Saturday, October 24, 2009

Hidden Cameras - Curse or Blessing?

By Jim Wilkinson

What you have to ask your self first is, "Do I really need a hidden camera?" If you want to make sure that your babysitter is taking care of your children properly by all means a "Nanny Cam" is in order. Is someone doing damage to your car at night? Is somebody stealing your stuff at work? Whatever your answer is make sure you use a hidden camera, or spy camera, to catch somebody doing something illegal or immoral.

Sometimes people buy hidden cameras or spy cameras for reasons that are not on the up and up. Too often we read in the newspaper about some landlord or neighbor using a hidden camera to spy on a female neighbor. Or placing it in a common area of an apartment building such as the laundry room. Disgusting! When these jerks are caught they usually do a good amount of jail time, as they should.

It is a good practice if you have just moved into a new apartment to "sweep" the room with a bug detector. These units pick up and can pinpoint the location of any hidden video camera or RF signal. If you do this you do not have to worry about unscrupulous landlords. A bug detector works great. All you have to do is walk around your new place and see if the unit activates with either a sound or light. Another benefit is you get to feel like James Bond!

As you are "sweeping" your new place you have to be thorough. Really thorough! The latest spy cameras are very, very small and can be place inside almost any everyday object you would find in a home. When you do find something resist the temptation to move it or confront your landlord. Go out of your apartment and call the police. Don't call from your place because the landlord might be watching or listening in and be able to destroy any evidence before the police arrive.

If you have a legitimate reason to buy a hidden camera then by all means do so. You are going to find that there is a wide selection of models to choose from. Clock radios, bird feeders, planters, air fresheners, these have all been retrofitted to place a hidden camera inside. Whatever you can think of and the chances are good that you can find one with a hidden camera installed!

When deciding what kind of hidden camera you want, make sure it will fit into the decor of the room. As an example, I don't think I would put a nice bright neon lit clock in my contemporary living room. But, it would probably fit in nicely in my game room.

In addition to taking the decor into consideration you have to decide what type of hidden camera you want. There are basically 3 types:1/ Wireless, 2/ Wired, and 3/ Self contained.

If you choose the wireless option the hidden camera and a tiny transmitter will be placed inside the unit. The transmitter will send a signal through the air. You then have to have a receiver to pick up that signal. You can then connect the receiver to your TV, monitor or recording device.

The wired hidden camera will have an A/V cord coming out of the unit that will get plugged in directly to a recording device or TV or monitor.

The newest generation of hidden or spy cameras is the self recording one. The item that you decide on will have a tiny camera AND a recording unit all in one! They usually record onto an SD card that you simply remove and insert into your computer for viewing. You can place these anywhere and they are very mobile.

Make sure you buy a hidden camera that matches your needs. Do you need to record at night time when very little light is available? You better get a low LUX camera. Do you need it to be motion activated? How about a time and date stamp? These are all available and you can find one that fits what you want it to do.

Last, but certainly not the least, make sure your reasons are good ones when you buy a hidden camera. You don't want to see yourself being led out in handcuffs from an apartment building!

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Discover How To Fight And Protect Yourself During A Street Fight

By Vincent Grammar

Not everybody could look for it to happen, but what if you suddenly find yourself in a fight with another person who is stronger in order to protect yourself or your precious one? If that ever happens, you wish you could have master some simple fighting defense moves so you don't land up in the emergency rooms waiting for surgeries. There are particular types of people that basically want to get into a fight with you. It may be for a good time or for excitement, their aim is to draw you into fighting.

It is at first best to attempt to assess the situation and don't react on a impulse. The situation, of course, differs when someone actually harms you by hitting you or by threatening you. This is an alarming scenario and you have got to be aware right away. You could look for objects around you that you could use to arm yourself. Having nearly anything in your hands will inflict a bit of concern on your assailant and will make them more somewhat more afraid. Any piece of furniture, crockery or tiny items even a safety pin can turn into your artillery or weapon. In defense moves it is crucial that you think fast. Your thought needs to be faster than your attacker so you strike before he or she can even think about it. In case you are outnumbered in the area, it's a good idea to seek for a place from where you can escape.

Fundamentally, you must try to analyze the issue as much as feasible. It's much better to talk to your assaulter first before starting physical movements and to avoid any hurt done on either side. The majority of the time, speaking will break down the issue as one may release their negative feelings or be able to accept an apology. You could even say sorry if you have made a mistake. Usually even if your mistake is little, you can still apologize because your aim is to avoid fighting.

Occasionally the aggressors are so wrapped up in their mind set that they want to harm you. What if there's no other ways to settle it then you're forced into a situation to fight. It is better to learn self defense moves from several states. This form of preparation will make you more flexible and solid to various street brawl positions.

You could question the significance of marital arts in the street fighting brawls and how does it give you the edge exactly. The marital art skills grant you the power where you learn and develop spontaneous self defense moves. The marital arts are designed in a way that you're able to defend yourself entirely and ably against any oncoming assaulter.

When choosing for an teacher, you have to make sure that they just don't give you ideas and make you do exercises. You've got to implement the part of discomfort and concern in any eventual real time situations. Therefore when you learn how to fight make sure that the course or the book you are reading covers several aspects of a real time fight.

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Can Flipping My Investment Property Work For Me?

By Cody Scholberg

When you think about investment properties in a logical matter, when you commence in flipping these properties you're actually not investing. Flipping investment properties is a strategy that goes along with the buy and hold concept, however your having to put more money into your investment just to see a substantial profit.

Do not get misconstrued, if an investment property is flipped accordingly, you can end up making a decent profit off of the property. Many people simply want to buy the property and immediately sell it without remodeling it, doing this is not going to benefit you at all.

If you buy your investment properties for long term gain, this will give you a very passive income now, but will provide nicely in your retirement years. You could even pass a fortune in real estate to your heirs for future generations. The basic idea behind flipping real estate is that you will get your profit immediately, rather than later.

If you opt to buy investment properties with your mind on the idea of the long term gain of your investment, you will end up with a passive income. This income can give you a substantial amount of money in which you can use to retire, or you can transfer the funds over to your family for generations to come.

The other advantage of flipping is that you don't have to deal with rental contracts or tenants or maintenance for that matter. Just buy low sell higher and make your money right away. A word to the wise though, this looks very simple to do but the actual execution of this process is very complicated and has lots of snags. How do you find this property at below market price? Will you know exactly what repairs will make the house readily sellable?

You will have to be very careful not to spend more money than you planned on the necessary repairs. You must also know the least expensive way to sell the property in the least amount of time. Lastly, what happens if the flip deal you have lined up falls through, are you prepared for that? Before you get involved in flipping make sure you are fully informed and educated.

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The Difficult Search For The Best Fish Oil Supplements.

By Peter Bertonach

It's time to stop researching and start taking those omega 3 fish oil capsules that you know are so important to your health. But now that you have spent some time looking around you have suddenly discovered so many different brands of fish oil supplements that you really don't know which ones to buy. How do you decide which are the best fish oil supplements.

This 4 things you need to think about than trying to decide which are the best fish oil supplements for you.

1. Must compare the supplements by the amount of DHA in each.

DHA and EPA are the 2 essential fatty acids known as Omega 3 fatty acids that result in all the health benefits from taking supplements. DHA is the most important of these 2.

Fish oil is not 100 percent DHA. Read the label on the bottle and you should see what percentage of the fish oil is made up of DHA. This is what you are buying. If the label says nothing you don't know what you'll be getting.

Some brands of Omega 3 supplements have less than 10 percent DHA whilst others have almost 30 percent.

2. Compare Omega 3 supplements by value not by price.

You can't compare fish oil capsules by price because what you're buying is that DHA in the capsules and there is widely differing amounts of DHA in different brands. It's impossible to compare an 8 percent DHA supplement with another supplement that has 28 percent DHA. You can only compare on a cost per gram of DHA basis.

3.You must get the capsules with the freshest oil.

Fish oil, like most other things, can go off and does so. If fish oil goes off it becomes rancid and smells bad and if you take fish oil capsules with rancid oil you may well experience that nasty fishy burp sensation. Some manufacturers even use masking fragrances to help mask the smell of rancid oil. It is essential that you use fish oil capsules that use the freshest fish oil.

Rancid fish oil is actually bad for your health.

4. The cleanliness of the fish oil is paramount.

It is well known that fish, particularly fish from the north Atlantic, can be heavily contaminated with nasty toxins such as PCBs, pesticides and Mercury. Fish that are caught in the cleanest ocean, the southern ocean between New Zealand and Antarctica, are clean. The very best fish oil capsules use clean fish for their oil that are caught in the southern ocean and even publish a certificate of analysis on the website of the manufacturer to evidence this.

If you do a comparison on this basis you'll find that there is a brand of Omega 3 supplements that are the cheapest on a value comparison, have 28 percent DHA, use fish oil that is as fresh as it's possible to get and which publish a certificate of analysis on the website of the manufacturer to show their cleanliness.

This company makes the best fish oil supplements. If you'd like to find out who they are visit my website.

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Exercise with Proper Submission Fighting Is Good Fitness Training

By Vincent Grammar

When many people think of the term submission fighting, it probably sounds like something you wouldn't want to take part in, but numerous are seeing that submission fighting can be a good sport to find.

This kind of fight development can mentally and physically change the way you look at life. You will as well get a solid exercise with this kind of body process. While this isn't a sport that just anybody would be motivated to consider, many guys find it highly fascinating, life changing, and naturally fun to study. If you need to try yourself to learn submission fighting, you may determine that even if you're in fine shape you'll be exhausted and sore when you first start out.

The viewers usually don't realize it, but this sort of fighting needs that your entire body is in great shape in most areas and not just your legs, arms, or chest. This form of fighting will give you a core workout and a cardio workout in which you will find changes arriving rather quickly. Most folks that are engaged in this sport report results such as losing weight, gaining trim muscle mass, and after a while they develop more power and energy to do all the things that they like more than just for sparring and training.

It could be difficult to get into submission fighting and to do it safely due to numerous of the classes and coaches out there are not that knowledgeable. Prior to getting with any faculty, you should be certain that they're qualified and are professional. You can get hurt and you could harm other people incidentally if you're not instructed in the right way. This style of fighting is completely about control and applying the utmost effect using the least effort. These kind of matters need to be taught fittingly.

Some people find schools that have programs locally but soon find that they just can't make it to the classes frequently enough to make it valuable in order to pay for them. Due to the advancement of the net you can see all the same teachings that you would learn in the class room, but given the information on line, you can instantly study and apply at the location and time it is handy for you. The web site in addition offers streaming video so you can really develop your offense at any day or night time.

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Training Considerations for an MMA Workout

By Jeremy Evans

The best MMA workout will include components from many aspects and disciplines of martial arts. Strength, speed, and conditioning are all factors in becoming an excellent striker, grappler, wrestler, jiu-jitsu practitioner. Being mentally prepared is also extremely important. Remember though, there is no single "best" MMA workout.

Conditioning is commonly considered one of the most important facets of fighting, along with mental preparation. In order to win a fight, a fighter must be able to fight at peak levels for long periods of time while enduring large amounts of punishment. Even some of the best fighters in the world have been defeated due to lack of conditioning.

Striking includes boxing, kickboxing, Muy Thai, and other forms. Any exercise that will help develop striking accuracy, timing, and speed is important for a quality workout. Hand strength is important, as well as hand-eye coordination.

One of the more common grappling arts for MMA is Judo. It is a solid art that focuses on using leverage against an opponent to throw them onto the ground. Grappling is also very important for strikers that are trying to hold their opponent in the clinch.

Wrestling is a solid background for all martial arts. Most wrestling workout routines translate well into creating a great MMA workout. Being a good wrestler will allow a fighter to control where the fight takes place, whether it is standing or on the ground.

Submission skills are particularly important in MMA today. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is currently considered the most popular and effective submission discipline. Learning these skills will allow a smaller or weaker opponent defeat a much larger opponent.

Mental preparation is extremely important in all aspects of training. It takes not only strength and fortitude to become a great fighter, but intelligence, willpower, and mental constitution. Being prepared for not only the fight, but the intense training that will be involved for the fight is extremely important.

No one MMA workout is sufficient. Variety is an important key to training. There are a lot of aspects to training for martial arts. To be a well-rounded fighter the training must be well-rounded training. This includes training all of the different aspects of mixed martial arts, being conditioned, and mentally ready for a fight.

In the end, the goals of each person building an MMA workout will be different. Some will do it to become the best fighter they possibly can. Others will do it simply because they enjoy it or to get some good exercise for their body. It is crucial that whatever the reason, the person defines their own goals and trains to the best of their abilities.

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Friday, October 23, 2009

The Secret of Finding the True Power of the Martial Arts!

By Al Case

When I was growing up, in the fifties, there was this strange beast called the martial arts. People could defend themselves with little effort, merely through the use of this strange energy called ki. Heck, women could beat up attackers, and even children could defend themselves using this thing called Karate.

I explored Kenpo, and Goju, and judo, and several other martial arts, and I found little trace of this mysterious energy. Mostly, you just stood in line and hit the air, and I began to believe that ki might be more of a myth than a reality. Still, I saw pictures of people breaking bricks, and doing other things which, even though they seemed a bit muscular, touted this strange energy called Ki.

As years passed, and as I practiced my martial arts techniques thousands and thousands and thousands of times, a strange thing began to occur. I began to feel the world beyond myself, and not just through the common senses. I began to see the world without eyes, and with a sense of myself that went beyond body. Slowly, I began to understand how this ki thing might be, and to understand that circus tricks were the icing, and enjoyable, but that real intrinsic energy was something else.

I studied Tai Chi Chuan and Aikido, and other internal arts. I began to feel a strange energy permeate my body, and I began to enjoy a profound health which made me feel more spry than even when I had been young. And I began to realize certain things about this mysterious subject called ki, or chi, which should be understood, should people wish to really delve into the truth of the subject.

When you do your forms you must lower your frame, for this will create a better energy connection to the planet. A better energy connection means more real energy will pass through the legs and into the tan tien. And the tan tien is nothing but a simple generator of energy on the body level.

If you can excite the energy center, then you can cause an energy to fill the body the body. This energy will excite a tan tien in the upper body, which will further fill the body, which will excite the tan tien in the head, and then cause a person to view his body from outside his body. Thus, the body becomes a battery charged with supernormal energy which is this mysterious energy known as ki or chi.

The energy of the body can be used in many ways, and this provides a whole new education for a student of such things. To explore this education one should attempt to not use muscles, for energy locked into muscles stops the intention which drives the energy, and stops the emission of intrinsic energy. Instead, when striking, one should use ones body like a noodle, not even tightening the fist, merely driving it through the attacker, and occupying the space of his body, and to loosen the motion and sensitivity of the body so it is empty, and able to seek an imbalance of the attacker even in combat, and further the guidance of his energy in a profound and magnitudious manner.

Ki, whether it is called chi or prana or intrinsic energy or pneuma or whatever, is not mysterious. It is simple to develop and use, if one only pays attention to the simple things I have written in this article, and are willing to throw yourself into the discipline. Whether you study uechi or shotokan or goju, whether you practice tai chi or yoga, this thing called ki, or chi, is available to you, and it is The Truth of The Path of The True Art.

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Investment Property: The Safe and Profitable Way

By Cody Scholberg

The best way a layperson can make money is through rental property. Not only does it have the least risk in a total loss of value, but it is the easiest industry for someone without experience to obtain the use of other people's money.

Speculation versus Investment.

Investment and speculation are quite different from each other. One relies on hard facts, and the other relies on chance and good guessing. Most so-called investors are actually speculators, even though they think they are investors. These people often spend a huge amount of time "researching." Research to them is reading market conditions and the opinions of experts and then trying to predict the future prices of their investments. A real investor's only concern about the future, on the other hand, is the price dropping; he or she wants to guard against this. So, a real investor looks for two things: safety and profit. If either of these things are not present and are not assured beyond a reasonable doubt, then he or she will not consider it an investment, but a speculative operation.

Safety

The intrinsic value of a property is what a property should be worth in a perfect world. This is based off the earning power of the property and not the public's attitude. One hundred times the monthly income is a good measuring stick for approximating the intrinsic value. Investors are concerned with value more than they are price. They will buy when the price is below the intrinsic value. There are some markets where finding a deal like this is impossible. In these cases, search somewhere else, for these investments would be mere speculations.

The price that the property is bought at must be significantly below the intrinsic value, otherwise the investment is no good. Remember that the intrinsic value is not a fixed value, but a general ball park. If one buys something in a ball park substantially below the intrinsic value ball park, then one is sure of getting a good deal.

We have set the rule that one should not buy property except for property that is eighty percent or below the intrinsic value. This functions as a safety buffer for us. It is unlikely that the property will drop more than twenty percent in value in the period that we own it. But, if it does, we have a twenty percent "cushion" to lessen the damage.

Relying on appreciation for profit is a speculator's strategy; as investors, we think predicting the future is impossible and should not be relied on. If appreciation happens, so be it; we will enjoy it. But, we want to be sure that we will profit without it.

To assure us a profit, then, we will find a home that is structurally sound but in need of surface-level repairs. The price paid per square foot should be subtracted from the price of one would pay for new construction per square foot. Then, we estimate our repair costs, which must be half or less of the difference we just calculated. This serves to double or more our money upon repair. By buying property with this margin of safety and this repair strategy, we can be sure beyond any reasonable doubt that our investment will be both safe and profitable.

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Thursday, October 22, 2009

Home Alarm Systems - Crime Deterrent and Vital Warning

By Matthew Kerridge

There is one thing that all home alarm systems have in common. Their primary purpose is to protect and warn your family in the event of an emergency. How much is your family's safety and well being worth to you?

Home alarm systems can protect your family in a multitude of emergency situations and are not limited to burglary protection only. A decent, home alarm system can protect you in the event of a fire or medical emergency as well.

Most alarm systems come with a smoke detector option. What makes this smoke detector superior to one you may already have in place is that a smoke detector that comes with an alarm system is connected to the alarm and will automatically notify your local fire department should your home catch fire. Likewise, in the event of a medical emergency, the simple push of a button can summon help and make the difference between life and death for you or your loved ones.

What are the Types of Home Alarm Systems Available? Typically the least expensive and most common type is the hard wired system which runs off your telephone land-line. While they work well in newer homes where land-lines are buried, older homes generally have exposed land-lines. This means that a determined intruder could potentially cut the lines. They are also difficult, if not impossible to move should you change residence.

Wireless home alarm systems can be relocated as easily as you can and they run off of your land-line. Cable alarm systems run off of a broadband cable connection rather than your telephone land-line. This means that if your cable is down then your home alarm system is down as well.

A cellular home alarm system works through use of a two-way cellular network and automatically notifies appropriate authorities in the event of an emergency in your home. Do not confuse your cell phone network with a cellular alarm system network as they are different. Dropped calls are not an issue with regard to cellular home alarm systems.

Protecting Your Family Regardless of Cost Whether you select a hardwired, wireless, cable or cellular system, at the very least, your base system should include a control panel, door and window sensors, and a motion detector.

According to statistics on burglaries, intruders enter through a door, 85% more often than through a window. And, whether they enter through either a door or window; they will always find the one that is least visible to passersby or the street. That is why your primary location for window and door sensors should be placed where access would be most difficult for others to see.

While price and design may have a justified impact on your choice of home alarm systems it is wise to bear three facts in mind. The first is that home alarm systems serve as both a lifesaving, warning system and have been proven to deter criminals from choosing your home to burglarize. The second fact is that the better your alarm system is, the lower your home insurance premiums will be. And, here's the one fact that tops all the others. Your family is worth it.

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Strength Training And Cardio Workout Combinations For Maximum Success

By Cathy Fatherel

There are many strength training and cardio workout options, but which one is right for you? Whether you are new to exercise and don't know where to start or have been working out for awhile without getting the results you really desire, there are some things to consider when it comes to setting up an effective workout program.

You don't need to spend more hours at the gym in order to get in the best workouts. You just have to workout in a new, smarter fashion! Ultimately, you can call your workout program a completely success if it allows you to see the results you really want to see without completely burning you out. That means you want to get ripped abs before you get frustrated and quit.

If you are just now starting out, aim for about a half hour a few days a week. With time, your body will get stronger and you will need to increase the intensity of the workout, go for a longer period of time, or perhaps add in another workout per week. Stay at your current level of fitness and then gradually increase the demands on your body.

Yet, do you know what to do during those hours you devote to getting in shape? There has been a lot of argument in the industry about strength training programs versus cardio sessions, but you can bypass all that complicated science right away. There are benefits to both types of exercise, and you need them both!

Strength training will develop your muscles, but you need cardio to burn off the fat that is currently hiding those muscles! You will never achieve the body of your dreams while doing only one or the other.

Yet, doing both of these forms of exercise is too time consuming, right? This is what you may believe, but if you are doing it correctly it doesn't have to be time consuming at all.

The most time efficient way to get in your strength training and cardio workout obligations is to do them together! Interval training has now been developed to allow those with less time to spend in the gym a way of getting a complete workout in a short period of time. It is now one of the best ways to workout for everyone.

You basically go through various strength training moves and cardio moves, moving directly from one to the other without pause. This keeps your heart rate up from the bursts or cardio while strengthening your muscles.

It is untrue that you have to do all weights or all cardio at a time. You can cheat a little and get them done at once now!

If you can get the fat burn of a cardio workout and the definition and toning benefits of a strengthening workout all at once, why wouldn't you do it? That is exactly what interval training offers. You can get in a strength training and cardio workout all at once!

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Security Surveillance System Components

By Todd Cavanaugh

As our lifestyles and needs have changed, the home security industry has been working hard to remain responsive to what we want and need in a security surveillance system. The devices and monitoring services available today far exceed anything available to most homeowners twenty years ago.

In the past a security surveillance system was designed to warn you if someone tried to break into your house or if there was a smoke from a fire. Over the years, families have added:

* smoke and fire detectors, motion detectors, and glass break monitors

* Cameras to monitor or record

* Alarms on fences and gates, then on yard perimeters

* then video surveillance was added, allowing homeowners to see who was in their yard or in their home.

All of these components of security surveillance systems have also been surpassed in the last few years. The new security surveillance systems are so complete and offer so many new options that you really can relax when you are away from home and know exactly what is happening at any given time. What is more, you can choose the components you need, build them into a system, and install the system within your budget.

The best first step to take is a consultation with a trusted security professional. Together you can design the security surveillance system that is right for your needs and fits your budget. As you begin to think about a new system, here are some basic components to consider:

1. Burglar and Fire Alarms. These "switches" on doors and windows are the basic components of your system. These devices alert you, your neighbors and your monitoring company if someone tries to enter your home when the system is activated. Knowing that someone or something has entered your home, however, is just the beginning of a complete security surveillance system.

2. Choose Your Monitoring Company. Work only with a monitoring company with a solid track record for reliability over time.

3. Outside Monitoring and Alarms. Whether you alarm a fence or the perimeter of the yard, you can be alerted when someone comes on your property or leaves it. This is wonderful when children are playing in the yard and one wanders away. You can also either monitor or film activity around your house, your garage or other accessory buildings as part of your security surveillance system.

4. Monitors and Cameras for Inside the House. There are several kinds of devices that are becoming part of many security surveillance systems. These alerts, monitors and alarms help to protect the health and safety of people on your property. Some are specifically designed for families with elderly parents, with disabled people and with children. Some were designed for a specific purpose but are also used in other ways.

a. Access monitors sound an alert is someone enters or accesses a restricted area. For example, you can be warned if someone (specifically a young child) is too close to a stairway or is trying to open a medicine cabinet. This can be a critical part of your security surveillance system if you have young children.

b. A two-way voice intercom system will allow you to remind the children that they are not allowed in a particular room of the house. It also allows communication without shouting. And, in the event of an emergency, it provides a mechanism by which you can communicate instantly with all members of the family, wherever they are.

c. Cameras connected to internet monitoring and video cameras remove the worry about what happens when your children are with a sitter or when a sitter or caregiver is with an elderly parent or a disabled family member. This is one of the primary reasons cameras and video recording devices have become such an important part of home security surveillance systems in recent years.

d. Help call buttons and activity monitors help you build a security surveillance system that is focused on helping you care for an aging parent or a person with a disability who wants to hold on to his or her independence. You can program these monitors to sound an alert if the individual stays in the bathroom too long, if they don't leave the bedroom in the morning, or if they don't take their medication on time. Even if the intruder alarm is off, you will know if another person is moving around in the house.

You can choose the components you need to design and install the customized security surveillance system that is right for you. By working with a security professional, you can be assured of the best system for your needs at a price you can afford. There is no greater relief than knowing your family is safe.

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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Unspoken Laws of Teamwork

By Bart Icles

Teams not only exist in athletic clubs - they can also be found in civic groups, school, and even in the workplace. It is important that individuals do not merely work as a group but they should work as a team. A group is merely a pool of people while a team is a group of people who act towards a common goal. In turn, teamwork can only exist when the different individuals in a team are able to appreciate the value of working together to achieve a common objective. There are certain unspoken laws of teamwork that teams often observe. It is important that these laws exist in a team so they can remain focused on working together to achieve their shared goals.

In teamwork, each member of the team is significant. In a team, one becomes too small a number to reach greatness. This is because members of a team understand that they are all players who have their own places that add the most value to their team. And because of this, they always remember that their shared goal is more important than the roles that they play.

Teams should also understand that as the different challenges that they need to face escalates, the more that they should work as a team. They should also understand that the strength of their team is greatly affected by their weakest link. But this does not mean that teams must ditch their weakest member. Instead, team members should work together to empower, motivate, and strengthen the weaker member. But teams must also take caution in having a member who has a negative or rotten attitude as this can easily ruin a team.

Teams must also understand that winning teams are those that have players who make things happen. Team members should act as catalysts to help the team realize its shared vision. Having a shared vision is important in giving direction and confidence to the team. In the same manner, having a shared vision, as well as shared values, defines a team and gives it a sense of identity.

There are lots of other factors that affect how a team works and are deemed as unspoken laws of teamwork. These include accountability which can be understood as being able to count on each team member when certain situations or conditions call for it. Doing so, a team can better understand where it stands and this makes it easier for the team to make the necessary adjustments.

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Buy Pepper Spray For Excellent Self Defense

By Jim Wilkinson

Of course sun guns and tasers are good self defense weapons but Pepper Spray is a very good alternative. The reason why is because it incapacitates an attacker for a longer period of time by limiting their ability to function. They cough, they choke, they have trouble seeing and it causes a really severe burning sensation on their skin. This in turn gives you a better chance of escaping the situation.

It does not get much easier in terms of use than being able to use Pepper Spray. All you have to do is aim it an attacker's face and press the button on the canister. A lot of people have been able to get out of dangerous situations because they used their self defense spray. The features of pepper spray are that it is easy to use, it is very effective, and it is simple.

Another nice thing about buying Pepper Spray is that you can keep your distance from an attacker. With a stun gun you have to be real close and touching him with the stun gun for it to work. The effects of a stun gun will last for several moments as his muscles and nervous system are disabled.

Compare the time frame that a stun gun gives you to escape to that of using pepper spray. With pepper spray your attacker will not be able to function effectively for up to a half hour. He will be temporarily blinded, he will be finding it difficult to breath and he will be choking. And, you have done all this without having to get real close to an attacker. You can stay 8 - 10 feet away and the pepper spray will still be effective.

Most of us have had the misfortune of biting into a Hot Pepper thinking it was a sweet pepper. Remember your reactions? Your eyes started to water, your nose was running and your mouth was burning. Well, the same ingredient is used in pepper spray. It is called cayenne pepper. The concentration of cayenne pepper is much higher in pepper spray. When sprayed right in the face of someone trying to do harm to you that person will cease and desist immediately. Then you make your escape.

Can you imagine rubbing an open hot pepper into your eyes? Multiply the effects a thousand times and you'll get a good idea of what an attacker will experience. First off the skin around his eyes will feel like somebody set him on fire. His eyes and surrounding skin will swell up and probably shut completely. He will not be able to see, which is a very good thing. That way you can make your exit from the area and he will not be able to see which way you went.

Don't concern yourself with hurting an attacker. Of course he is going to be in a lot of pain for awhile but the effect of you using the pepper spray will start to fade after about 30 minutes. No long term damage or disability has ever resulted from the use of this self defense product.

As you have seen, pepper spray ranks right up there with other self defense products. It will effectively disable an attacker. You don't have to get close to use it. When you consider buying a personal protection product really take a look at buying pepper spray. It is probably the least expensive self defense product you can buy.

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Melt fat Away with an Elliptical Trainer, Burn Calories with an Elliptical Trainer

By Matt Closson

Strengthen the heart and lose weight. An elliptical trainer helps build your heart and improves circulation. Improved circulation lowers blood pressure. Add the upper body handles with the stair climbing motion and you can really give your metabolism a real wake up call. By increasing your metabolism, you burn calories and lose weight. Isn't that the goal of working out?

when you are looking for a low impact exercise, the elliptical trainer fits into that category. With its smooth natural walking motion there is no pounding on the bones or joints. This leads to better bone density and prevents joint injury. for a pain free work out.

Selecting an elliptical trainer that has the upper body handles, enables you to experience a total body work out. An all in one exercise helps you to achieve your fitness goal in less time.

Elliptical trainers can fit in many places a treadmill can't. Plus the factory installed wheels help in the ease of moving your elliptical. In many cases one can move the trainer by them selves. Perfect for storing away when visitor come over.

Do you have a small place? No worries, a club class elliptical trainer can fit in many places a treadmill can't. With the advancement of strong light weight materials they don't weigh very much and are usually designed to be moved by on person. Try moving a treadmill by yourself. Many well built club class elliptical trainers can be bought for under $1000 and shipped to you for free. (make sure shipping is included in your price)

If you want the convince of working out in the comfort of your own home the elliptical trainer make the most sense. Factors I would look for, ball bearing design in all moving parts, preset routines, a set of wheels already install of easy movement,free shipping, a club class for under $1000.00 and a 5 year warranty.

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The Truth About Achieving Real Strength in the Martial Arts!

By Al Case

I first learned about the importance of strength through ads in the back of old comic books. The bully kicking sand in your face, Charles Atlas, and the need to lift big hunks of iron would save your life. Why, lift enough of those clanking plates and roles would be reversed, you suddenly could do the bully to the bad guy, the girl would love you, and life would be grand.

Then, as life proceeded, I found out that many people considered weight lifters a bit empty in the head. Weight lifters were the new bullies of the world, they were the ones kicking all the sand. And, heck, they even started taking drugs to make themselves bigger and badder.

The truth behind lifting weights is, of course, not entirely as I have portrayed it here through my youthful and naive observations of life. It is true that you have to lift weight; you have use muscles if you are going to gain the benefit of muscles. But, there are alternatives to lifting bars weighted with immense plates of iron that are much more efficient, much less dangerous, and, in this writers opinion, a heck of a lot more fun.

I began my practice of the martial arts in the sixties, and I was unaware that what I was doing was lifting weights. I was, through the martial arts, lifting the weight of my body, and throwing it around in a manner that simple weight lifting could never duplicate. The competence of motion, the ranges of motion, it was something that in my few brushes with weight lifting I had never experienced.

A few decades into my martial practice, already achieving an enduring health and physical conditioning that was far beyond my oxygen tank toting, walker using compatriots, I heard of body calisthenics. Body calisthenics are simple exercises that brought home the theories I had been practicing without realizing it when I was doing the martial arts. Furthermore, I wasn't experiencing health problems, the muscle to flab syndrome, injuries to muscles and joints that unreal stress can inflict on an unaware person.

Interestingly enough, I had started doing the martial art known as Tai Chi some years previous, and had discovered what I called Suspended Strength. When you hold a limb up for a while, moving it slowly, this is suspended weight, and this practice increases strength without increasing bulk, which is good if you want to develop physical, and mental, attributes specific to the martial arts. So, to coin a nifty sounding phrase, I was doing Extreme Suspended Weight Body Calisthenics.

The truth of this whole matter, however, eluded me until I injured myself. A separated shoulder, and I was reduced to rehabilitation, and I started doing light Yoga exercise. Here was something slower than Tai Chi, in which I suspended strength even longer, and did something that moved me into ever higher realms of fitness and martial arts ability. I realized that true strength is increased more by awareness than anything else.

This is the key to the whole mess, you know, for the body is a device in which, in most people, energy is stopped, blocked, not flowing, even no matter how much weight they lift. By doing yoga, and realizing that the increase of awareness was unblocking energy flows, I began to experience the wellness and true strength that the body is capable of. Karate and Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Yoga, life is made whole by the increase of awareness, and I recommend this sequence of practice to all who wish to find true strength through the martial arts disciplines.

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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Why You Should Be Exercising on a Mini Trampoline

By Jerry Benson

With the population aging, and the poor diet that most follow, more and more people are overweight, to the point where it has health professionals worrying about increased rates of diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Exercise has been found to be the answer to fixing this problem. Various machines are often purchased in order to address all the matters to resolve this issue. One "machine" that is often overlooked can do everything at once. The many benefits of mini trampolines should be examined before buying any other exercise machine.

It can help anyone who uses it regularly. You'll see how below. For starters, its size is perfect for storing it away, especially when your home is not big. It can even go under the bed. Unfortunately for other bulky equipment, they are quite difficult and challenging to put away. Many people continue using this apparatus because it is easy and fun to use. The fact that it is quite inexpensive is also a bonus.

You can strengthen your heart and improve your cardiovascular health by rebounding, or bouncing on the mini trampoline. Muscles can be built quickly due to the increased oxygen circulation and the stimulation of the metabolism. Both of the above-mentioned help you to lose weight. In addition to toning the muscles, the glandular system will also be stimulated which also burns fat.

People who use the mini trampoline claim to feel energized and revitalized. Clinical studies report that it is most likely the best type of exercise anyone can do. It is safe and keeps you out of harm's way when it comes to jogging in undesirable weather conditions.

Rebounding is preferred over jogging on hard surfaces like cement which has been proven to cause major damage to joints in many people.

Plus, bouncing in this way detoxifies the body as the organs experience stimulation. This results in a healthier immune system because the toxins can be more easily removed by the body. In conjunction with a better diet that includes more vegetables and fruits, it will get you looking and feeling better in less time than with other exercise equipment.

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What Are The Benefits Of Fish Oil 3 Supplementation?

By Peter Bertonich

Even if you are not particularly interested in a healthy diet you have probably still heard about the benefits of fish oil. The 2 main essential fatty acids which are Omega3 fats are essential to good health and are found mainly in fish oil. 3 benefits of omega 3 fats follow, however there are plenty more.

There are 2 very important omega 3 fats called EPA Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid). It's not restricted to just 2, another omega 3 fatty acid called ALA is a plant-based Omega 3 fat however DHA and EPA are considered by far the most important.

The average American diet is very low in Omega3 sources. We eat far too much processed foods, sugar, salt and red meat and too little fish. In the past there was a reasonable amount of DHA to be found in red meat but modern feeding methods including grain feeding have reduced the levels of DHA to extremely low levels in red meat. To get more DHA and EPA in our diets we need to either start taking DHA supplements or eat more fish or both.

Here's 3 benefits to your health of increasing your dietary intake of essential Omega 3 fatty acids.

Improvements in brain health.

Science is now beginning to understand the importance of DHA to our brain. It is now seeded extremely important for the brain development of the fetus and infant that they have sufficient levels of DHA. Amongst older people DHA supplementation has been shown to improve our cognitive ability, our memory and our concentration.

2. Heart and cardiovascular health.

There are a range of reasons now accepted, for example by the American Heart Association, that adequate supplies of omega 3 improve our heart and cardio vascular health and reduce our risk of death. Our risk of death from heart attack can be reduced by increasing our intake of Omega3 fats. For this reason the AHA tell us that we should have a minimum intake of fish each week or supplement with fish oil supplements.

3. Improvements in age related conditions.

I have mentioned already the improvements in memory and concentration experienced by the age however there are more benefits to older people from taking in higher levels of Omega3 fats. 3 more benefits include a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer, a reduction in the risk of blindness due to macular degeneration and reduced pain and distress from the symptoms of arthritis.

A conservative organization such as the American Heart Association wouldn't recommend that we increase our intake of fish oil unless there was demonstrated benefits. Clearly we ought to be doing this given that studies show that residents of the US and Canada have some of the lowest levels of DHA in the world.

I hope that showing you a little more about the sorts of benefits you could experience from increasing your intake of fish oil. 3 benefits is really just the beginning, there's lots more.

Mercury contaminates our fish and as fish is expensive many of us rarely it. The very best fish oil supplements are entirely free of contaminants, are safe to take daily and are cost effective compared to eating fish.

But not all fish oil supplements are good supplements.Visit my website to find out how to compare Omega 3 supplements to find the best supplements that represent the best value.

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Burglar Alarm - Selecting The Right One

By Patrick Magins

It should not be too difficult picking a burglar alarm. Then again, these are modern times. There is bound to be a great variety of choices and options to consider. How can you find the best alarm for your home?

The first thing to do is to go online. The internet is the best place to find all the available alarm models. This means you can easily and quickly compare product specifications and prices. You can even buy units at more affordable prices online. Since online stores have lower operating costs, they may have lower priced items.

Products sold online have similar features as those sold offline. The first thing you will notice though is that product features can differ according to type. The first basic alarm type works by detecting a disruption in component alignment. Two parts of an alarm can be set up over a door panel. Once the alignment is broken, an alarm is tripped, signaling an illegal entry.

More modern versions of alarms work differently. They function by detecting movement or body heat signatures. Once someone passes over a door or window alarm, the alarm is tripped. Like traditional alarms, they may sound off to signal the intrusion. There are however, also a couple of silent alarms that simply send a signal to a monitoring device.

A modern burglar alarm can be monitored from inside your home. It is safer however for alarms to be remotely monitored instead. What this means is that a third party facility can pick up alarm signals. A staff member who is manning your signal can then respond by confirming your need for help and calling the police for you.

Those units that can be monitored from third-party security companies can be expensive. You would have to subscribe to the services of a monitoring company. Depending on the company of your choice, subscriptions can be good for one year or for one month.

Paying extra can be worth it though. Unmonitored alarms are really often nothing more than elaborate noisemakers. Sometimes they may be successful at scaring away burglars because of the noise that they make. As some of us know though, many burglars are not easily scared. They may already succeed at grabbing a few valuable items or even harming some residents before they run away. Getting prompt help right at your doorstep should therefore be a top priority.

Remember that not all monitoring companies offer the same quality service. Before you sign a contract with one, you have to make sure to do some research first. Find out if a company has had any complaints filed at the Better Business Bureau or if there have been any negative online comments left by past customers. Ask a company too to furnish you copies of licenses or certifications. Finally, make sure a company has a locally operated monitoring facility.

Choosing a burglar alarm used to be so easy. This is no longer the case these days though. Genuine home security means having to sift through several alarm types and monitoring companies.

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Best Ways For Keeping Your Home Safe

By John Thompson

When you ask people what they do when they are away from home, and how they keep safe, many people don't do anything. Now, you know the trick...and the burglars and thieves know all the tricks also. I'll explain this in a second. Home security measures do have a few variations, but remember, the worst thing you can do to protect your home, is to do nothing at all.

In reality, there are some thing you can implement and they don't take that much time. For instance, when you are not at home, leave your blinds and curtains closed and a light on in a room or two. This way, a potential home intruder can only guess if somebody is home. If you make things a bit difficult, most times a potential intruder will move on.

The same idea goes for leaving on a radio or television. If there is sound coming from inside the house, along with the lights on, why should the thief take a chance?

As far as home security measures, it would be a terrible set back if you left a note on the front door for people, telling them you are not at home, and possible where you are. Leaving things at the foot of the front door is usually a tell tale sign that no one is home.

Thieves today are much more knowledgeable than in days past. But they still know some of the old school techniques for home security measures that us homeowners do. Hiding a key outside your home is just not as effective as it used to be. They know all the usual hiding places. It is safer to leave a key with your friend or neighbor.

Please do not leave your keys, purse, wallet or valuables of any kind near the front or back door. How convenient do you want to make it for a burglar?

Home security measures should be on the forefront of your mind whenever you are away from home. If you are concerned at all about your home security, these tips are the easiest to implement. Don't make it easy for a thief to invade your home. Take the time to learn more about home security measures.

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Medical Assistance That Is Forever Available

By Connor Sullivan

Whether you are attending a large school sporting event or taking a camping trip with the family, you never know when you might need certain medical equipment such as CPR supplies or even AED supplies for heart defibrillation or other serious attacks. Anything can happen on the basketball court or on a hike through the woods, so being careful and leery is a must. When an emergency medical staff is not right on hand, it is extremely important to stay prepared because you never know when that moment might come.

Anyone is in danger of sudden choking, loss of breath or even failure of the heart and lungs. This is extremely true for those who are involved in high-contact or fast paced sports. Children and adults are all also liable. One sudden incident and you could require the use of CPR equipment. Most people already understand and know what to do in the sudden event of someone choking or halted breathing, but this can eventually become a hard task if the victim is not responding. Equipment can help do what one person can do much more quickly and conveniently. The best way to make sure that this is possible is to go ahead and make the valuable investment in this type of equipment.

As a parent it can be very painful, difficult, and scary to see your child, or a child, go through an experience like this. This is why this type of equipment is now available to purchase for your own home and outings. Whether you are at your child's sporting event, out with the family, or even in your own home, there is always chance for an accident, which means that being conscientious is a good idea after all. Don't totally bombard your child with safety hazards, but just keep in mind that there is always a possibility for dangerous accidents.

The heart is a delicate object, one that can be injured quickly in harmful play or strenuous activity. Children are usually not at a high risk for heart issues but older adults are more at risk while performing a strenuous activity. It is best to keep AED equipment around and ready for use, just in case it is absolutely necessary. There isn't always a rapid response team around or someone that can operate a generic defibrillator, so having equipment that works well during times of need can be very helpful.

You never know when something could happen, so it is best to keep all emergency medical and first aid equipment in mind whenever you are out. It is much better to be safe rather than sorry when an accident might happen or something goes wrong. To save yourself an unsolicited trip to the emergency room, keep the equipment and other first aid items on hand, to enjoy the experience, even the strenuous ones without too much worry. CPR and AED equipment and supplies are no longer nonexistent, but readily available to you through online providers.

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A Common Myth In Karate

By Howard Kriller

Karate a wildly popular form of modern sports in our history and its roots goes back to it being an form of effective and deadly marital arts. While it is less practiced as a marital arts nowadays, many people have the common perception that karate is a violent and aggressive marital arts, created by warriors. Was this really the case? If we interviewed 20 people on the streets, the answer would probably have been yes from most of them.

Totally true or not, what we do know is that the founder of modern karate, Mr Gichin Funakoshi was an advocate for peace. He did not believe in violence and wrote a series of essays on his principles and thoughts on the art of karate. He also promoted the idea that in karate one should not strike first.

What does this mean? Usually in most other martial arts, the practitioner usually makes the first move so as to maximize speed and attain victory. In the case of Gichin Funakoshi he emphasized that karate was meant for self-defense, hence one should not attack first unless provoked.

That is you would noticed in some martial arts there are only killing blows and no blocks while in Karate there are a variety of blocks, trapping and grappling moves designed to not only ward off attacks, but also subdue the opponents. If karate was solely designed for killing enemies, these specific katas would not have developed.

So what does this mean for those of you who are aspiring to learn karate? It means that when you start to learn karate, you not only practice it as a form of self-defense and sport, but a kind of philosophy as well. What good does it do if the person practicing a marital art is strong and powerful but is just a bully?

In conclusion, we can see that despite common notions that karate was just a violent marital art used for killing, there is actually a broader and deeper side to it, where in the case of Gichin Funakoshi,the founder of modern karate, brought out brilliantly these thoughts in his written works.

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Monday, October 19, 2009

Protect Yourselves With Identity Theft Insurance

By Jean Nicholson

In the current economic set up, there is a need to secure identity theft insurance plan. It may cost us dollars, but it pays to have one. This plan offers fraud alert in order to prevent further damage to your name. Most people who are victims of identity theft are sometimes unaware that they allowed it themselves to happen to them. Criminals are often prone to commit crimes because opportunities become conducive for them to do so.

We should place it in our minds that we need to be extremely careful when we are outside our safe haven. It has been a tradition for ladies to bring bags whenever they go out. Usually what is inside their bags are some girly stuffs and some other things like a wallet where ATM or credit cards and other identification documents are kept.

Always secure your bag, and anticipate of untoward incidents like bag snatching or robbery. Unless you have identity theft insurance, you will not be somewhat paranoid in doing this.

In incidents like these, you become more cautious and aware of your surroundings as well as with the people around you. Credit cards seem like a common possession these days. It is not bulky and is very light to carry in our bags or pockets and it also provides convenience in the sense that we are able to buy or get anything with the use of the plastic card. At times when we do not have money which is badly needed for an emergency, cash withdrawal is the instant recourse, where you can get instantly your money. These are few of the benefits derived from this plastic card.

An ATM or Credit Card has its corresponding PIN or Personal Identification Number to gain access to an account. There is one thing you should know, particularly about your favorite plastic. Be aware that there are certain digits in your credit card that can over-ride or undo your Personal Identification Number (PIN). It is enough to maintain one card so there are no other things to worry about.

Furthermore, if you have more than one of those things, you will be surely be burdened with the membership fees for all the cards that you have, even if you did not use them. If you did not pay, interests and charges are added compounding your liabilities. However, if you have two or more of them, make it a point to carry with you just one of it, and keep the rest in a secured place.

Furthermore, when withdrawing cash from a teller machine, you should have ensured that it is only you and you alone who knows about the PIN. Always take precautionary measures. Never rely on the idea that should something happen to you, you are covered by the identity theft insurance.

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As Seen On TV Exercise Equipment

By Tony Dana

Mass media has popularized as seen on TV exercise equipment to such an extent that they have made people yearn for the same type of results as shown in the advertisements. If you are thinking of equipping your fitness area in the same manner, then you should first verify the authenticity of the advertisements before proceeding with the purchase.

However, if you are thinking of buying the items as seen on TV exercise equipment, you should weigh all the pros and cons of the item that you are going to buy, as you will invest your hard-earned money in purchasing the item. Besides, this you should also assess whether the device that you have chosen has any practical use in your daily schedule of exercises and workouts or will the item be an extra addition to the items that you already have in your personal gym.

Nevertheless, if you have taken the final decision of purchasing the device after verifying all the necessary details you can go ahead and purchase the device for your personal gym. However, in spite of all the positive feedbacks you should ensure that the product you are buying offers you a trial period of at least a fortnight along with the guarantee that you will get your money back if you are not satisfied with the product.

Moreover, if you are buying the product online then you should also ensure that they offer the facility of shipping free of cost and give you discount on the product that you have ordered. The other factors that you should consider are the fact that the apparatus that you are buying has maximum number of facilities that helps you to exercise most parts of your body.

Even if you have all the latest devices in your gym but do not have an exercise machine then your gym remains unequipped. A complete gym is one, which has the exercise machine as the main workout system in the gym. If your finance does not permit you to buy a new exercise machine, you can always buy a used treadmill for performing your outdoor exercises at home.

It is true that you can get the used treadmill at cheap rates, which is a very attractive proposition. Nevertheless, you should take care of certain factors like the manufacturing year of the machine and the name of the manufacturing company. This verification is essential, as the machine of a reputed company will have good quality, durable parts and components.

Verification of the manufacturing year will save you from buying a very old and outdated machine. Besides this, you should personally take a trial run on the used treadmill to ensure that all the parts and components are in proper working condition. You should also check the material used for the body of the machine, as inferior quality material will require frequent maintenance.

It is true that present lifestyle has increased the need for exercises and workout devices at home to help you and your family members maintain their daily routine of exercises and workouts and lead a healthy and happy life. However, while buying the appliances as seen on TV exercise equipment you should ensure that you get all the discounts so that you do not spend an extra dime beyond your budget.

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A Vertical Merger Can Help You Grow Your Business and Gain Efficiencies

By Kris Bovay

Growing your business quickly can be a challenge. However, growing your business through a vertical merger or acquisition can be done with relative speed, and at a relatively low cost. A vertical merger is about merging with a business in your industry: your suppliers or your customers. For example, a car dealership may want to merge with a small independent insurance broker (to improve onsite insurance services) or a bakery that acquires or merges with a coffee shop (to help sell its baked goods).

The difference between mergers and acquisitions is often not well understood. A merger is when two businesses merge operations, usually on a voluntary basis. The goal is to achieve a win-win for both businesses. An acquisition is where one business acquires or buys the other. The goal of the business buying the other business is to win; that doesn't mean the other business has to lose but that is the common outcome. Your business can grow through both merger and acquisition, however it is important that your growth plans accommodate the challenge of managing changes that will result from merging with, or acquiring, another business and still realize your strategic plan.

A merger or acquisition is a significant challenge to manage effectively. It involves ensuring a smooth integration between the two businesses; which might include lay-offs or re-assignments to different departments. It also involves ensuring that the two organizational cultures are merged effectively into one. Decisions will have to be made quickly and effectively, even while you integrate the one business into the other. Questions such as how will you communicate with customers, how will you capitalize on the additional production and strengthen your market position, how will you improve efficiencies, are just the tip of the iceberg. It's a lot of work to effectively merge with, or acquire, another business; you need to ensure that the benefits are significant enough to make it a worth while venture (it also needs to fit with your strategic plan).

When should you consider a vertical merger or an acquisition for your business? For that matter what about the importance, or relevance, of horizontal mergers? A horizontal merger is growth by merging, or acquiring, a competitive business. You might want to acquire your competitor to quickly grow your product line (adding the competitive products to your product offering). Or you might want to acquire their customers and sales revenues and grow your market share. A horizontal merger would be a good strategy if you wanted to quickly expand your diversification plan. It would also be a good strategy if you wanted to acquire your competitor's key assets (people, equipment, resources for example). In any of these strategies - vertical mergers, horizontal mergers or acquisitions - you need to stay focused on what your overall vision is for your business; the strategy needs to align with your vision.

Growing your business through acquisition or merger is inorganic growth; and it can be an expensive strategy so you need to ensure that this investment pays off. Whereas organic growth is internal to your business and it occurs through internal improvements, operation efficiencies, new product development and sales. There are numerous key success indicators for a valuable acquisition or successful merger. Some of these success factors are: the acquisition or merger offers the opportunity to reduce costs significantly through economies of scale and new synergies; the acquisition or merger allows you to satisfy customers that were unhappy with the existing service (for example, by acquiring a competitor you gain more staff to improve your service); your business is able to manage the change processes necessary to integrate two businesses successfully; the acquisition and merger will help your business increase market share in a cost effective manner; the acquisition and merger is strategically aligned with your business plan. Before you decide on an inorganic growth strategy, hire an accountant to handle the merger or acquisition accounting.

During the past decade, mergers and acquisitions have become very popular. Not all of these mergers and acquisitions have been successful; the costs have outweighed the benefits. A vertical merger strategy can have a higher opportunity for success than a horizontal merger or an acquisition because often the management of change is more successful and less adversarial. As a strategy for growth, use a merger acquisition checklist to consider vertical mergers.

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Affiliate Marketing is Not A Scam

By Cody Scholberg

Many sites claiming to make you money are scams. Never pay for a product that claims to instantly make you rich or answer unsolicited emails offering you a job.

Affiliate marketing is an easy business to get into, as you need only a few hundred dollars and the willingness to learn the business.

DONT sign up for get-rich-quick schemes. Theres no such thing as a foolproof moneymaking operation or getting rich overnight. If anyone asks you to pay for instant success, run as far as you can in the other direction. The only people getting rich off these schemes are the scammers making false claims.

To begin, sign up with a site like ClickBank. ClickBank offers a wide range of products that interested people may help sell. Simply choose a product and direct people to buy it using a special link assigned to you by ClickBank. You will receive up to 80% of the profit from the sale.

Creativity. The key to making money with affiliate marketing is advertising. However, simply posting blogs encouraging people to buy a product, or sending emails asking them to do so will not work. These methods are considered Spam, and most people quickly become irritated with them. Therefore, you will have to find creative ways to advertise the products you are selling, such as posting blogs about a problem that the product helps solve, or creating a monthly newsletter that customers can subscribe to.

You could sign up for a free blogging service such as Blogger or WordPress. You can also use a site like Squidoo, which allows you to write about any topic you choose as long as it doesn?t violate their anti-spam policies. Write some articles about the products you are selling and how they can help people. Make sure to include your ClickBank link so that customers know how to purchase the products.

If you possess these skills and abilities, affiliate marketing might be an excellent way for you to make money. The easiest way to begin is to sign up with a site such as ClickBank. This site has literally thousands of products for you to choose from, and you can earn high commissions on every product you sell. Best of all, ClickBank takes care of processing and shipping orders, so all you have to do is refer customers to the site.

It is very easy to make money at affiliate marketing using ClickBank. If you think you have the creativity, patience, and Internet ability to do affiliate marketing, you should sign up right away and start making money!

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Describing a Dynamic Art

By Sven Person

Taido is a fighting style developed in Japan by Seiken Shukumine. 

Taido has its roots in old-style Okinawan martial arts.

Believing that Japanese Budo, particularly karate, were failing to meet the needs of the post-War era, Shukumine founded a school of Budo called Genseiryu in the early 1950s. 

Later, Shukumine saw karate as simplistic and dead. He decided that the limitations of karate lay in its linear mode of training.

In 1964, he expanded his theories of motion beyond the confines of what could be considered karate and founded Taido. 

Shukumine thought about how to make defense movements more adaptable and applicable.

Taido's movements offered many innovations: the inclusion of spinning and twisting movements, gymnastic maneuvers, fast and effective footwork, and a changing body axis. The word Taido translates as "way of the body." 



So what makes Taido unique? Taido techniques make use of changes of the body's axis in order to facilitate simultaneous defense and attacking movements. Taido also emphasizes the use of footwork to take advantageous angles and distance to the opponent. This footwork is functionally connected to the body mechanics that underlie each kick, punch, or other technique. Taido uses exciting body movement to create powerful strikes and manage the spatial relationship with the opponent. 

Taido's thought process is based on creative reaction to changing situations instead of pre-determined algorithms of offensive maneuvers and defense. Taido's movements are also designed for improving health and longevity.

According to its creator, Taido's highest goal is to enable its practitioners to function at a high level in society.

There are five main rules in Taido. Keep your thoughts as clear and calm as the polished surface of a mirror. This allows you to understand the heart of things. Having a responsive attitude will help you avoid confusion. Be confident. Body and spirit should be as one. Hold yourself correctly and you need never feel inferior. fill your spirit with proper breathing methods. With the right spirit you will never feel weak. In every action, follow the correct precepts you have been taught. By doing so, you cannot act wrongly. Be adaptable in your thought and maintain freedom of physical movement. The best methods will prevent you from being beaten.



Taido employs five classes of body movements: vertical spinning movement, ascending and descending jumping movement, see-saw movement characterized by tilting the body's axis, horizontal spinning movement, and acrobatic movements. 

These movements are combined with punches, kicks, and other techniques. The last category, called "tentai," includes gymnastic movements, for instance back-flips, which makes Taido exciting to watch.

Taido has a special method of footwork, known as unsoku, and acrobatic locomotion, termed unshin. 

Tournaments in Taido include Jissen, forms, and Tenkai, which is a mock combat between one "hero" and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges give scores to the teams in a similar manner as is done in many Olympic sports.

Even after saying all that, unless you've actually experienced Taido, you likely still won't have any concrete concept of what Taido is about. Also, merely knowing about the techniques doesn't tell you what Taido is necessarily about. To really get any budo, you have to get an idea of why the techniques are performed as they are.

To really grok any martial art, you have to get an idea of why the techniques are performed as they are. 

Of course, Taido is an evolving art, so no definition can really encompass everything that Taido is. Each student eventually develops their own ways to apply Taido to what they do and skills. Taido itself emphasizes creativity and the development of new techniques.

It is not a martial art that will remain the same for long. 

Taido is currently practiced in Japan, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Denmark, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, and the USA.

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Sunday, October 18, 2009

Alarm Systems

By Matthew Kerridge

Why have home alarm systems been such a commercial success in recent years? What have we missed in today's social and economic environment? What has changed so drastically to make us more fearful? How has the market responded to our newfound fears? Is it appropriate to say that the market is raising the alarm here?

Overall, the environment in which we live combined with how we lead our lives has changed dramatically over the past twenty-five years. Two income families, the internet, financial growth; among other things, has significantly contributed to the changes in our lifestyles. Fears related to this kind of change have set off our internal alarm. We feel like we need even more protection for our family and our hard earned possessions.

It is important that we do not just install one alarm system in the household but different kinds of home alarms as well ? they may all be forms of alarm systems but can each vary in functionality. There are actually different types of home alarms.

Even small cameras are available to remotely watch our aging loved ones. The new technology is primarily used to sound the alarm in the event our homes are being broken into. Our windows and door locks have been wired to alarm when they are opened the wrong way. The basic homeowner has made this kind of security most popular. Medium and small business have adopted some more sophisticated devices to help protect their property. Devices such as microwave and ultrasonic motion detectors, infrared scanners and photo-electric beams are now used. The alarm can also simply be a flashing light to make the neighbors aware of a situation. An encoded signal is just as easily sent to emergency services. Simply raising the alarm is not always enough. The real action we want depends on the community response. The loud noise or flashing light is only good enough the people that see the light or hear the noise take action immediately.

Glass Break Detectors are alarms that have been used mostly for households with glasses as their foundation. From the name itself, it will trigger the alarm when it has detected a certain part of glass that has been broken. Smoke, Heat and Carbon Monoxide Detectors are the most common types Indoor alarms. Most of the time, they are used to sprinkle water throughout an area in which the alarm has detected a source of smoke. Because of these, fire accidents may be further avoided.

No person on the other end simply causes the operator to send emergency help automatically. All people want to live without fear and be secure where they live. Being able to sound the alarm and have the right person come in response is a large part of one's feeling of security. Definitely invest in a home alarm system to calm your fears.

Everyone wants the right person to come when they are alarmed by something. If the technology will help you with your fears the there is no reason why you shouldn't get a home alarm system.

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Shutters and Blinds: What Are The Differences?

By Tess Reardon

The windows are usually bare when you move into a new home and at that point you need to decide what you are going to get to cover them. Most people automatically get blinds but there is another option that might be even better. Shutters can in many cases do the job of blinds and at the same time provide much more style to the rooms they are installed in.

When you start looking into interior shutters ideas, you will discover that shutters usually offer more style and elegance than blinds do. Shutters have become increasingly popular as they provide the same privacy as blinds, but they add more design elements to the home. Yet few people consider interior shutters when they move homes and this can only be because blinds are in our conscience and shutters are not.

Caf shutters work well in a room like a kitchen because they provide privacy at the bottom and yet let light in at the top. This is great for rooms on the ground floor where you dont want people peeping in but you still want some natural light. Some newer blinds can also do this as they can be opened from the top but this kind of blind is not usually as stylish looking as caf shutters are.

Another option is plantation shutters that will also add more elegance to your home than blinds can. People put in plantation shutters as an alternative to blinds because they look classier than blinds. Folks are discovering that shutters add more style to the home than most kinds of blinds and they do pretty much the same thing.

If you want cheap plantation shutters, you should do some searching online to find where you can get the best price. Looking online for shutter will reveal that there are many different web sites that sell shutters and will have them shipped to your door. If you don't want to order them over the Internet then your options will be more limited and you will have to see what you can find in your local area. Ordering them online will mean you have to install them yourself so if you want someone else to do it, your best choice is to buy them from a local store in your area.

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Ensure Your Security With An Apartment Security System

By Janet Fisher

No matter where we live, our homes are the place that we store our most precious items. We try hard to collect the nice things in life and need them to be safe at our homes. We lock our doors and windows when we leave or when we retire to bed at night to make sure we and our possessions are safe. If you live in a studio, a residence security system is a neat idea.

There are different rules for which sorts of alarm systems you may have in an apartment. If wires need to be run and a hole must be drilled to run the line, the alarm company will have to get permission from the owner. If the owner does not give them the authorization that they want your decisions in the alarm system could be limited.

As long as the landlord gives the permission you can get an alarm system just like someone that lived in a house. You can have monitors on your doors and windows that will alert the alarm company if someone tries to break in. In most cases you will have a key pad just inside the door that'll be used to arm and disable the alarm system.

All you need to do is punch in a code as you leave the loft and shut the door behind you. The alarm will then be armed. When you return home you will unlock the door and immediately go to the alarm box and punch in a code to unarm it.

If someone was to try and break into the apartment, a particularly loud alarm will sound and alert the locals that there's an intruder. The alarm company will also get notice and will instantly call the authorities and have them come to your residence to provide help.

If the alarm is set off on accident, say you forget to bump in the code after you open the door, you'll need to contact the alarm company and tell them that it isn't an emergency scenario and you are alright. Watch out because some alarm corporations charge a further fee for a fake alarm call.

Installing a residence alarm system will help you keep your belongings and friends safe from the perpetrators that can come to your door or window. All you need to do is check with the landlord to work out if they have any restrictions on the type of alarm that you can install.

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