Colourful fashion trends of India

With the end of the 20th century came the end of all hype which has created a more practical and pragmatic environment and has given a more stable picture of the fashion business.

In the 50s, 60s and 70s, the Indian fashion scenario wasn’t exactly colorless. It was exciting, stylish and very graceful. There were no designers, models, star or fashion design labels that the country could show off. The value of a garment was judged by its style and fabric and not by who made it.

It was regarded as ever so chic and fashionable to approach any unfamiliar tailor, who could make a garment for a few rupees, providing the perfect fit, finish and style. The high society lady, who wore it, was proud for getting a good bargain and for giving her name to the end result.

In 60s, tight ‘kurtas’, ‘churidars’ and high coiffures were a trend among ladies. It was an era full of naughtiness and celebration in arts and music and cinema, manifested by liberation from restriction and acceptance of new types of materials such as plastic film and coated polyester fabric.

The 70s witnessed an increase in the export of traditional materials outside the country as well as within. Hence, international fashion arrived in India much before the MTV culture with the bold colors, flower prints and bell-bottoms. Synthetics turned trendy and the disco culture affected the fashion scenario.

It was in the early 80s when the first fashion store ‘Ravissant’ opened in Mumbai. At that time garments were retailed for a four-figure price tag. The ’80s was the era of self consciousness and American designers like Calvin Klein became popular. In India too, silhouettes became more masculine and the ’salwar kameez’ was designed with shoulder pads.

With the evolution of designer stores in Mumbai, the elegant fashion design culture was a trend among Indians along with their heavy price tags. No doubt that a garment with a heavy price tag was at the bottom stage of fashion. But clients immediately transformed into the high fashion fold where they were convinced that that the word ‘elegant fashion design culture’ means, it had to have a higher price tag.

Garments were sold at unbelievable prices only because the designers had decided to get themselves noticed by making showy outfits and getting associated with the right shows, celebrities and events.

Later, fashion shows shifted to competitive events each attempting to out-do the other in theme, guest list and media coverage. For any newcomer, the fashion business was the number one professional art that time.

In the 90’s, the last decade of the millennium, a move towards the drastic pairing down returned with ethnic wears (Today, ethnic wear market in India is accounted to Rs. 9000 crore). This led to the decline and the recession, the push to sell at any cost and keep staying in the limelight. With heavy cut throat competition and sound awareness of the client, the inevitable occurred. The price tags, which had once reached at a peak, began their downside journey.

At those times the downturn was not only being experienced in the price tags of the garments, but also in the business of fashion shows. More models, choreographers, make-up men, hairstylists and designers streamed down into their business.

The fun and party time in the Indian fashion scenario had not ended with this, but continued. It was a point, where it reached at a certain steady level and from there, in the beginning of the 21st centaury, with new designers and models and some sensible designing; the fashion hype accelerated its speed.

Indian fashion industry spreads its wings globally

For the global fashion industry, India is a very big exporter of fabrics and accessories. All over the world, Indian ethnic designs and materials are considered as a significant facet for the fashion houses and garment manufacturers. In fabrics, while sourcing for fashion wear, India also plays a vital role as one of the biggest players in the international fashion arena.

India’s strengths not only depend on its tradition, but also on its raw materials. World over, India is the third largest producer of cotton, the second largest producer of silk and the fifth largest producer of man-made fibres.

In the international market, the Indian garment and fabric industries have many fundamental aspects that are compliant, in terms of cost effectiveness to produce, raw material, quick adjustment for selling, and a wide ranges of preference in the designs in the garments like with sequin, beadwork, aari or chikkon embroidery etc, as well as cheaper skilled work force. India provides these fashion garments to the international fashion houses at competitive prices with shorter lead time and an effective monopoly in designs which covers elaborated hand embroidery – accepted world over.

India has always been considered as a default source in the embroidered garment segment, but the changes of rupee against dollar has further decreased the prices, thereby attracting buyers. So the international fashion houses walk away with customized stuff, and in the end crafted works are sold at very cheap rates.

As far as the market of fabrics is concerned, the ranges available in India can attract as well as confuse the buyer. A basic judgmental expectation in the choosing of fabrics is the present trend in the international market. Much of the production tasks take place in parts of the small town of Chapa in the Eastern state of Bihar, a name one would have never even heard of. Here fabric making is a family industry, the ranges and quality of raw silks churned out here belie the crude production methods and equipment used- tussars, matka silks, phaswas, you name it and they can design it. Surat in Gujarat, is the supplier of an amazing set of jacquards, moss crepes and georgette sheers – all fabrics utilized to make dazzling silhouettes demanded world over. Another Indian fabric design that has been specially designed for the fashion history is the “Madras check” originally utilized for the universal “Lungi” a simple lower body wrap worn in Southern India, this product has now traversed its way on to bandannas, blouses, home furnishings and almost any thing one can think of.

Recently many designers have started using traditional Indian fabrics, designs and cuts to enhance their fashion collections. Ethnic Indian designs with batik cravat, tie-and-dye or vegetable block print is ‘in’ not just in India but all across the world.

In India, folk embroidery is always associated with women. It is a way of their self expression, and they make designs that depict their native culture, their religion and their desires. Women embroider clothes for their personal use, and the people linked with the pastoral profession prepare embroidered animal decorations, decorative covers for horns and foreheads and the Rabaris of Kutch in Gujarat do some of the finest embroidery. Embroidered pieces are made during the festivals and marriages, which are appliqué work called ‘Dharaniya’. One of the significant styles of Saurashtra is ‘Heer’ embroidery, which has bold geometric designs, woven on silks. The Mutwa women of the Banni area of Kutch have a fascinating embroidery where they make fine embroidery works with designed motifs and mirrors in the size of pinheads, the Gracia jats use geometric designs on the yoke of long dresses. Moreover, the finest of quilts with appliqué work are also made in Kutch.

Garments embellishment with bead work is another area where it in demand in the international market. Beads are used to prepare garlands and other accessory items like belts and bags and these patterns now available for haute couture evening wear too.

According to a survey, in recent times Indian women have given up their traditional sari for western wears like t-shirts and shorts, as they feel more comfortable in skirts and trousers instead of saris and salwar kameez. It’s been noted that women spend just $165 million on trousers and skirts against 1.74 billion dollars spent by men on trousers. With more women coming out to work, the (combined) branded trouser and skirts market has been increasing at a whopping 27 per cent in sales terms. Women feel that Western clothing is more suitable, particularly when working or using public transportation. Many corporate offices are also in favor of their employees wearing Western wear.

In India, Western inspiration is increasing due to the influence of TV and films. Besides, shopping malls selling branded clothes have also mushroomed in India and are fascinating the youngsters. Recently, designer wear is being promoted through store chains such as Shopper’s Stop, Pantaloons, Westside, etc. Companies such as Raymond and TCNS have also set up their exclusive stores for designer wear such as Be: and W.

The market of India fashion industry

Recently, a report stated that the Indian fashion industry can increase from its net worth of Rs 200 crore to Rs 1,000 crore in the next five to ten years. Currently, the worldwide designer wear market is amounted at $35 billion, with a 9 per cent growth rate, with the Indian fashion industry creating hardly 0.1 per cent of the international industry’s net worth.

According to approximations, the total apparel market in India is calculated to be about Rs 20,000 crore. The branded apparel market’s size is nearly one fourth of this or Rs 5,000 crore. Designer wear, in turn, covers nearly about 0.2 per cent of the branded apparel market.

At present, the largest sales turnover within the designer wear segment is about Rs25 crore, with other well-known names having less turnovers of Rs10-15 crore. In view of the prospects of the Indian fashion industry for growth, the figures are not very hopeful.

The figure of fashion industry

o The organized market for designer apparel is about Rs 250 crore

o Designer wear calculates to less than 1 per cent of the apparel market

o The global market for designer wear is 5 per cent of total apparel market

o The global market for designer wear industry is largely dependent on the small-scale sector

o Consumers for designer wear have a yearly household income of Rs 10 lakh-plus. There are 3 lakh such households developing at 40-45 per cent

o Designer wear industry is projected to increase to Rs 1,000 crore by 2015.

o More than 81 per cent of the population below 45 years of the age is fashion conscious.

Many fashion designers and management experts foresee an average growth of about 10-12 per cent for the Indian fashion industry in the coming years. Though, the growth rate could be more than 15 per cent, if infrastructural and other logistical bottlenecks and drawbacks are over come.

India needs more effort to overcome

However, despite the benefits available in India there are also some disadvantages. India is not a remarkable player in the global market with reference to brands because of its inability to add value to products. This is observed by the fact that nearly 50 per cent of its exports are apparel and made-ups where value addition is essential. Likewise, 75 per cent of domestic apparel market is commoditized and unbranded and very few Indian brands do survive in the foreign markets. Evidently, the Indian market has not made a strong stand and hence it is difficult to make Indian brands that can compete with global brands in India.

Another reason for the fashion industry’s inadequate growth is the limited experience of the designers and the platform they are offered. The insignificance stalks from the reality that most of the young talent is hired by the bigger names to work in their studios, thus imprinting their work with the label of the big designers.

Though performing individual presentation is not an alternative choice for most of the young talent, because of the limitation of finance, a beginner designer’s name fails to come to the forefront.

Another thing, with regards to the ramp, is what the designers offer is barely appropriate to be worn ordinarily. You’ll see there’s dissimilarity between what is there on the ramp and what the Page Three crowd wears. Some believe at present the fashion is in, but the tendency hasn’t changed much as it is the old ones coming back. We have had short kurtas, long kurtas, flowing skirts, etc. coming back into fashion with only a new variety of designs.

Many management consultants and professionals believe that the Indian fashion industry will be boosted if the new comers are paid proper attention. What they require is more support so that their work gets due recognition. According to the consultants and professionals there should be a panel of people who choose designers for showcasing according to their work and not their name or who they’ve worked for earlier, and hence selection would be purely based on quality. Besides this, the panel of judges should comprise of people from the fashion schools rather than designers.

It has been observed that the media-hype around the big designers and blatant commercialism has hindered business in the Indian fashion industry. No clear cut picture is provided about the feasibility of the products. Basically it is only the famous names that are being talked of. What they offer is not quite daily-wear. The entire focal point of the industry is on commercialism. The discussion is only regarding how much is sold and for what price and nothing about the designs or styles.

Efforts to develop global fashion brands

It needs innovative designers, a seamless supply chain, control over retail and distribution and concentration of quality while dealing with some image. While a few have accomplished something in the west covering Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, Zara, Armani, Versace, Ralph Lauren, etc, India has not been capable to track on.

A serious reason for India not being successful has been its isolation in the fashion system. Each stakeholder including designers, exporters, textile players and retail chains need to come together along with the government to make sure that the position of Indian fashion is strong in the coming years.

There are various agencies and industry associations that can support in brand-building practice. Many of these agencies require attractive resources and making a global image of Indian fashion rather than independently trying to promote particular brands or textile segments.

Efforts to create strong global image

Large textiles players require more and more to target on the market facing activities while developing an association with small medium enterprise (SME) clusters. Such kind of networks would be a benefit to that which can focus on demand making and branding as well as for clusters that can focus on quality production.

Efforts to create value networks

After the entry of large retail chains like Wal-Mart, Gap etc in India, Small scale manufacturers in India will find it very difficult to satisfy the demands of these international buyers if they continue to promote their products individually. Therefore, it is very important that value networks are created between large textile and apparel companies in India and small scale manufacturers, so that the marketing muscle of the leading players can be utilized for receiving large orders while the bigger players then assign the orders to the small-medium enterprises according to their past record of quality and service. For this to be put into practice, it will be vital to well-organize the information on small-medium enterprise clusters in a perfect manner so that supplier selection decisions are made according to the information in the long run, only the more efficient small-medium enterprise players survive and develop.

Efforts to concentrate on designers and designs

Designers have a fundamental role to play in the future of Indian fashion scenario. There should hence be an effective process for preparing these designers. This can be done by sponsoring exchange programs with international schools, increasing participations in the fashion capitals of the world, motivating and offering business incubation to new designers and rewarding efforts through proper design awards.

Even in India, well-known designers are incapable to tap finances from well-organized resources, since a vital part of their assets are brands and design talent which are not measured in terms of money and hence it becomes difficult to judge the value. This has severely inhibited their development and capability to raise retail existence across the country and abroad. Likewise, there is no systematic approach of existence in the fashion capitals of the world like Paris, Milan and New York. Due to this, designers have to depend on their personal contacts and relationships for organizing fashion shows and making retail alliances. The French government as well as the British government helps designers of their particular countries appreciably in these areas as they understand that value creation through design is the only way to carry on in the competitive landscape of the global fashion industry. The Indian government and related agencies should also accept this aspect of textile, apparel and fashion industry sincerely if they need to see India on the global fashion map.

Work in collaboration: designers-corporate efforts

Designers and many organizations can work globally through various models and with many working relationships. The Indian fashion industry has many views but only one such model, wherein a designer creates a retail venture with his/her own brand through organized retail chains. There are many other models according to brand ownership and division of operational activities.

Globally, many models of collaboration between designers and corporates are available. For example Ralph Lauren has made an agreement with Jones Apparel for producing and retailing various Polo brands. Likewise, Armani had an agreement with Zegna for production, even while it was competing with them in the marketplace. There are many cases of designer brands being co-owned by the designers and corporates, Gucci-Alexander McQueen and Gucci-Stella McCartney being some of them.

In the end, many designer businesses have been obtained by corporates where designers play a major role in the design elements of the business, but the brand and the organization is owned completely by the corporate.

The current possession of Calvin Klein by Philips Van Heusen and earlier holdings of Hugo Boss and Valentino by Marzotto are some related examples in this segment. These examples strongly point out that not only designers find such relationships important for development, but also corporates find these attractive for rising their profitability and growth. Likewise deals in India could go a long way in developing the brand values of corporates and designers.

Developing clusters

Making common infrastructure for functioning such as design and sampling, affluent treatment, product testing, etc can help in increasing the capability of the clusters since noteworthy investments could be made by the cluster itself rather than any single player.

Well-managed databases can help in decreasing search costs and through data mining, rating of players can be done so as to make the procurement process easier for buyers. Cooperative marketing programs at different clusters can also support players to grow up in the value chain by mixing their strengths within the cluster.

Cluster based battle in the fashion industry is characterized by the Italian industry. The National Chamber for Italian Fashion for example, supports the development of the fashion clusters at Milan and Florence in a well organized manner. Indian industry can learn a lot from Italy because India has a similar cluster based scattered production base, but has been incapable to link it with design and branding capability.

If the above activities are successfully considered, India could have an extraordinary development in the fashion industry, which could increase from a negligible size to Rs 8,000 crore in the coming decade.

Conclusion

In the 50s, 60s and 70s, the Indian fashion scenario was colorful and stylish, in the end of 20th century it was quite subdued and with the beginning of the 21st century it has geared up and is still experiencing the growth with many spectrums of colours. Though this industry is growing at a very good pace, besides achieving a negligible share in the global market, still it needs to make severe efforts to stand amongst international fashion market in various aspects.

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The main goals in choosing the right fish tank are that it looks good, is functional and works for the needs of both the owner and fish. The main factors to consider when choosing the right fish tank are size, shape, location, materials and water type. All of these factors are going to be based upon the needs of the owner and of the fish.

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Health insurance is a type of insurance policy in which the insurer provides for the cost of any or all of the health care services. Today, there are many types of health insurance such as fee-for-service, managed care, and more. Health insurance is offered to individuals as well as groups. Group health insurance is designed to meet the health care needs of employees of large as well as small companies. Group health insurance policy provides medical expense coverage for many people in a single policy. Under group health insurance, the cost of premium is spread out among the members of the group.

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I have to laugh when I think of the times I watched the television program, “Flash Gordon,” as he putted through outer space in his make-believe space ship, talking on his make-believe wireless radio, and dressed in his make-believe space suit. Well, I’m not laughing anymore. Today we have shuttled astronauts into outer space, have men living in a Space Station, have space suites that take your temperature and gauge your heart rate, and wireless communication devices that send pictures to Planet Earth. Far fetched from reality? Not anymore. As we speak, the future is starring us in the face, waiting to see how we will promote her in the next 5-10 years.

How did science-fiction become reality over the past 50 years? Let’s consider one aspect of innovation: the learning environment – post secondary education. Why post secondary education, you may ask? As post secondary education population increases, programs to accommodate students will develop into curriculum that affords students the freedom to create and design systems they toy with on a daily basis. Are there risks involved in this adaptation process? There are risks involved when change occurs, and leadership should be aware of how to diplomatically confront the risk areas that could slow down progress. Some of the risks that could be encountered due to change are:

o Systems risks

o Subsystem risks

o People

o Financial/economic risks

o Societal/Cultural risks

If communication between systems, subsystems, people, and cultures within the organizational environment has established a strong communication system, risks factors will be at a minimum as long as the creative teams are honest and upfront about their reservations to change.

Let’s look into the future through ‘futureoculers’ and see how the universe of learning can be brought into the present. I want to introduce to you five (5) key trends that I believe affect the current learning environment, can create change, and renovate the perspective of learners and educators for students of the future. These trends could be the key in creating a new perspective in post secondary education for an institution. The key trends are:

o Competitive classroom learning environments – campus on-site/online/distant

o Increase in technological tools

o Teaching/learning environments-more hands on

o Global expansion capability-internal and external

o Student input in the creative learning process

Navigational Systems

Before the five (5) key trends are defined, there needs to be an acknowledgement of how the trends will be supported and regulated through a changing environment. According to de Kluyver, and Pearce, II, having the right systems and processes/subsystems enhances organizational effectiveness and facilitates coping with change. Misaligned systems and processes can be a powerful drag on an organization’s ability to adapt. Therefore, check what effect, if any, current systems and processes are likely to have on a company’s ability to implement a particular strategy is well advised. Support systems such as a company’s planning, budgeting, accounting, information and reward and incentive systems can be critical to successful strategy implementation. Although they do not by themselves define a sustainable competitive advantage, superior support systems help a company adapt more quickly and effectively to changing requirements. A well-designed planning system ensures that planning is an orderly process, gets the right amount of attention by the right executives, and has a balanced external and internal focus. Budgeting and accounting systems are valuable in providing accurate historical data, setting benchmarks and targets, and defining measures of performance. A state-of-the-art information system supports all other corporate systems, and it facilitates analysis as well as internal and external communications. Finally, a properly designed reward and incentive system is key to creating energy through motivation and commitment. A process (or subsystem) is a systematic way of doing things. Processes can be formal or informal; they define organization roles and relationships, and they can facilitate or obstruct change. Some processes or subsystems look beyond immediate issues of implementation to an explicit focus on developing a stronger capacity for adapting to change. Processes/subsystems aimed at creating a learning organization and at fostering continuous improvement are good examples. As an example, processes or subsystems are functional and maintain the operation of the system; the system may be Student Services and the subsystem may be the Financial Aid office or Admissions. Subsystems can be more in depth in relation to office operations, which involves employee positions and their culture; financial advisors, academic advisors, guidance counselors. These operations are functions performed on the human level and could have a positive or negative impact in the development of key trends. If employees are valued and rewarded for their dedication and service, the outcome will be responsible, committed employees for the success of their subsystem.

The Navigator

Every navigator needs a map, a plan, a driver to give direction to for a successful trip. In this case, the driver is several elements:

o Service integrity, reputation

o Affordability with an open door concept

Hughes and Beatty relate drivers as Strategic drivers; those relatively few determinants of sustainable competitive advantage for a particular organization in a particular industry or competitive environment (also called factors of competitive success, key success factors, key value propositions). The reason for identifying a relatively small number of strategic drivers for an organization is primarily to ensure that people become focused about what pattern of inherently limited investments will give the greatest strategic leverage and competitive advantage. Drivers can change over time, or the relative emphasis on those drivers can change, as an organization satisfies its key driver. In the case of post secondary education, drivers help measure success rates in the area of course completion ratio, student retention, and transfer acceptance into a university and/or the successful employment of students. Because change is so rampant in education, it is wise for leadership to anticipate change and develop a spirit of foresight to keep up with global trends.

Drivers can help identify the integrity of internal and external functions of systems and subsystems, as mentioned previously, by identifying entity types that feed the drivers’ success. They are:

o Clientele Industry – external Market – feeder high schools, cultural and socio-economic demographic and geographic populations

- Competitors – local and online educational systems

- Nature of Industry – promote a learning community

- Governmental influences – licensed curriculum programs supported by local, state, and federal funds

- Economic and social influences – job market, employers, outreach programs

o College Planning and Environment – internal

- Capacity – Open door environment

- Products and services – high demand curriculum programs that meet, local, state, and federal high demand employment needs

- Market position – Promote on and off-campus activities that attract clientele

- Customers – traditional and non-traditional credit and non-credit students

- Systems, processes, and structures – trained staff and state-of-the art technical systems

- Leadership – integrity-driven, compassionate leadership teams

- Organizational culture – promote on-campus activities promoting a proactive environment for students

According to Hughes and Beatty, these functions can assimilate into the Vision, Mission, and Values statements to define the key strategic drivers for developing successful environments.

Navigating Towards a Destination

With the recognition of systems, subsystems, and drivers, we can see our destination in the distance and their value in building a foundation to support the five key trends. The five (5) key trends will help define strategic thinking in a global perspective; the understanding of futuristic thinking that encompasses: risk taking, imagination, creativity, communication among leadership, and a perspective of how the future can fit into today’s agenda. The five (5) key trends are:

1. Competitive Classroom Learning Environments – campus on-site/online/distant

One of the major attractions in education today is to accommodate a student at every level: academically, financially, and socially. These three environments are the mainstream of why one school is selected over another school. Today there is a change in tide. Students who once competed for seats in post secondary schools are becoming a valued asset as post secondary schools compete between each other for students. High schools are no longer the only feeder into colleges. Today, students are coming from home schools, career schools, charter schools, high risk schools, private schools, religious schools, work environments, and ATB tested environments. So, how can the educational system attract students and keep them motivated in an interactive learning environment they can grow in? Wacker and Taylor writes that the story of every great enterprise begins with the delivery of a promise, and every product a great enterprise makes is nothing but an artifact of the truth of that promise. So what great enterprise can be created to attract new students? By creating learning/teaching environments, post secondary schools can prepare students to meet the demands of everyday life and their life in the community. Schools can consider incorporating a learning model to enable professors and/or community leaders/entrepreneurs to team teach in the classroom/online environment. Team Teaching will contribute valuable views into the learning environment, as well as, give students the working community’s real-time perspective. In an excerpt from “The University at the Millennium: The Glion Declaration” (1998) quoted by Frank H.T. Rhodes, President Emeritus of Cornell University, for the Louisiana State Board of Regents report, Dr. Rhodes wrote that universities are learning communities, created and supported because of the need of students to learn, the benefit to scholars of intellectual community, and the importance to society of new knowledge, educated leaders, informed citizens, expert professional skills and training, and individual certification and accreditation. Those functions remain distinctive, essential contributions to society; they form the basis of an unwritten social compact, by which, in exchange for the effective and responsible provision of those services, the public supports the university, contributes to its finance, accepts its professional judgment and scholarly certification, and grants it a unique degree of institutional autonomy and scholarly freedom. To experience education is learning, to exercise knowledge is freedom, and to combine them is wisdom.

2. Teaching/learning environments-more hands on

As post secondary educators relinquish hands-on-chalk-board teaching styles and establish group teaching models, students will develop a greater understanding of the theme of the class environment as well as the professor in developing an understanding of the class cultures’ stance in learning. Educators are discovering that inclusive learning styles are revamping the teaching model and becoming a positive influence in retention, better grades, camaraderie among students, and a greater respect for the professor. As professors learn to develop relationships with students, interaction will transpire, lecturing will be condensed into a time frame and interactive learning between students and professor will enhance the classroom environment.

3. Global expansion capability-internal and external

Students are surrounded by virtual global environments or are impacted by global elements: the clothes they wear are made overseas, the games they play on their electronic toys are created overseas, the war games they play are created to identify with global war games, etc. The only draw back to this scenario is a truly global learning experience. What they are seeing is not what they are getting; a real time global experience. James Morrison writes that in order to meet unprecedented demand for access, colleges and universities need to expand their use of IT tools via online learning, which will enable them to teach more students without building more classrooms. Moreover, in order for professors to prepare their pupils for success in the global economy, they need to ensure that students can access, analyze, process, and communicate information; use information technology tools; work with people from different cultural backgrounds; and engage in continuous, self-directed learning. Christopher Hayter writes that post secondary schools need to be ‘Globally Focused’ for the 21st century that includes a global marketplace and be internationally focused. This means ensuring that skills needed to compete in a global marketplace are taught and that the mastery of such skills by students is internationally benchmarked. It may also mean a new emphasis on learning languages and understanding other cultures and the business practices of other countries.

More and more businesses are expanding into the global marketplace, opening corporate offices in foreign countries and hiring and training employees from those countries. Are our college graduates being trained to assimilate into cultures and work side-by-side with employees who may not be able to relate to them? Developing curriculums accommodating social and cultural entities will propel a student into higher realms of learning and create change in the individual student as well as support their career for their future.

4. Student input in the creative learning process

Professors are the gatekeepers in education. However, as Baby Boomer Professors begin to exit the educational workforce and head down the path of retirement, younger generation professors will take their place bringing with them innovative teaching methods that can expand the learning process. Are post secondary educators equipped to prepare for the onslaught of younger generation educators needed to be trained for this mega shift in the workforce? Most important, will those professors caught between Boomers and Xer’s be willing to adapt to change in the education industry to accommodate incoming generations? I believe younger generations will impact even the technological industry and challenge change that will equip them for their future. Previous generation students slowly adapted to technological advances. The good news is change can occur, and educators can utilize life experiences from students familiar with technology tools and create fascinating learning environments.

5. Increase in Technological tools

In an Executive Summary written for the National Governors Association in a report called “Innovation America – A Compact for Post Secondary Education,” the report reads that while post secondary education in the United States has already achieved key successes in the innovation economy, the public post secondary education system overall risks falling behind its counterparts in many other nations around the world-places where there have been massive efforts to link post secondary education to the specific innovation needs of industries and regions. According to this report, American post secondary education is losing ground in the race to produce innovative and imaginative realms in education. Can this trend be counteracted? With the cooperation of post secondary educational institutions within each community, leadership can create co-op learning environments that can be supported through e-learning and online teaching that can provide virtual reality technology to enhance real-time learning environments. Through Business Development operations currently established in post secondary institutions, a shared technology program can be created that will afford students access to ongoing virtual business environment settings and prepare students with knowledge and insight into a specific industry. As students prepare to transfer, graduate, or seek employment after completing a certification program, virtual experience in the job market can help a student assimilate education and work experience to their advantage. This concept could challenge Human Resource departments to create new mandates in accepting virtual-experienced college graduates as they enter the workforce.

Reaching the Destination

As Flash Gordan lands his Spacecraft on unclaimed territory, you imagine yourself slowly turning the handle to the spaceship with your spaceship gloves, opening the door with explosive anticipation. Your heart racing, sweat running down your brow, and your eyes at half mask waiting to see a new world; a world filled with beauty and potential when suddenly, the television shuts off and your Mom is standing in front of you telling you to get up and go clean your room and stop daydreaming! Ah, Mom, you say to yourself, you just destroyed my imaginary planet! Oh, by the way, did I mention that this was you as a child growing up and using your imagination?

Now that I’ve created a visual world of potential for you can you see the power within to see the future from the present and help others visualize the potential benefits of change in their lives and the lives of others in an organization? T. Irene Sanders states that thinking in pictures helps us link our intuitive sense of events in the world with our intellectual understanding. Now, more than ever, we need to integrate the techniques of imagination and the skill of intuition with our analytic competencies to help us see and understand the complexities that vex us daily. Visualization is the key to insight and foresight-and the next revolution in strategic thinking and planning.

Can you SEE the systems, subsystems, drivers, and the five (5) trends with a visual perspective in a post secondary educational environment? This is the nature of Strategic Thinking, which can or is taking place in your organization; a cognitive process required for the collection, interpretation, generation, and evaluation of information and ideas that shape an organization’s sustainable competitive advantage. The need to stay abreast of progress, technology, and global opportunities will be the change in drivers that will validate the creative elements needed to stay attuned in a global perspective. The author’s intention of introducing Flash Gordan into the paper was to create a visual image and demonstrate imagination fulfillment to a present day reality. Is there anything out there that cannot be done if it is fine tuned and prepared for a service of excellence? What are the risks involved by not exercising strategic thinking in the elements mentioned in this article?

Education is not about the present it’s about the future. The five (5) trends are only a beginning adventure into an unknown space. Do you remember when you were in college and wished things were done differently, be more exciting, more adventurous? Consider the age groups becoming proficient in technology. Will post secondary educators be prepared to teach/instruct future students? Educators must invite strategic thinking into the system and take the risks needed to build post secondary education back into the global futuristic race of achievement. In an article written by Arthur Hauptman entitled “Strategies for Improving Student Success in Post secondary Education” (07), he concluded his report listing four elements:

1. While there is a growing rhetorical commitment to student success, the reality is that policies often do not mirror the rhetoric. Whether intentional or not, policies in many states are at best benign and often antithetical to improving student success.

2. Policy focus in most states has been to lower tuitions or the provision of student financial aid. This ignores the importance of ensuring adequate supply of seats to accommodate all students as well as providing a proper set of incentives that encourage institutions to recruit, enroll, and graduate the students who are most at-risk.

3. Some progress has been made in developing contemporary practices that have great potential for providing the right incentives in place of redress this traditional imbalance. But much more needs to be done in this regard.

4. Efforts to create incentives for students to be better prepared and for institutions to enroll and graduate more at-risk students have the potential for greatly improving rates of retention and degree completion.

Can the five trends be a stepping stone in rebuilding or strengthening the weakest link in the system? The evidence of deficiency is public, and that’s a good start. Educators have the choice to rebuild and prepare for the advancement of our future; our students. I encourage you to take the five (5) trends and see how they can accommodate your institute of higher learning.

Board of Regents, State of Louisiana. (2001). Master Plan for Public Postsecondary Education: 2001. Excerpt written by Frank H.T. Rhodes, President, Emeritus of Cornell University from “The University at the Millennium: The Glion Declaration” (1998). http://www.regents.state.la.us/pdfs/Planning/masterplan2001.pdf

de Kluyver, Cornelis A. & Pearce, II, John A. (2006). STRATEGY: A View from the Top (An Executive Perspective). 2nd Ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall Publishers. Pgs. 19-20.

Hauptman, Arthur M. (2007). “Strategies for Improving Student Success in Postsecondary Education.” Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Supported by a grant from Lumina Foundation for Education. Boulder, CO: Policy Analysis and Research unit. Pg. 20.

Hayter, Christopher. (2007). Innovation America – A Compact for Postsecondary Education. National Governors Association. Washington, D.C.: NGA. Pg. 4.

Hughes, Richard L. & Beatty, Katherine Colarelli. (2005). Becoming a Strategic Leader. Your Role in Your Organization’s Enduring Success. Center for Creative Leadership. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Pg. 27.

Morrison, James. 2003. U.S. Higher Education in Transition. On the Horizon, 11(1), pp. 6-10. Posted on U.S. Higher Education in Transition web site with permission from Emerald. http://horizon.unc.edu/courses/papers/InTransition.html

Raymond, Alexander Gillespie (Creator & Artist). (1934-1940). Buster Crabbe: Flash Gordan (1936), Flash Gordan’s Trip to Mars (1938), & Flash Gordan Conquers the Universe (1940). United States: Hearst Entertainment, Inc.

Sanders, T. Irene. (1998). Strategic Thinking and the New Science. Planning in the Midst of Chaos, Complexity, and Change. New York, NY: The FREE PRESS. pg. 84.

Wacker, Watts & Taylor, Jim. (2000). The Visionary’s Handbook. Nine Paradoxes That Will Shape the Future of Your Business. New York, NY: Harper Business Publication. Pg. 144.

If your children are couch potatoes, it will be better for you to encourage them to participate in sport activities. However, being transfixed by video games, computers, or TV does not give good effect. It is better to get up and do some exercise to bring a positive effect to their body.

Having a physical activity routine since in the early age is very beneficial. It can help to increase the capacity of the heart and lung. It can also be helpful in keeping the weight down. Based on a research, it is found that regular physical activity can lower the blood pressure, lower the risk of heart disease, arthritis, and also cancer. Therefore, regular exercise means healthy life.

What are the Benefits of Sports?

Some studies revealed that children who take part in physical activity or sports achieve better in academic. Sport teaches them to be discipline which they bring to their studies activity. It will also teach them to manage their time efficiently to match the schedule of the group. They will be getting used to plan the right time for their projects, homework, and so on. Moreover, they will stay in school longer so that they can keep themselves away from drugs.

One of the effective sports your children can practice is soccer/foot ball. The rule of this sport is easy to understand even for the youngest children in the age of 5 to 7. They can easily kick the ball into the field for the goal. Although there are some strategies and subtleties to obey, they can learn it by themselves with their experience.

Another benefit they can experience is that they can develop their social sense. This is sensible since they take part in team sport. It will be easier for them to work in team which then can lead them to easily make friends. Moreover, team sport can teach them to think quickly, accept seatbacks, coordinate with others, as well as enjoy factories. His positive impact can last long even when they grow up.

It is now better to start introducing them to the sport, especially team sport. You can do it by giving them tools which can support them do it such as the ball, the shoes, the t-shirt, and so on. You can place them in a basket which is specially designed for sport. Find them on http://italiangiftbaskets.org/, which lists you the best sports gift baskets for your needs.

It’s so cold, it’s so wet, and it’s so dangerous?

Please let me share why you and I are not Crazy!

For Everyone.

Snow skiing is one of the really exciting sports that combine exhilaration, fellowship, ambience and adventure, for all levels of participants.

In Europe, children are being taught to ski as young as 2 years old and on the same slopes there are people over 90 years young.

There are people of every nationality, race, creed and colour.

There are one armed, one legged and even blind people, involved everywhere, at some level.

What is the appeal of a sport that brings so many different people together, amidst the cold snow, in the spirit of friendliness and just having a good time?

Challenge.

Everyone that takes up skiing, no matter their current skill level, can find a place on the slopes to be thrilled and challenged.

Whether it is the brand new, novice skier on the nursery slopes (even if 18 years old) tentatively trying his very first snow plough in a desperate attempt to stop, or whether it is the level 1 skier, gracefully carving out sweeping curves across the face of the virgin, freshly fallen snow.

Everyone will find his or her challenge.

Fun.

Skiing is always fun.

We put ourselves into ridiculous situations in the company of others doing the same and we seldom stop laughing.

Watch people coming off the chair lift.

Perhaps we see the super cool youngster, trying to impress his girlfriend, heads off on one ski, collides with the group in front, and collapse into a heap of tangled skis and bodies.

And see how they are all laughing.

Perhaps you will see a group of skiers following the ski instructor in graceful sweeping turns until someone loses control and takes the whole group into a snowdrift.

And watch as they climb out, covered from head to toe in snow and almost hysterical in their laughter.

Camaraderie.

As you meet your friends or join your ski school group in the queue for the very first lift of the day, there is a shared feeling of anticipation and nervousness as to what the day will bring.

Every one is fresh and dry in their colourful ski clothes, possibly a little cold, but already, the adrenaline is staring to flow.

Perhaps it is the first time you have met the group and with the common anticipation, being shared, you are soon talking to others, about where they are from, how long they’ve been skiing etc.

Then as you share your exploits and adventure during the day, by the time the lifts close, you are already on the way to feeling like friends.

Fellowship

The air is still and the twilight is descending onto the mountain.

And lights are on in all the bars, cafes and restaurants as they shout “Welcome, to all you Ski Adventurers.”

You and your group answer that welcome and share glu-wein, a vodka fig or just a cleansing ale.

Your faces are flushed and rosy from the day’s exertions, and as you relive your experiences, they become funnier and braver than you ever felt possible.

By the time it is ready for dinner, you have all become heroes in each other’s eyes, with the quiet satisfaction and internal pride that “today, you did good!”

Ambience.

So you have finished your dinner and you sit in the armchairs in front of the roaring log fire.

The shadows flicker gently on the walls as the flames continue their dance in the huge fireplace.

You feel relaxed, comfortable and sleepy as you spend time with your new friends.

For some, the cobwebs fill your brain and you drift off to sleep.

Others will gain a second wind and be off to the local nightspot to party.

And finally, you toddle off to bed and descend into the deep relaxing, well earned sleep, from which even the party goers returning home, cannot stir you.

Adventure.

Skiing is always an adventure.

When as beginner, you go up to the first time on the chair lift and see the steepness of that blue slope, your heart starts to flutter.

Exactly the same when, as an accomplished skier, you stand on top of the almost vertical expanse of virgin snow, spread out below you.

It is an adventure when you are having lunch, high in the mountains, surrounded by the giant peaks and deep valleys that seem to go forever.

And meeting men and women from all walks of life, foreign cultures, struggling with language and customs, is all part of the adventure.

So skiing is a passion for me.

I learned to ski late in life and after finding it, discovered a wonderful world of fun, friendship and adventure.

So you are welcome to my world and may you share in all of the above, and then some!!

Roger Bourne

Roger Bourne discovered skiing, later in life than most people.
He has skied in most parts of the world in extreme conditions, including, flooding rain, green ice, deep powder, groomed pistes and mogul infested slopes. He has a passion for the sport and all that stuff!

So come and visit: http://www.stuffaboutsnowskiing.com

United States public speaking audiences are becoming more and more diverse. It is your responsibility as a public speaker to be aware of and acknowledge significant portions of the audience that come from differing backgrounds. If you are speaking in a different country, again, it is up to you to find out about local customs and types of humor that are appreciated in that locale. The response to humor is quite different for different cultures. Paying close attention to this fact will give you a greater chance of connecting with international audiences in and out of the U.S. You will also be more aware of etiquette and customs that will make you a welcome speaker anywhere you go.

If you are not familiar with your intended audience, in your pre- program research you might ask, ‘How diverse is your group? Or do you have members from other countries?’ The answers to these questions will help you plan your strategy for connecting with a particular audience.

I was doing my planning for a speech in Baltimore, Maryland and found out that twenty-five percent of the audience was Asian Indian. I knew nothing about the Indian culture and didn’t have long to plan. What I did know was the Dunkin’ Donut store near my home was owned and run by Indians. That was a good excuse to stop in, down a few eclairs, and do some research. I told the proprietor what I was trying to accomplish and he was glad to help. Out of all the information he gave me about humor in India, I only used one line. That was all it took to connect. The line was, ‘I want to tell all my new Indian friends I’m sorry Johnny Lever couldn’t make it.’ Johnny Lever was one of the top comedians in India. They lit up and I went on with the program.

If your local donut shop isn’t run by the appropriate nationality for your next speaking engagement, don’t worry. There are other sure-fire methods to get the information you need. If you are speaking outside the US, get the opinion of local people before you attempt to use humor. If you are speaking in the U.S., seek out members of the nationality to whom you are speaking. If you don’t happen to know any, you can always call their embassy. I’ve called our State Department, The World Bank, Voice of America and many other public agencies for information. Just tell the receptionist you want to speak to someone from the country of interest. Don’t forget to tell them you want to converse in English.

In Hong Kong you would never beckon someone by putting your hand out and curling your index finger back and forth. Why? Read on.

When speaking to foreign audiences you must check your humor carefully so you don’t accidentally offend someone. In some countries you may hear people openly joking on television or in public about subjects that would be taboo in the U.S. That doesn’t mean you can attempt to joke about the same subjects in your presentation.

Even if your speaking humor is OK, you need to become familiar with other customs in the country in which you are speaking. Customs are quite different around the world. It is easy to make mistakes when you are in a totally new environment. You’ll never get the audience to laugh if you accidentally do something offensive. A good resource that gives you a fun look at customs in other countries is the book ‘Gestures: The Do’s and Taboos of Body Language Around the World’ by Roger Axtell. This book gives lots of information on things to do and not to do in public when in a foreign country. Here’s just a few serious mistakes that could easily be made during a speaking engagement that would offend:

1. In Columbia if you wanted to show the height of an animal you would hold your arm out palm down and raise it to the appropriate height. If you are trying to show the height of a person, you do the same thing, but your palm is on edge. So, if you meant to show the height of a person, but you did it palm down as we normally would in the U.S., you would have either insulted the person by treating he or she like an animal or you would have confused your audience because they would now think that you were actually talking about an animal that had the name of a person. See how crazy this can get.

2. I’ve got another animal problem for you. In Hong Kong, Indonesia and Australia you would never beckon someone by putting your hand out and curling your index finger back and forth (like you might do to coax someone on stage with you). This gesture is used to call animals and/or ladies of the night and would be offensive to your audience.

3. In Latin American and the Middle East people stand much closer while conversing. If you were interacting with a person from one of these cultures during a public speaking engagement and you backed away to keep a normal U.S. personal space, you would be sending a very unfriendly message. Asians, however typically stand farther apart. Your understanding of this will keep you from chasing them all over the stage. Keep this in mind too if you go into the audience to interact with them. Since they are seated, you control the interpersonal space.

Sometimes your mistakes are funny. Hermine Hilton, the well known memory expert, tells of a speaking engagement in Nigeria where she tried to pronounce the names of members of the audience and innocently added sexual innuendo. She said everyone was falling on the floor with laughter. Most foreign audiences do appreciate your effort to speak their language.

Here’s a few more international public speaking tips I’ve run across:

1. You might think you are putting your audience to sleep in Japan, but don’t worry. In Japan it is common to show concentration and attentiveness in public by closing the eyes and nodding the head up and down slightly. — Then again, maybe you really are boring.

2. Applause is accepted as a form of approval in most areas of the world. In the United States the applause is sometimes accompanied by whistling. If you hear whistles in many parts of Europe, you better run because it is a signal of disapproval.

3. If you were finishing a speaking engagement in Argentina and you waved goodbye, U.S. style, the members of the audience might all turn around and come back to sit down. To them the wave means, ‘Hey! Come back.’ In other parts of Latin American and in Europe the same wave means ‘no.’

The book I previously mentioned has hundreds of tips that will help keep the audience on your side when you present outside the U. S. Another good and inexpensive source of international background information is the ‘Culturgram’ published by the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies, which is part of Brigham Young University, located in Provo, Utah.

Each ‘Culturgram’ is a four page newsletter that gives you an easy to understand overview of the country of your choice. It includes customs and common courtesies, along with information about the people and their lifestyle. References point you toward additional study resources. Currently ‘Culturgrams’ are available for 118 countries.

Visual

Regardless of one’s nationality and culture, cartoons and comic strips are the most universally accepted format for humor. A good resource is Witty World International Cartoon Magazine by Creators Syndicate 310-337-7003. If you are speaking to a small group you can hold up the magazine or pass it around. If you want to use the cartoon or comic strip in a visual, you may need permission from the copyright holder. Always read the caption for a foreign audience and give them time to mentally translate what you say. It may take what seems to be forever (4-6 seconds) for the idea to sink in.

Cartoons and comic strips are seen in newspapers and magazines in most areas of the world. Newsstands in large cities usually have foreign periodicals, or you may find them in large libraries. It might be fun to collect cartoons and comic strips when you travel so you have a ready supply when you need one for a speech.

Be careful about your selection of cartoons. Many American cartoons would totally bomb if used outside the U.S. Much of our humor is based on making fun of someone else. This type of humor is not understood in most areas of the world and is considered disrespectful.

Other forms of visual humor that transcend most cultural barriers are juggling and magic. I don’t do either, but good resources are available. Speaking With Magic is a book by Michael Jeffreys that not only teaches you simple tricks, but gives you the points you can relate to the trick. I got my copy from Royal Publishing, Box 1120, Glendora, CA 91740 Phone (626) 335-8069. For juggling and other magic books call or write for Morris Costume’s Catalog, 3108 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205 Phone (704) 332-3304. There is a charge for the catalog, but it’s worth it.

Words

Terminology is different in most areas of the world even if the country is English based. Highly tested humor that would work anywhere in the U.S. may fall flat in another country simply because the audience doesn’t understand one of the words. For example, in Australia, public speaking break out sessions are called syndicates. If you were making a joke that used the word syndicate, you may totally confuse the audience and they won’t laugh. People from most other countries will not relate easily if you mention miles per gallon or miles per hour. You should avoid speaking about seasons, sports figures or celebrities that don’t have world-wide name recognition. Rethink all humor you normally use and try to find problematic words. This is difficult to do by yourself. Try to find a person familiar with the local culture to help you.

When using translators, humor is tougher because timing and word play don’t translate well. You might have to slow down considerably because of interpretation. Some speakers use half sentences to keep up the pace. This is very difficult and requires practice.

Speakers have been known to have fun with interpreters (of course, I would never do this). An unnamed speaker I know purposely mumbled to his interpreter to see what would happen. The interpreter mumbled back. Then the speaker mumbled again. It was hilarious.

Even when the audience speaks English they may not be able to understand your accent. Check with locals to see if you can be easily understood. You may have to adjust your normal delivery and rate of pitch slightly.

Art Gliner, a long- time humor trainer, gave me this tip: He learns how to say Happy New Year in the different languages represented in his audience. That technique always gets a laugh and the further away it is from New Years, the better. He also tells me a word of welcome in the native language works well too.

A few additional tips from around the world:

* In general, Asians tend not to show excitement. Thais are an exception. They want to have fun while they learn. Be sure to take lots of small gifts to give out and be prepared to receive some too.

* Do not expect standing ovations when speaking in public in Australia. It doesn’t seem to be part of their culture.

* Remember -the U.S. is the foreign country when you speak outside its borders. Lots of things can be different and you should be prepared. Many countries have different standard paper sizes and use two hole punches instead of three. Any video you plan to use must be converted to PAL. You may need a converter to operate equipment you bring with you.

* South of the border people don’t like us to refer to ourselves as Americans. We must remember that we are not the only ones. There are North Americans, Central Americans and South Americans.

* In Japan you should never use self-effacing humor during your public speaking engagement which is well received in American culture. Actually, the Japanese don’t like humor in seminars at all. Conversely, Australians love humor.

The point is that every culture has its likes and dislikes when it comes to humor. They also have customs that can be very different from our own. Your knowledge in this area will help you create a connection with your international audience. You must do your homework, but it is worth it because a laugh sounds the same and produces the same good feelings in any language.

Copyright © 1998 – 2005 Advanced Public Speaking Institute

Tom Antion provides entertaining speeches and educational seminars. He is the ultimate entrepreneur, having owned many businesses BEFORE graduating college. Tom is the author of the best selling presentation skills book “Wake ‘em Up Business Presentations” and “Click: The Ultimate Guide to Electronic Marketing.” It is important to Tom that his knowledge be not only absorbed, but enjoyed. This is why he delivers his speeches laced with great humor and hysterical jokes. Tom has addressed more than 87 different industries and is thoroughly committed to his clients’ needs. http://www.antion.com

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Planning a thru-hike of many weeks or months on one of the major trails adds some extra challenges to ultralight hiking. Physical conditioning and resupplying are key ingredients to a successful lightweight hike.

Even before you start putting together your resupply packages, you need to start conditioning your body. If your feet and legs are in good shape, your chances of success are much higher. Remember that about 40% of thru hikers stop before they complete their planned trip, so do your best to eliminate the common causes for not staying on the trail. The best way to prepare for hiking is to hike. Seems simple, but while you’re busy with everyday life, carving out enough time to get in trail shape will be difficult.

You can do cardio and the stair master at a health club, but that’s not the total answer. You need to hike and hike a lot in the shoes you’ll be using for your long-distance hike. If you plan on hiking the full length of one of the major trails, remember you may need to break in two or three pairs of shoes. When moisture drips down into your shoes, it’s the same as if you forded a creek, so it’s good to get your feet in shape by hiking when they’re wet. Start your hike with socks that give you plenty of padding because your feet will tend to swell and even lengthen on long trips.

It’s bad planning to think you’ll get in shape as you start hiking. Since you won’t have a lot of recovery time as you begin your long-distance hike, you need to be in shape when you start. Hiking shorter mileage days at the beginning of your trip may be more reasonable, but it’s not the easy answer. Before you start your long hike, your training hikes can prepare you better if they have lots of ups and downs. Older hikers are in danger of having knee problems especially on steep descents.

Staying hydrated and well fed is probably more important than you think as you begin your hike. If you’re like most hikers, you’ll lose weight anyway, so eat well and drink well from the beginning. Drinking a lot will tend to keep joints lubricated and your muscles won’t be as sore. Start out with extra ibuprofen and hope you won’t have to use too much as the days progress.

If you’re planning this hike with a partner, remember that they might drop out while you want to continue. Make sure you take all the equipment you need and don’t rely on anyone else. Your pace may be faster or slower than a partner, so being independent will give you peace of mind if you’re behind or ahead on the trail.

Your training hikes are a good time to test all your equipment. Desert hiking at the beginning of the Pacific Crest Trail will require different gear than the Sierras or Northern Cascades. Test everything that you’ll use. You may enjoy not using a tent in the desert. Know how much room a bear canister will take in your pack if you’re hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Be comfortable with your rain gear on the Appalachian Trail. Sharpen your map using skills on the Continental Divide Trail since it’s not as well defined. If you use permethrin to keep insects off your clothes, remember to treat all the clothes you’ll have your support person send during the hike.

Have access to your money, and remember that nothing will cost less than you expect, but there will be lots to spend your money on, especially in trail towns. When you get to a town, you’ll probably want to treat yourself to restaurant meals, a warm bed, and other things that drain your budget. If you’re lucky, you’ll be enjoying the rhythm and feel of the trail, and want to get out of town as soon as possible. Most thru hikers carry a paid-up credit card or debit card, or both. Remember that paying your credit card is something your support person should be able to help with, so leave a few signed checks behind. Most hikers carry a phone card with plenty of minutes. And it’s always good to have some cash for times when a credit card won’t work.

You may wish to carry a camera or journal even though you don’t normally take them on shorter hikes. Both can be great for recording one of your life’s great adventures. One of the great preparation tools for your hike can be the journals of other hikers. You’ll get fired up for your hike and gain valuable insights at the same time.

Resupply points and how to use them will be one of the most important parts of your planning. This is a good place to learn from others. If you Google the name of your trail, you’ll find a list of resupply points and the ins and outs of using each one. You may wish to skip some resupply stations that are too far off the trail. Some are post offices while others are post offices in stores or resorts. Others are resorts or businesses that have agreed to be resupply points. Post offices will be closed on weekends and holidays. Some small towns will have very few services. Always include your approximate date of arrival and a return address on the packages you send.

It may seem very difficult to hitchhike into some towns, but asking for rides at the trail heads or campgrounds might be easier than you think. People like to hear about the adventures of long-distance hikers, especially other hikers. At times like this, it’s good to clean up as much as possible and have a bit of deodorant in your pack. Asking for a ride while you’re still near the trail gives female hikers a chance to be more selective in choosing rides

Many long-distance hikers don’t like to send all their food to resupply stations. You may like the taste of something at the beginning of your hike and grow tired of it. Freeze dried food is expensive. Learning good alternatives could pay for much of your adventure. It’s very expensive to mail heavy packages to each resupply point. With the amount you pay for priority mail, you could buy much of your food. That’s another reason to experiment a lot with food before your hike. Become an expert of what you can buy even in small and medium-size grocery stores. Read more on what other hikers have done. You may carry a little more weight, but you can leave each resupply point with exactly what you have chosen at the time, and not be locked into what you planned months ago. You need to be realistic. You may be in that group that doesn’t hike the full length of the trail. Your mind may be strong, but your knees may be weak. If you’re carrying a credit or debit card, you’re sure of being able to buy food. If you mail a number of resupply packages, some may not be waiting for you, even if you or your support person does a perfect job of mailing them.

You can choose to eat the things that are heaviest and most perishable first after you resupply to balance your diet and keep your pack light. Some hikers like to have cereal and powdered milk for breakfast so they can get hiking quickly in the morning. You may choose to have zip lock bags as one of the items mailed ahead in your “bounce ahead” box. That way, you can measure your individual meals. Some hikers don’t like to stop for lunch, so they have snacks or energy bars. Some people use energy bars for other meals to save cooking time although these meals aren’t as nutritious and balanced as you might think.

Try to have a well-rounded diet when you’re thru-hiking. Your body will not be as strong if you’re not getting a complete diet. If your endurance is low, your positive outlook can be affected. You may feel like ice cream when you reach a trail town, but if you’ve been missing your vegetables, it may be time for a salad or veggie platter. On weekend hikes it’s not as important to have a balanced diet. You can adjust when you get home. It may be good to make your weekend hike a bit of a diet and consume less calories than you burn. But on a long-distance hike, you need to adjust and consume plenty of good, natural foods that are dense in nutritious calories. Of course, you’ll burn far more calories than normal. As always, you’ll want to drink lots of water, and remember to drink before you’re thirsty.

Plan to send the personal items you need that might not be on your regular backpacking gear list. For instance, you’ll want a pair of nail clippers so your socks don’t get worn out. In this box that always gets sent ahead to your next resupply station, you’ll want to include tape, a felt pen, and postage for all the times you need to forward the bounce ahead box. If you mail a package using priority mail and don’t open it, you can forward it for free. If you need to open a package or your “bounce” package, it’s fairly inexpensive to mail it forward since you will always mailing it within the same zone.

Here are some specific pieces of gear that may change as you hike, or need to be resupplied. You may need to change sleeping bags if you’re hiking north or getting into the fall season. A sleeping bag liner may give enough extra warmth, and you could just send it to one of your first cooler-weather stops. Some people change stoves as they get into colder weather. It’s always easier to find denatured alcohol than it is to find butane/propane cartridges. The cartridges can’t be mailed. You may use different water purification methods as your hike progresses. You may start with a water filter on the southern end of the Pacific Crest Trail and use iodine tablets or nothing at all as you get farther north.

You’ll want to treat yourself to new socks at intervals along the trail. You may start out with a pair of water repellent shoes on the Appalachian Trail and switch to breathable shoes as the days get warmer. You’ll want to add more cold-weather clothing if you’re hiking north. Your rain gear needs may diminish in mid-summer and then return in fall. You may want to send an umbrella ahead or send it home. There may be parts of the trail that require a mosquito head net.

For your first aid kit, you may find that only band aids and moleskin need to be sent to resupply points. Insect repellent, soap, and sunscreen can be sent in small containers. Small amounts of tooth powder and deodorant can be included.

Flashlight batteries and bulbs can be bounced ahead. Don’t forget camera film and batteries. If you forward the various sections of the guidebook that describes your trail, you never have to carry more than a few ounces for a very complete map.

Careful planning can keep your pack light for your entire trip. Plan ahead. Have more fun every day of your hike by hiking light.

About the author: Steve Green of http://www.hikelight.com is an avid hiker who has enjoyed trimming his backpack weight for over 40 years.

Children are becoming more like shorter adults as time goes on. They have cell phone, computers, busy schedules and they are also very expensive at times. When you have a child that plays sports, there are quite a few tricks to keep them (and you) on top of your game.

First and foremost, do not allow your child to become a prisoner of their own schedules. Most children cannot handle and do not want to be a part of seven different activities each week. At times this can be from the parents trying to mold their children into something they themselves were unable to accomplish as children or even as adults. Allow your child to express their interests in which sports they would like o be a part of and choose the ones they have talent in or enjoy playing and that fit well into their schedules. Once they are enrolled in the activities it is vital to ensure their needs are being met physically. This means going to bed at a reasonable hour and eating a healthy diet of foods necessary to fuel their sports playing.

Next is time management, what you teach your child as far as how to manage their day when they are young will stick with them for years and as they are adults. If you are always late, it will either annoy your child and they will become someone who is always early or they too will be people that are always late. Do not allow your child to sing up for a team sport and arrive late or miss practices or games as it is not only rude, but the child will not gain the same amount of skill that the others do. It is important to teach your child that what they commit to in sports or anything is life is something they should always follow through with and finish. Allowing them to miss events will only set them for more behavior to miss classes in college and find it completely acceptable, which then leads to missing work and overall becoming a very unstable adult.

While participating in the sports always be sure to encourage your child and not push them. When a parent becomes overbearing toward the child during sports, it gets inside the child’s mind and distracts them from what they are trying to do. It can also be embarrassing to them with their peers close by. Do note ever yell or shout at your child during any sporting events as the consequences can be very damaging. Instead, always smile and they know they can come to you if they need to. Save the criticisms for the ride home and not in a public place that may upset your child. Whether your child is great athlete or not, allowing them to participate in team sports is healthy and a great way to build a well rounded adult in the future. Always be positive and with that kind of support they can achieve anything.

Jesus likes to hike and backpack. He reviews different camping equipment. He has a website where he writes about light weight sleeping bags and two person sleeping bags.

No novice cook can consider themselves a gourmet cook. Achieving that status comes only at the end of a long road of cooking. Like any other art …. it takes practice, practice, practice to become a gourmet cook.

Perhaps it comes after long years of schooling where cooking, cooking, cooking is the word of the day and the end result is working in a top notch A – list restaurant in New York or Paris.

Then again. . ….. maybe the mother at home cooking meals every day for her family one day finds herself spending hours in the kitchen preparing one meal.. just because .. and loving it.

Could there possibly be a working mother who one time found preparing meals at the end of a long work day extremely tedious … finding herself looking for that extra special recipe for her husband’s birthday meal?

However achieved ….. it is after years of study and practice or years of doing everyday meals that one becomes a part of the “gourmet cooking world”.. suddenly opening up to the fact that not all recipes are the same .. and that cooking food has suddenly become an exciting challenge and fun.

Suddenly you can tell by just looking at a recipe whether it will taste good or not., how healthy it is, how appropriate to fill a “mood” …… simply by the combination of ingredients and spices and herbs and flavorings.

Those recipes that in the past seemed way too complicated or intricate now beckon you enticingly and family and friends begin looking forward to each and every meal you serve.

Your table settings become more simply elegant.

You find yourself looking more and more at kitchen “gadgets”.

In response to comments such as “that must have taken you forever to make” you honestly answer.. “oh not at all.. it really was simple!!”

To you .. the gourmet cook … it didn’t take long at all and it was simple.

To the novice cook .. it would take an eternity … far far from simple… and if you stop to think… that was you not all that long ago.

You have become a gourmet cook without even trying.

Your life cooking will never ever be the same as it was.

No longer will you be satisfied to make those “meat, potatoes and gravy” meals without that extra “something” in it.

No longer will you be satisfied to set your table without having candles on it.

No longer will you be able to let anyone leave the table without that one taste of sweetness that is dessert to balance the meal.

Perhaps you have recognized that in yourself … perhaps you haven’t … even though it is there.

Gourmet Cook.

It is not just the well schooled in France who achieve that status.

Congratulations!

You are an achiever!

Get great indispensable tools for the gourmet cook here…. Put a smile on YOUR gourmet cook’s face!

Car insurance is required by all licensed drivers but many of them don’t know how to find the best rates available. Being complacent and purchasing car insurance without carefully investigating your options or maintaining the same car insurance for the remainder of your life could mean that you are paying too much for your car insurance. Comparison shopping, ensuring that you are receiving all the discounts you qualify for and maintaining a clean driving record are just a few of the money saving tips that can save you a fortune on car insurance.

Comparison shopping for car insurance, even after you are already insured, cannot be underestimated. It is critical that you investigate all of your options before choosing an insurance provider to ensure that you are getting the best possible rate on your car insurance. There are so many factors considered in car insurance policies such as where you live, your driving record, your age and the type of car you drive just to name a few. With all of these factors to consider, it is very possible that you will find that there is a car insurance provider who will offer you a considerably lower rate than other providers.

Even after you have secured insurance for your car, it is wise to periodically check the rates that other providers will offer you. Car insurance as well as your circumstances are perpetually changing and you may find that the provider who is willing to offer you the best car insurance rate varies periodically. Many car insurance providers offer a host of discounts to their clients who qualify for these discounts. These discounts can relate to your driving record, safety features of your car, your age or other factors.

These discounts can result in a tremendous cost savings on your car insurance policy but while many insurance providers offer these discounts, they don’t always advertise them. This means that you may have to do research to determine what type of discounts you may qualify to receive. Carefully, review your car insurance policy to determine which discounts you are already receiving and then contact your car insurance provider to inquire about other discounts that may be available. For example if your driving record is devoid of accidents or tickets, you may qualify for a good driver discount.

Also, if your car has certain safety features such as daytime running lights, you may also qualify for car insurance discounts. Your age can also qualify you for certain car insurance discounts. Some insurance providers also offer discounts to those who insure their house with the same company as they insure their car. Taking advantage of this type of discount can save you money on both your car and home insurance. Being aware of the discounts that are available and ensuring that you are receiving these discounts, can save you a great deal of money on your car insurance.

Finally, maintaining a clean driving record is very important to receiving the best available car insurance rate. While it is true that each car insurance provider is unique in the factors that contribute to lower rates, the one factor that is consistent among all providers of car insurance is that a clean driving record is critical to your rate. Although accidents are sometimes unavoidable, it is imperative that you adhere to all traffic regulations and that you drive safely at all times. This will reduce the number of traffic violations that you incur as well as the number of accidents that you cause. Following these tips will help you to maintain a clean driving record that will keep the cost of your car insurance low.

Many drivers lament paying their monthly car insurance bill because they feel as though the insurance isn’t necessary. Although car insurance is a financial burden that seems superfluous, it does pay off if you are ever in a serious car accident that has significant financial ramifications. For this reason, you should never consider allowing your car insurance to lapse and it is recommended that you search diligently to find the best available rate on your car insurance.

For Great Money saving Tips visit our website at: Car Insurance [http://www.1-in-insurance.com]

Fish Cooking Basics

I must admit that I have met more than a few fishermen that know every trick in the book to catch fish, but after they have caught it, have no idea what to do with it. So if you are still wondering what you should be doing with those fish you caught, I have some help for you. The basic techniques for turning those fish into food are very simple and I have outlined the basic information and cooking methods for you.

10 minutes to the inch

Whether you are grilling, frying, baking, poaching, steaming of broiling your fish, the basic rule is that it will take 8-10 minutes of cooking time for every inch of thickness. The biggest mistake most people make in cooking fish is to over cook it. Now if the fish is frozen, count on 20 minutes per inch.

It starts at the water

Fish can degrade quickly after you catch it. One thing you can do to prevent this is kill the fish as quickly as possible. Smack it in the head with a club, then cut the gills with a knife. This will bleed the fish out quickly and slow down spoilage.

You caught it, you clean it

OK, so you probably know this already, but you need to clean the innards out, using a sharpknife and your thumb or narrow spoon. The longer you leave that stuff in there, the more chance it will have to start messing with the fish’s flavor.

When is it done?

The classical definition is that fish is done when it hits 160° and the juices run clear. Stick a fork into the thickest portion and twist gently. It should be flaky, but please, what ever you do, don’t let it cook into dry nastiness.

NUKING (MICROWAVING) FISH – Fillets, 1″ thick steaks

Yes, this is a valid fish cooking method!Microwaves cook by exciting (heating up) the water in whatever you put in there. Now call me crazy, but fish are just full of moisture. Gee… wonder why? Here are the proper steps for nuking fish. Allow 6 minutes per pound of fish, and remember that no two microwave ovens will be the same so adjust accordingly.

1. Arrange the fish with the thickest parts towards the edge of the plate, and tuck and thin parts under so they don’t get overdone. One layer deep only please.
2. Cover with plastic wrap, but pull one corner back just a little, or punch a little hole in it to vent steam.
3. Don’t blast it! Cook at 70% of full power. Again, we are looking for just flaky.
4. Let the fish rest for three minutes after you nuke it.

PAN FRYING (SAUTÉING) – Fillets less than 1-1/2″ thick, scallops, large shrimp

The old standby by for cooking fish, there are countless variations on how to pay fry fish.The basics are to heat butter or oil over medium heat in a pan big enough to comfortably hold your fish. Then cook on one side till brown then turn over and brown the other side. This shouldn’t take long so don’t over cook them!

What you do with them before you drop them in the pan is what matters the most. To be a purist, you can pat them dry and just lightly season them with salt and pepper. Of course if you want to get fancy, you can always coat them with egg and bread them with flour or bread crumbs.Then we get into seasoning of the breading and things get really interesting. Have fun, experiment.

BROILING – Fillets & Steaks 1/4″ to 1-1/2″ thick, Scallops & Shrimp

Think of broiling as blast cooking your seafood. Put the top rack ~4 inches below the broiling element and pre-heat that puppy. One thing to remember is that broiling can suck the moisture right out of fish, so you have to make sure it doesn’t dry out and get nasty. Fish like Salmon, Tuna and Swordfish have enough oil already to keep them moist, but think about marinating other types of fish.

Drop your fish on the broiling pan, season it lightly and get it under the broiler. Keep a watchful eye on it though. Broilers will take food from done to crispy in the blink of an eye.

STEAMING SEAFOOD – Fillets, Steaks, Whole Fish and Shellfish

Steaming is about as easy and healthy as it gets. No added oil is needed, just a little salt and pepper. If you like, you can steam your veggies right along with your fish! Just remember the 10 minutes to an inch rule and go for it.

BAKING SEAFOOD – Fish Fillets, Steaks, Shellfish & Whole Fish

Baking is the tame version of broiling. Set your oven for 450° and away you go! As for the fish, arrange them one layer deep in a lightly oiled pan, tucking any thin parts under so they don’t burn. Variations include breading, coating with oil/butter, and topping with fruit and/or veggies.

POACHING (NOT BOILING) SEAFOOD – Whole fish, Steaks, Fillets, Shrimp, Scallops

Basic poaching technique is to cook the seafood in a broad, shallow pan filled with enough hot, but not boiling liquid to completely cover it. Any liquid will do, from plain water to concoctions of water, wine, herbs and stock. The liquid should be brought to a boil then turned down till you see movement, but no bubbles breaking on the surface. Carefully place your food in the water and cook the required time. Another very healthy way to cook your seafood!

STIR-FRYING – Chunks and strips of firm fish, Shrimp, Scallops, Squid

Stir frying is broiling from the bottom effectively. This is because to correctly stir fry, even cooking, make sure that your pieces of food are fairly uniform. Here is the basic stir frying technique.

1. Heat the wok over high heat with oil till the oil starts to smoke. Add your vegetables if any and stir constantly. Cook until they are just a little tender and then set aside.
2. Add oil if needed and reheat the pan. Cook the seafood, stirring constantly so it doesn’t stick. Cook until it is browned slightly and opaque in the center.
3. Add the veggies back in along with some sauce and any other seasonings you like. And you are done!

GOOD OLD GRILLING – What can’t you grill?

Whole encyclopedias could, and probably have been written about grilling. It must tap into some primal spot in our soul to be outside, cooking or burning a piece of meat over some hot coals. Here are the main points to remember.

• Keep your grill clean! Dirt grills cook unevenly and dirty grates are more likely to have food stick to them.
• Oil your grill grates! It will help keep the food from bonding to them.
• Grilling can dry food out like broiling does, so use fatty fish, and consider using a marinade or oiling and seasoning your fish before grilling.
• For fish that is small, or might fall apart, use aluminum foil on the grill.
• Once you put the food down on the grates, don’t mess with it! As my cooking hero Alton Brown says ‘Just walk away!’ Granted, not for long but don’t fiddle with it till it is time to turn it over.

So there you have the basics of cooking fish. Best of luck in your cooking adventures! Just remember to let your creativity flow and don’t be afraid of trying new things!

Cliff is a long time fisherman and cook hails from the remote lands in Northern Idaho, but has now moved to the big city. He is also the founder of the web based fishing show ‘Fishing with Cliff’ that can be found at http://www.FishingWithCliff.com where you can watch on demand episodes of his show, and get more great cooking ideas!

Searching the internet for a “summer camp” can yield an overwhelming number of results. Unfortunately, the best camp for you may not be anywhere near the top of Google’s picks; your perfect camp might be hidden on page ten. Right at the top of the search results will be camp directories. Directories appear here as they put the most money into their sites, into their web-ranking. A directory won’t know which camp is best for you.

In the search results there will be web links that relate to one specific camp. You may chose to look at some of these as well as the directories but going camp page to camp page will take too long, limiting your exposure to the camps available. As long as you are aware that the directories are a resource and not an authority, they are the most easy-to-use resource to be found. To understand why they are a resource and not an authority, one should understand how they exist. Directories charge the camps you find on their website for the services they provide. Most have a free listing but these are little one liners with limited information and often in black and white. To be noticed, directories charge camps for top placement, for color, for logos, for video, for ads on the side of the page and ones at the top. Quotes to camps run into the thousands of dollars per year for a listing.

Since your time is valuable, here are some benefits of the directories: you can find camps broken down by religion, by activity, by geography, by residency or day camp. Once you have a general idea of what you are looking for, use the internet to research specifics. For example, if you have decided you want to go whitewater rafting, but you also want to visit a different part of the country, you should hop onto a search engine and type in “whitewater rafting camp in California” (or whatever area you want to visit). Look at each of the sites that come up and make contact with those camps. Find out if they offer shuttle service to and from the local airport (this is something our camp offers). By doing so, you might get to have your proverbial cake and eat it too! This article would be no good if we didn’t have some recommendations to get your questions flowing, so here are some to consider:

1. Is a resident summer camp (one where you stay overnight) for you? If you haven’t spent much time away from home, this can be a scary thought. Feeling nervous is normal. It helps to know that no one is a “pro” at being a summer camp resident – everyone else is nervous, too! So, if this is something that’s exciting, I encourage you to give it a try; you’ll probably love it! If not, if this is simply something you cannot get into, then you should look for a day camp. Day camps can run multiple days but you’re picked up and dropped off each day.

2. Is a church-focused camp a main factor? If yes, then you must make sure you’re searching with the specific church focus in your query. Even the most devout of campers can enjoy a non-church focused camp. Directors and counselors alike have great respect for people of all backgrounds, so don’t allow this factor to keep you away if the camp is perfect in all other respects.

3. Does the camp need to be an all-boys (or all-girls) camp? If so, then make sure you are searching for all-boys camps. If coed is preferred make sure you keep an eye out for this as well. We cannot say which, if either, is better, as we have had experiences with both types of scenarios.

4. This is your summer vacation, so if there is something you want to explore, then look for that in a camp. If you want underwater basket weaving, then you should not enroll in a sea kayaking camp. With this in mind, it is important to look at the activities different camps offer, especially as you begin to narrow your search. Similar camps can still pose great differences. For example, here, in Northern California, there are two water-based camps that are not far apart. One camp is on a lake, the other on a river. They are both priced nearly the same. The river-based camp does nearly all that the lake-based camp does, but the river-based camp also rafts, has off-site excursions such as water parks, pro sporting events and local attractions, at no extra charge! Be sure to really take a look at the camps and compare. And as we always encourage, contact the camps and ask them questions. You can tell quite a bit about the camp by how they respond to you. Always choose the one that makes you the most comfortable.

5. Most importantly, don’t assume that you cannot do something. If you find something that peaks your interest but you are unsure of whether it is a good fit for you, then ask the camp! Most camps were designed with your joy in mind; therefore, the activities they offer are ones they are pretty sure you would enjoy. So, if you think a rafting adventure camp sound exciting and somewhere you would like to be, but you are not confident in your ability to participate, then contact the camp. Ask them what is required, tell them your concerns, and dialogue with them. If you are getting the feeling that they would rather not talk with you, then that is a place you do not want to be. If, however, you find they are engaging and care about your concerns, it is probably a good fit.

6. Email the camp, call the camp and dialogue with the camp! I cannot stress this enough. Anyone can write about how great their camp is, and everyone WILL write about how great their camp is, but the decision as to which camp fits you is yours and yours alone. The only way you are going to answer questions and get comfortable with your decision is to make contact. Camps should welcome your email and/or call. You are important, and so is your summer vacation. The right camp will recognize this and help you to find the best fit. The tips above are a good starting point toward finding that camp that is going to help you make BFFs and provide you with memories for years to come. As you see, there is a tremendous variety in summer camping from adventure overnight camps to day camps focused on arts and crafts. This is your time to live it up, take the time to research, be bold, and take a risk on something new. Reach out via email, and go with the camp that responds in a way that speaks to you.

Christopher Pyle is the owner/director of adventure summer camp and whitewater rafting company in Northern California. His entire company philosophy focuses on creating the safest and most encouraging environments for campers and rafters alike. We focus on TEAM, we focus on KINDNESS, we focus on SAFETY, we focus on personal EMPOWERMENT, we focus on COMMUNITY, we focus on SUPPORT. We’re family run, family oriented and wanting to share our place with you.

Public speaking skills are often overlooked by people as being unimportant or they may think that they will never be called to speak in public, that’s why they do not bother to get themselves acquainted with any public speaking skills. Truth is, more often then not, it is these people that often get tongue tied and being in a state of total meltdown when faced with the possibility that they will be asked to present a topic in public, even a topic they know inside out.

To some people, they do not put high importance or regards to the importance of having good public speaking skills because they have an impression that good public speaking skills are only for people in sales or marketing. This is untrue. Good public speaking skills are also a hallmark of good communication skills and having good communication skills is essential for any career, unless you are the only person in the entire office. For example, if you are signing up for a new job, any job at all, you will probably need to go for an interview. During the interview, the interviewer does not just judge you based on your qualifications, your ability to communicate, both spoken and unspoken, also constitutes a part of the decision making process of whether you will be accepted or not. If you are a student in college, your ability to deliver a good public speaking session will also be tested on regular basis. An example of this will be the various class presentations that you need to do over the course of the semester and the grading criteria will almost certainly have an element of “clarity of delivery” in it. By not knowing how to give a clear and effective presentation using good public speaking skills will only disadvantage yourself because if you cannot communicate clearly to your audience, it is as if you have never learnt the subject at all.

This is one of the reasons perhaps why a lot of ideas by some of the most intelligent people on the planet are only discovered many years after their death. One of the possible reasons is that although they are highly intelligent and have written very useful information, they just cannot seem to put through to people what they are thinking about due to their lack of ability to communicate to a large group of people using public speaking techniques.

Public speaking skills are not only used in situation where you have to address a large group of people. Communication skills and public speaking skills are inter-related, hence, if you improve your public speaking skills, you also invariably improve your interpersonal communication skills with your peers and family.

Therefore, if you are ever presented with an opportunity to practice public speaking or learn public speaking skills, don’t shy away from it. Whether you are in class, in the office or in any kind of setting that requires you to deliver a message to an audience, pick up your courage and go for it. Public speaking is a skill and the more you use it and practice it, the better you will become. To improve your public speaking skills or even if you are a new beginner, there are a lot of public speaking audiobooks or guide books to learn from. By picking up a good public speaking skill, you will have an edge over others who don’t.

Alvin runs a Good Public Speaking AudioBooks [http://www.easypublicspeaking.info] website with audiobooks for overcoming fear of public speaking [http://www.easypublicspeaking.info].

What is PHP?

PHP is short form of Hypertext Preprocessor, which is a widely used, server-side web programming language that was originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages.

Advantages of PHP

PHP gained a lot of popularity for more than a decade because there are many benefits to go with PHP scripting language.

Firstly, the main advantage of PHP is the ability to interact with MySQL database. MySQL is popular for web applications like Wikipedia and PHP-Nuke and acts as the database component of LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP) system. PHP is able to interface with it very well. MySQL is used with PHP as back-end tool. Therefore, PHP and MySQL are fantabulous choice for webmasters who are going to automate their web sites.

Secondly, PHP is open source and similarly to most open source software, it is free for both personal and commercial use. In addition to the nature of free of charge, as PHP is a open source language and there are a huge community of open source applications work on it to fix up bugs and other issues. And therefore, when talking about the issue of security, it is much safe when compares with other language. And also various security levels which can be set in the.ini file to defend the system from attacks of users.

Thirdly, PHP is easy to use and runs really fast. Even though you are an inexperienced web developer, you can learn the basics of PHP development and start your development in a very short period of time. PHP is very simple. Even HTML coders can integrate PHP programming straight into their pages. Also, if you are an experienced programmer, you can utilize some of the more advanced features of PHP to maximum your potential. When developing a website, it is really necessary to make sure that visitors will be able to load your website as quickly as possible. With PHP programming, your website will load quickly because there is Apache module normally written in C.

What is PHP web hosting?

As the name suggested, PHP web hosting refers to a type of web hosting service that provide support for PHP programming language. Since there are so many benefits of using PHP programming language, to make sure that you will be allowed to use PHP on your website, you will need to make sure that your web hosting company will offer its customer with the popular feature. Most of the best web hosting companies offer PHP hosting solution as there is a lot of demand for it. When registering a hosting service, it is also necessary to make sure that you will be provided with the latest version of the PHP script. Because with the rapid growth and development, newer version has regularly appearing and each time a new version comes, there might security loophole if you are still using the outdated version.

PHP Web Hosting Cheap and Affordable

When search over the internet for web hosting services, you will find that PHP hosting is much more affordable compared with other type of web hosting solution. The main reason is because PHP, as an open source language, is free. And it usually comes along with the popular database, MySQL, which is also free. Since these technologies are available for the provider to get for free so they will of course lower the hosting fees to their customers.

How to Find Ideal PHP Web Hosting

When you are going to find an ideal PHP web hosting service to build your website for your small business then you need to know the three basic things of web hosting: First, ensure that the service has enough bandwidth to meet your website requirement. Second, there should be enough disk space available for not just your current needs, but also your future development. And third the hosting package should also provide you with sufficient databases for your web site requirements.

Hostease is a leading web hosting company, who offers REAL 24/7 support via email, live-chat and phone for client’s satisfaction. We never overload our server. All of our plans include the latest industry features available on the market. We cater for the personal blog as well as the multiple websites for large business group. Our packages are equipped with the features needed to meet all of your requirements.

“In Beverly Hills… they don’t throw their garbage away. They make it into television shows.”

- Woody Allen

It was not as hard as I thought it would be. My wife and I had purchased a new townhouse; similar to what you would find in Brooklyn Heights, but this is Toronto. We had made the choice not to have television in our new place, having spent the better part of every evening in our basement apartment staring blankly at it. Cold turkey was how we decided to go, no weaning off the boob tube.

It has now been well over 18 months without a telly. Why is it when this comes up in conversation the recipient inevitably says, “Oh… well I don’t watch that much television, just…” as if by underestimating their television viewing habit will alter the fact they watch television. Frank Lloyd Wright defined television as “chewing gum for the eyes” and we all love a good chew now and then.

Here is a stat that scares the hell out of me. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2003, the average American spent 1,745 hours watching television! This works out to 145 hours a month, which if my math is correct is more than six full days sitting in front of the TV. Our bodies are not engineered for just lengthy inactivity. If you are going to spend 6 days of every month watching television at least stand to burn more calories.

Who says there’s never enough time? The extra time you always craved of having is as easy to obtain as turning off your TV. That simple act alone will give you ample time to do those things you have kept saying you never have time to do. Would I be writing this article if there was television in my home?

Imagine what you can do with 6 more days per month… 5 hours per day. Give yourself an additional 5 hours per day means you can:

· Get a part-time job (earn extra money).

· Give more of yourself to your career (further your career).

· Take a course, class; earn a degree, certification (further your education improve a skill, learn something new).

· Immerse yourself in a hobby.

· Read

· Exercise (take better care of your physical self)

· Meditate (take better care of your mental self)

· Cook great meals for your family and friend and enjoy their company (socialize; keep up with friends and acquaintances).

· Get a good night’s sleep (you should not watch television before going to sleep).

Who says there’s never enough time? The extra time you always craved of having is as easy to obtain as turning off your TV. That simple act alone will give you ample time to do those things you have kept saying you never have time to do. Would I be writing this article if there was television in my home?

So what have my wide and I been missing without television. The radio, Saturday newspaper, Internet provides us with our news and entertainment so staying current has not been a problem. On those occasions we need visual entertainment there’s always the movies, theatre, concerts and simply putting a DVD in the laptop on those rare occasions. Other than missing a few cooking shows today I do not miss television and its after effects. What you watch marinates in your mind

Television told me I had problems… dandruff, bad breath, gingivitis, lack of sex appeal. Hate your body, hate your clothes, hate your friends, hate you car so you can love the body, clothes, friends, car you see on television Thank God the answers to my problems could also be found on television, usually moments after being told of my new ailment. Homer Simpson, that cartoon sage of American mainstream wisdom observed, “The answers to life’s problems aren’t at the bottom of a bottle. They’re on TV.”

Television creates and then shares our collective delusions and anxieties. What better way to spread propaganda than with words and animated image? Nothing beats the telly for creating and supporting a conspiracy theory. We all love a good conspiracy theory; especially when documented with unaltered film footage. Alien autopsy, the grassy knoll, Elvis spotted pumping gas outside a 7-Eleven in a New Orleans suburb… it all must be true, we saw it on television. You know you are watching too much television if you are using fictional characters, animated ones at that, to support your argument.

Not long ago I came to realize television’s hypnotic effects were causing my stress and bruising my self-image. I was comparing myself to a superficial world created to destroy, or at the very least question, my self-esteem. Now that I am spending all my time in the real world I see I am no different that everyone around me, what a relief! Not have a rail thin body, wearing up to the moment fashion, surrounded by flawless supporting characters, was beginning to deflate the little ego I had left. It turns out television is designed and written to manipulate our emotions and it does a damn good job at it.

To get more information on how television massages your psyche check out www.turnoffyourtv.com and www.tvturnoff.org. Marshall McLuhan spent the better part of his career trying to explain television’s positive social influences; he never did make a convincing argument. The negative effects of television from causing obesity, restless sleep patterns, stress and depression are well documented.

Take the first step to gaining 5 hours a day; remove your television from you home. You will go through withdrawal symptoms like I did, but believe me I know from firsthand experience it will only last a few weeks and by not watching television you will have extra time to get over your TV addiction. Today my mind breaths easier.

I am an aspiring writer who without discrimination writes on what moves me at the moment.

With an apparently unending array of gear and gadgets, fly fishing seems to be a varied and interesting sport. Most of the available options could be confusing to anyone who is new to Fly fishing. Anyone with a flair for fishing should know the important accessories about it. The 10 common pieces concerning fly fishing gear include a reel, fly fishing rod, line, files, leader, waders, net, clippers, vest and sunglasses.

Fly fishing rod

This rod is one of the mandatory equipments for fly fishing. These rods are usually different when compared to regular and conventional fishing rods and are designed in unique manner. It would allow casting the fly and fly line. Rods today are often constructed using types of graphite compounds. Many of the rods are still structured from bamboo or fiberglass. The Fly rods are usually categorized based upon weights of line they are structured to be used with.

Reels

The Fly fishing reels essentially, are less significant than the rods. Unlike conventional fishing, along with fly fishing one does not reel in the fish. The Fly fishing methods involve stripping the line with free hand. Quite many fly fishing reels actually are of primitive designs and hence not so very expensive. Anglers commonly “palm” the reel for creating the drag, than relying upon internal drag mechanisms within the reel.

Line

The Fly fishing line has been specially designed for such style of fishing. Fly fishing line is considerably heavy compared to traditional fishing line. It is often tapered and designed for floating. Some lines are designed to sink, though. Some anglers attach backer line in between fly fishing line and reel so as to increase the line available.

Leader

The leader is a monofilament, clear line which attaches to the extreme end of fly fishing line. Additionally, the fly is tied to the leader at the end. This leader is further tapered down into a narrow diameter towards the forward end. Leader matches more with the traditional fishing line.

The Flies

They are available in huge assortments of designs and styles. The dry flies are designed so that they float up in the water, nymphs and wet flies are structured for submerging, and few other flies are made to partially submerge. Flies could also be implied as attractive or imitative. Imitative flies are deliberated to imitate or manifest like a specific insect. On the other hand, attractive flies are structured to attract the fists not looking towards any specific natural food source.

The Waders

Waders are optional when you fish in warm water. But a few anglers go fly fishing in cold water streams to find waders enormously essential. Some popular wader styles currently include waders with waterproof lining and neoprene waders. Neoprene waders work very well in the cold water stream and serve in keeping the angler warm. The waders having a waterproof lining prove to be convenient and breathable when one goes hiking flanking a stream.

Net

A net is essential equipment for fly fishing. As fly fishing is often done standing in the waters, it could be not very easy to hunt a fish without good nets. Nets always have a hook attached. This would help the net so that it could be hooked on the anglers’ vest or waders. A net is particularly important in cases when the angler is trying to catch and release fishing.

Fishing Vest

As fly fishing is always tried in the water, a fishing vest seems to be a near-essential equipment piece. Vests would allow you in keeping essential gear and tools handy and neat as and when you find its necessity.

Clippers

Clippers are quite useful for clipping the line when you change the flies. You would rarely notice any fly fisherman with no clippers in their pocket or vest.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are pieces of personal gear which you would never want to forget. They would keep the sun to not reach your eyes and also protect them from stray fishing hooks. Polarized and good quality sunglasses would also assist in a better vision while you are out near the stream. Most anglers would also append a sunscreen and a hat to the catalog of personal gear which is essential.

There are other pieces of gadgets and gear which are available for every fly fisherman. The above mentioned ten items are perhaps among the most essential ones required for a successful and fun outing.

Abhishek is an avid Fly Fishing enthusiast and he has got some great Fly Fishing Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 93 Page Ebook, “How To Become A Fly Fishing Pro” from his website http://www.Fishing-Masters.com/95/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

As a responsible pet owner, it is a goal to always give almost everything that money can buy for your pets. Although doing this can be good for your pets, it would still not be practical especially now that everyone is experiencing financial crisis. I am not saying that you should stop buying pet supplies nor buy cheaper supplies that are of lower quality. What I am trying to say is that you should find a way on how to save money even though you are buying supplies with high quality. Providing your pet all of these things can really hurt your wallet a lot because most of his needs are very expensive. It is as if you are providing the needs of a child. But then you must not worry because you can still do something about it. If your problem is your budget, you can still provide your pet all of his/her needs through buying discount pet supplies.

Pets have different needs especially on spring. This is the time when they could go out and play. Because the weather is a bit warm, pets need to have cool clothes and cool dog beds. He /she can’t wear clothes that are intended for summer and winter because these are not appropriate. He/she can’t also sleep on warm beds so you must also change his dog bed so that it will be suitable for the season.

If you are really determined, buying pet supplies will not be a big burden to you once you have found the right place or the right means on how to buy discounted pet products. Thorough research can help you a lot because through this, you will be able to find out how you can purchase discount pet supplies.

The first thing that you can do is to search on magazines if there are any discounted coupons. These discounted coupons can help a lot in lowering the price of your pet supplies. Then visit some pet supply stores and see if they are offering discounts on some of their pet products. You can also try to log on the internet to see if there are any pet supply stores offering discounts online. If you notice, there are now loads of pet supply stores online and these stores are usually offering discounts on their products. Browse the internet and see which among these stores online are offering the greatest discounts. Yet, you must be very careful especially in the quality of the product. Always stick with the product that is suitable to your pets.

It is always wise to try the internet first. The internet can help you a lot because there are hundreds of online coupons that are available there. These coupons can be used when you are buying some supplies for your pet.

Moreover, spring is the time when pets can be attacked by different kinds of pests so he/she might need some medicines. You can also join some consumer clubs and discover how you can get discounts on pet supplies from them.

Always remember that buying discount pet supplies does not mean that you will buy the products with lower qualities just to save money. What you will do is to find a store that is selling quality products with discounted prices. Enjoy your spring season by not spending too much for pet supplies. You can still give all the needs of your pet without worrying about the money.

Joanne Delos Reyes writes for http://www.petitude.com.au, Australia’s premiere online pet store and 2008 eBay Australia Top Store awardee. Petitude offers quality, yet affordable dog clothes, dog shoes, dog accessories, pet furniture and more.

Now that you’ve taken the big step, booked your ski vacation and reserved your spot in the beginners skiing class (as discussed in Part 1 of the series), its time to take a look what you’ve actually let yourself in for.

So what exactly will your first skiing lesson try to teach you?

Tip # 2 – Learning Control

The most critical skill in learning to snow ski is that of control. Remember, you’re adding a hefty amount of extra length to your feet – being able to control your feet and moving on them will keep your behind dry and your pride intact.

Rather start out with shorter skis than longer ones. Although there are disadvantages such as less glide in using shorter skis, this gives you the opportunity to get the basics right and then upgrade your ski length as your skill improves. Once you have the skis on, use your poles as a balancing device while moving your weight from side to side on your skis. This side to side motion is what will eventually guide you down the mountain slope at a speed that you feel comfortable at. The shortest route to the bottom of the slope is straight down – but this is neither advisable at beginner level, nor necessarily the best way to get to the bottom! So make sure you’re comfortable with shifting your weight from one foot to the other while on the skis.

Probably the most important skill to learn control of is how to STOP without doing yourself some major injury. The easiest and best way to slow your momentum is to point the toes of your skis towards each other and spreading your heels apart – much like a slice of cake. NB – but whatever you do, DON’T let the tips of your skis cross each other – it’s a surefire way of ensuring a wet and uncomfortable tumble.

Another important skill is learning balance. And the best time to practice is while you’re still on flat ground! The trick is to practice balancing on one ski at a time. Lift one ski a couple of centimeters off the snow and shift all your weight to the other leg. Observe how your body adjusts to maintain your balance on just one foot – and remember, your ski-poles are there to help you. Now try skiing on just one leg to get used to being in balance, whether you’re on two feet or only one. You won’t go haring down the mountain on one foot though – this is just an exercise to get you used to your own sense of weight distribution and balance. It is advisable to be comfortable skiing on one leg (practice doing this on both) before you become proficient in skiing on two.

Now that you’ve put on your skies, practiced shifting your weight from side to side, found your balance on your skis and learned how to stop your forward momentum, you’re almost ready to face your first down hill ski. But first, you’ll have to master one more critical skill that everyone needs to learn … how to get up when you fall.

Yolande runs the website [http://www.skiingtips.org] that provides infomation on skiing for the beginner to the advance skier.

Part 3 of Beginner Snow Skiing Tips for the beginner [http://www.skiingtips.org/Taking-The-Plunge-Snow-Skiing-Tips-For-The-Beginner-Part-3.php] can be found on the website

If you’re looking for information on Ski Resorts visit World Ski Resorts [http://www.worldskiresorts.info/skiresort_articles/index.php]

Having basic auto repair tools can really be nice when your car starts to have car troubles. Having some repair tools can save you from having to run to your local Utah auto repair garage. You don’t want to have to run to a Utah auto shop for every single mechanical problem that goes on with your car.

Be sure to carry auto repair tools in your car with you whenever you drive. As discussed in a previous article, major car repairs may be saved by keeping up with the general maintenance of your car. Yet, even doing that does not guarantee that your car will never break down.

It is inevitable that your car will need some minor repairs every so often. Even when they are cared after very well, cars will need some mechanical work done. However, keeping good care of your car and bringing it in to your local Utah auto shops to replace oil and other maintenance checks will make it more plausible that you can save money when your car does have smaller issues because you will be able to do the repairs on your own.

You can usually find a good set of auto tools at most Utah auto stores. Stores that deal with car accessories are always a good place to look for auto repair tools. A lot of supermarkets are also selling auto repair tools.

Basic tool kits will allow you to do basic mechanical repairs yourself. Before trying to repair anything on your car yourself, you need to make sure you have a basic knowledge of car repairs. Local classes, online tutorials, and basic videos are a good place to start when studying how to do repairs on your car.

Some procedures should never be tried by a novice. For example, you would never want to try to replace a broken clutch by yourself. The type of repairs that novice car owners can easily do are things such as replacements on spark plugs or fuel filters.

When you buy a basic auto repair tool kit it should have some form of tutorial included with it. Tutorials will help you understand the tools and their uses. The more detailed the tutorial, the better.

You can ask your Utah auto repair technicians what tools are the best to have for basic maintenance work. Most will tell you the need for jumper cables, screwdrivers, set of wrenches, thick gloves, and breaker bars. When you go in to talk to your technician, compare the pricing between their basic auto repair tool kits and others you can find online or at the supermarkets.

Master Muffler is Utah’s leading muffler, brake and auto repair shop, and has 13 locations from Brigham City to Provo. Visit or call one of their locations for a free quote on how to improve your miles per gallon up to 30% for your car, truck or van. Visit their website at http://www.mastermuffler.net.