2007年12月29日星期六

The Tell

A serious poker player learns pretty quickly that studying the strategies of the games and putting these strategies into practice is not all it takes to be a winner. A little bit of psychology and knowing how to read body language is a pretty good asset to have any time you play poker and knowing body language is what the tell is all about.

A tell is any behavior, physical reaction or subconscious habit a player exhibits when contemplating an action: betting, calling, raising or reacting to another players action. If you are knowledgeable about tells, you have the advantage of knowing what certain players may do at any given time in the game. Additionally, having this knowledge will help you keep your own tells under control.

Of course, tells are learned best when playing with familiar opponents but with some experience you can read many players after a few hands.

In the movie House of Games, one of the best examples of a tell is when a player twisted his ring whenever his cards were weak. One of his opponents who was aware of this tell used it to his own advantage. Although all tells may not be that obvious, here are some tells that should stand out to any alert player who has studied this aspect of poker strategy.

The eyes dont lie! That is why poker players who understand tells often wear tinted eyeware, sunglasses, visors or caps. Eye reactions can be difficult to control. Some players may control give-away eye reactions by staring at their hole cards which also has the effect of advertising a possible strong hand to intimidate the other poker players.

Weve all heard the expression poker face. It means someone whose face is expressionless. The origin of this phrase began with professional poker players who, wary of tells in their demeanor, learned to control their expressions.

Body language is a very obvious tell. The experienced pro will consistently avoid any particular movement that could result in a tell to other players. A player slumping in his chair conveys lack of confidence and a weak hand. Someone sitting erect and alert may well have a strong hand.

Experienced players study their opponents carefully, noting their style of play and are very alert to signals from other players such as trembling hands or an anxious glance at their chips which could indicate a strong hand.

Pros or novice players are often unconscious of voice modulation, another obvious tell to the careful observer. A player with a weak hand may act loud and aggressive to cover his insecurities, whereas a player with a monster hand may behave in a low-key manner to avoid intimidating other players into folding.

As a generalization but worth considering players who neatly stack their chips are often tight, conservative players. Those players whose chips are sloppily stacked and disorganized could denote an aggressive and foolhardy player.

The way an opponent bets during specific situations is an important tell that an experienced player can use to his advantage. The player conscious of tells will vary carefully calculated betting patterns. The player who is not conscious of being studied may, for example, consistently check hole cards on the flop and several times thereafter. This behavior can indicate insecurity, a lack of conviction that can be taken advantage of by a strong player who can often bluff such an opponent into losing confidence in his cards and folding.

Carefully calculating betting patterns into ones style takes a thorough study of poker strategy and playing experience.

2007年12月28日星期五

Thinking Of Getting Laser Eye Surgery?

The popularity of laser correction surgery is growing for some very good reasons! For those of us who wear corrective eyewear, the benefits of ditching your glasses simply cant be exaggerated. For a few thousand dollars, most people can have the procedure performed and walk away with perfect vision. Heres our first hand experience of what its like, without the heavy medical jargon youll find elsewhere.

Laser eye correction might just change your life. Literally. My experience seems typical of so many patients who chose to take this route. Thanks to Lasik MD of Windsor, Canada, I now live a life completely free of vision correction. Its an amazing experience to say the least. While I was quite impressed with the clinic that did our procedure, this is by no means an advertisement for them. This is simply my testimony to how big of a positive impact this procedure could have on your life.

With a corrective near-sighted prescription of -2.75 and -3.25, glasses were not an option in my life, they were an absolute necessity. I couldnt drive, read, watch television, or clearly recognize a face from ten feet away. Any activity that caused sweat caused irritation, glasses sliding down my nose and slipping from my ears. The battle of the contact lens was a ritual whenever we planned outdoors summer activities. It was simply a part of life and those of you who need to wear glasses know exactly what Im talking about. Up until recently, it was just something I had to deal with.

The decision to weigh out the risk involved was a short one for me. Sure, you could go blind. You could end up having worse vision. But, we face risk everyday. This is a small risk I was going to face. I had heard from plenty of folks who were thrilled with the results to convince me I was going to do it, once I had the funds. With any surgery, there are possibilities for complications. After calling a few clinics in Michigan, I quickly found that there were a wide range of prices available, but generally speaking, it was quite a bit cheaper to have it done in Canada. If youre considering surgery, be sure to look into this option before signing up anywhere in the states. Both eyes ended up costing me about $1,500 USD. Of course, you need to consider the costs of travel, hotel, and follow-up care in your budget process. They even take Visa!

I set up my appointment two weeks in advance, and found Lasik MD to be quite flexible in terms of times available. I scheduled my screening, surgery, and immediate follow up care in one three day span of a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Upon arrival, the Lasik MD offices were surprisingly professional, clean, and inviting.

One thing I found was that thinking about the surgery was much worse than the actual procedure. The procedure itself lasted about 15 minutes total. Its somewhat of an uneasy thought of having someone do anything to your eyes, but again, I had some confidence because of so many positive testimonies from friends. The craziest sensation during the whole process was when they made the initial incision into my eye on the second day. If youve ever looked into a kaleidoscope as a child, this is the real thing ~ an odd feeling but completely painless.

Id have to say the first few days after surgery were a little concerning, as intermittent cloudiness was how my vision went. But after several weeks, this almost completely went away. The halo effects lingered for awhile (you see a glare around lights noticed mostly when driving at night) but this also went away after a couple months.

Today, my vision is officially 20/20. I went out and bought a pair of expensive sunglasses. You know the significance of this if youre vision impaired! I see absolutely perfectly six months later and have had no regrets at all. In fact, Id pay $10,000 for the surgery if I had to. Its that awesome! If youre interested in reading a more detailed version of our experience, including the disappointment my wife faced with this process, feel free to check out the link to our full detailed version below.

2007年12月27日星期四

Optimum Performance With Baseball Sunglasses

We commonly associate excellence in sports with speed, power, and agility. However, real professionals know that superior performance on a field is also about coordination and this starts with the eyes. Sight is intimately connected with winning and losing in highly competitive situations of physical confrontation, so the quality and design of your baseball sunglasses matter whether you pitch, hit, field, or simply are watching a game.

Excess heat and light as well as invisible clouds of dust and germs and the ever-present threat of physical injury threaten full and normal eyesight in most sports. A cloudy day also affects eyesight, even though it is not bright as a sunny one. The ultraviolet rays are still there. A game in which even a split second can separate strikes from runs means that anything bothering your eye can cost you that all-important game. Baseball sunglasses have more to do with making sports heroes than most of us will ever know. They are designed specifically for an intense game on the diamond. Regular frames do not compare.

Do not take clearness of vision for granted when choosing your specs. The most fashionable pair may not work too well in special light conditions. Faithful color reproduction is another key factor that you may appreciate only after you try your hand with top-quality protection for your eyes. Most lenses let eyes see considerably different sights than possible with naked eyes. Safety as well style should go hand in hand when choosing a pair of baseball sunglasses. Superior lenses will help you perform better and enjoy the game more as well.

Frames matter at least as much as lenses in this business. What use is a pair that does not fit snugly with your helmet? What if a huge and opaque nose bridge obstructs your vision? Will you have time to change between densely colored lenses and another pair with lighter or no shading as light conditions change? Endless complications of design and convenience surface as you try out various combinations in real games.

Technical Gear, Inc., offers all kinds of baseball sunglasses to suit your particular needs. Visit its website at http://www.technical-gear.com to look for comfortable and secure fits, true-to-life images, wide and uninterrupted fields of vision, and flaps you can turn down or lift up. The site offers much information on how to buy a pair that suits your needs best. A range of shipping options is offered, as well as customer service for questions.

2007年12月22日星期六

Bank deposit and lending rates again stressed Yantai people queuing up to the early morning of

Re-adjustment of the central bank's benchmark interest rates for deposits and loans in RMB, demand deposits down for the first time in five years, Hor Namhong Street in the city, and other cities in the north of the city roads, a number of banks had to be from a long row team. Public Junu:shi said: "that came after media reports to depositors, after all, 10,000 a year money to a lot of bad money?" This is the sixth meeting of central bank interest rate increase this year, the public is happy to trouble, members of the public asked: "Always to the bank depositors to queue up to get the increase after interest rates. why not for the banks depositors Zidongzhuaicun?"

Taiwan branch of the China Everbright Bank financial Phoenix when, in answer to this question, said: Based on the March 1, 1993 from the implementation of the "savings Management Ordinance," the outstanding regular savings deposits, all paid in advance, paid by listed on the Notice of demand savings deposit rate of interest paid. In other words, the deposit interest rate increase after all there is a "transfer of critical point", over this critical point, commercial banks if all deposits with interest rate adjustments Zidongzhuaicun, some depositors may be prejudicial to the interests. In addition, the current banking system does not have the policy to depositors, the banks will not easily give depositors to keep their own.

ICBC financial management division, said those remarks, depositors in interest rates should increase the impact of the financial market, it is necessary to understand more financial knowledge to a detailed count. For example: depositors must understand "to keep critical point", to the early withdrawal of time deposits, may lose interest, but lose more than they gain. Mr Lau suggested that depositors can be obtained through a number of techniques to increase interest rates on earnings, the reduction in interest rates in the demand deposits, depositors should be sufficient to stay in the lives of liquidity, appropriate increase the proportion of regular savings.

For example: in the interest rate increase is expected next year still exist, depositors a "ladder savings" more reasonable. Plan to depositors of 30,000 yuan regularly as an example, depositors can be one-year, 2-year, 3-year-deposit 10,000 yuan. After one year, will expire 10,000 yuan to keep the three-year, and so, after three years, all holders of certificates of deposit for the three-year period, the age of maturity is different, followed by a difference of one year. wholesale pearlwholesale necklaceMr Lau said that this approach can help people cope with the continuous change in the rate of the central bank policy, and a higher income. wholesale pearlwholesale necklace

2007年12月20日星期四

Why You Cant Wait To Go Home Again

It's finally here. The vacation you planned three months ago. It's time to go. You're thrilled. Everyone is so happy and excited for you; they know how much this means to you. Your boss calls, as you barrel out the door, "Have a good time!"

Don't you worry about that, Boss Person. You're out of here and won't be back for two weeks. You've been waiting for this vacation time for three years, and now you're taking it by the horns and grabbing it.

You dash home, where the suitcases are packed and just waiting for you to take them to your Dream Vacation destination. You have all the essentials: The suntan lotion, the bathing suit you starved yourself for the last three months for so you could wear it in public without embarrassment. You have the brochures, the map and the sunglasses (several).

You're bound and determined to get away from home. If anyone deserves a vacation, it's you. You've worked so hard, and now you're going to have a great time, and nothing's going to stop you now, no sir.

After the seven-hour drive, you arrive with your family to the Dream Destination. It's just like the brochures said it would be! It's beautiful! You're here!

It's always a good idea to lie down once you get settled, after you've checked in, looked at the beautiful view from your window, and gone through the manual to figure out how to operate the personal alarm system. You're tired. It was a long drive, and you're on vacation, for goodness' sake!

Pretty soon, it's time to go have a nice bite to eat at one of those places that advertise the best in "local cuisine." It's also a time to splurge and have a few drinks, then coffee and dessert. Everyone's just so happy to be here.

Boy, that food was good! When you return to the condo after you've stopped by the supermarket to fill up on groceries to stock in the brand-spanking-new, Comet-clean refrigerator, you glance out the window again and have another little rest.

It seems strange that, when we get to go on vacation, we start thinking about the place we just left -- our home. You know Fluffy and Terminator will be fine; you know your next-door neighbor will feed them and give them water on a daily basis. You stopped the mail: You can trust the postal service, so quit thinking about it! You're going to have some real fun!

It's important, while on vacation, to see as many of the sights and do as many of the activities as you can; you also need to remember to take the camera everywhere to document these experiences. The other thing you can't miss is the tourist shops and little boutiques where you can find the "perfect" gift for your dog-sitter and several postcards that you should address and mail -- before you get back -- to all your envious but supportive group of friends.

A few days into this, and you're working on getting a pretty even tan. The pool is great, the ocean's fun, but you haven't had time to check out some of the places of interest that you had on that list. It's OK. There's still time.

It's really great to be here. No, the beds aren't as comfortable as your old, lumpy mattress, but that's fine. And the water is never the same, somehow. It's either too "soft" or too "hard," and it doesn't taste like the water that comes out of the tap at home. You can't do anything about the ice cubes either, so you drink everything straight out of the can.

Pretty soon, after a few more dinners out, where you used your array of credit cards and cold, hard cash to lap up more of that "vacation cuisine" that you just can't get at home, you're in the car, heading back.

What happened? Is it already time to go home? What did we do? Did we have fun?

"I'm sure looking forward to going home," you hear yourself saying. Others in the car agree, saying they want to mow the lawn first thing, because it'll sure need it. That makes you think about that book case you have been working on in the basement: You better stop by the hardware store after you get home and unpacked.

What's happening here? What is this phenomenon? Why is it that when you plan something as important as this down to the letter, and you're finally there, actually free to frolic in the sun and waves with not a care in the world, just like those people in the brochures who look so rested and relaxed, you feel kind of homesick?

The truth may be that, no matter how much fun it is to leave home for the Perfect Vacation, when it's time to come back, everyone's relieved, because home, after all, is where you get normal-smelling water and really good beds.

Plus, you can set the alarm system with your eyes closed.

2007年12月19日星期三

Look Great In Sunglasses

Sunglasses are necessary to protect our eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays (to know if a pair of glasses provides this check the label). Sunglass lens are made of either glass or plastic and it comes in a variety of styles like wraps, shields, aviators and clip- ons. We all know that the right pair of sunglasses can add instant glamour and chic to any look. Here is a guide to choosing the right style of sunglasses to make you look great.

It is important that you choose sunglasses based on the shape of your face. Select a pair that is opposite its shape. If you have a round face dont select round glasses because it would make your face look fuller. Sunglasses in geometric shapes, ovals, shields, wraps and angular frames would suit anybody with a round face. You should choose frames that would make your face look thinner.

Round frames would suit those with a thin or angular face. If you have an oval face, wide frames would look best.

While it is true that there are a lot of trendy glasses nowadays like the oversized ones, dont go buying them just because they are the latest trends. Go for the sunglasses that suit your face shape.

It doesnt necessarily mean that the shade of your sunglasses should match the color of the outfit you are wearing. Sunglasses in a single shade would most likely match any outfit. Choose a shade that would bring out certain colors in the clothes that you are wearing. Choose a shade in sunglasses that would also break the monotony in the color of your clothes.

It is important not too spend too much on sunglasses. You can have two or three designer brands which may be expensive but you can still find cheap ones that look good as well. If you arent sure yet if a particular pair of sunglasses would suit you or not choose to buy the discount ones. It is best that you invest in sunglasses that are classics and will never go out of style. For those that are just the fad, dont spend too much on it for it will just soon end up in your drawers. If you are the tech-savvy individual and you enjoy listening to music, there are sunglasses that incorporate an MP3 player with it.

In conclusion choose sunglasses that would flatter your face and make you look fabulous.

Some Great Ideas To Help You Choose Great Gifts For Golfers

Do you have a family member of friend who is a golfer? Do you need a gift idea for an upcoming special day or occasion? Is so; here are a few tips to help you get a great gift that your special golfer will love.

If weather permits you could give your golfer a day of golf. You can call their favorite golf course and reserve a tee time and send them golfing. What could be more enjoyable to a golf enthusiast than a day of golf? If the weather does not permit going golfing on the special day you could get a coupon to give that lets them have a free day of golf, on you, whenever the weather is appropriate and the golfer can go. Either way this is a great gift for someone who loves to golf.

You may want to think about purchasing your golfer a new pair of pants, a shirt, socks, or even shoes to wear on their next outing. You will want to make sure the shirt, pants, and or socks are made out of comfortable cotton so that the golfer can move easily. When purchasing these items make sure you get the correct sizes. If the clothes don't fit right it will just cause problems when they are trying to golf. You will also want to choose the correct style and color to meet the needs and likes of the golfer. If this is a gift you would like to get, but don't know the correct sizes you may want to talk to someone who may know, or choose a different great gift.

Accessories such as sunglasses, visors or watches are other great ideas. If you buy sunglasses you will want to make sure they are not concave, as this will alter the golfers sight. Obviously you would not want to do this, as sight is very important in the game of golf. A watch is also a gift you could give. A watch would be useful on or off the golf course.

One gift we you should not buy would be a set of clubs or a bag. Most golfers already have these items and do not need another. Golfers also usually have their own preference on what kind of clubs they want or need. The chance that you will buy the correct club is pretty slim. It is better if the golfer picks out their own clubs so that they can test them out and get a feel for them before they are purchased.

You may even choose to go the high tech route. You can get gadgets that will help improve your golfers game. You may also want to think about a golfing game that can be played at home. This is not as good as actually getting to golf, but can be played no matter what the weather is like. Another route would be to get one of those putting greens that can be used indoors. If you visit a sports or golf store I'm sure you will find a great gift for you golfer. If you are not sure what your golfer needs you can always get them a gift card to their favorite golf shop so that they can get what they need.

Google's use of IBM and Microsoft Apps dug corner - wholesale pearl-wholesale necklace

Network of the World - December 19 - According to foreign media reports, Google's vice president and general manager of the enterprise sector DaveGirouard recently said that GoogleApps next year's goal is to attract more big customers. Girouard said Google Apps has been as fast as possible to attract the attention of small businesses. The current goal is to win more support from large enterprises. Girouard said: "In fact, we already have a number of large enterprise customers, but our aim is that the GoogleApps Microsoft and IBM to become the application of alternative applications." Past, and large enterprises that "we in the use of SAP products.." But Girouard said that in the next few months, there will be more and more large enterprises said: "We use GoogleApps." In June, Microsoft and IBM executives have acknowledged that Google Apps has been in the enterprise market posed a threat to them. Microsoft Office platform department heads RobCurry said GoogleApps has by virtue of simple, easy-to-use features such as attracting corporate users. Curry said: "In this field, we have Google as a rival." Although IBM is Google's partners. Ali network but IBM also believes that Google will own Lotus Notes, wholesale pearl wholesale necklace applications such as a threat. KenBisconti IBM vice president, said: "Google is the core of our partners, will continue to cooperate on. Google will eventually become our competitors."wholesale pearl wholesale necklacewholesale pearl wholesale necklace
wholesale pearl wholesale necklacewholesale pearl wholesale necklacewholesale pearl wholesale necklacewholesale pearl wholesale necklace

2007年12月17日星期一

How Welding Helmets Protect Your Eyes

Welding helmets are the without a doubt the single most valuable item a welder has to protect himself. Welding helmets have been around for a long time and the technology has steadily improved. They are much more user friendly and offer far more protection. Still, there are a lot of misconceptions about how a welding helmet actually protects the welder from environmental hazards of their job.

Your average layperson commonly believes a welding helmets primary task is to shield your eyes from the bright lights of a welding arc. Almost like a welding helmet is a pair of super sunglasses. This is only partially true. The lens in the helmet primary job is to filter out ultraviolet and infrared light. The lens is designed to filter out 100% of harmful UV and IR rays from your sensitive eyes. Do not confuse this with whether or not the lens is dark or not. An auto darkening lens will protect the welder from ultraviolet light whether the lens is clear or darkened. It is understandable to think the bright light is the problem because it is visible to the naked eye. The bright light is still damaging to the eye, thats why the welding helmet has a darkened lens or has an auto darkening feature.

On auto darkening welding helmets, the lens will darken within 4/10ths of millisecond to filter out visible light. This is faster than your eyes have time to react to the light. Anything slower than 4/10ths of a millisecond and you shouldnt purchase the welding helmet. An auto darkening model protects your eyes 100% of the time from ultraviolet and infrared light whether the lens is clear or darkened and protects you from visible light 4/10ths of millisecond after the arc is lit. This arrangement is far safer than older style welding helmets for the simple reason that you can see when the arc is shut off. After you stop welding the auto darkening lens will become clear. Now you can walk around or see your work area without lifting the helmet. This is very important because another function of the welding helmet is to protect your face and eyes from flying objects. Metal debris and other hazards can still damage your eyes.

Auto darkening welding helmets are definitely the way to go and worth the extra cost. Rest assured the technology will completely protect your eyes from the harmful effects of the welding light. The lens will darken in enough time so your irreplaceable eyes are not damaged. A welder will not sacrifice safety for convenience and actually the auto darkening models are far safer because they allow to keep your face and eyes protected even after the welding arc is extinguished.

2007年12月12日星期三

Player Profile: Phil Laak

Phil Laak was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1972, raised in Wellesley, Massachusetts and now lives in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and has worked in several fields before becoming a skilled poker player. Laak is a former engineer, sports bet broker, market speculator, repo man and real estate investor. He was successful in the field of engineering but did not derive enough satisfaction to do the work on a daily basis. Laak briefly considered becoming a blackjack dealer but did not want to spend the time necessary to learn the game.

Like Gus Hansen, Laak was also a skilled backgammon player where he learned his aggressive style. From backgammon games in New York, he switched to poker and then moved to California where he began playing regularly. As of this writing, he is dating actress Jennifer Tilly who is also a poker player. She won a WSOP bracelet in 2005 in the $1,000 buy-in Ladies No-Limit Holdem Championship.

Laak is a colorful and controversial figure in the game because of his aggressive style of play, his appearance and his antics at the table. His nickname is the Unabomber because he wears a hooded sweatshirt which was given to him by Gus Hansen and sunglasses while playing. He hides his face from other players by closing the drawstring on the hood of the sweatshirt during large hands.

He also states he is metaphysically inclined and does mental exercises at the table which allows him to connect with the other players, stating that this gives him a major advantage during the games.

Based on his antics, some poker fans had this to say about him:

Personally, I find the name Unabomber quite offensive. The name came from a deranged killer sending mail bombs to universities. Considering Ted Kisinski (the real Unabomber) actually killed people by his actions it would be like someone taking on the moniker of The Osama Bin Laden of Poker.

I personally think he wasnt amusing at all. Maybe laughing at him but certainly not with him. He was acting like a 12 year old and playing like one toowhen he starts doing sit-ups and dancing like a dinosaur then it is just tooo much.

Never laughed once. Thought it was shameful and totally disgusting.

Of the comments written by fans on this poker message board, most were against his behavior.

Some of the highlights of Laaks career thus far:

Making the final table of the 2003 Legends of Poker $5,000 Main Event
12th place in the Bellagio Five-Diamond World Poker Classic in Las Vegas
First place in the WPT Invitational in Los Angeles .
Second place in the 2005 WSOP $2,500 Pot Limit Holdem Event.

E! Entertainment hired Laak to host the Hollywood Holdem Television Series and he has also been featured in one of GSNs Poker Royale Series installments called The James Woods Gang vs. The Unabombers. Laak tours the US and Europe playing in big-money tournaments and continues his involvement in the real estate and stock market.

2007年12月11日星期二

“润美漆”“英国华润涂料”“九龙华润涂料“华润新世纪”涉嫌傍名牌“华润涂料”被查处

本报讯 近日,根据国家工商总局对打击“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为专项活动的部署,北京市工商行政管理局,重拳打击涂料市场上的“傍名牌”产品,包括“英国华润”在内的涉嫌侵犯华润涂料“华润漆”商标权的“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为得到查处。 日前,北京大兴区工商分局根据举报,在大兴旧宫建材市场查获涉嫌侵权的“英国华润”涂料53箱。这些涂料涉嫌侵犯广东华润涂料有限公司所拥有的“华润漆”注册商标专用权和“华润漆”外观设计专利权,工商局执法人员依法对这些涉嫌商标侵权的“英国华润”涂料进行暂扣,并立案查处。
  “华润漆”是广东华润涂料有限公司的注册商标,2006年,该商标被司法认定为“中国驰名商标”,同时,“华润漆”产品先后被国家质检总局评为“产品质量国家免检产品”、“中国名牌产品”。记者发现,在大兴区被查获的“英国华润”涂料在外观、包装、名称上都和华润涂料非常相似。致使众多不知情的消费者都误以为这是华润公司旗下的子品牌,这一“傍名牌”的行为严重侵害了广东华润涂料有限公司的合法权益。
  据业内人士介绍,目前我国涂料行业“傍名牌”现象非常普遍,这些“傍名牌”产品的经营者大多采用地下作坊式生产,产品质量无法有效保证,很多是根本不符合国家标准的“不合格品”,甚至是“有毒有害产品”,严重危害了消费者的人身安全。
  在此次专项行动中,海淀区工商分局、房山区分局、大兴区分局在各辖区内的建材市场共查获“英国华润”、“华润新世纪”、“九龙华润”、“润美”、“华润漆王”、“华润第二代”、“华润大赢家”等涉嫌侵权的木器漆共200余组,涂料300多公斤,执法人员对所有被查获的商品依法予以暂扣,目前案件正在进一步处理之中。

2、近日,北京市工商行政管理局根据国家工商总局打击“傍名牌”的要求,对本市涂料行业的“傍名牌”产品进行突击检查,查获各种“傍名牌”的涂料产品200余组,“华润新世纪”等多种涂料品牌因涉嫌“傍名牌”被查处。
在此次专项行动中,房山区工商分局根据举报,在辖区内马各庄建材市场发现了一种广东江门市某涂料厂生产的“华润新世纪”涂料,这种涂料在名称、包装和商标上都与获得“中国驰名商标”的“华润漆”非常相似,工商执法人员依法对这些涉嫌商标侵权的涂料进行暂扣,并立案查处。房山区工商分局经检科的刘科长表示,该涂料产品包装上突出使用了“华润”字样,容易在产品来源上造成与知名商品“华润漆”的混淆,涉嫌侵犯广东华润涂料有限公司所持有的“华润”注册商标专用权。工商执法人员在现场还发现了类似的涉嫌侵权品牌“英国华润”、“华润漆王”等涂料产品近200组,也一并予以查扣。
“华润漆”是广东华润涂料有限公司的注册商标,“华润漆”系列产品先后被国家质检总局评为“国家免检产品”和“中国名牌产品”,去年还被司法认定为“中国驰名商标”。
将行业中的知名商标注册成自己的公司商号,以便混淆公司名称与品牌名,试图使消费者误以为自己的产品与著名品牌有一定关联,从而扩大销路,获取利润,这种现象被业内称为“傍名牌”。近年来,涂料行业的“傍名牌”现象愈演愈烈,有的使用著名企业的名称或其中的部分关键字眼作为自己产品的名称,有的是外包装与名牌产品基本一样,有的是将知名企业的商标作为自己商号在境外登记或抢先注册,令不少消费者无法分辨。作为中国华润涂料市场的领军品牌,“华润漆”成为众多“傍名牌”不法企业的主要目标,仅在北京市场上,诸如“华润新世纪”这样打着“华润”字号的品牌多达十几种,这些质量完全没有保障的产品不仅损害了消费者的利益,而且大大损害了广东华润涂料有限公司的经济利益和企业形象。
记者从北京市工商局处获悉,本次针对涂料行业的专项整治行动将由各区陆续在辖区内开展,并且对侵权行为进行立案审查,如果这些品牌“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为成立,则会受到《反不正当竞争法》、《商标法》、《企业名称登记管理规定》等有关法律条款的严厉惩罚,以保持市场的健康发展。华润涂料 华润涂料 华润涂料 华润涂料
3、近日,北京市工商行政管理局根据国家工商总局打击“傍名牌”的要求,对本市涂料行业的“傍名牌”产品进行突击检查,查获各种“傍名牌”的涂料产品200余组,“华润新世纪”等多种涂料品牌因涉嫌“傍名牌”被查处。 在此次专项行动中,房山区工商分局根据举报,在辖区内马各庄建材市场发现了一种广东江门市某涂料厂生产的“华润新世纪”涂料,这种涂料在名称、包装和商标上都与获得“中国驰名商标”的“华润漆”非常相似,工商执法人员依法对这些涉嫌商标侵权的涂料进行暂扣,并立案查处。房山区工商分局经检科的刘科长表示,该涂料产品包装上突出使用了“华润”字样,容易在产品来源上造成与知名商品“华润漆”的混淆,涉嫌侵犯广东华润涂料有限公司所持有的“华润”注册商标专用权。工商执法人员在现场还发现了类似的涉嫌侵权品牌“英国华润”、“华润漆王”等涂料产品近200组,也一并予以查扣。 “华润漆”是广东华润涂料有限公司的注册商标,“华润漆”系列产品先后被国家质检总局评为“国家免检产品”和“中国名牌产品”,去年还被司法认定为“中国驰名商标”。 将行业中的知名商标注册成自己的公司商号,以便混淆公司名称与品牌名,试图使消费者误以为自己的产品与著名品牌有一定关联,从而扩大销路,获取利润,这种现象被业内称为“傍名牌”。近年来,涂料行业的“傍名牌”现象愈演愈烈,有的使用著名企业的名称或其中的部分关键字眼作为自己产品的名称,有的是外包装与名牌产品基本一样,有的是将知名企业的商标作为自己商号在境外登记或抢先注册,令不少消费者无法分辨。作为中国涂料市场的领军品牌,“华润漆”成为众多“傍名牌”不法企业的主要目标,仅在北京市场上,诸如“华润新世纪”这样打着“华润”字号的品牌多达十几种,这些质量完全没有保障的产品不仅损害了消费者的利益,而且大大损害了广东华润涂料有限公司的经济利益和企业形象。 记者从北京市工商局处获悉,本次针对涂料行业的专项整治行动将由各区陆续在辖区内开展,并且对侵权行为进行立案审查,如果这些品牌“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为成立,则会受到《反不正当竞争法》、《商标法》、《企业名称登记管理规定》等有关法律条款的严厉惩罚,以保持市场的健康发展。

4、本报讯 近日,根据国家工商总局对打击“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为专项活动的部署,北京市工商行政管理局,重拳打击涂料市场上的“傍名牌”产品,包括“英国华润”在内的涉嫌侵犯华润涂料“华润漆”商标权的“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为得到查处。 日前,北京大兴区工商分局根据举报,在大兴旧宫建材市场查获涉嫌侵权的“英国华润”涂料53箱。这些涂料涉嫌侵犯广东华润涂料有限公司所拥有的“华润漆”注册商标专用权和“华润漆”外观设计专利权,工商局执法人员依法对这些涉嫌商标侵权的“英国华润”涂料进行暂扣,并立案查处。  “华润漆”是广东华润涂料有限公司的注册商标,2006年,该商标被司法认定为“中国驰名商标”,同时,“华润漆”产品先后被国家质检总局评为“产品质量国家免检产品”、“中国名牌产品”。记者发现,在大兴区被查获的“英国华润”涂料在外观、包装、名称上都和华润涂料非常相似。致使众多不知情的消费者都误以为这是华润公司旗下的子品牌,这一“傍名牌”的行为严重侵害了广东华润涂料有限公司的合法权益。  据业内人士介绍,目前我国涂料行业“傍名牌”现象非常普遍,这些“傍名牌”产品的经营者大多采用地下作坊式生产,产品质量无法有效保证,很多是根本不符合国家标准的“不合格品”,甚至是“有毒有害产品”,严重危害了消费者的人身安全。  在此次专项行动中,海淀区工商分局、房山区分局、大兴区分局在各辖区内的建材市场共查获“英国华润”、“华润新世纪”、“九龙华润”、“润美”、“华润漆王”、“华润第二代”、“华润大赢家”等涉嫌侵权的木器漆共200余组,涂料300多公斤,执法人员对所有被查获的商品依法予以暂扣,目前案件正在进一步处理之中。

2007年12月9日星期日

Mountain Biking Gear

Every sport has its accessories, and mountian biking is no different. But many of these accessories are designed to save, if not lives, then certainly unnecessary aches and pains.

There's more to mountain biking than just getting a cool bike. Mountain biking can be a dangerous sport - as is any sport where you're heading downhill at speed.

The younger generation has a tendency to think it is invincible, and so will not bother with the common sense safety gear that could save them from unnecessary bumps, bruises, cuts or breaks. Of course, even with all the safety gear, those bumps, bruises, cuts and breaks can happen, but they'll more than likely be less severe.

Bike helmet

The helmet is not really an "accessory," is an essential part of the mountain biker's gear. Every mountain biker is going to fall off his or her bike at one time or another - and the helmet will very likely come in for a beating - much better than the rider's head. Helmets these days are comfortable and come in an array of styles. Make sure you purchase one which fits properly.

Eye protection

Second only to the helmet, eye protection such as goggles are a must. Going downhill at speed, it's easy for your tires to kick up rocks or dirt that, if they get in your eyes, will blind you and cause you to run off the trail and into a tree, as often as not. There's always the chance that mosquitoes, midges, or other no-see-ems will get into your eyes, which is why goggles are better than glasses or sunglasses - although they will serve.

Once you've got the helmet and eye protection out of the way, everything else can safely be classified as "accessories," which would definitely be nice to have but are not mandatory.

Trail repair kit

Of these types of accessories, perhaps the most important is the trail repair kit. You may be able to ride your entire life on the streets of your city without getting a flat tire, but when you're going cross country or down mountains, the chance of getting a flat tire rises exponentially. You don't want to get stuck on the trail - so make sure you have a repair kit underneath your bike seat. And just as important - practice with that repair kit so that you actually know how to use the tools!

Gloves

It is more comfortable to ride any bike with gloves than without them. Mountain bike gloves ar specially designed to withstand the harsh conditions under which they're used, and not only will they save you stress in just gripping the handlebars, but they'll also prevent any nasty scrapes should you take a header.

Hydration system

Nothing ruins the ride more than feeling hungry or thirsty while you're in the middle of it... but thirst probably is more annoying than hunger. Bring a water bottle at the very least. A hydration backpack also fits the bill - all this is is a specially fitted backpack with liquid of your choice in various containers, fitted so that they feel almost weightless.

Shoes

For many types of biking, your average tennis shoe will work just fine. But for mountain biking, shoes made specifically for the sport are pretty nice to have. You want them to be comfortable, durable, and suited to t heir purpose - which is to keep your feet safe and injury free while you ride. They come with stiff soles for better efficiency while pedaling, and you can get them for clip or clipless pedals.

Shorts

Padded shorts are a must for any type of biking! It increases the comfort of the ride no end (along with a gel-filled saddle!)

Bare Essentials Makeup Revealed

Make sure that you cleanse your skin before using bare essentials makeup. It is worthwhile for you to know some of the bare essential information about what can invade your skin. Small infections called pustules which are provoked by staphylococci in the area where the hair protrudes through the skin which is a channel in which fat produced by salacious glands flow. Often these pustules are dilated and they contain impurities such as bacteria, fats, which are visible as black pimples. In the event of a Staphylococcus infection, firstly you will notice a red area around the poly sebaceous follicle and in the middle pustules will be formed.

Pimples

Pimples appear in the case of the acne, a disease which is a consequence of a lack of balance of internal secretion glands, of the gastro-intestinal and hepatic trouble, of the suprarenal insufficiency, of the hypothyroid, or trouble of the neurovegetative system. Because this disease has different causes, you should consult a skin specialist, in order to understand a diagnosis and to follow the right treatment. A great majority of the people who have pimples are tempted to burst them them immediately, without taking hygiene measures, which leads to the infection of the skin and to a breeding of the pimples.

In the case of the treatment recommended by the doctor, the hygiene of the face also has an important role. Don't touch your face with dirty hands. Your face will be washed with warm water and bare essentials soap, twice a day, and in the evening you will wipe it with Bare Essentials Makeup alcoholic, degreasing lotions. In the local treatment you will use special bare essentials powders based on sulphur or zinc oxide. The black pimples must be regularly removed because they provoke pustules.

Freckles are small, round spots which appear especially in spring, when the sun shines more brightly. They are more frequently seen in the case of blond or red-haired people, more rarely in the case of dark-haired ones and their favorite areas are the face, the arms and the neck opening.

About Freckles

To stop the occurrence of freckles, you can use a Bare Essentials Makeup lotion, to wipe the face before going to bed, based on maillot water, Rose water and ammonium chloride. In order to treat the freckles you can use Bare Essentials Makeup oxidant substances which action more slowly, but they don't harm the complexion, and which contain perhidrol, natrium per borates, magnesium peroxide, hydroquinone etc. For dry complexions there are recommended bare essentials creams based on lanolin. These creams must be applied on the clean complexion and they must be kept there during the night too.

In some cases Bare Essentials Makeup stores offer you more active substances like mercury and bismuth salt, which action by deactivating some skin pigments. These will be used under medical control or following the advice of a bare essential cosmetician, because they can produce irritations, therefore their long lasting use may be harmful.

You can also use Bare Essentials Makeup masks based on beer yeast, oxygenated water, egg white, lemon juice, yoghurt, acid uric milk and in general substances which make the face white and clean it. For those who present a predisposition for freckle occurrence, bare essentials cosmetics recommend lotions based on water, vinegar or lemon juice. They can be used in the case of dry complexion, but after a few hours you will apply a bare essentials makeup fat cream. The general rule is that no freckle treatment will be applied around the eyes, as that area will be greased with special bare essentials nourishing creams.

Dealing With Wrinkles

Wrinkles appear because the skin loses in time its suppleness and its normal smooth texture. Firstly you can expect to see vertical and horizontal wrinkles on the forehead, then wrinkles around our eyes. Following that you can expect to see some wrinkles around your mouth, these creases start from the nose and they are extended until the corners of your mouth, then appear little vertical wrinkles above the upper lip and your eyelids get wrinkles too. It sounds terrifying, doesn't it? Wrinkles don't necessarily appear only when we get older. They appear because of other factors: cold, heat, humidity, temperature variations. when we contract the muscles in our face too much they will appear.

Do Moods Affect Wrinkles?

Our moods and state of mind play a big part in the course and occurrence of wrinkles, emotions such as sadness worry and depression can have a detrimental effect on wrinkles. When we are in a good mood, blood flows more quickly and helps to nourish the skin and when we laugh 13 muscles are activated but when we are depressed 60 muscles are activated. Too much sun has a very adverse effect on our skin but if you must spend time in the sun make sure you use the special bare essentials makeup protective lotion which guards against sunburn. We can even protect our eyes by using bare essentials sunglasses, they are equipped with super high quality lenses.

To conclude , if you try Bare Essentials Makeup cosmetic products you won't have pimples , or freckles , or wrinkles , only a shiny , fresh complexion

2007年12月7日星期五

Bass Fishing In The Florida Everglades

Most anglers agree that bass fishing in the Everglades is a unique and captivating experience. Many people visit this unique environment expecting the stereotypical swamplands of old black and white movies; what they find is one of the countrys most extraordinary natural formations. Thousands of kinds of fish, dozens of endangered species and land forms unlike anywhere else in the United States can all be found in the Everglades. These surroundings also provide some of the best largemouth bass waters in the country; however, anyone who spends time bass fishing in the Everglades will discover more than just an angling adventure.

In a park that boasts more than one million acres of natural terrain and two thousand miles of canals along with a whole lot of alligators, the visiting fisher might be wise to take along a professional guide. Enlisting an experienced local for bass fishing in the Everglades can make the trip more enjoyable and productive as well as less tiring. In addition, employing a guide means a visitor to Florida doesnt have to personally purchase a state fishing license; he/she fishes under the auspices of the guides licenses. A licensed guide will soon have a bass fisher just where he/she wants to be: Navigating the channels in search of the lushly vegetated flats where literally hundreds of hungry bass are looking for dinner.

Once on the water, even the novice fisher will find that casting a line generally results in hits not just from trophy size largemouth but from feisty peacock bass as well. Largemouth bass over fifteen inches long and weighing in at more than five pounds are not uncommon in Everglade waters. Anglers who like a good fight will get it from the largemouths smaller but hard scrabble peacock cousin. Although the park strongly encourages catch and release an enthusiastic angler wont go home without a memento of the visit. Remember all a taxidermist needs to provide a conversation piece wall hanging are the dimensions of the fish and a good picture. Do the Everglades a favor, handle that bass with care and dont take more than a fair share.

Also beware of the extreme temperatures which can decrease the pleasure and lower the productivity of any bass fishing in the Everglades. Consider early morning and dusk fishing when the waters are cooler, more oxygenated and livelier. Be sure to dress for success: Light weight shorts, vented shirts, billed caps, polarized sunglasses and lots of sunscreen are de rigueur.

All in all, for the fisher looking for a one of a kind trip, bass fishing in the Everglades may be just the ticket. So, get in touch with a guide, pack up the gear, dont forget the sunglasses and head out today for one of the nations true natural wonderlands: The Florida Everglades.

Let The Right Fishing Sunglasses Land You That Big Catch

A popular sport and a great pastime, fishing is a passion that grows on you with each expedition. People who develop the patience to enjoy the rewards of impressive catches also tend to be fastidious about their gear. Bait, tackle, and dress have limitless variations, and one can gauge the commitment of an angler by the breadth of equipment that he or she collects over time. This applies to fishing sunglasses as much as to any of the other aids in the sport, because having the right pair puts less strain on your eyes while giving you clear vision, allowing you to find the elusive fish under the rippling water.

The best anglers know that gear is only as good as diligent maintenance, and this applies to eyewear in equal measure. Simple precautions ensure long years of faithful service. This is especially important when you opt for polycarbonate plastic lenses in place of glass, to reduce weight and the risks of shatter as well.

Some of the best opportunities are at first light and at dusk. Certain species of aquatic life are particularly active when the waters are quiet and the sun is barely visible on the horizon. Angling in such diffused light calls for special fishing sunglasses. A vivid red tint makes a significant difference from other shades, because you can see objects in better contrast against backgrounds of hazy blue and green. Such a choice also provides adequate protection as the sun rises if you set out early in the morning, or while the sun is still in the sky in the evening.

Now what happens if you are in the habit of rising early and angling at dawn, and you suddenly have a chance to go out to sea with nothing other than basic headgear to protect you from the merciless midday sun? Will you hide in the cabin and forego the opportunity of your life? Fishing sunglasses can resolve your dilemma, because a pair with full polarization and a bright orange tint will have you gazing out on the blue sheets of water without a hint of eyestrain. A wrap around frame is worth more than its weight of gold in such circumstances.

Technical Gear, Inc., has interesting information on how to look after gear to protect your eyes form the harsh glare of the sun with fishing sunglasses. Visit its website at http://www.technical-gear.com to look through a wide choice of spectacles with tinted lenses, which are made of the best materials and designed to meet exacting specifications.

How To Use Promotional Products To Market Your Business And Delight Your Customers

Looking for a low-cost, attention-getting way to promote your business? Do it with promotional products. Sometimes called "advertising specialties," these delightful items include mugs, key rings, caps, t-shirts, playing cards, license-plate frames, flashlights, and more -- all with your company LOGO printed on them.

People just love them, especially if you offer them for free. Often your established customers will even BUY them, sometimes at a price that creates a profit for you.

The variety and kinds of products you can have your name printed on is incredible. As a promotional product specialist, I can -- right now -- deliver more than 700,000 popular promotional items, all with your name on them, ranging from aprons to watches.

The beauty of promotional products is they are a super low-cost billboard that stays with your prospect or customer for years at a time. Every time the prospect uses the promotional placemat, fan, or pen, they'll think of YOU. And everyone else who sees that item will think of you, too.

In recent years, big companies who could easily afford all the newspaper and TV advertising they want, have instead invested millions in promotional products.

Why? They work! Promotional products work especially well to market to those very powerful, but hard to reach individuals like corporate bosses or teenagers. A teenager might turn her nose up at your TV ad and never see your newspaper ad. But if a friend she admires wears or uses your promotional product, you're immediately cool.

The same principle works for corporate chieftains who are impossible to reach on the phone and never answer their email. Fed Ex him or her a luxury item for their home or office, and you will get their attention.

Promotional items are also excellent for reinforcing your media or online advertising. How do you get a prospect to remember your ad for weeks, months, or even years? Give them a promotional product that makes them think of you and your ad.

For added effect, choose promotional items that relate to your business. A gym might giveaway a t-shirt. A tanning salon might hand out sunglasses. Let your creativity and sense of fun be your guide.

Keep in mind that promotional products aren't just for marketing business names. They work equally well when they focus on a specific product, product line, service, or idea. Some of the most successful promotional products have worked to promote political, religious, health, and community causes.

Click through a site or catalog that features a big selection of promotional products. Think about your customers as you browse. When you find yourself thinking "Oh - they would LOVE this"... you've found your best promotional item.

2007年12月5日星期三

Backpacking 101 - Backpacking Tips For Beginners

Backpacking can be a fun and exciting adventure in nature, but surviving in the outdoors with only your gear is a dangerous risk for someone with no backpacking experience. Before even planning your first backpacking trip, become familiar with common terms, the necessary gear and equipment, and outdoor accident response and first aid procedures. Read reputable books and guides to gain a better understanding of backpacking before going out on your own. Outdoor and hiking clubs offer members organized training an outings to gain more experience and a number of government and private agencies hold backpacking and hiking classes to further your knowledge.

Backpacking also requires a great deal of physical strength and endurance. Before starting out on a long backpacking outing, you should train yourself not only for the terrain, distance, and climate, but to bear the weight of your pack on an all day trek as well. Exercise regularly and remember to work your lower back, upper back, and abdomen muscles as well as your legs. You should also be aware of your personal medical condition. Be prepared for any adverse affects you may suffer on your outing or consider an easier trip if your conditions warrant.

Plan your backpacking trip carefully far in advance of the actual date. Decide where you will hike and how many days your trip will last. Get familiar with the climate and terrain of the trail so you can adequately prepare your body and get the necessary gear. Always remember to tell friends and family about your backpacking plans. Leave detailed information of where you will be and how long you will be gone with a loved one so help can be sent in the case of an emergency.

Once you have planned your trip, you can decide on gear and equipment. Weight is the most important factor for backpacking. Consider the altitude and climate of the area you will be traveling in, as well as the forecasted weather for the days you will be backpacking. Choosing a tent and sleeping bag will depend on how you personally sleep, the weather, and the number of people going along.

Besides comfortable hiking shoes or boots, a lightweight, appropriate sized pack, and the lightest sleeping gear that meets your needs, there are a few other essential things you should always remember to pack. Most importantly, you will want a relevant, detailed map of the area you will be backpacking in and a reliable compass that you can read. Consider laminating the map to protect from element damage. Carrying all your supplies in Ziploc bags can keep them dry and help you easily find things at the same time.

You will need a flashlight and/or a headlamp. A small, lightweight flashlight is good to carry with you at all times. Remember to bring along an extra set of batteries for your lights. Pocket knives and tools are important for every trip. The Gerber 600 Pro Scout with toolkit is a great all in one option that saves on space and weight.

Pack fire starters and water and wind resistant matches for extreme conditions and emergencies. Fresh water and purifying tablets are also very important backpacking supplies. Always remember to pack a fully stocked first aid kit and a whistle for emergencies. Other items you will want to carry on every trip are a really good bug repellent, especially in summer or marshy locations, sunscreen and a lip balm with sun protection, and at least one pair of high quality sunglasses.

Remember to pack extra food, at least one extra meal, and extra fuel for your stove if the food requires cooking. The final things you need to always bring along on every backpacking trip, even a day trip, are extra clothes and emergency shelter. Extra clothes should include a wool or fleece sweater, waterproof pants and jacket, thermal underwear, wholesale pearlwholesale necklaceinsulated gloves and socks, and a warm polypro, wool, or polar fleece cap. Space bags and tube tents are good lightweight shelters.

2007年12月3日星期一

Caring For Skin Using Skin Care Cream

Age doesnt make you less of a person. It only does if you are not taking care of your well-being and you start to abandon the realms of healthy living. For those people who are becoming stressed out by visible signs of aging, its never too late to start regaining that youthful look and glow.

Two of the most common complaints of people when it comes to skin is having different kinds skin disorders or having visible signs of premature aging. These are what different beauty products are forto provide solution to peoples common skin problems.

A different kind of cream

It is only natural for people to find ways to maintain and protect their physical beauty. Since not everyone can stay as flawless as babies due to several external factors, more and more products are being uniquely developed depending on the persons skin type and needs.

One of the most popular skin care products available in the market today is the skin care cream. Since creams are known for being easily absorbed by the skin, countless of skin care creamsmostly anti-agingare being sold.

According to dermatologists, there are actually over 300 skin care creams and products created to solve different skin problems. Based on long-term reduction of wrinkles, instant reducing of fine lines, antioxidant protective properties that delay skin cell aging, collagen and skin renewal properties and skin smoothing properties, the most common skin care creams include Rejuvinol, Alpha Derma, Idebenol, Strixderm, Avotone, Strivectin-SD, Rejuvenex, and Hydroderm.

Although these skin care creams are known to contain high-grade chemicals and ingredients, which are uniquely formulated to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, most dermatologists still agree that proper skin care can help people maintain younger looking skin.

Here are some helpful tips in achieving that healthy skin:

1. The most basic thing you should learn in caring for your skin is to develop a good skin care regimen. Make sure that you clean your skin every day by deep cleansing it using safe cleansing products.

2. If you are using beauty products such as skin care creams, make sure that you are consistent in using or applying the product/s properly by following the instructions included.

3. Always keep your skin well hydrated by having enough liquid supply in your body by drinking lots of water or juices. Water or liquid intake should be 8 glasses or more daily.

4. If youre a woman, make facial skin care as your top priority by removing your make-up before sleeping. This would prevent skin pore clogging and congestion. Also, keep your makeup clean by replacing sponges and brushes regularly.

5. Always keep your skin moisturized day and night to keep it from harmful elements, which damage it. Use skin care products that have high vitamin E, shea butter, squalene, and aloe vera contents.

6. Protect your skin everyday by always using sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15. This can prevent premature skin aging, wrinkles, and fine lines. Along with sunscreen, protect your skin by using sunglasses, full-brimmed hats, long sleeved blouses, and slacks.

7. If youre smoking, quit. Giving up nicotine intake can hwholesale pearlwholesale necklaceelp your skin regain its lost nutrients.

8. Reduce excessive intake of caffeinated and alcoholic drinks because they only causes dehydration which only lead to cell death.

2007年11月29日星期四

Tan Safe: Tips For Healthy Tanning

Do you know that many benefits are associated with tanning as well? Well, healthy tan is a must for you and improves your bones, protects your skin from radiations and kills many pathogens inside the body. But to enjoy all these benefits you need to follow certain precautions. By following appropriate care and precaution you will enjoy a perfect tanning session.

Careless tanning has affected people around the globe. And it can affect you too. Many people are reported to have suffered from deadly skin cancer due to excessive as well as unprotected exposure to UV rays. And such reports have given enough room to the myths associated with tanning. Wherein, we should have worked towards spreading tanning do' and don'ts to have a healthy tan. Better late than never. Here is a list of caution for you.

1. First things first, know your skin type first. For, your skin type plays a crucial role in deciding duration of your tanning session.

2. Now before you lie for a tanning session, it is important for you to clean your skin completely from the ingredients of any makeup or perfume or deodorant as these things make your skin more prone to sunburns. Take a shower before a session if possible.

3. Moisturizing your skin with lotions, before and after the tanning session, is also a must. Simply do not rub on completely, allow some visible portion of cream to remain on the skin to increase protection.

4. If you are tanning under the sun, wear hat and sunglasses. Tanning bikinis and nickers are also essential both for sun tanning and sunless tanning. Inside a tanner wear those goggles meant for tanning only.

5. Tanning session should be carried out for 15 to 20 minutes only. This time exposure doesn't allow the UV rays to make extreme penetration. For sun tanning prefer the morning light since it has low harmful radiations.

6. Don't drink water for three or four hours after tanning.

7. Give at least a gap of three days before the next tan. This time is needed for the synthesizing the melanin in your skin.

8. Moisturize more and more from the next day of tanning. It helps to gain the tan faster. Choose SPF and DHA formula lotions or moisturizewholesale pearlwholesale necklacers. They supply the required nutrients to your skin.

9. Consult a doctor immediately if you find something unpleasant like red rashes or spots or irritation of the skin after or during the session.

2007年11月28日星期三

A Journey Through The Grand Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands, made famous for their incredible diving, white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and year round Caribbean sunshine, are made up of 3 different islands. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman; a fuse of Caribbean allure and American efficiency made complete with an inescapable charm from the friendly locals who will welcome you anytime. Although very small, the total landmass of the 3 islands is just 100 square miles, the grand Cayman Islands offers you the best of all worlds.

Cayman Islands weather is almost perfect year round. The winter months, Nov-Apr, the temperature ranges from 72-86 degrees during the day and 64-72 degrees at night. In the summer months, May-Oct, the temperature during the day ranges from 85-90 degrees and 73-85 degrees by night. Also, most people dont realize just how close to the equator that these islands lay and that means that the sun is HOT. The islands are cooled by the prevailing trade winds but dont let this fool you, take the sun in small doses and always wear lots of sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Given the beautiful Cayman Islands weather, do be aware that it does occasionally rain there! You might want an umbrella just in case. The rainy season starts in May and ends in October with the 2 rainiest months being May and October. March and April are usually the driest.

One of the things that you will experience on the Cayman islands, is world class dining. With over 150 places to eat that range from elegant fine dining to budget fast food and take out, there is something for everyone. Traditional Cayman cuisine has a strong Jamaican influence. Traditional dishes feature seafood cooked in a variety of ways, lobster and conch. Local dishes are often served with coconut, plantain, yams, rice and peas, along with other West Indian side dishes. You can also find many other alternative choices that include; Italian, Mexican, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, German and so many others! When it comes to tipping, keep in mind that most hotels add a 5-10% service charge and many restaurants add a 10-15% service charge but some dont. Its best to check your bill to see if the service has been added and feel free to reward those who give what you feel is exceptional service.

Shopping and nightlife; there is certainly no shortage on the Grand Cayman islands! You will find a wide variety of nightlife and entertainment from lively nightclubs, to watching live international and local bands perform, to pool halls, lounges and the theatre. Bars, clubs and dancehalls close at 3am during the weekdays, midnight on Saturdays and there are no nightclubs open on Sundays. When you arrive, you will be able to find local informational magazines, free of charge that will list all the special events and current happenings on the islands. The Cayman Islands enjoy tax free status which also means they have duty free status. You will be able to find items such as fine jewellery, watches, crystal, perfumes and china that can be as much as 30% cheaper there. One of the best places to go shopping is in the capitol of George Town in Grand Cayman, it is home to one of the nicest shopping centers in the Caribbean! The local currency is the Cayman Islands dollar and it is equivalent to $1.25 USD. It is a fixed exchange rate and never changes. American currency is generally accepted, as well as all major credit cards, and the CI dollar.

There are many options for getting around on the Grand Cayman Islands; taxis, public transportation, car rentals to mopeds and scooters. Upon arrival, you will find many taxis that are available from the airport and are readily available from all resorts. You will find fixed rates per vehicle or per person to all points on the island. This information is available from the taxi driver and there is also a sign with current rates posted at the cruise ship dock in George Town. One of the Caribbeans most extensive fleet of modern rental cars are found here in the Caymans. Driving is on the left hand side of the road but you can find many rentals that feature right hand driving. Visitors need to obtain temporary drivers licenses from the rental agency but this is easily done by presenting a valid drivers license from yowholesale pearlwholesale necklaceur country and being over 21, although not all agencies will insure you if you are under 25. Rentals are readily available from Grand Cayman while there are more limited numbers of them on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Car rentals can be booked before arriving on Grand Cayman and it is advisable to do so during the winter months. A public bus terminal is located in downtown George Town and serves as a dispatch point to all the districts, service starts at 6am. There are also several mini buses that are operated by licensed operators that serve 8 routes.

The Cayman Islands have so much to offer and possesses unsurpassed beauty under the sea due to their protected Marine Parks. You can easily see why so many people realize their dreams here and love visiting this tropical paradise.

2007年11月26日星期一

How To Bring Ambience To Your Beach Themed Pool Party

Everyone loves a summer pool party. Barbeque parties and sunny days by the pool or even just the patio or deck can be great fun and go well into the evening. Are you looking for a way to light up your patio for your party or gathering? Decorating experts consider lighting to be a great accessory to any space either indoor or out and there are lots of ways you can light your backyard deck, patio or poolside area. Having a party requires good lighting, especially a back yard party that will likely go well into the night.

Here are a few ideas to make the party unforgettable.

Have a beach themed party and buy some Lifeguard Beach Lamps. These are a great option for lighting your patio for summers night pool parties. If you are looking for a beach theme, these are a hit! If you put beach lamps around your pool, your guests who get that seat will feel special and the yard will be well lit for the festivities. These great beach lamp chairs look like lifeguard chairs and are pretty wooden seaside or muskoka-like chairs with attached lamps that light the place up with ambience and fun.

You can also use solar stringed lamps or even solar rock lights (which are wireless) to light your poolside or patio area along side your beach lamps

Citronella candles or torches will not only light the way for your beach themed party but they will also help keep the biting insects away. No one will enjoy a party if theyre feeling like the main course for the neighborhood insects so make sure you also have insect repellant available for your guests and perhaps a bug light to zap predator insects.

Floating candles on your pool will add a charm and ambience as will oil or patio lanterns that adorn your canopy or umbrella.

If you are having a beach themed party, consider the lifeguard beach lamps with plenty of fun beverages that have umbrellas. Fresh platters of fruit and flowers will give your beach themed party a festive atmosphere. Toss a few beach balls around and have out plenty of sand toys too! If you seat your guests in lifeguard chairs with beach lamps and put floral lei around their neck, they will rave about your party for ages.

Party favors will also help make your guests remember your party. Fun party beverage glasses, a beach ball and a pair of novelty sunglasses will help your guests feel great and have a memento to bring with them.

Play great beach music like the Beach Boys and other music from the beach blanket bingo era
Dont Drink and Drive

Have a place for everyones keys if you are serving alcoholic beverages and be ready to call a taxi for anyone who doesnt have a designated driver to get them home from your beach themed party safely. Even better, make your event a camp-out sleepover twholesale pearlwholesale necklaceo help the fun last until tomorrow where the party can transcend into a brunch or lazy day by the pool.

2007年11月25日星期日

Perfect Tan, Not!

A glossy golden brown tan to set off toned limbs - that's the stuff which the young fashion-conscious dreams are made of. The pursuit of that bronzed, sun-kissed look has led to an influx of sun worshippers in bikinis, board shorts, and bare chests congregating at the beaches. But just how much do they know about the dangers associated with excessive sun exposure?

A lot of youths are adventurous, fun loving and are passionate about sports. This may just cause them to overlook the necessity of proper sun protection. While many outdoor sports like soccer, wakeboarding, windsurfing etc are undoubtedly beneficial to health, the risks of excessive sun exposure to the participants are also very real.

Sun Damage

The sun emits 3 types of ultraviolet (UV) rays: UVA, UVB and UVC. Only UVA and UVB rays reach the earth's surface because UVC is filtered out by the ozone layer.

UVA penetrates deeply into the skin and triggers the production of melanin, which is a pigment in our body that causes skin to tan. UVB primarily affects the skin's outer layer and causes sunburn. UV rays are thought to be responsible for chronic photo-aging (cluster of skin conditions like hyper pigmentation, wrinkles and sagging skin), and skin cancer.

Sunburn is one of the short-term damages of sun exposure. It ranges from redness and pain to redness and swelling, and in some serious cases, blisters can occur.

Frequent sunburns have been associated with increased risks of getting skin cancers. There are 3 common types of skin cancers: squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and malignant melanoma.

Most SCC and BCC cases are caused by chronic exposure to sunlight. These tumors appear most commonly on sun-exposed areas like the face, hands, back, shoulders and lower lip. SCC tumors are irregular and fleshy growths that can enlarge and break down into ulcers.

BCC tumors are often shiny and pigmented, with raised borders. The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) in New York, USA, estimates that some 800,000 and 200,000 Americans suffer from BCC and SCC annually respectively.

Malignant melanoma is cancer of the skin's pigment cells. It may form in pre-existing moles, where pigmentation is heavily concentrated. The tumors are presented as large, thick and colored (red, blue or black) patches that grow rapidly, with irregular outlines. The SCF estimates that about 51,000 new cases of malignant melanoma are reported annually in the USA.

On a less fatal note, exposure to bright light can also trigger migraines and headaches, for up to 24 hours. Melasma is another UV-related skin disorder characterized by symmetrical brown pigmentation patches in UV-exposed areas and affects women 90% of the time.

Block Out the Sun

Much as knowledge of sun exposure dangers is important, knowing how to minimize risks is even more essential. Techniques to minimize damage from sun rays can be divided into those to do with behavior and those to do with fabrics.

Behavior wise, sun-lovers can refrain from carrying out high-risk activities between 10am and 4pm, when the sun's rays are the strongest. On a general note, try to keep in the shade while going about normal activities.

Fabrics that are sun-protective have tight weaves and are dark-colored. To test for a tight weave, hold the garment about 7 inches from your eyes towards a light source. If visible light can penetrate holes between the threads, so can UV rays. Dark colors absorb harmful UV rays better than light-colored clothes and hence protect the skin better.

To protect the face, sunscreen is essential, preferably one with at least Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 20. Reliable brands include Sunkiller, La Roche-Posay and Coppertone. If sun exposure time is expected to be long, then a sunscreen of higher SPF of 45 or 60 is recommended. One often-neglected directive is to reapply sunscreen frequently throughout the day, as sweat or friction may have washed it away. For the eyes, sunglasses with UV-protective coating are advised.

Alternative Tones

Fashion-conscious youths who covet a tan but are afraid of increasing their skin cancer risks have started to frequent tanning salons. Twholesale pearlwholesale necklacehis misguided attempt only reduces the incidence of sunburn and not skin cancer, warns Dr Wong, an associate consultant dermatologist with the National Skin Centre of Singapore.

"In fact, by going to tanning salons, you are exposed to unnecessary excessive UVA, which may increase your risk of getting skin cancer as it is primarily UVA-mediated."

One relatively harmless alternative to sun tanning is to use self-tanning lotions. These contain dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which reacts with proteins in dead skin cells on the skin surface to result in brown pigmentation, which becomes the tan. While self-tanning lotions, like other topical products, have been known to cause skin irritation, no adverse long-term effects have been recorded.

As we welcome the warm, sunny weather, do keep in mind the relevant risks and precautions. Being cautious when young may just save you lots of heartache and pain in later years.

Fly Fishing for Dummies

Clueless about fly fishing?
Me too!
I have been really curious about this sport for some time now. I’ve seen it done countless of times.

Tried it.

Failed.

People have endlessly and tirelessly, with their utmost patience and understanding tried to rub off some fly fishing skills on me - but to no avail.

I have resorted to reading, for now. I decided that whatever I can’t do, I might as well LEARN - even just in theory. It helps. I think of my self right now as “A work in progress”.

Let’s all learn the basics. DEFINITION OF TERMS!
A brief definition about some terms I need to know about fly fishing.

What is Fly Fishing?
Fly fishing is an ancient and distinct angling method, developed primarily for salmonids (trout and salmon, mostly) and now extended to other species such as pike, bass, and carp, as well as a wide range of salt water species.

Fly casting is gripping or holding a fly rod correctly and to adopt the correct stance to maintain comfort and balance. The most basic rule to casting is based on the way a clock looks. Your head points straight up to 12:00, your cast (the tip of your rod) should go back to 10:00 and then forward to 2:00, releasing your line at the end of the forward motion. It is a common mistake to dip the rod below those two positions and almost always ends in a line tangle!

Angler. (Does that have anything to do with Math? I hate Math!)
That would be YOU silly! Someday, IF you learn how to fly fish, you will be called an angler. A person catching fish or shellfish with no intent to sell, this includes people keeping the catch or people that practice the “Catch and Release” method (highly recommended).

The Essentials – If you don’t have a complete list of these, you’re NOT Fly Fishing!

Fly Fishing rods are long, thin, flexible rods sometimes made of bamboo, but more recently from man-made materials. Fly rods tend to have large diameter eyes (or guides) spaced along the rod to help control the movement of relatively thick fly line. To aid in the freedom of movement required to skillfully cast with a fly rod, there is usually little to no butt (handle) extending below the fishing reel. Although fly rods are mainly used for casting from fixed positions, they can also be used for trolling for fish.

Fishing Reel is a device used for the deployment and retrieval of fishing line using a spool mounted on an axle. They are used in conjunction with the fly rod and are attached to the base or handle of the rod.

Fishing line is any cord made for fishing. Important parameters of a fishing line are its length, material, and weight (thicker, sturdier lines are more visible to fish). The refractive index is also important—lines with a refractive index similar to water are almost invisible to fish. The most important parameter in deciding what line to use is its strength. This is the amount of weight the line can hold before snapping. One must balance the trade-off between strength and visibility.

Flies as Bait? Are you kidding?
Flies or Artificial flies are constructed — "tied" onto a hook with thread, fur, feathers and other materials — in sizes and colors to match naturally occurring food or simply to excite a fish. And to add more confusion, the names of flies: Wet and dry flies, nymphs, scuds, eggs, streamers, steelheads, bass flies, salmon flies,and saltwater flies.

You will be considered a well equipped fly fisher if you bring waders, wading boots, vest net, polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes and see throuwholesale pearlwholesale necklacegh the reflection on the water, a hat for the harsh sun, sun block and bug dope (bug repellant) – if you don’t want to be eaten alive by bugs before you even catch a fish!

Armed with the stuff I read, I went about to experience Fly Fishing without even going near a body of water.

Wondering how?

A site that sells fly fishing products – with pretty pictures too! – Riverbum.com

2007年11月23日星期五

Why Wear Sunglasses

Sunglasses offer protection from the suns damaging ultraviolet rays and thats one offer you definitely want to accept. The eyes are the windows to the world, and these complex yet delicate body parts need all the protection they can get. You cant see them, but damaging ultraviolet rays are always present, even when the sun isnt shining. Sunglasses that block these rays can help keep the eyes healthy.

Who should wear sunglasses? Anyone who wants to limit the eyes exposure to this type of damage. Its true that clouds block most ultraviolet rays from reaching the ground, so its not as important to wear eye protection when the suns not shining. But when it is, better get into the habit.

Age shouldnt be a factor either, meaning that childrens eyes are just as susceptible to these hidden dangers. And when you consider that they generally spend more of their time outdoors, eye protection for children is an absolute must.

How much is enough? The sunglasses you choose should have lenses that block at least 99% of the ultraviolet light. Therell be a sticker on the lens or a tag attached to the frame that advises how much UV protection each pair provide so be sure to read it. If youd dont see a sticker or tag, select another pair.

And if youre worried about being fashionable, find something else to worry about. With literally thousands of styles of sunglasses to choose from, youre sure to be something suitable for everyone in the family. Wire frames or plastic, rectangular-shaped lenses or heart-shaped, with or without monograms, rhinestones, or other notable logo, the choices are endless.

And because its so important to keep ultraviolet rays away from eyes, even those who wear eyeglasses have options. Prescription sunglasses are available through an optician in a wide range of prices and styles.

Next time you think its no big deal, remember that over time, excessive exposure to UV rays can lead to the onset of eye conditions including retina damagewholesale pearlwholesale necklace and even cataracts. So do your eyes a favor eat your carrots and be sure to carry your sunglasses with you at all times!

2007年11月21日星期三

Tips For Submitting Great Photos To Baby Contests

With so many proud parents in the world, no wonder baby photo contests are so popular. Of course there is usually only one winner and we all want our little darling to be it. Here are a few tips on how to submit photos to be judged for baby photo contests. Here is what the judges are looking for.

Can the judges see the babys face? If not, then how can they judge your baby or toddlers appearance? If you have taken your cutie to a picture studio, chances are they have several shots of your child looking at a prop of some sort. These are no doubt cute pictures, but opt for the shot of your child looking at the camera. Close up facial shots are eye catching. Your baby is indeed a cutie, let the judges see that.

If you are a 1st time parent, you have probably taken too many photos to keep track of. Sorting through your tons of pictures can be a breeze if you follow this next suggestion. If it has a lot of background, move on. Family vacation photos with your little standing next to 10 cartoon characters wont work. All the background distracts the eye away from the main subject- your little one. Pictures with background are ok, as long as the main focus is your child. For example, a child swimming in a pool would be good as long as the child takes up more picture than the pool water. The pool water is all one color and your childs bright face and bathing suit colors are sure to bring the eye right to your darling.

Focusing on the baby is really important. While keeping background to a minimal is important, so is making your child the main subject. For parents with more than one child, I am sure to have tons of family shots. Keep these photos in the family scrapbooks and photo albums. Of course you can tell your children apart, but that may not be such an easy task for judges. If your children look alike that can be very difficult. Make judging as easy as possible by keeping pictures simple. Playing the guessing game will only frustrate judges. It doesnt get any easier than one person in the photo to be judged. Of course this rule doesnt apply to multiples or Mommy or Daddy and me photos.

I already know you have a dozen shots with your baby wearing huge sunglasses, daddys baseball hat, mommys jewelry, or a Halloween mask. Photos with props truly are cute, but they are not always suitable for baby photo contests. Props that hide your babys face make it hard for judges to see the true beauty of your baby. The key is to enhance, not hide their cute faces. For instance, wearing daddys hat is ok as long as its to the side or back where we can see the babys face. Halloween costumes with face covering masks or that require facial makeup, is not helping your toddler win.
Other Tips Include:

Send clear photos. Photos that are dark are pretty useless. You are not giving yourself a fair judging chance.

Red Eyes do not make appealing photos. Many online picture software can help fix that problem.

Pictures taken from far away distance, can't help judgwholesale pearlwholesale necklacees see the child's face.

Size matters. Judges prefer pictures larger than a wallet up to size 5x7 (3x5, 4x6, 5x7 and anything in between).

2007年11月19日星期一

Enzo Ferrari - His Story

Born in Emilia-Romagna, and raised in Modena, Italy, Enzo Ferrari grew up with little formal education but a strong desire to race cars. During World War I he was a mule-skinner in the Italian Army. His grandfather, Alfredo, died in 1916 as a result of a widespread Italian flu outbreak. Enzo became sick himself and was consequently discharged from Italian service. Upon returning home he found that the family firm had collapsed. Having no other job prospects he sought unsuccessfully to find work at Fiat and eventually settled for a job at a smaller car company called CMN redesigning used truck bodies into small, passenger cars. He took up racing in 1919 on the CMN team, but had little initial success.

He left CMN in 1920 to work at Alfa Romeo and racing their cars in local races he had more success. In 1923, racing in Ravenna, he awholesale pearlwholesale necklacecquired the Prancing Horse badge which decorated the fuselage of Francesco Baracca's (Italy's leading ace of WWI) SPAD fighter, given from his mother, taken from the wreckage of the plane after his mysterious death. This icon would have to wait until 1932 to be plastered on a racing car. In 1924 he won the Coppa Acerbo at Pescara. His successes in local races encouraged Alfa to offer him a chance of much more prestigious competition and he was lauded by Mussolini. Ferrari turned this opportunity down and in something of a funk he did not race again until 1927 and even then his racing career was mostly over. He continued to work directly for Alfa Romeo until 1929 before starting Scuderia Ferrari as the racing team for Alfa.

Ferrari managed the development of the factory Alfa cars, and built up a team of over forty drivers, including Giuseppe Campari and Tazio Nuvolari. Ferrari himself continued racing until the birth of his first son in 1932 (Alfredo Ferrari, known as Dino, who died in 1956).

The support of Alfa Romeo lasted until 1933 when financial constraints made Alfa withdraw. Only at the intervention of Pirelli did Ferrari receive any cars at all. Despite the quality of the Scuderia drivers the company won few victories (1935 in Germany by Nuvolari was a notable exception). Auto Union and Mercedes dominated the era.

In 1937 Alfa took control of its racing efforts again, reducing Ferrari to Director of Sports under Alfa's engineering director. Ferrari soon left, but a contract clause restricted him from racing or designing for four years.

He set up Auto-Avio Costruzioni, a company supplying parts to other racing teams. But in the Mille Miglia of 1940 the company manufactured two cars to compete, driven by Alberto Ascari and Lotario Rangoni. During World War II his firm was involved in war production and following bombing relocated from Modena to Maranello. It was not until after World War II that Ferrari sought to shed his fascist reputation and make cars bearing his name, founding today's Ferrari S.p. A. in 1945.

The first open-wheeled race was in Turin in 1948 and the first victory came later in the year in Lago di Garda. Ferrari participated in the Formula 1 World Championship since its introduction in 1950 but the first victory was not until the British Grand Prix of 1951. The first championship came in 1952-53, when the Formula One season was raced with Formula Two cars. The company also sold production sports cars in order to finance the racing endeavours not only in Grand Prix but also in events such as the Mille Miglia and Le Mans. Indeed many of the firm's greatest victories came at Le Mans (14 victories, including six in a row 1960-65) rather than in Grand Prix, certainly the company was more involved there than in Formula One during the 1950s and 1960s despite the successes of Juan-Manuel Fangio (1956), Mike Hawthorn (1958), Phil Hill (1961) and John Surtees (1964).

In the 1960s the problems of reduced demand and inadequate financing forced Ferrari to allow Fiat to take a stake in the company. Ford had tried to buy the firm in 1963 for US$18 million but had been rejected. The company became joint-stock and Fiat took a small share in 1965 and then in 1969 they increased their holding to 50% of the company. (In 1988 Fiat's holding was increased to 90%).

Ferrari remained managing director until 1971. Despite stepping down he remained an influence over the firm until his death. The input of Fiat took some time to have effect. It was not until 1975 with Niki Lauda that the firm won any championships the skill of the driver and the ability of the engine overcoming the deficiencies of the chassis and aerodynamics. But after those successes and the promise of Jody Scheckter title in 1979, the company's Formula One championship hopes fell into the doldrums. 1982 opened with a strong car, the 126C2, world-class drivers, and promising results in the early races.

However, Gilles Villeneuve was killed in the 126C2 in May, and teammate Didier Pironi had his career cut short in a violent end over end flip on the misty backstraight at Hockenheim in August. Pironi was leading the driver's championship at the time; he would lose the lead as he sat out the remaining races. The team would not see championship glory again during Ferrari's lifetime.

Enzo Ferrari died in Modena in 1988 at the age of 90 at the beginning of the dominance of the McLaren Honda combination. The only race which McLaren did not win in 1988 was the Italian Grand Prix - this was held just weeks after Enzo's death, and, fittingly, the result was a 1-2 finish for Ferrari, with Gerhard Berger leading home Michele Alboreto. After Enzo's death, thee Scuderia Ferrari team has had further success, notably with Michael Schumacher from 1996-2005.

Made a Cavaliere del Lavoro in 1952, to add to his honours of Cavaliere and Commendatore in the 1920s, Enzo also received a number of honorary degrees, the Hammarskjld Prize in 1962, the Columbus Prize in 1965, and the De Gasperi Award in 1987. In 1994, he was posthumously inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Enzo famously used purple ink in his fountain pen, although the reason for this remains unclear.

After the death of his son, Alfredo "Dino" Ferrari, Enzo wore sunglasses just about every day to honor his son.

2007年11月18日星期日

Red Sox Greats

The history of baseball changed with the added excellence of Carlton Fisk,
Wade Boggs, Cy Young, Luis Aparicio, Dennis Eckersley, Roger Clemens,
Fred Lynn, Nomar Garciaparra, and Pedro Martinez. Even a die-hard Yankees
fan like me must admit the extraordinary accomplishments of some of the
finest players to have ever dug their cleats into Fenway Parks turf. Lets take a
closer look into the historical realm of the greatest players to wear the official
jersey of blood, sweat, and tears. It is necessary to pay homage to one of the
best teams in American baseball.

First up is not only quite possibly the best hitter in baseball history, but also a
remarkable U.S. Marine and fisherman, is Ted Williams, left fielder. This
retired number 9 jersey wearing power hitter was nicknamed "The Splendid
Splinter," "The Kid," "Teddy Ballgame" and "The Thumper." Since 1930, no
one could hit .400 until 1941 when Williams first did. Now, no slugger yet has
been able to hit over .400 again since Williams. Missing four seasons due to
his U.S. Marine commitment, Williams batting average probably would have
been even higher. The 521 home run hitter wrote six books about fishing and
baseball, one named, The Science of Hitting; appropriately titled since
Williams believed in practicing the art of batting.

Playing for the Red Sox from 1939 to 1942 and 1946 to 1960, this 1966 Hall of
Fame Inductee (also featured in the Fishing Hall of Fame) won Most Valuable
Player (MVP) twice. Williams artifacts in the National Baseball Hall of Fame
include a ball hit by him for his 500th career homer on June 17, 1960, a ball
signed by him and Dom DiMaggio, and his sunglasses.

With much respect to his passing in 2002 at 83 years old, both Boston and
San Diego (his home town) named a tunnel and a freeway after Williams, The
Ted William Tunnel and Ted Williams Parkway, respectively.

The legend "Teddy Ballgame" will always be honored and remembered by his
fans and will continue to remind us of the fun spirit in the ballgame itself.

Games, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, total bases, RBIs and extra base hits:
close behind Williams who succeeded him in left-field is Carl Yastrzemski,
who was the leader for all. Yastrzemski is the only player to have played with
one team for so long - wearing a now retired straight #8 jersey all the way
through 23 years with the Red Sox (from 1961 to 1983).

Yastrzemski won seven Gold Glove Awards, "Yaz" found honorable presence
in the 1989 Hall of Fame. Yastrzemskis artifacts in the National Baseball Hall
of Fame include his Gold Glove Award in 1971, his Triple Crown trophy 1967,
and his Silver Bat for winning the American League batting title in 1963. As if
all this wasnt enough, he was an 18-time All-Star, too.

Still devoted to the Red Sox today, Yaz is still much involved as a roving
instructor.

Important to mention third is catcher, Carlton Fisk, catching more games
(2,226) than anyone in history. Nicknamed "Pudge," his number 27 jersey is
also retired. A 24-year baseball player overall, Fisk played for the Red Sox in
1969 and from 1971 to 1980 then later the Chicago White Sox as number 72,
also retired. Not only an outstanding catcher, during Fisks rookie season of
1972, he was the first American League catcher to lead the league in triples
when he hit nine of them. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of
Fame in 2000 and chose to be represented by the Red Sox even though he
played more with the White Sox.

Upon Fisks amazing career, there have been two dedications made to him in
his honor. The first was the fourth foul pole at Fenway Park named the "Fisk
Pole" where he landed his 12th-inning home run that won the 1965 World
Series in Game 6 - one of the most memorable games in Major League
history. The second was the life-size bronze statue of himself inside the U.S.
Cellular Field in Chicago.

Up fourth is superstitiously successful, Wade Boggs, third baseman and
twelve-time All Star. His excellence finally earned him into the Hall of Fame in
2005 since playing for the Red Sox from 1982 to 1992. From 1983 to 1989
Boggs scored at least 100 runs every season, just one of his any masterful
hitting feats.

Fifth, but not forgotten is Cy Young, whose real name was Denton True Young.
Cy was short for "Cyclone" because his fastball was faster than fast, evident by
the destruction of nearby barns and fences as he practiced pitching. Young
was a 1937 Hall of Famer for pitching with the Red Sox from 1901 to 1908. His
artifact in the National Baseball Hall of Fame features his pipe and case. The
annual award given to the best pitcher in each Major League was honorably
named after him - the Cy Young Award.

Luis Aparicio, Venezuelan shortstop, follows. Nicknamed "Little Looey," he
played only a short time for the Red Sox from 1971 to 1973 and was later a
1984 Hall of Fame Inductee for nine Gold Glove Awards leading the American
League in nine seasons with stolen bases. Aparicio was also a 10-time All-
Star. Holding the shortstops career record, Aparicio retired in 1973 with the
most games played, double plays and assists.

Pitcher, Dennis Eckersley, AKA "Eck" was inducted into the 2004 Hall of Fame
six years after he played on and off for the Red Sox, from 1978 to 1984 and
1998. He had a 20 win season and a 50 save season in his career, thus
becoming the first pitcher in Major League history to have both.

Although not National Baseball Hall of Famers - and last but not least - include
Roger Clemens, Fred Lynn, Normar Garciaparra, and Pedro Martnez also
have made a lasting impression in Red Sox history.

Pitcher, Roger Clemens, nicknamed "The Rocket," played for the
Red Sox from 1984 to 1996. He is only one of two pitchers that
have thrown 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning Major League game.
Now playing for the Houston Astros, does the Red Sox want him
back? Of course, but he might not want to give up his relationship
with the Astros, winning seven Cy Young Awards. A Hall of Fame
position may be just around the pitchers plate for Clemens.

Fred Lynn, center fielder, played for the Red Sox from 1974 to 1980. This nine-
time All Star was the first player to have won both the MVP and Rookie of the
Year awards in the same season in 1975. With notable mention, although not
as prestigious as the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Lynn was inducted into
the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2002.

The popular shortstop, Nomar Garciaparra, played for the Red Sox from 1994-
2004. He was talented enough to put a stop to John Valentins position as
short in 1994. In his rookie year alone he had 30 home runs, batted in 98 runs,
led the league in hits, and was second in extra-base hits.

An early career speed of 95 miles per hour led Pedro Martnez, to win
three Cy Young awards. Although his speed has since then slowed
down he is still a pitcher with a myriad of professional and
dominating techniques. Originally from the Dominican Republic,
Martnez played for the Red Sox from 1998 to 2004 and is only one
of ten Red Sox pitchers that have had 100 or more wins.
wholesale pearlwholesale necklace
There you have it - eleven reasons to celebrate the success of
Bostons best baseball heroes known as the all-time Red Sox Greats. Even if
not everyone may be a Red Sox fan, theres no denying it; we all bleed red.