-

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Do Your Understand Your Pet Bunny Rabbit's Personality?

Do Your Understand Your Pet Bunny Rabbit's Personality?
 by: Andrea Austin
When you mention the word "rabbit" many people think of Bugs Bunny. In reality, rabbits are very different from their cartoon counterparts. Rabbits may be cute, fuzzy, and adorable, but that does not mean they enjoy cuddling up to humans or being picked up and carried around.
In fact, improper handling of your new pet can result in harm, so before you pick out your new pet rabbit, make sure you understand all the basics of rabbit animal behavior and care.
How to Handle Rabbits--Should you Pick Up Your Rabbit?
As creatures who walk on all four feet and whose bodies are low to the ground, rabbits tend to feel the most comfortable and safe while sitting or laying on the floor. Therefore, when picked up, rabbits may become nervous, panicked, or even downright terrified. When this happens, they may begin kicking out their hind-legs.
Why is this such a danger? Well, when your pet rabbit thrashes around he risks fracturing his back (remembers, rabbits bones, including spinal cords, are very fragile). If you pick up a rabbit and he starts to get nervous, put him down immediately and carefully, and do not try to physically restrain him.
Above all, never pick up a bunny rabbit by its ears. If you do pick up your rabbit, it should be done by carefully lifting from the scruff of the neck, then supporting the rest of the body with your other hand.
How to Pet a Rabbit
Since rabbits do not like to be picked up as much as other pet animals, you may not be able to pick up your bunny and pet him in your lap as you may want to. Respect your pet bunnies wish to stay closer to the ground. Instead of lifting him up, let him sit beside you, then pet him gently.
If your rabbit seems nervous, use one hand to gently cover his eyes, then stroke his back soothingly and calmly. This will help ease him back to a peaceful state.
Also, it is important to supervise your children while they are learning to pet their rabbits. Make sure they do not use too much pressure or try to pick up the animals, for the reasons described above. Set a good example by showing them how to treat the rabbit, then ask them to follow your lead.
How Rabbits Interact with Humans
Just because rabbits do not like to be held dont be fooled! They really are loving and sociable creatures, and they need (and want) your attention. In fact, one of the best reasons to keep your pet bunny housed inside your home is that he will feel like he is becoming a part of the family. Being around humans gives rabbits the idea that they are part of a group; they dislike being lonely and enjoy companionship.
As rabbits tend to be high-strung creatures, settling in with and getting to know a familiar and loving group of humans can really set their minds at ease and make them healthier and happier.
If you follow this advice, you will probably find that you will develop a close and satisfying relationship with your pet bunny. He will grow to trust you and show you various sides of his personality. He may very likely exhibit a sense of humor and compassionate feelings toward you ... which as all animal lover's know is a wonderful reward!
by Andrea Austin,
http://www.rabbits-n-bunnies.com


How Much Cash Does James Bond Carry? by: Paul Kyriazi First let's start with how much cash Americans carry.
However, trout have no difficulty smelling underwater, so it is worth an anglers time to make sure that they aren't introducing foreign smells into a trout stream (which can warn a trout to a lurking danger such as a fisherman.)When fly fishing for trout, do your best to avoid any artificial smells that are completely foreign to a trout stream. Avoiding these smells, though, of often easier said than done, as the sources of these smells can come from many sources.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Pic

Friday, July 24, 2009

Massage Therapy does Your Body Good

Massage Therapy does Your Body Good
 by: Dakota Caudilla
If you've never been for a massage therapy before this, one advice…try. Before the massage therapy begins, you would have started experiencing the benefits of a massage therapy. The low lights, the burning of scented candles, the soft, calming music related to massage therapy all contributes towards this serene atmosphere. By the time you start taking a few deep breaths of the room, you would have started to sink into a very warm and comfortable corner of your soul as every single muscle of your body respond to the massage therapy atmosphere.
Massage therapy is one of the most effective ways to helps relieve tired and stressed bodies and minds from the onslaught of daily life. Destination spas with massage therapies are flocked to endlessly all year round. People receive most benefits from massage therapies when they get a regular dose of massage therapy. You can visit a spa as many times as twice a week to once a month – this depends on your budget and need. Some people complain that although massage therapy is beneficial, they find the services expensive and are often perceived to be a reward instead of something that they should indulge in on a regular basis.
But here's something to think about: massage therapy is good for our bodies, and our bodies are important to us. The condition of our body can be improved with massage therapy and if we value and would like to upkeep our bodies, we will have to consider massage therapy in a different light. Our body is the one and only physical shell that we will ever be given – there will never be another.
Going through a massage therapy can help us refocus our thoughts on what we are feeling in our bodies, instead of what is bothering us mentally. It's almost like experiencing the pleasure of the massage therapy helps bring our minds away from mental stress. It's sometimes called being 'grounded'.
The neck and shoulder areas will be the focus during a massage therapy, because that is where stress of daily life begins to lay its foundation in our body. Our feet, low backs and hips are also thoroughly massaged through to help relax the tensed up muscles there. it has been shown that most times, during a massage therapy session, people feel more sensation when their necks and shoulders are being massaged…that is why some people think that we live from our shoulders up. Massage therapy works extremely well for those who goes through regular yoga and meditation practice.
Although stress is a necessary part of life because a certain amount of stress can motivate and push us to perform at optimal level, too much stress can be distressing to our souls. Too much stress can lead to illnesses and constant bodily problems. This is where massage therapy can help us tremendously well.
Experts in the massage therapy field reckons that we should all consider going for massage therapy at least once a week in order to reap in the full benefits of massage therapy.


Top Tips for Successful BackCountry Navigation by: Chuck Fitzgerald As an outdoor enthusiast you will at some point make a decision to learn how to navigate in the backcountry. Whether you use a map, compass, GPS receiver or all three, there are several things you should know about successful navigation.
Dosage is: 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight.Syrup of ipecac: Can be used to induce vomiting. Dosage is: 1 teaspoon per 20 pounds of body weight.Bismuth subsalicylate: Can be used for vomiting and mild diarrhea.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Three Secrets of a Consistent Golf Stroke

Three Secrets of a Consistent Golf Stroke
 by: Chuck Evans, G.S.E.D.
"At Last! The "3 Secrets" Of A Consistent Golf Stroke -- Revealed! How You Can "INSTANTLY" Drop Strokes Off YOUR GAME!"
What you are about to read... will change your golfing life forever! What are these three "secrets"? If you knew how would they effect your game?. These three "secrets" are what the worlds best players do. Every player MUST know these "secrets" if they are to have a powerful, repeating golf stroke.
The problem with the majority of golfers is that they don't know what to do. Oh their friends, well wishers at best, tell them that they are "bending their left arm", "raising up through the shot", "coming over the top" and host of other swing faults. But these are the same people that shoot the same scores you do! What could they possibly tell you that would improve your game?
The information you are about to receive is not theory or conjecture but science. Ooooh, you say, this sounds complicated. Well it isn't, it is simply the laws of force and motion that govern our entire lives and day to day living. Once you understand these simply laws your golf game will forever change...for the better!
Secret #1: A Flat Left Wrist
Because the golf stroke involves a golf club, a left arm, and a wrist in between, it is called a "lever system". The left wrist acts as a "hinge pin" much like the old time "flail" used to beat wheat. This "hinge pin" can rotate, cock or uncock but NEVER Bends!
Golfers however routinely bend the left wrist causing the clubhead to reach the ball before the hands do. This causes a "quitting" motion, adds loft to the clubface, points the face to the left of target, makes the clubhead swing upward disrupting the downward motion that ALL good golf shots MUST have. Good players DELOFT the clubface at Impact. Poor players ADD loft to the clubface costing them distance, direction, and trajectory.
A 5 iron, for example, has approximately 8 degrees for "forward lean" when soled properly. At Impact with good players the "lean" is approximately 15 degrees. This turns the 5 iron into a 4 iron. Poor players reach Impact with a "backward" leaning clubshaft thereby ADDING loft and turning the 5 iron into a 6-7 iron!
Secret #2: A Staright Plane Line
You only have two choices when it comes to the swing plane, you are either on or you're off. There is no middle ground!
What exactly is the swing plane? The plane is the angle of the clubshaft as it sets at address - period! It is NOT Hogans plane of glass as many would have you to believe. There are only three planes available; Horizontal - a wall Vertical - the floor Inclined somewhere in between
As golfers you and I use the Inclined Plane to swing the club back up and end, down out and forward, up back and in making the Golf Stroke three dimensional.
The clubshaft, actually the sweetspot of the club, may travel to any other plane angle during the swing as long as it DOES NOT cross the base of the plane. Here is a simple way you can know if you are on plane or not. Whichever end of the club is nearest to the ground MUST also point at the base of the plane from horizon to horizon. If neither end is nearer then the clubshaft MUST be horizontal to the ground and parallel to the base of plane.
Secret #3: A Lagging Clubhead
Lag by definition means "trailing". When the clubhead passes the hands coming into Impact there is no "lag". Without "lag" the golf ball cannot be compressed, we cannot hit downward, and we have a tremendous power loss. Clubhead lag promotes a steady and even acceleration giving us a dependable way to control distance.
Look at any picture of your favorite player at Impact. The left arm and clubshaft are in ONE LINE! Never two lines. This means that the player is utilizing "lag". When a ball is struck with "lag" it explodes off the clubface! Without this "lag" the sound turns into one of mush, a soft Impact instead of a driving Impact.

If you follow this outline, learn these three "Secrets" you will be hitting the ball with more compression than you ever thought possible.
For example, a Driver striking a golf ball with a 2 degree "backward" leaning clubshaft at 100 mph with 9.5 degrees of loft produces a launch angle of 6.4 degrees and a carry distance of 230 yards.
By changing Impact to a 2 degree forward leaning clubshaft the player produces a launch angle of 10.4 degrees and a carry of 251 yards. A 21 YARD INCREASE WITHOUT buying a new Driver and simply having clubhead lag!
YOU can improve your game dramatically by following the steps outlined above. Become the best player YOU can be and start winning those 4 way presses! If YOU really want to elevate your game, hit it farther, straighter, and nearer the hole then practice what I've shared with you.

Chuck Evans, G.S.E.D.
www.chuckevansgolf.com
chuck@chuckevansgolf.com
P.S. Visit our website for more information on how to become the best player YOU can be.


Montreal Misery by: David Ferraro We've all done it before.
Mom's Legacy by: Wayne and Tamara Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 13, 2003I am recently divorced from a destructive narcissist.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Sutherland eludes head-butt assault charges

Assault charges against actor Kiefer Sutherland, who plays Jack Bauer on TV's 24, have been dropped because the alleged victim wouldn't co-operate with authorities.Assault charges against actor Kiefer Sutherland, who plays Jack Bauer on TV's 24, have been dropped because the alleged victim wouldn't co-operate with authorities. (Matt Sayles/Associated Press)

Assault charges against Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland over an alleged head-butting incident have been dropped, New York prosecutors announced Tuesday.

The misdemeanour assault charges against the star of TV's 24 have been dropped because the person alleged to be the victim wouldn't co-operate with prosecutors, according to a spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorney's office.

In May, Sutherland was involved in an incident with fashion designer Jack McCollough outside a Manhattan nightclub. He is alleged to have head-butted and McCollough, injuring him.

The two men issued a joint statement several weeks later saying they had resolved their differences.

Sutherland, the son of actors Shirley Douglas and Donald Sutherland, is currently serving probation as part of a drunk-driving conviction that sent him to jail for 48 days in 2008.

With files from The Associated Press

Yahoo turns profit after cutting costs

Yahoo had 13,000 employees at the end of the second quarter of 2009, down from 14,300 a year ago.Yahoo had 13,000 employees at the end of the second quarter of 2009, down from 14,300 a year ago. (Associated Press)

Yahoo reported an eight per cent increase in second-quarter profit late Tuesday, the company's first quarterly earnings improvement since the start of 2008.

Yahoo shares nevertheless slid 45 cents, or 2.7 per cent, to $16.30 US in Tuesday's extended trading, as investors fretted more about what might happen in Yahoo's third quarter after CEO Carol Bartz outlined a plan to spend more money strengthening the company's brand.

The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based internet company wouldn't have boosted its second-quarter profit if not for layoffs and other cost cutting that pared Yahoo's operating expenses by nearly $150 million US, or 15 per cent, from last year. The savings enabled Yahoo to shake off the biggest drop in its ad revenue since the dot-com bust at the beginning of the decade.

But Bartz raised questions about whether the earnings momentum will continue by vowing to spend at least $75 million more promoting Yahoo's brand, hiring more engineers and improving some of its services during the third quarter. On top of that, Yahoo expects to surrender about $75 million in revenue by reducing the volume of ads that management has identified as being too obnoxious.

Ad revenue down 13 per cent

Those plans will squeeze profits unless Yahoo can snap out of a slump that deepened in the third quarter with a 13 per cent decline in ad sales.

Bartz said advertisers appeared willing to spend a little bit more during the second half of the quarter, although she stopped short of predicting better times ahead.

"There's just so much conflicting information in the market that it's just too early to call," she told analysts in a Tuesday conference call.

Yahoo earned $141.4 million US, or 10 cents per share, in the three months ending in June. That was up from income of $131.2 million, or nine cents per share, last year during the same quarter. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had predicted Yahoo would earn eight cents per share.

Revenue for the period slid 13 percent to $1.57 billion. That's the biggest decline so far in a three-year slump that has seen Yahoo fall further behind internet search leader Google Inc. in the online ad market.

After subtracting commissions paid to its advertising partners, Yahoo's revenue stood at $1.14 billion US. That matched analyst projections.

Since her arrival, Bartz has been identifying Yahoo's strengths and weaknesses, streamlining the company's decision making and cutting deeper into a payroll that had already begun to thin under predecessor and Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang.

Yahoo, Microsoft discuss partnering on search

Yahoo ended the quarter with 13,000 employees, down 9 percent from 14,300 workers at the same time last year.

"The quarter was a mixed bag, but I am pleased we could control the things that we could control вЂ" and that was the cost side of the equation," Tim Morse, Yahoo's chief financial officer, said in a Tuesday interview.

Yahoo encountered its biggest problems in the lucrative search market that generates most of Google's profits. Yahoo's ad sales alongside the search results appearing on its own web site fell 15 percent to $359 million US.

As a possible remedy, Yahoo has discussed turning over its search advertising sales to rival Microsoft Corp., which is eager to pick up more market share to mount a more serious challenge to Google. A blog affiliated with The Wall Street Journal reported the two sides are getting close to reaching a deal that could be announced as early as this week.

Meanwhile, Yahoo is sprucing up its highly trafficked home page for the first time in three years to make it easier to see what's happening at the internet's other hot spots. The long-promised facelift made its debut in the United States on Tuesday.

First Nations to vote for national chief

Assembly of First Nations national chief hopefuls Shawn Atleo, right, and Bill Wilson chat prior to an all-candidates debate at the assembly's meeting in Calgary on Tuesday.Assembly of First Nations national chief hopefuls Shawn Atleo, right, and Bill Wilson chat prior to an all-candidates debate at the assembly's meeting in Calgary on Tuesday. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

Delegates from the Assembly of First Nations are set to vote in Calgary on Wednesday for a new national chief, who will be expected to take on a host of issues, notably aboriginal poverty and the spread of swine flu.

Some 639 First Nations chiefs are eligible to cast ballots at the AFN's annual general meeting. The first ballot will be held in the morning, with results expected by the afternoon.

With five candidates running, several ballots are expected вЂ" it's anticipated subsequent votes will go every two hours.

Extreme poverty in First Nations communities will likely dominate the new leader's agenda, said Phil Fontaine, the outgoing chief, who led the assembly for nine years.

"The person that comes in is going to have to continue to press our case in terms of Canada's single most important social-justice issue, and that's First Nations poverty. Our people are simply too poor," Fontaine said Tuesday in his opening remarks at the meeting.

The new leader will also have to contend with the spread of swine flu in First Nations communities, which Fontaine said he considers an "unacceptable" symptom of poverty. The H1N1 influenza strain blamed for at least 45 deaths across Canada has taken a disproportionate hold on reserves.

"The H1N1 flu, that's a scary situation and that's simply to do with poverty, severe overcrowding and no access to safe drinking water and poor access to quality health care," Fontaine said.

Five candidates are in the leadership race:

  • Shawn Atleo, British Columbia businessman.
  • Bill Wilson, British Columbia land claims treaty negotiator.
  • John Beaucage, Ontario economist.
  • Perry Bellegarde, Saskatchewan's Little Black Bear First Nation councillor.
  • Terrance Nelson, Manitoba author and consultant.

Differing platforms

Atleo, vice-chief of the assembly for British Columbia, is the youngest candidate, at 42. Considered by many observers to be the frontrunner, Atleo promotes himself as a bridge builder and boasts a long history as a regional politician.

The key is a united native front across Canada to push for fair access to natural resources on traditional lands, Atleo told delegates Tuesday.

"We know economic independence is political independence. Economic power is political power."

Bellegarde told delegates his business background will help the AFN. He has said economic development and employment are among the priorities he would focus on as national chief.

Wilson, meanwhile, advocates less reliance on the federal government and more control over native resources. Nelson has similarly pushed for more aboriginal autonomy.

Nelson said he believes chiefs should negotiate directly with U.S., Chinese and other foreign investors desperate for natural resources.

"We don't need Ottawa. Ottawa needs you," Nelson said Tuesday.

Beaucage, the grand chief of Ontario's Anishinabek Nation and a former Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation economist, is calling for a hike in yearly funding for aboriginal programs.

With files from The Canadian Press

Monday, July 20, 2009

Aquarium Fish Health: White Spot Disease Symptoms And Cures

Aquarium Fish Health: White Spot Disease Symptoms And Cures
 by: Nathan Miller
Fish death is one of the main problems that beginner aquarist and even some expert aquarist face. It's frustrating to the extent that most quit keeping aquarium fish.
But fish death can be avoided. Most fish deaths are caused as a result of both an internal and external types parasites that compete with the fish in tank.
As a result if you watch your aquarium fish often you should be able to discover when they have been infected by this parasite and be able to treat them to avoid fish death.
Look out for the following White Spot disease behavioral symptoms in your fish.
- Constant lying on the bottom or hanging at the surface.
- Rubbing of the body against rocks
- Gasping at the water surface
- No response to feeding
- General dullness and lethargy
- Hovering in a corner
- Fish swimming with clamps up
The most common of the visible signs is the development of the pin head-size while spots on the body or fins. This ailment is referred to as White Spot disease and is caused by the parasite - Ichthyophthirius Multifillis.
This parasite has a free-swimming stage, which attaches itself to the fish. The most common chemical used in treating infected fishes is Methylene Blue. You could buy a one per cent stock solution from a reputable chemist or aquarium shop and apply at 0.8 to 1.0ml per gallon of water. This amount should be added all at once. Repeat after one or two days.
The fishes must remain in this bath until every while spot has disappeared. A water change after treatment is necessary or else prolonged contact with the chemical may affect the fertility of the fish.
Another tip if you are using a side filter with activated charcoal should remove it to prevent the coal from absorbing the Methylene Blue.
Another tip... during treatment you should use artificial aeration with coarse bubbles near the surface, since a dirty bottom would inactivate the medicament by absorption. A better measure is to remove all dirt from the bottom before treatment.
Methylene Blue is harmless to young fish and unlike the general belief, it does not affect plants if used in weaker concentration.


Whether it be Paris Hilton's sidekick Tinkerbell, or Reese Witherspoons lovable pooch Bruiser in "Legally Blonde," Chihuahuas have hit the big time and everyone wants one: http://yourpetcentral.com/chihuahua-puppes.htm Now before you buy a Chihuahua, there are absolutely some things you need to know about this breed, their health and socialization. These 7 factors are the most important.
Meditate to Unlock Your Hidden Potential – Part 1 by: Paul M. Jerard Jr.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Quote

<Guilty> You dont want fatchicks on your pns
<Guilty> Let alone your primary pns

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Flash!! I Thought I Saw A Puddy Cat!

Flash!! I Thought I Saw A Puddy Cat!
 by: Richard Vegas
Have you ever had one of those flashes of inspiration? Have you ever just had one of those "knowings" down in the pit of your stomach? No, I don't mean after a big bowl of beans. That's not what I'm talking about. Ever had something flash across your mind and looked like a puddy cat? Read on and discover what it was.
Flashes of inspiration; how sweet they are. And, they can take different forms. Every one of you, at some time or another, has slapped his/her knee and said, "I see it". "I see it". That was your subconscious talking to you. That's where your Spirit lives. And he knows what the answer is even when you don't.
The reason so many people get so few "flashes of inspiration" is they never spend the time to get to know their best friend. Case in point. In the early part of the last century, there was a scientist who, during his lifetime, developed many inventions.
Flying Cats, What's the world coming to?
He said he got his ideas from flashes of puddy cats. Well, that was his way of explaining them. He would go into a dark room with a table and one chair and turn the lights off and sit, and sit, and sit.
He said he didn't care how long it took; he would wait till he saw flashes of puddy cats. He was waiting on fresh ideas and answers to what ever he was disturbed over. He knew the answer was in his Spirit, he just had to get it out.
I Think That Dude Needs a Rubber Room!
While he was in the room, he applied what he called controlled attention, asking his subconscious to give him the answer to his specific problem. The way he described it, on some occasions the puddy cats didn't come too quickly. On some occasions they were fuzzy, no pun intended. Sometime they would fly like machine gun bullets.
As soon as the ideas began to make sense, he would turn the lights on and write them down. He explained the source of them this way. He said they came from knowledge stored in his subconscious but acquired through personal experience; knowledge of others and, knowledge from the infinite intelligence.
He said when he was sitting, he would tune into one or all three of these sources. He emphasized that he "made" the time to do this because it was so beneficial. He said most people would scoff at this because it would appear to be such a waste of time. Most people would rather struggle and fight because they believe that's the way that great achievements come.
Not to mention they would not want others to think they were a fruit cake.
The author of this article has some personal experience with this concept. Being a student of the subconscious and particularly interested in the powers of the unknown and unexplainable, I began to notice some startling results begin to take place after employing these ideas.
No Fruit Cake For Me!
I want it on record here and now, "I have never seen any puddy cats"!! Not real ones anyway. Maybe some baby elephants, Nah…. I'm kidding. Although I have to admit, I've looked for them. Hehe! Now just what you think if I told you puddy cats went flying through my closet? Yeah, right.
In your quest for answers you may fail. Remember, Success is never final, and failure is never fatal, only staying down is failure. What you are doing here is, "learning to see." Learning to see so that your quest will help you discover something more, something even greater. What is that? The ability to discover answers any time you need them.
Think about this. How would you feel if you knew with any problem that came up in your life, you could find a series of answers? All of them will not be right. Most of them will be garbage. A few of them may be useable. Some of them will look like puddy cats. Yea…. and that's the one we're looking for.
Looks like the 3 Stooges to me!
Be observant, think, look, pay attention, controlled attention, for that's when, who knows, you might see a puddy cat. Here is something I have personally discovered in this process. Pay attention. Many times, not every time, I did not get what I felt was a specific answer to the specific situation at hand.
But, what I got was a direction that appeared to have nothing to do with the problem at hand, but in the end, it was something much more valuable and much greater than I could have ever done through kicking and screaming it into existence.
Learn a lesson from Chris!
Consider this. Christopher Columbus set out to find a way to Asia by traveling west from Spain. That was his goal; that was his definite plan. Well, you know the story. He failed big time. Or, did he? You wouldn't be here if he had succeeded. I believe the infinite wisdom that communicates to our subconscious knew where he should end up. Thank goodness it did.
In many respects, these flashes of imagination could be explained as just an individual brainstorming; i.e.; allowing your imagination to flash ideas from the subconscious to the conscious mind and incorporating the answers to a specific problem. When done, these flashes are examined for value and practicality.
A Good Place to Think!
If you follow my articles you will understand what I'm about to say. I've had people ask me, "Where do you get some of the crazy titles you come up with for your articles"? I tell em "puddy cats". That's where they come from. Although I admit, I'm not always in a closet looking for them. Sometime they come just from watching Gomer Pyle. But, you have to be able to recognize them, when they come, even if you're in your sitting room on your throne.
Every person has the creative ability to do this. It is God given. But, most people just haven't learned to use it. So don't sell yourself short and say "I don't have a puddy cat brain". Yes you do, Sylvester. It is very unlikely that any great mind would have achieved greatness without learning to use the creative abilities of their mind. Discover your puddy cats; they're in there.
Richard Vegas ©2002


In order to properly care for a dog and to comply with certain local laws, the owner must have a number of dog accessories in his or her arsenal. Some of these items are necessary, others are merely conveniences.
While keeping trim is one aspect of being nutritionally sound, there are many other factors that figure into getting your body working in the best possible shape. Your body needs plenty of nutrients to stay in its best condition, and a diet simply isn't enough.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

The World's Most Beloved Sport - The History of Soccer

The World's Most Beloved Sport - The History of Soccer
 by: Rebecca Blain
While it is undisputed that the origins of modern soccer, or football, originated in Britain, there is a great deal of evidence that points to this beloved game as having an older history.
Where did the game of soccer really begin, and how old is it? To understand how many different varieties of "soccer" there are, you need to understand a bit about the older versions of the game and how they have evolved.
Below, you will find a list of the predominant cultures that had a variety of soccer, and learn how each one differs from what we play today. And no, they never used anything like Lotto shinguards back then either! Chinese Soccer History Japanese Soccer History Egyptian Soccer History Greek/Roman Soccer History British Soccer History
Chinese Soccer History
To many, this is the oldest version of soccer to exist. However, there is quite a lot of controversy of whether or not this is the oldest, or Japan's version is the elder. The Chinese version of the game, originally named "Tsu Chu", involved players on a field that had to hit a leather ball stuffed with fur into a small hole. Like Soccer, no hands were permitted during the play of the game, and it was considered an honor to be a member of a team.
The Emperor of the Han Dynasty, when the game was developed, was an avid player and fan, and spread the popularity of this game all over China during his reign. This roughly dates back to 300 B.C., although there is controversy on the subject of dating, which could result in the origins of the game being as far back as 5000 B.C. Regardless, this version of Soccer is extremely old. Despite that, there is still a version of Tsu Chu played today. While the two games are similar, Tsu Chu has had no effect on the modern version of the game, as it was originally developed and created for play in Great Britain.
Japanese Soccer History
Kemari, the Japanese version of "Soccer", is perhaps one of the most different forms of the sport, in comparison to modern soccer. Kemari was a game of "Keep it up", much like modern hacky sacks, although used with a larger ball that was stuffed with saw dust. This version involves a "pitch", or the field, designated by the selection of four trees, the cherry, maple, pine and willow. Many great houses in Japan would grow trees to have a permanent pitch, or field, established.
Kemari was normally played with two to twelve players. Established in roughly 1004 B.C., it vies for position of the oldest game with China's Tsu Chu. In fact, China's Tsu Chu players and Japan's Kemari players were the first to have an "International" game of their versions of Soccer, which is dated to have occurred in roughly 50 B.C., although a definite date of 611 A.D. is known. Regardless, this game stands with China as a sister sport to Soccer, while it never affected the modern version of the game.
Egyptian Soccer History
While not much is known about Egyptian Soccer, or other ball games, it is thought there was a version of a type of ball game played by young women during the age of Baqet III. On his tomb, images of this sport were depicted, although no one is certain how the game was played or whether or not it truly affected the outcome of modern soccer. Recordings of this game date as far back as 2500 B.C., although not much more is known asides the fact that it was played with a ball. The lack of information on the sport and how it was played has eliminated it from runnings as the first evidence of a game similar to soccer.
Greek/Roman Soccer History
Perhaps the closest relative to modern soccer are the games that were formed by the Greeks during the prime of their culture. They had numerous varieties of football style games, some of which required hands, some of which forbade hands. In the end, after the Roman conquering of Greece, the game Harpastum is what modern soccer would be based from. This game, probably a modified version of the Greek's "Harpaston", which translates roughly to handball. While grossly misnamed, this game is what is considered to be one of the precursors to modern soccer.
British Soccer History
In Britain during the 8th century, soccer was created, not as a recreational sport, but as a war game. One of the stories of the original roots of the sport comes from when a Danish Prince was beheaded, and his head was used as a ball and was kicked around. Ever since this 'legendary' tale, villages and other communities would play a game where they would have to kick a ball to a specific goal. It was a violent game, where injury and death were not uncommon, but it was popular nevertheless. In fact, it was so violent, that in 1331, King Edward the III passed laws to try to stop the playing of the game. It did not work, however, and the sport continued on.
There are even stories of soccer games that involved hundreds upon hundreds of players. In these games, there were many deaths, some resulting in the hundreds. It wasn't until 1815 when Eton College set up a series of rules for the game that it became less violent and more of a true sport. At this time, other colleges and universities took up the banner and began to play under similar rules. Later, the rules were evaluated and judged, and the Cambridge rules were created as a result in 1848. In the Cambridge rules, shin-kicking, carrying the ball and tripping were all forbidden. Rugby rules allowed these aspects, and the two varieties of soccer, or football, split to form their own followings.
On October 26, 1863, London schools and sports club sent representatives to the Freemason's Tavern, where the Football Association was formed. Rugby supporters left this association to form the Rugby Association. This is where the birth of modern soccer began. In 1969, the Football Association finalized the modern game of soccer by forbidding the use of hands in the game.
The term "Soccer" was coined when someone was asked if he was a Rugger, which is a Rugby player. The -er signified that the person participated in a a particular sport. The individual, Charles Wreford Brown, replied with "Soccer!", taking the phrase from Association, SOC, and adding the -er. The term stuck. While British individuals still call the game Football, Americans and other countries call it Soccer, especially if they have heavy support in American Football present. Ever since the foundation of the Association, "Football" has risen in popularity, becoming one of the best love games in the history of Earth. Now, hundreds of thousands play the sport, although it lacks the initial violence present at its creation.


Travel Doctor Q&A by: News Canada Dr. Suni BorastonVancouver, BCQ: I am going on a vacation to Mexico and have been told that you cannot eat or drink anything without being affected by Montezuma's Revenge.
We walked a couple hundred yards behind the house and sat down on a log. It was only a few minutes later he said that he needed to go back to the house to go to the bathroom.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Quote

<EnDs> N E 1 have that song u know the one from woodstolk?

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Finding A Dog Breeder

Finding A Dog Breeder
 by: Kirsten Hawkins
If you're in the market for a purebred dog, you'll need to find a breeder from which to purchase the animal. This can often be as easy as opening the classified advertising section of your local newspaper, but you'll want to be sure that the breeder you've chosen is reputable. There are several ways to help ensure that the breeder you've found knows his stuff and is reliable, professional, and trustworthy.
Ask for References
Any good breeder will be able to provide you references of clients he has worked with in the past. These will be people who have purchased a puppy or utilized stud services and will be happy to share their experiences with you. Choosing a breeder that was used by someone you know is a good choice as well. If your friend or family member was happy with the service and treatment he or she received from the breeder, the odds are good that you will be as well.
Prepare to be Asked Questions
A good breeder will have as many questions for you as you have for him, perhaps more. Good breeders work to ensure that the dogs they breed are placed with the correct people. They may ask whether you have children, what size home or yard you have, and numerous other questions to help them let you know whether the dog you're seeking is right for you and your family. A breeder that doesn't ask these types of questions may be looking just for the money from the sale of the dog and is probably not the sort of breeder you want to do business with. A good breeder always has the best interest of both the dog and the clients in mind.
Guarantees
A good breeder will have had the puppies checked for potential health risks before ever selling the animal. Some problems, however, simply are not detectable until later in life. If you purchase a golden retriever pup, for example, and six months later discover that it has hip dysplasia (a genetic defect in the animals hip joints, it is often nearly undetectable until the animal is several months old), a good breeder will issue a refund to you, no questions asked. Genetic defects like this are avoided by the use of selective breeding (hip dysplasia in dogs has between a 25% and 85% chance that it is genetic in origin), but sometimes a pup will display the disorder even if there is no trace of it in either parent's history.
Other Sources
Aside from looking in the newspaper of on the internet for a dog breeder, breeders can be found through veterinarian's offices, pet supply stores, and at dog shows. Dog shows are a very good choice since the breeders that attend these events are often showing one of their dogs or are there to see the performance of one that they bred and sold in the past.


Have You Heard About...Cosplay? by: Mallory York The word ?cosplay? is actually a blending of the words ?costume? and ?play?. Cosplayers are called this because not only do they dress up like their favorite characters, but they also act out skits and pose for pictures as the characters?just like actors in a play.
A Great Day of Cat Skiing by: Lachlan Brown Snowcat skiing offers strong-intermediate and expert skiers the ultimate powder snow experience.Operators provide full-service guided tours into remote high-mountain regions. Powder snow and "fresh tracks" are the norm.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The Exact Reason Why Cardio is Essential: Avoiding The Starvation Response

The Exact Reason Why Cardio is Essential: Avoiding The Starvation Response
 by: Johnny Lavot
Cardio, Calories, and the Starvation Response
Most of the time, when someone decides that they want to lose fat, they inevitably head for the nearest fad diet. However, 95% (closer to 100%) of the time, these fad diets fail. The reason they fail is because exercise is rarely incorporated into the program. In order to lose fat, there must be a deficit of calories in the diet. In other words, your body must use more calories than you eat in order to use its fat stores for energy. This seems simple enough; however, it becomes a bit more complicated. There are two ways a calorie deficit can be accomplished. The first one is to eat fewer calories. The second one is to use more calories (exercise). The best way to accomplish fat loss without hitting a plateau and failing is a combination of both. You must eat less calories and burn more calories. If you try to accomplish a calorie deficit only by eating less calories, then you're body thinks it's starving, and will go into a "starvation mode" where it lowers its metabolism in order to prepare for a period of little food (this is more than likely a protective response from years ago when food actually did become scarce, unlike today). Another reason that the metabolism is lowered is because when there is a period of little food, your body tries its best to protect the brain. The brain always requires glucose (carbohydrates that are in the body) to run; however, glucose can not be stored in the body. Therefore, the only way for the body to get glucose is to eat its own muscle (muscle can be converted to glucose) - which lowers your metabolism and causes the starvation response. So, the body accomplishes two things by eating its own muscle: it provides glucose for the brain and causes your body to require less food, since less muscle equals a lower metabolism. When the starvation response is elicited, you smack into the fat loss plateau and the fad diet fails.
When you incorporate exercise into your routine, your body feels more comfortable with not lowering your metabolism. If you are exercising frequently, then your body thinks, "I'm actually doing something, so there is probably an abundance of food now, and I shouldn't worry too much." Therefore, the starvation response is mostly avoided. Two important forms of exercise to produce this affect are weight training and aerobic exercise (cardio). However, this article is mostly about cardio.
The goal of cardio is to burn calories while avoiding the starvation response. Many times when you mention "exercise" or "cardio", people immediately get negative thoughts in their head about the extreme difficulty of doing such exercise, but these thoughts are misguided. Cardio gets easier as your body adapts, is very rewarding, and can even be fun.
How Cardio Becomes Easier While Still Burning the Same Amount of Calories
As you do cardio more and more, you body begins to adapt and become better at performing the same work, but with less perceived effort. The body becomes able to move nutrients and oxygen around faster because you build new capillaries, the cells produce more mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell), your heart becomes more powerful, your body produces more blood, and a host of other adaptations that would cover a whole textbook. The main thing to note here is that you still burn the same amount of calories, even after your body adapts and cardio becomes easier. However, with your new, more adapted body, you will be able to accomplish exercise that burns even more calories resulting in even more fat loss. For instance, in order to burn 300 calories, you would have to walk for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. In contrast, jogging for about 25-30 minutes (the amount of time will vary depending upon your speed) will burn 300 calories. Obviously, the last one is more practical unless you just have a huge amount of time on your hands. Walking also doesn't elicit the endorphin high that running/jogging does either (discussed later).
The Overload Principle
When you begin a cardio program, your first goal should probably be to adapt to the point where you can burn a sufficient amount of calories. This involves the overload principle. The overload principle is simple: in order to initiate adaptations within your body you must exercise with either a greater intensity, duration, or frequency. Depending upon the type you decide to overload (intensity, duration, or frequency), you will adapt to that type. For instance, if you want to run faster in the same amount of distance, you should run faster, and your body will adapt to that. If you want to run farther, you should run farther, and your body will adapt to that. There is a high degree of specificy that goals along with this principle, but that is the topic for another article. Pretty much, the overload principle reveals that doing the same routine every time without trying to push yourself harder will result in no adaptations. For instance, if you do the same aerobics tape everyday, then your body will never adapt any further - since there is no need for it to. However, if you were to get a more advanced tape and do it, this would initiate an adaptation in your body, but then you would have to find an even harder tape to initiate any further adaptations. Keep in mind though, if you decide to stay at the same level of fitness and do the same routine, then you will still burn the same amount of calories, and if your goal is just fat loss this may be a potential option for you.
Just Get Started!
If you haven't done any cardio for a while, you should obviously start out small. Start out with just a brisk walk, then intermittent jogs while you are jogging, then finally, you will be able to jog the whole time, and then increase your times/speed to the point where you are happy. The hardest part is really just to start doing something. Once you get your momentum going by exercising for the first time, even if you have to start out small, you have already accomplished the hardest part.
Your Body's Reward to You: An Endorphin High
In addition to burning off unwanted fat, doing cardio gives you something called an "endorphin high". This all natural high induces a feeling of well-being, relaxation, improvement in mood, and increase in your ability to think more clearly. It's theorized that this is the reason why many long distance runners are "addicted" to running - they love the high they get afterwards! Once you've experienced one of these, you're even more likely to continue your regime and therefore continue to burn off fat.
Cardio in the Morning?
Although calories are the most important thing when considering fat loss; you must also realize that not all calories are created equal. When you wake up in the morning, you body is low on something called glycogen. Glycogen is essentially another word for stored carbohydrates in the body. When exercising, glycogen is a more preferred fuel source to the body in comparison to fat. Your body always uses a mixture of glycogen and fat to run, but the ratio is many times dependant upon the availability of these fuel sources. So, when your body is low on glycogen in the morning, it is forced to burn fat at a higher ratio than if you had just eaten. Therefore, doing cardio in a fasted state will burn more fat than doing it in a non-fasted state. In one study, the researchers concluded that this method can burn 17% more fat in comparison to if you had just eaten (1). Another study agrees with this by stating, "our results support the hypothesis that endurance training enhances lipid oxidation (lipid oxidation means the burning of fat) in men after a 12-h fast at low relative exercise intensities" (2). If you decide to perform cardio in the morning, remember to drink lots of water before-hand (you'll be dehydrated after waking up), and if you want the extra fat burning response, you'll have to avoid breakfast until after you're done.
Another reason to exercise in the morning is due to the fact that it will allow you to be in a better mood and to think more clearly for the rest of the day due to the endorphin high. You are also probably more likely to perform cardio in the morning in comparison to the afternoon when you could just blow it off because you are "too tired".
Make Sure You're Hydrated
Before starting on your new cardio regime, make sure you are properly hydrated. Water increases your capacity to think and exercise more efficiently. Water is required for nearly every reaction inside of your body. Most people walk around in a state of semi-dehydration. Exercising can cause you to get dizzy and pass-out (this author has experienced this), suffer a heat injury, or in severe cases, cause death. Ever had that thick, cotton-like feeling in your mouth while exercising? Cotton-mouth is an obvious sign that you are dehydrated; if you ever get cotton-mouth while performing aerobic exercise, please realize that you could be performing much better and reducing your risk of experiencing dehydration's nasty side effects if you only had drank more water beforehand. It is best to drink water throughout the day rather than only around the time you exercise.
Music!
One sure fire way to get you pumped up and associate cardio with something positive is to listen to some music before and while doing it. You'll be surprised at how much better you perform and how much more fun cardio seems.
As stated before, the hardest part about a cardio regime is starting. Remember to incorporate the overload principle when trying to cause an adaptative response, to stay hydrated, and to listen to music while performing your cardio regime. Also, you may even decide that you want to perform your cardio in the morning to feel good and be able to think more clearly for the rest of the day and to burn even more fat. Once you get passed that point and experience some of cardio's effects such as fat loss without hitting a plateau, a feeling of accomplishment, and that awesome endorphin high, you'll become addicted. However, no exercise routine is complete without the proper support from an intelligent nutritional program; for more information on this you can visit http://www.weight-loss-resources.com.
1. Brehm, B.A., and Gutin, B. Recovery energy expenditure for steady state exercise in runners and non-exercisers. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. (1986) 18: 205.
2. Bergman, BC, Brooks, GA. Respiratory gas-exchange ratios during graded exercise in fed and fasted trained and untrained men. Journal of Applied Physiology. (1999) 86: 2.


In 1956 when Elvis Presley arrived in Hollywood he and his entourage stayed at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. One day he got into the elevator.
What is the difference between a pizza and a jazz musician?A. A pizza can feed a family of four!What is it about jazz that makes a jazz musician stick to a form of music that A&R managers have scientifically and suspiciously proven to be a musician's surest route to death by starvation?One good reason would be the fact that jazz allows me to be myself as opposed to pop that wants me to be Madonna.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Lyle Overbay: Milwaukee Brewers First Baseman

Lyle Overbay: Milwaukee Brewers First Baseman
 by: Kevin Bourassa
Not too many people would know who I'm talking about if I mentioned Lyle Overbay before the season started. Now that he's batting .347 with 5 homers and 31 RBI's(2nd in NL), many fans and fantasy owners are taking notice. Overbay has helped the Brewers maintain a .500 record (through May 13th) and has helped himself get some recognition with a current 13-game hit streak. The fantasy owners are starting to flock to this 27-year old Brewer. Overbay may be a big hitter, 6'2", but he is more of a contact hitter. He has a flat swing, which allows him to hit a ball anywhere in the field. That being said, he has hit 5 homers this season in 124 at bats, 1 more than his 2003 total in which he had 254 at bats. Lyle Overbay has shown his all-star potential since moving from Arizona to Milwaukee as part of the Richie Sexson trade. Overbay went 7-11 with 6 RBI's in a series against his former team, the Diamondbacks.
Overbay's success didn't start this year, as a graduate from the University of Nevada, he was a right fielder and has led the Big West Conference in hits, runs, and RBI's. The 1999 Ralph Nelles Award for Most Valuable Player broke the short-season minor league record for RBI's in a season with 101 RBI's. Overbay's 101 RBI's broke Medicine Hat Blue Jay's Jay Gibbons' (currently with Baltimore) 98 RBIs in 1998.
Fantasy owners all around need to take notice, if they haven't already, of this young slugger. Overbay has the potential to be an all-star first baseman in the future, and maybe even this season if he keeps up his current numbers.


There are many plants that we consume that contain polyphenols. Concentrations are high in Olive oil and Green Tea and have been the subject of many health articles and promoted to enhance your health.How do Polyphenols work?These antioxidants eliminate free radicals, unstable molecules that are the major cause of both aging and disease, in both plants and humans.
Besides the apistogramma group there are also some relatively popular dwarf cichlids from Africa, like the Pelvicachromis group. From this group the most widespread cichlid is the Pelvicachromis pulcher, also known as the Kribensis or Purple cichlid.Generally the cichlids from the apistogramma group are more fragile and harder to maintain, and breed, for a longer period of time.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

An Insight Into PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)

An Insight Into PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
 by: Ruth Bird
I was cruising the "net" just recently, when I came across "PCOS". I had never heard of this but I found it very interesting because for years I have suffered with blood sugar problems. So as soon as I come across an article that relates to blood sugar, I research it further. This is very interesting because so many women suffer with this condition. And, like many blood sugar conditions, it also can go undiagnosed.
What you're about to read will give you a greater understanding of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and how to reverse its underlying condition, Insulin Resistance. This information is not about fad diets, magic pills or fantasy claims to transform the way you look and feel overnight. It is about accurate scientific information that can help you to effectively change the way your body responds to food and help reverse your PCOS.
INSULIN RESISTANCE IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF PCOS http://syndromex.stanford.edu/InsulinResistance.htm The above is a link to more detailed information from the stanford.edu website. Are you one of the millions of women with PCOS who have failed to reverse the symptoms of this condition no matter what you've tried? It may not be due to lack of willpower. Instead, you could be Insulin Resistant, the root cause of PCOS.
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health, Stanford University and other research centers have clearly identified the existence and effects of Insulin Resistance, a biochemical condition that causes excessive weight gain and PCOS, which is also known as polycystic ovaries. If you are among the 65% of the overweight population with Insulin Resistance, your ability to reverse your PCOS and lose weight may not have been within your control - until now.
This breakthrough in understanding the body's biochemistry remains relatively unknown, even though Insulin Resistance has reached epidemic proportions. Your doctor may not have explained the crucial link between Insulin Resistance and PCOS. You need to understand this link in order to reverse your condition.
The Insulite PCOS System is the first scientifically-designed method that restores your body's ability to conquer PCOS by reversing Insulin Resistance. You can also read more here: http://www.pcosupport.org/living/nutrition/insulinre.php PCOS AND INSULIN RESISTANCE PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a hormonal imbalance linked to the way the body processes insulin after it has been produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar (glucose).
The underlying cause of PCOS, Insulin Resistance, has many factors that contribute to its presence in the body. In essence, our environment and lifestyles have evolved too rapidly for our bodies to keep pace. We are still genetically "wired" to thrive on the entrenched habits of our ancestors, who consumed different, nutrient-rich foods, a diet low in carbohydrates and who sustained greater levels of movement and exercise. Some people may also have a genetic predisposition to Insulin Resistance, while others develop the condition through high stress and unhealthy lifestyles. Also check Dr. Barry Sears Books on Hormonal Balance. INSULIN RESISTANCE NEGATIVELY AFFECTS GLUCOSE AND INSULIN LEVELS SYMPTOMS OF PCOS Doctors very often misdiagnose PCOS. This became an issue of critical concern after a study in 2000 found that women suffering from PCOS have a higher risk of coronary heart disease.
Researchers found a link between PCOS and other metabolic conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure and high levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol, all of which are risk factors for coronary heart disease.
Studies have also shown an increased link between PCOS and atherosclerosis, which occurs when fatty deposits called plague cling to the interior walls of the arteries, leading to blockages that can cause heart attacks or stroke. Not only do PCOS sufferers have higher rates of plaque buildup but those over 45 have thicker deposits of plaque.
Another report indicated that up to 40% of women with PCOS have either impaired glucose tolerance or Type II Diabetes by the age of 40. Many conditions can be managed by ourselves. It is well worth it to check the information available on the internet.
Please take note: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.


They ae generally curcular patches that lose hair, can be swollen, in extreme cases may exude smelly pus, and can be painfully itchy causing the dog to scratch, lick, or bite to the point of self mutilation. Untreated hot spots can spread and provoke a normally even-tempered dog to growl or nip when touched.Dogs most susceptible to hot spots are those with heavy coats and histories of allergies, ear infections, fles infestations, iritated anal sacs and grooming problems such as hair tangles and mats.
How are you two doing tonight? Just come from the gym? Whew, one of you needs a shower. Here's our menu.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Dunn hits 300th career home run

Washington Nationals slugger Adam Dunn hit his 300th career home run Saturday, ending Braves rookie Tommy Hanson's consecutive scoreless innings streak at 26 with the milestone blast.

Dunn hit a 2-2 fastball two-thirds of the way up the second deck in right field leading off the seventh inning, cutting Atlanta's lead to 3-1.

Dunn is the fifth major league player this season to reach the 300-homer plateau, joining Houston's Lance Berkman and Ivan Rodriguez, and Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox.

The 29-year-old Dunn is the fifth player in major league history to reach that total in less than 4,200 at-bats, succeeding in his 4,145th at-bat. The others are Babe Ruth (3,830), Mark McGwire (3,837), Ralph Kiner (3,883) and Harmon Killebrew (3,928).

After a shaky major league debut on June 7, Hanson (4-0) had allowed just two runs in 22 innings heading into Saturday's contest.

Canadian-made sci-fi series gets ABC pickup

Defying Gravity, a CTV science-fiction series made in Vancouver, has been picked up by ABC in yet another coup for Canadian-made television programs.

The one-hour series, which stars Vancouver's Laura Harris, is co-produced by Canada's Omni Films with Fox Television Studios.

Described as a kind of interplanetary relationship drama, the series has some high-flying executive producers: James Parriott, who also runs Grey's Anatomy as well as Ugly Betty, and Michael Edelstein, the executive producer of Desperate Housewives.

Written by Parriott, Defying Gravity is based on the BBC drama Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets.

Defying Gravity вЂ" already sold to Britain and Germany вЂ" shifts back and forth in time, between the astronauts' present location in space and their past relationships on earth.

The series is CTV's fourth original production to be picked up in the U.S. CBS claimed Flashpoint and The Bridge while NBC added The Listener to its lineup.

Serena Williams wins 3rd Wimbledon title

Serena Williams prepares a forehand while playing her sister Venus for the fourth time in a Wimbledon final. Serena Williams prepares a forehand while playing her sister Venus for the fourth time in a Wimbledon final. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press)

Serena Williams was a woman on a mission on Saturday, defeating older sister Venus for her first Wimbledon title in six years.

Serena lost just eight points on her serve en route to a 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory. All three of her career wins at Wimbledon have come at the expense of her sister.

She converted her fourth match point of the final game when Venus smacked a backhand into the net.

"It feels so amazing," Serena said. "I feel so blessed … I feel like I shouldn't be holding the trophy."

The American captured her 11th Grand Slam title as a result, leaving her one shy of Billie Jean King for sixth on the all-time women's list.

Venus was going for her third consecutive Wimbledon championship, coming into the match with a 20-match winning streak. All but three of those matches were done in straight sets.

"Today she was too good, she had an answer for everything," Venus said.

The Williamses hit a variety of strong shots in the final, committing a relatively low 24 errors. But the Centre Court crowd was oddly quiet despite the display, only rarely erupting with passion.

The first break point came in the eighth game of the first set. Venus hit a forehand long, allowing Serena to fire consecutive aces to keep things even at 4.

Serena had her best chance to break in the 10th game, winning one of the first set's few lengthy rallies to force deuce, but could get no further.

Serena jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the tiebreak, hammering a forehand down the line on the sixth point. She moved her older sister around the court with powerful groundstrokes to take a 6-2 advantage, and finished off the set two points later with a lob.

Serena won her service games early in the second with relative ease, while forcing Venus to scratch and claw on her serve.

Venus double-faulted for the first service break of the match, giving Serena a 4-2 lead.

The eventual winner took the next game at love and then finally finished out the match after squandering three chances.

The sisters have often remarked on how difficult it is emotionally to play each other. They will join forces later in the day to go for their fourth Wimbledon and ninth Grand Slam doubles championship, against Australians Sam Stosur and Rennae Stubbs.

Toronto's Daniel Nestor and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic will try to win their second consecutive Wimbledon men's doubles title later in the day against rivals Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States. The Bryan brothers won the tournament in 2006.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Quote

<sphynx> crushes suck
<sphynx> i hate em
<sphynx> the dilemma, the desperation
<sphynx> the hopes dashed etc
<shirazz> the masturbation
<shirazz> hehehe
<bark> the masturbation is ok.
<Kyoto> hey.. the masturbation is good..

British judge orders extradition for Creba suspect

A British judge has recommended that a man wanted in connection with the Boxing Day 2005 shooting of Toronto teenager Jane Creba be extradited to Canada.

Dorian Wallace, 30, is a British citizen who was injured in the gunfire that left 15-year-old Creba dead on Yonge Street in Toronto.

Police initially thought he was an innocent bystander caught up in the gunfire. He was in Canada illegally at the time, having overstayed a tourist visa. Upon his release from hospital after recovering from gunshot wounds, he was deported to England.

But now, police say he is wanted in connection with the shooting, and in March they began the extradition process. The British judge granted that request Tuesday.

Two of Wallace's cousins are Canadian, and they have been charged with murder and manslaughter in the Creba case.

One man, a 20-year-old known only as J.S.R. because he was a youth at the time of the shooting, has been found guilty of second-degree murder in Creba's slaying.

Eight other people вЂ" one youth and seven adult suspects вЂ" have been charged with either second-degree murder or manslaughter, and currently have trials underway or set to begin later this year.

The judge's recommendation does not mean Wallace will be sent to Canada immediately, as by law all extraditions must be approved by the British home secretary, a process that can take weeks.

Wallace is also entitled to appeal the decision.

Yemeni plane crash survivor clung to debris 13 hours

A Yemenia Airways worker looks at a notice of an announcement of Flight IY626 at San’a International Airport in Comoros on Monday. A Yemenia Airways worker looks at a notice of an announcement of Flight IY626 at San’a International Airport in Comoros on Monday. (Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)

A bruised teenage girl believed to be the lone survivor of a Yemeni plane crash clung to the aircraft debris for more than 13 hours before she was rescued in the Indian Ocean, a French official said Wednesday.

There appear to be no other survivors, but one of the plane's black boxes had been found, French officials said.

The Yemenia Airbus 310 jet carrying 153 people to island nation of Comoros crashed into the sea early Tuesday as it attempted to land in the dark amid howling winds.

An Associated Press reporter saw 14-year-old Bahia Bakari in a Comoros hospital Wednesday as she was visited by government officials. She was conscious with bruises on her face and a gauze bandage on her elbow.

"It is a true miracle. She is a courageous young girl," Alain Joyandet, France's minister for international co-operation, said at the hospital. "She held onto a piece of the plane from 1:30 a.m to 3 p.m. She has lost her mother. Her father arrives tomorrow."

Ejected from plane

'"Papa, we saw the plane going down in the water. I was in the water, I could hear people talking, but I couldn't see anyone. I was in the dark, I couldn't see a thing, on top of that Daddy, I can't swim well and I held onto something, but I don't really know what." вЂ"Bahia Bakari in telephone conversation with her father

The girl's father told French radio that his daughter was "fragile" and could "barely swim," but managed to hang on. Kassim Bakari said he spoke with his oldest daughter by phone after Tuesday's crash. Bahia had left Paris on Monday night with her mother to see family in the Comoros.

He said she was ejected and found herself beside the plane.

"She couldn't feel anything, and found herself in the water. She heard people speaking around her but she couldn't see anyone in the darkness," Bakari said on France's RTL radio. "She's a very timid girl; I never thought she would escape like that."

Said Mohammed, a nurse at El Mararouf hospital in the Comoros capital of Moroni, said the girl was doing well and doctors would release more on her condition later Wednesday.

Sgt. Said Abdilai told Europe 1 radio that Bahia was too weak to grasp the life ring rescuers threw to her, so he jumped into the sea to get her. He said rescuers gave the trembling girl warm water with sugar.

Equipment faults reported

The crash a few kilometres off this island nation came two years after aviation officials reported equipment faults with the plane, an aging Airbus 310 flying the last leg of a Yemenia airlines flight from Paris and Marseille to the Comoros, with a stop in Yemen to change planes.

Most of the passengers were from the Comoros, a former French colony. Sixty-six on board were French nationals.

Turbulence was believed to be a factor in the crash, the Yemen Embassy in Washington said.

The tragedy prompted an outcry in Comoros, where residents have long complained of a lack of seatbelts on Yemenia flights and planes so overcrowded that passengers had to stand in the aisles.

Anti-sealing activists convicted

A judge has convicted two anti-sealing activists of coming too close to a hunt without a permit off Cape Breton.

In April 2008, the ship the Farley Mowat, captained by Dutch national Alex Cornelissen and carrying Swede Peter Hammarstedt, was boarded by the Canadian Coast Guard.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which owns the ship, say the vessel was merely monitoring the seal hunt. But sealers allege the ship's crew was harassing them and endangering their lives.

On April 12, 2008, the two men were arrested and the vessel was towed to the harbour in Sydney, N.S., where it has remained ever since.

On Tuesday, provincial court Judge Jean Whalen ruled that the two men were guilty of coming within one-half nautical mile of a seal hunt without proper authorization.

The Farley Mowat was boarded and seized by the Canadian Coast Guard in 2008.The Farley Mowat was boarded and seized by the Canadian Coast Guard in 2008. (Courtesy of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society)

She accepted the sealers' testimony that they feared for their lives when the Mowat sailed near them, and said video and radar evidence makes it clear the vessel was in Canadian waters at the time.

The maximum penalty for the offences is a fine of $100,000, and the crewmen could be subject to orders in relation to their future conduct, although jail time is unlikely.

Neither of the accused appeared or had legal representation at the 3ВЅ-day trial.

Sentencing is set for Sydney on Sept. 10.

With files from The Canadian Press