Knee Arthritis|Knock Knees|Virtual Knee Surgery

The following guidance assumes you are fairly new to big game saltwater fishing and are out fishing on a charter boat. This type of information is given to all guests aboard our game boats if they are not experienced anglers. Occasionally we have to remind experienced anglers as well !

Lets assume you are out doing some general trolling for wahoo, mahi mahi or tuna on 30lb class IGFA tackle. The deckie has set a pattern of 4 lures behind the boat and one of the reels starts to scream....

1. Pick up the rod.

Sounds simple but sometimes the rod seems to be jammed in the rod holder. Don't try to yank or force it out. It's wedged because of the pressure the fish is exerting on the rod tip. Grasp the rod fore-grip in front of the reel and pull it slightly backwards (away from the fish). You will find that the rod then easily comes out of the rod holder.

2. Assume the position.

Unless you are fighting a fish from a game chair, hold the rod with the reel uppermost, your left hand well up the fore-grip and the butt of the rod resting low down on your hip. This leaves your right hand free to wind the reel handle. Hold the rod at about 45 degrees. The higher up the rod your left hand is, the more leverage you can apply. It's important that you feel comfortable. Some fights can last hours though 10-20 minutes is the norm so you had better be comfy. It is usual at this point for the deckie to put a butt pad on you. No, its not a comfy cushion for you to sit on - its a plastic cushioned pad that hangs from your waist, rests on your thighs and has a slot where you rest the butt of the rod. This will stop the rod butt digging into you and causing bruising and spread the load over your thighs during a prolonged fight. With the end of the rod sitting in the butt pad and your left hand holding the fore-grip you should feel stable and comfortable. You are on a boat, its moving around so step up to the side of the boat or better still the corner, bend your knees slightly and wedge your knees slightly under the cockpit combing - the padded edge. This is a good stable position even on a pitching and rolling boat.

3. Keep The Rod Tip Bent.

Its that simple. The greatest cause of fish being lost is the line not being tight between the rod tip and the fish. If the line is not tight, the hook is not being held in place and the fish will likely spit the lure out. If the rod tip is bent at all times, then pressure is being applied to the fish at all times. This also means that the fish doesn't get a free rest and you will wear him out more quickly and get him to the boat sooner. If the fish swims towards you, wind wind wind to keep that line tight and the rod tip bent.

The rod also acts as a shock absorber. Any jerks from sudden movements by the fish are absorbed by the rod tip. If you point the rod straight at the fish, it's not doing anything and sudden jerks are transmitted straight to you and the reel. (Trust me - it will end in tears)

4. Slow Down - Its Not A Race !

Most (wait - scrub that) ALL novice anglers when confronted with a screaming reel panic and franticly wind like crazy. You are wasting your time and energy. If the reel is screaming it means that it is paying out line and will continue to do so whether you try to wind or not. Wait for the fish to end its run for cover. Then you can think about winding.

5. Lift Up and Wind Down

Good quality game fishing reels have a sophisticated drag system. A reasonable analogy would be the clutch in a manual car. Adjusting the lever drag on a game reel is like depressing the car's clutch pedal. All the way out and the engine is engaged, (reel drag engaged), all the way in and the engine is free wheeling (Reel is in Free-spool).

This means that an angler can set the lever drag somewhere in the middle. The reel will then pay out line (clutch will slip) when the line is pulled with sufficient force. To put it simply, you can set the drag to pay out line if the fish pulls harder than a set amount.

It is normal for the drag to be set at between one quarter and one third the breaking strain of the line. In theory it is therefore impossible for the fish to snap the line. If the fish pulls really hard, instead of the line snapping, the reel just lets line out.

When the fish ends its run, the reel will go quiet and the pressure on the rod tip will ease up a little. Now is the time to win some of that line back.

Raise the rod tip, start to wind the reel and whilst winding, slowly lower the rod tip. Don't raise the rod tip so high that it's over your head and don't lower it so low that the rod is pointing at the fish.

Lift up and wind down. Try to keep your movements as smooth as possible and keep that rod tip bent at all times.

6. Tag & Release or Boating a fish

Different fish react in different ways when near the boat. Yellowfin tuna for example go into a circular pattern underneath the hull. The most important thing here is to not let the line touch any part of the boat. If it does, it will probably break. The skipper will manoeuvre the vessel as best he can to keep the line and fish away from the props and rudders but it's also your job not to let the line touch the side of the boat. Feel free to move about the cockpit. Change sides if the fish swims in the other direction. Don't plant yourself in one spot and stay there. Listen up for instructions from the crew and move to anywhere where it's just you and the fish with no boat in between.

Usually the boat will be slowly moving forwards. You are trying to work the fish up alongside the boat so that the fish can then be tagged or gaffed. Moving the boat forwards maintains a flow of water over the fish and its gills. This keeps the fish much happier than if you stopped and the fish is therefore less stressed and less likely to do something unexpected. It is always a good idea to do this if you intend on tagging and releasing the fish.

7. And Lastly...

Everybody looses fish, even the real pro's. Don't knock yourself down. Learn from mistakes and it won't happen again. Every trip out there I learn something new. Don't be shy in asking questions.

Gamefishing is a sport and like all sports, you need to practice...

Just make sure you have fun practicing....

Index of Names

Denis Medina

Sergeant Ricardo Leoncio (Detective)

Inspector Silvestre

Dr. Manual Gomez

Carlos (the brute)

Miss Maria Tapi (maid)

Dona Florencia Wilder

Sophia Maria Wilder

Cain Wielder (father)

Nurse Sara Palma

The Cat: Oivlis

Chapter One

A Call for Aid

Life has its way of making a person dizzy, or perhaps it is the people in one's life; nonetheless, life and its happenings is not always a logical expected, episode, be it good or evil, ill or ailing that takes place, wisdom or foolishness that surrounds him, pleasure or pain he or she endures. I do hope memory serve me well, if so, this account will be better-sweet, as life really is, on its most trotted paths.

I walked up to my library in Miraflores, Lima, Peru, turned on the light in the haunting January night heat, into the somewhat of a cool library, its fan already on, --I stood still in the quiet center of the library, it was a tinge past midnight. The purple drapes, swayed a bit with the fans rotation, resilience, I loved the library, its ceiling was like a canopy over my head, the rugs, a number of them, one Persian, another from Afghanistan, and still another from Pakistan, and the center one, Peruvian, all of high quality engulfed me. I sat in my big sofa chair, there was two in the library, and another wooden one sat drowsily next to the other sofa chair, the whole library merging into my corner; there in my corner, the sufficing world, its whole environment all the words man has developed, created in the past, merged blissfully to my side, as I sat in solitude, as I opened up a book of Longfellow's.

Young Dona Florencia Wilder called me on the phone, I set the book aside, the phone being to my left, answered it, her voice was dreamy, in a restless way. And with an undertone of unhappiness, she commenced to tell me how she felt estranged in her big home, it was hard to give her sympathy, she was rich, so I just gave her my ear without comment, perhaps my chivalry was in full manhood.

Minutes flew by, that became hours, and I found myself wanting to fall to sleep, the gates of my mind were closing, as was my eyes. I heard noises next door, in this neighborhood it is not unusual to hear such at 2:00 AM, but it became a ceaseless sound, and between Dona Florencia and the knocking, it became a little stressful. As I asked Dona Florencia to call back, I went to the downstairs widow in the parlor, looked out it to see who was doing the knocking. It was a young bruit of a man (broad, short in figure, perhaps five foot five inches in height) robust, shirt off, muscles glowing from the reflections produced by an arch light several feet away from him.

I opened my door, said (with inquisitiveness):

"They're probably sleeping, why not try back in the morning, you are waking everyone up, or at lese me for the time being!" It was more a statement than a question. I then switched my outside electric light on, over my doorsteps.

The brute came to me, looked me in the eyes (not a bit of fear in his bones I told myself), and had a note in his hands, he gave it to me, almost as if it didn't matter what house he was really at, or whom got the note, only that he gave it to a living and breathing, and reasoning creature, I took it and started to read it (as he walked away):

"Whomever you are, I need your help, please attempt to help me after you read this note, and if you do not, give it to someone that will, my mother has just been murdered, you can call me at 4550882? The person whom gave you this letter is a little slow, his name is Carlos, and was instructed to leave as soon as he a person accepted the note."

Chapter Two

The Investigation

Doña Florencia Wilder, opened the door quietly for Denis Medina; Sergeant Recrdo Leoncioand and his boss, the Inspector Silvestre were already sorting out the affairs of the murder, trying anyhow to understand it. Dr. Gomez was present, and the maid, Maria.

"I came at once, miss, the moment I got your note, but it seems you got everything under control, where you lack confidence, you have wisdom, and coordination abilities I see." Then without hesitation, or a word said, she grabbed my hand, pulled me completely into the hallway, the Sergeant threw some swift glances her way, as he was paced from one room, through the hallway to the next room, where the deceased, widow, Mrs. Wilder, Florencia's mother lay dead on a sofa coach. Here, the Detective started a conversation with a person, unseen; it was Inspector Silvestre, whom he was explaining the situation to:

"Senseless," was his word.

Here, Doña Florencia whispered, "Under you, I hope to find out the truth sir. Right now the doctor is writing out a full report, he will give it to the Sergeant, whom is in charge, and the inspector, he said he will leave all the matters of this case in his hands. You and I can work together."

"Alas!" I said, wondering what I had gotten myself into. "Ma'am," I said, "You must be content with the officials, and their examination, I am not needed here."

"Oh, but indeed you are sir, you see the door was locked, and the murderer could not have gotten in another way, except for him or her being here when I got here, so he must be here now. I cannot stay here tonight by myself; I will pay you well, if we can get to the bottom of this matter. The officials are simply going to investigate this half interrogatively, then leave and throw the case into the bust basket.

"True," I said, adding passively, "I am only a writer of short fiction and poetry, what can I do?"

"I had Carlos knock on your neighbors door, thinking it was you, I have read a lot about you, a man of details, a great gift, to see things others do not. Most folks need a magnifying-glass to see the simplest of things, avoiding, if not overlooking the real things. I shall ask my maid, Maria to show you my mother's blood stained coach, her skin had been pierced by what looks like deep scratches from teeth or long nails."

I was about to look at Mrs. Wilder, now in the room with the Sergeant and Inspector, along with the maid, and Florencia, I was about to interpret what I saw, but suspended it for a moment, when Florencia shook her head 'no', and cleverly whispered, "Wait a moment, the inspector will leave with the sergeant," and she had the maid offer them coffee and doughnuts, in the kitchen as they talked over the case, along with the doctor.

"Now, Mr. Median, you were about to say?"

"She was attacked, and frightened to death, so it would seem."

"Attacked by whom, and frightened to death you say..."

I then looked over the sofa coach again, carefully, and asked, "Who has touched her since you discovered her, besides the doctor?"

"No one to my knowledge," said Miss Wilder, "at least not by me, or the maid, I only had Carlos, our Gardner run to find you, after he discovered her, and told me, and I told the maid, and the maid called the police, and I sent for you."

I had gotten down on my knees to see her wrists; they were cut, bleeding drops of blood into an already made pool on the floor. With a motion of my hands I had Miss Florencia walk around the sofa as to not leave a shadow in my way, so I could see closer, and clearer. Inch by inch I went over her body, legs, arms, neck, scratch marks here and there, it went for a radius of her whole body, I did it in a casual way as not to alarm anyone, the doctor had suggested the culprit, the murderer had simply scratched her to death, and left it at that, and with a sharp instrument. Myself, I suggested the victim was somehow under hypnotic influence, she did not struggle through her ordeal, or so it seemed, and there were blood-marks over blood-marks, as if they were specifically gone over willingly, and not in a besieged manner.. The doors I suggested were opened by her, for her assailant, again there really as nothing out of place. Next, I suggested she had used her fingernail file, after finding blood on it, in her jewelrykbox; she had even put it back into its place, after she had her panic attack-or whatever, it all made more sense than the argument the doctor and two detectives conjured up, so I thought, as well as for Miss Florencia.

Chapter Three

However Strange

I found a letter under Florencia's mothers' elbow, it must had fallen as she was attacked, odd though-I thought-it had fallen in such a place, almost as if it was tucked and kept hidden until someone like me came along and found it, would have found it no matter what, found it sooner or later. I couldn't find the red ink pen though. The paper was thin rice paper, the letter read:

"If I am taken ill or even look dead, a simple judgement calls that in either case, or if I cannot speak for myself, you must speak for me, Florencia, for I am simply unconscious, even if the doctor says otherwise. Guard me well, night and day until I come to my senses again. Dr. Denis Medina is a sensible man, seek him out for advice. Do not in any way, try to bury me, god for bid, I should wake up in a grave, I don't like the dark all that well. Now go and be a good girl and do as I have told you." (Signed) Sophia Maria Wielder

At that moment, Carlos came back into the house, and brought a nurse, in all white clothing, Miss Maria Tapi into the living room. Florencia looked dumbfounded that Carlos seemed to know something she didn't, simply by bringing the nurse was enough information to convince her of that. Her eyes seemed suffused with some kind of haunting hope that her mother might rejoin the living now. An afterthought perhaps, she then commented:

"You must allow me hope Mr. Medina, especially now after reading the letter, and Carlos bringing in the nurse."

"Indeed I expect some hope is rushing right now into her bloodstream, hoping she does not wake up in a grave, I do wish to follow this case to its bitter-sweet end, in truth, Miss Florencia, I'd not trade places with the president at this curious moment."

Dona Florencia Wielder, a young woman, fine featured, of good looks, good Peruvian stock, velvet dark hair, eyes a mysterious deep brown, slanted somewhat, as if she had mixed blood, Asian and Peruvian, not wide at all. As I found myself, time and again staring into those deep eyes, they almost put me into a trance, above those were lavishing eyebrows, and behind, long black wavy hair down to her shoulders as it overlapped. Her architecture was curvy, right where it belonged, balanced as if on top of a pin. Her white teeth gleamed when she smiled, you couldn't miss them, somehow her hands moved without her wrist, her fingers without her hands-unless I was under an illusion, and her charm was mixed with her beauty, and movements.

The nurse was more on the wide side of the scale. A tall German looking gal, youthful and strong with broad shoulders and a ski type nose.

Chapter Four

Hypnotic Sleep and the Cat

Physically she was inured badly-or so it looked with all its bleeding, yet all her vital organs seemed unimpaired, deep, and internally that is, as Nurse Sara Palma carefully searched her body for bruises, deep puncture marks and so forth, which there were none to speak of.

Then suddenly, just like nothing, her breathing started back up again, it was almost shocking, as the nurse fell backwards, turning pale, dry throat, her daughter put her hand over her mouth as if to scream, and I, I just stood in amazement. This made Florencia double-think, 'Was Denis right, and was she in some hypnotic sleep...?'

As to her wounds, Sophia Maria had placed some bandages on them, hoping to stop some of the bleeding, and that was to some degree successful.

I scanned my mind, looking about, something had caught my eye-during this dramatic happening, at this point I asked the host, "Did your mother, or does she have any pets?" I had not seen any, so I refrained from digging into this question, and Florencia simply shook her head 'no,' as she continued to watch her mother's chest go up and down again (slowly she crept up to the side of her mother, as if to hug her, but she stood stone still, short of that, and just watched her intake of air.

Now I looked about again, wondering what provoked the question in the first place, whereupon I noticed a mummy cat, wildcat that is on the wall, it was killed by her late grandfather, Anton, so I found out. It was a large and seemingly wild and ugly looking thing. The longer I looked at this beast on the wall, a trophy of sorts, the haughtier the creature became, almost submerging its dead personification into me.

"Oivlis," was its name, said Florencia with a half smile, looking out of the side of her eye, watching me looking at the cat.

I felt the cat purring inside my head; almost instinctively I wanted to talk to the cat, its eyes like razors cutting into mine.

"Eh!" said Florencia, "are you ok?"

I could hear the cat's heart beating, "Pardon me!" I said to Florencia, adding, "I think I'm daydreaming."

"My grandfather mounted that cat on the wall, fifty-years ago. Mother liked it, her and I never did share the same feelings on that cat, and she left it in the same spot grandfather put it in-all these years." ((The nurse was now caring for Mrs. Sophia Maria Wilder.)(You could see the red blood lines through the bandages; the wounds were healing fast, and the bandages were now like blotting paper.)

Chapter Five

To be Written

Chapters one and two, written 1-9-2008, at home; Chapters three and four, written at the café, EP, 1-10-2008; written in Lima, Peru.

There are so many articles out there on relationships and marriages that it can make your head spin: How to communicate with your husband even if he's a complete jackass; The 72 secrets to lasting love, even when she can't stand to look at you; 13 fun ways to increase intimacy after your spouse has been deported.

But what if you're in a solid, happy relationship and you have absolutely no interest in improving your marriage? Then what? Where do you turn? Where are the articles for people like you? Or maybe you're eager to knock your relationship down a few pegs so it's more in line with the rest of the couples on your block. After all, it's no fun being the golden couple in a sea of mediocre relationships. Enough already with all of us self-proclaimed relationship "experts" telling you that it's possible to recapture your adolescent passion with the balding, paunchy snorer who has sawed away next to you for the last thirty-five years.

Healthy relationships like yours have been neglected for too long. But that's about to change! Here are three guaranteed steps that will knock the life and vibrancy right out of your relationship in a matter of days. (Please Note: Use of these methods for more than three days can lead to a spike in name-calling, profanity, door-slamming, and frantic calls the legal team of Vito and Vito.)

Step 1:

The "I doubt it" technique. No matter what your partner says, respond to him/her with the phrase, "I doubt it." Whenever new methods of communication designed to improve intimacy are practiced, couples report considerable difficulty in using the new skills in a consistent and reliable manner. They commonly report that the methods feel too unnatural or artificial.

Not so with the "I doubt it" technique. Most couples report that speaking this way feels 100% natural and couples seem very eager to practice this skill. Here are a few examples of this technique in action:

Q: "Can you pick up the kids later?" A: "I doubt it."

Q: "I have something important to discuss. Can we talk later?" A: "I doubt it."

Q: "Honey, do you still find me attractive?" A: "I doubt it."

Step 2:

After two days of using the "I doubt it" technique, you are ready for step two.

The inappropriate laughter technique (ILT). The ILT requires practice. If you don't have one already, you'll need to develop a hearty belly-laugh. This technique will only work if your partner thinks you're seriously laughing at him or her. Many people report that they practice while driving to and from work.

The ILT is to be used under two specific sets of circumstances:

A) Every time your partner is getting dressed or undressed in front of you;

B) Whenever your partner attempts to communicate something of importance.

For example:
Here's what your partner says: "I felt you were being unfair when you said I don't do enough around the house."

Here's what your partner's statement looks like when you add the ILT: "I felt [HA!] you were being unfair [HA! HA!] when you said I don't [HEE!] do enough around the house [HA! HA! HO! HO!]."

Isn't that better? Now your partner can't even get his/her own serious statement out uninterrupted, and you're also amused in the process. Feel free to jazz up this approach by improvising. Try bending forward while holding your stomach with each laugh--it really intensifies the effect.

Step 3:

Ungratefulness Diary. This one requires the most effort on your part but it gives a lot of bang for it's buck. Some prep time is needed. Try to put aside all the things you love and appreciate about your partner. Then reflect on all the ways in which your partner gets under your skin--focus your attention on how s/he annoys, irritates, and bothers you. Visualizing your partner's undesirable habits adds to the effectiveness of this exercise by forcing you to relive all the ways you feel exasperated by him/her.

For example, an entry might look like this: God, I hate the way she chews. I mean, I'd rather watch a crow pick the eye out of a dead squirrel. I don't think I can eat near her anymore.

For maximum effect it is recommended that you keep a daily journal and add to the list. This will help you become more and more attuned to the ways in which your partner's behavior irks you. A side benefit to keeping an ungratefulness diary is that you'll begin to overlook all the kind, generous and considerate things your partner does for you.

There you have it. A solid, full-proof way to kick your relationship behind the knees so that it falls flat on its face. You'll be amazed at how quick and effective these methods are. You can thank me later.

Being dumped by your boyfriend is not a nice feeling, because you get confronted with the idea that you are not good enough for someone. Sometimes this can even become the driving force to wanting him back, not because you really want to be with him.

So the first thing is to ask yourself why you want him back. Do you really want to be with him again, with all his irritating traits? We all have them.

It is possible that you want him back because he has suddenly become unavailable to you, and we want what we cannot have. Or maybe you want him back because your ego took a great knock when he announced he does not want to be with you anymore. Be honest with yourself and your feelings, and be sure that the only driving force to you fighting for this relationship is because you love him and you want to be with him.

If you truly love him and want him back, you now need to zoom into the relationship. What problems did you have in the relationship that would push him to end things with you? Did he give you any reasons why he was ending the relationship?

Access your behavior when you were with him. Did you hurt him in any way? Maybe you were unfaithful to him at some point or you did something that seriously disappointed him. if you did something that he did not agree with, apologize for hurting and disappointing him. Make it clear that you want a second chance with him, without nagging or harassing him.

Limit contact with him. Constantly calling him will translate to harassment to him, and you will definitely end up with the wrong result. This will be challenging for you, because you are missing him, and you are tempted to remind him how you feel about him, but it is the wrong move.

Also, act like you have your life together, even though you are feeling crappy about the situation. Keep busy and focus on other things besides your boyfriend. When you are not in his face, he will wonder what you are busy with, and might be curious enough to call you up.

If you are going to use jealousy to get him back by dating other men, be sure to be prepared for the consequences. This method could work, but then again it could backfire on you and you could lose him for good.

Whatever you do, do not mope around waiting for him. Go on with your life, get involved in activities that will get your self esteem up, and have fun. Let him see that you have a life without him, and when you are having fun, people that you were both close to will be telling him stuff about you and how much fun you are having. When he realizes what he is missing, he might consider getting back with you.

Posture and Stance
The best way to defend a takedown in MMA starts with having a great posture and base in your stance. The objective of a takedown artist is to gain leverage and angle over his opponent by offsetting his balance and posture in order to finish the takedown. The best stance is to be squared to your opponent. This means having your shoulders and hips parallel to each other facing your opponent. Your level should be lowered. This is done by bending your knees. How low you should drop your level will be relative to the height/ level of your opponent. In general, your head should never be higher than your opponents. Your level needs to be approximately 2 - 5 inches below your opponents level. Anything more will make you vulnerable to getting clinched and knee-ed or snapped down. Lowering your stance too much will also make you more susceptible to leg kicks.

This is why muay thai fighters stand taller. Standing taller lightens the weight on your legs and allows for you to initiate kicks and block leg kicks faster. The lower your stance is, the wider your feet should be apart from each other from the front to back direction. Your feet should also always be about shoulder width apart as well. You should never be flat footed and always on the balls of your feet for maximum agility in all directions to evade takedowns. Being on your toes also helps prevent your opponent from driving you back. Staying on your toes will help your dig your feet into the ground and counter push your opponents forward drive in clinching and pumbling situations.

Your Arms is the First Line of Defense
Besides our stance and posture, another important factor in helping us defend a takedown is placement and use of our arms. Our arms are the first line of defense against a takedown. Whether they try to take us down with a shot or by clinching first. Getting past our elbows means they are close to our hips. Once our hips are accessible, our balance can be compensated which will lead to giving up the takedown. So we need to keep our elbows in close to our body. If a wrestler was simply just worrying about a takedown and not attempting any sort of offense himself, he would have his elbows in against his ribs with his arms low and his hands by his thighs.

But unfortunately, as a striker, we are simply not just defending a takedown and we have to worry about strikes both in the offensive and defensive aspects. So our arm position must be modified for ability to strike and block strikes. So instead of having our hands low, we need to have them by our temple. Our elbows will still be tucked in. this will help if an initiation of pumbling and clinching occurs. This will also help protect our body from body kicks, and body shots. Offensively this will allow our punches to be sharper and faster as well.

A common mistake most MMA practitioners make when defending a shot is to drop the hands from protecting their head down by their thighs to defend the takedown. This mistake creates a huge opening for the opponent to fake a shot and strike to the head that is unguarded and most likely looking down in attempts to defend the fake shot. Instead of the striker dropping his hands, he should drop his level and use his forearms. The focus should not be to get the underhook to raise the opponent's level, but rather to use your forearms to stop the grappler's momentum. Your body should be leaned forward as your head follows your arms as they push against your opponent which will do three things. It will keep your hips away from your opponent, second it will help drive your momentum forward which will counter your opponents forward momentum and third, it will keep your head from separating from your arms to keep your head guard in the case of a strike attempt.

Where Your Eyes Should Be Focused
Another important factor in stopping a takedown is where the focus of your eyes are. A common mistake most MMA fighters make is where they focus their eyes during the fight. Many fighters tend to look at the opponents face instead of focusing on the upper part of the chest where your clavicle meets. This is a mistake for a few reasons. First it allows for a clever opponent to fake with his eyes. A common muay thai trick is to look down at an opponent's legs to make them think they are going to throw a low kick and at the last second go high for a head kick. Second if your looking at your opponents face and especially if your level is slightly lower than your opponent, that would mean that your head is up.

This is the worst position your head can be when receiving a blow to the head. Keeping your chin down enables your head to be stabilized by your neck and allows you to be able to absorb more blows without being knocked unconscious. The third reason someone should not be focusing on the head of an opponent is because one can not see their hips. Without seeing an opponents hips, it is very difficult to see a kick or knee strike quick enough to block, counter, or evade it. The fourth reason one should not being focusing on an opponents head is to be able to detect quicker when the grappler drops his level to shoot for a takedown.

For all these reasons, the focus should be where the opponent's clavicle meets and with your peripherals, you should be able to see the opponent's shoulders and hips.

What A Grappler is Looking For
Just as important as what one should do to prevent a takedown in MMA, there are many things a striker should not do to prevent a takedown as well. A striker should be cautious when attempting to strike and not get overly ambitious when striking. A grappler will wait sometimes for the striker to reach and over step when attempting to strike to easily shoot under for the takedown. A grappler will also wait for a striker to kick also to catch his leg for a takedown as well. A striker should always setup his kicks and use them wisely as the grappler is always waiting for an opening to get a takedown. Kicking to the body is the easiest for a grappler to catch. Majority of kicks should be very low to the leg or high above the elbows.

Back pedaling is also not a good idea when worrying about defending a possible takedown attempt and should not be done for a few reasons. First it forces you to be light on your feet. When defending a takedown, it is best to be heavy and sinking your weight down. Secondly, backing up goes in the same direction as the grappler's drive/shot and just makes his momentum that much stronger. Third when back pedaling, it forces your body posture to be tall which makes your hips much more readily accessible to the grappler as well as allows him to much more easily knock you off balance. The last reason why someone should not backup while defending a takedown is because it puts your back closer to the cage. This allows the grappler to utilize the cage wall in aiding in his takedown attempts. It also restricts your room to get your hips back or sprawl when defending the takedown.

I've heard it said that there are two things in life you can be sure of, death and taxes. For women there is one more that should be added and that's menopause. It is a natural event that happens in every woman's life.

Grandma called it the change of life. As with any life change there are pros and cons. For me personally it was a celebration. The baby factory was gone and I was left with the playground. No more hit you in the stomach,double you over, knock you to your knees cramps. No more worries about soiled clothes. No more dealing with PMS or any of the other symptoms you suffer from that time of the month. Although menopause does bring with it, it's own symptoms.

Menopause symptoms can also give you a swift kick in the butt. For those of you going through it and the ones that have already been there, you know what I'm talking about. Your watching the TV and a commercial comes on or maybe it's a song on the radio. Doesn't matter, the next thing you know you got the blues and the tears are flowing and the mascara is running down your face. Night sweats can also wreak havoc with your sleep. Your either sweating or your freezing. The alarm goes off and all you know is your tired and soaking wet. Your in an important business meeting and you start to feel your face turning red and you just know it's 120 degrees. Some of the other symptoms include irritability, mood swings, weight gain, bloating, gas, vaginal dryness and loss of sexual desire.

Thank goodness there is relief for these symptoms. Realizing that menopause is a natural event in your cycle, why would you treat your symptoms with anything other than natural herbal relief? Menozac is a botanical medicine containing a blend of all natural herbal extracts. Menozac was developed to ease the transition and provide effective Menopause Symptom relief from the start through the duration of your menopause symptoms. It has been formulated with the best known combination of high potency phytoestrogen botanicals which have a long empirical history of relieving menopausal symptoms and supporting the body's hormonal balance.

Menozac is the natural answer. What are you waiting for. Two tablets a day and you can say bye bye menopause symptoms. Stop crying and become One Hot Mama without the hot flashes.

Be Healthy and Happy...Naturally.

Does it mean that these are the only braces that really function.... The rest being dysfunctional?

The term "functional knee brace" can be misleading right at first... Functional knee braces, and their traditional meaning is discussed in the following paragraphs. Let's understand together what the term really means in plain English...

Functional knee braces are traditionally designed to help provide support to your knee (or knees) during sporting activities. Usually, people who have ligament problems, or those people who have ligament reconstructions of some kind are meant to benefit from this kind of a brace. They are designed to help provide you with support without restricting your performance.

Typically, these kinds of supports are used for people who suffer from ACL injuries either as an augmentation to treatment or it may be worn by someone in their later stages of recovery after an ACL reconstructive surgery, for example. This is what is told to you when you study the literature, but do not let your mind just stop there... Functional knee supports can help support more than just your ACL, and can extend support to your MCL, PCL, or LCL as well.

The problem that many people will have when they are reading about these knee supports is that they can typically just be used for sports, but this is not necessarily the case either. If you are an active person, then you can benefit from a functional knee brace as well. Whether you are gardening, carrying heavy objects or whatever, we believe that these kinds of supports can extend themselves to other activities very easily.

When you look online to learn more about functional knee supports, or when you wish to find one for yourself, then do not just stop at the words "functional knee brace", to find what you are looking for. If you have had a ligament reconstruction, then look for a brace that provides maximum support for your injured ligament(s). The term "functional knee brace" is not really used by brace companies now online as an advertisement and you will feel like your options are more limited if you just focus on this terminology.

In the end, your knee support is up to you. Do not rush into sports without your physician's consent when you have an injured knee. Also, do not take your knees for granted. Extra support can go a long way for you, and we hope you do not look back with regrets, wishing you would have done more to stabilize your knees when you had the chance...

Ankylosing spondylitis is swelling mainly of your joints within the spinal column. However it may also include soreness of your eyes, some other joints, particularly all those within the hips, chest, and all over the heels. On some instances, the feet, shoulders, hands, knees and wrists also get sore.. Though it is uncommon, ankylosing spondylitis symptoms are also able to trigger changes such as thickening of the aorta or the major artery as well as the valve inside the heart known as the aortic valve.

When the inflammation persists after some time, it is going to bring about permanent scarring and damage. In several individuals the condition is usually light and advances gradually. The signs and symptoms will never become critical. Some people might have a more intense condition progression.

Whether or not ankylosing spondylitis symptoms become more serious are determined by several factors like the age of when you started to experience the disease, how soon it was clinically determined, and which joints are concerned. It really is too soon to know yet, however specialists believe that fast cure using more recent medications will decrease or lessen the soreness, avoid scar tissue formation, and restrict the advancement of the ailment.

The signs of this disease normally begin with irregular rounds of pain on your lower back area, having both discomfort and tightness getting intense at nighttime, on getting up, or in times of inactivity. On the other hand, indications usually get better through physical exercise. Even though pain is originally centered within the sacroiliac joints that are lying between your spine and pelvis, it could spread out to other sections of your backbone as time passes.

Common and Minor Symptoms

You could encounter ankylosing spondylitis symptoms everyday or occasionally. Sometimes some of these signs and symptoms may be acute:

繚 Fatigue or Tiredness

繚 Lumbar region or sacroiliac pain

繚 Neck pain

繚 Eventual reduction of spinal flexibility

繚 Eventual loss of mobility particularly the range of flexibility within the joint

繚 Hip pain

繚 Stiffness in the spine

繚 Intense pain and tightness along with inactivity

The following are other manifestations of this disease which are less common even during its advance stage. Some people encounter these from time to time.

• Uveitis or inflammation of the eyes

• Heel pain

• Lack of appetite

• Mild fever

• Painful and inflamed shoulder, knee or ankle

• Sudden weight loss

However, there are more serious indications which may reveal a life-threatening situation. This means that immediate medical attention is required. While ankylosing spondylitis is not fatal by itself, the injury to your joints could predispose to bone fracture or even damage to your spine. Below are the serious warnings of this disease.

• Fecal and urinary incontinence

• Numbness and weakness of the extremities

• Acute pain on your joints and lower back

These ankylosing spondylitis symptoms seem to be manageable. However, if any of these gets out of hand or becomes chronic, you need to consult your doctor for proper medical assistance.

The best exercises for football have to include big core lifts that integrate multiple joints in the lift in order to integrate more than one muscle group to be effective. Forget about single joint lifts if you are wanting to develop all the desired traits of football consisting of explosiveness, power, speed, size, and total body strength. There is only room for what matters if you intend on being competitive. This is why I am glad to introduce to you the overhead kettlebell swing!

Best Exercise For Football!

Football is a violent game that requires the fool development of your body in most every way in order to play it. If you want to compete and survive in this game you have got to train your body for the demands that lie ahead. This is why overhead kettlebell swings are a single hard hitting exercise for you to implement into your football strength and conditioning program. By now you may have heard of the ancient kettlebell and realize that this is one hard hitting strength training device that is about the construction of total superior physical prowess.

The overhead kettlebell swing is a strength endurance lift that you can perform with this ancient device that is tremendous for helping you to develop hip power, core strength, back strength, and overall explosiveness for the purpose of football. You have to generate the power from your hips, glutes, and core in order to knock someone off of the line of scrimmage and this drill is great for helping you to do just that.

In order to pull off the overhead swing you will need the availability of a single bell of moderate resistance. Begin by standing with your feet at about shoulder width distance apart in length allowing the bell to hang at your groin while holding it with both hands. Make sure your grip is hooked around the handle of the bell by gripping it in the base of your palm and not out near the insides of your fingers. From here simply begin to engage your hips and knees in a state of constant flexion and extension in order to create the momentum to swing the bell back and forth like a pendulum. As the bell builds momentum make sure to keep your shoulders retracted, abs tight, and gradually build momentum until the bell is swinging from between your legs all the way up to above your head. This is football strength and conditioning at it's best.

If you haven't already started to implement the overhead kettlebell swing into your football strength training wokrouts then you are missing out. Take the time to learn more about this football explosiveness drill and others like it by accessing the rest of my articles on the subject for free. Remember that most any athlete can train hard, but only the champions train smart!

Ok, so the last two newsletters have been about the approach and the takeoff, now it is time to talk about what to do in the air.

The first stage, which is where your head, shoulders and back begin to pass over the bar, is fairly straightforward. If you knock the bar off with your shoulders, the solution (jump further away from the bar or stop jumping towards/into the bar so much) is usually pretty obvious.

The second stage, which begins once your lower back passes over the bar, can be tricky. You see, the common conception is that you have to arch your back as much as possible. The focus, however, should be on raising your hips and pushing your hips up to clear the bar. Think about it, if you arch your back, your upper back and butt have to lower to form that arch. This creates a very small pocket for the bar to pass through.

If you raise your hips though, it creates a smooth, long curve through your entire body that will glide over the bar as your rotate around it, getting the all too common bar-knocking culprit (your butt) over the bar.

The last stage is also problematic. I have heard dozens of coaches say, "Just kick your legs." WRONG! I like to say, "Just kiss your knees." By bringing your knees to your face as quickly as possible, this will get two things out of the way in the order they pass over the bar.

First, your thighs pass over the bar, so why kick your lower legs? You need to get those thighs out of the way first! By thinking about kissing your knees, this will quickly contract your abs and get your thighs over the bar. Then, let your lower legs kick so you don't pull the bar off. Flexible quads will help here.

So, lets recap:

1) Let your natural style get your top half over the bar
2) Raising your hips is more important than arching your back
3) Try to kiss your knees instead of kicking your legs

Hopefully these tips help you get the extra edge to get a new PR. Best of luck!

In order to understand and identify the best places to punch someone for a fast knockout we need to first understand what is the physiological cause of percussion knockouts. The fastest way to achieve an effective knockout involves inducing a rapid drop in the pressure of the blood supply to the brain.

Two very effective methods of achieving this are:

1) A rapid and forceful strike to the head such that the skull is rotated rapidly. The inertia of the brain contained within the skull causes it to lag behind in the rotation and this appears to cause a drop in blood pressure that produces unconsciousness.

2) Interrupting the blood flow to the brain by striking the carotid artery or heart.

Before we look at these methods in depth should also consider extending the definition of punch to other striking methods as the term punch is most often related to the fist. A punch is any thrusting movement and will include the use of palm heel strikes, elbows and even knees. Now, with this assumptions in mind, let us consider the best places to punch someone for a fast knockout by firstly examining the forceful rotation of the head.

The skull is basically a sphere and needs to be struck at points that will bring about a violent movement of the skull such that the brain cannot keep pace with the movement due to its inertia or is bounced against the inside of the skull resulting in a sudden drop in blood pressure.

The best target is the jaw as it provides a very good lever for spinning the head. Striking the chin sideways, upward or downward will produce a very strong and fast rotation. This can be executed with the fist, palm-heel, elbow and even the forearm. By far the most powerful way with the arms is the use of the elbow.

Two of the most powerful striking methods with the elbow strike is either horizontal or downward diagonally striking with the elbow to the head at such an angle that it brings about a rapid twisting jolt of the
head.

If we include knees in our definition of punches then the knee is the best followed by the elbow. Striking the skull upwards at the rear under the occipital lobe with a palm-heel will also produce a rapid knockout.

Another method that sometimes bring about a knockout although, in my experience, not as reliable when used on a strong or very fit subject is the strike to the heart or side of the neck. This momentarily interferes with the flow of blood to the brain, again causing a drop in blood pressure that brings about unconsciousness.

When the side of the neck or the heart is struck with either the side of the hand or fist respectively a change in blood pressure can be also be produced that will produce a knockout. While the strike to the heart is more likely to bring about a knockout the strike to the neck is less likely.

This strike is often the strike used in the so called pressure and nerve point knockouts that are promoted by members of the pressure point knockout community. I have been the recipient of one of these supposed attempts by one of their leading practitioners, George Dilman, and it failed to knock me out, I was not even stunned. The method also required my cooperation for the set up, a situation that is not available in a real fight.

Upon consulting with my physiology professor it was suggested that the method being used would have simply resulted from a back pressure wave being produced by the strike to the carotid artery that was relayed back to the pressure sensors in the atrium of the heart. The feedback nerve loop to the brain would have resulted in the ventricle reducing the pumping pressure in response to a potential rise in bold pressure.

This in turn results in a drop in pumping pressure and resultant drop in blood pressure that produces a potential for unconsciousness. No fancy combinations of nerve strikes, blockages of Chi, death touches or secret techniques; just basic physiology.

So, in summary, the best place to punch someone for a fast knockout is skull in a manner that produces a rapid rotation or jolt, with the best specific target being the jaw because of it's lever potential.

Almost every single gym in the world has a piece of equipment in it that every member hates to use. It sits in the corner like a mousetrap, waiting for the next victim to get close. I've traveled the world in search of the worst of these diabolical machines (well, not really, but you get the idea).

Keep in mind, these are real pieces of equipment that I've actually used (but not for long!).

1. The Power Rack With Aluminum Safety Rails - if a rack has safety rails that are 1 inch in diameter, weigh 3 pounds each and are BENT, stay far, far away.

2. The Eight-Foot Pulldown Machine - have you ever used a pulldown machine where you needed to stand up on the seat to be able to reach the bar? It's about as practical as playing golf with a bowling ball (a little tricky to get into position if you're using more than your bodyweight too).

3. The Back-Breaker Crunch Machine - try a rep in this thing. It'll fold you up like an enchilada and not in a good way. That sharp, shooting pain in your lower back does NOT mean your abs are working.

4. The Short and Skinny Flat Bench - I have no idea who built this thing as I've only ever seen it one gym but this guy needs to be fired. This wonderfully unstable twelve-inch long bench is perfect for exercises that don't require a good base of support or pretty much any support at all. It was the only "bench" in the entire gym that wasn't nailed down so it was all I had to use for 500-pound partial bench presses. Fun!

5. The Shoulder-Separator Flye Machine - the designers of this machine must not have realized that your shoulders don't bend backwards quite as far as they go forward. Never before had I seen a machine that almost made your elbows touch behind your back for a "complete" stretch.

6. The Self-Impaling Cable Row Machine - I quite like cable row machines that have a support pad for your chest. I encountered one version that had a pad that was all of 2 square inches and set so that it pressed directly into your solar plexus as you rowed. It was like getting punched in the guts with every rep!

7. The Trampoline Stair Machine - what could be better than a stair machine that automatically shoots your one leg back up so fast as you push the other one down that you almost knock your teeth out with your knee? How about an escalator.

8. The Crooked Smith Machine - normally when you look at the bar on a Smith Machine, it is horizontal. Not this thing. I must confess, I didn't actually use it though. The fact that everyone who did any exercises on this machine walked away leaning at a 20-degree angle kind of scared me off.

9. The Seatless Stationary Bike - I didn't actually use this one either, for reasons too painful to discuss.

10. The Knee-Cracker Leg Extension Machine - the leg extension is not the healthiest exercise for your knees to begin with but the designer of this machine for some reason felt it necessary to enhance this danger by inclining the seat. Imagine doing a leg extension with your hips down, your knees up level with your chest and your heels forced back underneath your butt. When the sounds of someone crushing bubble wrap comes out of your knees, you know something is not quite right with the machine.

Many dogs jump up when greeting their owners, friends and other pets, but in many cases this is not behavior that should be encouraged. You, as the dog's owner, may not mind, but guests may well be annoyed, frightened or simply worried about hygiene issues of having a dog's face close to their own.

Some trainers have advocated kneeing a dog in the chest to stop it from jumping up. I DO NOT advise this - it may hurt the dog or your knees and it will almost certainly not cure the behavior. We need to look at the reason the dog responds and tackle the problem from its root.

The behavior usually begins with a trigger, such as a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing. The dog will be immediately alert and ready for a visitor - he thinks that it is his job to welcome a guest, to check a stranger, to keep the pack and the territory safe. This is where the problems begins, because it should be the owner who has the responsibility of welcoming, checking and maintaining safety, not the dog.

So, when the trigger occurs, put your dog away in another room. You have effectively controlled your dog's behavior and can now welcome your guest in your own way. You will have raised your status in the pack and reduced your dog's, showing him that you are in control of who enters the house and in what manner they are greeted. You will also have saved your guest from being jumped on!

When your dog is allowed through to see your guest, do this in a controlled manner and don't allow him to jump up. As soon as his behavior is anything less than acceptable, banish him to another room. He will soon realise that he must follow your rules if he wants to stay with you and the guest.

If your dog jumps up at you yourself when you come back home, there are two strategies for dealing with this. The first is to ignore your dog for a good five or ten minutes when you the enter the house. Don't look at him, don't speak to him and don't react if he does something to get your attention. Just turn away and ignore even bad behavior. He will be very confused at first, especially if you're in the habit of making a big fuss of him on entering the house, but after five to ten minutes he will settle down and maybe even lay down quietly. Then you can call him to you, praise him and give him a little treat.

If your dog jumps up at you, it's because he has been rewarded in some way for this behavior. Even being told off or shouted at can seem to be a reward to a dog that's desperate for attention. So when he jumps up, hold his front paws and keep him standing up on his back legs. Don't let him down and stretch him upwards a little. He will wriggle and want to get down, even mouth your hands to make you let go of his paws. Let go and reward him when he is back on the ground where he belongs.

If he jumps up again, go through the same procedure until he learns that jumping up produces a situation he doesn't find rewarding. You must be firm, kind and consistent to ensure that the message is being received loud and clear.

God must love Top Ten lists because she made so many of them. They crowd my Inbox daily. They're right up there in popularity with offers to refinance my house and stock up on Viagra. Top Nine Lists are few and far between and Top Eleven lists unheard of. But for seem reason there seem to be ten nifty answers to pretty much any problem or life situation you can come up with.

In search of my own Top Ten favorites I had a hard time coming up with something that hadn't already been worked over. There seems to be a plethora of Top Ten lists designed to pump us up; increase our confidence and build self esteem. I thought it would be nice to let some of the air out. So here are my:

Top Ten Things to Build a Bridge and Get Over.

1. Nobody knows why anybody does anything. Imagine the time this one will free up. You don't need to figure out what happened to Aunt Bertha as a child to make her so mean and crabby; why your s.o. dumped you; why your neighbor ignores you. We humans are a product of our upbringing; environment, genetics and hormones. We do what we do when we do it. Let it go. Don't take it personally.

2. Nobody owes you a thing. When you think about all the time, love and attention it took to get where you are today you'll see that you can never repay the debt. Your mother and father who raised you; your teachers who pushed and believed in you; your friends who supported you; your community which nurtures you. Question is - what have you given back in return?

3. You'll be balanced when you're dead. Not a moment sooner. Balance schmalanace. We chase it like the Holy Grail. What's the big deal if you work too hard some weeks and goof off others? If you're passionate about something maybe you'd rather have more of it in your life. Your kids won't knock over a bank if you miss a few softball practices. Exercise is overrated and TV's not evil incarnate

4. Multi-tasking is an oxymoron. Don't be intimidated by colleagues who do five things at once. Studies on "Attentional Blink" show that we don't actually do more than one thing at a time. We switch our attention rapidly between projects. A one man band plays many instruments passably but none well. Better to be a maestro than a journeyman.

5. You don't deserve anything you have. See # 2. Entitlement is a very unattractive quality. No matter how hard you worked or how much you planned you were never in control of the outcome of your efforts. God and luck and the support of others, along with your own hard work, played big parts.

6. You're ordinary. Relax it's a compliment. Ordinary people are reliable, industrious and consistent . Superstars are a pain in the rear especially when they read their own press. Who would you rather call at 2 AM when your car breaks down - Tony Robbins or your brother-in-law Al? Imagine the ride home.

7. You're not a victim you're a volunteer. (Unless we're talking about a trainwreck or a typhoid epidemic). The old saw about nobody being able to take advantage of you without your permission is true. If you don't want something to happen in your life don't set it up in the first place.

8. You're right. Life isn't fair. But it's always interesting and instructive if you keep an open mind.

9. There is no meantime. No place where time stands still and standards are lowered and second best is good enough. There's only now. What are you going to do now?

10. Gratefulness is second to Godliness. Cleanliness is waaay down the list. Get down on your knees and look at your life. Oh, the places you'll go!

Walter Murrow was my hero, one of them really, when I was very young. I picked my heroes carefully. This small knowledge of picking your "role models" carefully was ensconced by the Boy Scouts of America. My membership in the Boy Scouts was almost mandatory. By my family. Me mum was a Scot.

The Bill of Rights is wrong! Since the last election. One where, I admit, though for the good of this country in a way, at least at first. (yeah, I typed that easy enough:) I thought, although I knew that as a normal rule, the Republican choice, (one of only two for us, but not by law! Too bad.) would be best at this time in America. I was not wrong about that! If the Democrats had been in office during the day of the "twin tragedies" as I have begun to think of them, then we would indeed not be in this war! I am not kidding you here!

The Democrats would not be fighting this war! Correct is this message of hind sight by those Democrats that are looking forward to their prospects during the upcoming election.

However, (you knew there would be one, "din'cha"?) that non-involvement would have been brought about through one of two "programs" they would have placed us under. (under" being the correct term here). Or perhaps both!

One would be a "pay-off". Throwing money towards the enemy sometimes works. It worked against the Iraqi, when our Government paid off the military elite, in order to be seen as "rolling over" the troops on the ground. By actually bulldozing, using tanks equipped with blades, they simply buried thousands alive in their interconnected tunnels and bunkers. The lucky successfully gave themselves up at the sight of the American Troops. Don't get too swelled up! the fact of one is that they had taken a visiting "American" Iraqi, gave him a weapon, and put him, although he protested, into the front lines of trenches. One day he was visiting relatives, the next, he was involved in a war, on the "wrong" side! How's that for a nightmare?

The other Iraqi bragged about how they were going to kill several Americans! Then the radio started telling of the slaughter, and the awesome attack of the Americans. They found out that the "reserves" had been put on the front line trenches. The "regular" army were placed behind them! In trenches of their own. And then the "Commanding Officers" were in trenches behind the second layer. However the truth was, they weren't even back in those trenches! They were either hiding out, until they could "help" themselves. Help themselves to part of the coming wealth during a "reconstruction" of Iraq and its Government! Most were leaving with family and money, and their "stuff" to other countries!

When the Iraqi found out how much of a problem they had. That they had been duped, much as you and I are, they asked the American-Iraqi "How can we fight? What is the best way to fight the Americans?" He told them, "Marines? Are you people nuts?" They pressed him, so he told them the best option. "DIE! Or go out with a white flag! That will give them a moment to hesitate, if they will, of pulling their triggers to kill you. Then you beg, on your knees, to give up! Maybe you will not be killed. Maybe you can successfully give up. Maybe you will live. Doing anything else, even sitting here and doing nothing, will be a certain death!" That was corroborated by the people screaming for help on the military radio they had. (this is the story I remember. If you remember it differently, good!) He was one elected to go out with the white flag, because he was an American, after all. He did, he did not want to, but he did. Telling the Americans that he was an American-Iraqi was received much as the reporters that went ashore in the first Iraq non-war.

They had entered an area on the beach landing within a "fort" made by stacking shipping containers. When they pointed the cameras at Americans, the got a lesson in "Right of Free Speech" themselves! Yelling "I'm an American! I'm a reporter for (CNN/ABC/CBS?CBC/) of any company, got them slammed down hard on the pavement, and their cameras landed hard also. You see, when you are in a war, be it a real war or a "non-war", you develop the instinct of a dog, because you want to live. As well as not caring if the "their guy" lived or not!

The "Demoncrats" would first pay off everyone that would take graft, weather or not they "performed" as agreed later. That might "fix" it.

If not, then they would call in the U.N. and other national governments like the A.U. This was done by the Republicans too, but the "Demoncrats" would want to connect some kind of American "Clerked" program for the ending of hostilities. That would be followed up, however grudgingly, by a "war slapping". Known by the term of "limited warfare", a kind of "Go get them boys!", then search, classify, and number, them all! But don't shoot anyone! That might "breed" others like them!

Where the heck do you think the first ones came from? We already "bred" them for centuries! So now they are getting the upper hand? Now, finally, they have the intelligence and money, and "volunteers" to carry out the "Twin Terrorism" against the U.S.? I think not! I think that is "horse puky"!

Speaking of the South end of a North-bound mule, what would the reaction be of the Republicans? The Republicons? They have showed us their reactions. Their plan went into effect immediately! War was declared! Against us! I ain't kidding you here!

They declared war on us, the Citizens of the United States. And then they sent equipment of a military nature, along with a few thousand maintenance men, and motor pool guards. Ok, I'm kidding your here. Those guards are really our Servicemen and Women that fights for this country, right or wrong. And they are to be backed by us. They are to be aided by us. They are to be defended from any criticism by us. They are also to be protected from senseless actions by the Military Legal System! They do a job. To do that they have to kill people!

Now, before you get angry, if you are not already, let me modify that a bit. Killing is "good". But the killing should be left up to the guy standing in his boots, where the killing is to take place! Or in the air, or in a vehicle or building, where the killing HAS to happen. Throwing men, women, kids, over the bridge railing where they die, is NOT against the Geneva Convention, if; it is accidental, unavoidable; and or necessary; IF the serviceman or servicewoman is under the IMPRESSION that his life, or his friends and cohorts lives, are in jeopardy! Now, that does not mean; Rape; theft; murder; mayhem; torture; is at any times RIGHT! But other than those acts, and the ones that are contained by the Geneva Convention, as they are legal, can and should be seen in the light, and by the testimony of; the American Servicemen and Servicewomen that are the perpetrators, witnesses, and or Commanding Officers; involved and on-scene!

Why is this to be tolerated? Even supported? Because "it" happens! Yep. Someone backs up and runs over a child? The horror of that should be judged. And sentenced. Appropriately. If a Policeman has to go to a homeowner's door and serve papers, and the homeowner comes to the door with a gun in his hands, anything, any act by the Policeman, from a verbal warning, up to and including killing the homeowner, should be supported. Unless, the Policeman is said by others, that he had done something against the law. Such as "dropping" a gun on the man after being shot. Or some other act that would be illegal as far as his authority permits and limits. Otherwise, you will not be able to "field" any Officers of the Law. (might not be too bad an idea? hugh?)

The Republicons have taken the initiative to gain their goals. They took seized the opportunity and took initiative for sure To reach out and grab the things that needed to be done to "protect" us! While at the same time the Republicans probably created the opportunity in which to seize! I ain't kidding you here!

If you want to know who started, and created, whatever you think they did; you only have to take an intellectual look at events! I am not going to be so stupid as to foster some "criminal conspiracy" upon you, where the "Republicons and the Demoncrats", supposedly "elite" persons within those organizations conspire to cause the "terror on 911"!

I am not that stupid. If you see it, and then believe it; good! If you don't...;good! You see, I am intelligent. (that don't mean I ain't stupid at times!)
I am intelligent enough to know that if anyone tries to "show" me something, and or convince me by yelling and calling me "stupid", then I not only quit listening, I know the very "proof" is now in question, as far as the persons ability to both understand the facts and know how to communicate it! Yeah, I just "dummy up". "Dummy up" is a good thing! When the Communists were killing the intelligent and the teachers and other education and politically savvy, anyone really smart, "dummied up"! Thus they had no job nor reputation where they lived, to place them on the list. (Where you probably are right now! Sorry, I only try to tell the truth. I don't write the "rules".)

Look at the SUBSIQUENT results of the "911" day that "Terrorists" hit the twin towers. I know you are probably tired of hearing of it, that day I mean. But I am not asking you to have a look back at those events. I am speaking of the subsequent event, both within this country and out of it.

Did anything "pop-up" on your radar, some small "thing" leaving a "blip" on the screen of your senses? There are some on mine! The following is a short list. From that, and or, your list, you can find out for yourself if you are being "duped" and also if you are being "dummied down" by yourself if not by others.

Is there anyone (I mean anyone!) saying there is a conspiracy here to challenge the facts?

Is there any persons that could profit by the events? I mean make money?

Is there a reason, that any can show you, that might be used as some kind of "proof" that this days work was done by other than those persons that are have said to have committed this?

Is there NOW some action by politicians, and the monied people and or large companies, that could not be successful if the act itself had not been committed?

Is there anything that the subsequent events, make those same three; (persons; politicians; large companies) Billions of dollars? This too would include any "allied" companies, who are aligned with us both politically and militarily, and or linked by very large national companies/

Here we will leave the Vice President or homesick, anyone that is "harped" and or "hawked" as being complicated by the NEWS MEDIA. The "news' media lies. Period. They do not tell you the truth, by withholding the very things that would put the STORY into perspective. You do not EVER get a proper perspective from the Television, Radio, and large Newspapers. And the small ones do not have the access, not the assets, to do more than "echo" the stories that are of a National scope. They will do, as the National "big media' does, give the "ain't we great and ain't we lucky. Now, don't rock the boat! Or we will affect our community so much we will have to pay more taxes!" Which is all a lie, as much as the story, mostly, they do. That is; if it is a big Political figure or big Company that is local! So, read the "funnies", and forget the rest! Like one man said to me long ago, "I read the paper. But only the "funny paper". I just look to make sure that Dagwood is still married. And then I stop. Keeps me sane." You should do the same, unless you are sitting in a position, where nothing else will occupy your mind. Theres bound to be something, pictures and writing on toilet paper packages the wife brings home, or the tags on your clothes that you can read. Interesting stuff right there!

The answer to all those questions, not even approaching a real listing of such, is YES! No qualifications. No abrogation. No "buts" (really, I ain't kidding you here) The answers are;

That as, there was a "general shut-down" of all aerial protection for Washington D.C. during a "testing of the assets", included everyone, except the "Terrorists"! Right there, you have to wonder...

There was an immediate "letting out of contracts" to large and medium sized companies, both foreign and domestic. You can't fight a war without equipment! But you don't have to "crank" it up BEFOREHAND do you?

There is now a "beachhead" for our politicians in the FAR EAST. That has been wanted for decades.

There were several other "small in comparison, "Terrorist" events! You just have to begin wondering? It is much like a some people that contemplate suicide. Some don't "cry out" for help. Women won't shoot themselves in the face or head. Men don't necessarily shoot themselves in the back of the head. Especially with a shotgun! And most especially if they have an "in" with a President of the United States of America! ( I haven't seen so many people "checking out" since the days of President Johnson!) There are too many people associated with too many outcries effecting too many powerful, to ignore! Unless you want to remain as a "dummy", which you might want to do?

The Oil pipeline, that was to be situated in the FAR EAST and could not become actual, due to political intrigue, is now able to go forward! We don't fight war for oil! We do it for money, from oil. And for pipelines, to deliver oil. Oil is money. Money is power. DO you have any oil or money? Right.

Now couple all that with this; The "terrorists" bodies, or "effects (stuff" has not been displayed. They were able to do a "re-construction' of the bodies of the Hussain's sons, but not the "terrorists"? This country of ours is being made into a Martial Law state. Does anyone know what the powers of a sitting President would be under a Martial Law, one that was Nation-wide? Awesome!

There is so many laws changed, that you cannot live as you once did! You feel powerful yet? "NO-knock"; NO-warrant" search and NO-arrest warrant; and tons of other things are not for your benefit! Believe me. I have seen the real war "theatre", and I know that dang WALL is not being built along the Southern border to keep Illegal Aliens out! A WALL cannot do that. Ever. Never worked for the Romans. Again the second wall didn't stop their losing England! Didn't work for the Communists in Germany! Won't work here. EXECPT to Imprison YOU! That will work. The key here is where they put the barbed wire circles. Inside leaning or outside leaning or both? Either will not be good for you and I, but it will tell us a bit.

Please remember, no person, especially one carrying an atomic bomb or device, can enter this country without it being known by someone. You cannot walk around with one, just like you cannot steal an atomic calibration instrument from a surveyor, as some have found out afterward. It is traceable! If any person was "caught" by either Government doing so, I would be more than suspicious! After all, our Government SMUGGLED aliens, and they were WAR CRIMINALS, into this country. Then SMUGGLED them out again! In order to have them come in, that is without the one or two that could not get a faked or real entry, as documented soon-to-be-citizens!

Mexico didn't smuggle them! Nor did Germany! They didn't escape from some POW camp! They were "handled" by our Government, in a "need to know" secret program. You may think, "Well, after all, it was for our own good! We built a working delivery system for nuke weapons! That stopped war against us!" DID it? Why are we at war not then!?

"Well, we used them aliens in order to build a spaceship and space parts delivery system! How about that?" Sure did! question is; "what did you know and when did you know it?" You see, there is a complete system, identical to the one you know, that you have not seen! It goes places you have not been told about! You been duped!

I know this article is getting too long. But having a lot of information will educate us to the point of being more than skeptical. I hope. If you know such stuff, voice it please. I would be interested. But will not be emailing or writing anyone.

All you have to do, if you are a Christian and still think that "parts of this system and government and people" are Christian based. And despite any machinations, we are a Christian Nation!" I say Good! I think that is awesome.

But when you read your bible, you find out that the King David of Israel, commanded his son not to; "let history head go down to the grave in peace."! He told his son who to let live, and whom to kill! Who to befriend, and who to war against! Right there is the best proof you will ever be shown! Get Ready!

Not for Christ to come. You should be ready for that already! But the next election, that is, if He "tarries", is going to put the nail in our countries' "Constitutional Coffin"!

Girls and woman listen up, these self-defense tips and advice could save your life. Most sexual attacks, assaults, and rapes occur against woman and girls between the ages of 16-26 years old. Statistics are horrible for attacks approximately 1 out of 4 girls will be raped in your lifetime, and of the rapes that are reported, 77% of the victims knew their attacker.

That means the one who is more likely to attack you could be a male relative, male friend, mother or sister's boyfriend, or a date rape. I don't want you to be a victim, ever. Read this article and pass it around to all your friends so that you can survive, and you can help someone else.

The first thing that you need to do is get prepared. Any environment could be a moment of attack so be aware. Be aware of WHO is around you. I repeat this for you! It could be a male relative, so do not assume, just because you are alone with your friend's dad that you are safe, if you are sitting on the couch in your bra and panties, or you just stepped out of the shower in their house. Most rapists or sexual predators are opportunistic in nature. They see an opportunity and they jump on it, knowing that they won't be caught. A sexual attacker or predator is banking on your embarrassment, and being too embarrassed you won't speak up. NEWS FLASH! When you do have the courage to speak up, probably you are NOT going to be believed anyway! It will be your word against his. Let's suppose that he is an older more distinguished appearing gentleman, if anyone holds it to be true, they will assume that you wanted it, and you instigated the sexual seduction.

Since this previously happened to me by a male relative, I will tell you straight up that nobody believed me either. Even not knowing your name, I believe that it happened to you, and it might happen to your friend too. Right now, I'm going to give you some self-defense tips that will knock your attacker on his _ _ _!

Every moment from now on, I want you to become more aware of where you are, with whom you are with, and what if any are some of the tools that you can use for your own self-defense. First off, do not present opportunities for these perverts! Cover up, and do not flaunt everything you got, when in male company even gay males. Wherever you find yourself, look around, and discover where any exits are and notice if they really work? Windows, doors, fire escapes etc.

Awareness. Let's talk about your neighborhood for a moment. Be aware of where you're walking ladies. Stop texting or get off the cell phone if you are walking in an isolated or wooded area. Look at the area, and note where someone might hide. Look out for hidden doorways, a patch of woods, or trees, under a bridge, beside an isolated staircase through the woods, behind some hedges or bushes. Be extra cautious if you HAVE to walk through deserted areas. Try to walk in pairs. Be aware of high car traffic areas, and sections of town that are very convenient to cars stopping or direct access to freeways, or turnpikes. Watch out for short cuts across isolated areas, fields, old factories. Those areas present OPPORTUNITY if a sexual predator wants to throw you in his truck or car. Don't go alone if you can avoid it, and don't walk there at night.

What do you have in your purse or on your person that could be a great weapon? Here's a few examples:

Your Keys. Hold the key between your two fingers with the sharp end pointing out. Use it to jab or stab into the groin area, or eye area. Hold on tightly so that you don't drop it.

Hair Spray. Spray in the eyes, and when he is momentarily blinded kick him or knee him as hard as you can in the groin, and follow up with a fist directly into his nose. Don't throw a punch from the side or with a swing.

Punch straight from your chest, or body, because he may see the punch coming if you try a swinging punch, and block it. If he goes down, don't run blindly, you should know to where you are running. Don't run into a dead end, or a trap.

Don't get cornered in an alley. He may not be alone, so be aware of a tag team play with a second or third attacker.

Pepper Spray. If you have pepper spray, spray it in his eyes, and do the same thing, punch or kick him in the groin, or stomp on the instep (highest point on top of foot) with your heel.

Sharp Metal Nail File.  Jam it into his groin or try to stab him in one eye. Use your other hand to either punch him in the groin or grab his balls. If he grabs both your hands, use your knee into his groin and then follow with a foot stomp. If that doesn't work, you jam your heel into his knee cap. Keep focusing on one, since you may have already caused damage and pain there. But hit any one that you can reach.

Head Butt. I don't recommend this unless in a desperate situation. If he has both your hands, and you can't reach him with your feet, use the part of your forehead that starts your hairline. Pull backwards a little and then slam that part of your head, directly into his nose, or chin. Twist your arms and hands in towards your body and then throw closed fists (like hammers) into his nose, followed by: quickly swing your arms and fists out and down to the sides of your chest or hips, and slam both fists into his groin.

The mall poses lots of hazards and opportunities for attacks. Where? Back exit doors that are in a more isolated part of the mall can be a good escape route for abductions. Doors that lead into storage areas of stores, can be a potential target spot. Parking garages. My advice, don't walk alone or end up there by yourself. Tell someone you trust well, exactly where you are going to be even if you are going to the ladies-room by yourself. Make sure that someone comes looking for you after a certain pre-established time. If you go in alone, check the stalls. Check to see if you see legs, and shoes look masculine or out of place. Check to see if the door opens or it seems to lock, or is blocked in some manner. It could be a set up. Don't get into texting while you're alone there, a distracted woman is easy target. In the mall hallways, the bottom of a fire extinguisher, if one is available, and you can loosen it, from the wall, is a nice hard object to slam into his face, or swing up into his groin. Your heavy purse swung hard into his groin can be a temporary determent to your attacker. A closed, flat hard cell phone, slammed into his groin can be very effective, to break away and run.

Other things that you might have on you or in your purse:

Ornamental Hair Pins, with sharp combs or hair-pins. Remember: Eyes, groin, knees, and feet.

Heavy Hair Brush Smash into his nose, and or bring it up into his groin. It may sound strange but some of us girls have silverware in bigger bags to eat our lunch on the go. If that is you, jam the fork into his eye, or into the back of his hand, stick him in the groin, stomach or top of his leg, on the upper thigh close to the groin area. That hurts! Follow with a second blow, or hit. Remember he is attacking you, and he only has a small window of opportunity before you are able to escape or get someone's attention to help you. Listen closely! Once you start fighting him! It's for your life! Don't give up until you are free and safe!

Cars. If you are being stalked or someone is pulling you into a car, fight like mad with all the above techniques. If you are in the car, of an acquaintance or date, who starts something, you still have some tools around.

The cigarette lighter. Push the hot end into his eye or back of hand, or side of neck. If your other hand is free, punch him in the nose. Punch from the chest. Knee him in the groin. Spit in his face, and punch him. Scratch or claw his eyes and face. Use your elbow, and drive it back into his ribs, or groin if you can reach. Swing your elbow up into his chin or nose.

The sharp end of an ice scraper slammed into face, or groin, ear. Whatever you can reach can be a potential tool. If there is a lock-stick for the steering wheel see if you can smash him in the face or over the head. But be careful with this one, because he could use it against you. Tools in the car's glove box like an emergency glass breaking and seatbelt tool. Jam it in his face, or groin, slam it against the side of his head. The point is he is expecting to have the upper hand and the element of surprise on his side. He is probably not expecting you to reach in the glove box or under the seat for a hard or sharp object with which to fight him off. But, that is exactly how you have to think and you have to take action! You have to fight if it comes down to it! Be aware!

React very quickly! Be ready if you are attacked! If you strike, do it hard and fierce! Don't hesitate! If the first blow doesn't take him down or stop him, hit him again! If he falls back use your feet and legs, and drive a well-placed foot or both feet into his groin or body. Keep kicking out. Try to smash the glass with your shoes or feet. If you have something hard in your hands try to break the window. You may break the window and or get someone's attention. I sincerely hope that you never have to use any of these tips, but upon reading this article, memorize every tip that you find here. They may well save your life or your friend's life.

Bowling is a sport where pros and even amateurs love to play. It is a good sport to play and spend time together with family and friends. It also helps develop body balance and control. It exercises your legs and muscle groups which help burn your calories. With the help of consistent engagement with this sport, even when you are a beginner, you can improve your bowling skills and earn scores easier. Let me give you some basic tips to play like a pro and knock down all those pins.

The Bowling Ball
The bowling ball is the one that is thrown at the lane to knock down the pins. It is better to have you own bowling ball at least you are familiar with your ball and how much effort you should put as you throw the ball. The heavier the ball, the better! But make sure you are comfortable with it and you can lift it. The advantage of a heavy ball is that it you will have more control over the ball.

Bowling Shoes
Though you can use your comfortable and fit rubber shoes, it is better to have bowling shoes. Bowling shoes help you score better for they are really intended for bowling. It gives you the proper fit and comfort required in playing bowling. And it does not slip for the sole of the shoes has enough friction against the floor.

Standing Position
Where you place your feet at the start of the lane gives impact as where the ball goes. If you are still a beginner, experiment on where to stand. Once you found a stand that gives you a perfect throw, take note of it. Try doing it again and you will master it.

The Stride
If you are a right-handed person, step with your right foot first. Take three more steps ending with your left foot as you release the ball. This assures proper balance. If you can't get used to it immediately, you can try doing it at home with an imaginary ball. Practice is the key.

The Aim
Before striding the ball as you look at the pins, get your aim. There are arrows painted on the lane. Look at the closest arrows and choose one.

Joints
As you throw the ball, bend your knees comfortably as far as you can. The lower you are to the floor, it gives you more control over the ball. On the other hand, keep your wrist straight as you stride the ball and avoid turning it.

Any way you look at it, being a grandparent is an experience that you will never understand until it happens to you. I have heard it compared to the feeling you have the first time you fall in love and to seeing your first child. Grandparents tell me that it just isn't the same. Being a grandparent is God's way of rewarding parents for not strangling his or her children when they are young. Being a grandparent is a parent's revenge on his or her child for late night telephone calls to pull them out of ditches or drive them home because they've been drinking. Being a grandparent and grandparenting can't really be described. A friend told me once that you don't know what unconditional love really is until you become a grandparent. A grandparent looks at this new little life for the first time and it's like God has just handed him or her a piece of his/her heart. The child of your child brings to a grandparent a feeling that can never be duplicated and a bond that can never be broken.

Before you become a grandparent, you can't imagine what it is going to be like. You might think that your friends who have grand children are a little crazy because they seem to think that grandchildren are the most wonderful things in the world. So, what do you do when you find out you are going to be a grandparent?

First of all, as soon as you find out you are going to be a grandparent prepare for your life to change. Next, find out what your resources are. Did you know that there is actually a Grandparents magazine? Online it is called Grandparenting.com. Be thinking about all the things you will be able to teach this little being. You will be surprised at how much they can absorb from the very first day they are a part of the family.

Remember that you are the GRANDPARENT and not the parent. Therefore, you do not have to worry about discipline. The "fill 'em with sugar and then send 'em on home" can be your motto. I would also suggest the motto "discipline as a last resort".

There are laws you need to commit to memory. A deck of cards do not always number 52; you can just as well play with 49. Never, under any circumstance, win a game at the expense of your grandchild. Grandchildren ALWAYS win (even when they don't). There will come a day when your grandchild will become too heavy for you to pick up. Grandparents know everything; you will find this out during your grandchild's first dispute with his/her parents. Get a local cell phone number with unlimited minutes so your grandchild can call and talk to you at anytime.

You should also remember that "the look" that used to knock your child to his knees does not work on grandchildren. They won't even see it.

If you are not going to be living close to your grandchild you will need to be able to create and keep the bond between you. One way is to get a free website online and post messages and photos to your grandchild for you. We have already talked about the unlimited minutes on your cell phone. Visit your grandchild as often as possible and spend as much time with him or her as possible. Send your grandchild mail each week. It doesn't have to be costly; children love getting mail. Little packages addressed only to him or her will be a special treat but a post card of your town will still be special and find a place on the refrigerator.

Always have a special treat for your grandchild when you visit. There should be something special that you always do together. Going to a movie, having a sleep over, or going to see Santa or to the haunted house can be your own ritual that continues till adulthood.

Is your relationship falling apart?  Is it getting worse, and you feel hopeless?  Has panic gripped you, and you're grasping for anything to help you?  The confusion, pain, and anger you experience when your relationship is falling apart, is one of the most devastating things to endure.  There is help to make it healthy, and you don't have to feel hopeless!  It can be fixed!

Everyone will have problems in their relationship, whether minor or major.  In your case, it's major,  you feel hopeless, and don't know what to do. Your sense of urgency has brought you here for your falling apart relationship.Take a deep breath it can be fixed!

Here are some facts what falling apart relationships lead to.  It's estimated that 50% of men under the age of 45 will divorce in their first time of marriage. For women, it is about 44% to 52% under the age of 45 who will divorce in their first time of marriage. For men, and women between the ages of 45 to 55, it is about 40% who will divorce. The lowest divorce rates are for men and women at 60 years of age, until death, at about 32%. Not good odds, are they?  Don't be a statistic!

How many people have you heard say that their relationship was over? You felt for them, you cried with them, and hoped that something like this won't happen to you.  But it did!  There are 5 extremely important areas that you need to focus on to help your falling apart relationship heal. Series of events led up to it.

1. Are you in love, or just love?

There are many ways to describe love, but concerning a relationship,  It's about being in love!  When you first fell in love, did it take your breath away, make your heart beat faster?  Did your knees knock, and left you shaky all over?   Life gets in the way with the business of making a living, taking care of family, and so on, and it has contributed to diminishing  the magic of being in love!  Re-kindle that magic!

2. Be committed to make your relationship work!

Are both of you committed to stop your relationship from falling apart?  If only one of you is willing to rebuild it, the odds are that it is bound to fail. Both of you will have to sit down, and discuss your willingness to make your falling apart relationship work.  There will be problems, and both of you will need to be willing to work on them, and see them through. 

3. Learn how to communicate with each other again!  

How many couples do you know who were madly in love in the beginning of their relationship? They talked about everything under the sun, and were excited with each others conversation.  Then time past, and you saw them again, both of them so quiet, you could hear a pin drop and hit the floor! Has your relationship reached that point? Communication won't be easy, because the relationship is already in trouble, but you keep trying.  It will get better!

4. Be willing to work on trust issues!

For a relationship to work, it has to be built on a foundation of trust! I don't know what kind of events went on in your home that led up to it falling apart, but if trust has been compromised, it will be a difficult issue to work on. Nobody is perfect, and we all make mistakes! It's when you do it again, that it isn't a mistake anymore, but an intention.

5. Rebuilding your relationship will take time.

Working on a relationship that is falling apart will take time. You have to be patient! It will not heal over night!   Keep in mind, that the damage is done, and you don't want to put a band-aid over a gaping wound! 

Relationships that fall apart are difficult, and unfortunately, too many people give up. They end their relationships when there was a chance it could have been saved!  Yours can be!  You don't have to feel hopeless!

Today the modern T-shirt has spawned a vast textile and fashion industry, worth over two-billion dollars to the world's retail trade. The unlikely birth of the t-shirt was a rather unspectacular event, however this humble piece of attire was set to change the styles and fashions of cultures for generations to come. Eventually the T-Shirt would be used as a political tool for protest and in certain times and places in history, a symbol of revolution and change.

At the very beginning the t-shirt was little more than a piece of underwear, an extremely utilitarian one at that. In the late 19th century the union suit, (also colloquially known as long johns), was in its hey day, worn across America and northern parts of Europe. Popular throughout class and generation, this modest knitted one-piece covered the whole body, from the neck to the wrists and ankles. The designs pièce de résistance featured a drop flap in the back for ease of use in the old outhouse. As cotton became more and more widely available, underwear manufacturers seized the moment to create an alternative to this mainstay and rather cumbersome design. Knitted material is difficult to cut and sew seams and thus with cotton a radical shift towards mass-made fashion could begin.

In Europe times were changing, as the Americans continued to sweat and itch, a simple "T-shaped" template was cut twice from a piece of cotton cloth and the two pieces faced and stitched together in a lowly European workhouse. It was half a pair of long johns, but it soon took on a life of its own. As the Industrial Revolution reached its inevitable conclusion, Henry T. Ford created the world's first production line, the ideas of functionalism, efficiency, and utilitarian style entered the mainstream consciousness of societies across the world, and Europe in particular. Many began to question the Puritanism of the past, Victorian buttoned-down ideas of modesty were starting to give way to scantier and scantier swimsuits, ankle-bearing skirts, and short-sleeved shirts. As World War One loomed upon the horizon, the t-shirt was about to be conscripted to the army.

Historical researchers define the first recorded incident of the introduction of the T-shirt to the United States occurred during World War One when US soldiers remarked upon the light cotton undershirts European soldiers were issued as standard uniform. American soldiers were fuming, their government were still issuing woolen uniforms, this wasn't fashion, it was practically a tactical military disadvantage. How could a sniper keep still and aim his rifle with beads of sweat pouring in his eyes, and an itch that just wouldn't go away? The US army may not have reacted as quickly as their troops would have liked, but the highly practical and light t-shirt would soon make its way back to the mainstream American consumer.

Due to their highly recognizable shape, and want for a better name, the word "T-shirt" was coined, and as the word found its place in the cultural lexicon, people across the world began to adopt the new and more comfortable alternative to the union shirt. A handful of American experts claim that the name was coined in 1932 when Howard Jones commissioned "Jockey" to design a new sweat absorbing shirt for the USC Trojans football team. However the US army contests the origins of the word come from army training shirts, being the military it was not long before practicality ensured the abbreviation. There is one alternative theory, little known and rather graphic in its interpretation. Essentially the idea that shortened-length arms were described as akin to the shape of an amputees torso, a common sight in the bloodier battles of the past, though this speculation cannot be verified, the idea has a gory ring of truth about it. During World War II the T-shirt was finally issued as standard underwear for all ranks in both the U.S. Army and the Navy. Although the T-shirt was intended as underwear, soldiers performing strenuous battle games or construction work, and especially those based in warmer climes would often wear an uncovered T-shirt. On July the 13th, 1942, the cover story for Life magazine features a photo of a soldier wearing a T-shirt with the text "Air Corps Gunnery School".

In the first few years after World War Two, the European fashion for wearing T-shirts as an outer garment, inspired mainly by new US army uniforms, spread to the civilian population of America. In 1948 the New York Times reported a new and unique marketing tool for that year's campaign for New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey. It was the first recorded "slogan T-Shirt", the message read "Dew It for Dewey", closely repeated by the more famous "I Like Ike" T-shirts in Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidential campaign.

In the early 1950s enterprising companies based in Miami, Florida, began to decorate tee shirts with Floridian resort names and even cartoon characters. The first recorded graphic t-shirt catalogue was created by Tropix Togs, by its creator and founder, Miami entrepreneur Sam Kantor. They were the original licensee for Walt Disney characters that included Mickey Mouse and Davy Crockett. Later other companies expanded into the tee shirt printing business that included Sherry Manufacturing Company also based in Miami.

Sherry began business in 1948, the owner and founder, Quinton Sandler, was quick to catch onto the new T-shirt trend, and quickly expanded the screen print scarf company into the largest screen print licensed apparel producer in the United States. Soon more and more celebrities were seen on national TV sporting this new risqué apparel including John Wayne, and Marlon Brando. In 1955 James Dean gave the T-Shirt street credibility in the classic movie "Rebel Without A Cause". The T-Shirt was fast evolving into a contemporary symbol of rebellious youth. The initial furore and public outcry soon died down and within time even the American Bible Belt could see its practicality of design.

In the 60's people began to tie dye and screenprint the basic cotton T-Shirt making it an even bigger commercial success. Advances in printing and dying allowed more variety and the Tank Top, Muscle Shirt, Scoop Neck, V-Neck, and many other variations of the T-Shirt came in to fashion. During this period of cultural experimentation and upheaval, many independent T-shirt printers made copies of "Guerrillero Heroico, or Heroic Guerilla", the famous portrait of Ernesto "Che" Guevara taken by Alberto "Korda" Diaz. Since which it is said to be the most reproduced image in the history of photography, mainly thanks to the rise of the T-shirt.

The 1960's also saw the creation of the "Ringer T-shirt" which became a staple fashion for youth and rock-n-rollers. The decade also saw the emergence of tie-dyeing and screen-printing on the basic T-shirt. In 1959, "Plastisol", a more durable and stretchable ink, was invented, allowing much more variety in t-shirt designs. As textile technologies improved, new T-shirt styles were soon introduced, including the the tank top, the A-shirt (infamously known as the "wife beater"), the muscle shirt, scoop necks, and of course V-necks.

More and more iconic T-shirts were designed and created throughout the Psychedelic era, including more and more home-made experiments. A tidal wave of tie-died t-shirts began to appear at the burgeoning music festival scenes in Western Europe and America. By the late 60's it was practically a required dress code amongst the West Coast hippie culture. Band T-shirts became another extremely popular form of T shirt, cheaply printed and sold at live gigs and concerts of the day, the tradition continues to the present, band T shirts are as popular as ever, however the price of them has risen dramatically.

In 1975 Vivienne Westwood makes her mark at 430 King's Road, London at the "Sex" boutique with her new Punk-style t-shirts, including her infamous "God Save The Queen" design. Punk introduced an explosion of independent fashion designers and in particular t-shirt designers. To this day many modern designs pay tribute to the "grunge-look" of this rebellious and anarchic period of Western culture.

The influx of corporate funding of the 1980's changed the whole face of the T-shirt market. Slogan T-shirts were gaining popularity again, "Choose Life" was produced to promote the debut album of George Micheal's band "Wham", whilst "Frankie Says" helped push a string of highly controversial singles to the top of the UK charts for Liverpool based band "Frankie Goes to Hollywood". Bands, football teams, political parties, advertising agencies, business convention organizers, in fact anyone after a piece of cheap promotion began to commission and sell vast numbers of T-shirts. One noble exception of the time was the now iconic "Feed the World" T-shirt, created to raise funds and awareness of the original and groundbreaking Band Aid charity event.

During the 80's and 90's T-Shirt production and printing technologies vastly improved, including early forms of D.T.G (Direct to Garment Transfer) printing, increased the volume and availability. Whilst in financial circles, the world's stock markets took notice as the American T-Shirt was classed as a commodity item in the apparel industry.

Branded corporate labels soon made their massive mark on the industry. A whole new generation of T-shirt designs swamped the market, promoting conformity and allegiance to a brand name, such as Nike, rather than an expression of individuality. This rather uninspiring tradition still continues to this day, the now iconic "Vintage 82" T-shirt from "Next" for example. Within a few years of its first printing, this design was allowed to flood the market, until cheap copies and black market knock-offs have saturated the world. There are many similar designs which have a similar limited cultural shelf-life.

More recently an inspiring movement towards re-politicizing the T-shirt has enabled pressure groups and charities to push their message to a wider audience. Over one million people marched into London wearing a vast array of anti war, anti Bush and anti Blair T shirts at the anti Iraq rally. Another example, reminiscent of the earlier Band Aid event, saw The Make Poverty History campaign of 2005 receive global media coverage. Soon after Vivienne Westwood re-emerges in the T-shirt world with her new slogan T-shirt "I am not a terrorist, please don't arrest me". Catherine Hamnett, another famous British fashion designer is well known for her protest T-shirts, including her work to highlight Third World debt and the Aids epidemic in Africa. Then again, Catherine has recently been quoted as saying political slogan shirts allow the consumer to "feel they have participated in democratic action", when in fact all they have done is a little clothes shopping. This maybe true, however they still bring enormous media attention to any just cause.

Over the years the styles, images, and contribution to free society that T-shirts have provided are taken as granted, the T-shirt is now an essential accompaniment for any fashionable wardrobe, no matter what part of the world. Still yet more technical advances in the industry have allowed for more choices in style and cut. Oversize T-shirts that extend down to the knees, are popular with hip hop and skater fashions. Seasons change, however from time to time the female market embraces more tight-fitting "cropped" T-shirt styles, cut short enough to reveal the midriff. The rise of the "hoodie" or hooded long sleeved T-shirt cannot be ignored, it is also fast becoming an essential addition to any street wise fashionista's collection.

Recently there has been a massive consumer backlash against the branded conformity of the corporate and licensed t-shirt market. The consumer is at last regaining some sense of individuality, people today are not satisfied with the notion of "brand loyalty". People want to reflect their own personality, political beliefs, sense of style or humor. Some are designing their own with the help of a wide selection of D.I.Y online t-shirt printing services, including "Cafe Press" and "Threadless" to mention just two. But many people neither have the time nor the inclination to design their own artwork, and so marks the rise of the independent T-shirt designer. Reminiscent of the 1960's but with a worldwide appeal, artists, graphic designers, renegades of the fashion world are beginning to get noticed. The greatest asset a modern T-shirt can have is its originality, a quality that will always be in demand, both now and hopefully far into the future.