Travel Document Holder - Keep it Safe and Accessible

A travel document holder is the most important item for all travelers. How many times have you panicked going to the airport and wondering where you put the tickets or your passport or your ID? Traveling is stressful and even though 9 times out of 10 you always have your documents the momentary stress can drive you nuts.

And if you are the type of person who keeps tickets passports, ID's and money separate, then you know it is a fumbling and nervous drill when you get to the ticket line or security trying to find those items.

That is why you absolutely need a travel document holder. Being able to keep everything in one place and accessible will take a lot of the stress of travel from getting the best of you. It will also keep them safe. The possibility of losing or heaven forbid having your important papers stolen is greatly reduced when you have everything in one place.

That becomes very important in foreign countries where you may not be familiar with how things work. Thieves are out there everywhere and they know a sloppy victim when they see one.

In fact one great type of travel document holder is the clandestine sort. There are document holders that can fit under your arm in a holster. That way you always know where they are and would be thieves cannot identify them under your clothing, let alone get to them. These styles of holders can accommodate your passports, ID, itineraries and currency.

It is good piece of mind knowing your documents are safe but readily accessible to you. There are other styles of security document holders as well. It just depends on what you are most comfortable with. These holders are all lightweight and easy to carry.

If it's style you are looking for in a travel document holder then you are in luck as well. You can find all kinds of trendy styles made in all types of materials. Leather, nylon, lycra all the usual suspects are there. You can also choose from a slew of colors.

Whatever your travel document needs, there is a document holder out there that is perfect for you and your travel needs. One indisputable fact is you need to have a document holder to escape the stress and rigors of travel whether it is for business or for pleasure. Happy trails.

By Chris Smitts
PressSearch.org

How to Expedite Your Passport Renewal

There are three ways to expedite a passport renewal. The method you pick out will depend on how speedily you need to acquire your renewed passport and how much time you have to devote to the process. The details below will help guide you in making the decision on how best to expedite your passport renewal.

Apply for Expedited Service by Mail to the National Passport Processing Center

Ddownload and complete the application form DS-82 to renew a passport. Put it in an envelope with your current passport, two photos and payment. The application fee and expediting fee can be made with one payment. Provide proof of your name change if it is different from the name in your present passport. This can be done with a marriage certificate or court order.

Clearly and legibly write "EXPEDITE" on the envelope so that it can be speedily identified at the processing center. The National Passport Processing Center address can be found on the application for renewal. Within 3 to 4 weeks the application should be processed and your passport delivered to your. It may take longer, especially during peak travel periods.

Renew Your Passport at a Regional Passport Agency

Applying at a regional passport agency is an option if you cannot wait for your travel document to be returned by mail. The regional agencies attend travelers whose departure date is within 14 days and who do not need a travel visa. Those who need to obtain a visa can be attended at the regional agency up to 28 days before their departure date.

Presently, fifteen passport agencies operate in the United States. The agencies can be found in major cities throughout the U.S. including Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, New Orleans, Miami, Norwalk (CO), Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Chicago and Detroit. Each agency attends a particular area of the United States.

Pick the regional passport agency that services your state of residence to begin the passport renewal process. You can set up an appointment by callling toll-free at 1-877-487-2778. This number is for an automated appointment system. Sometimes, it can be pretty hard to get through. It may be necessary to make numerous tries. Just keep calling.

Take the completed form and accompanying documentation with you to the regional passport agency on the day of your appointment. You are asked not to get to the agency more than 15 minutes early or to be over 15 minutes late. Being more than fifteen minutes late could result in the cancellation of your appointment.

If your appointment is early in the day, you could receive your renewed passport that same afternoon. If you are not attended until later in the day, you might possibly have to wait until the following day to get your passport.

Get Your Passport Renewed Through a Travel Document Expediter

Travel document expediters have a special relationship with regional agencies that allow them to represent their clients who are unable to personally deliver their requests to the agency for processing. Allowing a passport expediter to take care of the expediting of your passport renewal is a wise choice when you are in a time crunch and have many other things to take care of before your trip.

Passport expediters specialize in obtaining passports quickly. You are ordinarily given several choices as to how quickly you want your passport expedited. Processing times are as follows.

• Standard - 8 to 10 business days
• Rush - 5 to 7 business days
• Priority - 3 to 4 business days
• Next Day - 2 business days
• 24 hours - 1 business day

Once you have decided on how speedily you want to acquire your passport, you need to complete an online form with personal information such as your name, address, phone number and email. Next, type in information about your trip including date of departure and destination. Confirm whether you have an itinerary or not.

You need to download the expediter's authorization form. The completed and signed form should be sent along with your passport renewal application and other documentation to the expediter by express mail.

Make Your Choice

Now you know the three ways to expedite your passport renewal. Send the passport application yourself. Get it expedited at a regional passport agency. Or allow a private expediting service to get the job done for you. The choice is yours. You get to decide. You make the decision. Just make sure you choose a way to get your passport renewal expedited that gets it done before your departure date.

By William Manor
PressSearch.org

Top 5 Places to Vacation in the US

People go for a vacation with their family for relaxation and enjoyment. There are a lot of places in the world to visit. It is impossible for a person to visit all these places in one lifetime. Most people dream of a vacation in the USA. Since the US is a big country, there are many places to see. To enjoy a holiday in the country, it is necessary to make a plan before you travel.

For those travelling to US for the first time, here the top five must-see places.

1. San Francisco, California - This is a city of diverse culture in relation to arts, museums, architecture, music and festivals. San Francisco has become a popular tourist place because of its hillside streets and modern and Victorian architecture. The major attractions of San Francisco are Golden Gate Bridge (a construction marvel); Japanese Tea Gardens; Exploratorium (museum); Fisherman's Wharf; Alcatraz Islands; Historic Cable cars (the moving landmark of San Francisco); Chinatown; and the Red-and-White Ferry. Some of the modern architectures of San Francisco are Civic Center, Coit Tower, Ferry Building, and the twisty and crooked streets of Lombard in Russian Hill. The city is also the home of different festivals, fairs, parades and parties. The moat famous one is the Gay Festival held in June every year. The others are the Folsom Street Fair, the Chinese New Year Parade, the Carnival, and Lovefest.

2. Orlando, Florida - This US city has everything - from theme parks to crocodile farms. If you are planning to travel with your family and are looking for a complete entertainment, then this is the right destination. When you are in Orlando there is a myriad of choices available to have fun. The major attractions of Orlando are the Walt Disney World, Sea World Orlando (marine theme park), Universal Studios, Island of Adventure, Wet 'N Wild (water park), Discovery Cove (marine theme park), Gatorland (wildlife theme park), Holy Land Experience (museum), Ripley's Believe It or Not, the Orlando Science Center and the Orlando Museum. Orlando also has tropical beaches for the family to enjoy and relax in the sun.

3. Las Vegas, Nevada - 'The Entertainment Capital of the World' is famous for gambling, dining, shopping and entertainment. The major attraction of Las Vegas is casinos. It has got some of the world's finest casinos like the Golden Nugget, Four Queens, Fremont Casino, and Las Vegas Club. The other attractions are the Adventuredome, Desperado, Gondola, M&M's World, Nevada State Museum, Stratosphere Tower, Springs Preserve and much more. So, if you are in a mood for some adult entertainment, then travel to Las Vegas alias the Sin City.

4. New York City - 'The Big Apple' or 'The City that Never Sleeps' is famous for international affairs, commerce, culture, finance, fashion and entertainment. This city is made up of five towns - The Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. The major attractions to visit while you are in New York are The Empire State Building, Ellis Island, Broadway Theatre Productions, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Bronx Zoo, Washington Square Park, Times Square, The Statue of Liberty and the New York Botanical Gardens. New York City is the favourite shopping destination for shoppers. The city has witnessed some of the major cultural reforms in the past. Many events and parades are organised to attract tourists. The famous events are the Halloween Parade and the Tribeca Film Festival.

5. Grand Canyon, Arizona - This is one of the premier national parks in the US and has become a popular natural tourist destination. It is a steep gorge along the Colorado River in Arizona and is 6000 feet deep and 446 km long. The Grand Canyon National Park can be approached through two ways - the North Rim (remote part) and the South Rim (more accessible and crowded part). Some of the activities you can indulge in here include camping, mule rides, sightseeing, rafting, hiking and helicopter rides. Some of the viewpoints along the South Rim are Grand Canyon Village, the Watchtower and the Hermit's Rest. The viewpoints of the North Rim are Cape Royal, Bright Angel Point and the Point Imperial.

By Wilson Rupert
PressSearch.org

The Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Water Park Features Some of the Most Amazing Slides and Rides!

Hurricane Harbor Water Park in New Jersey spans across 45 acres and features some fun speed slides, wave pools, and swimming pools that young kids really love. Adults can have plenty of fun as well at this amazing water park. There are millions of gallons of water used in making these attractions so enjoyable!

Take the Blue Lagoon, for instance, this wave pool features almost a million gallons of water that produces up to five foot tall waves! It's a very huge pool, and the water depth is anywhere from six inches to seven feet. It's great for small children, older children, and adults who want to swim or relax. The surrounding area is in the shade and lounge chairs so that you can relax while watching your kids enjoy themselves in the pool.

And then there's Hurricane Mountain, which consists of six extreme slides starting from a tower that's five stories high. There are even more speed slides found throughout the park that are seven stories high! You can enjoy all the slides, rides, and splashes by getting yourself Six Flags Hurricane Harbor discount tickets online.

Keep in mind that the Water Park is separate from the main Six Flags theme park, so look for package deals if you want to enjoy the water and amusement parks both. You will be able to afford everything by getting Six Flags Hurricane Harbor coupons that are available on the internet. You don't want to miss out on the Blue Lagoon, Hurricane Mountain, or any other exciting attraction just because you failed to get discounted tickets and coupons ahead of time.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor discounts and Water Park coupons will help you save on rides, shows, slides, drinks, and more. You can bring your entire family along if you want to and save a lot with discounts and coupons!

By Nadav Snir
PressSearch.org

Get Your Family Some Six Flags Over Georgia Discount Tickets and Go on These Rides!

Six Flags Over Georgia, which is Located in Atlanta, is the second largest theme park in the Southeast, next to only Disney World. It's over forty years old, and is well known for its ten roller coasters, two children's areas, water rides, limitless fun and countless thrills. It's kid friendly, yet there is plenty for grown ups to do as well. While tickets can be somewhat expensive if parents buy the them at the full price, there are some great Six Flags Over Georgia coupons online that will help families save money.

Since there is so much to do at Six Flags theme parks, tourists need to save as much money as they can. For instance, there is the 200 foot tall Goliath, which is a giant, sprawling steel roller coast that towers over the entire park. It provides thrill seekers with 200 foot, zero gravity drops, giant spirals, and breathless turns. Also known as the "Big G", the Goliath is nearly 4,500 feet long, 20 stories tall, and can go for speeds of up to 70 mph!

There is also plenty for kids at Six Flags Over Georgia, such as Bugs Bunny World and Thomas Town. Characters such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck can be seen walking around throughout the park, and kids can get their pictures taken with them! The kids areas are great for children around 2-12, as there are plenty of rides to choose from. Some less thrilling than others and some rather exciting and even daring for brave kids, such as the Santa Maria.

Parents can afford all of this just as long as they take advantage of Six Flags Over Georgia discount tickets, some of which are only available online. Specials include: annual park passes, kids' prices on adult tickets, food and show coupons, etc. It's possible to afford a family vacation at one of the most fun, largest amusement parks in the Southeast, and all it takes is a bit of searching for Six Flags Over Georgia coupons and discounts on the internet.

Find out more about Six Flags Over Georgia discount tickets and how you can get them. You can take your entire family to this exciting amusement park and experience all the fun! You can enjoy an entire day of adventures and rides without having to pay much at all with Six Flags Over Georgia coupons.

By Nadav Snir

PressSearch.org

Adult Resorts For Singles

Are all your friends coupled-up, perhaps babied-up, leaving you in the lurch when vacation time rolls around? You've heard about adult resorts but don't really know if that's your thing. Not that you're timid or anything, but still trying to break the ice in a crowd of strangers can be unrelaxing to say the least. Suppose you take the plunge and go for an all inclusive adult resort experience. What can you expect to find there? Well, imagine this: as you arrive you join a toga party which has already begun. It's a pretty informal air ... and after hanging around with a bunch of partiers you all decide to race down to the beach for a nudie swim. Things get pretty relaxed pretty fast at adult resorts - nobody's there to criticize or be a wet blanket - just to have fun. You return from your swim famished, and return to the hotel for a superlative gourmet supper with unlimited drinks (all inclusive means just that - you pay nothing extra). The service is attentive and friendly, and no tipping is permitted. After the scrumptious repast a gang decides to go windsurfing, so you join in even though you've never done it before. You find it's easier than it looks, and the panoramic view of the turquoise Caribbean and the balmy, palmy beaches takes your breath away. You and your new-found friends return to the hotel exhausted, and you all decide to jump into a Jacuzzi with umbrella drinks, and watch the amazing sunset on the sea. But at sunset the party just gets started: disco dancing with live entertainment and an endless variety of tropical treats keeps you jumping through the night. Everything you want to do, eat, and drink is covered in the all inclusive price, so you never have to worry about maxing your credit cards out or losing your money.

And that's just your first day in Negril Jamaica! There's such a variety of things to do on Negril's vast expanse of white powdered sand and the breathtaking crystal sea which laps the shore! Besides windsurfing, there is waterskiing, sailing, snorkeling, and hobie cat. In addition to the skinny-dipping beach (don't worry, there's also a clothing-required beach in case you're shy), there are three huge freshwater swimming pools, where you can swim to the bar for a delightful tropical cocktail. There are three Jacuzzis (including a see-through Jacuzzi); and there's even a four-story water slide that cuts through the disco. Besides the water activities, there is a world-class fitness center with state-of-the-art Icarian machines and Lifecycle and Lifestep equipment as well as an air conditioned Aerobics Center. The spa offers custom massages, reflexology and aromatherapy, as well as facials, manicures and pedicures. All activities are free, of course. You can take Reggae dance classes, watch fashion shows, participate in wild wet T-shirt competitions, play trivia games, and make friends with singles in a romantic nudist resort atmosphere where there's a party every night.

By Alice Lane
PressSearch.org

Ankle Injuries - Should You Tape Your Ankle Or Use a Brace?

The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) completed an injury surveillance study in 1998 showing the injury trends in high school sports. The highest occurrence of injuries were to the ankle, 38.3% and 36% in boy's and girl's basketball, 30.2% and 30.5% in boy's and girl's soccer, and 35.6% in volleyball. It is important, especially in these sports, to take measures to protect the ankle. Besides preventative strengthening exercises, the ankle can be protected with either athletic tape or a functional brace to add additional support. There is a significant debate over whether ankle taping or bracing is more effective. Both have advantages and drawbacks.

Taping is a common practice in almost all colleges today, and in high school when necessary. Many studies have been done to show the effectiveness of ankle taping. In the studies where ankle taping was deemed to enhance ankle protection, the tape was applied in a pattern to combat a specific motion. If you decided to use ankle taping for support, you must also take into consideration the experience and knowledge of the person applying the tape and the quality of the tape itself. No matter how good the tape job is, athletic tape will begin to lose support as the ankle is moved throughout a practice or competition. Perspiration can also decrease the effectiveness of the tape job, which is why it is important to start with a strong tape job.

In general people tend to believe that because of the more rigid materials that ankle braces are made out of, that they are therefore more effective than tape. However they can lose support with activity just like ankle taping, and the strength of good athletic tape should not be underestimated. Ankle braces have been found to be not as effective as freshly applied tape. Nevertheless, it is more realistic to tighten or readjust a brace than re-tape an ankle during a practice or game.

Cost can also be an important factor to take into account when deciding between the two. You will need to purchase athletic tape plus the cost of pre-wrap, adhesive spray, heel and lace pads, and the need for a certified athletic trainer to apply the tape job. An ankle brace can cost anywhere from $20 to $60. Overall, it is really a matter of preference. Braces can be self applied and readjusted, and are most cost effective. Taping can be applied in specific patterns to prevent movement in certain directions, and is easily changed for personal comfort. Some type of support is definitely warranted; taping and bracing both have their positives and negatives.

By Teresa Smolinski
PressSearch.org

Vertical Jumping Strength - The Value of Squats

The full back squat has been deemed the "King of Lifts" for good reason. It is absolutely the best exercise for developing lower body strength. The squat works the largest muscle groups in the body, those of the thighs and core. Being large, these muscles have the greatest potential for growth. The target of a proper back squat is the posterior chain muscles, specifically the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back extensors. These muscles work together to perform hip extension, which is the most powerful joint movement your body performs, and thus the movement which needs to be trained the most.

Squats are the best exercise for training strong hip extension. They also require strong activation of the core muscles as the torso must support the weight that is sitting on the shoulders. The sheer difficulty of squats is a testament to their value; the most difficult things are often the most beneficial. Anyone with experience lifting can tell you how demanding a heavy squat is. In addition, since a large amount of the body's muscle is being stressed during squats, they cause a huge increase in testosterone production. Testosterone is the primary hormone associated with muscle building. This is why increases in squat strength are often accompanied by gains in other areas.

Many people have made claims about the risk of injury involved with squats and the knee problems that can be caused. These problems are caused by incorrect form. Any lift is dangerous if done incorrectly. On the contrary, doing correct full squats has proven to be effective at strengthening the knee and even eliminating previous pain. "King of Lifts" indeed.

By Daniel Back
PressSearch.org

Learning to Play the Washers Game

If you're looking for a new game to play with friends and family, you might want to consider the washers game. This is played very much like the cornhole game or bean bag toss, but there is no governing body for it, so the equipment sizes and types often vary from place to place and company to company. As long as you're enjoying the game, though, there isn't any reason to worry about the exactness of it. In this game pitching washers are used, and they are metal washers that are tossed or pitched toward the box or board that is used to score points. These are usually powder coated and they come in different colors. That's a great way to distinguish one team of players from another, too, so that there isn't any confusion about which person scored points or what team is in the lead.

For people who like to play the cornhole game it's quite likely that the washers game will be equally fun. With the exception that you're pitching washers instead of tossing bean bags the games are essentially identical. You do need to be careful with the washers, though, as they are much harder than corn toss bags and can much more easily harm someone. For that reason the washers game is best played by adults and children who are a little bit older, instead of letting very young and very small children play like many people do with the cornhole game. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Other than being a little more careful so that people don't get hurt, anyone can really play the washers game. The pitching washers are not that heavy, and they last a very long time. The only thing that you want to be careful of when it comes to taking care of the equipment for the game is the fact that the pitching washers can be damaged by things like asphalt and concrete. The powder coating or paint that they have on them can be scraped off and damaged by coming into contact with hard or rough surfaces in a repeated manner. It's better to play the game on grass, on sand, or on another type of surface where the washers won't get too scraped up, since you don't want to have to keep replacing the washers for your game.

You want to take good care of the game board or box and the pitching washers so that they're ready to play with any time that you and your family want to have an enjoyable afternoon with the washers game. Because it's so similar to the corn toss game, figuring out the rules shouldn't be a problem and you'll be playing the washers game and enjoying it in no time. There's a very little learning curve, other than getting a feel for the washers instead of the bean bags that are used with the cornhole game. If you've not played the bean bag game you won't have to adjust to that difference and can get right to using the pitching washers.

By Dave Threadcraft
PressSearch.org

Should You Make Your Own Cornhole Bags?

When some people decide that they want to play the Cornhole game, they also decide that they want to make their own Cornhole bags and board. Not everyone does this, but it's not so difficult that you can't do it if you want to. With that in mind, you can learn how to make your own corn hole bags with information on the Internet. Whether you should do that, though, depends on several things. First, how much skill do you have with sewing? If you are good at it - and you don't need a sewing machine to make corn toss bags - you might want to make your own bags. Sewing isn't the only issue, though. You need cloth that's durable and lightweight, and you also need something to stuff the corn toss bags with. In earlier times people would use dried corn or dried beans for the bags, but these usually aren't used anymore because they can mold if they get wet and small animals and insects like to eat them.

If you make your own Cornhole bags it's a good idea to find dried corn that you can use so you can get the weight and size right and can also keep your Cornhole bags in good condition and useable for a longer period of time. When all of that seems like too much trouble - and it generally does for most people - you can simply buy your corn toss bags. There are many places to get them but be sure to go with a reputable dealer, especially if you take the game seriously or are considering playing in tournaments. You'll want to practice with the right equipment in order to ensure that you're learning the game properly. Buying your corn hole bags lets you get different colors, and you can get them quickly without the hassle of making them.

By Jay Stueve
PressSearch.org

Increase Vertical Leap - Muscle Balance

In my searching of the internet, I have seen many attempts to identify the percentage of force generated in a jump that comes from different muscle groups. People conclude to train the muscles that contribute the most to jumping. Often times the quadriceps and calves are labeled as the most important. Regardless of the accuracy of these findings, I want to say that we can pretty much toss them out the window.

It is important to train every muscle group, because the human body requires balance. The muscle spindle and the golgi tendon organ are two mechanisms that the body uses to protect muscles, tendons, and joints from too high force or too fast motion. (more info on those mechanisms is in my free vertical jump training report) Basically, antagonist muscles always hold each other in check. For example, the quadriceps muscle cannot extend the knee so powerfully that the hamstring muscle cannot control the motion to prevent damage to the knee joint or the hamstring muscle-tendon complex.

You can have all the quad strength in the world, but you won't be able to utilize it in a high speed movement like a jump unless your hamstrings are both strong and flexible enough to control forceful knee extension. In the same way, hip flexors must be able to control powerful hip extension; many people neglect hip flexors in their workouts. Also, dorsiflexors of the ankle must be able to control strong plantar flexion. Few people spend time developing dorsiflexion strength. The imbalance between dorsiflexion and plantar flexion is what causes shin splints.

So go ahead and try to figure out what muscle contributes what percentage of the force in jumping; it's a nice little tidbit of information. But bottom line, you need to be strong everywhere to maximize your jumping ability.

By Daniel Back
PressSearch.org

Jump High and Dunk - Body Fat

One question I see asked fairly often about jump training is, "If I lose weight, will I be able to jump higher?" Common sense tells us yes. Which can you throw higher a bowling ball or a basketball? Obviously, a basketball because it's lighter. That being said, weight management for jumping is a little bit more complicated, because the object that you are trying to launch into the air (your body) is propelling itself using its own strength.

Instead of worrying about just your weight, what you need to keep track of is your strength:weight ratio. This is most commonly measured with a max squat. An athlete who squats 400 pounds and weighs 200 has a 2:1 strength to weight ratio. For improving jumping or sprinting or any kind of propulsion of the body, it is important to improve or at least maintain your strength:weight ratio.

So will losing weight make you jump higher? Yes, if you can maintain strength while you do it. On the other hand, if you lose 10 pounds of muscle, you are lighter, but you are also weaker. Also, you should not be afraid to add pounds of muscle if it is muscle that can contribute to your jumping ability. For example, a trainee of mine put on 5 pounds during his first month of training due to hypertrophic training in the weight room. He also added 35 pounds to his max squat, so his strength:weight ratio improved significantly. Generally, muscle weight increase will be easily surpassed by strength increase, assuming you are training lower body and core muscles. Adding 10 pounds to your arms will not help you jump higher.

Your goal should be to not have mass on your body that does not contribute to your athletic ability. The biggest culprit here is fat. You do need a certain amount of fat for health reasons, but you don't need more than 10% body fat. Anything above that is only weighing you down. Conveniently, jump training and all sports training is extremely metabolic, while you may not have to pay any special attention to losing fat. You will likely become leaner without even trying. You should also consider what your sport requires of your body and add or remove exercises from your training accordingly. Having huge biceps is not worth anything to a volleyball player, but a running back needs that strength to have an iron grip on the ball. A soccer player does not need a strong upper body, but a basketball player needs all around upper body strength for controlling the ball in all kinds of positions. In short, you do not want to have weight on your body that is not useful for your sport.

By Daniel Back
PressSearch.org

Plyometric Jump Training - Additional Benefits

Plyometric drills use a spring-like stretch-shortening cycle in the muscle-tendon complex, as well as activation of the stretch reflex in the muscle. In these ways, they train elastic, or reactive strength. This is why the form of exercise was created.

But plyometrics have a host of other benefits that are used for jumping and all athletic maneuvers. Body control, joint stability, and coordination are all in high demand during plyometric drills. For example, agility drills like foot fires are effective at increasing ankle stability by strengthening the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that surround and control the joint. 1-leg box jumps are an example of an exercise that will contribute to knee stability. Hurdle hops and power skips are examples where body control is particularly important. And coordination is highly trained in double-leg bounding.

These additional benefits of plyometrics all have relevance in live sports action. If you want to dunk, the goal should be able to dunk in game situations, off a rebound, jump stop, or dribble drive. This requires far more athletic ability than throwing the ball up to yourself, running from the three-point line, and gathering all your strength to dunk. This ability has no practical use in sports.

This is the main reason why I scoff at people who suggest that anyone who wants a high vertical should just get really strong and do Olympic lifts to train explosiveness. Yes, world-class Olympic lifters often have standing verticals over 30 inches, but what can they do on the run or off a spin move or with someone leaning on them? Everything you do in a weight room is in a controlled, balanced, stationary position. You cannot develop the ability required to be effective on the playing field in the weight room. You can create a whole lot of potential for athletic ability, but to actually develop it, plyometrics are much more effective. Most important is time spent playing your desired sport, which will inherently be a plyometric activity. Sprinting, cutting, jumping, shuffling, all sports movements use plyometric muscle contraction and are faster than anything you do in the weight room.

By Daniel Back
PressSearch.org

Make Your Own Cornhole Game Set

When it comes to a Cornhole game set you have a couple of options. You can buy one, or you can make your own. A lot of people just choose to buy a Cornhole game set because they worry that they won't be capable of making one, but there are plenty of instructions that you can find online. These will let you create a corn toss set - both the boards and the bags - on your own or as a project with friends or family members. It can give you a huge sense of pride by doing something like this, and you'll be able to show off your corn toss set to all kinds of people who come to your own. Some people make their own just for enjoyment, and some people make them to sell to others or to use for practice so that they can get ready for a tournament.

With that in mind, you have to be sure that your Cornhole game set is accurate and complete. No matter whether you're using it for tournament practice or just to enjoy, a set can be fun to make and fun to use. You'll need some basic woodworking skills and simple tools, and you'll also want to have some basic sewing skills if you're going to make the bags yourself. A lot of people make the board and buy the bags, though, because the bags are smaller and more delicate to create.

They have to be made out of lightweight but durable cloth, and they have to be not only the right size but the right weight, too. If you don't get them right you'll have trouble playing the game, but you can take your time and make them with your corn toss game if you want to. The board is easier to create, but whether you make or buy any or all of it, your Cornhole game set can give you a lot of enjoyment for years to come.

By Jay Stueve
PressSearch.org

Cornhole Bags - The Great Corn Or Plastic Bean Debate

If you are not familiar with the game of cornhole then you most likely have been living under a rock. The game with it's midwest roots has become quite popular in recent years and game sets are showing up everywhere. Check out any backyard party, tailgate party at a sporting event, or even at your local outdoor pub. You are sure to see a cornhole game set with people more than happy to play on them. Like anything else, innovation changes how things progress. Remember the saying "they don't make things like they used to"? That is going on in the cornhole world too. The debate is over which cornhole bag media or filling is better... corn or plastic?

When the game of cornhole was originally created the only bag filling used was corn. Hence the name... "cornhole". For most people this is the only respectable bag filling that one should use. Most tournaments require corn filled bags and usually supply them. Most "old school" players swear by them. But, there is another option that is creeping into cornhole stores online and in retail outlets. It's cornhole bags with plastic beads or pellets. Most likely they are coming from China instead of being manufactured in the heartland of America. There are apparently importing issues with corn and thus the cheaper alternative is to use little plastic corn replacements. As with most products, large companies have a tendency to source lower price alternatives to hand made local products. This is not necessarily a bad thing (think TV's and Computers).

True fans and experienced cornhole players scoff at the idea of playing with plastic instead of corn. The light dusting that the bags develop, the feel and bag sliding characteristics just can not not be duplicated with plastic beads or pellets. For these players there is only one material for cornhole bags. If concerns of bag life make you think that plastic would be better, you may want to rethink that as well. Bags typically wear out by the threads popping out after repeated throws on blacktop or concrete. So the filling material is irrelevant in this case.

Ultimately the decision is yours. You can purchase whatever cornhole bag that you like. If you are one who believes that things should be enjoyed as they were created, then you may want to make sure your cornhole bags actually contain corn. There is no denying that the original cornhole bag plays extremely well. For those with no regard for keeping this wonderful American game intact and true to it's roots, you can buy the plastic filled bags. Maybe you could even start selling them and call the game plastichole... Or not.

By Jay Stueve
PressSearch.org

Federal Firearms License - How to Get Your FFL

A federal firearms license is more commonly called an (FFL) they are divided into a few different classifications of license. These three different tax classes will help to define if you are a dealer, manufacturer or importer of firearms.

If you'd like to be a gunsmith or gun dealer you're going to need to get an FFL. You will require the first type of license. If you're going to sell firearms or perform maintenance on firearms for people, you're going to want to get a type 1 title 1 dealer or gunsmith's license.

If you intend to deal in firearms or are thinking of becoming a pawnbroker to deal firearms, you will need the second type of FFL license. If you intend to be a pawnbrokers or pawnshop you're going to need a type 2 title I license.

If you want to collect antique firearms this would be the third reason why you need an FFL.

A Type 3 license is what you must obtain. You cannot sell to the general public with this license, but you are able to collect firearms for your collection with it.

The final reason is that you'd like to make ammunition or reload for retail sales. To do this you're going to require a federal firearms license type 6. Once you obtain this license you able to make your own ammunition legally, with the exception of armor piercing ammo.

Now that you have learned about the different types of licenses available, you're ready to make a decision. If you're serious about getting your Federal firearms license, it would be a good idea to get some help in obtaining it.

By Jackson K. Stone
PressSearch.org

Trivia Questions and Answers - Sports Trivia Questions

Looking for something fun to do at your next party or family event? Why not try trivia? It is entertaining, exciting and everyone can get involved. Age, sex and the number of people does not matter. Trivia is for everyone and it can be played anywhere.

Sports trivia is a great choice because almost everyone knows something about sports. You may not be a hockey fan, but what do you know about skating or sailing? Almost everyone has knowledge or information about some kind of sport. You do not have to be the world's biggest fan to enjoy sports trivia. You can print and enjoy these fifty questions that I have compiled about all different kinds of sports and sports figures. Test your knowledge or that of your friends. Enjoy!

1: Britain's Linford Christie was banned from competing for two years in which sport?
A: The 100m dash because he tested positive for drugs.

2: Which country's entire team was barred from competing at the Paralympics in Sydney?
A: Spain, they were caught entering non-handicapped athletes into the games.

3: Which sports figure holds the record for appearing the most times on the cover of Sports Illustrated?
A: Michael Jordan, he has been on the cover 47 times.

4: Who is the only man to play both a NFL game and a MLB game in a single day?
A: Deion Sanders

5: Which two countries have not missed one of the modern day Olympics?
A: Greece and Australia

6: Which goalie holds the record for the most wins in regular season play?
A: Patrick Roy

7: What is the maximum weight for a golf ball?
A: 1.6oz

8: In Olympic badminton how many feathers does the bird have?
A: 14

9: What professional sport did bank robber John Dillinger play?
A: Baseball

10: Who was the only person elected to both the football and the baseball hall of fame?
A: Cal Hubbard

11: Wayne Levi was the first golfer to win a PGA tournament using a colored ball. What color was the ball?
A: Orange

12: Which track and field event is banned in high schools in every state except Rhode Island?
A: The hammer throw

13: The world Cup of Soccer has only been won by three European countries. Who are they?
A: West Germany, England and Italy.

14: Which NHL team was once called the St. Patricks?
A: The Toronto Maple Leafs

15: What sport, other than baseball uses the word 'homerun'?
A: Cricket

16: What sport awards the Maurice Podoloff Trophy?
A: Basketball, it is awarded to the most valuable player

17: How many panels make up a soccer ball?
A: 32

18: How many stitches are there on a baseball?
A: 108

19: Who was the first female parachutist?
A: Jean Genvieve Granerin in 1799, she jumped from a hot air balloon.

20: What is the most watched sport in the world?
A: Soccer (football).

21: Which sport has the largest number of participants in the world?
A: Fishing.

22: In what year did boxing become a legal sport in the US?
A: 1901

23: What edible substance was found in golf balls?
A: Honey

24: Who holds baseball's record for the most stolen bases in a single season?
A: Rickey Henderson

25: Who holds the record for the longest hitting streak in baseball?
A: Joe DiMaggio, 56 games.

26: Who holds the record in basketball for the most career rebounds?
A: Wilt Chamberlain

27: Who holds the record in basketball for the most fouls?
A: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 4657.

28: Who holds the record in basketball for the most blocked shots?
A: Hakeem Olajuwon 3830.

29: In what year was the Ice Dancing included in the World Championship?
A: 1952, in Paris.

30: Who holds the record for the most homeruns in a single season?
A: Barry Bonds he set the record in 2001.

31: Which woman took silver in the men's World Figure Skating Championship in 1902?
A: Madge Syers-Cave, there was no women's events and no rule in the men's saying a woman could not compete.

32: Who was the first woman to win the woman' s World Figure Skating Championship?
A: Madge Syers-Cave, she won it in 1906

33: What is the name of the stadium where the Houston Astros play?
A: Minute Maid Park

34: What sport do the Houston Astros play?
A: Baseball

35: Which country won the gold medal in men's beach volleyball at the 2008 Summer Olympics?
A: USA, the team of Rogers/Dalhausser defeated the Team from Brazil to win the gold.

36: Who holds the record for the most goals in the NHL?
A: Wayne Gretzky, he scored 894.

37: In which sport would you use the terms reefing and furling?
A: Sailing

38: Which sport awards the Ryder Cup?
A: Golf

39: Who holds the records for the most goals in one season in the NHL.
A: Wayne Gretzky, in the 81-82 season he scored 92 goals.

40: How many players are on the field for each team in American football?
A: 11 there are 12 in Canadian football.

41: James Naismith is credited with inventing which sport?
A: Basketball. When the game was first played there were only 13 rules.

42: Which sport has a three in the key rule?
A: Basketball, it was introduced in 1936 to cut down on contact between players.

43: In basketball how far is the free throw line from the net?
A: 15 feet or 4.6m.

44: How long is a football game?
A: 60 minutes.

45: In which sport might you find a dagger and a trapeze?
A: Sailing.

46: Which country held the 2008 Olympics.
A: The Olympics were in Beijing China.

47: Which sport awards the Winston Cup?
A: NASCAR

48: In which sport did Sonny Liston participate?
A: Boxing, he was a heavy weight.

49: Affirmed, won the triple crown in 1978, who was his regular jockey?
A: Steve Cauthen and he was the youngest jockey ever to win the triple crown.

50: Who eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics?
A: Michael Phelps in swimming.

By Jane P. Long
PressSearch.org

Corn Hole Bags - Tips on Buying Them

The game of corn hole is very popular throughout the U.S. right now. The reason is simple, it's easy to play, challenging enough to not get old, and fun for all ages. Just like golf balls need replaced periodically so do corn hole bags. The question is... What makes a good corn hole bag? Where do I buy replacement bags? Let's look at these questions and a few more and try and come up with some good answers.

The corn hole bag is typically very similar to a bean bag. It is a six inch by six inch square bag made of duck cloth filled with sixteen ounces of corn. At least that is what they were originally. Buyer beware, that is not always what you are going to find when purchasing your bags. There are bags sold at the nations largest retailer that are not made with corn and do not weigh one pound each. They have plastic pellets in them and they weigh around twelve ounces or about twenty five percent less than the rules say they should. These bags are also sold all over the internet.

So what can you do to be sure you are getting a quality corn hole bag? It's simple. Before you throw down your hard earned cash take the time to read all the specs on either the box or in the description online. If a supplier isn't coming clean with the truth about their bags then I would avoid them. If there is no phone number for you to call prior to ordering online to get information I would not buy them. The supplier should have all the information about their bags weight, material, and filling right there in plain english for you to read. If it is not there, I would look somewhere else.

Something else you should consider when making your bag purchase is wether or not the supplier provides a warranty or guarantee on their products. If a supplier can't guarantee their product that is the same thing as saying that they do not believe in their product and that in all likely hood it's junk and will fail to provide the durability that one seeks and desires.

Take your time with your corn hole bag purchase. The best price is not always the best choice. In the case of corn hole bags the best materials, the best stitching, and the best warranty, should come before price. There is a reason avid golfers don't buy their golf balls at a discount store. The same should apply to corn hole bag players.

By Jay Stueve
PressSearch.org

Plyometric Strength For Jumping - Lebron James

Lebron James is an example of a highly explosive, highly reactive athlete. For one, he is a 1-foot jumper. 1-foot jumping uses more reactive, or plyometric, ability and less strength than 2-foot.

On top of that though, Lebron is no ordinary 1-foot jumper. He can get an extremely high jump off a high speed approach, indicating that he can store a lot of energy during the stretch-shortening cycle in the muscle-tendon complex. And he can do it at lightning speed. He can generate so much force in a small fraction of a second that he barely has to slow down to propel his body 40+ inches in the air.

This ability to maintain horizontal speed through his takeoff is what allows Lebron to dunk from so far away from the hoop. Let's say Lebron is moving toward the basket at a high speed on an open fast break. When he plants his foot to jump, his body is moving fast, so his foot can only stay there for a very short time. In that short time he has to generate enough force to launch high into the air.

A less explosive, less reactive person would have to slow down to allow the foot to be planted longer, giving more time for force production. Slowing down would mean sacrificing horizontal distance on the jump.

Watch this video of Lebron's fast break dunk. Lebron free throw dunk Note how fast his takeoff is. His plant leg just attacks the ground. It also looks pretty effortless, that's because much of the force in a fast stretch-shortening cycle comes from the recoil of the tendons, which is involuntary. You can see an obvious difference between Lebron and a typical athlete, or even Lebron James is an incredibly gifted athlete.

By Daniel Back
PressSearch.org

Rent a Jet Ski This Summer! Affordable Family Fun!

Now that it's finally Summer, people are planning their vacations and looking for fun, affordable activities that their whole family or all their friends can enjoy. One great option is taking the family out for a jet ski rental adventure. Renting jet skis, also known as wave runners, personal watercraft or PWC, is a very safe and affordable way for the whole family to experience an exciting day out on the water. If you've been looking for a great, family-friendly day trip or a day of fun with good friends but don't know much about using or renting wave runners, here's a crash course in what they are and how to enjoy them!

First, a little background: personal watercraft are essentially motorized vehicles that a person rides on top of (or through) water - usually lakes, rivers, oceans and bays. They sort of resemble motorcycles or snowmobiles that are used on water instead of land or snow. Think of a personal sized boat...a fair comparison would be that a motorcycle is to a car what a jet ski is to a boat (at least "sort of"). While the technical name for these vehicles is "personal watercraft," many refer to them as jet skis or wave runners. Both "Jet Ski" and "Wave Runner" are actually brand names, but each phrase is now commonly used to refer to the vehicle itself rather than the manufacturer of the vehicle. All three phrases (wave runner, jet ski, and personal watercraft) can be used interchangeably to refer to these vehicles.

While many people worry that these vehicles are dangerous, the truth is that they are extremely safe, provided that you are trained in their use and follow all federal and local rules and regulations governing them. Most people won't want to spend their vacations reading up on federal/local rules and regulations, but if you select a reputable jetski rental business, the staff will be able and willing to teach you the basic information you need to know. Many places that rent jet skis require that visitors take a short tutorial prior to embarking on their water adventure. Each locale may have different rules concerning wave runner use, so it is strongly recommended that even experienced riders review jetski safety rules and local regulations before riding.

When considering jet ski rentals, you should keep the following in mind:

• Does the jetski rental business offer training and safety lessons to new customers, and is the staff willing to answer all questions you have regarding the use and safety of the waverunners?
• What is the facility's location relative to the bodies of water you intend to visit, and do they have a means for you to transport your jet ski rentals to/from the water? If so, is there an additional fee?
• If you are planning to rent a wave runner as a day trip on part of a larger vacation, are there places to rent waverunners within a reasonable driving distance of your destination?

For example, there are facilities that provide personal watercraft rentals within a convenient driving distance from Las Vegas, Nevada, that very popular and fun tourist destination. There are places to ride jet skis in the greater Las Vegas area, including the Colorado River, Lake Mead, and Lake Havasu, Arizona (just a short drive outside of Las Vegas and Laughlin, NV, and Bullhead City, AZ). In fact, Lake Havasu has been hosting the IJSBA (International Jet Sports Boating Association) World Finals every October since 1982!So if you are looking for a new and exciting adventure for your family vacation this year in and around Las Vegas or Laughlin NV or in Bullhead City NV for jet ski rentals, consider renting a jet ski - it's guaranteed to be an awesome experience your family will love!

By Roger Laurendeau
PressSearch.org

What is Badminton?

Badminton is best played indoors. Badminton is also played outdoors as a casual recreational activity, often as a garden or beach game. Badminton is not only fun but is extremely beneficial to your health. Participating in badminton gives a huge number of health benefits and promotes a long, healthy life. Playing badminton keeps you feeling well, strong and motivated. It can help in coping with anxiety and stress and offers a release from the pressures of everyday life.

It is fairly easy to learn and suits all ages and physiques, so anyone can take up the sport. Since badminton is a non-contact sport, it is also relatively safe, although it is not completely free from injuries. One of the most common injuries is falling or twisting, which can result in knee and ankle sprains. Overstretching the arms during play can also strain the shoulder muscles. These injuries usually take time to heal, and can cost a lot if you have no insurance. Poor traction can add to the risk of injury, so wear proper shoes and make sure the floors are not too rough or slippery. Warm up before playing and cool down afterwards, and wear knee pads and wrist and ankle guards.

Since 1992, badminton has been an: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles, in which each pair is a man and a woman. At high levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness: players require aerobic stamina, agility, strength, speed and precision. It is also requiring a good technical sport and the development of sophisticated racquet movements.

Badminton features one player opposing another or competing pairs. The game is played on a surface called a court. The size of the court is 44 feet long X 17 feet wide for a single's match and 4 feet long X 20 feet wide for a double's match. The net is supposed to be 5 feet 1 inch on the edges and 5 feet in the centre. The object is to hit the bird or shuttlecock past the opponent so it lands on the court, or to get the opposition to make a mistake and hit the shuttlecock into the net or outside the court. A match is the best of three games, played to 21 points.

Badminton is the fastest-racquet sport and is also considered to be the world's #2 most played sport behind soccer. There are regional tournaments and leagues throughout much of Asia and Europe, as well as countless people playing in schools, gyms, or clubs.

Professional badminton, although thought by many to be non-existent, has all the characteristics that make a sport popular. The stereotype that badminton is an unbearably slow sport with little action could not be more wrong. Badminton is in fact the world's fastest racket sport, even more so than the most popular racket sport, tennis.

By Fredy Siswanto
PressSearch.org

Golf Ball Reviews You Can Trust

Whenever a new golf ball is launched on the market, most golfers will not really know how well the ball will perform and whether it is worth buying. As people are used to reading reviews nowadays before buying products, it makes sense to first of all read a golf ball review to find out the pros and cons of the ball before buying.

Manufacturers and Varieties

Today, there are so many golf ball manufacturers, which means that the competition between them is very fierce. Also, there are as many varieties of balls from each manufacturer. You will need to know about the many different features, such as the construction type, softness, feel, and spin rate.

Brands

Reading a review will help inform you about the different brands that are available. In the case of newly launched balls this information can be useful to find out if that particular ball will be right for your game. Whether you want to buy a Nike ball or any other top brand ball, you should first read some reviews about the brand to find out what others are saying about it.

Features

Most golf ball reviews will provide you with the details regarding a ball's features and capabilities. One of the most important aspects of a ball is its construction type; whether the ball is two-piece, three-piece or four-piece. There are balls that are suitable only for low handicap golfers and others that are good for beginners

Which Review to Believe?

You should of course, not take the word of the author of the golf ball review as being gospel; you need to read several reviews before determining the reliability of opinions expressed. Before buying your ball, by being well informed, you will at least stand a better chance of buying the right golf ball for your game.

The Best Reviews

The best golf ball reviews are the ones that are submitted by actual users of the balls. Many golfers that have used balls and are either happy or unhappy with them, like to leave a review of their experiences. Golfers are like that; they have opinions about the golf equipment they use and they like to voice their opinions.

User generated reviews of balls can give you a more balanced picture of which balls are more worthwhile for you. The reviewer can usually rate the ball as well as leave a constructive comment - better yet if they note their handicap. That way, when you visit a website that has golf ball reviews, you can study the ones you were thinking of buying to see if they will be good for you.

By Mick Euan Tait
PressSearch.org

How to Influence Others - 3 Proven Ways to Influence People

Influencing others and having a "driving force" can help you achieve whatever goals you may have. Whether you want to improve your business, career or relationships, this article will teach you how to influence others so you can attain your desires faster.

Tip # 1 On How To Influence Others: Assume Leadership Roles

When taking a leadership role, just think about how the ideal leader is. Well of course, people would think of them as the heads of a pack or the more famous people in a group, but there is something present in a leader that is not present in most of its members - influence. They know, or people have the perception of them knowing, how to influence others.

Taking a leadership role can be as simple as communicating more effectively with the other party, helping you attain better outcomes. This will make them trust you and rely on you more for different types of pursuits.

Not only will you feel more motivated from such action, your folks will be happier and even more open towards you.

Tip # 2 On How To Influence Others: Smile Genuinely.

Part of good influence is to show care and appreciation towards another person. This can help you become more appreciated and form stronger relationships.

And what better way to do that than smile! A smile brings about positive feelings; it is a gesture of immediate acceptance and well being when done with good intentions. People often feel safe and open to communicate when you smile at them.

But do you really take the initiative to smile? Do you smile in the morning to your partner upon waking up, or to your co-workers at the job upon arriving? Smiling gives you a good start to bond and connect. And you know what? You also feel better when you give a genuine smile to someone.

Tip # 3 On How To Influence Others: Help Others Unconditionally.

Helping people unconditionally is another effective way to influence people. The law of reciprocity states that people would be more willing to give back if you did an initial favor for them.

But to make this effective, don't ask for a return favor immediately after you've given one. People would think that you're doing the favor because you want something from them, and not because you really like to help. People would return the favor in due time; but if you do want to ask a favor in return, just allow enough time to pass between giving a favor and asking for one.

Take note that the seemingly smallest factors on how to influence others could be a major aspect. A simple pat on the back or words such as "good job" would be more than enough to influence and make the person who needs it feel much better.

By Michael Lee
PressSearch.org

A Richer Life - First Steps

As we all know (or at least intuit) we live our lives based in our beliefs, we see examples of this everywhere (people who believe that is smart and important step into successful careers, people who believe that is not good enough, keeps procrastinating and sabotaging themselves from their very own success). In our nearer social circles we see repeatedly examples of people who believe that life is a drama, and they sure live that way.

What is true about humankind is that all of us need to be challenged, that is the reason why routine often become boring for us, we all have creativity, reasoning and analysis abilities and skills, and these skills need to be exercised, to be taken to the next step, as happens with every other component of our own being. This is a non-stop process that we carry along our lives; we need to learn and to improve in every single step of our life, is our nature.

That is why our first step toward a richer life is to recognize our natural ability to create, to improve and from that prospective, start looking for the way we want to live (remember the people I've mentioned in the first paragraph, Who do you identify with?), analyze your current situation and recognize their relationship with your beliefs, that way you can go to the next step and start learning the new beliefs you want to direct our life, you will need to educate yourself towards living a richer life in all aspects.

We all have different talents and abilities but we all have the need to learn and improve, and give the best of us to us and share it with others, at the end this ability is what will make your life richer (in all ways), besides the great increasing income that you naturally will start attracting while you start living from a more nourishing and positive prospective.

Rejoice now that you know that you can recall your creative ability and change the beliefs that are not being helpful in your life, and from that joy start building your brighter you!

By Pilar Fonseca
PressSearch.org

Learn How You Can Become a Freemason - Freemasonry Rituals

There are many thoughts when it comes to determining just what the Freemasons is all about and even on how to become one. They are well known for their secrecy and this in a sense makes some individuals very uncomfortable. Some say you can only become a member by being invited while others stipulate that you must have a family member that is a Freemason before you yourself can become one.

It is the policy of the Freemasons not to recruit therefore they will never ask anyone to joint their organization. An interested party must approach them. Becoming a Mason is not an unrecognizable goal but there is certain criteria that you must meet before you will even be considered.

It is an absolute must that you believe in God, whereas many masons will not refer to him as God but will use the term you must believe in a Supreme Being. In the majority of countries, the age requirement is twenty-one but if one happens to be the son of Freemason then the age requirement is reduced to eighteen.

Another criterion is that you must be a person of good standing. You will be tested in this area when you go before the Freemasons examining board. They will ask you about your history and about your life in general. Their decisions will be based on your answers. The concept of the Freemasons according to their charter is to make good men better. There are no women allowed in this organization. Once passed your board examination your request to join will be put to a vote. Each member of that particular chapter is given the chance to vote regarding your membership.

If it turns out that, you are not voted in then that doesn't mean that you can't apply again but there is a waiting period. If on the other hand you are accepted then you are in for an experience. You will find that they have rituals that are full of metaphors and allegory. This is there way of teaching their lessons.

It's not suggested that you try to join the Freemasons just out of curiosity. If these are your reasons most likely, they will be detected at the board examination and you will fail anyway. Try to find out as much as possible about them before applying. Perhaps you know of a Mason that will point you in the right direction.

One interesting point you are going to discover when you start your research is that there is much conflicting information. It has been said that is because the Freemasons are such a secretive society that nobody is allowed to talk about the inner workings of it. If this is the case then how can one really discern what they are all about and make an informed decision as to whether to apply for membership.

In addition, it would seem that there are different orders of Freemasons. If you have one in particular that you want to join then perhaps you need to find out if they are in fact a full Freemason organization or just an offshoot.

By Simon L. Gray
PressSearch.org

A Very Simple Way to Make a Positive Impression on Others

These days, making a positive impression when meeting people for the first time is more important than ever. You need to consider all aspects of your physical appearance, including your apparel, your hair style, the fragrance you wear and even the health of your fingernails.

Generally speaking, it is women that seem to worry the most about their appearance. However, men are quickly becoming aware of the importance of proper hygiene and making a positive impression as well.

A fast and easy thing you can do to better your appearance immediately is to practice proper care for your nails and cuticles.

One of the recommended methods of taking care of your nails is to visit a nail care specialist or a manicurist. It is a nice luxury to have your fingernails cleaned and treated by a trained professional in a comfortable atmosphere.

Its one of those kinds of experiences that if you do it once, you will want to do it over and over again. When it comes to locating one, some have their own shops while others work out of spas, resorts or beauty salons. Fees for their services will fit just about everyones budget.

However, if your funds are limited, then another alternative is to give yourself a manicure in the comfort of your house. Nail clippers, polish, cuticle oil and a nail buffer are the basic things required if you decide to try it yourself.

You should be able to buy these items at your local neighborhood drug store. For less than $20, you can easily acquire everything you will need to do the procedure at home.

If you chose a manicurist or DIY nail care, both will be effective as long as you remember that the most important aspect is the overall health of your fingernails and cuticles.

Remember, clean and healthy hands will not only give you confidence and piece of mind, but will most surely make a fantastic impression to those who are around you.

By L.K. Reid
PressSearch.org

3 Steps For Handling Disappointment Or Adversity

Unfortunately, the unemployment rate continues to increase on a monthly basis this year. Other economic signs are beginning to show some small improvement which helps remind us that eventually companies will begin hiring again. In the meantime, life continues to be a struggle for many people.

You might be facing other common disappointments or adversities. In the work place, the bid you put in for a project was rejected, or you did not get the job you had hoped for. Maybe the kitchen or wash needs cleaning, and you do not want to face the day.

Whenever you have an expectation or hope that is not realized, you feel some level of disappointment or sadness. How you think about the situation will have a lot do with the feelings you have and how you choose to act or behave.

In addition, research indicates that your happiness as an adult might depend on how well you learned as a child to:

1. Deal with disappointment or adversity.

2. Create and sustain joy.

Are you one of many adults who did not learn how to do either of these things very well as you were growing up? If you are, now is your chance to master these two skills. With some commitment and effort, there are things you can do to make a difference in your level of happiness.

Are you ready to responsible for your own feelings, especially negative ones? It is easy to blame others for the way you feel. However, this will not increase your level of happiness. You begin by first being ready to be responsible for your own feelings.

In every negative situation, you have a choice of focusing on the:

1. Terrible things about it, and how it will make your life harder or less satisfying, or

2. Opportunities this situation may offer you and how you can use your strengths to move forward.

When you are feeling stressed, irritable, anxious or sad, there are three key questions you need to ask yourself:

1. What opportunities are there for me in this situation?

2. What resources do I have to help me?

3. How will I use my resources?

However, before you can answer these questions, you have to have self-awareness. This means you are able to notice what you are feeling and be able to acknowledge the feeling. You own the feeling by naming it. Think of the feeling as a cue that you need to notice and acknowledge what you are telling yourself. You might be saying something like, "I can't do this," or "I need help with this." Be curious about what you discover you are telling yourself without reacting emotionally to it.

Now is the time to ask the first question listed above - What opportunities are there for me in this situation? You might be surprised by the answers you get.

Sometimes the opportunities are not ones you would have chosen for yourself at that particular time. You may not feel ready to meet the challenge of finding employment or another project to bid on, cleaning the kitchen or doing the wash. However, one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to stop and discover what opportunities there are for you in the situation.

After you have discovered some opportunities, the next step is to ask the second question - What resources do I have to help me? Identify your internal and external resources that will help you embrace the opportunities. Internal resources may be your intelligence, sense of humor, the experience you bring, perseverance, courage, etc. External resources may be family, friends, someone you respect, money, time, etc.

The final step is to ask the third question - How will I use my resources? Determine how your resources will help you move forward. When you get to this last step, you might want to talk with a trusted advisor to help you know what to do if the situation is complex. The important thing is to come up with a plan that is doable and easy to follow through with over time.

These three steps will help you successfully handle major and smaller disappointments or adversities. The next time you notice yourself feeling disappointment or facing an adversity, ask the three key questions. Determine the steps you will follow and the time frame you need to be successful as you embrace the opportunities ahead.

By Maurine Patten
PressSearch.org

How to Deal With People You Don't Like in 3 Simple Steps

Gone are the days when you have to fume silently as your neighbor makes that awful racket with his lawn mower, or when your co-worker becomes too nosy. After you read this article, you'll know some secrets on how to deal with people you don't like.

Sometimes, life just happens to give you one for the road and if you're rather unlucky, one that you have to deal with constantly. However, you can learn how to tackle this situation better. You can learn how to deal with people you don't like.

1) Nobody's Perfect.

Understand that nobody's perfect. We have your own flaws and that doesn't really make us much different from the person we dislike.

So the next time Larry laughs that annoying laugh of his, relax and tell yourself that his laugh is just part of life's design. It's just his flaw and something that he cannot really help. Or when Martha starts gossiping about the life of John and Jane, tell yourself that nobody's perfect.

2) Focus on the Positive.

While nobody's perfect, nobody's not without merit either. So one effective way to deal with people you don't like is to focus on their positive traits or deeds.

Despite his annoying laugh, Larry does work hard when the situation calls for it. And even though Martha is such a talkative person, she does remember your birthday and even surprised you with an office party last year.

Once you focus on their positive traits, you'll have an easier time liking them - or at least, not hating them.

3) Be Nice to Them.

I know this sounds crazy; but one of the reliable methods on how to deal with people you don't like is by being kind to them. Doing something good for others leaves you with a warm feeling inside.

By doing nice things for the person you dislike, you are associating that warm feeling with him or her. And if you're nice, he or she will be more likely to return the favor.

These are some of the positive ways on how to deal with people you don't like. Anger is never a good thing and frustration shouldn't be left to reach boiling point. The suggestions above are some of the best ways to handle your situation. You'll not only be doing yourself a favor, you'll also be building solid relationships with anyone.

By Michael Lee
PressSearch.org

Subconscious Persuasion - The Best Persuasion Technique

When you are trying to persuade someone to do something, more often than not you are using more obvious stimuli like a cajoling voice, or perhaps using force, or using strong words - something a sales man would be more inclined to do. The thing about this is that the success rates for these types of persuasion can be quite low and considering that we have no other alternatives to these situations barring from pulling a gun out and pointing it to someone's head (and going to jail in the process), we are left with whatever talents and gifts of persuasion that we have.

Now, talking about this type of stimulation, a person would respond most of all to emotions. Pulling a gun out would evoke fear, or if a woman was using her womanly gifts, it would be using feelings of love or even sexual arousal to persuade someone to do something. Now this is all well and good, but what does it prove. It proves that the mind is the key ingredient to get someone to change their minds which can be very useful for many of us.

This is because rooted in the mind is the emotion bank, which then brings out the necessary chemical reactions and thus the emotions that would make someone more inclined to make a decision one way or the other. Sitting on the fence is not a decision, it is indecision and this is because of things like doubt or worry. This means that the power of persuasion is not holistic enough to sway a person in one direction. Imagine if you will if persuasion was a huge ship with a sail, and you needed a strong wind to blow them on course.

The wind in this case is the ability for you to attack their emotions and their biological intangible feelings that they have inside, create a positive case for yourself without over coercing someone, and get them to do what you wanted them to do in the first place. Doing so would be quite easy in the sense if you had the power of subconscious persuasion, and this is an art that actually has been perfected back in the day of espionage and spy work.

The principles are the same; just the application is a little different. For one thing, you need to understand the power of using things like body language and the ability to read a person. Also, when you are using the power of subconscious persuasion, you need to be able to use the subtle nuances of your body to speak directly to the mind.

Now it sounds a bit harder than it reads, so this is really a combination of intonation, use of eye contact, body language, the ability to read someone else's body language and of course being able to implant messages into someone's head without saying anything. Mastery of these needs the ingredients of confidence and charisma, some things you need to subconsciously implant in yourself at first before you can start attempting this.

By Greq Frost
PressSearch.org

The Secret to Self-Improvement

Many people will find themselves looking into self-improvement with the goal of finding secrets that will help them to make overnight changes. After all, we have become used to everything happening quickly in our lives. Unfortunately this kind of mindset tends to do more damage then it does good, as many will not be able to make such improvements in this time frame. And that can lead to them either giving up or feeling frustrated.

The secret to self improvement is to exercise patience as most changes will take some time to really take hold. If there are habits that you need to break and new ones that you need to create, then this will take at least a few weeks of concentrated effort on your part. The good news is that it is more than worth it as you can begin to really shape your life and your destiny and decide the direction that you want to take your life in.

Exercising patience is a vital trait that is needed to effect lasting changes in your life. After all, the get rich quick mentality is why so many people are broke and lose their money in questionable investment options. It's also why so many people that go on diets, tend to yo-yo back and forth on the scales.

Having patience is a virtue and it is something that you must have if you really want to see progress when you are tackling any issue that you may have in your life.

By Bryan Appleton
PressSearch.org

Thoughtful Words For a Thank You Note - What to Write on a Thank You Note to Express Your Gratitude

Sending people thank you notes is one way you can show how much you appreciate them. While a lot of people send them after hosting a party or an event, you can also send these notes to people for just being there in your life. And by using thoughtful words for a thank you note, you're making it more special. These words break away from the usual messages in most "thank you" templates.

Personally, I prefer sending thank you notes through snail mail or by dropping it off at the person's house rather than through e-mail. There's just something more sincere about a handwritten note than one conjured up in Word. If you want to make your message more personal, below are some thoughtful words for a thank you note you can use.

1) What are you thanking that person for?

First of all, write down what you're thankful to that person for. Was it for attending your party? Then write down, "Thank you for attending the baby shower last Sunday." If it's for a gift, then write down, "Thank you for that cute giraffe stuffed toy you gave me." Be as specific as possible to give the receiver the impression that the thank you note was written for her and for her only.

2) How did that person make you feel?

After thanking that person, write down how positive that person's presence of gift made you feel. Following our first two examples, you can write down these thoughtful words for your thank you note: "The shower wouldn't have been the same without my best friend there," or "It fits perfectly well into our baby's crib." You can take this opportunity to elaborate more. Write about two or three sentences talking about it, but not much more. This is only a thank you note and you probably have to write ten or twenty more after this one.

3) Thank that person again.

This is the last part of your thank you note. Make sure you thank that person again for coming to your event or for that package they sent over. You can write down, "Thank you again for coming to the baby shower," and then add, "I hope we can see more of each other in the future." While it's important to keep everything nice in your thank you note, it is just as important to mean what you write. If you don't really want to see more of that person, don't write that you do.

These are some of the key thoughtful words for a thank you note. I hope you've learned something helpful from this article, and I encourage you to be as creative as you can be as well.

By Michael Lee
PressSearch.org

Crazy Little Thing Called Fear

Fear.

Such a simple word, considering its wicked punching power.

When you were afraid as a kid, you likely hid in your closet, or under your covers, or even just under the protection of your own ten fingers. Becoming an adult may have lent us greater wisdom, but we still have the same survival instinct when it comes to fear...we hide!

Of course, as adults we've developed a few new hiding places. Closets are out; life drama is in, as in "my life is just so crazy." Bed covers are replaced by over eating, junk food eating, over talking, over thinking, and stalling, as in "I'm still getting ready to get ready!" And rather than our fingers, we hide behind over work and overwhelming over scheduling. Sound at all familiar? Here's some good news...you're absolutely not alone. Even better, there's a magic bullet available to help you change your fear from an enemy to an ally.

The first thing you must do to make fear work for you is to get underneath the fear. Our fears aren't our real problems. The real issues are hiding underneath. To move out of fear and into action, you have to become aware of, to understand, this underlying issue. Your awareness of your body and its chakras is the key. Have a stomach full of knots? Could be your sacral chakra is revealing issues with personal power. Chest feel tight and achy? Maybe your issue lies within the heart chakra area of relationships. Listening to your body can give you the first clues to understanding your true issues.

Second step? Stop thinking of fear as your enemy, as a thing that must be removed, like a cancerous tumor, from your body. Fear is a natural emotional response, and at times it can be quite helpful. Fear can help us to stay safe in risky situations. It can make us aware of things that need our awareness. This kind of fear springs from instinct.
The fear that mucks us up, slows us down, tries to keep us small...it comes from ego. But you can transmutate your fear into something much more useful, like excitement, with a simple exercise...BREATHING! Fear and excitement...they both stimulate an anticipatory response in us. But fear stops us while excitement stimulates our passions and helps us be our true and authentic self. Breathing helps us to unplug from our fear. It cleanses us of "bad" and leaves room for "good."

Why do we give up so much power to fear when it deserves so very little? For one thing, there's some social reward to playing into our fears. We can dictate others behavior by working from a place of fear and by ensuring that the "others" know this. And fear can be a strangely comfortable place at times...when being there allows other things, such as those that push us out of comfort zones and into our authentic selves, to be temporarily put aside.

By recognizing that fear will always be a part of us, by seeking out the real issue hiding under our fear, and by using our body awareness and breathing to change our relationship with our fear, we make it a non-issue. So stop struggling against it! Fear is not our enemy, it's not all bad; and it never has to dictate your actions. Go on...move into your action place. All you have to do is feel the fear...then do it anyway!

By Mary Kay Morgan
PressSearch.org

Top 10 Daily Habits For Revolutionizing Your Life

We're all looking for ways to create massive momentum in our lives. There are daily habits to begin our days with, to use throughout the day, and to end our days with that will create the foundation needed to propel us forward at the velocity of transformation.

1. Start your day with meditation. The benefits of daily meditation are many and varied, and have been documented for many years. It's an important habit for revolutionizing your life. For one, by quieting the mind it gives you full access to all of your resources, skills, and abilities as you go about the rest of your day. Daily meditation will also deepen your sensitivity and you will find that you are able to notice increasingly subtle cues, both from yourself and your environment, which will dramatically increase your ability to create and respond.

2. Ask yourself, "What can I create today that will have the greatest impact on my life?" Use this incredibly powerful question to create a goal for your day that will have a revolutionary impact.

3. Before you begin the rest of your day, get clear on what you intend to create. By getting intentional about your day you not only enact the power of attraction, you formulate a game plan that keeps you from living your day off of a "to do" list or spending your day reacting - there's no real power in that! A powerful way to check in on your intention throughout the day would be to use an electronic watch that chimes on the hour. When you hear the chime stop and check in with the intention you had declared for the day, and get clear about your intention for the next hour.

4. Journal. Heidegger said that "language is the house of being". Human beings are by nature creators and one of the most powerful tools we have available to us for creating with is language. When we bring our experience to the world with words, whether they're written or spoken, we're actually inventing and creating as we communicate. We also begin to uncover valuable lessons that might have escaped us otherwise. Journaling is a great creative outlet, and reviewing your journal will also often remind you of powerful ideas that you had forgotten.

5. Take care of your body. Honoring the needs of your body on a daily basis will keep you from creating a revolution that you're too tired or too sick to enjoy! If you're like most people, you already know what you need to do to take proper care of your body - just do it! If you don't know, find out!

6. What worked? What didn't work? At the end of your day, check in and get in touch with what was effective, and what wasn't. Asking what worked and what didn't work are particularly great questions to use to do this with because they take all of the judgment out of it.

7. WWYRMHD? It's become popular to ask "What would Jesus do?", but you can also ask yourself what Buddha, Einstein, Thomas Leonard, Lee Iacocca or even your favorite quarterback would do or have done differently, as well as what coaching they would have for you. We all have people that we admire, and we often have different role models for the different areas of our life. What Would Your Role Model Have Done (WWYRMHD)? If they had lived your day or had been there in your situations, what would they have done? If you could talk to them about it, what do you think they would tell you? This is a miraculously powerful way to access wisdom right down through the ages.

8. Ask yourself, "What lessons can I learn from my day?" What lessons can you learn from your day? What lessons can you carry forward into your day tomorrow that will allow you to be more effective?

9. Ask yourself, "Did I choose to honor my authentic self today?" This question will always bring you back to what's most important to you. This question invites you to return to your center from even the craziest of days.

10. And finally, acknowledge yourself. Think of at least 10 things from your day that you can honor and acknowledge yourself for. You've created those wins - honor them - and yourself for creating them. This is a great way to fall asleep. It will change the way you dream during the night, and your subconscious mind will put it to work throughout the entire night. You'll be primed for attraction by morning!

By Teacy Phaup
PressSearch.org

Learn How to Become a Mentalist - How to Read Minds in 3 Simple Steps

People who know how to read minds are the envy of everybody. They can amaze anyone and instantly become the life of the party. They can also use their skills to make sound decisions, anticipate reactions and make life generally more pleasant for themselves. The good news is... you too can learn how to become a mentalist.

You don't have to go through too much hullabaloo to develop mind reading tricks and skills. Just by reading these tips below, you can learn how to become a mentalist in no time.

1) Ask the right questions.

If you want to know how to read minds, you can start by asking the right questions. These questions won't give you what you want to know directly. However, you would be able to figure out more or less where a person stands.

For example, you want to know whether a person is pro-environment or pro-capitalism. Ask them a question that tackles both concepts. Ask about what he thinks of animals in a zoo and animals in the wilderness. Or you can also ask whether they recycle or not. If you want to learn how to become a mentalist, you have to know how to do your detective work subtly.

2) Look for clues.

There's always a clue to every mystery. If you want to learn how to become a mentalist, you have to start recognizing clues for what they are and connect them all together.

Let's say you're a wife who wants to go out with your husband tonight. Look at his face, the way he carries himself and his overall appearance. Does he look haggard? Has he brought home a suitcase filled with documents? Judging by the clues presented to you, you can already deduce how your spouse is going to react to your plans.

3) Follow the routine.

You may not notice it, but most people tend to be predictable. They usually follow the same routine day in and day out.

Betty, for example, likes to stop by the department store after work. If you have worked with Betty or have known her for quite some time, you should already be familiar with her after work excursions. And yet when you tell her that you know she's going to head to the mall after work, she's still undeniably surprised at how you can read her mind!

Why don't you try observing your own habits and see just how predictable some of your actions are? Doing this will definitely improve your awareness of other people's actions as well.

Congratulations! You have just learned how to become a mentalist. It's not really hard work and can be a really fun experience.

By Michael Lee
PressSearch.org

Help, I Hate My Life! How to Change the Things You Don't Like About Your Life

Do you have things in your life, people, situations, circumstances, that you hate? If so, you are not alone. Dissatisfaction and yearning are the human condition, it is the reason that the human race has evolved and thrived and also why so many people lead lives of quiet desperation.

But some people do seem to break out of the chains that bind most people to a life of frustration and unhappiness. What is it that they have or that they discover, that separates them from their fellow humans? The answer is that they don't have anything that isn't available to anyone else, they have just found answers to life's problems and have an attitude that allows them to be happy and to accept gifts.

Each human being is made from the same mold of consciousness which consists of three separate parts. You, like every other person, including those who find happiness and success in life, have three parts. You have a subconscious mind that controls feelings and deep urges.

You have a conscious rational mind that makes daily decisions and also tries to rein in the urges when they put you in jeopardy or are not in keeping with societal norms. Most of the unrest, unhappiness, frustration that people feel is caused by the conflict between those two parts of the self.

Have you ever felt like doing something that was possibly dangerous or destructive, but knew you shouldn't do it and therefore felt guilt or anxiety? That is a classic example of the struggle between the subconscious and conscious mind. If you can settle that dispute and learn to look into your subconscious mind, you can find the answer to why you want the things you want and also learn how to be happy and satisfied.

Finally, you have a higher self, a higher consciousness that connects you to the super conscious mind. It is your connection to the universal mind. Because it is connected to the source of all knowledge, it is possible to access that part of you and to get answers to life's questions. It is also possible to use it to settle disputes between the other parts of you.

People who seem to be well adjusted and happy have often learned how to listen to their higher self and how to reconcile those different parts. Anyone can do it, with a little help. You may have heard someone say that all the answers you need are within you. That is true and learning the 5 A's will help you to find all the answers to life's problems.

The five A's are, Acknowledgment, Attunement, Awareness, Acceptance, and Action! Learn to put the five A's to good use and you will never have to say, "I hate my life," again.

By Wil Lanqford
PressSearch.org

How to Become More Talkative

When I was younger, what I wanted most in the world was to become talkative. In fact, I was extremely jealous of some people I knew who could talk and talk for hours and never shut up!

In those days, I was painfully shy and I had no social skills. Even when I was in my twenties, I would often be completely silent when I was surrounded by other chattering people.

It wasn't that I didn't have anything to say - I was just extremely shy. Because of my extreme shyness, I just wasn't able to say anything most of the time. I could barely speak up. I was so scared of speaking up that whenever people asked me a question, my mind would go completely blank

In spite of this extreme shyness, I did manage to make some friends, because I had some other good qualities. In my own very shy way I could be charming and interesting.

But oh, how I longed to be able to talk to other people! How I wished that I could just go on and on and blurt out anything that was on my mind like some of my friends could do!

Nowadays, I might think those people were too talkative, because most of the time they didn't actually say anything. I wished that I could have the nerve to speak, even when I had nothing important to say!

I used to sit and listen to these people and wonder to myself, "How do they have the nerve to talk and take center stage in this conversation even though they are only talking about trivial matters? Why is it that I have so many terribly important things to say, and I can't find the courage to say a single thing?"

Probably many other shy people also have similar thoughts that go through their minds. There are probably many other shy people just like me who would trade our lives in an instant and switch places with some talkative person who just goes on and on talking for hours.

I'm sure that I'm not the only shy person who has been extremely jealous of talkative people. I spent many years wishing I could do that.

I think that most people who meet me today would never believe that I was ever shy. Most of the time, my shyness doesn't show, and I actually can be very talkative on occasion. I learned to stop criticizing myself whenever I spoke and just let the words flow. I stopped being so focused on how I thought other people might be reacting, and just realized their reactions didn't have to be my main concern. I could focus on saying what I wanted to say. I could let myself be silly. I could be much more playful.

However, this transformation from a very shy person to one who can sometimes talk too much did not just happen quickly. This transformation into being a much more friendly and outgoing person did not happen just by itself.

No. This transformation actually took years of work. I spent many years trying to overcome my shyness, and my lack of confidence. I spent many years analyzing what makes people able to have friends.

Eventually I learned enough that I was able to write some books about it to help other people develop their social skills and their conversational skills.

I speak up every chance I get. Maybe some people now wish I would just be quiet again!

By Royane Real
PressSearch.org