Dealing with family and friends regarding your special needs child

Dealing with Family and friends and your special needs child... Remember they hurt too

When I first learned about my son's heart condition, all my family and friends called me at the hospital and I could not talk to anyone. I just could not hear the pain in their voices.

I needed time alone to take all this in and sort it out.

When it was inevitable that Marcus would come home with a tracheotomy and a ventilator (due to complications from his hearts surgery) although I was devastated, I forced myself to come to terms with it so I could bring my baby home.

I can only imagine the despair my whole family experienced.

It was not just Marcus, his father and I who experienced a life change.

This affected everyone we knew in some way.

There are a few things you will need work through in regards to your family and friends and your special needs child.

1. Try not to take it personally if they do not make themselves available for you. This may be too painful for them to get too close right away. They need time as well to work through their grief. They may not have the advantage that you do by being with your child everyday. This helps you a lot in coming to terms with your child's medical problems.

You are talking to doctors, watching your child go through procedures. This lack
of constant exposure will not prepare them for the reality that you face day in and day out. Give them time.

2. When they ask you if there is anything, they can do, tell them. At this point, they may feel helpless and are not sure how they can help. Let them know if they can feed your dog, or bring you some groceries while they are at the store. Maybe something as small as baby-sitting your child's sibling for a while so you can spend some time with your special
needs child or take a nap would help. There are many sleepless nights in your future. You are going to need all the rest you can get. In addition, this will help them feel good about helping you.

3. Accept their limitations. I remember how difficult it was for me when planning Marcus' discharge. We could not find anyone who could commit to learning Marcus' Trach care. Understandably, so, I was terrified during the first part of my training as well.

4. Once you are settled at home and more comfortable with the new living
arrangements, make it a point to have people over. This will aid in desensitizing those you know, to the difference in your lives now. The
more often they see you handling your child, hearing the alarms, the
easier it will be to deal with.

5. Depending on the size of your child, if possible encourage your family and friends to hold your child. This will also help in making this a smooth transition and I am sure your child will enjoy all the extra attention.

6. Show your gratitude by thanking them for their support and help however small the gesture is. As your family and friends feel more comfortable, who knows one day they may feel confident enough one day to watch your child so you and your husband can get a break for a couple of hours.

As time passes and you become more comfortable in your new role, it can help your family members and friends reach a comfort level where they can offer more support. My family still does not know my son's medical care.

However, when he is hospitalized they are more than willing to go and sit in with him so he is not alone. This way, I can spend time with my daughter.

The most important thing you can do is continually expose your child to your family in gatherings and outings to ensure bonding between them and a little help for you.

Dealing with your family and friends in regards to your special needs child can be a challenge. They will not know what you are going through but at the same time they wlll feel many of the same emotions you experience at time because your special needs child is a part of their family as well.


About the author:

Brigitte Cadena-Ramirez is parent to Marcus Ramirez, administrator of the website Hearts of Courage for special needs families. She is involved in a projet (Project DOCC) that trains residents and nursing students on Homelife with a chronically ill child and serves on the Family Advisory Board at Driscoll Children's Hospital.


What to Get Baby: Shoes That Are Practical and Fun ARA(ARA) - For parents and grandparents searching for a gift for the toddler in their life who just doesnt need one more toy, consider an item that is practical but fun at the same time.

Its a pair of shoes. But not ordinary shoes. These fashionable little numbers make a delightful noise that will amuse any toddler and help parents keep track of their little one at the same time. The childrens shoe company Pip Squeakers specializes in whimsical fashions that will catch your eye and your ears.

For people considering whether or not their toddler is ready for shoes this season, here are some suggestions for things to consider from the experts at parentsplace.com and Pip Squeakers:

As a general rule, kids will need shoes when they are ready to start walking around outdoors, says Peggy Wells, who is both a mother and president of Pip Squeakers. You will want something that protects your babys feet but still allows for some flexibility, she explains.

* Make sure you get the proper fit. Shoes that are too tight or too loose could be painful or cause blisters, and may even hamper walking. Have your pediatrician measure your childs feet, during the regular check-ups. This will provide you with an accurate measurement when you refer to a shoe companys sizing chart.

Parents can also measure their baby's feet at home. Measure with socks on, from the tip of the big toe to the heel. Toddlers tend to curl their toes when you try to measure, so make sure the foot is flat.

* Avoid stiff, high-top leather shoes; there is no evidence that they help babies walk. Instead, look for something soft and flexible that allows your baby to use the movement of his feet to maintain balance and to walk. They should be made from canvas or some other breathable material, and have flat, flexible, non-slip soles.

* Get shoes your child likes. Pip Squeakers shoes make a pleasing squeak that children enjoy. It encourages them to move, walk and explore their surroundings, says Wells, who adds that children enjoy creating the amusing sounds with each step. An added benefit is safety: the sound allows parents to more easily track the movements of their toddler and keep them within a close radius.

* Safe closures. Make sure that your babys shoes fasten well. Double-knot laces so that they are less likely to come undone and make sure buckle straps are secure without being too tight. Velcro fasteners are the easiest option.

* It is normal to have a slight discrepancy in foot size between the two feet; you want to make sure to go with the shoe size that fits the larger foot. Allow about one-half inch of space at the end of the longest toe to the end of the shoe. The toes should be able to wiggle freely, and the heel should not slip with normal walking.

* Get the shoe that is most comfortable for your child, even if it is not the same size that the measurement device indicates. Be aware that sizing differs with each shoe company, so refer to their respective sizing charts. It is advisable to inspect the shoe fit every couple of weeks, to insure the continuing comfort of your childs feet.

For more guidance on buying Pip Squeakers as a gift, visit www.pipsqueakers.com or call (866) 722-4535.

Courtesy of ARA Content





About the author:

Courtesy of ARA Content

Parents Celebrate Success in Children with ADHD through New Scholarship Opportunity ARA(ARA) - Experts say one of the best ways parents and teachers can foster the development of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and encourage a good start to a new school year is to celebrate their small, everyday achievements. Success for children with ADHD is defined in many ways and recognized based on a childs ability to overcome challenges associated with the disorder. Following rules, getting along with family members, and interacting socially with peers at school are examples of behavior worth celebrating.

Now parents, teachers and others have a new, simple way to highlight the accomplishments of children with ADHD. McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals has launched a nationwide scholarship essay contest, grounded in celebrating everyday successes, that can help offset the cost of higher education for more than 200 children with ADHD. The CONCERTA I See Success ADHD Scholarship Contest gives parents, caregivers, and other adults an opportunity to recognize the academic, extra-curricular, and/or social achievements of a child with ADHD. Any child with diagnosed ADHD, regardless of his or her treatment plan, can be nominated for the contest.

In addition to its proven impact on academic performance, the symptoms of ADHD also affect areas such as how children get along with family and friends, complete homework assignments and household tasks, and participate in after-school activities, says ADHD expert Andrew Adesman, M.D., chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Schneider Children's Hospital in Long Island, NY. Success for a child with ADHD can mean an improvement in grades, getting along better with a sibling, maintaining a regular schedule, or simply getting ready for school in the morning without a major battle with mom or dad, he adds.

Before she was diagnosed with ADHD, my daughter would consistently get unsatisfactory marks for behavior in class. Once her symptoms were well-managed, she started getting excellent marks for behavior week after week, says Debra Calderon, who lives near Houston, Texas. I even took her out for dinner to celebrate a week that she got a satisfactory to reinforce that I was still very proud of her success.

About the CONCERTA I See Success ADHD Scholarship Contest

To nominate a child, write and submit an original essay, 250 words or less, describing how and why the child has been able to cope with the disorder and how he/she has improved and succeeded in academics, personal interactions and/or extra-curricular activities. Nominations will be accepted until December 1, 2003. The nominee must have a verifiable diagnosis of ADHD, which must be attested to on the entry from by the childs doctor. Entry forms and official rules are available at www.concerta.net. The CONCERTA I See Success ADHD Scholarship Contest is in full compliance with the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

About ADHD

ADHD is a common neurobehavioral disorder affecting millions of children, adolescents and adults that is characterized by a variable attention span and/or hyperactivity or impulsivity. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Mayo Clinic, approximately 7.5 percent of school-age children in the U.S. have ADHD.

About CONCERTA

CONCERTA (methylphenidate HCl) CII is a once-daily extended-release formulation of methylphenidate approved to treat ADHD. The efficacy of CONCERTA has been demonstrated in studies conducted in children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years of age. Only a doctor can determine if medication is the right treatment for individuals with ADHD.

CONCERTA uses an advanced OROS extended-release delivery system to deliver a controlled rate of medication throughout the day. Because of its unique OROS system, CONCERTA minimizes the ups and downs in blood levels experienced with stimulant medications taken several times a day.

CONCERTA should not be taken by patients with: significant anxiety, tension, or agitation; allergies to methylphenidate or other ingredients in CONCERTA; glaucoma, Tourettes syndrome, tics, or family history of Tourettes syndrome; current/recent use of monoamine oxidase (MAOIs). Abuse of methylphenidate may lead to dependence. CONCERTA should not be taken by children under 6 years of age.

In clinical studies with patients using CONCERTA, the most common side effects were headache, stomach pain, sleeplessness, and decreased appetite. For more information about CONCERTA, including full U.S. prescribing information, please visit www.concerta.net or call (888) 440-7903.

Courtesy of ARA Content





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Even in a Tough Economy, Educational Technology Still Seen at the Top of School Supply Lists ARA(ARA) - On the heels of recent reports indicating only slight increases in sales for back-to-school clothes and supplies, a new survey indicates that parents are placing high value on educational technology. More than 1,700 parents of middle and high school students from across the United States responded to questions about anticipated spending, key drivers for product purchases and how beneficial they perceive these tools to be for their childs education. Overall, respondents said that they are placing greater emphasis on preparing their child for the school days ahead by supplying them with the proper tools for success, including educational technology.

Parents are seeing an increase in their childrens use of technology as more and more teachers are incorporating educational handhelds into lessons and activities, says Tom Ferrio, vice president of Texas Instruments Educational & Productivity Solutions. In fact, more than 95 percent of those surveyed said they have seen the role of technology increase in their childrens studies; a number consistent with last years survey results. With our nations eye turned toward increased standards and accountability, parents and teachers alike are intensifying their commitment to prepare our students today, for the world of tomorrow.

Despite todays bad economy and high unemployment rate, 41.7 percent of parents still anticipate spending more than $100 on classroom supplies and back-to-school technology for the upcoming school year, while 17.9 percent anticipate spending more than $250 per child.

Results from this survey also concluded that parents are gaining a better understanding of the importance of educational devices and how they positively impact the classroom environment. The survey shows 94.1 percent of parents feel the use of technology in education has benefited their childs ability to learn and, as such, are more willing to invest in these products. In order to support these higher dollar purchases, however, parents indicated they must feel comfortable with the products use in a broad array of classes such as math, science, English and history. More than 70 percent of parents say they trust the teacher or school recommendation over any other influence on their educational technology purchasing decisions.

Parents must keep in mind that not all technology is suited for the classroom, said Ferrio. There is a multitude of tech gear available that serves little educational value but might be the latest and greatest gadget to hit the stores. Not surprisingly, various surveys have already indicated that these items will be low on parents priority lists, with consumers indicating they will spend even less on them than previous years.

Of those surveyed, 63 percent of parents children use a graphing handheld in school and 48.4 percent actually own a graphing handheld. These figures compared to only 29.3 percent owning a personal computer or laptop at home or school, and only 5.8 percent owning a PDA.

Consumer purchasing surveys are very interesting right now, considering the lingering poor condition of the economy, says Mike Travis, president of Equation Research. Results across the board are showing that people are scrutinizing dollars, and the true value of the product is taking a front seat to bells and whistles. The data we uncovered with this particular survey supports that parents are more inclined to purchase handheld graphing technology because of the educational value they perceive in it rather than products such as PDAs and mobile phones that dont provide this for their teens.

Commissioned for a second year by Texas Instruments, the leader in handheld educational technology, and conducted by Equation Research, the survey found that an overwhelming amount of parents (85.8 percent) view the role of technology in their childs education as very important to their understanding and comprehension of concepts and curriculum. These educational tools, such as the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition, are pervasive throughout American high schools and are often required on state-standardized tests. Teachers, who integrate educational handhelds into their lessons, many times recommend that parents purchase them for their teens so the benefits they feel in the classroom extend to homework and studying at home.

I know technology is important for my childrens education, but quite frankly, I dont know enough about whats best for their learning to make the decision on my own, says Scott Jones, parent of a seventh and eleventh grader in Dallas. I rely on my childs teachers to be the experts and guide me in this process. With their recommendation, I feel good about spending the money, knowing that its an investment that will serve many purposes; the highest of which is greater success in the classroom.

For additional information on educational handheld technology, visit education.ti.com on the Web.

Courtesy of ARA Content


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Backgammon Board Setup

If you want to learn to play backgammon and you already know how to play checkers it would be piece of cake as it is very muck like checkers. Basically it is the same concept except some little differences. The board set up is quite simple and you can have a backgammon game ready to be played in a couple of minutes.

Backgammon set up is easy. Both the game pieces and the board come in the same box. The more experienced players may already own a complete set with board and game pieces; they could choose to personalize it.

You can purchase the boards from any game store or department. They are pretty cheap and are perfect gifts for your kinds or friends.

Into a backgammon box you should find a board and thirty checkers of two colors. Take out the board from the box and split the game pieces by color, one color for each of the two players. They will be placed on the board in a specific order before the game starts.

Also in the box should be a pair of dice which will be rolled and each player will take turn and move his checkers with the number marked on the dice to the opposite end of the board.

Each player will try to get all of his fifteen checkers to the home board and then bear them off. The first player to bear off all of their checkers wins the game.

It is a very fun game that you can even play on the go. The board set up is fun and easy and the clean up is even faster. If you choose for a travel board, they are smaller and more compact so they are easier to keep in the car or in the office so you can play the game whenever and where you please. The game cases are useful for keeping all the pieces together so you don't misplace them.

You can even choose to have your game board and checkers custom made. They can be made of wood, plastic or even glass if you want. And if you like to play a lot you can have them made from lasting material so they don't get worn out for several years.
About the Author

Peace of Mind BabyProofing

Learn how to protect your family from hidden dangers lurking in your home!
The relatively serene days of your contented baby in the swing or playpen seem to end far too quickly, now that your little one is becoming more mobile. Its time to ensure youre providing a safe environment for active playing, growing and learning.

Youve put up a baby gate to prevent falls, carefully covered your electrical outlets, padded the sharp corners on your coffee table, and buckled your tiny passenger into an approved infant carrier. You try to keep your home as bacteria and germ-free as possible, disinfecting thoroughly and then locking up household cleaners away from inquisitive hands and mouths.

Yet there are still an estimated 2.1 million accidental child poisonings each year, with dishwashing liquid the leading cause. Sadly, the damage caused by these products is often gruesome: burned mouth, scarred esophagus, repeated operations to rebuild the throat, sometimes even death. And no matter how diligent you are about keeping your cleaning products out of harms way, you may still be slowly and unwittingly poisoning your child, day after day. How?

If you use products with harsh and harmful chemicals that contain known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) the toxic residues left behind on your floors, furniture and in the air find their way into your childs body through her skin, mouth, and nose. And even your personal care products (soap, shampoo, conditioner, styling aids, deodorants, etc.) can contain dangerous chemicals as well.

Your little one is like a sponge: developing cells in a childs body are more susceptible than in adults, especially in his central nervous system. Even small doses of neurotoxins that would be harmless to an adult can alter his nervous system development. And until your child turns 13, his growing body has virtually no ability to fight biological and neurological damage from toxic chemicals. As much as we tend to think of skin as a protective barrier, in fact its highly permeable, as evidenced by the successful use of skin patches to deliver prescription medication.

Your baby or toddler is most often down at floor level, crawling and exploring, and frequently sticking her hands into her mouth. And in fact, only 10% of health problems from chemicals are a result of ingestion, 90% are caused by inhalation and absorption. Are you confused? How can your brand name household cleaning products and personal care products contain harmful toxins if theyre sold at grocery stores nationwide? The truth is that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does NOT regulate personal use products. The workplace and the outdoors are considered legal environments, while your home is not. Did you know that indoor air quality is 3 to 70 times more polluted than the outdoor air in the worst polluted U.S. cities, according to an EPA study? And that women who work from the home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work outside the home, according to a 17-year EPA study?

Labeling laws simply dont protect the consumer. The U.S. Federal Code of Regulations exempts manufacturers from full labeling of products if used for personal, family or household care! Warning! labels mean that as little as 1 teaspoon of product can harm or kill an adult, Danger! means that as little as 5 drops can harm or kill an adult. Go ahead and take a look at the products in your home, you may be shocked and surprised!

Many conditions such as the rising rate of childhood cancer, asthma, and ADD/ADHD are being linked to increased use of chemicals in our homes. So what can you do to protect your loved ones? Educate yourself on whats really in the products you use to bathe, deodorize and beautify yourself and your family. Study the labels on your household cleaning products; anything that says harmful to humans and domestic animals isnt something thats good for you or your child.

Research your alternatives: responsible manufacturers dont use formaldehyde, phenols, NTA, phosphates, ammonia, or chlorine (bleach) in their products, and trustworthy companies do exist. As a responsible adult and savvy consumer, you owe it to yourself and your child to make informed choices about the products you allow into your environment.

As a concerned parent, you want to provide the very best for your child...so start today to make safer, healthier choices!

About the Author

Carolyn Beale is a devoted mom of 2 who works full-time from home running a successful online networking business featuring safe, non-caustic, environmentally friendly products manufactured by an award-winning wellness company. For product information or to discover how you too can earn an income from home, visit her website!

Clean Up On the Go! Ten Tips to Deal with Messy Meltdowns.Colleen Langenfeld

Deal with travel messes fast and easy, and stay focused on your vacation fun!
- It's vacation time! The car is packed. You're on the road. Johnnie accidentally bumps his arm and his soda falls on top of sister Suzi, trapped in the seat beside him. She screeches and your husband crouches lower behind the wheel while glaring at you to 'make them stop.'

- The plane has just taken off. Your family has been waiting for this vacation all year! Ten minutes into the flight the baby starts crying...diaper change time! There's very little room to change her and you end up as messy as she is. Are you going to smell like a dirty diaper for the rest of the flight?

Sound familiar? Or just something you want to avoid? While you can't stop messes from happening, you can take the sting (or stink!) out of them and keep them from ruining your family's plans.

The key? Be prepared!

1. Of course, you have packed extra clothes for the baby/toddler. What about you? Roll up and pack one light-weight loose fitting neutral-colored shirt that could work in a pinch for anyone in the family over the age of five. It will carry you through until you can get to your luggage.

2. Always, always, always carry two or three plastic bags for soiled items. These can also be used as a pair of disposable gloves or a seat cover, if necessary.

3. In your car, keep a roll of paper towels. In your purse or bag, a supply of wet wipes. Replace immediately when used!

4. Go disposable when traveling. Bibs, diapers, cups and utensils. What you can throw away you don't have to figure out how to clean. And you'll always have a fresh one to start again.

5. As long as everyone in the family can tolerate it, pack a lotion with a pleasing scent and use liberally. It will help cover up the little smells that hang on in enclosed spaces.

6. Carry a water bottle. Besides drinking, a spot of water can clean hands, faces, and stains in a pinch and it will dry naturally.

7. Check your gear. Sippy cup leaking? Toss it before the trip begins. Make sure cup holders are functioning (and used properly). Everyone needs a napkin or paper towel and must know how to use it!

8. Take only non-messy food and drink on trips. There are a lot of 'treats' out there these days. Choose wisely and everyone will stay happier. (Beware of the boxed drinks with straws. When squeezed, the liquid travels right up the straw and flies into the air!)

9. Don't ask more out of family members than they can handle. If jostling a fast food meal in the car inevitably leads to spills and tears, forget the drive-thru and eat inside the restaurant instead.

10. Don't forget to pack your patience. Crying over spilled milk is truly sweating the small stuff. Laugh a little, encourage everyone to pitch in and help, and be ready with an easy distraction to get people back on track again.

About the Author

Colleen Langenfeld delivers deals, tips and creative resources to working moms who want the most out of their homes, families and careers at http://www.paintedgold.com . Sign up for our FREE online newsletter and get a digital Creativity Toolkit as our gift to you!

How to Prepare for a Medical Emergency

Copyright 2006 Candy Arnold



What do you do when a friend or relative has an unexpected medical emergency and you have to accompany them to the emergency room? If it is a serious medical problem, you will need to call the emergency services phone number 911 (in the U.S. and Canada) and be ready to provide important information about the person?s health.



You may need to give ambulance paramedics important health information. You may need to register the person at the emergency room and provide additional information, including insurance documentation. Doctors, nurses and medical staff will have questions to aid them in making critical decisions. In other words, someone needs to take charge and that someone may be you!



When we think of emergency preparedness, we usually think of food and water for an unexpected natural or man-made disaster. And if a serious medical emergency happens, we just call 911 and the medical staff will take care of everything else. But think again.



What if your loved one is alone and can?t speak to the medical staff? What if they are unconscious and unable to answer questions about their medical condition and you don?t know the answers? What if your child is at school and medical records are unavailable? You could be on a vacation, commuting, or even in a foreign country.



The answer is simple. Prepare an ?Emergency Document?. If you have a computer, type the information and print it. Save this document where it can easily be changed and reprinted when necessary. If you don?t have a computer, write it by hand. At the very least, include name, address, contact and insurance information, prescription medications and allergies. Make sure to include additional comments that are critical in an emergency situation.



Fold the ?Emergency Document?, put it an envelope and write ?IN CASE OF EMERGENCY? in big letters on the front. Put the envelope in your purse, wallet or child?s backpack. Keep it with you at all times so a medical attendant can retrieve the health information immediately.



If you are responsible for other people, then put the ?Emergency Documents? for yourself and the others in the same envelope. If you have a family, that might include you, your husband and children. Then give an envelope to every one in your family. You never know who needs to help the other!



If and when you go to the emergency room, do not leave your only copy with the first medical staff person you encounter. Either have the first person make additional copies for you or bring several copies with you. Usually you have to give the same information over and over again to every new nurse, doctor and technician that will be responsible for your emergency care! And make sure the correct information is on the patient?s wristband.



An ?Emergency Document? is another kind of health insurance. If a medical emergency does occur, you will be prepared to handle it calmly, quickly, and efficiently to aid in the medical care of yourself or a loved one.







Candy Arnold is an author and artist. She draws on her own experiences to write ebooks and hard-copy books that help others. Candy now lives in the Tri-Cities, WA with her family. For Emergency Document worksheets and additional information on emergency preparedness visit: http://www.accentshade.com/actnow/

Stellenbosch Is The SecondOldest City In South Africa

With its temperate Mediterranean climate, beautiful surroundings, magnificent backdrop of mountain ranges, modern facilities and close proximity to all major places of interest in the Cape Peninsula, Stellenbosch is the ideal get-away holiday destination.

Soon after the Cape of Good Hope had been established, the newly-appointed Governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, set out on a discovery journey east to explore the wild and untouched land beyond the Cape Peninsula. On 6 November 1679 he came across a river running through a beautifully green, fertile valley. He named the river Eerste Rivier (First River) and the surrounding area Van der Stel Bosch (Van der Stel's bush).

Before long, news of the finding of this fertile valley spread and the first families settled there in 1680. The settlement later became known as Stellenbosch, and is the second-oldest city in South Africa. The warm summers and winter rainfall provided an ideal farming environment, and by 1682 the settlement had become an established town. In 1685 it became the seat of a magistrate, whose authority extended over 25 000 square kilometers. The first school was built in 1686, followed soon afterwards by the first church.

A yearly celebration on Simon van der Stel's birthday was held in honor of the founder. This tradition was started in 1686 and included games, parades, festivities and dances. As the celebration took place on October 14th, it was a celebration of spring at the same time. The highlight of the celebration was when marksmen shot at a wooden parrot to win the main prize, and to this day the hill where this event took place is still known as Papegaaiberg (parrot hill).

Simon van der Stel launched a project to plant oak trees and the mighty trees still line the streets of Stellenbosch. The town is appropriately known as Eikestad, or the Town of Oaks. Unfortunately a recent disease has affected the trees, and the towering oaks are slowly dying. Fortunately, since the oak trees are a symbol of Stellenbosch, the town council started planting new trees soon after the discovery of the disease.

In 1866, the Stellenbosch Gymnasium was founded. In 1880 it changed its name to Stellenbosch College, but was renamed in 1887 to Victoria College in honor of Queen Victoria. In 1918 the college officially became the University of Stellenbosch, known affectionately as Maties. The University has over the years become the heart of Stellenbosch and is regarded as one of the best in the world.

During the year, the estimated 17 000 students fill the town with a cheerful vibe and bustling activity in the hostels, lecture halls, restaurants, coffee shops, bars and discos. Holidays are the times when the tranquillity of the natural surroundings and the comparative quiet in the streets allows Stellenbosch a chance to breathe and prepare for the influx of young people that is sure to follow with the next semester.

Stellenbosch is a treasure of beautifully restored buildings - elegant Cape Dutch, Victorian and Georgian architecture can be seen particularly in historic Dorp Street, which is reminiscent of the rich and colorful past. Several international businesses have their headquarters in this historical university town. Just outside Stellenbosch, nestled between the majestic Simonsberg, Stellenbosch, Jonkershoek, Twin Peaks and Helderberg mountains, a clean industry settlement has been established at Techno Park.

Once a quiet little village, Techno Park has become a centre for industry, business and education, as well as the heart of the wine industry.

Wine and the are of winemaking are woven into the history of Stellenbosch. From its humble beginnings with Simon van der Stel and the Huguenots, the valley has evolved to becoming the centre of the Cape's wine industry, and produces some of the finest wines in the country. The famous Stellenbosch Wine Route, established in 1971, allows you to enjoy our fabulous local wines while undertaking entertaining and fun expeditions into the countryside. Stellenbosch is an amazing place to be.

Events and activities take place throughout the year - music, street, wine and art festivals delight both young and old. Outdoors enthusiasts can partake in hiking, mountain climbing, horse riding and cycling, while sports fans can attend international sporting events.

Stellenbosch has a bustling sidewalk caf? scene in the French tradition, excellent restaurants and coffee shops, modern shopping facilities and a vibrant Nightlife. A peaceful, cheerful town and its friendly people, a never-ending choice of entertainment and activities and a breathtaking valley with majestic mountains embracing it - this is what makes Stellenbosch such a special tourist and conference destination.

Gerald Crawford was born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co.za Website Address: www.12234455.co.za

Why Ultralight Backpacking?

Want Safer, More Comfortable Backpacking?

Contrary to what many think, ultralight backpacking is not just about the freedom to hike more miles or to take your whole pack up the mountain with you. It is also about comfort and safety. Backpackers with heavy loads work too hard and threaten their joints too much. Challenges may add to the experience, but why suffer more than is necessary?


The Disadvantages Of Traditional Backpacking


Lack Of Freedom

You can't easily take a side trip up that hill, just to see what is there. If you do it without your pack, you have to go back the same way to get your pack.


It's A Hassle

Putting on and taking off your heavy pack quickly becomes a chore. You start leaving it on even during rest stops, just so you don't have to deal with it.


It's Tiring

Backpacking is clearly more tiring with a heavy pack, and you probably won't enjoy yourself as much when you are tired.


More Injuries

Sprained ankles, blistered feet, sore muscles, and back and knee problems are just some of the common consequences of too much weight on your back.


Slowness

More weight equals slower progress, which means less access to wild places (you can't go as far on your four-day trip), or it means less time to for enjoyable activities, like a swim in a mountain lake, or a relaxing evening in camp.


More Dangerous

More injuries, and the inability to move quickly when a storm is coming or an emergency requires you to get to a road, means that backpacking can actually be more dangerous with a heavy load. Add to that the possibility of bad decisions due to tiredness.


The Ultralight Backpacking Alternative

Done the right way, ultralight backpacking gives you more freedom, more comfort, more safety, more enjoyment and less suffering than traditional backpacking. It allows you to move faster, but notice that I say allows. It doesn't require it. It just gives you the option. That's more freedom.

I have yet to meet or hear about a person who has tried lightweight backpacking for a while, and then gone back to a heavy load. I'm not saying it is for everyone. Bad ankles may require heavy hiking boots, and bad habits may require a big pack to satisfy them. But even a backpacker who needs a pillow and big rectangular sleeping bag, can find these in lighter forms.

You just can't understand the sense of liberation felt by a convert to ultralight backpacking, until you try it yourself. When I, with my eleven-pound pack, walk past overloaded backpackers struggling up steep trails, I remembered being in their place, and I know I am enjoying myself more now.


Misconceptions About Ultralight Backpacking


Lighweight Backpacking Means Sacrifice

Not so. Bring your favorite camera! A lighter load means you can stop to use it more easily. If you leave behind the things you don't need, and bring a lighter backpack, tent, and sleeping bag, you can more easily bring that telephoto lense or whatever is really important to you.


Lighweight Backpacking Is Less Safe

The opposite! Bring all the safety items; a sleeping bag, first aid kit, shelter, water purification, etc. Just bring lighter versions. A light load makes you less likely to lose your balance and fall, or to otherwise injure yourself. It also means faster response to iffy situations.

A note about safety:

It is lagely a matter of knowledge and experience. A trained survivalist will always be safer backpacking with no shelter than a neophyte with the best tent. Learn a little about how to use you equipment properly, or to read the sky for comimg storms, and you can go lighter and safer.


Lightweight Backpacking Is Less Comfortable

Is it less comfortable to have 18 pounds on your back than 50? Is it less comfortable to have an ultralight sleeping bag if it keeps you just as warm? I stopped getting blisters (totally) when I started using running shoes instead of hiking boots. Cut the weight on your back by twenty-five pounds, and you can add back a heavier coat, if that is what you need to be comfortable.


Lightweight Backpacking Is Expensive

Ultralight sleeping bags are expensive. Almost everything else needed for ultralight backpacking can be found for the same price or cheaper than traditional gear. There are many sub-three-pound backpacks under a hundred dollars, for example.


Bottom Line:

Try it. The first time you are fifteen miles into the day, and you realize that you can easily run up that hill-just to see what is there, you'll know you made the right decision.


About the author:

Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of going light. His advice and stories can be found at http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com

Sell Coins Medals and Tokens on eBay

Tell me: what does the word ?coins? conjure up in your mind?s eye? Is it neat velour covered boxes with a multitude of shiny coins sitting neatly in slots and covered in perspex, or coins hidden below ground centuries ago to safeguard one's wealth from wayside robbers and vagabonds?

And ?medals?? Do you see long rows of brightly colored gongs and ribbon with some long dead soldier?s name carved on the side, or Cruft?s Championship Tokens, ?Blue Peter? giveaways, some Boy Scout's best attempt at tying reef knots or thousands more alongside?

And what of tokens? Love tokens? Bus tokens?

I?ll tell you what coins, medals and tokens mean to me - an immensely popular eBay collecting category with hot selling products and little competition.

An eBay PowerSeller's dream come true and also a great way to lose money, lots of money, if you're not careful.

YOU MUST SPECIALISE

Most certain profits come from unusual and even unique medals in specific high interest collectible sub-categories. Study the niches and you'll always succeed. So instead of buying and selling 'medals'; namely any medals, coins and tokens, go for Boer War Military Medals, Police Dog Bravery Medals. For coins, opt for limited edition collectors' sets and buy when they are new, store them safely away for a few years, promote them outside their area of origin and expect decent or magnificent profits. For tokens, choose mining tokens from a colliery long since closed, possibly one with a sad or tragic history of serious accidents. For sports medals and tokens, choose popular sports like golf and cricket, motor cycling and football.

SUB-CATEGORY: MILITARY MEDALS

Military medals vary in price according to actual battles and recipient?s rank, also level of bravery involved. So a bravery medal awarded to a high-ranking officer in the First World War ? long battle period, wide scale action, many countries involved ? might - be worth less than one awarded for similar level of bravery, to similar service rank, in a shorter war involving fewer countries and smaller geographic scale, such as Vietnam, Falklands War, Iraqi War. Only 'might' remember because two or more people desperate to have an otherwise common item can start another war, a bidding war with fierce bidding and high finishing prices.

TIPS

* Beware of re-engraved medals. It was quite common for men who lost their own medals or were less than proud of their own service status, to buy another man?s medals and remove the name and re-engrave with their own names.

* Medals were worn with pride and polished sometimes daily causing wear and reducing value. Medals dropped or otherwise facing heavy use get damaged and are also worth less than their pristine counterparts.

* Fakes abound for really rare medals so aim to prove authenticity such as by checking vendor's background for military decorated relatives, check letters and photographs, consult military records for really high price items.

Avril Harper is a business writer and eBay PowerSeller who has produced several guides to making money from eBay, including MAKE MONEY TEARING UP OLD BOOKS AND MAGAZINES AND SELLING THEM ON EBAY which you can read about at: http://www.magstoriches.com 103 POWERSELLER TIPS can be downloaded with other freely distributable reports and eBooks at http://www.avrilharper.com

Real Estate Investment Tips

Real estate investment presents optimistic cash flow along with tax benefits. However, much like any other investment niche, real estate is dependent on intricate market trends that must not be overlooked, in case the investor may undergo a major loss. Surprisingly, many of the newbie investors are keen to part with their hard earned money, devoid of carrying out a preliminary research of their investment. They also bank on intuitions and traditional trends instead of relying on a meticulous analysis. But before you risk your investment, do heed the following real estate investing advice, in order to make certain some momentous returns on your property investment.

a) Verify the seller?s credentials ? Newbie investors find a lucrative property but don?t find any inconvenience while verifying the seller?s credentials, since they are in a scurry to bag the property. They should also confirm some definite aspects as well, together with rent payment records, taxes, and other possible expenses.

b) Avoid negative cash flow ? This is an additional real estate investing advice for selecting a property that does not eat away your working capital on a standard basis and there is no point in buying a property that necessitates more money for its upkeep relative to the revenue it generates. You might also be forced to sell such a worthy asset former to the realization of any remunerations of ownership.

c) Original tenants can afford the much required information ? Ask the tenants if they are troubled by pest infestation, lack of basic amenities, or some other recurring problem. Of course you don?t want to buy a property that requires an awful lot of repair, and even if you do, you must know the problems outspoken.

d) Look for an insurance cover ? A decisive real estate investing advice is that you must have sufficient insurance coverage for your property bought recently and insurance will also offer the much needed shroud to guard your personal assets against legal actions.

e) You must charge fair rents ? No expense hurts more than what?s acquired in the upkeep of a vacant property and so arraign fair rents to make certain that your tenants affix with you for as long as you wish for. Moreover, you must also ensure that the chosen tenants are not defaulters. Verify their credentials, talk to their previous landlords, and also check their credit history.

f) Sustain a certain degree of stinginess until and unless you have a healthy source of income ? Once you have closed a profitable deal, you must ward off from going on a profligate shopping spree. Instead re-invest your profit towards another property payment on a normal basis until you conquer a significant affirmative cash flow.

On the whole, real estate investing can be an extremely profitable investment niche. But you must have a good grip of what the procedure entails, and must not leave any stone unturned. Just stick on to the real estate investing advices, and you shall be on your way to develop into a professional real estate investor. Now let us see how to value any piece of real estate. When considering real estate VALUE, whether it?s a real estate stock or a property, there are two value rules that are to be applied:

• Don't pay too much for the earth.
• Don't pay too much for the business.

As a good real estate investment rule of thumb, net rents in real estate have averaged about 1% above Treasury bonds. Once you?ve figured your P/E, it may be very different from the current nationwide fair value P/E guess of 16. If your P/E is low, you may have gotten a good deal, or you could collect high rents from your place. If your P/E is twice as high as 16, my advice is that you ought to consider selling. The tricky thing about selling real estate is that real estate is not liquid. Unlike stocks, where we have the luxury of being able to sell whenever we want and the luxury of trailing stops to get us out exactly when we want out, in real estate, it?s not so easy. You unfortunately need to be a good guesser, because you actually need to sell into an ?up? market, and buy in a down market.

Ron Victor is a SEO copywriter for http://www.real-estate-investing-information.net/

He written many articles in various topics.For more information visit http://www.real-estate-investing-information.net/
Contact him at ron.seocopywriter@gmail.com

How to Sell Your Home in 24 Hours

Has your home been on the market for a while? Are you not getting any showings? Maybe you are getting showings but no offers. I will show you how to sell your home and sell it quickly. These tips work if you are selling it yourself (FSBO) or if you are using a Realtor.

Obviously, if you are in a hot real estate market, you shouldn?t have any trouble selling your home. The tips here can help you sell it for more, but this article is primarily for those in a more competitive market who are having trouble selling their home. It?s for those in either a slow or medium market with plenty of homes for sale. Those are the ones who will benefit most from this article.

First, we need to determine how serious you are about selling your home. Are you a short term, medium term or a long term seller? A long term seller:

• Is in no rush to sell their home, or
• Doesn?t care if they sell it or not, or
• Wants the absolute top price for their home

Do you remember the movie ?Sixth Sense?? The kid in that movie could see dead people. Some of the dead people didn?t know they were dead. The thing about long term sellers is that some of them don?t know that they are a long term seller. They will tell you they want to sell their home, but they won?t do what it takes to sell their home. It?s a Realtor?s nightmare. If you are a long term seller, forget about selling your home quickly. It won?t happen. That?s why it?s called ?long term? seller.

It helps a home to sell if it has good street appeal, is clean and uncluttered, and in a good neighborhood. But what if there are 2 or 3 of those on the same street, or 500 of those in the same city? With all other things being equal, the reason one home sells and another does not, is price.

I have seen homes come onto the market and get accepted offers within just hours of being listed. And this was not in a particularly hot market. They weren't really outstanding homes either. But they had a great price and home buyers want a good deal.

The title of this article is ?How to Sell Your Home in 24 Hours?. Catchy title, huh? It got your attention didn?t? it? The reality is that there is a price at which your home will sell within 24 hours. You may not like that price, but it will sell. The point I am trying to make is if you really want to sell your home, you must take serious measures to make it more attractive than similar homes on the market. That may include lowering the price to a number that you don?t particularly like.

So how serious are you? How motivated are you? I?ve see some sellers switch Realtors like they were flipping pancakes. They kept hoping the next one would have that special touch to sell their home. They thought there was some magic formula that would get them the top-price offer they wanted. And, if your home is a FSBO, you have another hurdle to overcome. You are probably not getting the exposure needed to make you home competitive in the market. To be competitive, your home must have good exposure and be a better choice in some way than similar homes on the market.

The driving force of the housing market is supply and demand. In fact, it?s the driving force of any market. It doesn?t matter if it?s the housing market, the stock market, or the commodities market. Why are gas prices so high? What determines the price of a bag of sugar? Why is one stock price higher than another? Why does one 3 bedroom, 2 bath 2,000 square foot home in one neighborhood cost five times as much as one across town? Why does an electrician charge more for re-wiring your home today than he quoted a year ago (copper prices)? It?s about supply and demand.

If there are more homes on the market than there are buyers for them, it?s called a buyers market. They have more choices. The supply of homes is larger than the demand for them. But there are things you can do to make your home a more attractive choice for available buyers.

• Good street appeal. Keep your grass mowed. Do some landscaping. Plant bushes and flowers. Trim bushes and trees. Put on a fresh coat of paint outside if needed. Make it look appealing. Make people want to come into your home.
• Get rid of the clutter. Make it look spacious. Not just the rooms but the closets and kitchen cabinets as well. People like a home with a lot of storage space.
• Keep it clean. Mop. Dust. Straighten. Clean the carpets. Keep the cat litter box clean.
• Do any needed repairs.
• Paint inside if necessary
• Give it some decorating touches There are some inexpensive decorating techniques you can learn and apply. Browse some of the home magazines. Watch some of the TV shows about the home. Visit some open houses in your area and see what others have done.

But if you do all of this and your home still isn?t selling, it?s time to take a serious look at the price of your home. It may be overpriced. This is where a Realtor can really help you. Get the comps (comparable sales) of homes in your area. When appraisers and Realtors calculate the value of a home, they determine the price per square foot that similar homes sold for in your area. So obviously, you can?t just look at the total price of a home if it is a different size than yours. If a neighbor sells their home for $200,000 and it?s 2,000 square feet, that?s $100 per square foot. If other homes in your area are also selling for $100 per square foot, then you know what yours is worth. Just multiply the square foot of your home by $100. If your home is 2,200 square feet, and everything else is equal, your home is worth about $220,000. This is a simplistic explanation because there are some variations, but it is generally accurate. For a more accurate valuation, pay for a professional appraisal.

Your Realtor can give you a pretty good idea of the price range of homes in your area. For instance, they may find that homes in your area have sold in the $97 - $103 per square foot range, thus an average of $100. If homes have sold in the $97 - $103 range, they were probably listed (and are listed) in the $100 - $106 range. By using this price range, if you price your home at $106 per square foot (or higher), you probably won?t get much activity. If you price it at $100 per square foot you will probably get a fair amount of activity. But if you price it at $97 (or lower) per square foot, you will probably get a lot of activity. The advantage of aggressive pricing is that it may bring in multiple offers and you may actually get a higher than asking price for your home.

So, if you are serious about selling your home, use some of the tips mentioned here and pay particular attention to pricing. And if you really do want to sell your home in 24 hours, be very aggressive with your price.

Craig Jones has been a small business owner since 1991 and a Realtor since early 2005. Check out his newest web site called http://www.The-Best-Websites-Guide.com.

You will find there a collection of some of the most useful websites around. We list the top websites in over 15 categories that are jam packed with information that can save you time and money. We don't overwhelm you with too many choices in each category -- we only give you the cream of the crop.

How Do You Celebrate Your Birthday

Perhaps you don't really celebrate your birthday - some people I know don't - or perhaps your birthday is your favorite day of the year. Either way you will want to read this article.

If you are a birthday lover - this will give you more reasons to love your day. If you aren't a birthday fan (it just reminds you that I'm a year older today), this article will give you a completely different focus for this day.

Notice the title isn't 12 ways to celebrate a birthday; it's 12 ways to celebrate your birthday! What follows are 12 specific ideas to make your special day even more special.

Eat your favorite food. It's your day - you deserve it. Even if your favorite foods don't go together, they do today. Enjoy!

Do a favorite childhood activity. Maybe it was a board game, or playing tag, or doodling. Whatever it was, do it today! Do it as a way to reignite your inner child and your creativity. Do it for the pure enjoyment. You will be amazed at how it will make you feel.

Remember your favorite birthday. If you have a particular birthday that sticks out to you, spend time thinking about it and reveling in those memories.

Laugh out loud. Do something that makes you laugh with delight! Laughter feels good and is good for you. Perhaps one of the other ideas on this list will make you laugh out loud - if so, great!

Give a gift to someone else. We all know it feels better to give than receive, so why not give gifts to others on our birthday? Consider starting with your mother - after all she had a more memorable day when you were born than you did!

Give your day away! You don't have to give a physical gift, you can give your time - to someone you love, to a charity or whatever you wish! Make your day a gift to someone else.

Give yourself the gift of time. Sometimes our days are so packed with events and tasks that we don't have time for ourselves. Consider giving yourself the gift of time for your own rest and relaxation (or the time to do another item on this list!).

Send yourself a card. A few days or weeks before your birthday find a card you love, sign it and write yourself a note. Then address and stamp the envelope and ask someone to mail it to you a couple of days before your birthday. This is a great way to guarantee a card, and I promise it will make you smile.

Spend time with someone you love. This might overlap with a couple of other ideas on the list - but that's OK. What could make for a better day than spending time with those you care about the most?

Make a memory. Challenge yourself to create memories today that will last a lifetime.

Reflect on the last year. Your birthday is a milestone, so it can be a great day to review your results and actions of the past year to see how you have done and determine what is working - and what isn't!

Set some new goals. Today is a perfect day to look forward, to project into the future, to set goals for the next twelve months. If you don't have goals written down, today is a perfect day to create them!

You'll notice this isn't like some lists you read that make you think you should try all of the ideas. It wouldn't be possible to do all of these things in one day. The ideas fall into a focus on your past, present or future - and all of them are about you.

The key is to pick one that feels right to you and add it to your celebration. It is your day after all!

Final Note: While these ideas are written from the perspective of celebrating a birthday, all could be used - though perhaps tweaked slightly - for a team anniversary, company anniversary or other organizational milestone date.

Oh, and one last thing. You don't have to wait for your birthday to do any of these things. You are alive and you can celebrate for that reason using any of these ideas you'd like. You have my permission.

Potential Pointer: We all have a day that is ours - our birthday. Why not celebrate it in a meaningful and fun way? On your next birthday think of the gift you will give yourself, whether connecting to your childhood, celebrating with those you love or making that day the start of an even brighter future!

Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive your free special report on Unleashing Your Potential go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp

By Kevin Eikenberry

How Debra's Renovations Were all Nearly Done for Free

Unit investment strategy to get your renovations done for free!

I want to share with you a very creative way a friend of mine is using to get all her renovations done on a new investment property for little or no cost. What Debra is doing is very creative and will only need to be monitored by her with everyone else doing all the work and paying for the costs.

Debra has bought a block of units in a capital city that are in need of major renovations. In all there are ten units. Debra has secured the units on a long settlement with the vendor happy to allow her to start renovating them immediately. What she has planned to do is call this project the Pot of Gold event.

She has approached local charities to see if they would be interested in taking over the renovation of one unit each. They will co ordinate and do all the work. Meanwhile Debra has approached local television stations to see if they would be interested in televising the whole project from start to finish. The television will be used to promote the sponsors who donate the materials to be used in each unit and also to promote open days where the public is invited in to view the progress.

When people visit the unit site they are asked to donate a gold coin as an admission charge. This gold coin donation goes into the pot of gold. It is planned to have five open days. Each open day will be the focus of a particular stage of the renovation. The open days will be for the whole week end, to give people a chance to get there if they work on the saturday. So in a a capital city you can imagine there will be a lot of people attending. The pot of gold will be worth a lot of money by the time the project is finished.

The charity that is judged to have done the best make over on their unit will win the pot of gold. The public will be asked to judge who is the winner. They will be able to view the progress of the units renovation at the open days and also on the television. All round every one will be a winner. The charities will have the chance to win the money, the material suppliers will get valuable TV and press exposure, the TV station will get better ratings, Debra will get her renovations done for little or no money and Debra plans to use the units for a safe house for recently divorced women who have an income, but need a safe place to settle in and get back on their feet. The rents on the units will be a a reduced rate under the local median average. This will be Debra's way of helping out people in need.

At time of writing this article Debra had eight charities interested and a TV station ready to come on board. Debra also plans to approach the local minister of housing to apply for a reduced rate on the governmant stamp duty. I think the chances of this happening will be good as Debra plans to outline how she will be helping to house women who are going through a difficult time and what Debra is doing here is assist the government with short term housing. Any assistance from the government will be looked upon favourably by every one. All in all this will be a win/win situation for everyone.

Debra will be able to renovate the units while the investment property is settling, then there will be women waiting to rent the units because of the TV exposure. The amount of interest this will create will have real estate agents calling Debra and wanting her to do the same on other real estate investment properties they have on their books. Debra will be real estate investing for profit and using little of her own money. I feel this strategy leverages your time and resources. It is a quick way to achieve capital growth.

To your investing success Leo Love

PS If your family or friends are interested please pass this on to them

www.therealestateinvester.com

http://www.therealestateinvester.com

I am an experienced and passionate investor. I buy typical mum and dad type houses that give me cash flow and capital growth. My website offers helpful tips and ideas for any type of investor to help you with your wealth creation. Using my site will help to prevent you falling into the traps the inexperienced investors do.

A Little About Backpacking

If you are just starting out in backpacking then there are a few things you really must do before hitting the trail. Becoming knowledgeable about backpacking is very important to being able to enjoy it. Having the essential knowledge you need will help you to be able to plan trips, stay safe and have a good overall experience. Like with any other hobby or project you take on in life, you must learn about it before you can actually do it.

One of the first things you can do to become more knowledgeable about backpacking is to read. You should try to get backpacking books and magazines. You need to understand about backpacking culture, problems you may encounter, gear needs and everything else you can about backpacking. Reading can help you to gather essential information, but there is another way to make sure you learn everything you need to before actually going out on a trip.

Another great way to get knowledgeable is to join clubs or organizations dedicated to backpacking. Through an organization you will meet other backpackers who can give you first hand information. They can give you helpful tips and share their experiences. You will probably learn more from others than you could ever learn on your own. By listening to and learning from other peoples experiences you will start to be able to really understand what backing is all about.

Some of the things you must learn about before taking your first backpacking trip are:
- first aid
- gear needs
- how to make gear repairs
- information about the area you will be in
- general safety and health concerns
- general hiking information
- camping
To list everything you need to know would be difficult, but what you basically need to do is to understand every aspect of backpacking, including unexpected things, like accidents or getting lost.

Through gaining knowledge you will be able to ensure that you are ready to handle the adventure ahead of you. Backpacking is fun and exciting, but there are many things that, if you do not learn about them, can cause a good trip to go bad quickly. Learn everything you can and you will surely reap the benefits once you are out on the trail.
About the Author

Tanja is owner of Backpacking Tipssite, site that gives best backpackers guides and backpacking e-book for free.

PC Computer Games

AllNew NISMO 350Z Debuts At NYIAS

The Nissan North America, Inc. has officially launched it most recent addition to the legendary Z sports car clan. The automaker has proudly pulled the wraps off the all-new NISMO 350Z at the much-concluded New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).

NISMO is one of the leading providers of high-performance aftermarket parts and accessories for Nissan vehicles worldwide. This new NISMO 350Z is the fifth in this year?s 350Z Coupe lineup. The car features a comprehensively developed list of unique equipment such as the special body package and enhanced handling equipment. The vehicle is set to go on sale in July this year at Nissan dealers nationwide.

The most captivating visual feature of the NISMO 350Z is the aerodynamics package. The car is specially designed to resemble the Super GT championship winning Z?s. Moreover, the NISMO 350Z features an aggressive front fascia mated to chin spoiler and side skirts. It is also given an extended rear fascia with underbody diffuser and a rear wing to blend well with its powerful stance. The NISMO 350Z delivers additional aerodynamic downforce to offer enhanced cornering and handling capabilities.

Worth-noting extra performance features of the sports car include a special NISMO-tuned independent multi-link suspension, Brembo brakes with four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers, Nissan release bearings, and distinct NISMO-branded gunmetal gray RAYS super lightweight forged-alloy wheels. To further boost the performance of the car, a NISMO-branded tuned exhaust is integrated to the car to deliver an even more reliable tone to the Z??s V6 engine.

The NISMO 350Z package also includes full complement standard features like the new VQ35HR 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivers 306 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque. Aside from the powerful engine, it is also offering a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission, the Traction Control System (TCS) and the Viscous Limited-Slip Differential (VLSD).

Other standard equipment includes cruise control, a HomeLink Universal Transceiver, aluminum pedals, an auto dimming rearview mirror, illuminated steering wheel audio controls, power windows, 3-bay gauge cluster, LED taillights, High Intensity Discharge (HID) bi-xenon (high and low beam) headlights, the Advanced Air Bag System, side and curtain side-impact supplemental air bags and Active Head Restraints.

Inside the exceptional sports car is a pampering ergonomics with unique black cloth seats with red inserts, special NISMO white-faced tachometer, and red stitching throughout the interior. The automaker includes the NISMO-etched aluminum plaque mounted on the center console to all NISMO 350Zs and designating its limited edition standing.

?The combination of aerodynamic enhancements and performance tuning adds up to a Z? with enhanced cornering, steering precision and handling,? said Bill Bosley, the vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA).

Bosley added, The NISMO 350Z is the ideal package for true enthusiasts ? adding a high level of aesthetic and performance enhancing equipment not available in the aftermarket ? while retaining the reliability, durability, and comprehensive warranty found standard on every 2007 Nissan 350Z.?

Ryan Thomas is a native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in a family of car afficionados. He now resides in Detroit where he owns a service shop and works part time as a consultant for a local automotive magazine. Please visit Nissan release bearings for more information.

The Changing Real Estate Market

A housing downturn may be imminent, say economists and real estate investors alike ? presenting problems for many people, but opportunities for others.

You?ve probably heard about the coming slowdown in the housing market for a very long time. Real estate is cyclical, and in the United States it has been in an upswing for at least five or six years, which is how long housing prices have exceeded the rate of inflation, says Susan Wachter, professor of real estate finance at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. That means it?s only a matter of time before we experience a downturn.

It?s hard to believe a downturn is really here. On March 1, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) announced that average U.S. home prices climbed 12.95 percent in 2005, despite rising mortgage rates in the second half of the year. That?s about double the historical average of 6.4 percent, according to Bankrate Inc.

But while the housing market is still appreciating, it?s appreciating more slowly. The Commerce Department announced on March 23 that new home sales tumbled 10.5 percent in February to an annualized rate of 1.08 million units, the biggest one-month drop in nine years.

That means properties are sitting on the market for much longer than they used to. You might expect that in California, where Bruce Norris of the Norris Group, a California-based real estate investment firm, says ?we?ve gone from a three-month supply to almost a seven-month supply.? But examples are pouring in from all parts of the country. In Miami, at the Jade Residences at Brickell Bay, 117 of the building?s 352 units are reportedly on the market. And in Manhattan, at Donald Trump?s 120 Riverside Boulevard condos, more than 20 percent of the building?s 250 units are up for resale, according to The New York Times.

And increasing supply almost always leads to falling prices, says Norris. For the first time since the third quarter of 2003, one of the regions in the much-followed OFHEO index showed a four-quarter price decline: Prices in Burlington, North Carolina, fell about 1 percent between the fourth quarter of 2004 and the fourth quarter of 2005.

That may not seem like much, but economists see it as a foreboding sign ? and it?s not just due to rising interest rates. ?Housing valuations have become somewhat stretched in some areas over the past year,? says Josh Feinman, an economist with Deutsche Asset Management in New York. ?Some cooling is likely.?

The slowdown will affect anyone who?s buying and selling property, of course. But real estate speculators ? individuals who buy property with the intention of re-selling quickly, or flipping it, for a profit ? are likely to suffer the most. That?s because they could be paying mortgages and maintenance costs on properties they can?t sell and can?t rent out for enough money to cover their costs. According to Redbrick Partners, a New-York real estate investing firm specializing in single-family homes, half of the rent an investor can potentially collect does not flow to the bottom line, because it gets eaten up by vacancies, taxes, maintenance, etc. And as supply has increased over the past decade, demand has decreased. Today, Redbrick Partners says rental yields on single-family homes have declined from 7 percent in 1976 to under 5 percent today. And Norris says that in areas of California, a $500,000 house would rent for just $1,400 per month.

There is some good news, however. First, the housing market often fluctuates in different geographical locations. Miami, Florida, is an often-cited example: The number of condos worth $500,000 or more for sale in Miami is reportedly twice what it is in Los Angeles, where the population is four times as large. ?If you ask me if the housing marketing is going to experience a downturn, I have to ask you ?Where??? says Norris.

In general, the markets that have had the greatest appreciation over the past five years are most vulnerable to a downturn, say real estate experts. ?When affordability is at an all-time low, as it is in California, where housing prices have appreciated 300% over past eight years, you lose velocity, or the ability to sell a house at a brisk pace,? says Norris. ?And prices start to come down.?

As for specific areas that are likely to experience downturns, on December 16, CNNMoney.com reported that Las Vegas property values will fall by 7.9 percent in 2006 and another 5 percent in 2007; San Diego property values will fall by 3.4 percent in 2006 and another 5.7 percent in 2007; and Santa Ana/Irvine property values will fall 3.1 percent in 2006 and another 6.1 percent in 2007.

Second, wherever the housing market does cool, it isn?t likely to do so overnight, so sellers needn?t get desperate. Some individuals, of course, will have to sell ? those who need to move because of a new job, or a divorce, for example. But others can take some time, as a softening or declining market often takes years.

Finally, it?s also important to remember that one man?s troubles are another man?s opportunity. Some of the best real estate investors buy when everyone else is selling. The theory: As prices decline, it becomes easier for investors to buy properties that create cash flow. They can take their time and negotiate lower prices; they don?t have to waive contingencies, such as appraisals and home inspections; and the income they can realize from renting the property is greater than what they?re paying for it.

In fact, for some investors, like Jonas Lee of Redbrick Partners, buying in a downturn is a way of business. Lee says in a January 22 CNNMoney.com article that his company has succeeded since 1993 by employing this strategy. The typical single-family home the company buys ? usually in the downtown residential areas of rust-belt cities such as Baltimore and Philadelphia ? costs just $80,000. He hopes a downturn in the housing market will give him even more opportunities to buy low.

Experienced real estate investors offer two pieces of advice, which vary depending on your plans for the property.

If you?re buying to sell, Norris agrees that buying low is a good idea, but you have to understand the real estate market first. ?You have to be able to determine when a down market is about to switch and go up again, and buy then? he says. ?A lot of time people will see the market softening and buy too early. For example, someone in California might see a house go from $700,000 to $625,000, think it?s great deal, and buy it. But three year?s later the place will be worth $500,000.?

If you?re buying to rent, Redbrick Partners suggests looking at urban single-family housing. According to the firm?s research, nationwide single-family housing returns have averaged 12 percent since 1976, and volatility has been low, with not a single year returning less than 6 percent. The key to success for small residential landlords trying to calculate the yield for a property costing $250,000 or less, according to Redbrick Partners co-founder Tom Skinner in an October 2, 2005, Chicago Tribune article, is ?rent divided by two divided by price.? Typically, that gives landlords their yearly rental profit on a property to within 1 percent. It doesn?t account for any estimate of future appreciation or depreciation, but it is a pretty accurate measure for someone trying to determine if he or she will be make any money by buying a house and renting it out.

Sandy Shuad, Producer, Real Estate TV.com www.realestateinvestmenttv.com

Developed and launched in 2006, for real estate agents, brokers and investors, old and new, www.realestateinvestmenttv.com has exploded into a diverse website covering the latest news and information in the world of real estate investing, Check out the Real Estate Monthly Update Program, the latest Trends and Data or listen and learn from a free PodCast. Choose from over 50 different ?Channels? of specific content to watch, or upload your own ?Street Report? and become a REITV.com correspondent. By utilizing impactfull, original, and valuable content, via articles, advice, news, information, videos, Podcasts and professional reference, Real Estate Investment TV is being touted as ?the? place to go on the web for Real Estate Investment news and information. Check out the latest Trends and Data, choose from over 50 different ?Channels? of specific content, or upload your own Street? Reports and become a REITV correspondent.

Breast Enhancement The Natural Way to Do It

Having a well-filled breast is almost every woman's dream. In a society like ours where having big breasts is adored and given such emphasis, it is not surprising that every flat-chested woman desires to be well-endowed. Various breast enhancement products have come to the forefront that promise to give fuller breasts. But there's no proof that they really work. If these estrogens were powerful enough to be effective, the creams wouldn't be available over the counters, notes Seth Matarasso, M.D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco. No pill can safely increase your breast size, says Kelly Shanahan, ob/gyn and author of Your Over-35 Week-by-Week Pregnancy Guide. While nothing short of surgery will make your boobs look like that of Pamela Anderson's, there are less invasive options that can make a difference. Here's the ultimate guide to beautiful breasts at any age.

1. Exercise

Okay, so exercise won't add inches to your breasts. Breasts are largely fatty tissue and there's no exercise to grow fat. But exercise can make your breasts sit higher and more even on your chest because it builds up pectoral muscles directly below the breasts. This pushes the breasts outward giving them the appearance of being a bit larger. If you strengthen your back muscles, you can also improve your posture and make your chest look a hundred times better. Try to do the following exercise everyday to increase your breast size naturally and to firm them up:

a. The Push-ups:
This will help keep your chest muscles firm and toned. To do this, put your hands and knees on the floor with your back flat. Align your hands with your bust. Bend your arms and lower yourself until your chest almost touches the floor. Then push yourself back up to the starting position. Hold this pose for a few seconds and then bend your arms again bringing your torso down a few inches to the floor. Repeat this ten times. On the second week, perform two full sets of ten repetitions. And on the third week thereafter, do three full sets every other day.

b. Modified Push-ups
This is akin to the push-ups mentioned earlier. The only difference is that instead of the hands and knees on the floor, the lower arms, the elbows and toes are placed against the floor. The torso is raised up but your lower arms and elbows and toes are kept on the floor.

c. The back extension
Back extensions strengthen your upper and lower back muscles, thus improving posture. To do this, after each set of push-ups, lie facedown on the floor, lift one arm and the opposing leg a few inches straight in the air simultaneously, and hold on for a count of ten. Do the move twice on each side.

d. Bench Press:
This is the best exercise for shaping and firming your bust line because aside from shaping and firming the bust line, it also sculpts the shoulders and tightens the triceps. To perform this exercise, lie flat on a bench, with one foot on each side of the bench touching the floor. Firmly press your head, shoulders, back and butt on the bench while sticking up your chest. Keep the dumbbells about 18-20 inches apart and parallel to the floor with your palms facing upwards. Slowly push the dumbbells straight up, away from your chest. Fully extend your arms but don't lock your elbows when arms are fully extended. The dumbbells should now be approximately a few feet above your chest. Pause slightly at the top of the movement then slowly lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position. Inhale and hold your breath as you lower the dumbbells. When they reach the chest, begin to move the weight upward again. Exhale as you pass the point of greatest resistance. Repeat this 8 to 12 times to complete one set. You can perform about 1 to 3 sets at a session and about 3 sessions per week with a day's rest between sessions.

e. Breast Press
Using two three-to-five pound dumbbells, sit on the edge of a chair with your back straight, arms at your sides. Lean forward slightly at your hips, and bend your elbows to 90 degrees, keeping the palms down. Raise your arms from the shoulders so your elbows reach shoulder level, your hands in front and to each side. Hold this position for a count of four, and then return to your start position. Repeat this ten times.

f. Arm Swings
While standing erect, swing your right arm clockwise for eight counts while the left arm rests at your side. Then let your right arm rest at your side and swing your left arm clockwise also for eight counts. Repeat this exercise on both arms only this time the movement is counterclockwise.

g. Stand-up Push-ups
Stand facing a wall at arm's length. Place palms on the wall. Push against the wall as if you were pushing it away, without bending arms at the elbow. Hold for eight counts and relax arms for eight counts. Repeat this eight to twenty times a day.

h. Apply Pressure
Massage the upper and outer area of your bust in circular motions applying gentle pressure. This helps stimulate circulation on the muscles and help tone the fatty tissue of the breasts.

2. The Perfect Boosting Bra

If your boobs appear sacked out on your rib cage or distinctively lopsided, maybe the problem is your bra. You'll get the sexiest support if you look for the following features:

a. Supportive cups
If your breasts are saggy, they'll sit in the bottom of the sheer cup, says Stacey Ellis, a bra-fit specialist for Nordstrom. Look for a bra with lined cups that are slightly firm to touch.

b. A firm, solid back
Flimsy cotton and lace may not be strong enough to pull your breasts up. A bra with a wide, tightly woven back will help hoist you up in front.

c. Underwire
Underwire bras give a good lift to your busts because they provide good support underneath. Just make sure the wire surrounds the breast tissue and is a perfect fit to your breasts otherwise you'd be uncomfortable to wear them.

d. Padded bra
Padded bras don't just make your breasts appear bigger but they also provide added protection to your breasts from accidental nudges in public and crowded places.

3. Nutrition

Nutrition is one of the factors that influence the growth of breasts.
How you look reflects the things that you put in your body. If you want your breasts to look good, I recommend you exercise healthy food choices. Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. Women with poor diets tend to have smaller breasts while women who are overweight tend to have larger breasts. Also add Til or sesame seeds in your intake. They are known to be effective in firming the breasts of women because they contain calcium, protein, iron and phosphorous. The oil also can be applied on the breast to make it look less droopy.

Although having well-filled breasts makes a woman feel more confident about herself, the lack of breast tissue does not make her less than a woman. Beauty is not gauged on breast size alone. The truth is, most women look pretty in their own ways. But one of the biggest things that makes a person attractive is a positive attitude towards oneself and other people. People are easily drawn to women who exude such compelling influence, no matter what size of breasts they have. So, if you wanna attract more people, don't just focus on having bigger breasts and wanting what you don't have, instead work your way up with your self-esteem. At any rate, you will realize that you will be happier with a bigger self-esteem than a bigger boobs.

Rachelle Arlin Credo (c) 2005

1. Exercise

Okay, so exercise won't add inches to your breasts. Breasts are largely fatty tissue and there's no exercise to grow fat. But exercise can make your breasts sit higher and more even on your chest because it builds up pectoral muscles directly below the breasts. This pushes the breasts outward giving them the appearance of being a bit larger. If you strengthen your back muscles, you can also improve your posture and make your chest look a hundred times better. Try to do the following exercise everyday to increase your breast size naturally and to firm them up:

a. The Push-ups:
This will help keep your chest muscles firm and toned. To do this, put your hands and knees on the floor with your back flat. Align your hands with your bust. Bend your arms and lower yourself until your chest almost touches the floor. Then push yourself back up to the starting position. Hold this pose for a few seconds and then bend your arms again bringing your torso down a few inches to the floor. Repeat this ten times. On the second week, perform two full sets of ten repetitions. And on the third week thereafter, do three full sets every other day.

b. Modified Push-ups
This is akin to the push-ups mentioned earlier. The only difference is that instead of the hands and knees on the floor, the lower arms, the elbows and toes are placed against the floor. The torso is raised up but your lower arms and elbows and toes are kept on the floor.

c. The back extension
Back extensions strengthen your upper and lower back muscles, thus improving posture. To do this, after each set of push-ups, lie facedown on the floor, lift one arm and the opposing leg a few inches straight in the air simultaneously, and hold on for a count of ten. Do the move twice on each side.

d. Bench Press:
This is the best exercise for shaping and firming your bust line because aside from shaping and firming the bust line, it also sculpts the shoulders and tightens the triceps. To perform this exercise, lie flat on a bench, with one foot on each side of the bench touching the floor. Firmly press your head, shoulders, back and butt on the bench while sticking up your chest. Keep the dumbbells about 18-20 inches apart and parallel to the floor with your palms facing upwards. Slowly push the dumbbells straight up, away from your chest. Fully extend your arms but don't lock your elbows when arms are fully extended. The dumbbells should now be approximately a few feet above your chest. Pause slightly at the top of the movement then slowly lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position. Inhale and hold your breath as you lower the dumbbells. When they reach the chest, begin to move the weight upward again. Exhale as you pass the point of greatest resistance. Repeat this 8 to 12 times to complete one set. You can perform about 1 to 3 sets at a session and about 3 sessions per week with a day's rest between sessions.

e. Breast Press
Using two three-to-five pound dumbbells, sit on the edge of a chair with your back straight, arms at your sides. Lean forward slightly at your hips, and bend your elbows to 90 degrees, keeping the palms down. Raise your arms from the shoulders so your elbows reach shoulder level, your hands in front and to each side. Hold this position for a count of four, and then return to your start position. Repeat this ten times.

f. Arm Swings
While standing erect, swing your right arm clockwise for eight counts while the left arm rests at your side. Then let your right arm rest at your side and swing your left arm clockwise also for eight counts. Repeat this exercise on both arms only this time the movement is counterclockwise.

g. Stand-up Push-ups
Stand facing a wall at arm's length. Place palms on the wall. Push against the wall as if you were pushing it away, without bending arms at the elbow. Hold for eight counts and relax arms for eight counts. Repeat this eight to twenty times a day.

h. Apply Pressure
Massage the upper and outer area of your bust in circular motions applying gentle pressure. This helps stimulate circulation on the muscles and help tone the fatty tissue of the breasts.

2. The Perfect Boosting Bra

If your boobs appear sacked out on your rib cage or distinctively lopsided, maybe the problem is your bra. You'll get the sexiest support if you look for the following features:

a. Supportive cups
If your breasts are saggy, they'll sit in the bottom of the sheer cup, says Stacey Ellis, a bra-fit specialist for Nordstrom. Look for a bra with lined cups that are slightly firm to touch.

b. A firm, solid back
Flimsy cotton and lace may not be strong enough to pull your breasts up. A bra with a wide, tightly woven back will help hoist you up in front.

c. Underwire
Underwire bras give a good lift to your busts because they provide good support underneath. Just make sure the wire surrounds the breast tissue and is a perfect fit to your breasts otherwise you'd be uncomfortable to wear them.

d. Padded bra
Padded bras don't just make your breasts appear bigger but they also provide added protection to your breasts from accidental nudges in public and crowded places.

3. Nutrition

Nutrition is one of the factors that influence the growth of breasts.
How you look reflects the things that you put in your body. If you want your breasts to look good, I recommend you exercise healthy food choices. Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. Women with poor diets tend to have smaller breasts while women who are overweight tend to have larger breasts. Also add Til or sesame seeds in your intake. They are known to be effective in firming the breasts of women because they contain calcium, protein, iron and phosphorous. The oil also can be applied on the breast to make it look less droopy.

Although having well-filled breasts makes a woman feel more confident about herself, the lack of breast tissue does not make her less than a woman. Beauty is not gauged on breast size alone. The truth is, most women look pretty in their own ways. But one of the biggest things that makes a person attractive is a positive attitude towards oneself and other people. People are easily drawn to women who exude such compelling influence, no matter what size of breasts they have. So, if you wanna attract more people, don't just focus on having bigger breasts and wanting what you don't have, instead work your way up with your self-esteem. At any rate, you will realize that you will be happier with a bigger self-esteem than a bigger boobs.

Rachelle Arlin Credo (c) 2005

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachelle Arlin Credo is an entrepreneur and relationship coach. She also works as a web layout designer and part-time writer. Formerly a contributing scribe to The Freeman and Sunstar Daily - Philippines, she writes short stories, poems, essays, and tons of articles for Writers.net, Ezinearticles.com, Ideamarketers.com, Searchwarp.com, and Suite101.com. For more info, mailto: raeshylle@yahoo.com.

World Traffic Safety Symposium Awards Volvo For Child Booster Cushion System

Volvo Cars? new booster cushion system is the automaker?s gateway to get the World Traffic Safety Symposium awards. The new system from the automaker is engineered to help protect children who have outgrown their toddler seats.

At the 2007 World Traffic Safety Symposium, a panel of judges from the Dept. of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Automobile Association of America Foundation for Traffic Safety, the National Road Safety Foundation, and the New York Police Department Traffic Safety Division awarded Volvo the first prize in the Automotive Manufacturer category for this innovative safety feature. The award stands among three other safety acknowledgements: Public Service, Media Activity and Aftermarket Product Design.

The Swedish automaker has contributed several safety milestones in the industry including the Volvo brake caliper, seat belts, and airbags among many others. The latest, so far, is the booster cushion system which is a combination of the tougher side body structure, load limiting seat belts, inflatable curtain and other reliable parts to deliver a distinctive engineering solution that ensures safety and comfy travel experience. Volvo?s innovation is the world?s first two-step integrated booster cushion. This is why it deserves to receive a prestigious international commendation.

Our goal is to help protect occupants. This award acknowledges our efforts to help protect our smallest passengers, our children, noted Thomas Broberg, the Senior Safety Advisor for the Volvo Car Corporation in Sweden. This new seat, in conjunction with our refinements in side body structure and the inflatable curtain will have a significant reduction in child injuries.

The seat belt positioning is one of the essential considerations when ensuring safety of children of different heights. Several studies have shown that proper positioning with the use of a booster cushion helps lessen abdominal injuries caused by the child slipping under the seat belt. Field data in several studies supports these findings and stresses the significance of booster seats. Studies point out that the booster be designed to hold the belt snugly across the pelvis or thighs during a frontal impact.

The overall effectiveness of booster seats is estimated as 31 percent as compared to utilizing only a seat belt and as high as 75 percent as compared to no restraint at all. Getting all children of appropriate age and size to use booster cushion delivers a potentially noteworthy safety benefit.

According to a study carried out by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 39.5 percent of the 664 children inspected in belt-positioning booster cushion were considered as critical misuse. The most common misuse was improper fitment of the shoulder belt followed by loose belt, improper fit of the lap belt and inappropriate age/fit.

We took into account the child's physical size and weight, seat belt misuse, child physiology, along with redesigning our vehicle side body structure and side impact inflatable curtain to come up with this new integrated two-step booster seat, said Broberg. There will be better fitment of our three-point seat belt, a wider age and weight range, and better attitude for the child who can now easily see outside with the added benefit of reducing driver distraction. Hopefully we will hear less often: 'Are we there yet?'

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field. You can visit Volvo brake caliper for more information.

Where to Put Your Tattoo Choosing the Perfect Position for Your New Tattoo

Millions of people, in recent years, have tuned into the very special art of tattooing as a way to have something of permanent meaning placed on their bodies. You?re one of them, and you think having a tattoo would be absolutely mind-blowing, but you just don?t know enough about what kind of tattoo to get, or even more importantly, which part of your body you want tattooed.

The first thing you should decide is whether you want a tattoo that can be hidden. It depends largely on your own personality. If you approach the world with an ?in-your-face? attitude, you may want a tattoo positioned so that will be visible most of the time.

On the other hand, if you are somewhat shy or just like to keep secrets, having a tattoo on a place you normally keep covered may make you feel unique, and even a little sexy.

And keep in mind that a tattoo which seems perfect to you when you are in your twenties may leave you asking ?What was I thinking?? in later years. So don?t commit to a first tattoo positioned where you will be forced to look at it every day for the rest of your life.

Think about your social life. If it calls for you to attend very many upscale events, and you are female, are you going to want your tattoo visible when you wear a strapless dress?

But even if you are aristocracy, you can still can manage a tattoo. Lady Churchill sported a wrist tattoo which she simply covered with a diamond bracelet on state occasions!

Will having a plainly visible tattoo cause friction between you and someone close? For example, would you husband or wife see your tattoo as a come-on to others? If so, put it where it will be a secret for just the two of you.

Then there?s the work situation. Will your current or potential employer be OK with you sporting a visible tattoo? Many of them aren?t.

And then there?s the problem of weight gain or loss. The odds are strong that you will not remain at the identical weight you are the day you get your tattoo. And even if you do, the human body has an unfortunate tendency to reshape itself during middle age. A tattoo which looks great on the flat stomach of your 20s may be an embarrassment when you get middle-aged spread.

The same holds if you lose weight after your tattoo is in place. Your skin may become loose; how will that affect your tattoo?

You should also consider your pain threshold when deciding where to place your tattoo. The most painful tattooing occurs on designs close to the bone, like shins, elbows, and knees. If you are someone who breaks into a clod sweat at the thought of going to the dentist, you should probably limit you choice of tattoo locations to the more padded areas of your anatomy.

But once you?ve sorted through all the tattoo positioning pitfalls, you can get some visualization help at http://www.bmezine.com. They have several pages with photographs of recently completed tattoos which will give you a much clearer picture of how you might end up looking. The photos cover everything from foot and ankle to breast and collar bone designs of every possible size and intricacy.

Where you position your tattoo says nearly as much about you as your tattoo itself. So be sure to choose a spot which will let you enjoy your tattoo for the rest of your life!

Author: Matt Garrett - ? 2007 http://www.TopTattooDesign.Com

Discover how to avoid being the one in four who Hate thier new Tattoo, including simple Tattoo safety tips, in our your free Tattoo Guide : -

Free Tattoo Guide