9 Real Estate Website Must Haves

1. MLS Search Capabilities

Remove the Fear From the Home Buying Process

Especially if you're new to the home buying experience, it can seem like an intimidating process, fraught with frustration and full of potential pitfalls. It can be a scary proposition to buy a home, but here are some ideas you can use to take the fear and risk out of the home buying process.

Your first step is to remove any doubt as to whether you can qualify for the home of your dreams by getting an approval from your financial institution before you even begin looking. Believe me, after you've fallen in love with a home is NOT the time to find out that you can't qualify for the loan it will take to get into that home. Knowing how much home you can buy will take a huge amount of uncertainty out of the process. It will let you know what price range to shop in, and can save heartache later on, once you've located the home you've been looking for.

Visit your new home at least three times before making your final decision. Each time you visit, you'll notice different things, including flaws that you didn't notice when you first fell in love with the home. You'll be amazed that the things you missed on your first visit, and on your second!

When you do find a home you love, buy an owners title policy. This type of policy is different from a standard title policy, which covers only your loan amount. An owners title policy is relatively inexpensive and also protects your equity in the home.

If your new home includes any land, have the property surveyed so that you'll know exactly where your boundaries are. It's not good enough to have the owner point out which trees mark the boundaries. Often those boundaries have only been agreed upon by various neighbors for many years, and may have no relevance to your actual property lines. If that's the case, it's best to find out before you take possession of the property. Remember, agents can help you with the various sales conventions of the area, but not with legal questions.

If the home is in a subdivision, read the developments covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CCRs) carefully. These will spell out specifically what you can and can't do with your property. The same is true is you're buying a condominium. Find out what your legal rights are and what your association fees entitle you to.

Make certain that the sellers move out according to schedule. This is especially true if you're buying the home directly from the owner. If you're using a real estate agent in the transaction, you can probably ask them to help if it seems as if you might have any difficulty in that regard.

Overall, buying a new home should be an exciting and fun experience. If you pay attention to the details, you can make sure your next purchase is rewarding and trouble free.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

FREE report for home buyers: Home Buyers' Biggest Mistake, visit the Real Estate Credit Help Center. Author Jeanette Fisher teaches first-time home buyers and beginning real estate investors the ins and outs of real estate investing. Free real estate investing information: http://doghousetodollhouse.com

Ladies Do You Want To Feel Sexy? Then Try This

THAT CHEMICAL BOND CALLED SEXY BRA!

Sometime, things just get so darn boring. It makes you see life like a 1950s movie without a touch of color to brighten up the day. But if you thought that there's no way you can perk up, think again.

Resort to some things that will cheer you up, boost your confidence, and eventually make a life that is full of life!

For ladies out there, you may opt for a sexy bra instead of the usual types of brasseries that you have. Most fashion experts contend that wearing sexy things like a sexy bra will definitely make you feel sexy.

However, the big question is: what makes a sexy bra? Is it the material, the design, the color, or the person who is wearing it?

Some of you might prefer to answer with the latter choice in mind. But nevertheless, sexy bra is still a bra and needs a little more positive characteristics to give you the support and comfort that you need.

So, when choosing a sexy bra, it is still important to consider these following pointers so that you'll not only feel sexy but confident and comfortable as well.

1. When you want to show some flesh and your sexy bra might just do the job for you, consider the color of your tops and your sexy bra as well. Do not show beige sexy bra straps under spaghetti-strap tops.

2. Do not wear plastic strap sexy bras with halter-tops. It will not be a pretty sight even if you are wearing a sexy bra.

3. A single hook looks very neat, but it is not practical for fuller busts. A fastening with two or three hooks is much comfortable and supportive even during some hot steamy nights.

4. All straps should have adjustable levels fort the hooks to accommodate fluctuation of weight or washing changes. A stretch sexy bra with Lycra will get bigger over time and may not look sexy anymore, so does a sexy bra woven with a firm cotton material.

5. Women often wear sexy bras that are too tight thinking that it will give their breasts that needed lift. This should not be the case. A sexy bra can give you that much needed lift to show off those eye-popping cleavage at the same time fits just right. With this, you do not only look sexy but more confident.

6. Have a wardrobe of sexy bra. Think of the occasion that will call for it. Sexy bra looks good with laces on and looks even great with evening gowns or even with a simple night lingerie.

Have fun with it!

7. Remember that if your sexy bra lets your breast bulge above the cup or out of the sides near the armpits, creating lumps under the clothes, then the cups are too small.

8. On the other hand, if the cup material puckers or the breast doesn't entirely fill a molded cup, then it is just too big.

9. Likewise, if your sexy bra rides up in the back and is higher than the front, then the band is too long.

10. A nice, comfy sexy bra should never leave red marks on the skin after it's taken off because it means that your sexy bra is just too small.

11. A colorful, laced sexy bra is a definite turn-on. But remember not to wear then under a white or light-colored shirt. This will not make a good impression on you.

12. Do use a matching halter bra and pull it down with a low-back adaptor. This will definitely make you look sexy and cool.

There you have it! Just follow these simple rules on the dos and don'ts of wearing sexy bra and you'll never have an embarrassing moment. Indeed, a sexy bra partnered with a confident wearer equals a one hot summer night.

That is what chemistry is all about!

About the Author

None http://www.my-bra-store.com/Sexy.html

Child Care Development: What All Carers Should Know

 



Child Care Development: What All Carers Should KnowSubmitted By: David Faulkner   

The environment that a child grows up in is a very important element in his development. As longer hours are spent by children in child care facilities, it is important for administrators of these centers to be more diligent in looking into their programs for child care development.

Essential to a child's development are the approaches that a facility takes in his learning. Aside from the physical factors crucial to his progress, the child must also be emotionally, intellectually, and socially stimulated.

What types of development should be nurtured in child care centers?

Child care development comes in various forms. One is social development, to which child care facilities may greatly contribute if well-planned activities are properly implemented. When a child is in a day care center, for instance, he is constantly around other children, with whom he plays, works, and eats.

The child also learns how to deal with s ? in this case teachers, volunteers, or caregivers who need to be well-trained in child care development. When these professionals show care and concern for their wards, the children react positively and would enjoy their stay in child care facilities more.

Child care development in these facilities also comes in the form of emotional maturity. As children interact with kids of various cultural, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds, they obtain a deeper understanding of diversity and tolerance for others.

Another form of child care development that can be nurtured are language skills. Even toddlers learn a lot by uttering seemingly nonsensical words, as these are the first steps to language development. Children also take to singing naturally, which also helps in their linguistic learning.

Physical activities, a necessary program in almost all child care facilities, contribute to child care development in a variety of ways. Motor skills, both fine and gross, are enhanced via free play, playground time, and individual work such as painting and playing with puzzles.

Moreover, child care development is at its best when the facility also offers feeding programs. Balanced diets are essential for child care development because kids need proper nutrition in order to progress optimally. When they are given nutritious food, they learn better and are less irritable or hyperactive.

There are many instances when child care development is not easily detected at first, but is manifested in the long term. When there are enough activities to stimulate children's creativity and interactive skills, we can say that the facility satisfactorily fulfills its role in child care development.

When we speak of outdoor gates, we refer to the security of the center?s perimeter itself. Even during outdoor play, the children must not be able to open the main gates by themselves and possibly venture out into the street. Indoor gates refer to the contraptions attached to staircases and other areas of the house or establishment where access to them may pose dangers to the children.

For the child?s safety, all staircases must be blocked by a safety gate which no child should be able to open without assistance from an . In the same vein, washrooms and toilets must have all the features necessary for it to be child-friendly ? that is, toilet seats must be at levels accessible for kids; there should be no bathtubs which could pose dangers to toddlers; and sinks must be within their reach.

Avoiding Discriminatory Real Estate Practices

Real estate agents should never say or imply that the presence of persons of a particular protected class (race, national origin, etc.) in a neighborhood could or will result in:

lower property values;

a change in the composition of the neighborhood;

a more dangerous neighborhood; or

a decline in the quality of the schools in the neighborhood.

Most real estate agents would not act in an overtly discriminatory way; for example, they wouldn?t raise the listing price because of the race of the prospective buyer. Yet some of these same agents might tell racial or ethnic jokes or make derogatory remarks about a particular group of people.

Although these jokes or remarks don?t necessarily indicate a willingness to actually discriminate in a transaction, a listener might assume that they do. Even listening or going along with inappropriate remarks can give the impression that the agent agrees with these discriminatory attitudes. Agents need to watch out for signs of such attitudes, in order to avoid helping others violate antidiscrimination laws.

Listing agents should make sure the seller is willing to follow the law, and decline to take the listing if the seller is not.Real estate agents should also provide equal service to buyers and sellers without regard to their race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, familial status, age, or disability. For example, an agent should never refuse to show a property to a potential buyer based on discriminatory reasons.

1031 Royalty Interests

If you're looking for a way to diversify your real estate portfolio and are having trouble with traditional replacement properties, investing in 1031 royalty interests in an oil or gas project may be a viable alternative strategy.

Basically, a 1031 Exchange is a way for investors to take the money they make off of the sale of a property, and reinvest it into another property. One of the main reasons for doing this is to defer capital gains taxes from the relinquished property to the replacement property. If you currently own real estate, and you're looking for a replacement property, you might want to consider investing in 1031 royalty interests in an oil or gas project . The IRS has some tricky rules when it comes to exchanging oil and gas rights. For example, minerals beneath the surface are considered part of the real estate, but when they are extracted they fall into a different category. You can exchange 1031 royalty interests for another royalty interest, as well as for a hotel, office building, shopping mall, or any other "like-kind" property.

In a standard oil and gas investment, investors have "subsurface interests" or "mineral rights" to the oil and gas reserves which lay beneath a shared property. One type of interest is called a "royalty interest." Under these circumstances, the investor is the owner of the mineral rights, however the owner plays no role in the exploration or the drilling of the oil and gas; they simply are entitled to a percentage of any extracted minerals.

Oil and gas interests have several very attractive characteristics. For one, the demand for oil and gas is virtually unwavering. Also, in many of the oil and gas deals, there are no closing costs or additional fees to consume part of your investment. Finally, oil and gas investments have a significant upside in respect to returns.

If you are interested in making a exchange, 1031 royalty interests may provide an profitable avenue for you. Remember, it's essential to do your homework regarding royalty rights to ensure you comply with state and federal laws regarding the exchange of oil and gas rights.

Surgical Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration Technologies

Surgical Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration Technologies

 by: Joseph R. Lopez

Plants, invertebrate animals, amphibians and even reptiles have the ability to regenerate lost or damaged body parts. In the case of lizards, for example, this is a defensive mechanism. When a predator attacks, the lizard can break off its own tail as a means of distraction. While the predator is busy eating the tail, the lizard escapes and regenerates the body part later on. Mammals can regenerate some skin and liver tissue, but our regenerative abilities stop there. Unlike lizards, which have nature to thank for their regenerative capabilities, we are dependent on scientists, physicians and the business community to develop new technologies that will help us repair and replace damaged tissue.

How do lizards and other animals regenerate tissue? Part of the answer has to do with stem cells. When an amphibian loses its tail, for example, stem cells in the spinal cord migrate into the regrowing tail and differentiate into several cell types, including muscle and cartilage. This occurs simultaneously with the growth and differentiation of cells in the tail stump. Eventually, this process results in a new, fully-functional and anatomically-correct tail.

The exact reasons why mammals are so limited when it comes to regenerative potential is still not known. However, there have been significant levels of investment into stem cell research over the past several years in the hope of developing new technologies that will offer the ability to grow lost or damaged tissue, and perhaps even organs. Although there have been a number of recent breakthroughs in stem cell research, technologies that will actually regenerate human tissue are still several years away from fully coming to market. In the meantime, a new market is developing for products that have the ability to interact with living tissue and in some cases promote cellular migration and growth. While these products stop well short of growing new limbs and organs, they do provide some solutions for many of the problems associated with traditional surgical and treatment options.

The surgical biomaterials market is currently one of the largest and fastest growing global medical markets. It encompasses a number of surgical specialties and has reached a market capitalization of several billions dollars. The rapid growth of surgical biomaterials has to do with their capacity to reduce procedure times, recovery times and complication rates, while providing clinicians with innovative approaches to improving the level of patient care. Medical device companies worldwide are racing to bring to market biomaterial implants and devices that are designed to help repair defects in soft tissue, skin and bones.

What are biomaterials? A very broad definition of surgical biomaterials may include any substance that has the capacity to function in contact with living tissue and not be rejected by the body. This would include products made from metals, alloys and polyester-based materials such as orthopedic implants, and a number of other products traditionally used for the reconstruction or repair of tissue. The modern definition of surgical biomaterials, however, focuses on substances and products that not only evade rejection by the body, but that can interact with living tissue. These biomaterials do the job they are meant to perform, and then are either absorbed naturally by the body over time and eliminated by biological processes or become a permanent part of the surrounding tissue.

The use of nonviable materials to repair or replace defects in the human body dates back thousands of years. Early civilizations such as the Egyptians, Romans and Aztecs used wood, ivory, gem stones and other objects to replace missing teeth and fill in bone defects more than 2,500 years ago. Since then, scientific developments have led to the use of a number of different synthetics and natural materials in the human body. From World War I through World War II a number of natural rubbers, celluloids, vinyl polymers and polyurethanes were used for grafts, artificial hearts and catheters. During World War II, silicon was used in Japan to enhance the breasts of prostitutes and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), the main component in many of todays bone cements, was used in dental and craniofacial applications. Alloys have been used as pins and plates in the human body since the early nineteenth century. The use of steel and other alloys, which have the tendency to discolor, eventually led to the development and introduction of stainless steel and titanium, materials that are still commonly used in the production of orthopedic implants today.

Biomaterials can be made either from synthetic compounds or natural substances. Synthetic materials such as hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate have been used for years in dental, craneo-maxilofacial and orthopedic procedures. The use of natural substances such as human or animal tissue in the manufacture of surgical biomaterials is a more recent development. A number of years of research and development in this area have led to technological advances in the processing of natural tissue to remove its toxicity and improve its clinical properties. Natural substances generally have complex structures that are difficult to replicate with synthetic compounds, and therefore can interact with human tissue in ways that synthetic products cannot. The ongoing development of surgical biomaterials is now resulting in a number of hybrid products that integrate both natural and synthetic substances in an effort to provide products that offer the clinical benefits of both materials.

Some of the benefits of biomaterials can be seen in their use in surgeries that typically use autografts. This is when surgeons take tissue (or bone) from one part of the patients body and then place it in another part of their body in order to repair a defect or replace diseased tissue. One of the most common procedures in which autografts are used is spinal fusion, a surgery in which one or more vertebrae of the spine are welded together with the aim of eliminating painful motion. During a spinal fusion, the surgeon makes an incision in the patients hip and removes a piece of bone from the pelvis, which is then implanted in the space between the vertebrae and held in place by metal fasteners. The pain and problems associated with motion are reduced over time, as the implanted bone and vertebrae grow into a single, solid bone. Some of the major disadvantages of autografts in these procedures are the additional operating time it takes the surgeon to harvest the graft, the extra postoperative recovery time needed and the added pain the patient must endure at the harvest site. Synthetic or animal based biomaterial bone substitutes provide surgeons and their patients with an option that lessens time under anesthesia and cuts down on recovery time.

Collagen implants for tissue repair and augmentation is another area where biomaterials may offer substantial benefits over traditional treatments. In recent years, the use of membranes made from natural substances such as porcine and bovine dermis or pericardium has gained in popularity with surgeons. Synthetic membranes made from materials such as polypropylene, polyester, silicone or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) have been widely used in facial aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, hernia repair, neurosurgery and other surgical procedures. While synthetic surgical meshes have good strength characteristics, they remain in the body as permanent implants and sometimes can cause adverse reactions when the surrounding tissue identifies these materials as foreign bodies. A handful of companies in Europe and the U.S. have developed new ways of collecting and processing animal collagen to produce membranes that offer the same strength characteristics as synthetic membranes, but are completely biocompatible and provide a permanent solution for the repair and augmentation of tissue. Since the structure of this collagen is so similar to human tissue, once it is implanted the membrane provides the basis for cellular ingrowth and revascularization.

Bone graft substitutes and collagen implants do not have the capacity to help us grow new limbs or organs. However, they are an important step in the ongoing developments being made in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Progress continues to be made into stem cell research and, just like amphibians and lizards, one day new technologies may be available to help us regenerate our bodies. In the meantime, the market for surgical biomaterials continues to evolve and new technologies are continuously coming to market that have the capacity to improve the quality of life of mammals around the world.

About The Author

Joseph R. Lopez is the Executive Director of BioSurgical Innovations, Inc., a privately owned sales, marketing and distribution company that focuses exclusively on new technologies in biomaterial implants, biosurgical devices and complementary products for a number of surgical specialties. These products are designed to interact with living tissue and have the capacity to improve procedural efficiencies for surgeons and enhance the clinical outcomes and quality of life for their patients. BioSurgical Innovations sells its products through a distribution network that covers Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as key accounts in the U.S.

For additional information, contact:

BioSurgical Innovations, Inc.

Tel: 954-331-8044

Fax: 954-331-4601

http://www.bsurgical.com

jlopez@bsurgical.com

73 1/2 Things I Have Learned on Stage

Caring for Inflatable Equipment

Kids love tossing an inflatable beach ball around the pool. An inflatable plastic chair for toddlers comes in handy when traveling. How about taking along an inflatable tube or raft on your next vacation? There are all kinds of inflatable products that make our lives a little easier and more enjoyable. These items can be decompressed and stored in relatively small areas to keep them out of the way when they aren't needed. But there's more to caring for your inflatable equipment than letting the air out and stuffing it into a box for the garage.

First, teach everyone in the household to use the equipment responsibly. Most of these items are not built to take extreme or harsh treatment. Don't let kids jump on them, poke with sharp objects, or otherwise mistreat inflatable furniture, toys, or sports items. These things should be handled with respect and used according to their intended purpose. If you see someone, even the dog, mishandling an inflatable piece of equipment, take the item away and let Fido know he's made a boo-boo.

Second, keep your inflatables clean and in good working order. Often made of plastic, canvas, or vinyl, they can be easily wiped up and kept dry to reduce the risk of disintegration or rot. Don't leave them laying outside in the elements. Don't let them become twisted, distorted, or otherwise ill-used in even accidental ways. When in use, keep them in their proper environments--beach balls in the pool, toddler chairs in the playroom, etc.

Third, don't use them in ways for which they were not intended. For example, an inflatable toddler chair cannot become a car seat, no matter how many seat belts or straps you apply. A beach ball will not last long as a dog's toy, so get your pet its own hard surface ball. Inflatable boats are meant for the water, not necessarily for snow and definitely not for mud.

Fourth, store your inflatables carefully and properly. After letting the air out, gently fold them to a smaller size and place them in the original package. If this won't work, get a suitable container in which they will fit. You may want to label the container with the contents so you can find the item easily when you next look for it.

Finally, keep a repair kit on hand and out of the reach of children or pets. Depending on the type of inflatable product you have, a patch may be available for temporary or permanent repair of tears, holes, or other damage. Read the kit's directions carefully and follow them correctly for best results.

Your inflatable items can last a long time and add a lot of fun and help to your life. Treat them well and they will return the favor.
About the Author

Find out all about inflatables when you browse Inflatables.com at
http://www.inflatableinfo.com

Learning A Foreign Language Through Educational Games

If you have children of your own, or if you have a little brother or sister that you've watched growing up, you might have noticed how they started learning your native language. The first words they usually speak out are the ones that they come into contact the most often, usually the name of their parents, parental appellatives such as mama or papa or dada and so forth. Later on, as they are encouraged to express verbally, their vocabulary base will consist of words that they meet in their daily activities, which for most children simply include eating, sleep and... playing. This is where I actually wanted to bring the discussion to, learning a language through playing and especially through educational games that are specifically aimed for this purpose.

Since most children follow the above mentioned pattern when learning their native language many scientists claim that simulating the process at an older age can produce the same learning effects with a foreign language. The reason for this is that the brain already got used to that specific type of learning and it will adapt easier when confronted with a similar situation later on in life. That's why learning a foreign language through children's games has become increasingly popular among adults, despite the slight awkwardness of the situation. Flashcard games are such an example, a flashcard being a small piece of material with a picture of an item printed on it and a related word (or small text) describing the picture. The image-text correlation is extremely potent when having to memorize words. Using flashcards is a good way to start building the basic vocabulary for the language you're learning and it gives you a first contact with the language pronunciation (you'll need a dictionary for this of course).

Another great way to learn a foreign language is by playing computer games. Although most games are in English (and if you're reading this, you already know English I assume...) some computer games have translated versions for specific languages (mostly German, Spanish, French or Italian). If you can get a copy of one of these translated games it could be a great way to start learning that specific language and have fun at the same time.

A study exists in this sense, where a young English boy that couldn't speak any language but his native one was invited to play a popular online PC game on a French server. Although he was extremely confused at first, the constant contact with the other human players in the game, combined with a natural correlation between what he saw on the screen and the game chat gradually helped him understand the French language. The game experience was almost like throwing him in the middle of say, Paris, with no knowledge of the French language. After living in a foreign environment, hearing and reading a particular language at all times and instinctively correlating words with actions and images one actually starts learning that particular language, a fact proven by the above experiment. This just proves that online educational games (well not necessarily educational ones, but simply games) may yet become the future language learning centers of tomorrow. To the same extent, millions of players all around the world learn and perfect their English language skills while playing the numerous online games available today.

Of course, there are still classic educational games out there that you can try out. Some sites offer several such educational games for languages ranging from English, German, Spanish or Italian to Polish, Romanian, Turkish or Ukrainian (and many more). If you're thinking about beginning to learn a new language, these educational games might prove to be starting point that you need. Some are actually fun and quite addictive and they are a surefire way towards boosting your vocabulary in that particular language.
About the Author

Finding the Best Home for Your Family

When buying a home, there is often a little give and take. It is rare that a home at the right price in the right place will have everything you are looking for.

For example, we love our new home. It has a great location, perfect land, nice improvements and fits us just right. However, the kitchen is a fourth the size of our old one. I hate it -- half of my cooking essentials are stored in the laundry room/pantry. But because the pros outweighed the cons, I live with it for now.

Buying a home can be very emotional. You want to find a good deal. But you want your dream home. Where do you start?

You should start by looking at the market in your area. You may find that there are only one or two homes that fit your requirements out there for sale. In that case, you probably won't have much negotiating room. The house we recently purchased is a rare find. We contacted the sellers, who weren't sellers at first as the house wasn't even on the market. We just thought we'd ask. We knew we had no room to negotiate as properties in the area are highly sought after.

The more choice you have, the more you can negotiate.

You can often find a good deal by looking into vacant properties. The longer a home sits on the market, the more eager the sellers become to negotiate. If no one is living in the home, it is a good indication that the sellers have already purchased a new home and are looking for a quick sale.

When looking at homes, look for the ones that can be shined up a bit. For example, when you tour a cluttered home, remember that the clutter leaves with the seller. You can make a few changes and have a completely different home. Remember what paint and a little sweat equity will do.

Look beyond decor to the structure of the home. Look at what can be cleaned up. Don't focus on the owner's belongings. Look at the bare bones. You can often find that others don't do this. If you are the only one willing to consider the home, you will have negotiating power.

Even if you don't have children, you should look at the schools in the area. If you ever want to sell the home, this could give you some power. If the schools aren't great and you love the home, use this as a negotiating point with the seller.

Be willing to look at hard to view properties. These are the properties where the showing hours are extremely limited. This translates into fewer people seeing the home. This is good for you. Homes with minimal showings have very few offers.

Remember to keep your emotions in check and look to see if the home has everything you need. Weigh the pros and the cons of the home. Sometimes, the house is a deal, but it just won't fit your family. We once looked at a 800 square foot home on forty acres with highway frontage near a major intersection. It was a bargain. Had a barn and ponds. The house was so small, all of our belongings wouldn't fit. We would have had to live there until a larger home could be built. It was a great deal -- we still talk about that -- but didn't fit our needs.

You have to be aware of what a good deal is to your family, not just your wallet.

Martin Lukac represents http://www.RateEmpire.com and http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate and mortgage rates. We specialize in daily updates, mortgage news, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!

Fast and Direct Pick up and Seduction

The world's greatest pick up artist has always been fast and direct. The results being one to three hot babes notched on the old bed post for 38 years. Including four hotties today!

Almost no one uses the fast and direct approach. Most guys who think they are good with women are only lying to themselves. They get lucky once in a blue moon and they are now experts. Admittedly this pick up thing hits a guy right in the ego and most men will not admit they fall short in the area of the pick up and seduction. From the average frustrated chump to the pick up artist. Most men fall short.

Most pick up techniques that are being taught around the world just plain don't work.

Most of the current pick up and seduction styles being taught over complicate a really simple and natural attraction and seduction process.

You do NOT have to put on magic tricks for girls.

You do NOT have to hypnotize women.

You do NOT have to play games with women and use egs, and put women down.

You do not have to use a thousand step process to bed girls.

Gentlemen if you keep studying this garbage you will always be an average frustrated chump...

Do yourself a favor and investigate the world's first Grand Master of the Pick-up and the Grand Master of Seduction. He does one on one in the field training on a beautiful tropical island with real life beautiful women just a two hour flight from Miami.

For info contact the king, Elvis Preston King at loverboybachelor@yaho.com

About the Author

Homeschool Classroom Checklist

Now that you have decided that you are going to homeschool your children, you are going to need a classroom, or at least, a reasonable facsimile. I don't want to suggest that you use the spare bedroom or empty out the garage. Most folks use the kitchen or dining room table as a desk for both the teacher and their children. What I do suggest is that you get some sort of portable wagon so that you can store your often use materials in one place. Space is usually at a premium in the homeschool classroom so you will need something convenient and easily portable. When you are ready to set up your materials for the day it will be a lot easier if you have everything in one place. When school is over you can put everything back in the cart and move it out of the kitchen.

You probably won't want your company sitting in the middle of your classroom. You'll also need a portable blackboard or a whiteboard to illustrate lessons and demonstrate demonstrate difficult concepts. Personally, I would not recommend a blackboard. The chalk dust is too messy for your house. A whiteboard is much cleaner and easier to use. You can get a small folding white board at any good stationary store.

First of all forget lunch boxes and backpacks. That is unless you plan on going on spending a lot of your time on field trips with your children, and you probably won?t even need the backpacks.

Here is a checklist, in no particular order, of some of the things you may need on your first day of homeschool. I know you may have most of them around the house somewhere, but get them all in one place so you won't have to interrupt your lessons to go find them.

A waste basket, cheap enough and you can always hide your mistakes :)

Separate work tables for you and your children. This is the ideal but you can just use your kitchen table.

A file cabinet - you will need to keep records, file lesson plans, test papers, your curriculum, report cards and health records. You will also need a bookcase.

A computer with DSL internet access or a dial up connection if DSL is not available in your area.

Have a wall calendar to schedule your monthly activities, holiday events, and group activities with your homeschool association and other homeschool parents..

Pens, pencils, and erasers.

Children in grades 4th thru 8th will need composition notebooks and spiral notebooks or a three ring binder. Get some pocket folders, too.

Elmer?s glue, crayons and colored pencils.

Organizers, such as small bins for crayons, rubber bands, and paperclips for separating everything and keeping things handy and in order.

Get a milk crate for each of your homeschoolers so they will have their own space to store their schoolwork.

Two highlighters, one light and one dark

Index cards, and a 12 inch ruler.

A good handheld pencil sharpener with two different size holes. You will be using it all the time.

Wide leaf loose-leaf paper for writing lesson materials and compositions.

You should have your own homeschool stationary. Select a name for your school such as Smithfield School, Homeschool Preperatory School, or use your own name or street name with ?academy? or ?preparatory school? tacked onto the end. Use your imagination and let the kids help, too.

Once you have your school name, you can make your own homeschool letterhead on your word processor. Then save it to your hard drive so you can use it on all of your correspondence. Put it on your letterhead and make identification cards for your kids. Do a good job in preparing these items and include photographs for a photo id.. You will want them to look their best, so get some help from family and friends if you need it. Buy some laminating materials and laminate your ID cards with your homeschooler?s photo to give them some legitimacy. Don?t forget to make one for yourself. They may need identification cards for admittance to school basketball and soccer games, maybe even the library. Many of the school supply stores you shop will ask you for a schoool ID for store discounts and freebies.

Most major stationary stores have special deals for teachers, usually in August at the end of the Summer vacation.

Staple's Teacher Appreciation Day is an annual event. that can save you some money. They also have a teacher's Awards program that will give you up to 5% off on purchases and free delivery. This can be a good savings and the free delivery is certainly a benefit to save you time.

These are recommended items you should consider having. If you live in a log cabin as Abe Lincoln did then you may have to make do with what you have. But Abe did OK didn't he?

Lincoln was one of the original homeschoolers.

Jack Finnigan is a part-time writer-publisher and Webmaster at http://www.best-homeschool-resources.com providing important homeschooling advice, tips and focused information for homeschool curriculum that can really help parents improve their homeschoolers.

The Origin of Backgammon

Spending My Weekend at the Sea Side Researching Property

This last weekend I spend at the seaside. What I enjoy doing in my free time is walking around looking at property for sale. I take mental notes on when each property comes on the market. Also I note the ones that have been sitting around for a long time.

One thing that always comes to mind is why a property is for sale and also why is hasn?t sold yet. Is the property in a good location? Has it been presented properly? Is it priced to sell? Etc. As a real estate investor these are the series of questions I ask myself when researching an area. It will be the same for all areas. People are people and properties are properties. What I have developed is a series of questions that I ask myself to find out what is the properties potential... It is a mini check list. I find out a lot about property and the area in general by talking to the local agents. They are a gold mine of information. If you treat them right and show them respect they will freely divulge loads of nuggets regarding the property, the area and the owners. This line of questions will lead to the best real estate investment properties in the area.

When you start with this research, you are starting to use your brain. The more you ask, the more it will find ways to the answers. Our brain is the most powerful computer on earth, so the more you exercise it, the more efficient it will become in providing you with the necessary answers. I have found this to be a valuable tool in my real estate investing. I now do this unconsciously and most times you do it automatically without being aware I am doing it. When you are genuinely interested in a certain topic, you love spending time finding out as much as you can about that interest. This is when you will learn the fastest. It is not difficult to concentrate and spend time doing this.

What better way to spend time at a sea side location doing research on your real estate investing interests. I have an agent in a sea side town I catch up with every time I am down there. Last time I was talking to Russell, he told me about the new health care precinct zoning for the town. That was a very valuable piece of information I can now use for my real estate investing for that area.

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

What To Look For When Selecting A Stroller

Strollers are one of the most convenient products ever designed for children and their parents. Today's strollers are available in such wide range of styles and models, it is often a difficult decision to choose just the right one.

Whatever type of stroller you decide to use, it is important to keep a few practical safety suggestions in mind. Always look for a stroller with some sort of braking system. Most models have small levers near the back wheels that allow you to lock the wheels and prevent the stroller from rolling. Apply the brakes anytime you stop for more than a brief moment. Anytime you stop the stroller on an incline, remember to point the wheels away from the hill, even with the brake applied. Choose a stroller with a secure seatbelt harness.

Five-point harnesses are typically much safer than a belt that only fastens around the child's waist. Seatbelts are a necessity for pushing infants, but they are just as important for bouncy toddlers and preschoolers who love to wiggle around. A safety strap that slips over your wrist is also a nice safety feature to look for to prevent runaway strollers. Test the stability of a stroller before making your decision. Most children have a hard time sitting still and you want a stroller that can handle their movement without tipping over. You can test a stroller's stability by hanging your purse over the back handles. If the stroller tips easily with the unbalanced weight, it will probably tip with our little one.

Even the best strollers can be overturned, so it is still important to always face your child in the proper direction and do not allow him to lean over the sides. Each time you use your stroller, be sure it is completely open. Most folding models will make a clicking sound once the stroller is locked into place. Avoid hanging extra items like diaper bags or purses on the stroller. Many styles include convenient storage underneath or there are a number of accessories available to carry along extra items like cups, water bottles, mobile phones, and keys. Be sure to follow general rules of public safety while pushing your child in her stroller. Always keep the stroller right by your side. Avoid stopping behind a parked car that may not see the stroller and back into it. If you have bags or packages to load into the car, remember to put your little one inside first, securely fastened in her car seat, then put away the other items.

BOB strollers are one of the leading brands of quality jogging strollers. Their strollers are available in a number of innovative designs, each as a single seat or as a duallie. BOB strollers include all the best safety features, including a wrist safety strap that attaches to the bottom axle of the stroller to prevent head injuries in a fall incident. These strollers are lightweight, easy to store, and feature state-of-the-art steering and maneuverability. BOB strollers are an excellent choice for safety, versatility, and comfort.

Gary Clay is an expert on Strollers and owner of stylish kids store MonkeyShine an approved BOB Stroller stockist in the UK.

The Exciting World Of Backgammon

 



The Exciting World Of BackgammonSubmitted By: Gene Marshall  

Internet backgammon has become this year's most popular online game and has even piqued the interest of thousands of poker fans. However, backgammon is anything but new and has been handed down through the centuries in various formats right up to the present day.

In fact, some historians believe that the backgammon board game was even played in ancient Egypt. The remains of boards bearing a striking resemblance to the backgammon board have been unearthed at several archaeological sites. Known as Senat, the game is thought to have been popular with the aristocracy in this ancient civilization.

Another earlier form of the backgammon game was known as Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum and held a popular place in Roman society. It gave way to an updated variation of backgammon in the 6th century which was when the use of dice became a popular addition to the game.

The Crusaders are most commonly credited with introducing the game of backgammon into the British Isles. It was first played in Britain in 1025, having been brought there by soldiers returning from the Crusades in Asia and the Middle East. Once backgammon arrived on England's shores, it was soon championed by the common man and gained popularity as a common tavern pastime. Early attempts to create backgammon gambling developed and were moderately successful but were quashed by the Elizabethans in the 16th century.

Modern backgammon as we know it today became a worldwide phenomenon in the 1970's. From that point on, the game was played steadily up until the late 1990's when the first online versions began to appear on the internet. Today, most reputable skill gaming sites offer some form of backgammon online, which has helped to breathe new life into one of the world's oldest board games. Along with standard versions, games offering variations on backgammon rules such as Acey-Deucey and Turkish backgammon or Tavla have become popular with backgammon fans.

Along with offering several advantages associated with online backgammon, internet gaming sites can be credited with raising the quality of the game around the world. A strong emphasis on learning backgammon strategy has developed and many websites have sprung up almost overnight, dedicated to offering tips, advice and encouragement for new players.

Amongst the advice on strategy commonly found on backgammon sites is the recommendation for players to obtain as much information as possible on their opponents' game plans. Once a new player gains an understanding of his opponent's strengths and weaknesses, along with the way in which he uses the board and the opening rolls of the die to his advantage, he is in a much better position to counteract his opponent's game plan.

Common tips that are easy to remember and simple to incorporate into a backgammon game can also be found online. An example of a useful backgammon tip is to ensure that checkers traverse the board in pairs. This makes them less vulnerable to the hits and obstructions an opponent can use to slow the pace of the game.

Learning And Teaching Social Skills: A RelationshipBased Approach

For those of us committed to helping children overcome learning challenges, the quest to teach social skills is particularly important. Social learning impairments are associated with a wide variety of learning disabilities, although they are especially problematic for people with nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD), noted to have underdeveloped right-hemisphere abilities, including deficits in:

? reading facial expressions
? perceiving emotions
? using nonverbal communication (body language)

The constellation of social skills deficits often encountered in school age children are perhaps best described as pragmatic communication deficits, which encompass challenges understanding social conventions and applying social cognitive skills. On the next page you will find some common examples of pragmatic communication skills. This information is taken from my book, Boys of Few Words: Raising Our Sons to Communicate and Connect, ? 2006.

Pragmatic (Practical) Communication Skills

**All these skills should be considered in an age-appropriate context. Many of these skills are developed in adolescence. Compare your child?s abilities relative to his peers.

PHYSICAL

? Maintaining appropriate conversational distance
Example: Other children may complain that ?he?s bothering me,? or say ?tell him to stop touching me? while playing together. Sometimes inserts himself physically into a group of children by pushing or nudging others out of the way in order to join the conversation.

? Eye contact
Example: Doesn?t look others in the eye; hides behind hair/hat/sunglasses; stares to the point of discomfort.

? Linking gestures with ideas and emotions
Example: Body language doesn?t match speech (thanks you for giving him a desired gift but slumps and stares off into space); waves too strongly or too unenthusiastically for the circumstances; forgets to reinforce emotion with body language.

? Using facial expression effectively
Example: Facial expressions don?t convey interest in other people; expression is not congruent with topic or situation; doesn?t nod to show he gets the point, looks furious at small disappointment; forgets to smile.

VERBAL

? Attending to time and place
Example: Talks too fast; doesn?t know when to interject a comment or let others speak, doesn?t know how much information to share (goes on and on about a subject to someone?s obvious irritation).

? Turn-taking
Example: Consistently interrupts; doesn?t perceive when it?s someone else?s turn to talk.

? Voice modulation
Example: Has trouble with prosody (pitch, tone, volume, inflection); speaks too softly or loudly without regard for physical proximity (you?re across the room but he doesn?t raise his voice to answer you).

? Giving compliments
Example: Doesn?t know how to give a compliment relevant to a person and circumstances; sometimes unintentionally insults people (?you?re a lot less fat than you were?).

? Greetings and Good-byes
Example: Doesn?t know how to introduce himself to individuals or groups; can?t initiate social contact (avoids parties and gatherings); doesn?t know how to close a conversation (just walks off when he?s done talking); doesn?t shake hands/share hugs with close friends or family members; forgets to say ?hello?.

THINKING

? Detecting emotions in other people
Example: Doesn?t consider other people?s emotional state before speaking (you?re in the middle of an argument with someone and he asks you to make him a snack); doesn?t realize when it?s time to ?back off?; doesn?t read signs about how you feel (thinks you?re mad when you?re not)

? Perceiving and expressing humor
Example: Takes jokes, sarcasm or irony literally; laughs at inappropriate times; doesn?t engage in word play or friendly teasing with peers.

? Knowing how to make conversational transitions
Example: Forgets to take his turn in conversations (calls you up on phone and then says nothing); discussions filled with uncomfortable ?dead space?; doesn?t pick up on ?leads? to continue conversation (So, you like baseball? Who?s your favorite team?)

? Anticipating other people?s reactions
Example: Neglects to consider the impact of his words before speaking; can?t easily imagine how his words or actions will be perceived by others (says he likes one present more than another at his birthday party without anticipating that someone?s feelings will be hurt).

Why Are Social Skills So Hard To Learn?
Most people use social skills quickly and automatically, and as a result, don?t have the benefit of time to analyze which skills will be used in particular situations, or how best to apply them. When our social reflexes are well-attuned and effective, we don?t need time to think - we just do and say what comes naturally.

Important to emphasize is that social skills are built on a foundation of interpersonal awareness. Without an appreciation of other people?s nonverbal behavior, including sensitivity to nuances of language rhythm and intonation (prosody), it is difficult to formulate appropriate and constructive verbal and behavioral responses. In addition to having a basic awareness of other people, having an empathetic orientation toward others is very helpful in bolstering one?s intuition about how to relate effectively. As some readers may be aware, a disproportionate number of children and adolescents with learning disabilities are observed to have low empathy.

To be in an empathic relationship with another person or group is the opposite of self-absorption. Empathy implies a departure from a state of self-centeredness, and immersion into the subjective experience of others. By definition, empathy is prosocial, because it emphasizes the value of comprehending and appreciating the thoughts and feelings of other people.

We all function in various types of groups: families, schools, teams, neighborhoods, and communities, among others. Social skills make our participation in these groups easier and more satisfying. Although lack of empathy has been associated with the presence of NLD, I would argue that what is missing for many learning disabled children are overt expressions of empathy, as are often conveyed through pragmatic communication. This is very different from the absence of empathy found among antisocial children and adolescents.

Many children with nonverbal learning disabilities are better understood as being asocial, meaning that they can appear indifferent to social interaction.

We Can Help Teach Children to Solve Their Own Social Problems
Not long ago, I was leading a social skills group for 3rd and 4th grade boys, about half of whom had been identified as having a learning disability. We were huddled in my office with kids bunched on sofas, sitting on the floor, and twirling in my desk chair. One seven year-old boy, Grant, resisted joining in our group activity, which was to design and build a big ?cyborg?. He stood near the door on the periphery of the group with a scowl on his face and body language that conveyed his fear and distrust of the group. Grant wasn?t responding to cajoling and encouragement to join us. I tried all kinds of approaches, changing the tone of my voice and my facial expression, in search of the combination that would help him join in. Still, he would not budge.

Several years earlier, my frustration probably would have resulted in me taking Grant outside and pleading with him to sit down and join the group. That?s because I used to have the faulty impression that ?leading? a group, meant ?controlling? the group. Since then, I have come to appreciate the extraordinary strong will of boys to do things in ways that reflect their own logic about how problems should be solved.

As the situation unfolded, it became apparent that Grant?s resistance provided the boys with a good problem-solving opportunity, and so I posed a question to the group. Did anyone have any ideas about how we could get Grant to join us? Most of the kids responded with suggestions of various kinds of rewards: games, candy, or premium seating (twirling chair). One typically shy boy, Tyler, suggested we could ?buddy-up? so that everyone could have a partner, including Grant. Tyler also suggested that buddies sit next to each other so they could share tools. Most of the boys agreed this was a good idea and so we began a discussion of how buddies would be chosen. Again, Tyler spoke up, suggesting that Grant could pick his buddy.

Throughout this process, I was watching Grant closely, and was struck by his awareness of the group?s concern about him. His facial expression changed from one of distrust to a cautious grin. He?d obviously had some significant doubt about whether the boys would accept him, and how he would fit in ? figuratively and literally. Tyler?s leadership in breaking through his fears paved the way for his integration in the group. As you might imagine, I felt very proud of Tyler for his sensitivity to Grant, and his ability to apply that sensitivity through active problem-solving. Although he never verbalized Grant?s feelings, Tyler?s suggestions were, emotionally speaking, quite sophisticated, and reflected an understanding of what Grant was feeling.

Socializing is not a ?Logical? Process
When we think about teaching social skills to children, it is a natural step for us to begin thinking about skills as component parts of a larger system. While this may be a logical and practical way to go about the teaching of a ?system,? it is not necessarily the best, or only, aspect of a therapeutic process designed to facilitate the development of social skills.

In addition, for individuals such as psychologists or counselors who may teach social skills, there is a tendency to systematize the teaching of such skills in limited periods of time, such as teaching one skill per session for 12 ? 15 weeks. When social skills are taught to groups this approach may be inevitable, but when working with children individually, there is typically more latitude, including allowing the child to play an important role in how the learning evolves. Experience has taught me not to exclude the importance of the relationship between teacher and student, or therapist and client, in helping children integrate new skills. In this sense, professionals allow the process of learning to be as organic as would be the process of healing syndromes like depression or anxiety.

An excellent working alliance is a critical foundation for learning most things, including how to relate to others.

This is because gaining social competence is more than conceptually grasping ?skills,? it also involves relaxing enough to take risks ? trying new things with uncertain outcomes.

From Skills to Awareness
Perhaps we need to remember that for the brain and mind to integrate new ideas, a fertile ground of receptivity must first be prepared. That receptivity often springs from an effective, trusting, working alliance. For many children, this means engaging in therapeutic and relational activities that are not purely didactic, because such structured activities are often associated with domains where they lack success. In other words, you can make it fun ? play is the work of children.

While I would never want to give up my use of behavioral charts and records, or surrender my collection of therapeutic games designed to teach things like communication pragmatics and listening skills, I have come to believe that those exercises are somewhat empty without a solid alliance between my clients and myself.

The alliance gives children and teens the capacity to be receptive. Sometimes, people may not even be aware of their own resistance to learning new skills. For children with learning disabilities, these walls often come down slowly, but they do come down with tools like patience, commitment, and belief in the desire of children to connect with others.

Anything that might help a child connect the development of social awareness with a positive outcome should be considered a potential tool. Still, we should remember that what we are building with these tools is a mind, and a mind is not a machine ? it is the very essence of being a person. We simply can?t program a mind according to standards of efficiency without regard for the individual within whom that mind lives.

This article originally appeared in the 2004 monograph of the Learning Disabilities Association of Pennsylvania. Portions of this article were adapted from Boys of Few Words: Raising Our Sons to Communicate and Connect, Guilford Press, 2006.

About the Author: Adam J. Cox, PhD, ABPP, Board Certified Clinical Psychologist, American Board Professional Psychology

Housing Bubble Cool Not Popped

Has the housing bubble finally burst? Or has it cooled down?

According to DataQuick Information Systems ?A total of 27,286 new and resale homes were sold in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino and Orange counties last month. That was up 10.3 percent from 24,748 for the month before, and down 11.7 percent from 30,886 for May a year ago.? Statistics like these may support that the real estate market?s bubble hasn?t necessarily popped, but has slowed down.

Other facts that DataQuick published, the move-up category of home sales, when homeowners literally move up from a 2 bedroom home to a 3 bedroom home, have slowed down. But the entry-level homes and mid-range home sales have not slowed down and those prices are still rising, but at a slower pace.

Foreclosures are showing a moderate increase in numbers which means this market could be easily tapped by home buyers and investors. There are a number of sites on the Internet which make it easy to access information on foreclosure properties, including PoliceAuctions.com , a site that allows it?s subscribing members to access over 2653 government auctions in its database which include residential and commercial properties. The site will also allow its members to access listings for thousands of foreclosure properties.

Trends culled from DataQuick support the idea that the real estate bubble hasn?t popped, but has cooled down. This cooling trend maybe more apparent in some areas, but otherwise the real estate market overall is still healthy.

Ford Excursion: King of SUVs

People who are searching for a sport utility vehicle that has a really wide interior space and room would find the Ford Excursion their top and ideal choice. This vehicle has the capacity to take in a maximum of nine people inside its cabin. Its closest rivals include the Chevrolet Suburban and the GMC Yukon XL, yet the Ford Excursion towers over them by six inches. It also is 7 inches longer as well as 2000 pounds heavier. It is equipped with a rear-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive configuration. The Ford Excursion is made available in three trim levels which include the XLT, the Eddie Bauer, and the Limited trim.

This vehicle holds traditional Ford styles intact. This includes the four side doors along with the wider back doors. These assist and facilitate easier access to the rear and middle doors. The Ford Excursion also has power adjustable pedals and the whole vehicle is powered by a diesel engine. This engine of the Ford Excursion also features a Tow-Haul mode that has a maximum of 11,000 pounds of towing power. The engine also has cleaner emissions and boasts an improved gas mileage.

The Ford Excursion is considered to be beastly in size. It is the king of big sport utility vehicles. It has all-terrain tires that give the vehicle the capacity to handle tough, hilly, and inclined roads as well as snowy and slippery highways. This vehicle is capable of going places that would seem to be inaccessible for other heavy-duty pickups. Despite the weight and size of the Ford Excursion, the vehicle is still easy to maneuver.

Driving the Ford Excursion would give you the feeling of safety and security. The vehicle is also highly function for it can transport cargo and people. It also can tow a big trailer as well as other things like boats. The design of this vehicle is based on Ford's Super Duty F-series pickup trucks. The rear cargo of the Ford Excursion is split in three ways. This arrangement offers a greater and better visibility when driving rearward.

Features and equipment, standard and optional, for the Ford Excursion include four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), a tilt steering wheel, cruise control, a 40/20/40 split front bench seat, a 60/40 split-folding second row seat, a folding/removable third-row seat, power heated mirrors, power windows, power door locks, a remote keyless entry system, an AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo, 16-inch chromed steel wheels, a floor console, automatic headlamps, rear-seat audio controls, power rear quarter windows, a Reverse Sensing System, automatic climate control, a trip computer, power adjustable pedals, two-tone leather seating surfaces, cherry woodgrain interior accents, illuminated running boards, an in-dash six-disc CD changer, heated front seats, memory seats and pedals, climate and audio controls mounted on the steering wheel, a HomeLink transmitter, and an overhead console.

Ford Excursion owners and Ford vehicle owners can now shop for discount Ford Excursion parts and accessories from Ford Parts Discount's auto parts catalog. In stock are quality Ford parts like starters, headlights, alternators and a lot more for all enthusiasts.
About the Author

Jay Stevens works as a consultant for an established auto parts store in the country. He has expertise in automotive technology and has inside knowledge on the auto parts industry.

Understanding Baseball Speed Training: Part 2

Those spring days that I spoke about in Part I of this series are fast approaching. I can only assume (which you shouldn't do) that the gloves are being oiled and that we've been swinging the stick in the cages and working out hard for our up-coming season.

In the last article, I had given you a starting point to speed training with various drills to assist in the development of your agility and first-step quickness.

Before diving into a sample program that I have used with athletes, let's take a look back at a few of the points that I made last time, just to ensure we understand our goals.

First, you are not training for a track meet. If you run track that is fine, but in this case we are looking to improve our speed for the benefit of our sport. When you are waiting to steal a base or get that jump that is needed from the outfield to run and dive for that fly ball, you don't have the luxury of getting into a perfect stance and waiting for the gun to fire.

Second, aerobic endurance work will do nothing to enhance speed. I don't' care how fast you run the mile, it doesn't mean you can get from Point A to Point B fast. Take a look at the difference in body composition between a top marathon runner and a world-class sprinter.

Ok, with those two points hammered home let's take a look at a sample workout that I have used with some of my athletes. This speed session is going to focus on the development of the 30 and 60-yard sprint work that is often incorporated into baseball camps.

Before I have my athletes or clients engage in any type of physical training I always prescribe some type of dynamic warm-up. This time is used to elevate the body's core temperature and prepare the joints for the up-coming session.
Because of the movements required in baseball, we must make sure that we warm up the rhomboid (back of the shoulder) muscles. These muscles are responsible to keeping the shoulders healthy because of all the forward over-hand throwing motions when playing. We will also want to make sure that our lower body is activated in the warm-up to help with hip and leg mobility.

Contact me, shawn@gamespeed.biz if you don't know how to prescribe or set up a proper warm-up. If you are just jogging a lap and static stretching before your games, then your wasting time.

The Session:
This a sprinting rotational ladder that I have used with some of my athletes and I have varied the distances and the amount of the volume or total sprint work depending on their age and their current athletic level.

* Your rest periods will be 1 minute between each sprint.
* You will need 4 cones (or something just to mark off the appropriate distance)
* You will only be sprinting to either a 15, 30 or 60 yard marked distance.

Set your cones up giving yourself a starting point and then place one cone at 15 yards, one at 30 yards and the final cone at 60 yards.

* When sprinting 15 yards you will start from a push-up position lying flat on your stomach.
* When sprinting 30 yards you will start from a lateral position (similar to stealing a base.)
* When sprinting 60 yards you will start from a normal two point athletic stance.
* You will complete all of the 15 yard sprints before moving onto the 30's and so on.

Bracket 1.
15 yard sprint = 5x (times)
30 yard sprint = 3x
60 yard sprint = 1x

Bracket 2.
15 yard sprint = 1x
30 yard sprint = 5x
60 yard sprint = 3x

Bracket 3.
15 yard sprint = 3x
30 yard sprint = 1x
60 yard sprint = 5x

After your final rest time, finish the workout session with a static stretch routine.

A couple of key points that I would like to make.

* First, when taking off from a push-up position make certain that you are looking into the ground. If you are looking upward this causes the head to pull the rest of the body up too fast during the acceleration phase of the sprint. 15 yards is about acceleration!

* Second when running the 30-yard sprints alternate the lateral direction you are facing.

* Third, when running the 60-yard sprint, RELAX! You won't be fast if you are all tensed up.

* And finally, don't lie down between sprints. I actually prefer my athletes to walk around or back to the starting point.

Once again this is just a sample of something that I use. It's not the end all, but it works. Give it a shot and let me know how it works for you. I will outline a weekly program in the future.

Until then remember keep having fun and work hard!
About the Author

Shawn is an independent performance coach. He is a graduate of Waynesburg College where he was an all-conference defensive back and attended CFL/NFL tryouts in 1994. He is a certified Renegade Training practioner under world renown Strength & Conditioning Coach John Davies, and is a certified Speed / Agility and Quickness Trainer through N.E.S.T.A. (National Endurance and Sports Trainers Association)

Visit his website http://www.gamespeed.biz

Pop Quiz: How to Create Great Quizzes

Everybody likes to test their knowledge with fun quizzes and trivia. Witness the longevity of such games as Trivial Pursuit and Jeopardy. While people may like taking quizzes, few people have ever stopped to consider what factors go into making a good quiz.

When designing a quiz, there are 2 main characteristics for the creator to think about ? the function of the quiz and the style of the quiz. With regard to function, one should consider the following 3 questions for the entire quiz: Is the purpose of the quiz clear? Do all of the items reflect this purpose? And, is there a strong theme that unifies all of the items on the quiz? Quizzes tend to be more satisfying if there is coherence in theme, purpose or structure. With regard to style, the following questions pertain to each individual question: Is the question stem precisely worded? Does the question stem match all of the answer choices? And, do all of the answers all seem plausible? The quiz writer should make sure to be precise in numbering, lettering, spacing, and consistency of indentation.

It is a myth that quizzes need hard questions to be good. The success of most TV quizzes such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire rests on the ability of the audience to ?play along? with the on-screen contestants. Experienced quiz takers certainly want to be challenged, but the majority wants to be able to get a good portion of the quiz right. A well-structured quiz should include a group of questions that everyone can answer easily, so the casual participant doesn't feel excluded as well as a few intermediately difficult questions. A few impossible questions for laughs and a few multiple choice questions so that even those who know they are 'bad' at quizzes can have a go add appeal to a quiz. The really hard questions should be no more than 25% of the quiz - enough to separate out those who really know their stuff! The ability to play a quiz as part of group as well as individually adds to the fun. Categorizing a quiz as music, sports, geography, relationship, etc will appeal to quiz-takers as well.

Finally, adding in a few humorous questions and/or answers will help make a fun quiz. However, a quiz constructed with measurement in mind should not offer ludicrous answers as distracters. The quiz writer will need to decide if the goal is to entertain the takers or to measure their knowledge.
Although the purposes of quizzes may vary, one thing remains constant ? the need to write questions effectively. One common error is having a time reference in the question where the answer is not always constant and may change as time goes by. A second common error is linking questions - each question should stand successfully on its own. A third frequent error is date stamping questions such as ?As of 2006,?? which results in questions going stale. Another mistake, one that often frustrates quiz takers, is inadequate explanations of the answer - don't leave players wondering why the answer is correct. Finally, one should write questions in the past tense, not the present tense.

Nowadays, besides tv and boardgames, people interested in quizzes can take and make them online. Some of the fun features that online quizzes offer are the ability to rate a quiz, the ability to search for quizzes based on a certain topic, and the ability to see how one does compared to others who have taken the same quiz. One can even post the results of a quiz directly to his/her online profile, such as a MySpace account, and also invite others to take a particular quiz.

With these handy tips, anyone can easily create a successful quiz!

Joshua Grossman is the marketing manager for Sconex, a social networking site for teens where they can make and take a wide variety of quizzes.

ElderLife Matters For Caregivers and Employers

ElderLife Matters For Caregivers and Employers

by: Linda LaPointe

Work & eldercare is a difficult marriage for the half of all employees who are caring for an aging loved one.

You may know the facts:

• The cost of absenteeism, shortened or interrupted work days is $29 billion a year.

• The cost of replacing employees who leave due to eldercare responsibilities is $4.93 billion a year.

• Many spend up to 8 hours per week on the phone with eldercare issues, come in late & take more time off.

• One half of employees care for dependent adults.

• Three fourths of elder caregivers are in the workforce.

• One third of caregivers acknowledge their eldercare responsibilities interfere with work.

These issues not only concern the employer, they also greatly concern the employee who wants to do a good job. Yet most caregivers dont know what kind of help or information to ask for and often tell Linda LaPointe, CaregiverCoach, Its difficult to concentrate on a project when I feel like you should make a call or stop in to check on Mom & Dad. Education is the key, LaPointe says, so caregivers have some idea what to expect and how to help.

Having seen both sides of the aging situation as a former administrator and now as a Geriatric Care Manager, Linda LaPointe remembers the day she knew what she would do to help families in crisis. She tells us about it:

The 60ish man looked to be assisting his father from the passenger side of the car, when he suddenly and shockingly, in one swift movement, slammed the car door, leapt to the sidewalk and yelled, You old f------ son of a b------!, leaving the older man in the car.

Watching this from the next car, it was the final straw. I was determined to develop a simulation so that adult children of aging parents could get some idea what it must be like to grow old and how they can assist their loved ones, as so often they dont know what to do.

The hurt, the fear, the anger, the defeat, the exhaustion; Id seen it all, over and over again. I could not remember how many times I had told caregivers, S/he isnt doing that on purpose just to upset you. Some, relieved, believed me. Others, resentful, would never believe me.

In My Shoes: Growing Old is now a boardgame. People can attend days of lecture and seminars and not be as affected as when they spend one hour moving around the gameboard, living in my shoes, as one who is aging. declares Linda LaPointe, author of the simulation. She has watched players come away with more understanding, patience and empathy after they have experienced being an elder facing the many challenges, joys and losses. It is good for employee assistance professionals, administrators and direct supervisors as well as the workers who are caregivers.

LaPointe explains that we learn more when our emotions are called upon. We are engaged and energized by our feelings, not by facts. When we can really feel your pain we dont forget it. Emotions impress or imprint upon our memories. One woman thanked me for a beautiful piece of work. Im glad that so many have been positively impacted by it. I did it with great respect and compassion, yet kept the humor and a lighthearted, upbeat optimism. LaPointe is gratified when people are heard to say, Now I really get it.in my gut.

Years in the making, this new and innovative learning tool, In My Shoes: Growing Old is now available to the general public, employers and long term care communities for training staff. Players will experience:

• physical, social, financial, spiritual & emotional aspects of aging

• common conditions of aging

• adaptive devices & treatments available to retain independence

• tips to age gracefully or to help others do so

• long term care & advanced planning options

It can be used over and over, and has an accompanying manual packed with instructions, information, resources and exercises which can be used to create a 1-8 hour educational session. Training can be fun & games. Step up to the challenge with In My Shoes: Growing Old.

Learn more, see the game or order from http://www.SOSpueblo.com or contact Linda LaPointe toll free at 866.241.7009 or email at sospueblo@yahoo.com.

About The Author Linda LaPointe is a Care-Giver-Coach to families in need. http://www.SOSpueblo.com. sospueblo@yahoo.com

Game Design Schools

Games are known to evolve with the advancement in technology. Web designing has enhanced the process and given rise to game design schools. Game design careers are for people who have a passion for games and computers. These game designers plan a layout of the game flow and create new variations. Game design schools help in designing the outline, the backdrop and the characters. All this leads to 3-D animation, texturing, game design strategies and visual story telling. This brings out the creativity of game designing.

The game-designing industry is flourishing and is now a multi-billion dollar industry. The aim to create more challenging games has led to the specialization in game designing. This in turn creates the demand for designers. These schools prepare such artists by giving them the relevant information, background and experience, to keep up with the pace and remain competent. When these designers enter the market, their employment chances increase.

The game designers follow a plan, handled by one or a group. The general procedure involves the game designer writing the game plan or discussing it with the other designers. The primary design has to be approved by the head of the department and then the production can commence.

Once the production of the game begins, the game designer can work on further developments, if required. It is the duty of the game designer to keep an account of all the developments that take place, like a change in character. While making the changes, the game designer has to make sure to improve the shortcomings.

The game designers must be dedicated and innovative. They must keep in mind all the suggestions that are made by the other team members. It is essential for the designer to be committed to the job and the designing at hand.

Game Design provides detailed information on Game Design, Video Game Designs, Game Design And Development, Game Design Software and more. Game Design is affiliated with Kid Board Games.

E Games The New Age Entertainment Sports

In the age of Internet, E-Games is an irresistible attraction amongst all age groups. The desire to play games has turned children to be more techno savvy these days. E-Games are flexible and intuitive, it's easy to use so you can spend your time creating games instead of programming them.



You can increase business effectiveness by easily adding more motivation and challenge to your learning programs. With the advent of E-Learning, even Training Games are transforming. Indeed, because Computer Games and Arcades are commonplace, instructional games may be the perfect candidate for e-learning events.



Trainers understand the value of a good game for engaging participants in the learning process, whether as pre-course materials, self-teaching tools, or content reviews. Most games draw on traditional game-show styles such as Jeopardy, or popular boardgames, including Trivial Pursuit and Monopoly. The question-and-answer format of those games proves ideal for self-assessment and memory building. When played in groups, games promote teambuilding and team spirit. More importantly, games alleviate learners' anxiety about being evaluated.



A sophisticated programmed E-Game usually includes the following features:



? Easy, intuitive authoring interfaces.



? An array of different game types.



? Detailed Help files, sample games, and demonstrations.



? Cross-platform playback using the Flash web player.



? No messy software downloads or installation requirements.



? Options to create games from your web browser.



? You can choose from several skins for your games, including a custom skin that allows you to modify the colors.



? Full customization for any of the game types.



? Your own online Arcade system that allows you to group your games into custom multi-player arcades and invite players to compete.



The average age of an E-Game Player is 29 years and ninety two percent of all games are purchased by adults over the age of 18. 39% E-Game players are women. Computer and video game software sales grew 8% in 2003 to $ 7 billion in the following years and are expected to hike more. However, when compared to the movie industry this segment is still a small player.



In fiscal 2004, ended June 30, E-Games' sales rose 11% to $8 million, and profit increased 9%, to $1.7 million, from a year earlier. It did have a loss of $184,000 in its 2005 fiscal first quarter, after sales were hurt when Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reduced shelf space it allocates to low-price PC games, E-Games says.



Some very sought after E-Games are as follows:



1. AirXonix: This is a 3-dimensional remake of the Xonix game. In the Xonix game you have to control a device, which is moving over the playing field whilst several monster-balls are wandering inside. The objective is to isolate the balls away from as much spare playing field as possible.



2. Buzzing Cars: Buzzing Cars is a totally crazy racing game where you'll not only need to be fast but also smart. You must carry out various missions such as drive robots around, chase flying saucers, electrocute aliens and of course race against the clock. You can buy seven different cars with various properties. In every crash, the cars begin to lose parts, until eventually after enough is lost they completely fall apart.



3. Cross & Word Games: A compilation of three simple puzzle games previously released by E-Games in their early RomTech days. Crossword Mania is a set of 110 crossword puzzles and Word Search Mania has 222 word searches. Both of these pencil and paper to keyboard and monitor translations also have basic design tools for constructing your own puzzles. Word Connect Special Edition is a one board demo of a Scrabble clone where players try to form interlocking words on a board with lettered tiles.



4. Mahjongg Master: Enjoy the classic Chinese game of strategy with this full-featured version! You'll find 18 original tile sets - everything from classic MahJongg tiles to all new designs! You can also choose from among 70 beautiful backgrounds including scenics, animals, textures, and much more. Plus great music, too! MahJongg Master is one of E-Games best-selling titles. There are millions of players around the world.



5. Marble Blast: In this arcade action game from independent publisher Garage Games, players take the control of marbles. The objective of the game is to race the marble through the 72 levels each containing moving platforms, dangerous hazards, sparkling treasures and power up enhancements, and complete it in record time.



6. Miniverse Minigolf: Two 9 hole mini golf courses for 1-4 players. One course is set on "Earth" and features putting through locations such as a construction site, a war zone, and a casino. The other course is set in space and includes a variety of science fiction obstacles like tele-porters and laser shields. Players can choose to control their putter by pushing or pulling the mouse and can select one of several different colors for their golf ball.



7. Pinball: E-Games' Pinball is a 3D pinball simulation with three tables. 3D acceleration is used for all sorts of realistic effects like table glass, light halos, shadows, reflections of the ball on the table, and more. Standard pinball game play applies; knock down targets to light up bonuses, which can be further increased by multipliers.



8. Word Search Mania: A computerized version of the standard pencil and paper word search. Word Search Mania is a collection of 222 assorted puzzles with a variety of strange topics in varying degrees of difficulty. It also contains a tool for building puzzles from your own lists of words.

About the Author:

This article is written by subhasis chaterjee for http://www.ecard4all.com/ which is a free online greetings card site containing free ecards for various occasions, events and emotions (also access to some free games). The article is free and can be used by any webmaster on their website, provided they will keep the link intact with the article.

Are Traditional Family Games a thing of the past?

Board games have evolved massively over the years. As a child my memories of board games were Monopoly, Draughts, Cluedo, Guess Who and many many more. All games that we could play as a family to pass the time away. Hours of fun was had by all.

My favorite game was Monopoly a game that give me an insight to Real Estate (ironically enough, I now have a career as an Estate Agent). Is that a coincidence or did my childhood obsession with Monopoly play on by subconscious?

Many Sunday afternoons were spent with my four sisters playing, or should I say rowing over this fabulous game. The first row would normally be about who would like to be the iron, shoe, car etc (these were the items that you had to chose from to represent you on the board as you played). My favourite was always the dog!

The next row would be about who went first, and then the next would be about who would play the role of the Banker.

Finally the game would begin, and how much fun we had. Hours and hours of fun week after week.

How things have changed? Today, whilst we still have the old traditional Board games, and I guess we always will, Games are far more advanced, and are often played on computers, or via DVD Players using your Television sets.

You can now play a board game on your own against a Computer (who will act as your opponent) as opposed to playing with friends and/or family. I find this quite sad, especially knowing how much fun we had as children interacting with each other, and observing each other as we rowed over such meaningless but then important issues.

I now see my own nephews spending hours on their own in front of a computer playing games without any physical human interaction, whilst their parents get on with other things. I guess one advantage is that if you are an only child you don't miss out on not playing games just because you had no-one else to play it with you. The Traditional games such as monopoly can now be played on a computer and the Computer can act as your opponent. You can even set what level of difficulty you want to play at.

The disadvantage to this, in my opinion is that the family getting together and interacting with each other seems to be a thing of the past.

About the Author

Polyamory

Sexual Monogamy and Polyamory... Just to clarify, when I say Sexual Monogamy, I mean a one-personed sexual relationship. When I say Polyamory, I mean a multi-personed sexual relationship. I have come to the conclusion that Sexual Monogamy is foolish, dogmatic, superstitious, and harmful, whereas Polyamory is rational, reasonable, healthy, and helpful. To those who oppose Polyamory, be they friend or foe of past, I say this: I will sooner die for knowledge than live with ignorance.

Sexual Monogamy and Polyamory... Just to clarify, when I say Sexual Monogamy, I mean a one-personed sexual relationship. When I say Polyamory, I mean a multi-personed sexual relationship. I have come to the conclusion that Sexual Monogamy is foolish, dogmatic, superstitious, and harmful, whereas Polyamory is rational, reasonable, healthy, and helpful. To those who oppose Polyamory, be they friend or foe of past, I say this: I will sooner die for knowledge than live with ignorance.

And now, I justify Polyamory.

(1) Sex is a bodily function, no different than eating food, talking, or playing a computer game. So, in no right, is it divine or pure. It is caused by a chain reaction of energy going through parts of your body and your mind commanding your body to specific actions. Just as it requires specific actions to eat food at the food table. However, in a Monogamous relationship, you may eat food with others, talk with others, and play computer games with other. Regardless, though, sex with others is FORBIDDEN. Sex, out of playing games, food, talking, and the such, was arbitrarily chosen as something to be shared. Why is this? Why must people be greedy and foolish? Even dogmatic in the proclamation that it is "special", "appreciation", or "ONLY love"? There is no reason.

(2) In many Monogamous relationships, people are harmed. The first and constant harm of a Monogamous relationship is that of unrelinquished sex. If you made a pact with a partner to be Monogamous, then you made a pact and to break it is immoral (so don't just run out of the house and have sex with the first person you meet). Sex... Why must it be forbidden? Why must it be shared only between two? There is no reason. This unrelinquished sex will, WITHOUT REASON, hurt people by keeping them apart. People are harming themselves, slitting their own wrists, cutting off their own heads... sometimes this emotion explodes when not wanted and someone is raped. The primary, and inescapable, pain of Sexual Monogamy is that of sex unfifilled, wants not received, and all for no reason whatsoever.

(3) The second harms of Sexual Monogamy are relative. In India, if a man dies, his wife must be burnt alive at his funeral. In the Mid East, a woman cannot show her skin or she is burned alive. In ancient Rome, a man could fuck all the women he wanted, but a woman could have only one partner. Humans are greedy. Man has said, "This is my house, my money, my children, and my wife - I own them and nobody can have them at all." In some relationships, EVEN TODAY, men refuse their wives or girlfriends from communicating with other men or women no grounds of jealously. Sex is the same goddamned way. Sex, in these instances, is relative as well. Some cultures allow men and women to fuck whomever they want. But if you hold hands with another person other than your spouse, they kill you! It's ALL about CONTROL, GREED, and JEALOUSLY!

(4) Further, I would like to say that women in particular have been opressed by this form of Sexual Monogamy. Think of it... Many people today say, "Oh, well, yeah, sure, Sexual Monogamy is logically foolish, but I feel it in my heart! Sexual Monogamy is right!" I will deal with the emotions and feelings of a Polyamory lifestyle later. Now, however, let me examine the forth proclaimed rantings of Sexual Monogamy. People 'feel' Sexual Monogamy? Well, what kind of Sexual Monogamy is this? If someone in the West says: "You're dirty, filthy, and whoring if you have sex with more than one person," how should I believe it when a person from the East says: "You're dirty, filthy, and whoring if your wife doesn't burn to death when you die."? How can I accept both statements? I cannot. It is all what you are developed and brought up in. A Mid Eastern man will say: "You're dirty, filthy, and whoring if your wife is allowed to show her facial skin!" I cannot accept ANY of these. They are all DOGMATIC statements based on the original GREED, CORRUPTEDNESS, and IMMORALITY of man! One man says this is dirty and another man says the opposite is dirty. And it all ends up in slavery of the body - you cannot do this because it is dirty! DOGMATIC!!!!

It is presumably reasonable to say that people were mating and in sexual relationships before 1900. However, in that time period, women had almost no rights whatsoever. The chances are that they felt the same about their mates as you did, even though their mates may have beat them, treated them like crap, or confined them not to talk to others or stay with others. They felt the same way about their spouse as the way you feel about yours. The reason is (a) that is what society has taught you, and (b) you are taught that you NEED these Monogamous relationships from being involved in them. They are sadistic, cruel, and completely self-destructive.

Observe the rituals in which these monogamous relationships are taken. In the West, a bride is given to the groom by her father, as though she was property, a slave, and nothing more. It is rooted from old traditions, when that is what literally happened. In the East, a bride is made to kneel and she is tied to the leg of her groom. What is this!!?? It is treating your to be spouse, your supposed "loved one", as a piece of property, cattle, and nothing more. These rituals are dogmatic and of greed.

(5) This ending conclusion deals with the questions of "who to fuck", and general blending in of Polyamory into today's Monogamous relationship. Personally, I do not see how I can enter into a Polyamorous relationship in today's society. Today's society will be far too strongly discriminating against us. Furthermore, when someone says Polyamorist/Free Lover today, it's like saying Atheist 1,000 years ago. It is not something liked, although it is the free choice (where people should be given the freedom to choose to be Atheist or pious, Polyamorous or Monogamous). The Monogamites of today think that there is an ethical value or moral reason to being Monogamous, but there is none; only dogma. Therefore, many Polyamorists today will be found to be immoral individuals who only care about getting sex, however not all are like this, but a marginal part of this part of the population is.

I would not "enter into a Polyamorous relationship", had I ever done in such a manner. When you enter into today's Monogamous relationships, it's a form of a commitment, a pact, a moral. However, Polyamory is not as such. Simply, if in an acceptable area, with someone you care about (or would like to haev sex with), and you both agree to have safe, protected sex, then that is Polyamory. And tomorrow, if you're in another secluded area with another friend and you both agree to have safe, protected sex, then that is Polyamory. And Polyamory, in all senses, is justified, although it may not be acceptable by today's society. As far as how to view sex, I think it should not be put on a pedistal and viewed as a grand, pure, divine thing. Some things may be pure and others may not be. However, it is not of the thing which makes it pure or unpure, but of the means. For example, if you play a board game with a friend who was having a hard time in her life, and she smiles, laughs, and becomes happy, and you could see these emotions in her faces, you could see her smiling, bright white teeth, then it would be kind, loving, and warm, or "pure". However, if you dragged in your other friend, and he hates boardgames, and he's complaining through the whole game ("I hate this game!"), it would boring, dull, and annoying, or "unpure".

The same is with sex. If you wish to be sexually active with a friend, at any particular time without commitment, then that is how it should be dealt with. You don't pull out a priest and chapel to play a board game. Why the hell should you for sex? If you wish to have sex with a partner, and you both consent, then I promote it. There is absoultely nothing wrong with two willing partners NOT to have sex. And, just as a board game can be meaningful, so can sex, when you know you love your partner, and your partner loves you, and there is no greed over controlling their body (almost a reverse rape - keeping them from having sex with others). Sex, just because it is common and done largely, through Polyamory is not any less intimate or tender, or loving for that matter. You can still love your partner in Polyamory the same, if not better, than your partner in Sexual Monogamy.

Sex, today, is commonly used or taken advantage of. A boyfriend may try to trick a girl into thinking that he really likes her and then takes advantage of her. This, still, is immoral. Let us just say that you have a million dollars, and a friend tries to trick you into thinking that he really likes you, and you give him 10,000 dollars, and he flees, that would be an equivalent of the previously described situation. However, some people may willingly want only to have sex and this too, is fine, as long as it is done in the proper way. Talk to a person and tell them that is what you're about. If they accept, then great. If not, then too bad. Society will take this rather offensive (as they are mentally crippled individuals), though. "Would you like to go to my house and watch a movie?" you could say to a friend at the mall and be greeted with an agreement and a smile. However, "Would you like to go to my house and have sex?" you could say to a friend at the mall and be greeted with yelling and a slap. You may also only want to have sex just for having sex. If you're at the tennis court with no friends, and you see a guy in the other lane with no friends, would you not challenge him to a game of tennis, simply because you are both players of a common game? Of course you would. It would be fun, enjoyable, and perhaps you could start some stimulus in the mind of this newly met friend. Why would sex be different? It's not.

The common argument against Polyamory, which is by far the most dogmatic of them all, is "Well, if everyone would have sex with each other, then we'd all have sex all the time!" This is made with the presumption that (a) everyone wants to have sex with each other and clearly, there is no other reason than this want... err, have I got that right? Actually, would it be justified to say, "If we were allowed to talk to other individuals, then all we would do all the time is talk to other individuals!"? Of course not! The point of allowing an activity is completing it! Not the reverse! (b) This is no argument to Polyamory, but simply a possible consequence (how likely, in part c). (c) People today have Monogamous relationships and they can have sex whenever they want and yet people aren't all just "having sex all the time". Furthermore, some relationships are so corrupt and destroyed that spouses have to sleep with other individuals sometimes, causing even MORE PAIN.

I shall briefly identify sex, Polyamory, and safety. I would like to say a couple rules. These rules are for your own good. Just as Polyamory, in its concept, is for your own good by granting more pleasure than previous, as well as more intimacy and happiness, it is wise to follow rules to keep it safe. (1) Have safe sex!! Remember that. It will keep you out of getting STDs and pregnant. (2) Be careful of your emotions!! It is commonplace in today's society that if you make a switch from Sexual Monogamy to Polyamory, you may have difficult emotions to deal with. Also, try to treat sex as warm, loving, tender, and intimate in the beginning. It will make the emotional part less draining in the beginning (Sexual Monogamy can cause detrimental effects on the brain - emotional damage when indulging in happiness and warmth that Polyamory can offer). (3) Make sure that the individual you are having sex with knows the terms of the relationship. Monogamous or Polyamorous. (4) Just remember that it is your decision to be Monogamous or Polyamorous. Do not force yourself from one to the other, ever. Only make the leap to Polyamory from Sexual Monogamy if you think you're capable. NEVER curse anyone for their decision of Sexual Monogamy or Polyamory.

This concludes my Polyamory essay. Polyamory is such a hard view. There are millions of Atheists and millions of Vegans. All intelligent. But everyone believes in Sexual Monogamy, or becoming Monogamous, whether or not they have completed it. Those who believe in Polyamory are dogmatic in the degree that they use Biblical scripture to support it. Everyone, though, who believes in ethics and morals, believes that Sexual Monogamy is moral and ethical, and that Polyamory, if it should be allowed, is immoral and unethical. There's a first for everything. I say again, as I said in the beginning: I will sooner die for knowledge than live with ignorance.

www.punkerslut.com

For Life,
Punkerslut

About The Author

Punkerslut (or Andy Carloff) has been writing essays and poetry on social issues which have caught his attention for several years. His website www.punkerslut.com provides a complete list of all of these writings. His life experience includes homelessness, squating in New Orleans and LA, dropping out of high school, getting expelled from college for "subversive activities," and a myriad of other revolutionary actions.