoyant when retrieving it.

Whether your preference is lures or bait, you have many options to choose from that work well when fishing for snook.

If you're going to fish with live bait, pinfish, greenbacks, finger mullet and large shrimp are snook favorites. I have even had success on the beach using chunks of ladyfish. Keep in mind that snook have great eyesight and the littlest thing will spook them, so try not to use floats or weights.

Personally, I like to use lures, especially top water plugs like Hedden Super Spooks. These lures make a lot of noise, and seem to make the snook want to destroy i t. Another good choice is the DOA shrimp, but color will be a factor. The current water temperature and types of bottom where you are fishing will determine the color that the shrimp should be.

I recently started using a new lure from Strike King called the 3X ZTOO. It is a soft bait that has salt embedded into it. I tried this bait on a cold morning when the snook were stacked up, but not touching anything that I threw at them. I tossed one of these out, not expecting much, but to my surprise I pulled 5 snook out of this one hole in less than 30 minutes. Then the tide stopped and the snook moved on, but it made a poor fishing day turn out to be good.

Always try to use a lip grip when you catch snook. The less you have to touch them (or any larger fish for that matter) the better their odds are for survival. When they are not in season, pinch the barbs on your hooks. You may lose a fish now and then, but the damage you cause them will be greatly decreased by doin g this. This will help ensure that the big ones are out there for years to come, healthy and hungry!

I hope that this article helps open your eyes to new fishing opportunities. There are a lot of fantastic untouched fishing areas that are only accessible by land. So get out and go fishing, and don't forget to teach our next generation this great sport!

Basic Fishing Rules and Etiquette 101

Going out on a boat with a friend

Thank them for taking you out. Boats are very expensive to run, so be willing to chip in on gas, food, drinks, boat ramp fees and anything else needed for the trip. Honestly, the more you chip in on the trip, the more likely that they will ask you to go out again.

• The number one rule on the boat is that the Captain makes the rules on their boat, not you. If you want to make the rules, go buy your own boat.
• Ask where the owner/Captain of the boat wants you to fish. For instance, in the case of flats boats and bass boats, the Captain has the right to the front.
• Don't tell the Captain where to fish, or it may be a long swim back to shore! If they ask you for your advice, and you actually have some knowledge of the fishing area, then go ahead and give it; but do it in a nice way, and educate them on what you know. On the other hand, if you don't know the area, then keep your mouth shut. Let them be the Captain - For the good of all the fishermen on board!
• Never take control of the boat unless you are asked to. Remember the store adage that if you break it, you buy it!

Charter Boats

• The Captain makes the rules, but you don't buy the gas and pay the ramp fees. It is still a good idea to b ring some drinks and food, unless the boat supplies these things included with the fee you pay.
• Always tip at the end of the trip. These guys work their butts off to try and get their customers on some fish every day, and have spent countless hours getting their boats ready for your fishing trip.

Going out on your own boat

• Wait your turn when putting your boat into the water at a boat ramp, and don't crowd the people in front of you. When you do get into the water, get your boat out of the way, so that others can also get their boats in.
• I f someone is in your fishing spot, look at how they are fishing - Are they anchored, or are they working along a sand bar or structure like mangroves or rocks? If they are anchored, just give them space to fish. If they are moving, do not put yourself in front of them. Go behind them and work the same area. There can still be fish there; you never know.
• If you're fishing in an area and someone is fishing behind you, do not crank up your engine and go out of there like you're the lord of the water. You just blew out that fishing area for that guy. You know you would not like it to be done to you.
• If you see someone fishing, do not come up on him or her wide open, and then at the last minute, kill your engine. Come in slowly. Look at what they are doing. If you see them catching fish, idle in, but do not cross their fishing area.
• If you see people kayak fishing along the mangroves, do not drive your boat in between them and the mangroves.

Onshore Fishing

• The number one rule is do not ever walk up to someone and just start fishing right next to them - ever. If there is a limited fishing area, then ask nicely if it would be ok to fish nearby.
• Observe how the people around you are fishing. If they are using lures, they are going to be fishing over a larger area than someone with bait, so give them their space. Even if it means that you have to find another place to fish - they were there first. If they are fishing with live bait, they do not need as much room - still ask permission to fish nearby.
• On fishing piers or rock jetty's, it is kind of rude to fish with lures unless the fish are right in front of you and you are not casting in a clockwise manner. Fishing piers and rock jetty's are very limited on room, so you don't have much choice on where you can fish. However, that does not mean that you shouldn't still ask before you start to fish if you have to fish next to someone. It is just courteous to do so. If you're already there, and someone wants to fish next to you, try to be nice. If there is room, then great; if not, explain why, but be nice about it. This also goes for f ishing off bridges.

Nets

• Do not ever, I mean ever, throw a cast net where someone is fishing. The only time that this is ok is if you asked permission and received it. When you do this, you kill that fishing spot, because any fish that were anywhere near that spot are now spooked away from it.
• If you're after bait, try to find a spot away from other people, and also away from where you're going to be fishing. In the case of a bridge or fishing pier, you have limited space. However, most of the time, people are fishing away from the pier or bridge and casting a net straight down is no big deal. If possible though, find an area where no one is fishing.
• Look where you are throwing your cast net! Don't throw it onto an oyster bed or rocks where the net is going to get all tangled up and destroyed. I can't tell you how many times that I have seen dead animals tangled in cast nets that were left in the water because the fisherman didn't look before they threw. If you do end up doing this, take the time to remove it for the safety of the fish and other wildlife.

What this all really comes down to is that you shouldn't do something that you know you would not like done to you. We are all out there to have fun and enjoy the great sport of fishing. So respect the other fishermen around you. Share your knowledge with others so that people learn how to be better fishing advocates, and more respectful people. Fishing is a great sport and needs to be treated that way. It's up to all of us to teach others the proper fis hing etiquette.

The Hearing Protection of the Future

EEPlugs, the Hearing Protection of the Future

I love outdoor sounds and one of my favorite sounds is the night sound of summer. The sound of crickets and cicadas in the distant woods soothes me like the sound of surf. It reminds me of pleasant evenings and mornings in the places I love the most. God is very good to me in that has blessed me with a permanent background sound track that will last me the rest of my life.

If that sounds confusing to you, I can understand. I have tinnitus, a constant sound in my ears that comes from loss of hearing and damage to my ears. Fortunately, mine sounds like something I love. For many people, its an unpleasant ringing or buzzing.

When I think of my hearing loss, I always think of a summer afternoon not much different than yesterdays. I had just purchased my first handgun. A 6" barreled Ruger Blackhawk in .357 Magnum. I walked out behind my Mom and Dads house into the edge of the woods impatient to try out the gun. I placed a couple of Coke cans on the base of a tree and stepped back several paces. As I cocked the hammer, I remembered I should have brought my ear muffs but I didn't want to walk back to the house. I fired off six rounds and my ears rang for a couple of days.

Since that time, I've been exposed to hundreds of thousands of firearm reports. There are 1,500 centerfire rifle shots fired in one sixty second period alone at Camp Perry during the National Matches. With seven relays in the National Trophy Individual Match, there are 52,500 shots fired on Viale range not counting alibis and refires. This is only one day of shooting. I attended Camp Perry 18 years and sometimes shot for two weeks. This doesn't include hundreds of days of practice on lesser ranges.

During that time, I wore various forms of ear protection. As a pistol shooter, I normally wore muffs, but when I started shooting rifle, the muffs contacted the stock and were in the way. I switched to ear plugs and probably used up a bushel basket of the disposable foam kind.

At the NRA Annual Meetings this year in Charlotte, I ran into Tim Sparks. Tim owns Tactical Hearing and he sells in the ear hearing protection that also enhances normal hearing. (I'm going to call them EEPlugs since they enhance electronically). The units I have look like hearing aids. They insert in my ears like hearing aids but they have little rubber tips that seal off the space between my ear canal and the EEPlugs.

The EEPlugs enhance my hearing like a hearing aid. They have multiple bands that can be adjusted to correct my hearing loss by amplifying the frequencies I can no longer hear. They give me the same result as hearing aids in daily wear. With them in, I can hear conversations I couldn't hear before, I can hear high pitched sounds, and my hearing is enhanced to the point I can now hear a squirrels toenails on bark like I could at age sixteen.

But theres more to what the EEPlugs do than that. When I experience loud noise thats above the 90db level that can damage hearing, the EEPlugs shut that noise down in microseconds so I experience the loud sound as if it were distant enough to do no damage. I hear it, but its not loud. This means I can shoot on the range and hear background conversations better than I could without the EEPlugs. If Im hunting, I can hear what other hunters are saying without worrying about further damaging my hearing when I, or others, shoot. When I give shooting instruction, I can clearly hear and understand what my student has to say. If I was still shooting team matches at Camp Perry, I could hear my coaches voice and my shooters voice when I was coaching, over the din of hundreds or rifle reports per minute.

The really wonderful part of this is that electronic hearing protection that enhances hearing is cheaper than hearing aids which don't protect the wearer from high pressure sound in spite of the fact that many of the EEPlugs are often made by hearing aid companies. Electronic hearing protection is not regulated by the FDA like hearing aids.

My Tactical Hearing Ultimas sell for $1,499 a pair. This sounds like a lot of money for ear plugs but remember that this is something I can use every day. They are comfortable, they increase my understanding of conversations, and they protect my ears when I shoot. I could spend $4,000 on a set of hearing aids that would cover the first two requirements but Id still have to take them out and wear plugs or leave them in and wear muffs when I shoot. I'm getting more function for less money than hearing aids.

The Tactical Hearing units I have arent the only electronic enhanced hearing protection on the market; there are several companies in this growing field. Many of the systems simply increase the sound without the ability to tune the sound to match the deficiency of the owners hearing and a few other companies make tunable units. To be able to hear as well as I could before I unwisely tried out my Blackhawk 40 years ago is like a miracle. Aint technology grand?

To see more about Tactical Hearing, go to: www.tacticalhearing.com

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Road Running

Among the different types of running events, it is road-running that is commonly done by many people worldwide. This is usually done on a half or full marathon, with distances usually ranging from 5 kilometers or more. But, just like any other running events, road running has its own advantages and disadvantages.

One of the advantages of road running is that it can take place on any established roads or concrete pavement. It does not require special tracks or terrains for the event to be successfully accomplished. Also, it can be organized by any groups or clubs as long as they have the permit from the local government to do so. There are actually several road-running competitions organized around the world by different running clubs or beneficiary organizations. Even the management from a small-scale business can organize a road running competition for their loyal costumers.

If you are a beginner in running, the best running event that you can participate with is road running. Unlike the other running events, road running can be participated by first-time runners, amateurs, as well as professional runners. It is not limited to members of the organization or running club. Aside from that, a large number of people can join this event at once. So, it is a great place to make new friends, meet with long-time friends, and interact with several other people.

Also, both young and old can participate in road running competitions. Usually, there are specific races for the children and adult with different running distances based on their age bracket. Not only that, a special road running event is organized for wheelchair entrants by charitable institutions whose aim is to raise contributions from donors.

However, since road running is accomplished on concrete roads or pavements, the impact when running on it is a lot heavy that can put more stress on the feet, knee and other areas of the body. This is the main disadvantage of road running. That is why, it is also important to wear the appropriate footwear for road running. Today, there are many road running shoes produced in the market. These shoes are usually designed with ample cushioning to cater the needs and demands of the road runner.

Thus, whenever participating in a road running event, runners should use the appropriate running shoe, as well as other running gears and accessories. Road runners should wear the right clothes for running that will keep them comfortable throughout the race. The utilization of proper running posture and proper running techniques such as warm-up and stretching should be strictly observed for both beginner and professional runners. By following this protocol, road runners are guaranteed to have a safe and fine running experience.

The Famous Scout Tent

There are various types of scout tent available, and they can be used in a number of different camping situations. Shop around and you will find anything from the traditional bell tent to modern bell tents. By far, the most famous is the outstanding German Scout Tent.

The Black German Scout Tent is famous across the world and is chosen for their versatility. Loved by many different users and outdoor lovers, the German scout tent is extremely flexible and can be erected in almost any size and shape.

German scout tents are also popular because you can have an open fire inside the tent, allowing a true camping experience within the safe confines of a tent.

A scout tent is extremely versatile and suitable for:
· Family camping trips
· Scouts and cadets

· Large groups

Scout tents are used in general camping activities and outdoor events. Because they are available in l arge sizes, they are often used by scout groups as a communal space.