Celtic Rosary is a Symbol of Peace, Comfort and Strength

There are right away a lot of individuals who prefer to own a Celtic rosary, even if they are not Irish. This is because most, if not all, of these spiritual details are affected with intense handle and the stuffs applied in building them are undertaken to last a lifetime. As such, a Celtic rosary is not only something that can be used for praying but it has besides got an detail of value for the individual who owns it.

Varying Celtic Rosaries

Celtic or Irish rosaries hail in peculiar characters and designs. The most familiar of these are the penal, the baptismal, the birthstone, the first communion, and the average full-length rosaries. The penal Irish rosary is just a decade long and initiated during the unlawful period in Ireland when praying was prohibited. It was applied alternatively of the full-length rosary therefore as to ward off being discovered. The full-length Irish rosary, only like the baptismal, first communion, and birthstone rosary, is five decades long. The birthstone rosaries are named as such because they are worked using birthstones for the beads or as inlays in the intent.

The main thing about these Irish rosaries is that most of them are handcrafted and superb concern has been done to fix the stuffs utilised in producing them. Among the standard stuffs applied in gaining a Celtic rosary are semi-Sacred stones, crystals, sterling silver, Connemara marble, and ceramic. And So if you own a Celtic rosary, you already carry in your reaches a prize that you would wish to retain everlastingly.

How to Look for Valuable Celtic Rosaries

Although most Celtic rosaries are quite a Admired in their own ways, you can actually see for ones that are more Favorite than most if that is your taste. One affair that you should see out for in buying an Irish rosary is the specification that it was handcrafted. While most Irish rosaries are made of ceramic beads, there are those that are attained of Connemara marble, which are trusted to be more Sacred. Yet, there are besides ceramic bead rosaries that possess a shamrock inscribed exquisitely in all and every one of the beads.

There are as well more overpriced Irish rosaries that get beads affected of mother of pearls and other semi-Sacred stones. You can own one that is established with your possess birthstone. If you need a smaller Celtic rosary or else of the entire one, you can too either acquire the penal rosary or the rosary bracelet, which you can really assume around your wrist. You besides have to think that not whole Irish rosaries fare with a Celtic cross, so if you truly wish a Celtic rosary, you should move for those with Celtic crosses that feature the knot-work plan.

Where to get Them

It is really easy to receive Irish rosaries nowadays because they are not just dealt in religious stores but as well on the Internet. There are straightaway a number of sites that provide these rosaries for costs that can encounter anyone’s budget. Whether you are a discreet gatherer of these rosaries or you are counting to purchase one to render as a gift, the Internet is a prize hove for you.

Travel To Irish Indeed! and you will be able detect a number of gratifying Irish rosaries that could encounter your tastes. You can equate a certain Celtic rosary with different one with a diverse cost mark or conception.

Source by Jem Jamey

Vokul® Agility Training Marker Cones（12 Pcs） for Football Soccer Training, 2-inch

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Get the Stylish Two Toned Texting Glove

The gloves are the safety instrument while traveling specially for ladies. These are cherished to be worn while riding motorcycle as a prophylactic rule. But the women are also bothered about their poised aspect.

Therefore, gloves besides have developed a variety of designer gloves existing in the market as cashmere gloves, garden gloves, and leather gloves, fingerless gloves, lace gloves, golf gloves, and opera gloves. A whopping mixed bag of leather gloves takes on 16 button kid leather gloves; 16 button lace fingerless, Leather zipper gloves; long rose garden gloves; Molla spring leather gloves, Ring love Knot gloves and Sermoneta ladies Fringe Gloves.

The essential possesses of these gloves are as follows:

16 button kid leather gloves: the white color kid leather gloves are very dependable to don. It is notwithstanding a groom affair gloves which suit the garment one is enduring. They functions dual purposes like party donning and safety intents as well.

16 button lace fingerless: These searching lace gloves with lovely conception are the adored ones worn by the ladies. These are specially produced to be donned with jeans and t-shirts so that they renders the climate of dancing and also renders safety while driving as well. It can be complimented if some one is moving to Opera or any Awarding ceremonial occasion. One will simply go dancing all the time. This is cause they are as well called voguish styled gloves.

Leather zipper gloves: these are the stylish gloves amongst women. The zipper has formed them very modern and swank reckoning. The women seem prepared for an executing all the time after donning these gloves. The double zip fastener facility, black color and the silk lining gains them more drawn to be donned. They are celebrated as a merriment glove.

Long rose garden gloves: they are besides renowned as horse riding gloves. They are powerful enough and protect the rider from animal scrubs. These can be endured while driving the motorcycle as well to avert the accident scrubs many a times. They are existing in variant colors and seem spruce on the hands.

Molla spring leather gloves: these comfortable leather gloves produced in Italy have a special spring like gather which can be tied above the wrist upto 6 inches. They aspect truly stylish and too protect wrist from accident scrapes and other scathes. These are by and large in demand amongst women.

Ring love Knot gloves: they are characteristics as smooth leather gloves specially induced for ladies with a unparalleled gentle leather. The special tangle at the cuff creates it more galore adorable to be assumed by the maximum count of girls.

Sermoneta ladies Periphery Gloves: these are the ladies leather gloves with Fringe. The leather border landing at the wrist aspects overly composed on enduring by the girls. They are worn with jeans and jacket and the black wool coat which will impart playfulness to it. There are getable in galore colors, such as light blue, black and delicate pink forming it adorable to be worn.

These leather gloves invariably look composed and spruce clearing two problems simultaneously like: they do not count terrible; and secondly they furnish extended prophylactic as likened to other motorcycle gloves.

Source by Shelly Resta

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Baby Boy Shower Ideas and Decorations

Deciding on Baby Boy Shower Decorations can seem a little difficult at first. So many ideas to choose from. Are you going to have a theme? Which theme? Winnie the pooh, disney, bears,or maybe you have no idea what so ever. But with a little bit of thought and some planning you will throw the perfect baby shower.

Is dad into golf? If so, you can decorate the party with some golfing banners. You can go to a party supply store, or search the internet, and find a table cloth, cups, and napkins that have golf clubs and balls on them.

Ask mom if the baby’s room is going to have a theme to it. Noah’s Ark, ducks, disney charactors? Finding cups and plates with ducks on them is not difficult. Or you could just go with something as simply as “It’s a boy” theme and have lots of blue balloons and ribbons.

Teddy Bears are versitile and not just for girls. In fact bears are a very popular decoration. It could be Winne the Pooh, or just bears in general. You can find many cups, plates, napkins, and banners with bears on them.

Once you have made your decision on the decorations, Try to keep everything else with the same theme. A uniformed shower will make a party the quest will remember. If you decided on the ducks, get the invitations, favors, baby cake, etc. with ducks on them. Once the quest know how the party is themed it will be easy for them to decide on a gift to bring.

Try to stick with some kind of theme it will make the rest of your decorating ideas that much easier. It does not take much and it is very inexpensive to decorate for the party. A little imagination and some thought and you are on your way to a beautifully decorated party.

Source by Joe Grabowski

Breast Development Process in a Girl

Breasts grow sporadically at different times in the life of a woman. At some times the growth is rapid, while at other times the growth is so slow that it cannot be observed. However, breasts do keep growing right from the fetal stage till a much later stage in the life of the woman.

In order to better understand the process of breast development, scientists have divided the entire stage of development into five stages. The development journeys from the newborn infant stage until adulthood. The development explained is not just in the size of the breasts; but also in their functionality and shape.

The initial stage of development begins at infancy itself. During this stage the breasts are flat and there is no major distinction between the breasts of male and female infants. But on minute observation, there is a thin milk line on the breasts below the nipples. There could even be a little discharge from this line for a few days after birth. This is the only indication before puberty that the breasts will become functional later on in life. As the woman advances in years, it is this milk line which will develop into full-grown breasts.

The milk line is actually an external termination point of the milk ducts that lie beneath it. The milk line could be present in both male and female babies at birth. But in males, this milk line disappears later, whereas in females due to the presence of the female secondary sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone, the milk line continues to develop. In some men, the milk line may not disappear at birth due to hormonal imbalances. This is what causes the condition of men having breasts, known medically as gynecomastia.

In the period between infancy and puberty, the female breasts show very little development. They are visible only as mounds of flesh around the nipples. This is actually undeveloped breast tissue. When puberty sets in, the tissues begin their development. This is seen as protuberances around nipples. The areolas and nipples appear raised. Milk ducts also begin to develop at this stage, but they will remain nonfunctional until the first pregnancy occurs.

Puberty occurs at different ages in different women. It could be as early as 8 years, or could be delayed in some women up to the age of 13 years. All through puberty the breasts increase in size and can be made out from the outside. However, the contours and the shapeliness of the adult breasts will not be present at this stage.

The fourth major changes occur just when the woman is stepping out of her puberty and entering into adulthood. This could happen in the late teens and they are also called as the post-pubertal changes. During this period, the breasts gain in their firmness and the nipples and the areolas become more pronounced. This indicates that the woman’s breasts have become ready for sexual intercourse and pregnancy.

But the final changes will be the ones that occur all through the first pregnancy and during lactation when the child is born. During the pregnancy due to hormonal triggers, the breasts will become larger in proportion with the increasing tummy. In the later days of the pregnancy, the milk glands will become fully developed and some milk may also start oozing out of the nipples when a few days are left for the baby to come. When the baby is born, the suckling produces definitive changes on the nipples and the areolas which last a lifetime.

It can be said that women who do not become pregnant will never have fully-developed breasts. Hence, pregnancy and lactation could be very important factors for the full development of breasts.

Natural breast development occurs due to hormonal changes that take place in the body at every stage in their lives. But some women try to enhance the shapes of their breasts by several methods. Herbal supplements are much in vogue today. Today, there are many herbs being used such as a kawa kawa, ginkgo biloba, ashwagandha, pueriria mirifica, saw palmetto, fennel, etc. which can produce changes in the anatomy of the body. These could increase the hormonal concentrations of estrogen and progesterone, which could increase the size of the breasts. Massage and exercises of the chest are also known to bring about some development of the breasts. The simple circular massage technique is being used by women today in order to improve the circulation of the blood and improve their shapes.

Even the simple practice of wearing a good bra is important in determining what the final breast shape will turn out to be. But it is important to first determine what size of bra would be best for the woman. Too tight bras could stifle the breasts, while loose ones would give them a sagging shape.

But, just as all organs of the body are susceptible to age, breasts are too. Hence, when the woman reaches her old age, several changes take place in the breasts which are indicative of the breasts becoming aged with the woman. Breasts would lose all their functionality and sag. At this stage, the sexual feeling of the breasts is also lost to some extent or the other.

Read more about Breast Development and other breast care issues at http://ift.tt/15US4rh

Source by Dr.Anna Hardy

Top 5 Adjustable Basketball Goal Designs

When choosing an adjustable basketball goal there are several options available when it comes to the adjustment “method” for moving the basket up and down.  Below you will find a synopsis of the five most popular adjustment styles and the benefits of each.

STICK ADJUST – The first and most basic adjustment method is often referred to as the “stick adjust.”  This is a basketball goal that is moved up and down by using a broom handle, dowel  rod or other type of stick.  To move the goal down, a broom handle is inserted into the adjustment latch located directly behind the backboard.  When the latch is released, the weight of the backboard and goal is transferred to the stick and the basket is lowered to its lowest height, generally 7 1/2′.  The goal can be adjusted to other rim heights by using the same stick to push up on the bottom of the backboard.  The backboard can be adjusted in six inch increments from 7 1/2′ to 10′.  While raising the backboard, you will hear a “click” at each height setting.  The stick adjust method is very quick and a great choice for economy.  The stick adjust style is also a great choice for the family looking for a goal that is quick and easy for dad or mom to regulate, but not the kids.  Generally, stick adjust units are too difficult for kids under the age of 13 to adjust on their own.  As with most adjustable goal types, the stick adjust style is available in both lower end as well as higher end quality versions.  One side note to point out is that generally the higher end stick adjust models are manufactured with an adjustable arm system that is U-bolted to the vertical post.  This allows the adjustable arm system to be assembled to the post at a lower height on the post, the unit can then utilize its 2 1/2′ range of adjustment to meet lower rim heights if desired.

PIN ADJUST – The second style of adjustable goal is know as “pin adjust.”  This adjustment method is also very quick and reasonably easy for older children.  The pin adjust is a spring balanced basketball goal (some styles use a weighted handle instead of springs).  There is a removable pin located on the backside of the basketball post. The weight of the backboard and rim is counterbalanced by springs or a weighted handle.  After the pin is removed, the backboard and rim can easily be moved up and down in six inch increments.  Push the pin back into the handle at the desired playing height.  Pin adjust style units are generally adjustable from 10′ down to 7′.  Pin adjust units are easy to move up and down and very safe.  When the pin is removed the backboard will not move unless pressure is applied to the handle.  Typically, 4th grade and up can operate pin adjust style units.

FRONT CRANK – The third style category is the “front crank”.  This adjustment style is easy for anyone over the age of 10.  Front crank style units have a screw actuator mounted in the extension arm system located on the front side of the basketball post.  A separate handle with a hook on one end is provided with the basketball goal.  The actuator is equipped with a loop at the bottom end.  The hook on the handle is inserted into the loop on the actuator.  Then by twisting the crank handle the actuator extends or retracts resulting in the raising or lowering of the backboard.  The front crank style basketball goal is a good choice particularly if you want to mount your basketball goal up against a wall or other obstruction that prevents rear access to the post.  One downside to front crank style goals is that since the handle is separate from the basketball goal, it may become lost. As with most adjustment styles, front crank units can be found in lower end, lower cost brands as well as higher end, more costly versions.

REAR CRANK – The “rear crank” adjustment style is easily the most popular style of adjustment.  Rear crank adjustable basketball goals utilize an adjustment actuator similar to that used on a front crank style unit except the actuator is mounted on the back side of the basketball post.  The rear crank has a built in handle that can be turned clockwise or counterclockwise to raise or lower the basket.  The handle is typically located approx. 4′ above ground making it easy to reach for young children.  Rear crank units are most commonly adjustable from 10′ down to 7 1/2′, but units that adjust lower are also available.  Rear crank styles are the easiest type of goal to adjust for any age group.  Again, rear cranking goals can be found in low end as well as high end versions.

GAS ASSIST – Basketball units that utilize gas filled cylinders to provide the lifting force required to raise the weight of the basket are known as “gas assist.”  These units employ a single gas filled cylinder or group of cylinders on the back side of the basketball post to “lift” the backboard and rim when a trigger handle is squeezed on the post.  Gas assist units are an effort to blend the convenience of the rear crank with the speed of the pin adjust.  Generally, these units seem to work reasonably well for adults, but are too difficult for kids 6th grade or younger.  Higher end units with heavier backboards may require a grown adult to raise the basket.  High end and low end models are available in gas assist styles.

There are still adjustable basketball goals on the market that utilize a cable attached to a winch that is wound up or down to raise or lower the basket.  Though this style was dominant in the early years of adjustable goal development, it has mostly been phased out as better, safer options have evolved.

Source by Jeff Roth

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Who Invented Golf?

Ever wondered who invented golf? It was the Scots! Golf was first played on the coast of Scotland during the 15th century. The game was a little different back then, however. Golfers would actually hit a small rock or pebble in instead of a ball using a stick. Additionally, they would hit the rock around in the sand, rather than on grass like today. It wasn’t until 1750 that golf became what we know it as today. In 1774, golfers in Edinburgh first wrote the Standardized Rules for the game.

The first subject in who invented golf is golf balls. Golfers eventually tired of hitting rocks and tried other things. The first attempt was balls made of leather and feathers. In 1858, Adam Paterson invented the gutta-percha ball. This ball was made from Gutta Tree sap. Then, in 1898, Coburn Haskell invented the rubber cored ball. These balls could reach distances of 400 yards or more. Until 1905, however, golf balls were smooth. Golfers noticed that worn balls were much better and in 1905, William Taylor introduced the first dimpled golf ball.

The second subject in who invented golf is golf clubs. In the early days, golf clubs were carved by the golfers themselves. The earliest known set of specially made clubs was made by a bow-maker for King James IV of Scotland. The construction of golf clubs was time consuming and expensive and included using various types of wood and binding them with leather. In addition, they broke very easily. This, of course, made golf an expensive sport to play and how golf got the reputation of being a high class society sport.

The third subject in who invented golf is golf tees. The word golf tee originally only defined the area where the golfer played and is still used in that context today. The first portable golf tee was made of rubber and had three prongs. It did not, however, stick in the ground, but stand on top of it. It was parented by William Bloxsom and Arthur Douglas in 1889. The first golf tee that stuck in the ground was also made of rubber, but had a metal spike to make it able to penetrate the ground. This tee was patented by Percy Ellis. The tee we know today was patented by PM Mathews in 1897.

Our final subject in who invented golf is rules. The first rules for golf were written and used in the first golf championship in 1744. They included only 13 written rules. Although they were similar to the ones we know today, the number one rule was that you must tee your ball within one clubs length of the hole. Additionally, they included stipulations for your ball hitting a horse. Although the game of golf has certainly evolved, its rich traditions and history remain the same.

Source by Sarah Freeland

Find the Latest Ladies Leather Gloves in Attractive Designs

Explore ladies leather gloves in attractive designs: Ladies leather gloves are growing popular as a desirable fashion accessory for all the seasons. The increasing demand of these gloves has motivated a number of manufacturers to present ladies leather gloves in alluring designs. A wide range of ladies leather gloves are now offered on the internet, such as Black Leather 8 btn big buckle, Black Leather Gloves w Fox, Black Leather w Spotted trim and Checker Pattern Lambskin Leath. Ladies leather gloves can be used for a number of purposes such as-

1. Sports glove- these leather gloves are exclusively popular among ladies who are actively involved in sports. You can use these gloves for a number of sports such as golf. The best thing about buying a pair of sports glove is that it can enable you to enjoy your favorite sport in a better way. One of the most alluring aspects of the sports glove is that they absorb moisture thereby making the wearer grip the sports equipment firmly.

2. Wedding glove- gloves are essential accessory in Christian wedding. You can beautify your hands like never before by wearing stylish and chic hand glove. Big Jewel Mini Glove is a popular ladies leather gloves that can be worn by women for their wedding. This glove is made of soft leather and includes silk lining. Wedding gloves are made available in extensive color options such as white, black and beige.

3. Motorcycle gloves- it is imperative to wear gloves while riding a motorcycle as gloves can reward better grip thereby enabling ladies to have a smooth ride. Motorcycle glove are now made available for both men and women. The most popular women motorcycle glove variety include Black Leather 8 btn big buckle, Grandoe Womens-Shiloh Gloves, Ladies Long Rose Garden, Ladies Leather Epaulet Gloves, Molla Spring Leather Gloves and Ladies Leather Zipper Gloves. These gloves are available in range of colors such as black, chocolate, brown, walnut, saddle, cream and leaf green. You can get these gloves in sizes such as small, large medium and Xlarge.

Ladies leather gloves are increasing in popularity and a large number of ladies are opting for leather gloves. You can find ladies leather gloves in different colors like red, brown, black and yellow. The best thing about the ladies leather gloves is that it can make the ladies look classy and beautiful. By wearing leather gloves, ladies can flaunt off a sturdy look and can make the other person feel impressed. Other alluring aspects of the ladies leather gloves is that it reflect confidence of the ladies. A woman can look as confident as never before in a pair of leather gloves.

Women can wear leather gloves for numerous purposes such as gardening, motorcycle riding, pet feeding as well as in beach sports. Some of the most special items of the ladies leather gloves include Ladies Black Leather w Pewter, Ladies Cabled Wrist Leather, Ladies Chocolate 6 btn Glove, Filp Cuff Silk Lined Brown and Creme Leather w Rabbit Trim.

Source by Shelly Resta

Basketball History Started in the 1800’s

The game of basketball has a long road behind it. Invented in the 1800’s, the game of basketball was intended for indoors and applied rules of all different kinds of sports. The game was played with nine players but shortly after it changed and became a game with five players on each team. The game took flight across the country and even though women did not have many rights at this time, they also played. The first game ever played took place at the YMCA but the court was half the size they are now.

In the 1900’s basketball was played in most colleges and its popularity grew by storm creating a multitude of teams in large cities as well as the smaller cities. During that time, someone finally invented the basketball. The first woman’s college to allow the game was in Massachusetts. After word got out about the game of basketball, many teams surfaced playing all across the country. Later basketball becomes an official Olympic sport. As time past the National Basketball Association grew in popularity and by the late 1940’s they had 17 teams join the association.

The rules of the game have changed dramatically over the years. Score was kept as each basket was made the team earned one point. The rules came about from the rules of a children’s game. One player would stand near the basket and guard it as the other player throws the ball attempting to make the basket. At this time, the guard could not touch anyone else in the game. Wherever the ball was caught was where it had to be thrown. The player could not run with the ball and if the ball was out of bounce, you could throw it back into game play and to anyone who caught it, not just to a team member. The last player to touch the ball before going out of bounce was the one who threw it back in to play. The free throw line was fifteen feet from the basket but later changed to twenty feet.

Although at this time, other sports were not allowing African Americans to play or play with whites on their team. They were not even allowed to play against a white team. However, basketball was the only sport that allowed integrated teams. Basketball did not create any racial problems with fans or other teams. This game has always been the game that was for everyone. The players such as Shanty Barnett and Al Price had a tremendous impact on the game. It is not that the game was made or intended to be that way. It was the fact that the war was going on and all the valuable white players were going to fight in the war. The game itself needed the players and the African Americans who played made quite an impression to the fans, teammates, and the league.

Basketball has come along way and even at the time it was first invented, it had potential to grow. The National Basketball Association had thought it might evolve into something great. It did not matter to the coaches or the fans all that mattered was the love for the game.

Source by Ethan D Orman

Chinese Classroom: A Beautiful Moment

 Ling Xiao

As teachers, we bear the social responsibility of teaching our younger generation knowledge and skills as well as helping them develop good character and moral standards; as Chinese teachers, we bear the responsibility of teaching students the Chinese language and helping them learn about Chinese culture. As a Chinese educator, I believe that there is a lot in the Chinese culture that can not only be used as language material but also as materials to help students develop good character. Whenever I have an opportunity, I conduct a lesson around this belief. The following is a true story that happened in this kind of Chinese classroom.

Many American high school students like to eat Da Bai Tu (Big White Rabbit), a brand name milk candy made in Shanghai, China. I sometimes use them as motivational treats to reward them for their achievements and efforts in leaning Chinese in class. One day I found that one of my unopened candy package of Da Bai Tu was stolen. I thought: This is not just about a package of candy; it is about a child whose character and world view is still in the process of developing. As a teacher I have the responsibility to help the child to see and correct this mistake. But how could I deal with this in a way that is loving and still related to Chinese? I thought about it and came up with an idea of dealing with this through the teaching of Chinese mottos that praise traditional Chinese virtues.

The next day I played two short videos of Chinese stories related traditional Chinese virtues. One story was entitled Zhou Chu Zi Xin (meaning Zhou Chu Making a Fresh Start). The motto for the story was: Ren Shui Wu Guo, Guo Er Neng Gai, Shan Mo Da Yan! The meaning of the motto is: To err is human, but isn’t it beautiful when one sees his mistake and corrects it? The story talked about a young man named Zhou Chu in the Jin Dynasty. Zhou Chu was a bully when he was young and people in his hometown hated him. He was feared by people as one of the “Three Harms”, the other two being the evil dragon and the fierce tiger. People wanted to get rid of him. So they persuaded Zhou Chu to go and kill the dragon, hoping that, instead of killing the dragon, the dragon would kill him. Zhou Chu did what people asked him to. He left his hometown, found the evil dragon, and fought with it for three days and three nights, trying to kill it. Back in his hometown, People thought he was killed by the dragon. So they went to the streets, setting off fireworks to celebrate. At this time, Zhou Chu came back and overheard people gossiping about him. He felt ashamed of his wrongdoings and decided to make a fresh start. He was so determined to change that he later became a very successful local official, loved by people in his hometown.

While students were listening to the story I had them learn the motto, some idiomatic expressions such as gai guo zi xin (meaning making a fresh start) and a few vocabulary, such as evil, dragon, tiger. After hearing the story, we had a brief discussion. I asked students to discuss how it was true that “to err is human”. I also asked volunteers to share personal testimonies of how they corrected their own mistakes. At some point, a student commented: “Those people who persuaded him to kill the evil dragon were so mean! Why didn’t they bring him to court?” I was impressed with the insightful comment that he made about what other people did to Zhou Chu and I was also amused by his comment about the legal action. So I responded, “I completely agree with you! But very often, we human beings only see what others do is wrong but do not see what we do ourselves may also be wrong!  Those people who tricked Zhou Chu were also doing something that I think wrong in another way. How about if Zhou Chu were killed?” But I also told them that at that time, the legal system was very different and there was no way to bring him to court. At last I reemphasized the motto and praised Zhou Chu for correcting himself and becoming a person that brought benefits to both himself and the people around him.

Then I played another story called Zhou Li Wang Ju Jian (meaning King Zhou refuse to take advice). The motto for the story is: Guo Er Bu Gai, Shi Wei Guo Yi! The meaning of the motto is: If one makes a mistake but refuses to see it and correct it, that is truly a big mistake! The story was about the king of Xi Zhou Dynasty. He was very cruel to his people. His cruelty brought tremendous sufferings to common folks. So some people, including his officials, started to criticize him. One of his high-ranked officials that he trusted also pointed out what he did wrong and advised him to change. But instead of correcting himself, the king became so furious at those people who criticized him and advised him to make changes that he ordered they all be arrested and killed. Three years later, people revolted and killed the king.

We had the same kind of learning activities and discussion with this story. Students learned idioms like lao bai xing, which literally means old hundred sir names, but is used to refer to common folks. They also learned the motto. During our discussion, one of the students commented: “This king is evil! Why did Chinese people choose him to be the king? Do Chinese people also elect the king every 4 years like we elect our President?” I was truly amused by the innocent questions! So I replied with a true answer but with humor, “Chinese people didn’t elect kings like Americans elect a president. The position of a king was either gained by sacrificing many lives of common folks in wars or was given by the king’s dad.” The class laughed cheerfully.

In the last few minutes of class, I drew the students’ attention again to the mottos. As a conclusion, I said, “It is easy for us to do something wrong because none of us are perfect. But it takes more courage to correct one’s wrongdoing and this kind of action deserves praise and admiration.” Pausing for a second to make sure all students were paying attention, I continued to say, “I believe the student who took a pack of Da Bai Tu yesterday without my permission has learned our lesson well. I hope that he/she will realize what he/she did wrong and I hope that he/she has the courage to correct it. I also think that maybe after many years he/she will still remember what we did in class today and will be thankful that he/she has corrected the mistake.”

The bell rang. I dismissed the class and then turned to clean the white board. My mind started to think about other things and completely forgot what I just taught, but when I turned back, I saw an unopened pack of Da Bai Tu lying on my desk. I smiled: what a beautiful moment!

I didn’t try to find out who this student was. But I believe that the stories had an influence on him/her, which made him/her correct his/her mistake. And I believe that the influence from traditional Chinese virtues taught in these stories will have an ever-lasting impact on the student’s character.  

Source by Ling Xiao

The Art of Defense in Basketball

In playing basketball, each player must be conditioned to change quickly from offense to defense. This mental trick must be learned before any kind of defense can become operative. Defense is a state of mind. It can be passive, active, weak-kneed, indefinite, or masculine and aggressive. To perform offensive skills properly, an athlete must be relaxed and confident. To execute defensive skills properly, he must be the very antithesis of relaxation.

He must be tense, coiled, and aggressive. He must be in a fighting frame of mind. He must be combative. This switching mentally from offense to defense requires time and experience. The difficult task is turning back to relaxed movement for offense. Most athletes can get themselves in a fighting frame of mind.

In the case of football, they have no need to change that mood during the course of the game. Basketball requires the athlete to play a mental game of hop scotch if he is to reach his potential on offense and on defense. Experience and time will help the young athlete develop this ability.

Defense begins as soon as the ball is lost. The player does not wait until he gets to the other end of the floor to begin to think about defense. He begins to think defense at that very instant. Unless he has been given the task of cutting the outlet pass (to stop an opponent’s fast break), his first thought is to reach the other end of the floor as fast as he can run. This run is known as the defensive fast break.

Some teams are known as fast-break (offensive) teams; others are considered to be slow-break teams. Every good basketball team in the nation fast-breaks. They fast break, to the defensive end of the floor. This break should not be a trot or jog. It must be a full speed run. While the defensive player is executing his fast break he is looking up to spot his opponent. Some opponents are very obliging. They will always go into the pivot area or into a certain corner each time. This makes recognition very simple.

Other players are not so obliging. You never know where these men will line up. That is why it is necessary to be skilled and alert at spotting quickly the number and face of an opponent. As soon as you have spotted your man, determine his relationship to the ball. Is he in position to receive and score quickly? Can you reach him in time to defend your basket? Can you help a teammate who is momentarily in trouble?

As soon as you spot your opponent, go to him and assume a defensive stance, a defensive expression, and a defensive attitude. Let him know by your stance, expression, and attitude that you have come to hook up with him completely and without equivocation as long as his team possesses the ball. Let him know that as far as you are concerned, your life depends on stopping him. Let him know that in order to score he is going to have to break every bone in your body.

In playing the half-court press man-for-man, your first objective is to prevent the opponent from receiving the ball. Get an arm and, if possible, part of your body between your opponent and the ball. Block his vision if possible. Body check his movement to receive every time you can.

That is, stay in front of him and check his break with your body. In general, make a real nuisance of yourself even though your man has not received. You have won nine-tenths of the battle with your man if you keep him from receiving. The only thing left to do is block out when the ball goes up on the boards.

Practice this art and attitude of defense and you have the game half won!

Source by Jimmy Cox

Mueller Soccer Ankle Support

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£15.99



What is the Mueller Soccer Ankle Support?

Designed for football this lightweight and low cut ankle support fits perfectly in your football boot or trainer. Has criss-cross Velcro straps for a custom fit.

When can I use it?

During football matches or training to protect your ankle.
Following a sprained ankle or ankle surgery.
For increased ankle restriction and support try the Mueller Soccer Ankle Brace.

Which size do I need?

One size fits most.
From ladies’ shoe size 4.5 up to men’s shoe size 13.
Fits either foot.

For the best protection inside your football boot we recomend the Mueller Soccer Ankle Brace as an alternative product.

How does it work?

This lightweight support fits snugly inside any football boot or trainer. The criss cross tension straps are secured in place using Velcro, enabling the player to tighten to their personal preference. Because it is low cut this support still allows full ankle mobility making it ideal for football use.

Golf Buddy Pro GPS Review

One of the more popular choices among golfers the Golf Buddy Pro GPS has many features that make it stand out from the rest of the market. It was originally designed as a system for real pro caddies so it offers greater yardage accuracy all wrapped in a nice aesthetic package. So it is no surprise that it is quite a popular choice among Golfers.

A large screen dominates the interface of this unit and although only in black and white it is a high resolution display which gives a clear and crisp readout with good visibility in all lighting conditions. The simple control system makes it easy to operate and get the information displayed that you need quickly.

Golf Buddy Pro GPS is the only one on the market at the time of writing that is delivered with all 20,000 currently available US golf courses already installed. Giving it the ability to tell you where you are, just in case you ever forget! It automatically updates to the course and hole you are currently playing. This alone can save you the time of changing course information in between rounds and the hassle of forgetting to load a course’s data before you play a new course.

No annual fees: this is one of the few golf GPS systems that does not tie you in to a annual contract, which in itself potentially would save you a considerable amount of money.

On top of all the above the Golf Buddy Pro GPS gives the user the ability to add up to 11 hazards per hole and store the information for later use. It will calculate your driving distance and change the shape of the green to compensate for you approach angle.

With its Li-Polymer rechargeable battery with AAA backup it is never going to run out of charge at that crucial point while on the course.

All in all it proves to be a feature loaded competitor to the other top models in the market place.

While researching this Golf Buddy Pro GPS review we found a mixed bunch of comments from users of the Golf Buddy Pro GPS. Most gripes appear to come from the units lack of accuracy which is ironic since Golf Buddy designed this to be a pro’s GPS and made accuracy a key selling point. Perhaps they set expectations too high.

Another downside with the Golf Buddy Pro is that it lacks any kind of storage features: for your shots, score or round information, which for a unit of this price is a little surprising.

Source by J Symons

How to Select Picnic Baskets

A picnic is one of the most desired things of any couple and children enjoys picnic to the maximum extent. The most important thing that you need to take while going out for picnic is a  basket  where everything you need during your picnic will be kept.

The classic picnic  basket  has changed a lot over time. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes now, and with different feature sets according to the requirements of the users. Nowadays, some excellent picnic  basket  collections are available in the market. They come complete with various things like

o food containers

o stainless steel silverware

o wine bottle duffels

o glasses

o plates

o cheese cutting boards

o cheese knives

o salt and pepper shakers

o corkscrews

o napkins

While choosing a picnic  basket  you should take into consideration various things like the required size, the use you’ll put it to in the future, what extra items included in the  basket  are really required, the quality of the materials, etc. You can also select an excellent picnic  basket  as a gift item for your special someone, to show that you really care!

The picnic  baskets  are designed according to the motive, and you can select accordingly:

o Cutlery  baskets : For examples some  baskets  are usually made for carrying the cutlery items. They are made of such staff as fibers and jute so that the cutlery doesn’t break easily. It is more like backpacks for people who are more interested in picnics frequently.

o Children’s  baskets : The picnic  baskets  can also be used for carrying the essential items of the children. They are usually decorated with teddy bears and often they have floral designs as well. They may be white in color with beautiful floral motifs. There are bags which have numerous pockets for carrying other essential items as well. You can carry a wide number of essential things in those  baskets .

o House-like  baskets : Some  baskets  are designed like a house and in them you can carry the foodstuffs which you will need throughout the journey. They are shaped in such way that you can take out anything that you need at any point of time by searching. These bags are usually essential for carrying the feeding bottles of children (if you have one during your picnic), or carrying such stuffs as umbrellas, biscuits, purse or even combs (which are required frequently).

o Shelved  baskets : There are wines  baskets  which are especially designed to carry wines inside. The wines can be kept in shelves which are made in a small space with adequate intelligence. They may also carry condiments like tomato and chili ketchup. These types of picnic  baskets  are widely used in the market and people who are in a habit of drinking during a picnic prefer this  basket  to the rest.

o Two-fold picnic  baskets  and their uses: Some picnic  baskets  have two folds. They can be opened one by one or subsequently. These picnic  baskets  can be used for twofold purposes. On one fold you can take your clothes while on the other fold you can actually take the utensils and cutlery. You can also take the food items with you once you buy this type of  basket .

While going for a picnic you can choose any one  basket  that suits your choice. These  baskets  will be highly beneficial for you and will be of optimum help during your picnic.

Source by Garret Lloyd

Why Mephisto Shoes are Better than your Average Shoe

If Nancy Sinatra knew of Mephisto shoes before she wrote the song, she definitely wouldn’t need her boots for walking. Mephisto shoes have always been proud of its “walking” tradition. If you’re looking for walking comfort and safety, Mephisto is a top brand because of the way each pair is constructed. The company is known for its speed lacing and air-circulating insole designs.

One important reason why Mephisto shoes are better than your average shoe is the preference to make each pair manually. Most shoe manufacturers engage in machine production. Mephisto shoes are made by hand, one shoe at a time.

Mephisto Shoe Features Make Them Better

Mephisto was born in France and have been around for 35 years. The European tradition of shoemaking has made Mephisto shoes synonymous with walking and perfection; they are handcrafted with only the finest materials. Most notably excellent leather combined with sophisticated shoe technology.

The features of each Mephisto pair are what differentiate it from other shoes. These features are:

• Shock absorbing feature – this protects the heel from hard impact moves.
• Air bag system – the Mephisto air bag system is built into the heel of the shoe and in the metatarsal arch that helps protect feet from jarring and long rugged walking.
• Multi-grip soles – the soles of Mephisto shoes were developed for safe walking even on wet and slippery surfaces.
• Air active cushioned soles – a deep latex cushion holds your feet tighlty against the insole. Tiny air bubbles provide added shock absorption.
• Air jet air circulation system – the toe of the shoe is connected to the back of the shoe of the shoe through air channels.
• Midsoles – most shoes are developed with either the heel or toe as priority areas; Mephisto was designed to incorporate not only the toe and heel, but also the mid sole.
• Removable insoles – designed to act as a protective base for the feet.
• Padded toplines –you don’t feel any part of your feet rub against the material unlike some shoes where rubbing and friction just below the ankle make it uncomfortable to walk after awhile.
• Heel and joint cushioning – the feet have tiny bones which need as much protection as the heel and arch.
• Anatomical arch support – Mephisto shoes understand feet morphology this knowledge is integrated into the design.
For these reasons, among others, Mephisto shoes are better than your average shoes. Feet absorb plenty of pressure and shock; we are standing and walking throughout most of the day so our feet do indeed need to be treated with care.

Don’t let the “walking” description fool you. Mephisto shoes were also made for hiking, playing golf, boating and trekking. Men and women have a wide choice of styles, depending on the purpose.

Men’s Shoes

While Mephisto shoes are not the most inexpensive shoes around, you do get what you pay for. Some shoes might wear out after 12 months of use, or just may not be up for every day use, but Mephisto shoes will last you a lifetime.

For men’s casual shoes, here are a few of their many styles:

• Abel – made of Goodyear Welt 360 degree construction, dyed leathers and utmost flexibility
• Baduard – natural leathers and Nubuck. Has special shock absorbing mechanism to protect the spine, heel and vertebra
• Ebbo – leather is weather-repellent. Built with a latex midsole for supreme comfort.
Women’s Sandals

To give you a peek into women’s sandals (Mephisto also manufactures casual, dress, and sporty shoes for women), here are a few styles:
• Accalia – for the woman who will wear only sandals. This has a cork footbed providing above average cushion and comfort.
• Adilia – a latex foam rests in between genuine velour leather and natural cork, giving you the feeling as though you are walking in the clouds. The heel measures one inch and this shoe has buckles that will not give way, even in all day walking trips.
• Altina – developed with the same concepts and technology as the Accalia and Adilia, but the Altina has a sturdier appearance and feel.
Mephisto Resoling

Apart from the handmade design and advanced technology, one important detail should not be overlooked, and this is what makes Mephisto better than your average shoe. After you have broken-in your pair of Mephisto shoes, you can have them re-conditioned to look brand new.

The company will do this using the same process that went into the initial manufacturing. The sole, mid-sole and innersole will be replaced, the bottoms and uppers cleaned, and repairs will be made to the rings and buckles if necessary. Again, because everything is done by hand, the resoling may take around 4-6 weeks. If you prefer to do this process yourself, you can always order a resole kit that comes complete with instructions.

Source by Suzanne Bradley

The Classsy Western Wear From Scully Clothing

Scully wearable: Western wear is not just for cowboys and cowgirls. Many Another want the garb because of the consolation it gives. The enduringness and affectionateness of Western Wearing Apparel like that of Scully clothing could not be converted for anything else. But Scully Company is not just into the Western dress. They also have other Western supplements that leave the same higher quality, stableness, and versatility to remain fashionably posh. lives Western is not just about the leather pants and boots, undershirt or crownwork, hats or belts. It’s not just about the sees, it’s also the feel of being Western.
The Change

Western wearable has prepared in a count of agencies. The shirts, the manners, the figures, and even the count of shops that have made them independent have switched. If Western adorning stores were determined before, now they are all over town and Western clothes just looks to fly out of the postpones. Scully draping with modern designs and with capital prints could be seen in any Western store. And wheresoever you go, you will always find one who would specialize in Western investing.

Change is the only thing that is irreversible, and that holds true with Western wear. If back then leather jacket crowns were only for men, now there are more restored and robust-style leather jackets for men and women, adolescents and kids, young and old alike. It depicts a strong fashion statement to be seen sporting a leather crownwork, a truly Western style at the same time providing console to the wearer like that of the Scully clothing.

The Company with a Rich Account

The Party that creates Scully dressing has a long Chronicle, which appointments back to the early 1900s. It antecedently store-bought flight helmets and crowns for the wings who struggled in the World War I and the World War II. Explorers who embarked on the Antarctic dispatch with Admiral Byrd were besides seen sporting Scully dressing, jackets and gloves. The Company has a rich Story of events that has made their items exhibited in Smithsonian Institute and the Museum of Flight in Seattle, USA.

Just guess over a century of portion, making up, and distributing leather products. Aside from men and women’s leather jackets, the Party were also into the construct of handbags, briefcases, ring-binder, portfolios, briefcases, baggage, and other go add-on. It has been one of the leading providers of leather products and has been one of the major resources of the diligence. Even So, the Company covers to expose their very own leather Scully investing and the integral western apparel.

Booze While Surfing
While delighting the bar with the hardest beer at the Mavericks, you could also patronise in America’s best Western boutiques right at the Historic Fort Valuable Stockyards. The Maverick Western Wear, which was established in 1987, incorporates the constructions that have gone many a initiatives passim the years. The Company would not be applauded the best Western patronise if it cannot be hardcover up with the boss items like Scully draping you will find in the depot. Maverick Western Wear is where you will belly up a beer and enjoy surfing too!

Source by Kimberly Ducado

How To Install A Basketball Post

To install a basketball goal post in the ground it is important to first determine if you want to install a “permanent” post or a “removable” post.

Permanent posts- are installed by first determining the location where you want the post to be located. This is usually determined by taking into account the “overhang” of your basketball goal (overhang is the distance from the front of the backboard to the front of the pole) Once you have determined where you want the post to be located check with your local utility company to make sure there are no lines to interfere with digging the hole. The footing hole diameter will vary from 12″-24″ and 36″-48″ deep depending on the basketball system you buy. Dig the hole to the correct depth per the assembly instructions and then insert the pole into the empty hole. The top of your concrete footing will look nice if you build a wooden square out of 2″x4″ material to create a “form” for the top of the footing, this will keep the concrete square at the top and look really nice after the concrete has set. Once your “form” is ready simply mix and pour your concrete into the hole around the post. I suggest keeping the bottom of the post tight against the dirt at the bottom of the hole while pouring concrete around the basketball post. This will allow the condensation that naturally collects inside the post to drain out into the dirt below. After the concrete is poured into the hole, use a 4′ level to get the post plumb front to back and side to side. When post is level, brace post using 2’x4”s or other method to make sure it does not move while concrete cures. Allow concrete to cure for a minimum of 48 hours before proceeding.

Removable posts – there are two types of removable posts. Type 1 is a post just like discussed above but with the inclusion of a “sleeve” that is cemented into the footing. The post is then inserted into the sleeve after the concrete has cured, this allows the post to be removed later if necessary. Higher quality sleeves have welded nuts around the top perimeter of the sleeve which allow you to level the post front to back and side to side after installation is complete. You can view the installation instructions for one such sleeve by clicking here http://ift.tt/1VdBOVT

The second (and more popular) type of removable post is the “anchor system” A basketball post utilizing an anchor system has a plate welded on the bottom and 4 anchor bolts. To install a basketball post with an anchor system, follow all the steps mentioned above regarding locating and digging your hole. Typically, there is a metal anchor “template” provided along with four “J” shaped anchor bolts. These anchor bolts are fixed to the template prior to pouring the concrete. When concrete is poured you simply insert the template/j-bolt assembly into the wet concrete making sure to keep the anchor bolts square to your playing surface. When concrete is cured loosen and remove the anchor template from the top of the concrete footing. What you now have is 4 threaded studs sticking up above the concrete footing. Typically at this point you will be asked to run a nut down onto each threaded stud against the top of the concrete. Then lower the post with the baseplate down onto the four studs. The post can then be secured to the studs with the remaining nuts provided with your unit. You can then level the post front to back and side to side by adjusting the leveling nuts located underneath your baseplate. You can see an example of a very popular basketball system that uses an anchor system by clicking here http://ift.tt/1KOITM0

Hopefully this information is helpful regarding installation of various types of basketball posts. If you need help selecting a basketball system for your home you may want to check out the following website http://ift.tt/1VdBNBi

Source by Jeff Roth

Precision Training Soccer Coaches Tactic Folder- A4

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£17.60



Ideal for use on pitch side or dressing room. With magnetic board, set play sheets dry wipe marker and pen. Magnetic full pitch on one side, clipboard with 20 x planning sheets on the other. 27 x 1cm numbered magnets.

Golf Art – Becoming As Popular As the Game Itself

As the sport of  golf  continues to grow in popularity around the world, the popularity of  Golf  Art is mirroring the growth in popularity of the sport itself. And it is a great way to preserve the heritage of great players, great courses, and great equipment. It is consensus among many that a small group of images represent the very best of  Golf  Art, and we will discuss those in more detail later.

For those hobbyists who concentrate on antique  golf , prints and course pictures come together nicely with their antique  golf  clubs and other  golf  collectibles to effectively produce a very nice little self contained  golf  gallery. For the true aficionado of this great sport and its rich history, little can match the effect that a great  golf  print can have to compliment a  golf  decor.

 Golf  Art is a great way to express yourself. It allows you to display the people and the places related to the game that are nearest and dearest to your heart. Whether it is  golf  course art or a  golf  painting of one of your heroes, or a  golf  print which beautifully represents a classic piece of equipment, it can change the look and feel of your office, your den, your finished basement, or anyplace you choose.

Many  professionals place allot of weight on a piece if it is a signed original. Whether or not that should be a priority for you is really a matter of your ultimate goals. If you expect that one day you might be more than just a casual collector of framed  golf  art, for instance, and become active in buying, selling, or trading in the  golf  print and  golf  picture arena, the signatures become more important. Artists Proofs, where the artist physically amends the print by hand will also increase the collectability of a  golf  print.

In addition to items which are purchased or traded from others, another popular area of  golf  art is related to pieces developed personally using personal  golf  items that represent a pleasant memory or significant event in your  golfing  experiences. Collectors have framed  golf  scorecards, majestically displayed those  golf  balls that produced that hole in one, and have even come up with countless, creative and attractive ways to keep that old  golf  club around long after it’s days on the course are finished.

Source by Andrew Shea

A Creative Gift Idea – Coffee Gift Baskets

Every year around Christmas we are forced to be creative with our gift purchases. Nobody wants to give the same gifts year after year. If you are looking for a unique gift idea, then look no further than a gourmet coffee gift basket.

If you’re like me, you aren’t exactly thrilled by the prospect of trying to find the perfect gift for your family and close friends. It isn’t so much the social necessity of exchanging presents during the holidays, it’s the struggle to find something personal and useful for the recipient.

I like to find gifts that are useful and enjoyable for the person receiving the present. It would be great if we could afford to give our loved ones a Mercedes or BMW, but that isn’t realistic for most of us. So, I like to look at what my loved ones use on a daily basis, then think of a way to make it into a gift that is fun.

If there is one thing that nearly all of my friends and relatives use on a daily basis it’s COFFEE! Many people use coffee purely for its utilitarian value of being a stimulant. They stumble to their kitchen each morning and slurp down a couple cups before they open their eyes. Well, I like to think of my morning cup as ritual that connects me with the earth and farmers from far away places. I only drink organic Fair Trade, gourmet quality coffee.

So, what could be a better gift for a coffee drinker than a gift basket filled with gourmet coffee and coffee goodies? There are a plethora of coffee gift baskets online, in stores, you name it. But, I wouldn’t purchase a stale, shrink wrap encased gift basket from a big box store. No, I would go straight to the source for the freshest coffee possible, that’s right, the COFFEE ROASTER!

If you don’t have a gourmet coffee roaster in your neighborhood then you can certainly find one online. There are many roasters online that also make delicious coffee gift baskets for the holidays. You can find baskets that contain everything from chocolate covered espresso beans to French press coffee makers! Personally, I like to go with a roaster that only roasts certified organic Fair Trade coffees, but that is a personal choice.

A few things to keep in mind when you’re shopping for the perfect coffee gift are freshness, price, quality and shipping time. I would steer clear of any company that doesn’t fresh roast the coffee. Even the finest gourmet coffees taste horrible once they’ve gone stale! Price is always an issue, but remember many times you do get what you pay for. So, if you can’t afford a deluxe $200.00 gift basket, find one that is smaller, yet still high quality, for a price you can afford. Quality is of the utmost importance. Look at the pictures of the baskets, and make sure you know the quality of the coffees involved. Gourmet coffees should be 100% Arabica. If the roaster doesn’t list the species of coffee you can always inquire. Steer clear of Robusta. Finally, we have shipping time. Some coffee companies will let you purchase a basket far in advance of the holiday and let you choose the ship date. If you are getting down to crunch time make sure there is a guaranteed delivery date. A late gift is better than no gift, but having that cup of gourmet coffee on Christmas morning is better!

Source by Martin Jennings

Bernie Madoff With Fifty Billion Dollars

By James F. Cotter

Bernie Madoff ran the largest Ponzi scheme on earth, perhaps thinking that he could perpetuate the fraud for the rest of his life. After all, it had been going on for a very long time, and Madoff was–in addition to being rich–widely respected, even held in affection, by great numbers of people around the world. Pensions, charities and individuals were ripped off by his scam, which seems to have stolen at least $50 billion.

Named for Charles Ponzi, an Italian immigrant who arrived in America in 1903, the Ponzi scheme–which has actually been around for centuries–uses money from later investors to repay the earlier investors, and the more investors the schemer manages to attract, the more he can pay to the earlier investors–and, of course, to himself. When no more money can be raised, the scheme collapses. If money continues to come in, the scam could go on indefinitely. Ponzi became a millionaire in no time. He was eventually deported, but not before he had jumped bail and fled to Florida, where he sold “prime real estate” which turned out to be swampland. Even Emma Lazarus would have beaten him back with a frying pan as soon as he stepped off the boat. After his expulsion, he continued his scamming until his death in 1949 in Rio de Janeiro.  (1)

As for Madoff–an apt name, according to Keith Olbermann, in that the man “made off” with people’s money–he was somehow overlooked for years by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC chairman, Christopher Cox, said the SEC received “credible and specific allegations regarding Mr. Madoff’s financial wrongdoing,” but did not investigate aggressively.

“Over the decades,” Alex Berenson and Diana B. Henriques relate in the New York Times, “Mr. Madoff steadily expanded his circle of investors, drawing in small individual investors, charities, pension funds, prominent billionaires and European banks.” Cox says that not only did Madoff lie to regulators in previous examinations of his firm, but he also produced false documents and kept several sets of books.  (2)  Harry Markopolis, a financial analyst, alerted the SEC’s Boston office in 1999 that Madoff warranted investigation because it was impossible legally to be making as much money as Madoff claimed from the investment strategies he claimed to be using.

In 2005, Markopolis sent a 17-page memo to the SEC entitled “The World’s Largest Hedge Fund is a Fraud.” Madoff was either front running, said Markopolis, or conducting a Ponzi scheme–probably the latter. Somehow, Madoff stayed in business. 

In December 2008, Madoff admitted to senior executives at the firm that the management division was in fact “a giant Ponzi scheme.” Two of those executives–his sons–tipped off the authorities and Madoff was arrested.  (3)

Here are a few simple steps to avoid being victimized by a Ponzi scheme, most of them enumerated by Paul Sullivan in the New York Times (4) (actually  these are good investment rules to follow, Ponzi or no Ponzi):

Don’t sink your life savings into any one investment. As Paul Sullivan says, “The most basic book on investing will tell you never to put more than 5 or 10 percent into any one investment, particularly one intended to preserve wealth.”

Any investment that promises consistently high returns is not to be trusted. “Good investment advisors plan for a modest return over the years,” Sullivan notes. “They know that one year they will get you 11 percent, the next year 6 percent, and the year after that lose you 2 percent-so count on 5 percent. Mr. Madoff’s returns were too good to be true, but no one wanted to believe that.”

Do not invest with someone just because you enjoy playing golf with him, or because you are from the same geographical region, or went to the same college.

For heaven’s sake, don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions. Had more questions been asked of Bernie Madoff, he may not have inflicted as much damage as he did.

And the online ‘Lectric Law Library warns, “You should be particularly cautious when an investment opportunity emphasizes a very high yield, a quick return, a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity, and the chance to ‘get in on the ground floor.'”  (5)

Finally, and this is often overlooked: Vet your investment advisor. Don’t automatically assume that he is competent just because this is what he does for a living. A lot of investment advisors encouraged a lot of people to invest with Ponzi–I mean, Madoff.

REFERENCES

1.  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Ponzi

2.  http://ift.tt/1QA9PvK

3.  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Madoff

4.  http://ift.tt/1TgAHpd

5.  http://ift.tt/1wLbcUc

BreadStreet Author: James F.  Cotter

This article brought to you By BreadStreet Investors’ Union at http://BreadStreet.com

“Bringing Investors and Entrepreneurs Together for Profit”

Also see http://ift.tt/1TgAHpe

Article also published at Associated Content

Source by Breadstreet.com

Training Bibs Football Soccer Rugby Sports Bibs Choice of 16 Colours & 4 Sizes

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£4.99



Sports training bibs in 100% knitted polyester perfomance braethable fabric, weighted to comfort training hence strong for severe sports training at promotional level. Special bar tack stitched at the joints with edge cover folded stitched to withstand severe sports training.Original Quality From VIVA SOURCE. Breathable Performance sports fabric

A Better Insight Into Brahmin Purses

Do you remember the last time you had your vanity purse as a statement of fashion? We often come across bags that serve as conceitedness pouches and can hardly hold a mobile telephone. A bag as a style statement is commoner to be found than one as a determined piece of accessory. For the cultured girl, a feeling of pride and clarity of purpose is defined in a Brahmin Purse.

Boston Brahmin pertains to a complex, high end socialite from a well-bred family in the late 1800’s. Taking the proverb, Bill and Joan Martin set up Brahmin Leather Works at their home in Massachusetts in 1982 to form purses, wallets for the modern young Brahmin-like lady to appreciate and emulate. As with all visionary startup’s, they quickly grew out of their space and moved to form a brand.

Among handbag connoisseurs, a Brahmin purse and a Brahmin wallet means said workmanship. It also designates the heights of quality and unique finish. Brahmin handbags use only high quality Italian leather and have a natural finish. An aniline finish guarantees the finish and coloring methodology to wrangle out the natural sweetness of the texture and grain of the leather. It is a matter of fine prestige and poise to hold a Brahmin wallet in hand. Brahmin handbags have brass ware on grommets to clips with a stitch that stays for ever and ever. Their stitches and refinement are surprisingly known across as the industry as Brahmin boasts solid brass hardware, from grommets to studs to D-rings and clips ; the hardware is the most long-lasting in the handbag industry. A Brahmin handbag has a strong hardware and fine leather with the stitching and straps maintaining an impressive standard of strength.

As with quality, style is a matter of prime context in a purse. A suede purse makes a loud statement on its own, as it probably did decades ago. Suede has a timeless fashion sense, that it looks alike on all groups of folks, for every purpose. It is important to preserve a Suede handbag with required products so as to maintain the glaze and the shine of the handbag, as it is created from lambskin leather that would get stained.

Talking of Brahmin handbags and Suede purses, any woman would love to be the proud owner of them. But the cost of the bags might be a deterrent in the shopping process. Coming to the assistance of these inherent clients and the outrageous bags are discount designer bags. Online stores like E Fashion house and my designer Brands have a particularly high end collection of designer bags on a discount cost. Evergreen fashion names like Armani, Balenciaga, Burberry and the classics like Gucci Vintage or even the smart, new and modern bags like Christian Dior and Dries wagon Noten are available at a discount store.

A handbag is a woman’s personalised fashion statement. Be it the diva-like Chanel, the sassy Prada, or the classic Suede it’s important to cling on to the right strap, and pay the right price for it!


Source by Shristy Chandran

History of BasketBall

BasketBall

The history of basketball finds it way back to the year 1891. It was a Canadian physical education instructor by the name of James Naismith who introduced the game of basketball to the world. He was born in Ontario and taught physical education at McGill University and Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. James Naismith, during his stint with Springfield College, a YMCA training school during that time, invented the indoor sport with able support and guidance from the American phys-ed specialist Luther Hasley.

The game commenced with 18 men at Springfield College in Massachusetts. Naismith was given a deadline of 14 days to create an indoor game that would provide “an athletic distraction” (in the words of Hasley) to the nasty and disorderly class. It was a tough call for Naismith, who had to exercise a lot of patience and infuse positive enthusiasm into the minds of his students to engage in an outdoor game that was to be played indoors in the best way possible. He recalled a game he used to play as a child and improvised on its concept.

Naismith was instrumental in laying down 13 rules for the basketball game. The rules stated that the ball should be thrown in any direction with one or both hands. He made it clear that a person could not run with the ball. The player should throw it from the place from which he caught the ball in the first place.  Players had to refrain from using the fist when handling or batting the ball. He had termed shouldering, holding, tripping, pushing or striking in any way of an opponent as a foul in the first instance. If things of this nature happened the second time, the person who caused the infringement of the rule would be disqualified or would not be substituted at all. If any side made three consecutive fouls, it was to be counted as a goal for the opposing side.

Naismith also made it clear that if the ball went out of bounds, it had to be thrown into the field of play by the person touching it. This player had the right to hold the ball for only five seconds. If held longer, the chance to throw went to the opposing side.  He gave special importance to the umpire who had to judge the player and report to the referee when players made three consecutive fouls. He defined the time period of the game as being comprised of two fifteen-minute halves with fifteen minutes breaks in between. Naismith concluded that the side making the most goals was to be termed as winner.

The game caught the fancy of the YMCA class and the popularity of the game grew, though Naismith quietly shied away from taking any credit for his invention.  He wanted the game to be enjoyed as a recreational activity, but he never imagined that the game would soon develop into a passionate and intensely competitive sport. Naismith’s moment of glory came, however, when he was invited by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) to witness basketball become an Olympic sport at the 1936 games in Berlin. He passed away in 1939 and since then the game has grown in fame and prosperity the world over. In 1959, James Naismith entered the Basketball Hall of Fame (called the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame)

The first formal rules for the game were introduced in 1895. It was not until 1897 that teams of five players on each side became standard in the history of basketball.  Iron hoops and a hammock style basket came into existence in 1893. A decade later, open-ended nets came into existence, which did away with the practice of manually retrieving the ball from the basket each time a goal was made.  After the end of World War II, there was a need to infuse sports entertainment into the large sports arenas during the times not occupied by pro hockey and college basketball games

. This gave rise to the history of basketball in its pure, professional championship format.

Walter Brown of Boston introduced professional basketball in the form of the Basketball Association of America in the summer of 1946. The esteemed members of the new league were New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, Detroit, Chicago, Providence, Toronto, St. Louis, and Boston.   The league played in big arenas in large cities but the players were not as talented as the ones in the National Basketball League, the recognized league operating chiefly in smaller cities in the Midwest. However, some people from the NBL joined the fray and the strength of B.A.A picked up as college stars and fresh young talent entered the league. The regular season started and the Washington Capitols were the clear winners in the Eastern Division, with the Philadelphia Warriors taking second place and the New York Knickerbockers grabbing the third and final playoff spot.

The Western Division had the Chicago Stags narrowly edging out the St.Louis Bombers with a one-gain tiebreaker at the end of the regular season. The Cleveland Rebels acquired the third playoff spot.  The playoff system devised by the league pitted the first ranking teams, the second ranking teams and the third ranking teams against each other in the opening round. The games began with the Stags usurping the Caps in six games and Philadelphia outdoing St. Louis in a three-game showdown of second-place finishers, while New York defeated Cleveland in three games in the third bracket. The Warriors defeated the Knicks to move into the finals with the Stags.

The finals of the first championship of BAA (the present day NBA) opened in Philadelphia with Joe Fulks scoring 37 points, leading his Warriors to a victory against the Stags. Though the Stags won the fourth game, the Warriors won the overall title with an 83-80 victory with a 34-point contribution from Fulks. Howie Dallmar is credited with hitting the winning basket to break an 80-80 tie, with only a minute left before the finish of the game. 

The history of Basketball has witnessed a lot of landmark events that have increased the popularity of the game to dizzying heights. It is almost a second religion to the sport-loving people in the US. No doubt, basketball is heralded as a sport that gives a healthy balance to the physical, mental and spiritual state. This is truly the game that keeps you on your toes!

Source by Dr.Anees

Golf Equipment Doesn’t Work

Golf equipment doesn’t work? Did that catch your attention? I hope so. Now keep reading.

Just the other day I was watching the Golf Channel and they were talking yet again about the latest and greatest drives and irons. This golf equipment (new technology) that has gotten totally out of hand, is making these companies a ton of money.

Why?

Because they prey on vulnerable, frustrated golfers looking to play better through golf equipment.

Here’s my beef!

It’s not working! I don’t care what these companies say…I see golfers everyday, buying new golf equipment and STILL not playing any better. It’s a known fact that the average golf handicap has not gone down in over 20 years!

It’s NOT the equipment that’s going to improve your game…it’s YOU!

You swing that club. You show up to the range or course. It all depends on your current physical condition how well you will swing…and especially for 18 holes.

Is that registering with you yet?

How many new clubs have you bought lately? Did it allow you to play better…consistently? Be honest. Don’t let your pride answer that question. Just state the facts. Are your scores lower? Do you swing with better consistency?

These are questions to constantly ask yourself to make sure you are seeing progress. If you’re not…then save your money and get working on YOU!

It’s always fun to see the new golf equipment that’s coming out…but your game is dependent on your physical capabilities, not compensations with golf equipment.

Source by Mike Pedersen

Gift Baskets – A Few Easy Marketing Ideas

So you’re creative and good with your hands, love crafts and starting a gift basket business seems a natural progression. You start a new business venture, you have the best range, the most beautiful gift baskets and hampers in town yet sales are low and hard to come by. You receive glowing testimonials and recommendations yet business is not growing as you had forecast.

This is a story I hear and see too often. Today, online businesses battle a marketing war not a product war. Having the best gift baskets will not guarantee your success, but sales will. The most common way to more sales is ranking well in search engines via generic listings or pay per click. Search engines marketing has become a must for all online business, while big spending corporations have the advantage over small business, I would still recommend finding a search engine optimization expert and discussing your options.

Creating word of mouth advertising should be your first marketing strategy, all you need for this is a great product, and without quality product you have nothing. The power of word of mouth advertising should not be underestimated, in our business word of mouth ranks second behind Google as our top sales earner. Once you have established your niche and quality product people will start talking about your business, people love to talk, people like being the first to find a good idea, it is of course human nature.

Here are a few easy and cheap marketing ideas for your Gift basket business

Ask your friends to email their friends a link to your website or to a particular product. For example imagine if your older sister sent an email to all her friends saying “Hey Mother’s day is coming up, my sister has some great gifts on her site, go and check them out”

When you receive a testimonial email, always reply with thanks and if they enjoyed your service kindly ask them to pass on your website details to their friends.

If friends and family have websites ask them to place a link from their site to yours.

If you know any shop owners ask to place brochures or flyers of your business on their counter. Try a discount / introduction offer.

Drop off brochures and fridge magnets to all the major businesses in the area. Large business are always looking for new gift ideas for birthdays and promotions, they may need a get well hamper, a baby gift basket or a thank you gift for staff and customers. Gift baskets can be sent for many occasions, the list is virtually endless.

When you next send a gift basket your goal should be to convert the recipient into your next customer, if your product is good enough this should be easy, simply include a discount offer introducing your company and services. The recipient knows that your service and quality is good just by looking at their basket so they already trust your company and should have no problems using you. They just need a little encouragement and the offer should do this.

Include a flyer featuring an upcoming event in your hampers, for example during your Valentine’s Day period include a flyer introducing your Easter hampers, for Mother’s Day send information on your Father’s Day gift baskets. Again the goal here is to convert the recipient into a customer. If every basket you sent translated into a new customer your business would grow at an amazing rate.

You can win the marketing battle, it will take time and a great deal of effort but it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

Source by Lionel Smitka

Filipina girls in Malaysia – Where Can You Take Your Date

If you plan to date Filipina girls in Malaysia you must be ready to have a blast. Filipinas are very fun-loving people, and taking them to a romantic dinner may sound ideal but it would really be worth remembering if you take them to destinations where you can just let go of yourself. As the most people say that there is a child in us, it would really be great to date with someone who is more than willing to go scuba diving or doing extreme sports with you.

There are many places that you take Filipina girls in Malaysia to.  One of the most famous is the Petronas Towers.  This is a structure that was features in the world famous reality TV show “Amazing Race”. Filipinas or every Filipino in general love to take pictures of places they have been to. Most especially if it is with someone deemed special.  Taking pictures as a couple with the towers at your background can bring fond memories in the future and a smile on her face. There are also a lot of shopping centers such as the Bukit Bintang, Sungei Wang, Low Lat Plaza and Lot 10 that you can bring her to. Why? Filipinas love to shop too you know. It is one way of comforting themselves from being away from home.

Scuba diving and snorkeling is also a fun way to bring your date to. The Sipadan Island is considered one of world’s best dive sites. With its truly wonderful marine life to boast you can bring your Filipina date to a whole new world. Another breathtaking diving spot with wonderful reef life is in the Palau Redang. It is abundant with different kinds of fish, sea turtles, live corals and a whole lot more. It is also a protected marine park and has wonderful bays such as the Teluk Dalam, Pasir Panjang, and the Teluk Kalong to spend time together with. If you are worried about bad weather conditions you can take your date to the Berjaya Beach Resort. This is a bay that is almost not being hit by monsoons. It also offers other activities such as windsurfing and kayaking and a golf course as well.

Other beautiful places that you can visit are:

• Palau Pangkor – is a peaceful place with white sandy beaches covered with swaying coconut trees.
• Penang – is about 370 km form Kuala Lumpur and offers world class beaches and resorts. It is also where the oldest British settlement used to be situated. The town called Goergetown.
• Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park – is another good diving spot both for novice divers as well as marine photographers and experienced divers because of the little current and extraordinary marine life. There is just so much to do here such as nature walking in its guided forests and mangrove trails, bird-watching, camping, kayaking, windsurfing, and parasailing are among the few.
• Langkawi – is an out of the ordinary destination that offers different kinds of destinations. It is a mixture of traditional and modern life because of it pristine clear water and caving locations with shops that sell up to date modern equipment.

The beaches will surely remind your date of the Philippines because it is where many Filipino families spend lots of time together. If you do not want beaches you can go to Mt. Kinabalu, Genting Highlands, Fraser’s Hill, and Endau Rompin Park. For sure, whoever of the Filipina girls in Malaysia you decide to bring with you will be very excited.

Do you want to chat with beautiful Filipino girls and Philippines women right now? Sign up at: http://ift.tt/17cIJGf and meet the girl of your dreams!


Source by Alyana Cruz

Mueller Ankle Support

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Used by national football teams worldwide, this brace has a high cut front with a narrow profile bottom for more feel and more movement.The sturdy plastic stays help support both sides of the ankle and there is a single layer of fabric over the ankle bone for even greater protection. Also fits either foot.Specially designed to be worn under boots

A Brief History Of Basketball

Dr. James Naismith is known world-wide as the inventor of basketball. He was born in 1861 in Ramsay township, near Almonte, Ontario, Canada. The concept of basketball was born out of his early school days when he played a simple game known as duck-on-a-rock outside his schoolhouse. The game involved attempting to knock a “duck” off the top of a large rock by tossing another rock at it. This is the beginning of a brief history of basketball as we know it.

Naismith served as at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA in 1891, and this is where the sport of basketball was born. Naismith was faced with the challenge of finding a sport that was suitable for play inside during the winter for the students. Naismith wanted to create a game of skill that could be played indoors in a relatively small space. The very first game of basketball was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets used as goals. The history of basketball started right here.

James Naismith devised a set rules for these early games as follows:

„« The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.

„« A player cannot run with the ball, but instead the player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it.

„« The ball must be held in or between the hands, not any other body parts.

„« No shouldering, holding, pushing, striking or tripping in any way of an opponent is permitted. The first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul; the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is scored.

„« If either side make three consecutive fouls it shall count as a goal for the opponents (consecutive in these rules means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul of their own).

„« A goal is scored when the ball is thrown from the ground into the basket and stays there. If the ball rests on the edge of the basket and the opponents move the basket, it shall also count as a goal.

„« When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and played by the first person touching it.

„« The umpire shall be judge and have the power to disqualify or foul players as required.

„« The referee shall be the judge of the ball and decide when it is in play in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time.

„« The time shall be two 15-minute halves with five minutes’ rest between.

„« The side scoring the most goals in that time shall be declared the winners.

Today basketball has grown to become one of the world’s most popular sports, all thanks to Dr Naismith.

Source by Keith Kingston

Cyprus Golf

The beautiful island of Cyprus is fast becoming a golfer’s paradise. Here on the island the ideal Mediterranean climate makes golf a game that you can enjoy all the year round. The island has three international standard 18-hole golf courses all set in tranquil surroundings away from the busy tourist resorts. All of the courses are located in the Paphos area on landscaped hills that are easily accessed from the surrounding areas.

Aphrodite Hills Golf Course

The Aphrodite Hills development estate includes the award winning 18-hole championship standard Aphrodite Hills Golf Course, a luxury five star hotel, luxury villas and apartments, a village square with restaurants and shops, a tennis academy and a spa. Located near the legendary birthplace of the Greek mythological goddess of love, the golf course is built on two plateaux which are separated by a deep ravine. Designed by Cabell B. Robinson, an acclaimed course architect, the course offers amazing views over the Mediterranean, challenging pot bunkers, beautifully manicured fairways of lush Bermuda grass ad tiered greens. The 7th hole is the course’s signature par 3 hole which plays steeply down across a canyon onto a large green which is nestled in an olive grove. The course also has a double ended 350 metre practice range, four target greens with bunkers, short game practice facilities, three residential professional golf instructors and three academy holes. The clubhouse has a bar and a restaurant with terraces overlooking the green.

Elea Golf Course

Designed by Nick Faldo, the world-class Elea golf course is part of the Elea Estate where you will find a boutique hotel, luxury apartments and villas, spa facilities and a great choice of dining options. The course has an excellent location with breathtaking views of Paphos Town and the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. Weaving its way through the rolling countryside where weathered outcrops of limestone add character and contrast, golfers of all levels can explore and unravel all 18-holes of the course. This is a challenging course that meanders through olive groves where some holes are surrounded by Mediterranean grasses, native flora and wild herbs. Next to the golf house there is the Elea Golf Academy which features a full length driving range with bunkers and target greens, a putting green and a short game practice area. The stunning putting green offers amazing views across the whole of the golf course.

Secret Valley Golf Course

The Secret Valley Golf Course is located in a beautiful valley about 12 miles from Paphos near to ‘Petra tou Romiou’, the birthplace of the mythical goddess of love, Aphrodite. Offering wonderful panoramic views of the area, the course is set in scenic hills and is surrounded by mature trees and dramatic rock formations. This 18-hole course also offers tuition by a PGA qualified resident golf instructor, putting greens, chipping areas, fairway bunkers and a large driving range. The recently renovated clubhouse includes locker rooms, a sports shop offering equipment for hire or sale, bars and a restaurant with terraces overlooking the course and artificial lake.

Minthis Hills Golf Course

The recently refurbished Minthis Golf Course was founded in 1994. The club is set in the grounds of a 12th century monastery and is surrounded by vineyards and orchards. Nestled in a small valley on the outskirts of Paphos, the course sits at an altitude of 550 meters above sea level and is therefore blessed with cooling sea breezes during the summer months. A recent refurbishment of the greens by British golf course architects Mackenzie and Ebert has included all tees being rebuilt and expanded, bunkers reshaped and new bunkers added. The new club house is under construction and is in a traditional Cypriot architectural style with lots of glass and wood as the dominant features. With golf becoming an increasingly popular attraction on the island, there are lots of holiday deals to Cyprus available throughout the internet.

Source by Emma Healey