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The 4 Ps of Dog Training

2009-12-28T15:34:00.000-08:00

This dog training video discusses the 4 Ps of dog training.

CPAP Machines Improve Golf Scores

2009-11-17T16:09:00.000-08:00

A CPAP machine is a machine that you use to assist you with nighttime breathing if you suffer from a condition called sleep apnea. People who are able to get control over their sleep apnea are able to improve their general health across many areas of their lives. Additionally, new research indicates that people who get their sleep apnea under control may also improve their golf scores!

How is your golf score related to your use of a sleep apnea machine? Well, it has to do with the effect that CPAP machines have on your body. They help to make sure that you get enough sleep at night by limiting the impact of sleep apnea on your body. When you get enough sleep, you are more prepared on the golf course. That's why someone who has sleep apnea and gets it under control is going to have a better golf game.

There are other treatments for sleep apnea which also would help improve your golf scores by fixing the underlying problem of the condition. However, use of a CPAP machine is the most common method of properly treating sleep apnea. If you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have been hesitant to use this treatment, perhaps this new research will encourage you to do so. Even if you aren't a golfer, this research proves that proper sleep apnea treatment gives you the ability to focus and perform at the top of your game.

Closing the Shop Until Next Season

2009-11-13T09:05:00.000-08:00

Since the winter is just around the corner, it has come time to close up our boat supplies store for the season. It has been very good, but since our store is at a lake, we don’t get a lot of business in the winter.

But it is a great time to reflect on the successes and failures of the season and take those into account when ordering products for next year. A good example would be the number of canoes that I thought we would sell this year. We sold two instead of the twenty that I had anticipated, but I should have known that it would work out that way since the lake we service is just a bit too big for canoeing.

There is also one thing that I really struggled with this year which was the number of hours that I worked at the shop. Let me tell you that being there from sun up to sun down was not very good for our marriage and I think that I will be hiring more help next year so that I can spend more time with my family.

I am very thankful that this year was the best year yet and I look forward to many more at our little store at the lake.

Little Girls in European Clothes

2009-10-12T16:04:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows about women's fashion knows that trendy women look to Europe to figure out what the hottest designs are for any season. Little girls who are growing up in the footsteps of fashionable mothers are starting to turn their eyes towards European designers as well. The availability of the Internet makes it possible to start looking at European clothing beginning at a very young age and lot of little girls are taking advantage of this opportunity.

Why do women and girls have such a strong interest in European fashion? Although there are plenty of great fashion designers in America, it is the designers of Europe that really tend to set the trends in the fashion world. Even American designers tend to model their designs after the work that's happening in Europe so that they can compete on global catwalks. If you want to be in style then you need to know what's happening on the European fashion scene.

It used to be that women got this information from magazines. They would purchase European copies of Vogue to get a good sense of what styles were popular overseas. Nowadays these women can just turn on their computer screens to learn about the latest in European fashion design. This ability has allowed them to also learn about great European clothing designs for their daughters. Moms and daughters can now pore over websites for designs by Catimini and Deux Par Deux to see what European designers have in mind for gals of all ages. Europe is in our living rooms now and ladies of all ages are loving it!

The Best Vacation Ever

2009-09-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

I don’t know how many years it has been since we had a truly amazing experience on our family vacation, but this year would certainly top any we have ever had up to this point. Instead of taking the tent trailer out this year, we decided to swim with dolphins in the Caribbean.

Okay, truth be told, my wife wanted to swim with dolphins and I wasn’t really too keen on the idea. I mean, who wants to swim with a wet mammal anyway, right?

Well, the experience of swimming with them changed my view on the whole situation. Truth be told, they really weren’t all that bad, and it was really nice of them to give us the opportunity to swim with them. It was something that I will remember forever.

I guess that I am thankful that my wife came up with the idea, and that early on in life I decided that I would try everything once. If I hadn’t given it a shot, I think that my life would have been a little less complete.

Since the vacation went so well this year, I think we are going to try to do something like this again in two years and expose our children to other new experiences before they move away from home.

College Graduation Traditions Matter

2009-09-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

When I was in school, I didn't think that most of the traditional things about graduation mattered much. I didn't order a class ring. I didn't get a college diploma frame. I didn't even bother to walk in the graduation ceremony. I felt that these things were outdated traditions that didn't relate to education today. I regret those decisions.

Education has certainly changed a lot over time. However, there are a lot of things within education that reflect traditions from the past. I may not have gone to the same college that my dad went to but it's important in our family that we did both go to college. It also matters that my siblings went to college. Having our degrees framed and hanging in matching university diploma frames in our parents' home would reflect our respect for this family tradition. I chose not to participate in this show of respect when I first graduated.

It's hard to make yourself see the point of these traditions when you're just graduating. You're so young that you may not understand the true value of the education that you've just completed. Trust your elders on this one. It is very valuable and the traditions that we use to honor it are actually really important even though they may not seem so at first glance.

HGH for Skin Care

2009-09-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

Skin care is something that most of us think about. We want to take care of our skin, especially the skin on our faces. After all, the face is the first thing that people see when they look at us. We want to have good skin so that people get a good first impression when they meet us. Human growth hormone is one thing that can be used for maintaining good skin over time.

HGH helps to keep your skin hydrated. Dehydration is a leading cause of skin that looks bad as we age. Dehydration changes the color of the face, reduces its elasticity and even makes the skin thinner. All of this leads to a negative appearance. HGH replaces the hydration in the skin which eliminates these problems. The result is that you end up with replenished youthful skin.

In general, HGH is useful as an anti-aging product. It can make you feel younger and stronger. That's what most people know about it. If you didn't know it before then you now know that it also makes you look younger. Better skin means a better overall appearance and better first impressions on others. That sounds like a good reason to take hgh supplements if you ask me.

Keeping in Touch Virtually

2009-09-09T20:55:00.000-07:00

Tonight my friend and I were switching back and forth between communicating via Facebook chat, cell phone, and both at the same time. It was kind of a joke and it was amusing, but it made me think of how easy the Internet has made keeping in touch.

For instance, my high school graduating class found everyone for the 10-year reunion thanks to online social networks such as MySpace and Facebook. And the same sites have enabled me to keep in touch with old friends that I would otherwise be too busy to keep up with, simply by putting everyone all in one place.

These same principles have been put to work for businesses and other associations. Group management software is often used by companies and recreational sports teams to keep everyone in touch, quickly send out updates and event reminders, etc. For instance, group management software can even be used for HOA management. If it's anything like social networking has been for me, this software should make it much easier for everyone in the neighborhood to stay in touch, despite their busy lives.

A lot of old timers and traditionalists say that we're losing the ability to communicate with people face-to-face, but honestly I don't think that's true. Just as the telephone made it easier for people to talk to one another (even if it wasn't always face to face), social networking sites make it easier to keep in touch with people or catch up with old friends you haven't seen in a while.

Birthday Gift for my Niece

2009-08-22T14:06:00.001-07:00

I would have to say that one of the most wonderful moments in my life was when I became an uncle. I have always loved to play with kids, and the thought of having some kids to play with (that I could send home) was something that I had always dreamed of. So, when my sister phoned to tell me that she was pregnant, I was very excited.

Now, nearly thirteen years later, I still love being an uncle as much as the day that Lucy was born. I would like to think that I have had a positive experience on her life, and in some respects, she is a lot like me. So, when she came to me to let me know what she wanted for her birthday, and told me that she wanted some western bedding, I really wasn’t that surprised. I guess I must have instilled the love of the country into her at some point (could be that I live on a farm), and that is ok with me.

So, I will be heading down to the local western gifts store later today to go pick something out for her. I really hope she likes it.

Hearing aids can bring neighbors together

2009-08-22T13:28:00.000-07:00

There are about half a dozen individuals on my street, myself included, that wear hearing aids. While our neighborhood is not considered a retirement center, or anything, a number of us mature folks have decided it is the place we'd like to live the most.

One particularly hectic day on my way to my audiologist appointment, I was discouraged to learn they were doing street repairs just around the corner and out of site from my driveway. Because there is only one way in and out of our cul-de-sac, I was forced to wait in line with at least 4 other cars heading the same direction as I was.

For about 15 minutes or so, we were detained. As I sat there, I noticed the driver of the car in front of me was a good friend and neighbor. In my rear view mirror I found another favorite buddy of mine. After a while my two friends saw me exit my vehicle, and they joined me for a chat while we waited.

To our mutual surprise we discovered all of us were leaving the neighborhood for the very same reason: we all had appointments to get our hearing aids checked. Laughing, we decided to car pool, and actually ended up starting a regular shuttle service that saved everyone time and travel money.

Memories of My Grandma

2009-08-15T23:31:00.000-07:00

When I was only about four or five years old, my grandmother — my mom's mom — had a stroke. This severely limited her ability to do things, and she was more or less in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. When I remember her best, she could walk a bit with a cane, and even navigate stairs (very carefully) — but my mom says that for a while at first, they had to have a lift chair installed in the house to get her up and down the stairs.

Back then, though, I think stair lifts were a little bulkier than they are now, and my grandparents had an old house so there wasn't a lot of room on the stairs. Also I doubt the equipment was as good back then — we're talking about more than 20 years ago, after all. So as soon as my grandma could comfortably navigate the stairs again, they got rid of the lift.

I was only ten when my grandmother died from her final stroke, but I have some very fond memories of her. I used to love to push her wheelchair; I particularly remember doing this when we used to visit Skytop, an old golf resort in the Pocono Mountains, every summer. I can also remember buttering her rolls for her at dinner, which she couldn't do because the stroke had severely limited the mobility of her right hand.

I didn't know her for very long, but I was devastated when my grandmother died. I miss her all the time, particularly when I smell something or see something or do something that reminds me of her!

Business Names: Whimsical vs. Flirtatious

2009-08-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

Most people who are starting a new business are aware of the fact that choosing a great business name is really important. However, a lot of those people don't really know how to go about choosing their business name. One of the most important things to decide when choosing a name for your business is whether you want to be subtle or explicit in what your business name suggests.

For example, let's say that you are about to start a clothing line for women. You want them to know that this clothing line is designed to help make them feel beautiful, sexy and special. Do you want to say that in a subtle way or do you want to be blunt about it? If you wanted to be subtle then you would probably choose a whimsical name such as Paperwings which hints at the beauty of angels and butterflies. If you wanted to be more blunt then you might choose a name such as Oh la la clothing. Both business names do the trick but each says something different to the clientele that you are targeting.

When choosing your business name, ask yourself who you are targeting with your work. Then, ask yourself if these are likely to be people who prefer subtlety or people who want it said like it is. This can assist you in narrowing down your choices for a good business name.

Arizona School of Health Sciences for a local education

2009-07-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

Having grown up in the Phoenix area, and still being able to say that most of my family and close friends are here, I was happy to look into further educational offerings that might allow me to stay local. Given that I've been working in various administrative capacities within the healthcare industry, I decided to look at opportunities in that field.

The Arizona School of Health Sciences was recommended to me by a recent alumnus of the program. When she first told me about the online learning opportunities, I'll admit to feeling a bit uneasy about it. The reality is that AT Still University, which operates ASHS, began developing and educating compassionate, allied healthcare professionals in 1995.

That is over 10 years that the ATSU School of Health Management has been advancing whole person care as well as integrating health professions education with the latest in cutting edge online technologies.

If I am going to take the time to get further education I definitely want to get it from the best learning institution possible. To have a school that is dedicated to educating and preparing me to practice at the forefront of our healthcare system is what makes me likely to attend ATSU.

Oh, and the fact that they are local and have a ton of online offerings makes me want to attend them that much more.

Favorite Open-Ended Toys

2009-07-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

I was a pretty imaginative kid when I was young, and so I've grown up to really value creativity. Also I have a background in preschool and early education, so I'm especially supportive of things like open-ended toys — toys that encourage creative play.

Here are a few examples of my favorite open-ended toys:

* Wooden toys, like those wooden blocks of various shapes and sizes that as a kid I used to build everything from doll houses to rat mazes.
* Legos, but not those sets that give you special pieces and instructions on how to put it all together. I mean the old-fashioned sets of legos, where you could make anything you wanted with it.
* Tool sets that allow kids to put together their own little creations. Obviously you have to have a pretty mature kid that you can trust with this kind of thing, but I think the learning experience is well worth a little work to get them there!
* Dolls that don't do anything except for wear clothes — no themes, no voice boxes, etc. Kids can find tons of games to play with a doll that doesn't just hand them a script (meaning, doesn't tell them what to play).
* Plain ol' kids outdoor toys are also fantastic. Give your kids everything from balls to sand toys to bikes and helmets, and kids can keep themselves entertained outside until the sun goes down!

You probably are getting an idea of what open-ended toys are — basically, anything that lets the kids call the shots. With that in mind, here are a few examples of toys that are not, in any way shape or form, open-ended:

* Toys that talk to them when they press a button. Usually that's all these toys are good for, and once that gets boring, they lose interest in them anyway.
* Toys that do something (i.e., make a movement) when they press a button. Ditto above.
* Character toys such as Spiderman, Transformers, etc. There is some open-ended play here, but usually it just gets scripted by the TV shows and movies they have seen. Toys that aren't characters (or at least not TV characters) are much better.

Get it? Got it? Good.

Looking Cute When You're Pregnant

2009-07-12T17:07:00.000-07:00

The cutest pregnant women always seem to wear great maternity clothing. I don't think it's coincidence. I think the cute maternity clothes some women find have everything to do with why they are perceived as "cute" when they are pregnant.

For instance, one of my co-workers, back when I worked in preschool, always had the cutest clothes when she was pregnant. I remember this one maternity top she wore in particular — it was slightly feminine but not too frilly or anything, and very much in the current style.

A friend of mine also demonstrated how you can wear your normal clothes as maternity clothing without looking grotesque or frumpy. When she was four or five months pregnant — so with a baby bump, but not too big yet — she wore one of those pretty tops that have an empire waist line and are all flowy and drapey underneath. Because it was so loose and feminine, she was able to pull it off without looking like she was trying to squeeze her way into her old clothes.

On the other hand, wearing something that doesn't fit, or that is ill-fitting, tends to make pregnant women look odd or even like they have poor personal hygiene. That's why taking good care with your appearance while you are pregnant is so important!

Odd Places Leave an Impression on Travelers

2009-07-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

I have traveled all throughout the United States. I have visited little towns and huge cities. I have stayed in the cheapest motels and some of the nicest luxury hotels there are. What I've discovered from my travels is it's the places that you don't think about much that end up leaving an impression on you.

For example, the state that I most want to visit again is North Carolina. I hadn't even planned on spending much time there. I was driving through on my way to somewhere that sounded more exciting. But I fell in love with the state. I loved the hippies in Asheville and the cool barbershop in Fayetteville and the way people were fishing in the ocean.

Sometimes it's not just a place that sticks with you but a feature of that place. That's how I feel about hotels in Atlanta. I went there after a long stay in San Diego. I roomed in a lot of really cool San Diego CA hotels. But the Atlanta hotels were so much more interesting. They were designed with neat Southern architecture and they offer service with Southern charm attached.

What I've learned about travel is that you can't plan for what will impress you. You can plan the details of the trip. You can plan the places that you want to see. But you just never know what's going to stick in your mind after you leave.

The World's Oldest National Parks

2009-07-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

National parks are important. They offer sanctuaries where people can retreat into nature even though buildings are going up all around them. You would think that this is something that we only recently started worrying about. However, it's been a concern for a long time. In fact, some of the oldest national parks in the world were established in the nineteenth century, long before a lot of people started worrying about the problems of urbanization.

The oldest established National Park is Yellowstone National Park located here in the United States. It was established back in 1872 right after the National Park Service was created. This was when people started to worry about the importance of protecting the nature that was starting to be destroyed by urban development.

Canada soon followed suit with its first National Park. Banff National Park was established in 1885. It was established because of a controversy over the land here. Hot Springs were discovered in the area and some people wanted to commercialize them whereas others wanted to keep them free for the public. Keeping beautiful land available for all people at low cost or no cost is a key reason that we have national parks.

Being prepared for the best disability insurance quote

2009-06-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

Before you get your first disability insurance quote, make sure you have gathered all of the pertinent information that is required for the potential insurer to give your premium amounts. You will be quoted based upon where your practice is located, the number of patients your doctor sees annually, the average income produced by the practice and a host of other factors.

If, for instance, you are located in Manhattan, KS and only generate $3.5 Million dollars gross, annually, you can be assured that the rates charged by most disability insurance companies will be less than if your practice was in Manhattan, NY.

Other important factors might include the actual number of patients which come through your doors. The reasoning behind this is sound. If it takes your practice 1200 patients to make that $3.5 Million in income, and it takes a similar practice only 600 patients to generate the same amount, that is half the chances that something could go wrong. With less chances for you and your practice to be sued, you can reasonably expect to have lower premiums.

Another factor is how long you have been with your current insurer. Many of the leading disability insurance companies will take long term customers loyalty into consideration and lower premiums as a way of thanking them for their continued business.

Always wanted to take a train trip in Canada

2009-06-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

Some of my earliest memories were watching old black and white films on TV. Now, I'm not so old that color television had yet to be created, so watch it! Seriously, though, I can remember marveling at the majestic mountains, streams, tunnels through the hillsides and all that went along with the trains steaming through the countrysides.

Since I've never taken a train ride for pleasure I decided that I would start researching what would be involved in taking a train trip in Canada. I was actually somewhat shocked to learn that for surprisingly little money I could plan out a masterful vacation that would take me from end to end and back again.

And what was even more attractive was the fact that some of the more exceptional touring companies in Canada offered combination packages as well. Not only could I take the train, but I could also add Canada coach tours to supplement certain parts of my overall vacation plans.

When you combine the infinite options that come along with train and motor coach touring, you'll be hooked into it like I was. Nothing is in my way now of getting to experience in real life those hours and hours of television watching as a kid. I can hardly wait to see all that Canada has to offer.

Differences between loans and payday loans

2009-06-22T07:53:00.000-07:00

Many times I've wondered exactly what the difference was between a regular loan one would get at a bank or lending institution and those payday loans you sometimes see advertised in the local penny saver papers. The name does sound pretty self-explanatory, but is it really?

If you are going to apply for a payday loan, do they look at your credit rating? If so, how does that affect you ability to actually receive the money successfully? Or perhaps the rates one would have to pay are based upon ones credit rating.

And how do they actually verify that you have a job which will eventually result in a payday? I know one advertisement I noticed recently indicated that all you had to do was bring in your most recent pay stub and verification would be satisfied.

But what if your most recent check was also your last payday? Would they know this? If so, how? The only way I can think of is they must be calling your human resources office and asking them point blank whether or not you still work there. Many businesses won't give out this information, however.

With all these questions, I can only imagine how hard it is for banks to process the real loans they are handing money out for.

How to Have the Best Fiji Adventure Ever

2009-06-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I think everyone should do in this lifetime is to travel to an adventurous destination. I happen to believe that Fiji is the best place to do that.

Follow these steps to have the best Fiji adventure ever:

• Learn about Fiji before you go. There is a lot of rich history there. Knowing it will give you a better understanding of all that you experience there.

• Invite someone that you have fun with. The company that you take on a trip can make a big difference in what a good time you'll have.

• Book a room at a great Fiji resort. There is no point in going on a wild adventure and staying somewhere cheap.

• Stay there for at least a week. This gives you enough time to do everything that you might want to do.

• Try at least one experience that scares you. Go scuba diving or do something else that's a little scary. Fear is how you know that you're alive!

• Take a lot of pictures. You want to be able to treasure those memories of Fiji forever and ever.

Fiji is the best adventure vacation destination for me. If it's not right for you, find some place that is and then make your travel plans.

Upgrading my CPAP machine to BI-PAP

2009-06-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

Four years ago I was diagnosed with sleep apnea disorder and finally came to understand where so many of my personal, physical challenges were originating. Prior to my doctor telling me about my sleep challenges, I just though my lifestyle was contributing to my general malaise and overall discomfort.

photo credit: dominiqs

The reality, however was that regardless of the amount of sleep I received at night, I was not truly resting. As a consequence, I would awake more tired than when I went to sleep. My first CPAP machine made a monumental difference in my life, and I still don't understand how I was able to get along without it.

Within the first 6 months or so after beginning to sleep with it, I felt more energized in the morning and that energy lasted deeper into the day. I was finally able to focus on other aspects of my health: things like diet, exercise and just plain fun!

The next 6 months, however I felt like I had hit a ceiling and wondered if this was just the best I could expect. With a referral to a sleep specialist, I was able to upgrade to using a special bipap device that has added new height to that ceiling I thought I had hit. Now, I feel more rested and rejuvenated than ever before.

Online Shopping Privacy

2009-06-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about shopping for or researching a product online is that it offers privacy.

I've always hated walking up to a store clerk to ask them about something embarrassing, such as where they keep the tampons. Checking out bras and underwear in my basket isn't much less embarrassing. So I totally appreciate the relative privacy offered by ordering or researching these types of items online.

Something like hair replacement for men must be the same way. I'm sure it is much easier to do your research online, discreetly, rather than having to call a doctor, make an appointment, and ask your questions in a face to face meeting. Yikes! Much better to be able to research hair replacement cost and facts online and in private.

It's things like this that explain why online shopping has done so well, especially in some areas. Victoria's Secret, for example, has a wildly successful online catalog — admittedly, I've done a lot of my shopping for my unmentionables there. Diet programs are another area where people often appreciate privacy — I can't tell you how many programs I've seen where a selling point is that the merchandise will be shipped in a plain package with no identifying company names to give away your secret.

What other types of items can you think of that people research and buy online in order to spare themselves potential embarrassment?

Your Name in Your Business Name

2009-06-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

Many people who own their own business want the name of the business to include their personal name. This is particularly true for people who want to start a business with their whole family or to pass the business down to younger generations in the future.

It's absolutely fine to include your own name in the name of your business. However, from a marketing perspective, you want to be careful about how you do it.

The main thing is to make sure that the business name is still descriptive enough for people who don't know you to know what your business sells. For example, let's say that your name is Johnson and you sell marine parts. You could name your business simply Johnson Parts but then people aren't going to know what you sell. Naming it Johnson Marine Accessories would be a smarter choice.

The goal is to make sure that your business name sells your products to people without your help. Your own name is great but it's not likely to be a seller all on its own. You can still place it prominently at the front of the business name without compromising the total business value of a good name.

BBQ Islands Are the Way to Go

2009-06-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

I wonder why people wouldn’t want something like a cal flame bbq islands. We had a built-in sort of bbq “island” when I was small, and it was very versatile. It was at the end of the patio, and it’s long counter-top served not only for bbq fixin's, but also as a place to pot plants, as a place to hold crafts for scout projects done on the picnic table, and also to hold presents when we had birthday parties out there.

It was just a red brick contraption, but it was topped with pretty Mexican tiles, and it had storage underneath like most built in grills you see today. My mom could store all of her pots, shovels and potting mix under there; we even hid in there for hide and go seek.

I guess the advantage to buying a regular roll-away grill is that you can take it with you, or move it to different areas of the yard for different seasons. But a nice brick built-in (the hilarious looking one on “I Love Lucy” notwithstanding) is just so versatile and great-looking, not to mention sturdy enough to hold up to the weather. I miss that thing even today.