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A Little Regular Exercise Extends Men’s LivesBrisk 30-minute walk a few days a week cut deathrisk in half, study found
By Alan Mozes - HealthDay Reporter
(SOURCES: Peter Kokkinos, Ph.D., director, exer-cise testing and research lab, cardiology depart-ment, Veterans Affairs Medical Center,Washington D.C.; Alice H. Lichtenstein, D.Sc.,director, Cardiovascular Nutrition Lab, Gershoffprofessor of nutrition, USDA Human NutritionResearch Center, Tufts University, Boston, andformer vice chair, nutrition committee, AmericanHeart Association; Jan. 22, 2008, Circulation,online)
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 23 (HealthDay News) —Even a moderate amount of exercise can dramat-ically prolong a man’s life, new research on mid-dle-aged and elderly American veterans reveals.
The government-sponsored analysis — thelargest such study ever — found that a regimen ofbrisk walking 30 minutes a day at least four to sixdays a week was enough to halve the risk of pre-mature death from all causes.
“As you increase your ability to exercise —increase your fitness — you are decreasing in astep-wise fashion the risk of death,” said studyauthor Peter Kokkinos, director of the exercisetesting and research lab in the cardiology depart-ment of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center inWashington, D.C.
That conclusion applies more or less equally towhite and black men, regardless of their prior his-tory of cardiovascular disease. According toKokkinos, that may be because the veterans inthe study all received the same level of care,regardless of income.
This evened the playing field, he said, giving him“great confidence” in the results, which will be
published in the Feb. 5 issue of Circulation andwere released online Jan. 22.
In the study, Kokkinos and his team reviewedinformation gathered by the VA from 15,660black and white male patients treated either inPalo Alto, Calif., or in Washington, D.C.
The men ranged in age from 47 to 71 and hadbeen referred to a VA medical facility for a clini-cally prescribed treadmill exercise test sometimebetween 1983 and 2006. All participants wereasked to run until fatigued, at which point theresearchers recorded the total amount of energyexpended and oxygen consumed.
The numbers were then crunched into “metabol-ic equivalents,” or METS. In turn, the researchersgraded the fitness of each man according to hisMET score, ranging from “low-fit” (below 5METS) to “very-high fit” (above 10 METS).
By tracking fatalities through June 2007,
Kokkinos and his colleagues found that for bothblack and white men it was their fitness level,rather than their age, blood pressure or body-massindex, that was most strongly linked to theirfuture risk for death.
Every extra point in MET conferred a 14 percentreduction in the risk for death among black men,and a 12 percent reduction among whites. Amongall participants, those categorized as “moderatelyfit” (5 to 7 METS) had about a 20 percent lowerrisk for death than “low-fit” men. “High-fit” men(7 to 10 METS) had a 50 percent lower risk, whilethe “very high fit” (10 METS or higher) cut theirodds of an early death by 70 percent.
“The point is, it takes relatively little exercise toachieve the benefit we found,” noted Kokkinos.“Approximately two to three hours per week ofbrisk walking per week. That’s just 120 to 200minutes per week. And this can be split upthroughout the week, and throughout the day. Soit’s doable in the real world.”
Alice H. Lichtenstein, director of theCardiovascular Nutrition Lab at TuftsUniversity’s USDA Human Nutrition ResearchCenter in Boston, agreed.
“What this finding demonstrates is that levels ofphysical activity that should be achievable by any-one can have a real benefit with respect to riskreduction,” she said.
“What’s really important to understand is thatyou don’t need special clothes, special member-ships, special equipment,” added Lichtenstein,former chairwoman of the American HeartAssociation’s nutrition committee. “It’s some-thing everyone can engage in. And although wedon’t know from this research that this applies towomen as well, there’s no reason to suspect thatit wouldn’t.”
Those 40 to 65 twice as likely to find eithersymptom fuels the other, study suggests
(SOURCE: Center for the Advancement ofHealth, news release, Jan. 11, 2008)
MONDAY, Jan. 14 (HealthDay News) — Obesityand depression often go hand-in-hand in middle-aged women, a new U.S. study found.
The research collected information on the height,weight, dietary and exercise habits, and bodyimage of 4,641 women, ages 40 to 65, enrolled ina health plan. The women also completed a ques-tionnaire used to measure depression symptoms.
Women with clinical depression were more thantwice as likely to be obese (a body mass index of30 or more), and obese women were more thantwice as likely to be depressed, the study found.
It also found that women with BMIs of 30 or
higher exercised the least, had the poorest bodyimage, and consumed 20 percent more caloriesthan women with lower BMIs.
The link between obesity and depressionremained intact even when the researchers fac-tored in marital status, education, tobacco useand antidepressant use.
The study was published in the January/Februaryissue of the journal General Hospital Psychiatry.
It’s likely that depression and obesity fuel oneanother, said lead author Dr. Gregory Simon, apsychiatrist and researcher at Group HealthCooperative in Seattle.
“When people gain weight, they’re more likely tobecome depressed, and when they get depressed,they have more trouble losing weight,” he said ina prepared statement.
The stigma of being overweight can damage self-esteem and efforts to lose weight.
“It’s not that these women are clueless. It’s thatthey’re hopeless,” said Simon, who suggested thatif obese women focus on rebuilding their selfesteem, it may help them lose weight.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians hasmore about
SOURCES: Sheela Sathyanarayana, M.D.,M.P.H., acting assistant professor, department ofpediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle;Jonathan Weinkle, M.D., physician, Children’sHospital of Pittsburgh, and University ofPittsburgh Cancer Institute’s Center forEnvironmental Oncology; Jan. 31, 2008, state-ment, American Chemistry Council; February2008, Pediatrics)
Depression, Obesity Coexist in Many Middle-Aged Women
HEALTH / FITNESS
NUTRITION
by: Chris Robertson Even if we roll our eyes when we hear it,
"Eat your veggies" is a maxim that we'd bewell advised to heed. Our mothers andgrandmothers instinctively knew that freshfruit and vegetables were good for us, andscience has reinforced the value of fresh pro-duce in keeping our bodies in peak condi-tion. Nevertheless, we often skimp on eat-ing root vegetables, either because theyseem boring or we don't know how to bestprepare them. These nutrition-packed pow-erhouses are worth a second look, though.Here's an overview that will hopefullyinspire you to reach for the roots whenyou're in the produce section of your grocerystore.
Captivating CarrotsOh, the ubiquitous carrot. Baby carrots
are peeled, washed, and sealed in plasticbags for a no-fuss, no-muss snack. But car-rots aren't given credit for their variety orversatility. For example, not all carrots areorange. The next time you want to experi-ment, be on the lookout for white, yellow,red, and even purple carrots. They can beused in recipes, or to add vibrant color toyour plates.
Speaking of recipes, carrots can be morethan an afterthought for a salad or to enrichand add flavor to broths. Carrots givebreads, muffins, and cakes a wonderfulmoistness, texture, and flavor, and cold car-rot soup can be a refreshing taste treat on ahot summer day. Throw grated carrots,cream cheese, and grated onion into a foodprocessor and spread on toast points for adelicious appetizer. Step into the future witha carrot mousse or flashback to the pastwith pickled carrots. Let your imaginationfly and you'll rediscover these colorful treas-ures.
Radical Rutabagas and Tasty TurnipsAlthough the Finns and Swedes cook
rutabagas with aplomb, the rutabaga and
turnip aren't in most Americans repertoireswhen it comes to cooking vegetables. Sure,turnip greens are a staple of the deliciouscuisine of the South, but what to do withthe root?
Rutabagas are actually a cross betweenturnips and cabbages, although they aremost often used like a turnipin cooking. Either rutabagasor turnips can be cooked andadded to mashed potatoes toenhance their flavor andnutrition. Try turnip custard,or combine apples and rutaba-gas for a delicious bakedcasserole. Use rutabagas in aspice cake or bread, or make aseasoned puree and serve itwith a meat dish.
Hearty JicamaLike the carrot, the jicama is often rele-
gated to the salad bar. But this sweet,starchy, and refreshing root vegetable is awonderful addition to stir-fry or potatosalad. Much of jicama's appeal is its uniquecrunchy texture, so grate it, cube it, or juli-enne it to add zazz to cold dishes.Toss jalapeno with vinegar,cilantro, and jalapeno, and thenplace grilled shrimp over a bed ofjicama. Delectable!
Other Nutrition-Packed Roots When visiting the fresh pro-
duce section of your grocery store,don't overlook other roots that havetaken a back seat to other freshfruit and vegetables. Beets,parsnips, and radishes also offerculinary delights, so embrace theirversatility and their ability to getyou excited about eating your veggies!
About The Author: Chris Robertson isa published author of Majon International.Majon International is one of the worldsMOST popular internet marketing andinternet advertising companies on the web.
Visit their main business resource web siteat: http://www.majon.com
To learn more about subjects likeProduce please visit the web site at:http://www.yourproduce.com
For more information and informativerelated articles and links about this subjectmatter and content, please visit Majon'sFood directory: http://www.majon.com/directory/Food
Food & Drink
Pr o d u c e : T h e R o o t s o f G o o d H e a l t h
FINANCE
by: Jim Kemish
So Many ScoresCredit scores can be confusing. FICO,
TrueCredit, PLUS, Beacon, and Empiricascores are all in daily use. Why are there somany scores? A nationally recognized creditrepair expert explains the different scoresand how they can impact your life.
FICO, the Score that CountsThere are many credit scores available,
but the FICO score is the one that matters.FICO, by the way, is an acronym for FairIsaac & Company, the creator of the scoringmodel. Virtually all lenders use FICO scoresto make loan decisions. If you are in a cred-it repair program, any score you monitor isfine for measuring progress. But if you areplanning to apply for a loan the FICO scoreis the one to watch.
FICO and Your Lender When you apply for a loan, the lender
orders your credit report from one (or more)of the three credit bureaus, Experian,Equifax, and TransUnion. Each creditbureau report comes with a FICO score. Ifyou speak with your lender about your cred-it, they are likely to refer to each of yourscores using the specific credit bureauname.
The Credit Bureau Illusion Given the constant association of FICO
scores with the three credit bureaus, youmight assume they have some proprietaryclaim on the scores. You might also assume
that if you purchased your scores fromthe credit bureaus, you would get thesame FICO scores the bureaus sold toyour lender. You would not be alone. Inthe credit repair business, we find mostof our customers make the sameassumptions. The assumptions arewrong.
Credit Score Re-BrandingAs an aside, I should mention that thethree bureaus have re-branded theFICO scores they sell to lenders.Equifax calls it a Beacon score,TransUnion calls it an Empirica score,and Experian calls it an Experian Score.Different names, but they are all FICOscores. Our credit repair customersoften ask about numeric differences inthe scores. Numeric differences arisebecause each bureau gets informationfrom a slightly different mix of credi-tors. Timing also plays a roll in scorevariance; a recent change in your credit
may be picked up sooner at one bureau thananother.
The Business of Credit ScoresAs it happens, the credit bureaus don’t
own the FICO scores, nor do they sell themdirectly to consumers. Fair Isaac &Company owns the scoring model andlicenses it to the credit bureaus. The creditbureaus use the model to score the data theyhave on file for consumers. Then they bun-dle the scores with consumer credit reportsand sell them to lenders. Fair Isaac collectsroyalties from the credit bureaus for thesesales.
Putting Credit Scores to UseIf you are planning to apply for a loan,
you might want to purchase your FICOscores beforehand. You would want your realscores, not “estimated” scores that mightvary widely from the ones the lender willuse. Yet “estimated” scores are exactly whatmillions of consumers get every year whenthey visit the credit bureau’s websites. Manyof these consumers go on to apply for a loan,and are disappointed when the lender tellsthem that their scores are lower than theywere led to believe. We hear this storyalmost every day from people starting uptheir credit repair effort.
Estimated Scores Fair Isaac would have been happy to
have the credit bureaus sell FICO scoresdirectly to consumers. The credit bureaus,however, seeing the opportunity, developedtheir own “estimated” credit scores rather
than paying royalties to Fair Isaac. Equifax,the exception, offers a FICO score to con-sumers, which provides an economical wayfor consumers, or anyone in a credit repairprogram, to monitor their score, but on itsown does not provide a complete solution.
Experian’s PLUS Score
Experian sells a credit score at their websitecalled the “PLUS Score”. Here is the smallprint from their website, “Your PLUS Scoreis formulated using the information in yourcredit file. It is modeled after the hundredsof commercial credit scores that help poten-tial lenders, landlords, and employers quick-ly gauge your credit history and decide whatkind of a risk they might be taking if theyapprove your application.”
TransUnion’s TrueCredit ScoreTransUnion sells a credit score called
the “TrueCredit” score. Here is the smallprint from their website. “TrueCredit” is notconnected in any way with Fair, Isaac andCompany; the credit score provided here isnot a so-called FICO score. The creditscores of TransUnion may not be identicalin every respect to any consumer creditscores produced by any other company.”
Equifax FICO Score Equifax, as mentioned, makes a FICO
score available to consumers. If you are in acredit repair program, or planning to applyfor a loan, this is the most economical wayof seeing a real FICO score. But it is impor-tant to know that many lenders, and almostall mortgage companies, look at all three ofyour FICO scores, and base their decisionon the value of your middle score. One scoreis simply not enough.
Myfico.com the FICO Source So, if you want to know where you
stand prior to applying for a loan, or to mon-itor your credit repair efforts for each creditbureau, you will need to see all three FICOscores. These are available at myfico.com,The Fair Isaac website.
Copyright © 2007 James W. Kemish. AllContent. All Rights Reserved. About The Author: Jim Kemish, a national-ly recognized credit repair and restorationexpert, is the president of Sky Blue Credit, aleading credit repair business since 1989.For more information visit http://www.sky-bluecredit.com
Credit Repair: What’s The Score?
HOME IMPROVEMENT
by: Megan Hazel Everyone wants to have a home like
those featured in Architectural Digest, but ifyou're like most, your finances will notallow for it. There are, however, severalapproaches to decorating and designing thatyou can take without breaking the bank.
A fresh coat of paint can do wonders forbrightening up a room, or even changing itcompletely. Having a room professionallypainted can be pricey, however, dependingon the contractor hired and the type of serv-ices provided. Rather than hiring someone,painting is a skill that is easily acquired andcan even be fun to do. While it may be timeconsuming, it is not a difficult skill to mas-ter. A roller, pan and brush set will costabout $10.00, and a gallon of paint between$20.00 and $30.00. Add in some extramoney for spackle to fill any cracks or nailholes, some primer or a base coat, dropcloths and paint remover. If you figure ontwo gallons of paint, depending on theroom's square footage, you could have awhite-walled room turn a beautiful huntergreen for less than $150.00 all told! In theend, you will be left with a freshly painted,new look and the pride of having done ityourself.
Another way to save money decoratingis to shop the yard sales. Sound silly? It'snot. Springtime is a great time to do this, asmany people are cleaning out their closetsand putting things in the yard that they nolonger want or they simply don't have roomfor. You've heard the saying "One man'strash is another man's treasure?" This canbe your opportunity for treasure hunting!
How many times while shopping have youstepped into an expensive boutique or
gallery, just to window shop, and whilebrowsing spotted the ‘perfect' oversized vasefor your floor, or a really odd sculpture orironwork that would be just right for yourliving room? Yard sales are full of these typeitems! Because proud homeowners re-deco-rate every few years, they put perfectly good(and pricey!) merchandise out for sale to thehighest bidder. If you do not live in the sub-urbs, you can still take advantage of thesetype sales at your local flea market on aSaturday morning or the market on yourblock.
Want a completely FREE solution?Move some furniture! Not only can youchange the look of your home by movingfurniture within a room, you can even getcreative and change the actual rooms them-selves. Why not? If you have a large sparebedroom on the second floor that you havebeen using for a guest room, why not makethis into your growing toddler's bedroomand convert his or her room to the less used,smaller guest room? If you have a familyroom and a living room that are approxi-mately the same size but in opposite areasof your home, why not simply reverse thefloor plan? You would be amazed at the dif-ference this can make in livening up a housethat has become stale in the decoratingdepartment. If this seems too drastic for youor you don't have the extra rooms, evenmoving furniture within a room can be acompletely cost-free way to renovate.
Who says decorating has to be on theinside of the house only? The first impres-sion you and your guests will have is of theoutside of your home. Many people spend
hundreds or even thousands of dollars inlandscaping, when this cost can be cut sig-
nificantly bydoing yourown outdoorg a r d e n i n g ,planting anddeco ra t ing .Rather thanhaving a mas-ter planscoped out bya profession-al, get cre-ative andthink of whatcolors andtypes ofplants youenjoy lookingat and whatwill grow wellin your envi-ronment. It is
then just a matter of buying the soil, plants,potters, and perhaps some decorative stonesto lay around the new plants. This processwill not be cost-free, but will be significant-ly less money to do it yourself than to hire alandscaper. It will also be a great excuse toget outside, enjoy the fresh air, and get someexercise! You can think of the colors you likemost, and start with plants in those colorschemes. Consider whether you like low-lying plants, or whether you may need toshade certain areas of your property. If so,perhaps you can consider strategic treeplanting, so that you have beautiful andmature trees down the road that otherwisewould have cost a fortune to have put in.Stones can be relatively inexpensive depend-ing on where you get them and what typethey are, yet they can beautify a garden,walkway, path or planted area tremendous-ly. This is something you can add to yourlandscaping creation as well.
Whether indoors or out, you don't haveto break the bank to have a beautiful home.A bit of creativity and a few dollars can go along way to making the home of yourdreams if you take advantage of these fewsimple suggestions.
About The Author: Megan Hazel is afreelance writer who writes about decoratingand home and garden topics, similar towhat consumers read in http://www.maga-zines.com/ncom/mag?mid=1714 First forWomen Magazine
How to Decorate Your House - for Almost No Cost!
BUSINESS / TEAM BUILDINGAs I drive around the Cleveland area I can-not help but notice that our entire infra-structure seems to be under construction.Government facilities are being built; high-ways, roads and bridges are being repaired;and major commercial projects are going upeverywhere. Many of these projects haveone thing in common: undercapitalizedgeneral contractors and sub-contractors.Small companies, struggling to pay formaterials and make payroll each week, areperforming the bulk of the work. Because oftheir financial situation they tend to paymore for materials and services. There aretwo primary reasons for this. 1) Their cashflow is constrained by retainage and havingto wait 45 to 60 days for invoices to be paid.2) They are also challenged by the account-ing and control systems they need to managtheir projects effectively.
Providing access to working capital for thesecontractors requires a thorough underwrit-ing process. “It’s a process focused on thefour C’s of construction finance: Credit,Capability, Character and Collateral”,
according to EarlHarper, Senior V.P.of ResourceM a n a g e m e n tPartners, Inc. Byselecting a finan-cial partner likeLiquid Capital,small contractorscan obtain thenecessary workingcapital to under-take new projects.In addition, theywill have an addi-tional resource tohelp evaluate proj-ect estimates, proposed project schedulesand the general credit-worthiness ofprospective customers.
Once the underwriting is complete, the nextstep is to establish the control mechanismof a funds disbursement program. Each proj-ect is handled separately and is tied into astate-of-the-art construction accounting sys-
tem. As funds are disbursed and receivablesare paid, the system continuously calculateseach transaction against projected expensesand ensures that the budget is being fol-lowed. A properly executed funds disburse-ment program provides a high level of assur-ance to the contractor, the project ownerand suppliers. It’s all done in a web-basedformat and everyone benefits.
The scenario that work is not about themoney has been touted by consultants andothers for years. The virtues of other work-place facets including , reward and recogni-tion, and being have been placed centerfield and extolled. The answer is yes. Workis about the money until you have enoughto fulfill your basic needs. Then, the otherfactors come into play. Although has beensomewhat discredited in recent years, thebasic premise still makes sense. People arenot looking to self-actualize until a wholelot of other needs are met first. Theseinclude basic needs for food, shelter,water, safety, and socialization. You can
maximize your life-time income poten-tial and . One of thekey factors inaccomplishing thisis to . The best jobsrequire a degree andyour with thedegree according toRobert Longley,About’s U.S.G o v e r n m e n tInformation editor.Why set goals foranything less foryourself and yourchildren?
Your LifetimeIncome PotentialWork is about the money. Work onlybecomes not about the money when youhave sufficient income – however you definesufficient income – to support your chosenlife style. With sufficient money to live on,work can then become about making a dif-ference, contribution, sharing an importantmission, doing tasks you love, feelingimportant, making friends, gaining success,
pleasing customers, and achievement. All ofthese goals, that , come into play when youmake sufficient money.
Your ChoicesDetermine YourLifetime IncomePotentialThus, the amount of money that you wantto make, and do make during your lifetimeof working, is dependant upon your beliefs,attitudes, values, and career choices. If youvalue helping people in need, you can antic-ipate a particular salary over the course ofyour career. As long as your values are moreimportant than what you are paid, yourchoice is fine. But, you cannot set a goal ofmaking a million dollars a year, make acareer choice that pays $40,000 per year,and expect to be happy with your careerdecisions and the money you make overtime. Almost everyone thinks that theyshould make more money than they do. Butthe amount of money you are paid by youremployer is dependant upon a number offactors.
EMPLOYMENT
Working Capital for Construction Companies
CAR CAREFirst, get the junk out of your trunk. Removethe old golf clubs, the old newspapers, the bagsof recycled stuff, the fishing tackle box, thewinter tire chains (during the summer), thetools and ropes and blankets you have neverused. Anticipate traffic; watch more than thecar in front of you. Look well ahead. Say youjust saw the traffic light way down the roadjust turn green and you know there is no wayyou will get the before it turns red again, thenback off the throttle and don’t try to make it.Play this game every time you go to work ortravel home. Count the times your foot touch-es the brake pedal, make it a game to see howfew times you have to use the brakes to get toall the way to work or back home. By doingthis you will be forced to coast, forced to lookahead and forced to anticipate traffic. If youare looking for an extreme change in fueleconomy, if you want absolutely the best gasmileage you could possible get, do this: Get araw egg and duct tape it to the throttle pedal.Try to drive without breaking the egg. On theother hand, I would probably try this with ahard boiled egg first, especially if the car wassomewhat new and had nice carpet. Dirty airfilters rob you of better fuel economy, too.They restrict the flow of air into the engine,therefore you use more fuel than you wouldhave had the air filter been clean. Using a10/40 or 20/50 oil makes your engine work
extra hard,s p i n n i n gand churn-ing andp u m p i n gt h a tp e a n u tb u t t e rt h r o u g hy o u rengine. It’slike swim-ming in apool ofhoney. Ify o u rengine doesn’t consume any oil, use a 0/30, ora 5/30, or a 10/30 engine oil. Air up your tires.Remember riding your bike knowing the tireswere flat or almost flat? Remember how mucheffort it took to pedal to the local gas station?Once you aired up your bike tires, rememberhow much faster your bike went? Heck, it feltas if you had a brand new bike. Your enginefeels the same way. It works pretty hard push-ing your car all over town with 25 pounds ofair in each tire. If your husband has the own-ers manual and the tag is missing off the door,then use 35 psi for an educated, middle of theroad, tire inflation number. Speaking of yourhusband, if he insists his vehicle “just has to
have super,” try this. Take his car when it’sclose to empty and add $10 of one of the threegasoline grades. Then, see if he can guesswhich level you added to his tank. Do thisuntil he agrees his car really can run on regu-lar or you have to admit he’s guessed rightevery time. Last, try and use Top Tier gaso-line. It has 50 times the detergent of othergasoline and we mechanics know that yourintake valves and fuel injectors will love that.If you have a repair shop you love, stay thereand tell your friends. If you are new in the areaor looking for a good repair shop go to bottomof page.
Want Better Fuel Economy?
by: Timothy Rudon
Defensive driving teaches safe drivingtechniques to drivers. At defensive drivingclasses students learn to overcome mistakesin driving techniques, learn to improve theirdriving skills; learn to make informed deci-sions and to anticipate situations while driv-ing.
Defensive driving classes have been setup in every state by the government andpolice departments to make the world a saferplace to live in. The need for speed can kill,it is important to teach driver discipline andsafety rules. Defensive driving aims to reducethe risk of driving. Drivers must instinctivelyanticipate dangerous situations and avoidrisks while driving vehicles in normal as wellas adverse conditions. Defensive drivingcourses cover aspects like: emergency care,principles of safety, control of fear and emo-tions, on the spot decision making, quickreactions, fear, and so on.
More than 50,000 people in the USloose their lives due to road accidents.Accidents can be prevented by following sim-ple rules. There are websites online thatteach the rules that can help save lives. Seewww.roadtripamerica.com/DefensiveDriving/
Drive-Safe-With-Uncle-Bob.htm . The benefits of defensive driving classes
are many and vary with each state.
1. Most states offer as incentive a reductionof points on your driver’s license following adriving violation ticket and offer the addition-al incentive of not increasing insurance rates.
2. In some states a defensive driving coursewould get at least 10% reduction is insurancerates for a period of 3-5 years. This being aconsiderable saving.
3. A defensive driving course will teach safeand accident free driving techniques.
4. The course will teach protection tech-niques and how to handle road rage andspeeding.
5. The defensive driving course will teachsafe driving techniques in bad weather andadverse conditions. The course will honeskills in highway driving, night driving, andextreme weather driving.
6. The course will inculcate critical safetyissues and teach emergency action too.
7. By taking a defensive driving course youwill not have to appear in court.
8. The driving violation charges will be dis-missed and a fine will not be assessed.
9. Defensive driving classes create responsi-ble citizens which mean children and fami-lies will remain protected.
10. Most important the defensive drivingclasses will improve driving skills, reiteratedriving laws and rules and make better driv-ers of people.
A defensive driving class can even betaken virtually. States have set up defensivedriving classes both online and offline to cre-ate a safe environment for citizens. Defensivedriving teaches people to be responsible driv-ers and take all necessary precautions whenseated behind the wheel of a car. It protectsnot just the driver but pedestrians, animals,and fellow commuters. It makes the roadssafer.
Defensive driving saves lives!
10 Benefits Of Defensive Driving You Probably Didn’t Know
TRAVEL & LEISURE
by: Jonathan Williams The Philippines is an archipelago
made up of about 7,100 islands. Thisarchipelago country is located inSoutheast Asia. In Asia, it is also one ofthe popular countries that get visitedyearly by tourists, and here are the topten places that they love going back to.
1.) Intramuros This walled “city” is located in
Manila. It served as a walled settlementof the Spaniards during their occupa-tion of thecountry and,as such, hasits ownmuseums aswell aschurches andw o n d e r f u lruins. Today,this well-pre-s e r v e dIntramurosis one of thevisited placesin thePhilippines.
2.) Rizal ParkAlso called Luneta, this is a very
good place if you want a leisurely walk.This park is dedicated to thePhilippines’ national hero, Jose Rizal,who was not only a poet but a very goodwriter during the Spanish era, and thiswas also the place where he was execut-ed. Now, this is a popular place for pic-nics.
3.) Baywalk This is a walking distance from the
Rizal Park. You can find here numerousrestaurants and bars offering wonderfulfoods and drinks. This is also a niceplace to stroll along as well as listen tothe many bands that play at night.
4.) Mount Pinatubo This majestic volcano that wreaked
havoc in the lives of Filipinos duringthe early 1990s is located in Pampanga.Here, you can take guided hikes on
some parts of its slope. You can alsotake a refreshing dip in Pinatubo’scrater lake.
5.) Nayong Pilipino If you want to tour famous destina-
tions of the Philippines in one spot,then visit Nayong Pilipino. This cultur-al park has a miniature PhilippineIslands including some of the beautifulspots of the country. You can alsobuy here some native foods aswell as souvenirs.
6.) Camp John Hay When you visit Baguio, the coun-
try’s summer capital, be sure to visitalso Camp John Hay. This used to bean American Military area but was latergiven to the Philippine government.Now, it is a recreational center with golfclub, and it also offers horseback ridingas well as camping.
7.) Boracay Boracay Island is located in the
Visayas Region. What this beautifulisland offers is its majestic white sandbeaches. This is a popular tourist desti-nation of not only the locals but the for-eigners as well, and there are a lot ofactivities here like the usual watersports as well as trendy bars and discosduring summertime.
8.) Mount Apo This magnificent mountain can be
found in Davao. Here, you can gonature tripping as well as hiking. Youwill also see here the Philippine Eagle,which is said to be one of the biggesteagles of the world.
9.) Mayon Volcano This wonderful and perfectly cone-
shaped volcano can be found in Bicol.What makes this a major
tourist spot is that youwill find here the
bell tower of anold church that
was buriedwhen iterupted dur-ing thee a r l y1800s, andalso, withthat majoreruption, itburied the
C a g s a w atown. Now,
this is a must-see when you
visit thePhilippines, and you
can also buy your souvenirshere as well as the famous pili nutcandy.
10.) Camarines Sur Water SportsComplex
Located in Pili, Camarines Sur inBicol, this is fast becoming a must-visitplace whenever you visit thePhilippines. If you love cable wake-boarding, then this is the place to be asit boasts of a wonderful cable wake-boarding experience as well as modernamenities. You can also find quaintcabanas here where you can spend yoursummer or vacation, plus, the serviceshere are excellent.
About The Author JonathanWilliams is the travel writer forDestination Guide TV - the place toshare travel videos. Visithttp://www.destinationguide.tv/philip-pines to view or share Philippines trav-el videos.
Travel & LeisureTop Ten Beautiful Sights That The Philippines Has To Offer
PET CORNER
by: Loloy Diango For quite a long time now, dogs have
been considered an important member ofthe human family. The time and effort thatwe spend caring for our dogs have alwaystranslated into lifelong loyalties and friend-ships forged between us and our furryfriends. No wonder the dog has been called“man’s best friend”.
Owning a dog can be a rewarding andhappy experience for theentire family. Deciding toown a dog should be animportant decision, a matterthat cannot be taken superfi-cially, simply because a dogis not just a furry being, anamusing present, or a fundiversion.
Basic dog obediencetraining is certainly a neces-sity for all dogs. Basic dogobedience training is morethan just telling a dog to dowhat we want him to do. Itis a way of teaching a dog tobehave properly or in a waywe deem proper under cer-tain specific conditions orcircumstances.
Proper dog obediencetraining is definitely not a"do-it-quick" thing. It is acontinuous, life-long process– a work in constantprogress. It should continue for the lifetimeof a dog. Dog obedience training – whetherbasic or advanced – has never become moreimportant than today when a lot of dogowners bring their pet dogs to so manyplaces where they go.
Proper dog obedience training shouldbegin when a dog is still a puppy. The firstfour months of a dog's life are very impor-tant in his training. This is the specific peri-od when he learns behaviors that he willpractice in his lifetime. This is the righttime to teach your dog basic commandssuch as sit and fetch.
It is to be noted that dog obediencetraining methods or procedures are not cre-ated equal. There are various training types,approaches and methodologies which havecome to be developed through the years thatdeal with dog obedience training.
But positive dog obedience training isquickly becoming the preferred method ofdog training. This method of training is pos-
sible for just about every young dog. Obedience training should be fun and
rewarding for both you and your dog. A dogwho has undertaken good training is confi-dent and friendly and can be given greatersocial freedom than a dog who has not beentrained at all. A trained dog will dutifully dobasic commands issued by his owner.
Dog obedience training is more thanjust training your dog, it involves teaching
the dog owner too. Going through dog obe-dience training is something every dogowner should do. It should be a worthwhileexperience for both the dog and the dogowner.
And because training is all about com-munication, it is important that dog ownersneed to learn to communicate with theirdog. Talk to your dog. Tell your dog you lovehim every day. Even if you don't say "I loveyou" to your furry friend, look him square inthe eyes and say something – anything.
We all like to be recognized and accept-ed as a family member. Dogs understandhuman language more than we think theydo. Get your dog's attention just as youwould a person: call him by his name andlook right at him when talking to him.
One of the basic obedience trainingpoints relevant in this regard is teachingyour dog to sit on command. Training yourdog to sit is probably the first thing you willtrain your dog to do.
To start the training: say “sit” whilegently pressing his rump down and holdinga treat above your dog's head. When a dog isforced to look upward, he will automaticallysit on his hind legs.
When you want your dog to sit, hold atreat a bit above his head and say "sit”. Asthe dog sits, say sit again and then immedi-ately give him the treat. Your dog shoulddrop into a sitting position in order to reach
the food. Another favorite basic
command that we like to teachour dogs is fetch. Teachingyour dog to fetch promotesbonding and is a great way togive your dog some exercise.
To do this, first throw aball – but not too far, though –and give the command "fetch".As the dog inevitably starts torun towards it, yell “fetch”again. If there is no ball avail-able for you to use, you can useany object that your dog lovesto play with the most, as thiswould make him want to fetchit.
Be reminded not to playfetch with heavy objects orsticks as this could injure yourdog somehow or damage histeeth.
The most basic of dogobedience training is to get
your dog to sit and fetch. As I said at thestart of this article, proper dog obediencetraining is not a "do-it-quick" thing: it is acontinuous, life-long process – a work inconstant progress.
Dog obedience training is also a veryphysical activity, so getting tired andexhausted is all part of it. And doing it isnever without any risk of injury, especiallyconcerning more aggressive dog breeds.
Having said that, dog obedience train-ing is certainly a must for all dogs. Onemajor mistake many pet owners make is toassume that training a dog will be over in ashort span of time. That, of course, is agross misconception. Training your dog con-tinues throughout your dog's life.
Dog obedience training is definitely abreeze with the proper attitude of the dogowner and under proper conditions. Starttraining your dog today and make his lifeand yours a lot more better in the future.
T h e I m p o r t a n c e o f B a s i c D o g O b e d i e n c e Tr a i n i n g
RELIGION / FAITHby: Steve Clement
2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who
in Christ always leads us in tri-umphal procession, and throughus spreads the fragrance of theknowledge of him everywhere.
A victorious spirit affectsevery part of who we are. A victo-rious spirit effects everythingrelated to us. A defeated spiritaffects every part of who we are.A defeated spirit effects every-thing related to us.
Let’s see what the word ofGod says about leading us intotriumph. In order for us toreceive from God in a personalway so He can guide us; we needto be born again. Being bornagain opens our life to receivelove, forgiveness, wisdom fromabove and all the triumph thatGod has for us.
1 Corinthians 2:9-14But, as it is written, "What
no eye has seen, nor ear heard,nor the heart of man imagined,what God has prepared for those who lovehim"-- these things God has revealed to usthrough the Spirit. For the Spirit searcheseverything, even the depths of God.
For who knows a person's thoughtsexcept the spirit of that person, which is inhim? So also no one comprehends thethoughts of God except the Spirit of God.Now we have received not the spirit of theworld, but the Spirit who is from God, thatwe might understand the things freely givenus by God. And we impart this in words nottaught by human wisdom but taught by theSpirit, interpreting spiritual truths to thosewho are spiritual.
The natural person does not accept thethings of the Spirit of God, for they are follyto him, and he is not able to understandthem because they are spiritually discerned.We were born with an old sinful nature, butwhen born again we have access to our newnature in Christ...
2 Peter 1:4...by which he has granted to us his pre-
cious and very great promises, so thatthrough them you may become partakers ofthe divine nature, having escaped from thecorruption that is in the world because ofsinful desire.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It isno longer I who live, but Christ who lives inme. And the life I now live in the flesh I liveby faith in the Son of God, who loved meand gave himself for me.
2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is
a new creation. The old has passed away;behold, the new has come. Understandingthat we have a new overcoming nature inChrist is a tremendous step toward being avictorious person, but we still have to knowhow to handle our old nature when it raisesits ugly head. Through Christ we have beenequipped to overcome our old sinful ways.Our old sinful nature is not gone though; itcan tempt us, overwhelm us and influenceour thinking and behavior. We need to knowwhat to do when that happens.
Romans 6:6 says: We know that our old self was crucified
with him in order that the body of sin mightbe brought to nothing, so that we would nolonger be enslaved to sin. Reading all ofRomans chapter 6 will help you to grasp thelife changing principle of how to overcomeyou (your sinful nature). In Romans 6 itexplains what Christ has done for us. Whowe are and what we possess now asChristians gives us everything we need to beover comers. Get to know and get to believ-
ing these truths. When you sindon’t stew in condemnation,guilt, self pity or a myriad ofother counter productive emo-tions. When you sin agree withGod that you have sinned, youare wrong and you are out ofstep with your new nature inChrist. Then believe and receivethe power to choose the forgive-ness of God. God knows youcannot live the Christian lifeyourself. You need Christ and allHe’s done for you.
1 John 2:1-2My little children, I am
writing these things to you sothat you may not sin. But if any-one does sin, we have an advo-cate with the Father, JesusChrist the righteous. He is thepropitiation for our sins, andnot for ours only but also for thesins of the whole world.
1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he
is faithful and just to forgive usour sins and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
John 16:33“I have said these things to you, that in
me you may have peace. In the world youwill have tribulation. But take heart; I haveovercome the world."
God wants you to no longer be waggedthis way and that way; to be controlled byyour old sinful nature. He wants you to bethe head not the tail. He wants you, throughChrist, to bring everything under the con-trol of your new nature. He wants you toknow how to handle it when you sin. Hewants you to enjoy the overcoming life Hehas made available to you. Pray for, ask for,seek and go after it! God honors a hungryheart, a heart that truly wants what God cangive.
Deuteronomy 28:13And the LORD will make you the head
and not the tail, and you shall only go upand not down, if you obey the command-ments of the LORD your God, which I com-mand you today, being careful to do them,
2 Corinthians 10:3-6For though we walk in the flesh, we are
not waging war according to the flesh. Forthe weapons of our warfare are not of theflesh but have divine power to destroy
Religion And Faith Lead Us Into Triumph
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