Know Your Shopping

Picture this. You are stuck at home knee deep in household chores. Your mind wanders from taking out the trash to hiking on a scenic trail with heart pumping terrain. You are an avid hiker and yearn to strap on your hiking gear and hit the trails. Unfortunately, a hiking trail adventure is not in the cards for you today, but you can find the next best thing by logging onto your computer.

The Internet is filled with interesting websites dedicated to hiking and outdoor sports. Many hiking websites are packed with information about hiking gear, trails, and hiking vacation. However, you want more then just basic information. You desire to connect with other hikers. You are hungry for more information, experience, and the friendship of other hikers. Seek no further than hiking discussion boards and forums on the Internet. You can swap hiking stories with pals from around the globe. Discussion boards and forums allow you to ask hiking questions and receive many insightful answers and perspectives. Most importantly, you will feel a part of the hiking community even when you are unable to make it out to the trails.

There are a myriad of hiking discussion boards and forums to participate in. New forums pop up everyday as more and more people link up to the global community on the Internet. Some discussion boards and forums are free while others require a small fee. The key is to take advantage of the personalized forums and learn from fellow hikers. Often times you will hear the “true” story regarding hiking gear, trails, and vacations.

For example, you are interested in taking a hiking trip out West. You’ve scanned through different websites for information, but you want an insider’s guide to the trip. Read through discussion boards as many forum members can provide an unbiased account of their trip as opposed to a hiking advertisement that depicts the hiking vacation as spectacular. The “true” story may not always be negative, in fact it may be better then advertisements claim. You can also garner tips from the discussion board to make your hiking adventure the best it can be.

Following are two hiking message boards to get you started.

Mountain Zone.com:

http://forums.mountainzone.com/mz_tools/forum/ This information intensive website about hiking and other outdoor sports has a great discussion board. The two main topics of the discussion board are hiking and gear. If you go into the hiking forum you will discover topics ranging from snowboarding to hiking trails. You are allowed to post a message to the boards once you create a free user name and password.

Trailplace.com:

http://trailplace.com/portal/forum_display.php?id=6 This is an Appalachian Trail resource site. Discuss everything you’ll need when hiking the trail. They also present a forum for hiking in general. The message boards are used frequently and will supply you with ample information.

You can still feel connected to the hiking world even when you are sitting in your living room. Keep yourself current on hiking news, trails, and gear. The Internet brings hikers from every region of the world together. Join in the fun and log on to your computer right now.

Monica Marty is a hiking fan and the webmaster of http://hikingtrailfinder.com/

Residenza Maxima is situated in Rome, in a quiet street of the Monteverde area, near tram and bus and not far from the vibrant area of Trastevere.

The numerous public transport facilities allow you to easily reach Rome’s historic centre with its countless churches, museums, archaelogical sites and monuments.

The residence is housed in an early 20th century villa surrounded by a garden. Guests will find a warm welcome and cosy ambience. Bus tickets are sold at the reception.

The residence offers 10 flats, that can host up to 5 people.

The one-room apartments can host up to 2 people and are composed of a double room, a bathroom whit shower and is fully equipped cooking area.

The two-room apartments can host up to 5 people and are composed of a double room, a bathroom and a living room with a fully equipped cooking area and sofa bed for two or three people.

All apartments are equipped with air conditioning, hair dryer , cable TV, internet.

Other suggestion for Rome? Wide choice and Low rates on Rome accommodations: compare rates for Hotels in Rome, or compare price for other kind of accomodations in Rome (apartments, Bed and breakfast, Guest Houses,…), or make a reservation for a tour in Rome

GIFTS: GIVING TO THE BEGINNER GOLFER
by A. Heath

It’s golf season again! And you might be looking for a gift to
give to someone who’s just starting off in golf. So, here are
some suggestions. These beginner golf gifts target those new golf
souls… the ones who don’t yet know what their in for, or the ones
who are already hooked after just playing a few times.

Golf Lessons

The single best choice out of all gifts for the golf beginner is
golf lessons. There’s nothing that the beginning golfer can use
more. It’s even better than a set of clubs, because it will give
him/her a chance to really decide if he/she likes the game and
wants to stick with it. After all, golf can be extremely
frustrating, but it’s also highly addictive. Start them off right
with a lesson and give them a good swing foundation. Contact your
local golf course or instruction facility to find out what options
you have in your area.

Golf Books

If you can’t afford to buy golf lessons for the beginning golfer,
at the very least, get him/her an instruction book or DVD. There
are lot to choose from, many with the beginner in mind. Don’t
forget that along with frustrating and addictive, golf can also be
intimidating, so help them to be better prepared for their
experience. And even if you do decide on giving lessons,
instruction books or DVDs are excellent complementary beginner
golf gifts.

First Set of Golf Clubs

A lot of new golfers start out by borrowing or renting their clubs
when they play, so to help them along you may want to start him/her
off with their own set of golf clubs. Don’t go with anything
extravagant or expensive with their first set. Clubs are usually a
pretty personal choice, and it’s probable that their first set won’t
be the one they stick with in the long term. This is even more
important if you’re buying the first set of clubs for a child, as
they will most likely outgrow them by the next summer. If you do
get a set of clubs, make sure you get a bag to go with it.

Driving Range Membership

It’s very common for a new golfer to want to just get out there and
whack the ball! Actually, many experienced golfers want to do that.
And while that may not be the best thing to do on the course, it’s
certainly fun to do at the driving range! You can give a membership
to a local driving range. Other options include a gift certificate,
ball tokens, or a 10 bucket pass. What the practice facility offers
in the form of a membership or package deal will determine what
options you have for these beginner golf gifts.

Golf Shoes

Depending on where he/she will be playing, the beginner golfer may
need to wear golf shoesicon to get onto the course. Check into this
first, as many courses have rules in this regard. Consider buying a
pair of either soft spiked shoes, or ones that can be converted to
soft spikes, as this, too, is a requirement for some golf courses.
If they don’t need golf shoes right away, avoid choosing them as your
beginner golf gift selection. We say this for a couple of reasons:
1) any type of shoe is hard to pick out as a gift, and the fit of a
golf shoe is important for comfort, especially if you consider the
amount of walking that a golfer does. 2) It’s actually better for
golfer’s balance to practice without golf shoes, as the golfer cannot
depend on the stability of the spikes to hold them in place. An
alternative to golf shoes as a beginner golf gift is the ever-present
gift certificate, so they can pick out their own shoes.

Golf Balls

Like golf clubs, the type and brand of golf balls aren’t important
for the beginner. While you may want to consider compression when
picking them out (the softer the hitter, the lower the compression),
the type and construction of the golf ball will have very little
bearing when he/she is first starting out. It would probably be a
more appreciated gift if you were to personalize the balls with their
name, nickname, or other custom logo, but that might make them all
the more upset when the balls are lost (and they WILL be lost).

Gloves and Accessories

Don’t forget the accessories! Gloves, tees, and ball markers are
inexpensive items that will add a nice touch for beginner golf gifts.
It’s like giving a golf starter kit. Get him/her a glove – it will
make them feel more confident or credible when holding their clubs –
like a “real” golfer! Remember, the right-handed golfer needs a
left-hand glove (and vice-versa). And get them some tees (perhaps
personalized) and a few ball markers. You don’t want them to feel
left out, do you?

Save the expensive and fancy golf gifts for another gift occasion.
If the recipient of your gifts decides to give up golf, then the
expensive or extravagant gifts would be a waste. If he/she sticks
with the game, then the more elaborate golf gifts will be more
appreciated down the road. For now, focus on simple beginner golf
gifts to get them started.

About the Author

The Gift Wizard is a gift researcher for http://www.the-gift-wizard.com

Functional flexibility for golf is an important element. Quite often there are a lot of feelings of inadequacy, more so physical inadequacy, on the golf course.

Most golfers wish that they were a lot stronger than they are and yet still be able to have functional flexibility. Most golfers realize deep inside that flexibility and strength are important for good golf.

Yet these feelings and desire need not remain just that, any golfer can take action and dramatically improve on their functional flexibility and strength. Any golfer can ensure that the next time they set foot on the course to play their beloved game, they will be brimming with confidence and not inadequacy.

Actually both strength and functional flexibility go together and the two cannot be divorced from one another. Weak muscles will tend to be very stiff, the opposite of flexibility. So in other words, it is true to say that by building up strength, a golfer will almost automatically be improving their functional flexibility.

But let me make it clear here that there is a huge difference between building muscles and enhancing strength. When developing strength for golf, all good golf exercise programs will involve working with dumbbells which a lot of people associate with muscle and body building.

The truth of the matter is that in golf, dumbbells are used to build strength, and not muscles, by lifting much lighter weights up and down, more times than a bodybuilder does.

The sessions are also much shorter than those of a body builder who have to spend most of the day in the gym lifting extremely heavy weights to build their muscles. Actually it is true that building muscles will tend to bring in stiffness and the very opposite of functional flexibility.

A good golf exercise training program must also include stretch exercises which are a great help in attaining functional flexibility for golf.

It is the functional flexibility gained from weight training and stretches that can greatly improve the golf swing of any golfer. Actually the greater the functional flexibility for golf…the better the golf swings.

About the Author

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds at his golf fitness site – Perform Better Golf.

Food intolerance is a pharmacological reaction to the consumption of certain foods. In many cases, food intolerance may appear to be the side-effect of pharmacological drugs, but in fact, it is generally caused by the consumption of natural foods products, additives, or the combination of both.

The majority of food products that commonly cause food intolerance are high-protein.

As a low carb dieter, you will have abnormally- high exposure to high-protein food, including dairy products and meats, which means your chance of experiencing food intolerances (if you have any) will increase.

In contrast to food allergies, which are easily identifiable because they affect an almost instantaneous reaction of hives, shock, and a range of other symptoms, food intolerances are somewhat harder to identify.

Food intolerance generally has milder affects, such as minor headaches, general irritation, upset stomach, restlessness, and a loss of sleep. This makes it much harder to identify and treat.

If you are new to your low carb diet, you may have already experienced some of these symptoms, but attributed them to something other than food intolerance.

If you have been exhibiting these symptoms for less than three days into your low carb diet, they are more than likely related to withdrawals from caffeine or carbohydrates. They could also be related to dehydration. Conversely, if you have been exhibiting them for more than three days, they are more than likely the result of a food intolerance.

You should immediately start the process of weeding out foods that could be causing the intolerance.

The following is a list of foods you may be consuming on your low carb diet that are likely perpetrators: eggs, nuts, milk, fish, shellfish, pork, bacon, chicken, cheese, and tomatoes.

You should try to remove one of these from your low carb diet at a time. If you cannot solve your intolerance problem within a week, it would be wise to get off of your low carb diet and contact a physician to determine the source of your intolerance.

This article is for informational purposes only, and is not intended as substitute for medical advice. Before embarking on any diet or fitness program, consult your physician.

About the Author

Benji Paras runs http://www.list-of-low-carb-food.com, specializing in the benefits of the low-carb lifestyle. The site contains a treasure trove of information for losing weight, and includes a list of low carb foods along with informative articles and the latest low-carb headlines.

The Magic of My First Trout

I grew up in Iowa fishing for catfish, bass, crappie and bullheads using some of
the worst smelling baits you could imagine. But my father loved to hunt and fish so
I went along. On one summer vacation to Oklahoma, Dad stopped at the fish hatchery
in Bennett Springs, MO.

I can still remember standing on the bridge watching a fly fisherman gracefully cast
a dry fly upstream to the base of the little dam feeding a pool by the hatchery. On
the third cast, he hooked up with a nice fat 12 to 14 inch rainbow that leapt out
the water 3 or 4 times trying to throw the hook.

The fisherman prevailed and slipped the rainbow into his classic wicker creel with
the slot in the lid. (Back in those days we ate a fish once in a while) Turning to
my father, I asked what the fisherman was using for bait. Dad said, “He is
using an artificial fly and not bait.” “Does it stink?”, I asked.
Dad laughed and said “No.” Right then I knew one day I would become a fly fisherman. I was about 14 at the time. I never touched stinky bait after that.

I would not take up fly fishing until 1969 some 15 years after first seeing it in the
Ozarks of Missouri. I had moved to Colorado to learn to ski and fly fish. Never did
learn to ski but I did learn to fly fish.

When I was starting out, there weren’t a lot of classes, guides or instructors to
teach fly fishing. I purchased a cheap rod, reel, line and some flies from a local
sporting goods store. Then I read a lot of books and practiced casting until I could
do a reasonable overhand cast.

My first fish was a 2 lb. brookie caught on a brassie out of the famed South Platte
river. That was my only fish on a fly rod for that whole season. For the next two
seasons, I caught exactly one fish a season on a fly rod. I had upgraded my
equipment so the casting was a lot more enjoyable.

In 1972, I was back to drifting salmon eggs on the bottom with light spinning gear
and was catching fish. But releasing them was killing a lot of them I knew. As
destiny would have it. A friend and I ended up on Bear Creek at O’Fallon Park one
Saturday. Jerry parked the car and said, “Hey, there’s Frank Aubon. Frank is
one of the best fly fishermen I know. He can teach you how to catch fish on a fly
rod.” (Frank was from Maine and had been fly fishing some 40 years when I first
met him.)

Jerry introduced me to Frank and explained the problem I was having with a fly rod.
Frank said, “Come here and show me what you know about casting.” So I
dropped a couple of reasonable overhand casts out onto the Creek. Frank looked at
me, “You know enough about basic casting, what do you do with the fly when it
is in the water?” “Frank, if I knew what the H— to do with the fly in
the water, I would be catching fish!”, I said.

“Come on and watch what I do.” said Frank. Frank shook out a little line
and let it drift downstream. Then he flipped a “Tension” cast back
upstream. On the 3rd drift, Frank hooked a nice bow right along the bank. He looked
at me and said, “Now you do it!” I tried to imitate Frank but no fish.

Finally Frank asked me what I had been fishing. “Eggs on the bottom.” I
replied. “Fishing eggs on the bottom is the same as fishing nymphs on the
bottom”, said Frank. “You make a little J in the line just at the water
line and watch it as you bounce the nymph on the bottom. If the J twitches left or
right or hesitates, raise the rod tip to set the hook. And don’t rip the rod tip up.
Remember that hook is only a quarter inch or less long to the bend. A gentle tipup
is all that is needed.” Then Frank proceeded to demonstrate with two more fish.

I watched Frank and tried to imitate him with some success. As I remember I caught
and released about 6 trout that Saturday. For me that was the best I had ever done
with a fly rod. Frank and I fished together for some 5 years before loosing touch
with each other.

But I will never forget the gift of a lifetime fly fishing enjoyment you gave me
Frank. You were a good teacher and fine friend to wade the waters with.

Whatever big river you are fishing in Heaven, I hope the fish are huge and you are
having a ball.

Tight Lines and Good Fishing,

Marshall, Editor

has been a fly fishing and fly tying

enthusiast for over 30 years.

http://www.fly-fishing-colorado.com/

About the Author

Marshall Estes , editor
Colorado Fly Fishing Tips
has been a fly fishing and fly tying
enthusiast for over 30 years.
Check out our other issues at
www.fly-fishing-colorado.com

When my mother told my fiance and I that her gift to us was new furniture for our new house we both nearly fainted. That was something that we really wanted and needed so we both about flipped when she told us. We had already been out looking so we knew what we wanted for the living room already. We chose a beautiful italian leather sofa and love seat set with matching coffee and end tables. The sofa not only looks great but it is so comfortable too. In fact I think that we are going to be getting another one for our den too.

My husband has great taste so when he told me that he had found us the perfect new sofa while he was on business in Europe I completely trusted him. When it arrived a few weeks later I about fell over with delight it was so beautiful. The italian leather sofa that he had purchased was so gorgeous that it looked more like a work of art than a piece of furniture. I told him that I thought I would have a hard time sitting on it actually. However that wasn’t an issue once I did sit on it because it just so happened to be as comfortable as it was beautiful.

Jimmy Jenkins Jr. is not an adventurer, traveler, or pioneer. Far from it, Jimmy has had the same job, in the same office for 15 years. He’s got about 2 years of holiday time built up because he never, and I mean never, goes anywhere, not even to the Coast for a day in the sun. He works very hard, is an amicable fellow, but is single, 39 years old, and boring. Boring is this guy’s middle name. I don’t think he has any hobbies and he never has anything interesting to say, just small talk, and the obligatory work speeches. I wanted to crack this man’s shell of monotony and blandness, but how?

You see I’m the complete opposite to Jimmy, his antithesis, and yin to his yang, black to his white. I live for excitement. I live to travel. Beaches, festivals, treks, foreign food, culture, nature, historic sites, and shopping in unfamiliar lands are what make my blood run, my spirit fly, and my heart beat faster than the speed of light. I just had to wake up this man from his static, stagnant existence. I mean there could be nothing unknown about this guy; everything was right in your face, out in the open.

Well, before I began my “Crack Jimmy’s shell challenge”, I had more important things to do, like get the hell out of there. The famous La Tomatino Festival in Spain was about to happen and I had rigorously organized my trip on the Internet. It’s truly amazing the amount of information and help you can get from all the traveling web sites. I like to be organized and prepared for all eventualities that might happen. My air tickets and hotel were booked in advance, and I got all the ‘juice’ on visas, currency, and transportation (train from Valencia to Bunol-$3.00!) from the Net. I’ve printed off maps of the city and town, got lists of all the famous attractions, nightspots, and the best restaurants for that authentic paella experience.

So anyway, the weekly festivals were in full motion and I was having the time of my life. A feeling of impending excitement was pervading the air as everyone was getting ready for the culmination of the festival- the biggest food fight in the world. 125 tonnes of tomatoes to be turned into human ketchup in just two hours! No one knows exactly why the tradition began back in the 1950’s, but it has become a bit of a religious occasion for those who worship the Temple of the Great Tomato, nah, it’s actually Christian. Doesn’t matter much to me, I just wanted to be part of the chaos-I even wore a white suit. People say this is a metaphorical attempt at suicide, but I’m always up for a challenge!

Here we go! The battle began. The air turned red, people going berserk at the height of excitement. It seems the white suit wasn’t the best idea. I got hammered. Total pulverization. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me as the tomato integrated itself into my soul. I lay on the ground, people running all around me yelling and screaming in Spanish. I looked up through the ketchup dripping thickly off of my eyelids. That’s when my mind was totally blown away into oblivion, never to be the same again. Standing in front of me smiling, throwing handfuls of squished tomatoes was none other than Jimmy Jenkins Jr. He bent over, looked me straight in the eye and said,

“Richard Woodward, fancy meeting you here.”

I stuttered in astonishment, but no comprehensible words came out. Either the shock or the tomatoes in my mouth were creating the problem. Jimmy spoke again, his smile as wide as a tomato-mad maniac,

” Let me let you in on a bit of secret Richard. I know you won’t give me away. You see buddy, I’ve got an identical brother. We make it look like we’re always working for the company, always on time, always there. But in reality we’re sharing one man’s life and when the other man is at work, the other is traveling the world having huge vacations and partying like mad. It really is hard when it’s my turn to go to the office and act so incredibly boring and predictable. Pretty cool eh?”

He then lifted a giant (what looked like a genetically altered) tomato and screaming a tribal yell, smashed it into my face. He then laughed and ran into the tomato-red sunset leaving me ‘bloody’ and bewildered.

About The Author

Jesse S. Somer

M6.Net

http://www.m6.net

Jesse S. Somer is a space-traveling human hoping to show his fellow Earth-dwellers the hidden opportunities found in the Internet.

While the docking techniques in boating are always going to be dependent upon the weather conditions, there are a few simple things that you should always keep in mind. First of all, in this particular case practice makes perfect. Although we can provide tips, please remember that the docking techniques in boating are going to be something you will have to personalize to your experience, your particular boat and of course, the dock itself.
Secondly, the most common mistake boater’s make when attempting to dock their boats is to try and approach the dock in a straight line. By approaching the dock from an angle, however, it will much easier to get close without scraping and to hit the spot you’re aiming for. Thirdly, the speed at which you come in to the dock must be controlled. Anything you’ve ever been told about the best docking techniques in boating probably mentioned that it requires you to run your boat in at the slowest possible speed.
This however, is not as easy as it sounds. Often, even idle speed on a boat is too fast. Coasting, however, as a docking technique in boating, causes problems in and of itself. Coasting reduces steering capability, which makes it even more difficult to accurately line up with the dock. The best way to counter this problem is to alternate between power for steering (short shots of forward gear) and coasting for speed control. Being able to use the best docking techniques in boating is not automatic.
You’ll have to practice this one over and over. As you get closer to the dock, the best docking techniques in boating will tell you to start to turn the boat. It is at precisely the same time, however, that you will also need to decelerate to a stop in reverse. Again, the deceleration reduces steering capability. When approaching the dock, you are going to have to rely on the momentum of the boat to get you over this obstacle.
Momentum and speed, however, are not the same thing. Momentum is simply the forward motion of the boat that will actually carry you into the dock. You will need just enough momentum to get into the dock and that will allow you to smoothly make the shift to reverse so you can stop. Once you’ve actually mastered this task, you’ll probably agree that the best docking techniques in boating were the ones that you learned by trial and error. None of the docking techniques you’ll read will ever be a better teacher than practice, practice, practice.
The best advice that one could ever receive when looking for information on the best docking techniques in boating would be to take it slow, don’t get nervous or discouraged and most importantly, remember that every time you try it, will make it a little easier the next time.

About the Author

Thomas Holley is owner of www.Pontoon-Boat-Products.com

Be sure and visit us for all your boating parts and accessories. Be sure and sign up for our FREE newsletter, “The Pontoon Boating Life.”

Do’s and don’ts – debt consolidation

It’s likely you’ll have heard all types of wives tales about debt consolidation. Some of these stories portray it as a quick route to clearing scattered debts. Other rumours conjure up a disturbing picture of increasing debts which, could lead to financial ruin.

The real situation probably lies right the middle. Consolidating your debt may or may not be the best way for you to get out of debt. It all depends on a range of factors: not just how much you owe, but how much you make and what type of debts you’re thinking about consolidating, as well as your attitude to debt and to money in general.

DO

Do consider taking debt advice if you’re thinking about taking out a debt consolidation loan. You need someone who can help you examine your options, so make sure you talk to a debt consultant that doesn’t just offer consolidation loans. Its possible that all you need is some advice on budgeting more effectively, so you can manage your debts by yourself.

Do think carefully about the repayment term for your consolidation loan, if you take one.

DON’T

Don’t continue struggling if you really can’t afford to pay your creditors each month. If you need help, ask for it – a debt adviser will be able to help you decide whether you need a professional debt solution, and if so, which one.