How to Throw the Discus

I have had the opportunity to hear the great Mac Wilkins speak on a couple of occasions, and this past summer I had the rare privilege to spend a week at the Olympic training center, where he worked with a handful of coaches in a learn-by-doing environment. His teachings have had a significant impact on my understanding of the discus.

In his presentation at the 2005 NTCA conference, Mac laid out his basic principles that he has established throughout his career. Mac's basic principles include:

o There is no hit o Sling it - whip it - throw it like a hammer - foxtails o Longer path and lever is better o The line through the circle goes from left foot to the middle to the left foot o Slow to faster o What you do at the back, you repeat at the front o The center of the merry-go-round turns slower o Many paradoxical feelings

These are his fundamental principles that are referred back to during every phase of the throw. In his classic instructional video, Gold Medal Discus, Mac breaks the throw into four phases:

o Windup o Balance o Orbit o Block

The windup is a portion of the throw that is often overlooked by beginning athletes. Remember principle number 6 above, "what you do at the back, you repeat at the front." If the athlete rushes the windup or is not balanced on the windup, this will lead to an improper power position, and most likely a foul throw.

The windup establishes the rhythm of the entire throw, therefore it should be the slowest movement. The right foot should remain planted on the circle, as the athlete winds the discus back around the right leg. The hips and shoulders counter each other, and the weight is distributed fairly evenly among the feet. Remember that the head should remain neutral, with the chin in line with the sternum. The disc should only be wound back as far as comfortable for the athlete while remaining in control. Athletes often wind too far back, and cannot maintain the separation of the disc and hips. Upon entry to the throw, the discus "springs" back creating too much speed going into the middle of the circle. Remember that the athlete must work the ground, or circle, to transfer force into the implement. So slow down, and spend some time in the back of the circle. During the windup and entry of the throw, balance is crucial. The athlete must be balanced both left to right, and back to front. Being balanced out of the back is critical to landing in a proper power position at the front of the circle. Mac's keys for being balanced left to right are:

o Left arm, knee and foot locked in same plane o Inside ball of left foot as guide o Left shoulder around left toes o Arms up - see the horizon

In order to maintain balance back to front, Mac uses the following keys:

o Inside ball of left foot as guide o Knee leads and hips must follow o Maintain integrity of posture o At 9 o'clock (90 degrees) - left knee drops - right knee comes off o Left thigh close to vertical o Hip path through circle o Balance B2F allows hips to get ahead and right leg to work

The windup and entry of the throw should be slow and balanced. Setting up the proper positions is much more important than speed. If the entry is not executed properly, then it will be nearly impossible to get into a balanced power position allowing long throws.

Out of the back of the circle, the athlete rotates nearly 180 degrees on the inside of the left foot, with the discus locked back and left arm long. When the thrower's left arm reaches the left sector line, the athlete looks to a high point at 180 degrees, and aggressively pulls the inside of the right leg toward the left hand with a dorsiflexed foot. As the right foot sweeps to the middle of the circle, the left foot pushes off the circle leading to the flight phase. Upon landing in the middle of the circle, the athlete keeps the discus locked back and continues turning the right foot as long as possible. The left foot should land quickly after the right. The discus should be allowed to sweep long around the body into a natural release point. The thrower must resist the urge to pull or hit the discus as this will only interrupt its orbit.

References

1. Sylvester, Jay. The Complete Book of Throws. Human Kinetics Publishers. Champaign, IL. 2003.

2. Wilkins, Mac. Keys to the Discus. National Throws Coaches Association. 2005 PowerPoint presentation.

3. Gold Medal Discus Throwing. Instructional video. Mac Wilkins Productions. Copyright 1985.

Truth Nugget 4 - Keeping The Thought Balance Scales In The Positive

It is our responsibility to keep the thought balance scales in the positive level of activity. God is all positive and God's thoughts are perfect. In Matthew 6 of the Christian Bible, it tells us to be perfect as God is. If you think all positive thoughts, what is the possibility that all positive things will come your way? Some may say that this is impossible to do. If this is what you believe, then this is true for you even though it is written in Mark 9 that all things are possible for the one who believes it to be so.

What does it mean to think positive thoughts? Simply, it means to be a keeper of good thoughts, nourishing your mind with God's goodness instead of nonchalantly accepting all thoughts that randomly flow through your mind.

Another favorite scripture of mine is Mark 11:24 where it says that whatever you pray for and ask, believe that you will receive it and it will be done for you. Sadly, this works in the negative as well as the positive.

If you say you trust the Lord, are you not thinking positively for an expected outcome? We are to live our lives without worry (Matt 6). What happens when you worry? Are you not thinking negative thoughts for an expected end? To worry is to be on the negative side of the thought balance scales. Psalm 37 tells us to trust in the Lord. Thinking right thoughts is trusting God. Thinking error thoughts is not trusting God. The glorious realization for all people is that each of us has been given the gift of being in control of our thoughts. Being watchful of your thoughts is a key to being in control of which thoughts you give life to.

Great things can be accomplished when one is in control of their thoughts. Was Thomas Edison in control of his thoughts when he patented his ideas for producing motion pictures? Was George Washington Carver in control of his thoughts when he came up with over 300 uses of the well-enjoyed tasty peanut? Was J.K. Rowling in control of her thoughts when she wrote the thrilling tales of the Harry Potter series?

Oh, what magnificence lies within the thoughts that pass through our minds? The thoughts you dwell on are your prerogative, your choice, your privilege. What God-inspired ideals are passing through your mind that will weigh the thought balance scales heavily on the positive side that will allow you to add your contribution to enhance the living experience of all?

Required Items For the Civilized Camper

For some people, the entire point of going camping is to "rough it." To live off the wild eating things like berries and mushrooms; to make a fire without matches or a lighter; to sleep outdoors without the comfort of a tent; some individuals consider such pursuits to be the height of fun. But such an approach to camping is not for everyone. Some people prefer to retain their creature comforts while getting back to nature, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Fortunately for them, there are quite a few devices available to make backpacking a camping a bit more civilized.

Cooking over an open fire is not easy. Show me someone who says he can do it, and I'll show you someone who enjoys burned food. Fortunately for everyone's palates, the propane stove and its relatives have come a long way since their initial invention. Today, manufacturers offer a range of compact backpacking stoves that usually use white gas or unleaded auto gas. These little devices are extremely lightweight, sometimes weighing as little as 3 oz. The MSR Pocket Rocket, the Coleman Exponent Feather, the Brunton Vapor and many other models are all available to the camper who is sick of capricious campfire cooking.

A few decades ago, campers and backpackers were limited to metal utensils that were heavy, bulky and awkward. Today, camping forks, knives and spoons are often made from nylon, which is lightweight but strong and resistant to melting. Other utensils are made from polycarbonate substances, which have the strength of steel but only one third of the weight. The wide range of offerings and styles ensure that no one has to eat with their hands unless they want to. Such convenient implements also make for better quality meals, since a spoon with an extendible handle is a much better cooking utensil than a stick.

Camping plates have come a long way too. Instead of thin, dented dishes made of tin, campers can now dine on platters made of a variety of materials, including nylon, silicone, polypropylenes and polycarbonates. These substances all have the advantage of being highly durable and relatively lightweight. As an added bonus, modern camping plates are often collapsible, taking up much less space and allowing campers to bring more. Those plates and bowls that do not collapse are usually designed to nest inside each other, another space saving tactic. The upshot is that, instead of having to share two plates among five people, campers can actually bring enough for everyone. What a civilized concept!

Finally, even camping food has gotten better. Does anyone else remember how disgusting the first energy bars were? They were barely edible. Today, there are dozens and dozens of food options for the trails, from energy gel, to varieties of granola, to all-natural powdered eggs that actually taste good! Natural High offers a good range of products, such as cinnamon apple crisp and hash browns, that only require the camper to add water. Mountain House offers dishes like blueberry cheesecake, and Backpacker's Pantry even has options like huevos rancheros. We've come a long way, baby.

How Snowboards Are Made

When you're ready to buy used snowboards, it will be helpful in your decision making process to understand how snowboards are made. Snowboards are both complicated and simple in their designs, and they incorporate many specific features and design elements that help to determine how well they will perform. Before buying a used snowboard, take a look at this introductory guide about how snowboards are made and what their different components are.

The first thing you need to understand is that one snowboard actually has many different levels or layers of materials. They are not just one piece of plastic or wood that you ride on. Down to the most basic considerations, there are 5 or 6 different individual layers that make up each and every board. The specifics about what are included, the materials used and more will differ from brand to brand and model to model, and help to determine the price, quality and performance of the board itself.

The bottom of the snowboard, also known as the base, is made from a plastic known as polyethylene, which has specific properties that provide a smooth, slick and fast riding surface. This bottom layer has edges made of steel which will help to enable you to turn and slice, and generally maneuver to a better degree on your board.

Above this is a layer of fiberglass. There are actually two layers of fiberglass on the board, one above and one below the basic board core, which is typically made from wood. The fiberglass allows for flexibility, strength and durability and is an essential component to every board. Most cores are as mentioned made from wood, while these days some lightweight composite materials are also included.

On top of the upper layer of fiberglass is the top sheet, and this is what you're actually standing on because it's the uppermost layer. This is mainly there for protection and for graphics, and it encloses the underneath layers.

There are also some more general terms that you should become familiar with for buying used snowboards. As mentioned, the bottom of the board is the base, and the top is simply the top, or the deck. The front of the board is the nose or the tip, and the back is the tail. Edges refer to the metal edges on the board, and effective edges are what actually come into contact with the snow as you turn.

Contact points on the board are the pieces of the board that touch the snow without you standing on it and adding weight and pressure. Camber refers to the arch of the board and the flex point is between the bindings and is where the board begins its flex.

There are many other fine details about snowboards that go into their construction, design and development and of course all brands are different. However, the above guide should provide you with just about everything you need to know in order to buy a used snowboard or purchase some new gear.

Main Causes of Water Pollution

Today, the world is facing one of the most serious problems of humanity and other forms of life, pollution. It is a known fact that pollution is very rampant all over the globe. Just look around and you will see rivers, lakes, beaches that are murky, stinky, and lifeless. Plastic, empty cans, bottles, and other trash have replaced the fishes and other wonderful marine creatures that used to reside under water. Yet, when scarcity arises and when epidemics occur many point their fingers to others and turn their backs from the responsibility. But in fact there is no one else to blame but the people. Man is the main cause of water pollution.

People pollute the water with chemicals and other hazardous materials. People have no regard to water - their source of life. They do not realize that this once abundant resource is rapidly being contaminated due to their negligence and carelessness.

Waste disposal has always been a chronic problem, not only because of the quantity of wastes, but because of its kind and the inadequate provision for a good system and technology to address the problem. There are many sources of water pollution but it is not the source that is really causing the problem but the improper disposal of the pollutants. People resort to careless disposal because it is cheaper, more advantageous, or simply convenient to them.

When you are taking a bath using your favorite shampoo or whenever you wash your laundry using no other than the best detergent in town, it is certain that before buying those products you really never consider asking yourself whether their contents can harm the environment or not. What mattered more was the scent and softness of your hair and the clean comfort of your clothes. Instead of finding an environmental friendly product, you simply chose convenience and your satisfaction of meeting your interests. However, if you will support environmental friendly products and become more conscientious of how you can avoid contributing to water pollution, then the world has gotten rid of one polluter.

In the same way, if chemical factories are only equipped with better facilities that can release treated wastewater, there will be no harm done to the lakes or rivers where they dump their by products. If home owners associations will work to build and provide their subdivisions with sewage treatment facilities, eutrophication can be controlled and dying bodies of water will be spared. But as mentioned, polluters choose the easier way where they can save on operation costs and where they can rid themselves of the hassles of responsibility. Anyway, they are not affected by the effects of their misdeeds.

Aside from improper and careless waste disposal, another main cause of water pollution is toxic substances coming from industrial, agricultural and domestic use. Trace elements of lead, cadmium, mercury, dioxins are detected in different water sources which sometimes accumulate in the water supply causing health problems. These toxic substances come from industries such mining, power plants, automobile manufacturers and others that produce toxic substances leading to bodies of water. Apart from these industries, these toxic materials contaminate the water through accidents like chemical or oil spills.

One more main cause of water pollution is the presence of excessive nutrients in the water. Nitrogen and phosphorous compounds that generally come from sewage, fertilizers, and animal manure are good food sources of algae. Excess nutrients in water also result to excessive growth of algae that deprive aquatic plants and animals adequate levels of oxygen to survive. Because of this many aquatic organisms die and decay which aggravates the problem.

Lastly, another considerable main cause of water pollution is sedimentation. Although it is hard to imagine how soil particles can contribute to water pollution, but it does. When huge amount of solid particles accumulate in water, whether due to deforestation, farming, or soil erosion, the sediments cloud the spawning grounds of fishes leading to their gradual extinction.

Humans greatly affect the environment. People will either be heroes or villains of Mother Nature. Toxic substances, algal bloom, sedimentation are all end results of human activities. These pollutants are not the real evils of water pollution but the people behind every wrong disposal and negligence. Unless man realizes that it is not the prohibition of pollutants nor banning industrial productions that should be changed but the behavior and attitude he possesses towards his environment, the rivers, lakes, and other water systems have no hope to be saved.

Leading Change - Three Musketeers Leadership

"I don't care what the project is, I'm not committing to anything until the budget is worked out!" We've all heard that one. Or how about, "I know what the boss said but when it comes time to account for sales it is going to be me, not you, I'm not doing it!" Ever heard a tirade like that before? Both of those attitudes and the many that go with them will kill your project.

Leadership is a lost art in today's world. It's tough to hold any one accountable. My goodness we have to go back to ancient times to find our way out of the fog of irresponsibility running wild today. So what can we do? We can lead the Three Musketeers way. We can lead with a mindset that says, "All for one and one for all!"

One of the problems is that we live in a free agent world. We live in the age of the individual and that extends to their leadership. It's cool to be the Lone Ranger but not if that's not your job. We need balance and accountability. We need the Three Musketeers. They had honor and went about restoring the old code... the one that worked.

What does that mean? I learned what it means first hand as a Marine sniper in Vietnam. We worked in teams of two to five snipers. When you are alone and thirty miles from anybody 'nice' you better have somebody next to you that isn't going to say, "It's not my job." You'd better be 'all for one'. And it didn't stop there. We needed support from artillery, from Marine air, from Marine grunts if we got into trouble - you lived or died by an 'all for one' philosophy.

On the other hand what does it mean to be 'one for all'? It means me; the individual Marine wasn't bigger than the mission. We all existed to support the bigger effort. It was simple - all for one and one for all. That's what builds teams, not some offsite walking on fire like Burger King did when they sent half of their marketing department to the emergency room.

It sounds corny but it is the simplest way to understand what it means to be part of a real team. A real teammate doesn't say "It ain't happening in my department". They see the bigger whole. And real leaders will not let their direct reports get away with that kind of behavior. When leading change you can't blow an uncertain trumpet, you have to let people clearly know the objective and then leaders need to support achieving it. And God forbid, you have to hold people accountable at each step of the way.

It isn't about the old adage of "I'm in sales and WE make the world go around". More sales people use that excuse to not be held accountable for anything outside of their bottom line number than you can count. Of course it takes a sale to make something happen. We get it! But it also takes a customer service agent, a delivery, somebody to make it and you get the picture, a team. And if you want to be a great team you'll be a Three Musketeer.

You as the change leader must take charge. You must set the standard with the driver, the sponsor of the change, when you take the job as the change leader. Once there is alignment at that level you cannot waver. You're entire leadership must be 'all for one and one for all'.

When Gandhi led the Indian people out of British bondage he was a living example of the change he was driving. He was the message. He lived the often repeated, "You must become the change you wish to see in the world." You must do that too and you will succeed at leading change.

How Online Insurance Leads Have Changed the Industry

One thing that has changed the insurance industry forever is the ability to buy leads on the internet. It is true that there will always be ways to generate leads offline, but the internet is adding a whole new dimension for both the consumers and the agents.

What this means is that where the consumers are, the agents will follow. Consumers are using the internet more and more to purchase insurance of all kinds. Online insurance leads have done two things for agents. The first and foremost thing is that it allows them to cut back on other methods of marketing the products they sell. Some agents love what the internet is doing for their business and their industry, while others who are dealing in the past would rather see it go away entirely.

Agents are aware that more and more consumers are using the internet to learn about insurance and shop for insurance too. This means that even if an agent does not like what the internet has to offer for their business that they must still learn to use this method of communicating with their potential clients because it is where more and more consumers are heading.

This means in order to stay on pace with the insurance industry, agents must begin using the internet whether they are comfortable with it or not. Now, consumers can submit their information online to receive a quote for insurance. This brings more agents into the picture because they then have to respond to the requests. Even though there will always be consumers who would rather shop for their insurance offline, the internet is changing the shopping experience.

Insurance leads provided by the internet are a relatively new thing for the industry, but in the short time they have been around they have changed the face of buying and selling insurance for consumers and agents. Within the next few years, this trend is sure to bring even more positive growth.

Get Viz Magazine Subscription For a Great Laugh

When you want to laugh away your worries there is perhaps no better medicine than reading through an issue of the Viz magazine. Originating in 1979 this leading British humor magazine focuses on funny jokes and cartoon characters which have become extremely popular with the readers over the years. The magazine's producers are based in Newcastle, England. With its growing acceptance amongst readers however it very soon faced challenges as competitors surfaced and sales subsequently plummeted sharply in 2009. Another cause behind the sales decline was perhaps the hike in price of the magazines as they became monthly issues.

Contents of the magazine:

The focus of this magazine is not on political mockery rather on despicable jokes. Toilet related humor like jokes about farting, vomiting or urinating. Black comedy focusing on issues considered taboo in our society. Surreal humor through creation of absurd situations or weird juxtapositions. Sexual comedy concentrating on sexual practices and theories. Satires mocking the seriousness of some grave issues.How to make Viz magazine subscriptions: You can start by paying $1 for the first three monthly issues and in case you are not satisfied completely you may cancel your subscription. Enter the promotional code and the name of the country where you reside when filling in the subscription details. Provide the delivery address for shipping when buying online. Click on the option that says "add to cart" and finally on the "subscribe" button to finish the proceedings. If you face trouble going through the above steps you may call the helpline numbers provided in the web page. If the reader is satisfied and wishes to continue receiving the magazine, he can avail of a home delivery of the copy along with a huge 21% off on the shop price. You can also gift Viz magazine subscriptions to your friends at attractive discounted rates.The magazine can be bought from stalls and book stores and subscribing to it hardly costs you much money. You also have the freedom to discontinue subscriptions in case you are not happy with it. Earlier men were the biggest fans of this magazine but now women are also creating fan clubs of their own. The most popular sections in this magazine include funny letters by the editor and even readers using funny names, absurd sex-oriented tips, and crap jokes, humorous stories through photographs, comic strips etc. The online edition contains appropriate funny animations, games, videos and wallpapers etc.

Rosetta Stone: Who Can Benefit From It?

There are few if any language training programs that are as popular as Rosetta Stone. One of the reasons for this popularity is the wide variety of people who can benefit from its use. Almost anybody will find that their language skills will improve when they use the program. That being said there are some people who will find it to be more useful than other people. This does raise the question of who will get the most benefit from the program?

The people who will get the most use out of Rosetta Stone are people who need to learn the basics of a language very quickly. For example if you are planning a trip it is not usually necessary or even practical to become fluent before you go. You will however want to be able to communicate when you get there. This is what the program was designed for and in this respect it is very good. People are normally able to reach the point where they can have conversations in a matter of weeks.

The other group that can really benefit from Rosetta Stone are people who are trying to learn a language on their own. While there are a lot of advantages to taking a language course for a lot of people fitting it into their schedule is not always practical. The result is that they will usually use a home study course. Rosetta Stone is ideal for this since it will help you to get the basics down very quickly. In order to become fluent you will have to do additional study beyond what is taught on the course but it will get you off to a good start.

One other group that is finding that they can get a lot of use out of Rosetta Stone is children. It is well established that the best time for learning a language is in childhood, kid's brains are wired for learning languages. The problem is that there are not a lot of good courses available for kids. The reason is that most courses are aimed at adults. Rosetta Stone uses a teaching approach that is similar to the way that children learn languages; this is why adults are able to pick up the basics so quickly with it. When kids use the program they will pick up the basics even faster than adults, although again to become completely fluent additional study will be necessary.

Highly Controversial - The Other Cause of Tinnitus

Controversial - really? Why would the cause of tinnitus be a controversial subject? On one level, tinnitus can be a very personal condition - some people are absolutely devastated by all the whooshing and whistling noises. Others, are merely annoyed by the cacophony of sounds going off in their heads.

When people's lives (and sleep) are interrupted by this illness, then things get serious. Of course, tinnitus won't kill you - although there have been reports of people committing suicide because of the levels of noise in their heads. I would assume that this level of tinnitus involves a very few tinnitus sufferers - most would fall into the highly-annoyed-but-livable camp. This would include me, although I feel that my tinnitus has caused a certain amount of hearing loss in my case, and can cause a bit of an annoyance lying in bed trying to fall asleep while the symphony of uninvited noises play out in my head.

Can emotional issues, like stress and anxiety be a cause of tinnitus? Certainly, when the human body is under constant stress, many different chemical responses are in high gear, such as:

The cortisol level is high. Cortisol, a corticosteroid, also known as the "stress hormone," is produced by the adrenal glands in greater quantities when a body is under stress. Blood pressure is up and blood sugar is raised also. High blood pressure. As mentioned above, when the body's cortisol level is up, so is blood pressure. Part of the mechanism of raising blood pressure is a constriction of the arteries. And when the arteries are constricted, blood flow through those arteries is louder (think of the sound a kinked hose makes). It is natural to assume that the louder blood flow in the ears compounds the existing tinnitus. And, when the body is constantly under stress (chronic), the blood pressure is constantly elevated - contributing to a sensation of a worsening of tinnitus, if not a cause of tinnitus. Increased level of sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream. Glucose, the body's main source of energy, is regulated by insulin which is produced in the pancreas. When a body is constantly stressed, the rise in glucose can lead to a form of diabetes, where the overworked insulin becomes less effective at controlling glucose. In at least one major study, it was learned that 84% to 92% of tinnitus sufferers were revealed to have a metabolic disorder called hyperinsulinemia, where the pancreas was attempting to regulate the glucose in the bloodstream by over-producing a less effective version of insulin. In short, the vast majority of tinnitus sufferers were shown to have a diabetes-like condition, possibly due to consistently elevated stress levels. Are most tinnitus sufferers diabetics? I don't know, but I believe that consistently elevated stress hormones have been proven to cause a body much damage.

I'll leave the judgmental part of this article up to each reader - all I can do is report he facts. I don't believe that enough studies of this nature have been done to prove or disprove any of this. However, this may be good fodder for future thinking points when it comes to treating the cause of tinnitus.

Integrated Visual Content Into Your Internet Marketing Plan

Visual content is a great way to grab the attention of your audience. Since it is quicker to consume and easier to execute in comparison to providing quality written content; one can leverage the appeal of visual content in creative ways in their internet marketing and social strategies.

Believe it or not, visual marketing plays directly or indirectly plays a significant role in all our promotional channels ranging from email marketing, organic search and obviously social media marketing. Here are some fascinating ways in which you can integrate your visual content for effective online marketing.

1. Visual Content and Social Media Marketing

The significance of visual content cannot be more evident that on social platforms, which are now being exclusively developed to accommodate images and other forms of visual content. Pinterest for example, is an upcoming social platform where users and organizations can share images by pinning and 'repining' them. Retailers, photographers, art dealers and a range of other businesses have been able to leverage from this unique platform to showcase their products and their work.

Additionally, the new timeline format that is now offered on Facebook is testimony to how the world's most popular social platform also sees a future in visual marketing. The opportunity begins from the point a brand is able to upload a much larger cover photo and expand visual posts in such a way that it takes up more space on your timeline and attracts more attention. Statistics show that photo albums on Facebook timelines tend to generate two times more the engagement or call for action than other conventional types of post. This eventually means that the ranking system of this social platform will feature you more prominently on the news feed page of your fans.

Let's not forget the mobile based application for iPhone and Android, Instragram which offers some fascinating and fun editing and social sharing options for users of these smart phones. This photo equivalent of twitter is quite refreshing and engaging for users.

One cannot talk about visual content and not talk about YouTube, a video uploading and sharing platform that has taken the world by storm since its conception. Not only does this platform make video sharing so much easier, but the fact that it can so efficiently blend into other social and internet platforms such as blogs and websites makes it a valuable tool for internet marketers.

2. Visual Content and Blogs

Blogs tend to provide brands with the highest number of leads. This means that you need to treat your blog just like you treat your website and take into consideration the same norms of web design and content development for best results. Making blogs, your email communications and other organic search tools need to be made adequately visual so that they are more intriguing and appealing to your target groups.

For example, you can ensure that for every blog post that you make you have at least one relevant image against it which attracts readers to click on your entry.

Many designers and developers tend to oppose the use of too many images from the point of view of readability and efficiency in navigation. It is important for a marketer to derive a balance between visual and textual content to ensure a common goal of user appeal is achieved.

Gerard Fusil's Bike and Run Adventure - Adventure Racing on a Budget

Gerald Fusil is a man who always puts his ideas into action and others follow. The founder of the Raid Gauloises, The world's first true expedition race is always on the lookout to expand the sport. The cost of competing in adventure racing has reached a level that few teams can now afford. Organisers and adventure racers are faced with high travel and insurance costs. One way to attract racers is to offer large sums in prize money, and top teams can make a living, but what about the average racer.

Last Year, During the annual Reunion D'Aventures race, Gerard Fusil added a bike and run discipline which required the four person team to share two mountain bikes during a couple of legs of the race. The trial was a success as teams were forced to think of tactics to complete the legs in the fastest possible way. Some teams doubled up on the downhill sections, others stayed, whilst the more successful set up a relay system with the rider going a set distance before leaving the bike at the edge of the track for their team mate, who would get on and then leapfrog them.

Gerard Fusil saw an opportunity to return once again to the basis of Expedition Adventure Racing. Providing teams the chance to explore a country, interface with the local population and race in exotic locations with out the need to transport large amounts of gear. Gerard Fusil announced his ideas at the Reunion D'Aventures prize giving and the world waited with bated breadth.

September 2005 saw Gerard Fusil Launch the Bike and Run Concept to the World with the Oman Adventure. Details were brief, two person teams to share one bike with only one person to be on the bike at one time. The race would be run in a number of stages including a night stage and teams had to be prepared to camp in the wild. Time was short so Gerard Fusil used the course notes from the 1992 Raid Gauloises for parts of the course.

Gerald Fusil made one other departure from the norm by pre-announcing the lengths of each stay and the names of the overnight camps. The race was to take place on the East Coast of Oman, however some of the place names were only known to the locals.

December 2005. A barmy evening camped by the sea saw Gerard Fusil briefing the gathered teams from France, Oman, UK, Réunion, Austria, Holland and Australia. Most teams had arrived in the morning so had little time to prepare. Support vehicles were shared by two teams, so competitors spent the night poring over maps and packing gear into the vehicles by torchlight.

The following day at dawn a convoy of vehicles transported the team to the start line in a nearby Wadi. The first day included a section of running only along goat tracks and this proved to be decisive as the Australian and one local Omani team got lost allowing a French team to build an unassailable lead.

Later in the week Gerard Fusil had mapped out the course with a 17k twisting climb from the sea to 1500 metres and also a section of canyoning with a number of swims.

Gerard Fusil had arranged camping or bivouacs in a number of scenic areas, with the stages starting in the early morning most teams would finish around mid-day or early afternoon.

The terrain in Oman is varied from lush oasis to harsh rocky hillsides and of course seas of sandiness where the teams finished the race. Gerard Fusil held the prize giving in Muscat the winners being a husband and wife team Wilsa Sport Helly Hansen from France. Second place went to the Australians and a Local Omani team came in third.

Teams came from many different backgrounds, Adventure racers, tri-athletes, marathon runners, mountain bikers; the final count saw adventure racers however leading the way.

Virtually all teams adopted the general tactic of leap frogging, however there were at least a couple of incidents when teams missed the bike, including one on the long climb for an all female team which required an extra 4k to be covered to collect the bike!

The Inaugural race proved to be a success and now Gerald Fusil has announced the second race of the series which will return to a different area of Oman at the end of November 2006. email me to request more information

Military Loans for Those With Bad Credit Are a Viable Funding Option

It is not easy to find a lender willing to simply hand out loans to anyone who applies. There is criteria that needs to be met, and conditions that must be accepted by the applicant. But the good news for service men and women is that military loans for those with bad credit are amongst the least difficult to see approved.

There are a number of reasons why military loans with bad credit are more accessible than the equivalent loans for civilian borrowers, not least the fact that the level of job security is extremely high. In essence, this translates to a guarantee of income with which to repay any loan.

The range of loan types available is just as wide with civilian options, but because of the greater level of security, from the perspective to the lender, it is much easier to get military loans approved despite poor credit. With this, it is therefore easier to begin to build a better credit rating too.

Type of Loans

Basically, the only real difference between civilian and military loans for those with bad credit is the perceived level of certainty with repayments. This filters through the range of loans available, with secured and unsecured loans both to choose from, in either short or long terms.

Secured loans relate to those military loans with poor credit that are accompanied by an item of value to use as collateral. This means that, should the borrower default on the loan that the losses are covered by the value of the item of security. In an auto loan, for example, the collateral is the car itself.

Unsecured loans have no collateral, thereby leaving the lender at greater risk. But getting unsecured military loans approved, despite bad credit, is easier because of the level of certainty surrounding the employer - namely the Government. With employment secure, and income received like clockwork, it is difficult not to receive monthly payments on time.

Emergency Funds

The biggest advantage in seeking military loans for those with poor credit is when emergency funds are required. For example, while civilians may have to go to great lengths to convince a lender that repayment of even a payday loan is assured, military personnel have much less hassle.

This is because the certainty of payment makes the risk minute, so even a military loan with bad credit taken out against the next pay check in just a week or two, can be secured. So, if small loan sums like $1,000 is needed very quickly, then it is not hard to access.

Larger Personal Loans

When it comes to getting large military loans approved despite bad credit, there is just as little trouble, though the applicant may have to wait for approval for at least 24 hours. This is, of course, quite quick and as a source of funds for debt consolidation, for example, is ideal.

In the case where a civilian is looking for a large personal loan, there can be complications because of the rate of interest and size of the resulting monthly repayment. However, large military loans for those with bad credit are easier to get, so long as the monthly repayment is manageable.

Military loans with bad credit are subject to the same condition on repayment as any other, with lenders only lending on the back of 30% of the income of an applicant. This means that any military loans approved despite bad credit needs to be within that percentage, so the sum applied for must be within reason.

The availability of military loans for those with bad credit ensures that military personnel have access to necessary funds when most needed, and with the minimum of fuss.

Finding Out If P90x Workouts Really Work

Are you fed up with all those workout programs that promise a fitter you, but don't seem to work? It has been a common practice for a lot of companies to resort to false advertisements just to promote their products and services about workouts, but it is also very prevalent that most of them don't have a single effective method in getting rid of weight and fat. Obviously, you don't want to waste your investment on something that will merely give you expectations, not results. So when you first heard about P90x training program, you probably had your doubts about the effectiveness of the program too.

So what's with the hype of the P90x? P90x or Power 90 Extreme is considered to be one of the best and most effective workout programs available today. Other programs are contented on providing first impressions, but as they say, the P90x is quite different because it offers lasting results. If you want to burn fat, lose weight, tighten skin and build up your muscles, then this may be the program that is right for you. It is a program that focuses on "muscle confusion", which is said to prevent the body from adapting to exercises after some time so that the body will also develop muscles and burn fat effectively. In doing so, the person will see continued improvements without plateaus while on this program. Muscle confusion is achieved by switching the order of the exercises then adding new and varied movements.

The P90x workout involves 12 different P90x workouts, each with duration of 45 to 75 minutes. The workout programs are a combination of different exercises including, cardio, strength training, stretching, plyometrics and yoga. It is a 90-day program, designed by Tony Horton, a recognized trainer and fitness instructor.

For some, the word extreme may give them a tougher expectation, but in reality, these high impact exercises are actually very easy to adapt to and achieve. The program itself has been designed for beginners who need to keep them fit starting from square one. The entire package is equipped with DVDs of the demonstrations made by Tony Horton and his entire team of fitness instructors and models. They're the ones who will demonstrate the P90x exercises. Additionally, there is also a nutritional guide that you can follow to achieve the best results. When it comes to the nutrition part of the program, there are 3 phases involved. The first part focuses on foods that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates to make the user understand the relationship between carbohydrates and energy.

Home Cooked Italian Meals Are a Feast For the Palate

One of the most famous areas of the world, as far as excellent dishes goes, is Italy. And if you want to get to the heart of Italian food, it's best to go the source. For an authentic Italian culinary experience you don't just need to get to Italy, you really need to go to an Italian home where traditional Italian food is made in the most perfect way possible, by people who love to cook and share what they have made.

There are some differences in an Italian home cooked meal that are important to learn if you really want to embrace the culture of that country. The main difference is that real Italian food is not meant just to provide nourishment, but to bring family and friends together in a fun and loving atmosphere. An Italian meal is at least three or four courses and is not something you want to rush through. Mealtimes in general are longer in Italy because of the cultural view that meal times are not just about feeding the body, but about feeding the soul.

One of the most surprising things to foreigners about an Italian meal is that the first course is typically the most filling. There is an antipasti, which simply means "before the pasta course", but there is no light salad or soup to ease your way into the meal. Right from the antipasti diners jump right into the primo or "first course".

This is the part of the meal most familiar to non-Italians because it consists of a pasta dish. This primo course is where most people's knowledge of Italian food ends. Few people realize that there is much more to Italian food than just this primo pasta.

The next part of the meal is the secondo or "second course". This is the main course of the meal.

True enough, pasta was just served in the primo course, but even though that course can be quite filling, it is not the main dish. The second course is where you'll find the meat of the meal. In the northern part of Italy the meat course will most likely be veal, pork, or chicken. In the South and along the coast you're more likely to be feasting on a fish dish. Along with this course, you will be served a contorno or "side dish". Traditionally this will come in the form of a fresh salad.

To finish off the meal, diners get not one, but two desserts. The first is a cheese and fruit course that will help prepare you for the dolce or main dessert. The dolce will be the rich sweet dessert of the evening, such as cake. And like all good Italian meals, you will end with coffee or espresso. Well, almost end with that. Actually, the real end of the meal consists of liquors and is often referred to as the "coffee killer".

If all you've have ever experienced in your life is Italian food from the mall food court, you will be in for a delightful and fascinating treat if you have a traditional meal in an Italian home. This is a culinary experience to treasure for a lifetime and the truth is The Italians understand that good food is meant to be good fun.