Archive for February, 2009
27
Feb

While an apple a day may not keep the doctor away forever, there’s no question that the crunchy goodness of this tasty fruit contributes to good health. In fact, apples are good for you in large part because they are free from harmful substances. They don’t have cholesterol, they don’t have salt, and they don’t have refined sugar. On top of that, they’re a great source of fiber, and contain vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, and potassium. Taken together, these qualities mean that apples can contribute to reducing the risk for cancers, heart disease, and hypertension. It’s important to note, though, that apple peel is rich in fiber and antioxidants, so try not to remove the skin before eating!

When it comes to selecting these beauties, it’s important to examine them. Choose those that are free from soft spots, that don’t have breaks in the peel, and that smell nice. Once you get them home, refrigerate them to keep them fresh. Don’t store them next to feta cheese or other pungent foods, as apples will pick up odors. Before eating, wash apples under cool water to get rid of any pesticide residue.

There are literally hundreds of varieties of apples that are grown throughout the United States. With the resurgence in growing heirloom apples and the progress that’s been made in techniques for storing and shipping apples, you’re likely to find many kinds in your local supermarket. Each type of apple has its own unique characteristics, though, so it’s fun to try different varieties. Here are some of the tastiest:

  • Red Delicious: This is the classic red apple that we pack in kids’ lunchboxes and enjoy as a crunchy snack. It has a mild sweetness, is available year-round, and is the perfect addition to a green salad.
  • Winesap: The rich red Winesap is the quintessential beautiful apple. With an extra firm texture and the tartness of some green varieties, they hold up well in fruit displays and are excellent to make into apple juice.
  • Red Rome: The Red Rome is an old variety, but one that never goes out of style. Its mild tartness and firm texture make it the home cook’s favorite pome. For pies and other baked goods, the Red Rome is unparalleled.
  • Gala: Gala apples have arguably overtaken Red Delicious apples in popularity over the past decade. These red beauties great for munching, and make terrific applesauce. They’re also tasty in salads.
  • Braeburn: The color of Braeburn apples ranges from an orangey color to speckled red to red and yellow. Braeburns are noted for their firmness and intense sweet-tart flavor. They’re less versatile than other varieties, but are wonderful for snacking.

Next time you’re tempted to grab a handful of sweets or munch on some chips, reach into the fridge and snag an apple instead. Your body will thank you!

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
27
Feb

Comcast provides a true benefit to its subscribers in the form of its high speed Internet access! That’s because it uses the best technology available for delivering high speed Internet access to private homes and does a better job of implementing it than other providers that offer high speed Internet services!

Comcast Internet Is The Best!

The main reason for Comcast ‘s superiority in the area of high speed Internet is its use of cable technology to deliver this service. The simple fact of the matter is that while many other high speed Internet companies use phone lines to provide access to the World Wide Web, this company uses the same technology that delivers hundreds of channels of TV! The difference becomes obvious when you think about what a phone line can do and compare it to what a cable can do. A phone line transmits tiny sounding audio while cable TV delivers stunningly clear pictures and incredibly rich sound. Not only that, but a single cable is capable of transmitting hundreds of channels all at once- each with their own audio and video! Which would you rather use for your Internet access?

Indeed, there’s a much more scientific way to measure the difference in performance between Comcast ‘s broad band cable high speed Internet and phone line based DSL Internet service and that’s with bandwidth. Bandwidth describes how much data can be transmitted over something like a phone line or a cable in a given period of time. This is typically measured in kilobytes per second (kbps) or megabytes per second (Mbps). One Mbps is one thousand times faster than one kbps. DSL speeds range from about two hundred and fifty kbps up to three Mpbs. Comcast ‘s broad band digital cable Internet service provides a standard download speed of eight Mbps, which is enormously faster than the typical DSL connection!

Comcast Deals Expire Soon! Click Here Now!

Of course Comcast isn’t the only cable provider that offers high speed Internet access, and among all of the different cable providers download speeds of up to eight Mbps areevery high speed Internet subscription and can increase your download speed by another 50 percent for a few seconds when it detects the downloading of a larger file! This means that this service can provide download speeds as high as twelve Mbps, which gives it a big advantage over the competition when it comes to downloading things like high def TV movies and big packages of software!

Another way that Comcast out does the competition- cable and DSL alike- is with its great bonus features. With all of the online threats you might encounter these days, the actual Internet access is only part of what you need. Fortunately Comcast takes care of those extra needs with its free virus protection software and parental control software. It can also provide you with an optional firewall that will let you make your computer and home network practically invisible to hackers! You’ll also receive a complementary wireless router that can let every computer in your home to access the Internet without the difficulties imposed by clumsy wires! With the addition of reduced price- and even free- access to exclusive web content, your family will be able to stay that much more informed and entertained online!

Comcast has all of the details covered when it comes to giving your family the high speed Internet that it deserves!
For More Information And All The Options Go To Comcast Cable Internet Deals Here.

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
26
Feb

Green Tea – It Can Help You Lose Weight

Studies on green tea on metabolic rates at first were assumed irrelevant due to the natural caffeine levels in the tea. Scientists thought the raise in the rate was due to the caffeine, not the tea itself. Further tests revealed that green tea does in fact enhance the metabolic rate. Increasing this rate is crucial in weight loss and weight maintenance because it dictates how much and how fast our body burns energy, or else known as fat.

Fundamentally , metabolism is a network of hormones and enzymes that converts food into fuel, while dictating how your body burns that fuel. It is unlike for every person, and there are factors affecting it for each one. For many decades people have been drinking tea, for the taste and for health reasons. While the flavors of tea accessible are ever-changing, the health benefits only lately started changing as well. One such advantage is the fat-reducing effects of green tea. extended regarded as the best tea for antioxidants, green tea has many other benefits as well.

It has been found to increase the metabolic rate, which in turn, increases one’s ability to lose weight. So while green tea doesn’t in fact make you lose weight, it can assist add to and jump start the weight loss process. In some studies, people who drank green tea daily for a year saw an standard loss of five pounds. Not only does green tea raise metabolic rates, it also is a natural diuretic. A diuretic is anything that rids the body of excess water. Without this diuretic, your body simply would hold onto that water, causing you to weigh more than you need.

The diuretic alone will help you reduction in some weight, but by combining the diuretic aspect of green tea with the metabolic increase, you have an easy and natural way to lose weight. Like other supplements, green tea works best when following the suggested amounts. These amounts for greet tea or two to three cups per day. By subsequent these suggestions, you can find a natural way to decrease or maintain your weight. Green tea has long been used in Asian cultures for therapeutic purposes . It has just been in recent times that our culture started researching and giving the results other cultures have long suggested and used.

Although you won’t find vital results using green tea alone, combining it with a healthy diet and exercise will maximize your weight loss. There are a lot of companies selling green tea products. One such company is Herbal life, they make very well known green tea products called Herbalife green tea. In edition to this they also have a gurana based tea. Herbal life N.R.G

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
24
Feb

It’s no secret that salads are good for us. If nothing else, the fiber in lettuce contributes to maintaining our heart health and decreasing our risk for cancers. But even those of us with the best intentions can easily become tired of the same old salads day in and day out. After awhile, plain iceberg lettuce just doesn’t cut it, and it’s tempting to revert back to bad eating habits.

The good news is that, with a little imagination and a selection of fresh produce, it’s easy to add variety to run-of-the-mill salads. Here are some types of produce that can help you toss some freshness into your salads:

  • Cauliflower: Whether in florets or a large dice, raw cauliflower adds texture and taste to greens. Rich in vitamin C and the B complex vitamins, cauliflower also has iron, calcium, and phosphorous.
  • Asparagus: When you buy fresh asparagus in the spring, purchase and steam a bit extra. The next day, add the leftovers to your salad for some extra flavor. Asparagus has both protein and potassium, and is a rich source of vitamins A, B1, and C. It also has important enzymes.
  • Bell Pepper: Bell pepper adds both sweetness and a little zip to any salad. Choose from red, yellow, or green bell peppers, but keep in mind that red bell peppers are richer in vitamins A and C than their green counterparts.

Berries: For a fresh take, throw a handful of berries into your salad. Blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries will sweeten things up and kick your salad’s texture up a notch.

Grapes: It might seem counterintuitive to put grapes on a salad, but the tidbits provide a burst of flavor as they pop between your teeth. They’re also a great source of vitamins A and B1, as well as potassium.

Apricots: A few slices of dried apricots go a long way in adding tangy sweetness and texture to your salad. Plus, they’re chock full of vitamin A, vitamin B1, and iron.

Of course, there are many other things that can easily add interest to a salad. Sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, slivered almonds, or pecan pieces add both flavor and texture. Pomegranate kernels provide a burst of flavor. Even mandarin oranges, water chestnuts, and sundried tomatoes are fair game.

When it comes to salads, it also pays to pay attention to the basics. Ditch the iceberg and explore the wide variety of salad greens that are available in the produce department of your supermarket. Butter lettuce, field greens, arugula, and romaine lettuce will impart flavors that will make you as happy as a rabbit in the garden. Dig in!

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
24
Feb
Fun Stuff.  | 

Many places have mysterious legends. In New Jersey, the Jersey Devil is theirs. While it seems like it might be something pretty scary, it’s become something of a pop-culture icon. The local hockey team is even named for this cryptic creature.

It goes back to native American times. Indians called the area Place of the Dragon while the Swedish named it Drake Kill. But a 1735 story describes the origins of the creature. A woman called Mother Leeds claimed her husband was the devil, and gave birth to 12 children. She said her 13th child would be a devil. That 13th child was born a normal baby, but quickly changed form. It developed hooves and wings, attacked the midwife, then escaped through the chimney. After an exorcism by a priest it disappeared for 100 years.

This woman may be Deborah Leeds. Her husband listed 12 children in his will. That meshes with the story that the 13th child was the devil. Many people say it’s all just a made up tale. The creature supposedly fled to the Pine Barrens, where many fugitives ran. They gathered in groups called pineys. They turned to highway robbery as the pine robbers. So stories formed about monsters. Especially since the reputation of the bandits was less than wholesome.

The Jersey Devil can even be a funny story. There was an outdoors man named Tom Brown Jr. More than once people he met would become terrified thinking he was the Jersey Devil. He used a complete body mud covering to keep mosquitoes off himself. Maybe the mud was people repellent.

It could be that the Jersey Devil is something out of nature. It could be a creature with wings and hooves. Others hold that it is the sand hill crane, a native bird with a 7 foot wingspan.

Jersey Devil

Whatever it is the Jersey Devil remains an integral part of the New Jersey mythology. It might be fun to take a trip to find it.

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
22
Feb
Fun Stuff.  | 

Picture this: You’re driving along the road, checking all the signs looking for your exit. In your rear view mirror, you can see your one way truck rental following you, with your significant other manning the wheel. You can also see your kids in the backseat, and they’re getting restless. What now?

The key to taking care of this situation when it comes up is being prepared ahead of time. No matter where you are relocating to with your moving truck rental, having children in the mix can create many different issues that will need to be dealt with. Here are some things to remember when you’re going to be relocating with children:

• Plan to stop often. Children need the chance to run and jump around a little bit as often as possible. And don’t forget potty breaks on stops like these too. Rest stops are also a good place to get food. Make sure that every stop lasts at least ten to fifteen minutes, and that you stop as soon as possible when a child lets you know that they need to use the bathroom.

• Bring games along with you. Many companies make magnetic games and other travel games, such as license plate bingo. Make sure you get the right kind of games for the number of children that will be traveling with you. Tic Tac Toe boards are good for two children, but if you’ve got three children, they probably aren’t the best idea. They also wouldn’t work for one child. If there’s only one kid, things like magnetic tangrams, coloring books with crayons, and handheld video games are probably your best bet.

• Bring food. Even stopping every two hours or so won’t solve every hunger issue. It’s a good idea to carry a cooler with things like juice and string cheese in it for those times when all the children need is something to keep their mouths busy. Dry cereal is also a good choice. Taking them to the store before the trip and letting them choose a few things is a good idea too. Knowing that the food is waiting for them creates an anticipation of the trip which will help keep them calm during the actual thing.

Of course, the most important thing to remember during the trip is to try to have fun with it. You should be able to set aside some spending money for the trip, especially if you have gotten a cheap truck rental. If you’re traveling through any states that are especially pretty, make sure to point it out to the children, but don’t forget to look yourself. Remember, it is OK to take a few rest stops for yourself in there too. After all, you’ve got the hard job.

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
22
Feb

First time, or beginner bakers usually have difficulty in choosing the right birthday cake pans that fits with the party. Where do you start?

The top tip, I give beginners is to decide on a theme for the party. This will help them determine the shape of the birthday cake pan that they’ll need. But, how do you figure out the theme?

For those who want to know how to decide on a theme, and help you choose the shape of the birthday cake pan, here are some tips that will help you:

1. What TV or movies does your child enjoy watching?

Here’s how this will help you choose a birthday cake pan. Your kids love watching certain TV shows. It could be Sponge Bob Square Pants, Sesame Street, Barney, or any other television show. They may also enjoy watching a movie over and over again.

For example, I have a niece that’s grown up now. But when she was little, she really loved the Little Mermaid. She was staying with us one summer, and I remember watching that movie every day she was with us. It would have been easy choosing a birthday cake pan shape for her.

2. What sports or games does your child like to play?

These days, most kids are involved in one sport or another. This is a great opportunity for you to be able to choose birthday cake pans.

For example, do they play Little League baseball, Pop Warner Football, Tee Ball? What about soccer? Some kids even like doing karate or tae kwon do.

Find out what your child enjoys playing and you’ll be deciding on a theme for their birthday party in no time.

3. What books does your child like to read?

Knowing this will help you choose a birthday cake pan. You just have to think for a moment about which books your child wants you to read them the most.

If they’re old enough to read on their own, what are their favorite books? Maybe they like a certain genre like mystery or science fiction. Or maybe they enjoy a series like “Harry Potter.” By knowing what type of books they like, you can easily choose a birthday cake pan.

By knowing what your child enjoys, you can decide on the perfect theme. And, once you have a theme, you can choose birthday cake pans in a shape that fits that theme. The key is knowing your children, and no one knows them better than you.

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
21
Feb
Fun Stuff.  | 

Stories of deserts usually involve a lack of water, high day time temperatures and low night time temperatures. But the Desert Divas were a story of another type. It was a prostitution ring in Arizona that became famous when police put the finger on them in 2008.

Desert Divas

Desert Divas was run by a man named Paul Nichta, from Paradise Valley, Arizona. He hired out escorts primarily through a number of web sites. Some of them were Desert Divas, AZ Confidential, Hips Tour and Escorts in Action. The ring was widespread, reaching as far as New Mexico and Pennsylvania. Desert Divas wasn’t the official name, but it’s the name that stuck.

This prostitution ring set a number of records. Desert Divas was the subject of the largest prostitution investigation in Arizona history. Many people were charged, including clients from out of state, Paul, and many of the girls who worked for the organization. As a result of this sting, three homes, a motorcycle, and eight additional vehicles will be sold at auction. Speaking about money, most of the escorts in this ring earned between $2,000 and $15,000 a night. That larger amount was possible in the form of tips.

Desert Divas hired a wide variety of girls. Some were as young as 18, while others were as old as 40. It seemed women from all walks of life became in the activities of this business which included escort services, dating services, pornography and live web cameras via their various web sites. There were even exclusive monthly membership sites where viewers could see live sex shows.

It was September before three of the owners were indicted, including Paul. There were charges filed in both Arizona and New Mexico. Racketeering was one of the main charges – it’s nothing more than engaging in illegal business activities. It turns out many of the girls, including seven college girls, were recruited via ads in college newspapers. Most women warmed up with legitimate dating and R-rated WebCams before they graduated to full-fledged pornography and escorting.

Desert Diva was also the name of a pretty unlucky woman. A woman from Arizona has begun a service touting herself as the Desert Diva Assistant, a virtual personal assistant that conducts a variety of business tasks. She was caught up in the prostitution situation when people confused her name and web site with the now famous case. She received many harassing emails, including from so-called attorneys who claimed to be suing the government for stealing a cat.

Desert Divas

It’s crazy out there. This is only further reinforced by the case of the Desert Divas.

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
19
Feb
Hobbies.  | 

Breyer horses are at the top of the model horse spectrum. Each one is beautifully hand-crafted and life-like, and touched in the production process by often as many as 20 different artists and artisans. For the horse-lover, Breyer model horses are THE horse toy. In fact, they are beyond toys.

With the exception of some special runs and fantasy horses, Breyer horses are made-to-scale and as close to the real thing in look as possible. The company also sells an utterly vast variety of models in different breeds, colors, and collector sets. Because of their incredible quality, Breyer horses have lasted since their inception in 1950 and have garnered a huge following among model horse collectors as well as horse lovers who want to be surrounded by sculpted models of their favorite animal. Collectors of Breyer horses are so committed that a whole world of Breyer model horse shows has sprung up.

In an attempt to keep their huge collection of model horses fresh and exciting, every year Breyer not only produces some brand new models but also retires a few. The retired Breyer models of course become instantly worth far more money for those who have them, and you can readily find a few of them on sale at eBay or at online model horse auction sites. Many models change hands through re-sale and auctions, also. But many hold on to their retired models and relish collecting as many as they can.

The first Breyer model horse was never intended to become a collectors’ item nor even a horse toy. The Breyer Molding Company was a plastics manufacturer in Chicago, Illinois. In 1950, it was commissioned by the drug store chain F.W. Woolworth’s to create a replica horse to decorate a clock. This model #57 Western Horse was so well-made that people began contacting Breyer and Woolworth’s to see if they could buy JUST the horse. A living legend was born.

The collections that Breyer offers include:

* The The Traditional Breyer collection makes up the world’s most asked for horses since 1950 group. These are all hand-painted and each one is slightly one of a kind and realistic. These are sculpted in 1:9 scale.

* The SPECIAL RUNS consists of Breyer horses commissioned by a select group of retailers. These rarer models are collectors’ dreams. The US Equestrian Team Foundation and Tractor Supply Store have commissioned special runs and equine film star, Spirt, is one of the models.

* The CLASSICS are specially designed for authentic and imaginative play for younger collectors; they give them realistic horses and superior collectibility. These are sculpted to 1:12 scale.

* The WIND DANCERS are butterfly fantasy horses, and each one is made to embody a different one of the four winds. Breyer says they are “”fun, spirited, and gossamer-winged, with brushable manes and tails. Their ethereal wings flutter in the breeze as they float on the gentle winds of the earth, bringing adventure and excitement to those who believe.

Breyer also creates other accessories especially targeted at younger collectors.

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
19
Feb

With Ghost Riders in the Sky, Stan Jones opened a great chapter in the history of country music as early as 1948. Little did he know what a hit his composition was going to become, as there have been dozens of rewrites and versions over the decades. Ghost Riders in the Sky is a visionary song about a cowboy who sees cattle with red eyes chased by ghost cowboys in the sky. He is warned to change his life style or never find peace in the after life and be damned for eternity. The song has strong echoes of European myths and it surely has a great artistic making.

Ghost Riders In The Sky

Ghost Riders in the Sky has become a classic by now, and almost all the big names of country music made an attempt at its interpretation. Moreover, it seems the that the famous band The Doors took their inspiration from Ghost Riders in the Sky when they created their Riders on the Storm hit. From all the versions of the material, the one recorded by Vaughn Monroe in 1949 was the most popular climbing to the first place in the Billboard charts of the year, and remaining in this position for no less than twenty two weeks.

Ghost Riders in the Sky was performed in the movie Blues Brothers 2000, and then it inspired a heavy metal rendition by a German band. In time, several rock musicians aimed at adapting the original country song to the more aggressive sounds and lyrics of rock music, and they enjoyed different levels of success. Beside rewrites, new versions and source of inspiration, Ghost Riders in the Sky also fueled all sorts of parodies from the Ghost Writers in Disguise to politically engaged lyrics that some listeners may not even be aware of.

Ghost Riders In The Sky

An Irish parody version of Ghost Riders in the Sky deals with the destruction of British helicopters by IRA members, although no such violence has ever occurred. Regardless of the political charges that could be added to the Ghost Riders in the Sky, the majority of the performing artists are not aware of them, and sing the song without any reference to terrorist or Republican facts. All in all, Ghost Riders in the Sky also represented a starting point for the creation of some football club songs by supporters. Yet, with all the remaking, it is clearly obvious that Ghost riders in the Sky made history in the country music tradition.

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]