Sunday, December 25, 2011

South Shore Furniture, Cotton Candy Collection, Changing Table with 2 Pull-Out Shelves, Pure White

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Finish:Pure White This Cotton Candy collection offers a classic look that will grow with baby. This collection is one of our most versatile ever as when removing the changing station from the changing table it becomes a regular chest. Features Ceramic handles Plentydrawer space Twopull-out shelves behind the door Removable changing station Child-friendly safety catches on drawer glides Meet ASTM stability requirements 5-Year Warranty

  • 2 pull-out shelves behind the door
  • Removable changing station
  • This item is made of composite wood panels that carry the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification
  • 5 year warranty
  • Assembly required

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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Part 2 - The Sea Cook - Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (Chs 7-12)

Part Two: The Sea Cook.Classic Literature VideoBook with synchronized text, interactive transcript, and closed captions in multiple languages. Audio courtesy of Librivox. Read by Adrian Praetzellis. To view the book in separate chapters, go to this playlist: www.youtube.com If you would prefer to watch in the 6 original parts, go to this playlist: www.youtube.com

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

South Shore Angel Changing Table, Chocolate

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Brand : South Shore Furniture | Rate : | Price : $177.00
Post Date : Dec 09, 2011 00:00:53 | Usually ships in 4-5 business days


Finish:Espresso Ensure your baby's safety with the practical and fashionable Angel Changing Table. This practical changing table offers total safety thanks to its rounded contours and front panel. Designed to offer maximum security, these items reflect the latest styling while allowing you to keep baby's room neat and organized. Top of the changing table features rounded contours for added safety Secure front panel Two practical drawers Open storage space provide ready access to all your items South Shore Furniture meets or exceeds all US Consumer Product Safety Commission Standards and conforms to ASTM standards as well Smart glide system with integrated safety catch and soft-closing mechanism to prevent accidents Decorative kick plate Wooden knobs Made of EPP certified panels 5-year limited warranty

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Thursday, December 1, 2011

Is There a Role For Magnetic Therapy in Pain Management?

!±8± Is There a Role For Magnetic Therapy in Pain Management?

The mere mention of magnetic therapy will elicit a wide variety of reactions, but the response from doctors is fairly consistent - a glazed eye cynicism. And possibly for good reason, you see, it goes way back to the nineteenth century German doctor Anton Mesmer who practiced so-called animal magnetism and was so discredited that even today his name lives on through the English word mesmerise. Mud sticks and magnetic therapy in the eyes of doctors never recovered. Go online today and you can read the comments from many Doctors that magnets have little or no effect on mammalian tissue but you don't have to dig too deep to find published evidence from numerous medical journals that clearly refutes these comments. Not to mention the 1000's of satisfied users of magnetic therapy who can attest to its benefits.

Magnets were used and studied by some of the great doctors of yesteryear including the 16th century doctor William Gilbert who was president of the Royal College of Physicians and personal physician to the queen. In fact Gilbert wrote what is widely regarded as the beginning of modern science and electricity, a book called De Magnete. In it are some remarkable insights, like according to Dias, the "magnet reconciles husbands to their wives"! If only it were that easy, maybe that was the origin of the term "opposites attract"?

More recently with the advent of the MRI, the promising research being undertaken on strong magnetic fields for the treatment of depression and the research into static magnets to treat pain by neurologists at Vanderbilt Medical University throughout the 1990's, long held paradigms are slowly shifting. With the development of newer and more effective static magnet devices, magnetic therapy is gaining more credibility and will slowly make the transition from pseudoscience to alternative to complimentary therapy and finally to main stream medicine. This is a common occurrence in medicine, omega-3 supplements and fish oil were mocked 4 decades ago as ridiculous, now it is established medical practice.

Medicine has a long history of being slow to catch on, which is best illustrated by the story of Ignacio Semmelweis. Ignacio was a 19th century Hungarian obstetrician otherwise known as the "saviour of mothers" after he discovered why mothers giving birth attended to by doctors had 3 times the chance of dying than those by midwives. You see, the doctors came straight from giving autopsies to delivering baby's without washing their hands and transferred infections. But what became of Dr Semmelweis and his discovery? Well he was effectively driven out of the medical profession and died in an asylum and it wasn't for another 50 years until washing hands between patients became standard clinical practice. Think of the 10,000 or 100,000's of needless deaths that occurred due to this belligerence.

The legacy of Dr Semmelweis lives on in the Semmelweis Effect which is a metaphor for human behaviour characterized by reflex-like rejection of new knowledge because it contradicts entrenched norms, beliefs or paradigms.

And if you thought this sort of thing couldn't possibly happen in our day of instant communication, then spare a thought for Dr Barry Marshall from Perth who discovered that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori lived in the stomach and were the cause of stomach ulcers. This was at a time when conventional science taught that no bacterium could live in the stomach. 12 years after his discovery, exasperated and with very little recognition he resorted to infecting himself with the bacteria to bring on stomach ulcers and quickly cure himself with antibiotics. The time-lag reflects, as Professor William Doe of the Australian National University comments, "how difficult it is to change medical paradigms because everyone has a vested interest in the status quo". The pharmaceutical industry held the biggest vested interest in ulcers. Two of its biggest all-time earners had been the acid suppressing drugs cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac). These drugs did not cure ulcers, meaning patients often needed lifelong therapy. The similarities between stomach ulcers and pain are striking if not magnified.

When discussing magnetic therapy one needs to be specific, are you talking about electromagnetic (magnetism generated from electricity) or static magnet therapy? If static magnets are you talking about the weaker rubberized or ceramic magnets or the more recent stronger rare earths such as neodymium and then are you talking about bipolar or multipolar? Most people think that a magnet is a magnet, but as you delve down the rabbit hole of the complex world of quantum physics, things are very different to what they appear on the surface. Magnetic fields are a vector quantity and as such have both quantity and directional values. Different magnetic materials have different properties and the size of a magnet also determines the strength and depth of penetration.

In addition, magnetic fields are highly specific and unless the right type of field in the right dose envelopes the target tissue, then they cannot be effective.

The following table from Colbert et al (2008); Static Magnetic Field Therapy: Dosimetry Considerations, shows the energy product of different magnetic materials. The rubberized flexible magnets have about one fiftieth of the energy of the newer neodymium magnets and will barely penetrate 1cm into the body.

Magnetic Material Energy Product (MGOe)

Rubberized Flexible...........0.5 - 1.5..........MGOe
Ceramic...........................1.5 - 3.5..........MGOe
Rare Earth Neodymium......30 - 50............MGOe

Static magnets are made from iron alloys. The rare earth magnets such as Neodymium are the strongest static magnets currently made. Even neodymium magnets come in different grades with the highest rating, N52 MGOe with a magnetic flux density of up to 14,000 Gauss or 1.4 Tesla. 1 Tesla is equal to 10,000 Gauss, the earth's magnetic field is around 0.5 Gauss or 0.00005T and MRI's operate at around 2 to 3T.

All material is made up of molecules, which are made up of atoms which are made up of the charged particles electrons and protons. Electrons prefer to exist in pairs as they orbit the nucleus of protons and neutrons. It is the unpaired electrons in iron and the rare earths that provide them with their magnetic potential. Electrons create their own spin and tiny magnetic dipoles. In a non-magnetic material these are randomly orientated in all directions and effectively cancel each other out. During the manufacturing of magnets they are exposed to very strong electromagnetic fields which align the magnetic dipoles of the unpaired electrons. This gives the new material its permanent magnetic properties as the magnetic flux density is the vectorial sum of all the tiny magnetic dipoles induced by each spinning electron.

Most people are aware that the opposite poles of a magnet attract and like poles repel. In fact all magnets have a north and south pole and true monopoles only exist in theory. When multiple poles of magnets interact e.g. 4 alternating poles (+ - + -) on the one face as with a quadrapolar or Q magnet, it sets up field gradients where the adjacent poles meet. These field gradients are also called an inhomogeneous field and have a different effect on moving charged particles than the common bipolar magnets.

At the cutting edge of quantum physics is the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva which contains over 1,600 superconducting magnets, including 392 quadrupole magnets weighing around 27 tonnes each. The quadrupole magnets focus the particles as they accelerate around the 27km circular tunnel at 11,000 revolutions per second at 99.9999991% of the speed of light. This incredible concentration of energy is supplied by these very powerful magnets.

In the last 20 years enough credible research has been undertaken into static magnets and in particular certain types of therapeutic magnets to propose mechanisms of action and some quite remarkable clinical outcomes in the use of quadrapolar magnets.

Much of this research was pioneered by neurologists Dr Robert Holcomb and Dr Mike McLean while associate professors of neurology at Vanderbilt Medical University. Here they harvested live nerve ganglions from patients undergoing back surgery (with their permission of course) and exposed them to a variety of static magnetic fields. What they found was remarkable, when they exposed the nerve cell to a steep field gradient such as is generated by a quadrapolar magnet, the effect was to interrupt the nerve impulse or action potential.

The action potential is a self generating wave that carries the nerve signal, such as pain along the nerve to the brain. The researchers even exposed nerve cells to the noxious stimuli capsaicin which got the sensory neurons really firing, but after 5 minutes of exposure to the gradient of the quadrapolar array, the signal was totally blocked and fully recovered 10 minutes after the removal of the field. While many studies show promise under the microscope, the real test is, does it work in real life on real patients with real conditions? This is where the science needs to make the leap from laboratory to clinical research.

The research paper Epilepsy & Behavior2: S74-S80 (2001); Static Magnetic Fields for the Treatment of Pain. McLean et al, available on the qmagnet website, describes the effects on a neuron by exposure to the magnetic field produced by the alternating quadrapolar array. The cell study demonstrates how the steep field gradient blocks the firing of the action potential after a few minutes, even with increased stimulus and is reversible after the removal of the field.

Only in the last year, an Australian company (Neuromagnetics Australia Pty Ltd) invented a new quadrapolar magnetic design called Q magnets. The design combines the very strong neodymium rare earth magnets with new magnetising techniques to produce a quadrapolar magnet array of four alternating quadrants or poles in one round disc magnetic body. It also has a flux plate attached to the top of the Q magnet to further increase the field gradient and drive the field deeper into the body to enhance the therapeutic effect and target the deeper nerve structures.

Without getting side tracked into some of the more, shall we say unusual approaches, there are generally three theories into the application of magnets.

They are worn on the body like jewellery to affect the energy flow in the body. Apply either the South or North pole over different parts of the body, usually the painful area or acupuncture or acupressure points or say the belly button. The magnets are placed on very specific points on the body, usually over nerves where they interrupt the pain signal.

Effects purported by practitioners of magnetic therapy are increased circulation, reduced inflammation, correction of energy imbalances, enhanced immune function, more restful sleep, stress relief and reduced or cessation of pain.

While there may be some legitimacy to all three approaches, the third approach has been more thoroughly researched and has a significant body of published data to verify the therapy. The research undertaken at Vanderbilt suggests that the common bipolar magnets that are sewn into mattresses, blankets and pillows are having negligible effect on the nerve stimulus pathways. Besides, magnets used in this way are hardly going to be placed over specific anatomical structures.

In order to understand how Q magnets work, one must first understand the mechanism of pain. All pain is first interpreted in the spine. Noxious stimuli such as heat, pressure or chemicals are detected by nociceptors which are sensory nerve receptors found in all tissue (except brain) such as the skin, muscles and joints. This stimulation is transduced into an electrical signal called an action potential and carried back to the spine. The perception of pain is frequency coded and depends on both the number and type of nerve fibres activated and the frequency of the signal.

There are two types of nociceptors; C-fibres and A-delta fibres. C-fibres are unmyelinated slow conducting nerves that carry impulses at less than one meter per second and are responsible for the dull, burning, aching, throbbing pain. A-delta are the myelinated fast conducting nerves with impulses travelling at over 15 meters per second and are responsible for sharp pain. Essentially your A-delta fibres carry the sharp immediate pain perception to the spine and it's usually immediately returned with a withdrawal reflex action. After this, the C-fibres take over with that slow dull ache that I am sure many reading this will have experienced. Tissue damage produces an "inflammatory soup" with the release of pain chemicals such as bradykinin, leukotrienes and prostaglandins. The pain persists because these pain-mediating chemicals linger and make the nerve more sensitive to further stimulation which is the body's natural protective mechanism.

When pain becomes more persistent, it said to be chronic and this is usually accompanied by an increased sensitivity to pain or sensitization at the spinal cord level (central sensitization or secondary hyperalgesia) and not just at the site of the injury (peripheral sensitization or primary hyperalgesia).

A common treatment to combat inflammatory pain is to take anti-inflammatory drugs that will reduce the production of the enzyme cyclooxygenase, which is a key ingredient in the production of prostaglandins. The best-known anti-inflammatory drug is Aspirin. For more severe chronic pain, the use of opioids such as morphine seems to be the treatment of choice.

Once you have a basic understanding of how pain works and how multipolar static magnets that can generate steep field gradients work, it's not difficult to bring it together into a working theory for the application of static magnets in the treatment of pain. The steep field gradients work mostly on dampening down the hyperexcited unmyelinated C-fibres that have become sensitized. This is why they are so effective at blocking the dull aching pain, but have little effect on the sharp reflex pain carried by A-delta nerve fibres.

Professional Motocross rider Steve Sommerfeld has been using Q magnets since 2009 to speed recovery times from some of the serious injuries his extreme sport dishes out. There are a number of photos and videos on the qmagnet and Lifestyle Pain Clinic website that graphically show the therapeutic effects of Q magnet therapy on haematoma a day or two after the accident. Many professional sporting teams use Q magnets as an adjunct in therapy for soft tissue injuries to speed up the recovery process.

Other famous Australian athletes such as champion AFL player Simon Black have used Q magnets for years to speed up recovery times and at the same time allow him to train with greater intensity while nursing a specific injury.

There have been many cases where patients with severe, long term chronic pain and symptoms such as lower back pain, referred pain and allodynia (pain that is caused from what is normally an innocuous stimulus such as brushing) have been fitted with the large 5cm octapolar device (OF50-3) which can cover both L4-5 and L5/S1 spinal segments and the symptoms almost immediately improve. The patient with this type of condition will usually need to wear the device constantly for many months, during which they can then rehabilitate by strengthening the affected muscles and joints which would have previously been intolerable.

More health professionals are adopting this technology as it's quick and simple to apply and there are no side effects. As more research is conducted, more clinically reliable outcomes should be achieved. This is one of the major reasons doctors prescribe pain relieving drugs. While they might have side effects, they are reasonably reliable but not in all cases. Take the case of trigeminal neuralgia, one sufferer, a Ms Diplan from Maryland in the US was referred to purchase Q magnets by her neurologist. She had severe and debilitating pain through the jaw for over a year that was not responding to drug therapy. After applying a Q magnet for two days, her pain was gone and in many months since has not returned. Many other sufferers of trigeminal neuralgia have had almost precisely the same experience, either complete cessation of pain or drastic reductions in medication after using Q magnet therapy.

More and more professional sports people are using Q magnets as self treating therapy. Look at what professional sports teams are doing as they are usually at the cutting edge of rehabilitation because one missed game for a key player can have huge implications for a team. Some of the treatments used by professional athletes such as injecting stem cells to regenerate cartilage can be very expensive and probably not realistic for the average population who are more than likely better off simply taking a few more weeks with restricted duties rather than spend the ,000's of dollars for expensive interventions.

However the cost of a few hundred dollars for the purchase of a set of Q magnets that will last the lifetime to the purchaser becomes financially viable and clinically relevant.

All professional sports people are subject to lost game time from injury. The Brisbane Lions have been using Q magnets for three years to speed up injury recovery and help keep the players out on the track for longer. In the case of the Lion's full back Daniel Merrett, he says "the Q magnets have a great effect on pain reduction which allows me to progress through my rehab stages and get back on the field sooner".

Peter Stanton is a highly regarded sports physiotherapist. Peter treats many professional athletes from around the world at his practice UQ Sports & Rehab in Brisbane. He says using Q magnets as an adjunct in treatment saves him around 2 weeks in correcting pelvic instability in athletes and they are able to train with much greater intensity while they are under his care.

I have presented numerous cases at national and international conferences of patients that have had positive responses to using Q magnets. One Sports Medicine Australia presentation was of an equestrian rider who was on an invalid pension after suffering a whiplash injury. He travelled from Sydney to Brisbane for treatment and I provided advice on correct application of the devices. In a period of 6 months he was back competing and working part-time. Since he was a former participant through the Royal North Shore Pain Clinic they wanted to write him up as a special case. But as he said, "it wasn't the RNSPC that got my life back, it was the Q magnets that I wore most of time after completing their program".

Much more research is required on the application of multipolar magnets such as quadrapolar or Q magnets that generate steep field gradients. Their effect on the lives of individuals suffering debilitating pain can be life changing, however the research needs to make clearer how many individuals with certain conditions might benefit and to what degree. Right now some of the more innovative and intuitive health professionals have embraced this new technology with promising results which would indicate it's currently a mix of both art than science. There is certainly a role for magnetic therapy in the treatment of pain, but looking at the evidence one has to more clearly define magnetic therapy in terms of the type of magnets used and how they are applied.

REFERENCES:

Colbert et al (2008): Static Magnetic Field Therapy: Dosimetry Considerations.


Is There a Role For Magnetic Therapy in Pain Management?

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Monday, November 28, 2011

Hassle-Free Walk-In Showers

!±8± Hassle-Free Walk-In Showers

Walk-in showers have become the ultimate luxury in new homes and for existing bathroom upgrades. Design experts say one of the key factors for homebuyers is the bathroom and with more emphasis being placed on bathroom design they are looking for both functionality and stylish innovations. As a result, homeowners are basking in an endless array of choices for stylizing their bathrooms with a vast range of decorative finishes and dynamic choices in showers available.

These hot new trendy showers stray from the days of the typical bath/shower combination now giving homeowners more options in where to allocate their walk-in shower. With the emergence of shower range designs from semi-framed, framed to frameless combined with uncompromising construction, walk-in showers have become the core addition in bathroom renovations. Today much of the design effort is being placed on creating a more open space in the bathroom. Consumers are becoming increasingly in favor of clear glass showers to serve as the focal point in their bathroom because of the clean precision line construction and as a mean of reflecting light especially for bathrooms not equipped with windows. By incorporating glass type walk-in showers other bathroom fixtures can easily be built into the remaining bathroom décor. The well engineered showers offer a sleek ultra contemporary solution suited to complete the look of any bathroom design while allowing for artwork, bathroom accessories, bathroom flooring and tiles to be configured with the shower unit.

Bathroom industry professionals report that statistically they have seen an increased number of shower sales and are attributed to the high tech flexibility of showers options from electric showers to steam showers cabins and why people are spending more time and finding comfort in the shower. The desire to segregate the bath from the shower points to consumer demands for change and for greater diversity in product range.

With the revival of bathroom remodeling, homeowners are seeking out walk-in showers as the shower replacement alternative not only because of their leading-edge design, but are effortlessly fitted into the space where a bath is being replaced and offer years of maintenance free timeless elegance. Getting all of your other bathroom furnishings to match the shower unit no longer presents a challenge as the polished chrome frame will compliment the remaining bathroom suite as well as other colors in the room. Since bath and shower mixers along with other bathroom accessories are now available in a broad range of chrome designs, beautifying the bathroom to complete the look is a simple task.


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Friday, November 25, 2011

South Shore Furniture, Changing Table, Pure White

South Shore Furniture, Changing Table, Pure White South Shore Changing Table Country Pure White. This elegant changing table features fresh clean lines profiled edges and lots of convenient storage space to highlight your baby's bedroom decor. Bring character to your baby's room with this unique "plank effect" changing table.

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Monday, November 21, 2011

South Shore Furniture, Peak-a-Boo Collection, Changing Table with Drawers, Pure White

!±8± South Shore Furniture, Peak-a-Boo Collection, Changing Table with Drawers, Pure White


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Thursday, November 10, 2011

Dartmouth's 2010 Convocation Exercises

Convocation 2010 marks the start of Dartmouth's 241st academic year. President Jim Yong Kim, the Rev. Leah Daughtry '84, and Student Body President Eric Tanner '11 addressed the College, and offered a special welcome to the Class of 2014 during the ceremony. Learn more at: now.dartmouth.edu

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Saturday, October 22, 2011

Traveler Security - How to Stay Safe While Out of Your Comfort Zone and Survive While Traveling

!±8± Traveler Security - How to Stay Safe While Out of Your Comfort Zone and Survive While Traveling

The enclosed recommendations are a result of my travel throughout the world on business for 20+ years. These observations are offered as a helpful supplement to other sources on the web dealing with personal security issues while traveling. My apologies to those who do not find these observations pertinent to their particular situation. Allow me to say that these suggestions are offered freely and without restriction so they may be passed around with no obligation. Very little of this Original information to me, and I apologize if someone has written something like that. Also, I'm not a security expert and do not claim the know-how. This stuff works for me ... every reader mileage may vary. Some of my ideas might actually people in trouble with the authorities and / or physical damage. Please read this with an open mind and a critical eye. .

Many U.S. Embassy staff, host country, federal police and army personal stories gave me input, advice and horrorregarding personal safety issues while I was visiting and working in overseas markets... mainly, Latin America, but including trips to Western European and Pacific Rim countries.

I also have input from international and US expatriates living and working there. I know that many people have a lot of experience in many different countries, and may honestly laugh at all these ideas and issues presented here as stupid and alarmist. How you take it is your business... it is submitted in serious concern for the safety of all international travelers.

It was necessary for me to learn this stuff because I have lived and worked outside the US most of my life. I first traveled internationally in the 1960s and retired in 2005 to live in Argentina. I hope you can understand that the world in post 9-11 has really changed. Radicals of the right, the left and the lunatic religious extreme and NarcoTerrorists all celebrated when the twin towers went down. You should also be aware that even pre 9-11, international travel was seriously more dangerous than it was in the 1960s. Now, bad guys all over the world have become more encouraged by their perception that bad guys can get away with bad stuff... hence, have become more aggressive.

* TRY TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF with the area you plan to visit. There are various aggregates of news that allow one to program their search "bots" to look for keywords involving your area of interest. I use Yahoo News, DogPile News Search element and some others. I also look for the local news sources for the area in question on the web. Here are some questions you should consider when seeking information about your geographical area of interest.

* Are terrorist/organized criminal groups currently active in the area?
* Do they aggressively attack visiting foreigners? Or, is it more local-on-local crime?
* How active are they? How violent have they proven to be within the last 4 - 12 months?
* How sophisticated are they? Do they use military weapons and tactics?
* Are they predictable? Can you expect to be safer by staying out of known areas of operation?
* Will local citizens warn visiting foreigners? Do you have local contacts who can advise you?

Groups and individuals have demonstrated their willingness to employ terrorist/criminal tactics to further their agendas. While some threats have a regional focus, others have become international and affect multiple areas. Foreign visitors, military and diplomatic staff are seriously targeted in virtually every region of the world.

ALWAYS PLAY THE "WHAT IF... ?" SCENARIO GAME
Consider ways you might become a victim of a criminal/NarcoTerrorist attack. Several factors to keep in mind include:

LOCAL TRANSPORT

Taxis: Try to never travel alone in a taxi. Try to never take a taxi off the street. Try to ALWAYS have a taxi company card on you and call or have someone call the cab for you. If not, a taxicab stand is the next best solution. Even US embassy marines have to take these precautions, and we know they're in good shape... pretty tough in a fight. They are also excellent sources of good local information. Unfortunately, one of the thriving businesses in criminal/NarcoTerror Land is to pick up a rich guy (you) off the street in a taxi, and around the corner are two additional thugs with guns who escort you to a quiet place, strip the rich guy, take his luggage, etc.

If a Visa or debit card is found, they will escort you to an ATM and make you withdraw the daily limit before they strip you naked and leave you on the side of the road. Unless... if they are impressed with what they find among your effects, the thugs may decide it's worth a try to sell you to the NarcoTerrorists (drug traffickers). They may ask for US,000 - US,000, knowing the NarcoTerrorists' usual minimum demand for ransom is US0k. Then, you may spend the next several years of your life chained to a tree in the jungle swatting mosquitoes and eating undercooked beans. If you or your taxi driver notices a suspicious vehicle or two in the vicinity, consider asking the taxi driver to take you to the nearest police station... or high traffic area.

If you must drive a car and your budget does not include an armored vehicle with "run-flat" tires preceded by a "chase" car and a following "blocker" van full of armed bodyguards, try to rent/select an 4-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance. A heavy-duty bumper is a good idea for running through barricades. If you see a police roadblock manned by only one or two officers and one (or NO) clearly official vehicle, consider running the roadblock or going around it. You may prefer to reverse out of the area quickly to a place where you can turn around and leave the area. If it is really a fake-cop scam (or, off-duty/retired cops pulling a scam), you should be OK. You may really need a heavy duty vehicle for this maneuver. If is a legitimate control point/official police roadblock and they catch you, humbly and VERY politely explain that you are sorry and will never do it again, but a friend of yours warned against false roadblocks by criminals/NarcoTerrorists. All around the world, official roadblocks usually have many, many clearly marked police vehicles and uniformed/heavily armed officers. Don't forget that NarcoTerrorists have Police uniforms and equipment, too... but, usually not too many official vehicles.

If you happen to be driving down a street and one or more people run out in front of the car in an attempt to stop you, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE to slam down the accelerator as if you are trying to hit them. They will get out of the way.

If you are in a known area for auto-related crime and someone rear-ends your vehicle as if on purpose, consider leaving the scene as rapidly as possible. This is a serious "What if... ?" scenario.

In many countries, police understand if you slow down but fail to stop at traffic lights and stop signs after dark because it is known to be too dangerous at night.

PLEASE BE AWARE that motorcycles and scooters are not always a good idea if you have to try to escape while someone is shooting at you. Car sheet metal isn't much, but every little bit helps.

ATMs: Try to only go to an ATM in the daytime ANYWHERE in the world. Even in the US. Also, pay attention to who is in the area before, during and after getting your money. Situational awareness is difficult when you're trying to get the pesky machine to work... so, consider not going to an ATM alone.

Buses: Until 1995, I always felt safe taking the bus. I would still take the Nuevo Laredo - Monterrey bus, but probably think twice about taking one in the Juarez or Sinaloa state areas. Why? The various Colombian and Mexican NarcoTerror groups stop buses full of people as bait to get the government forces to move into kill zones where IEDs take them out. I have seen the results first hand, and seeing where 40+ teenage army guys got brutally cut to pieces by home-made bombs will mess up your whole life.

If you happen to be one of the poor guys shivering naked on the side of the road with 20-30 others watching the NarcoTraficantes molest the women passengers, understand that you will spend the next SEVERAL YEARS of your life eating beans in the jungle. Poor folks get to go home...except for the young and pretty girls and teenage boys they want to draft for paramilitary service for the NarcoTraficantes .

The NarcoTraficantes are studying in the same Islamic extremist terror schools as Al-Qaida, and Colombian/Mexican NarcoTraficantes' IEDs (improvised explosive devices) are really starting to show up a lot more... in recent cases, bait and blast techniques were used in the south of Mexico to kill lots of soldiers and Federal Police.

At an outdoor table at any restaurant, don't leave your phone, camera, purse or any other valuables in plain sight or within reach of the walking public. Try to sit as far from vehicular/pedestrian traffic as possible. As always, play the "What if... ? Game" and remain alert to your surroundings. Jenna Bush's purse was jacked in full daylight in Buenos Aires, surrounded by agents.

When leaving a high-end location, such as an electronics store, Armani, etc, an expensive restaurant or nice hotel, you may have just identified yourself as a potential high-end target. If you are carrying packages, and you put them into an automobile, please try to secure the items in the trunk or a lockable compartment and be aware that you will possibly be followed by thugs with evil intent to your next location. If you are in a Range Rover or Cadillac Esplanade, you should understand that you are in a rolling high-value target, with little or no secure storage. If you stop and leave the vehicle in any unsecured location after being seen exiting a high-end location, don't be too surprised if you come back later to find the locks broken or the vehicle stolen.

A wallet is a liability, and I never carry one. I wear a slim, zippered pouch between my T-shirt and external shirt/sweater for credit cards, driving license and copies (NOT originals) of my passport, birth certificate, travel or residency documents. Sometimes, I prefer a photographer's vest with lots of internal/external zippered or Velcro pockets. This vest can contain as much as a small suitcase... currently, about 4 kilos of stuff. Fanny packs are less secure, so I usually just put reading material, inexpensive sunglasses, gum, etc in them. Cameras/GPSs and other high-end items are secured in Velcro pockets in the vest or coat pocket. As a side note, I have copied and reduced in size all my important documents for daily carry and emailed these copies to several of my web-based email accounts so I can replace them at any time from any internet/print location.

The amount of cash I carry is as small as possible. I keep large denomination bills in a money clip in the bottom of one front pocket with a handkerchief crushed down on top of it. Another money clip contains the daily allotment of small bills is in another front pocket, so I don't have to flash large bills for most purchases. It is also crammed down in the bottom of the front pocket with another handkerchief crammed on top of it. The bulk of my funds, original passport and other documents, valuables, etc are kept in a WalMart small combination safe that fits in my luggage, which I check in at the front office safe at the hotel when traveling. PLEASE NOTE that I do not agree with several recommendations that a "decoy wallet" stuffed with paper be carried to toss away so as to distract attackers. I prefer throwing my decoy stash of small denomination bills to scatter everywhere as a more time consuming distraction for a better chance of escape.

Luggage security: Most complaints regarding theft, damage or loss involves the contents of luggage. Savvy travelers will make a written inventory of items in their luggage and photograph it in case of loss. Carry important items like medication, eyeglasses, and expensive jewelry in your hand luggage, a traveler's vest like photographers use to carry their small equipment items, etc. My vest holds up to 8 kilos of goodies. Photocopy the contents of your wallet and your passport. Carry a copy in your hand luggage and leave one at home as back up. Keep luggage under your control until you check in at your destination. Consider traveling with sturdy plain-looking luggage. Expensive looking luggage may be targeted for its perceived contents. External bag tags should not list your full home address and telephone number. I put my cell phone number, my phone number and email address on my tags. I do not put my name or any affiliations on bag tags. Consider defacing your beautiful luggage with big bands of tape all around the outside, laterally, with your phone numbers, email, etc in case of loss.

Consider durable luggage that is capable of being locked or secured and that will withstand being at the bottom of a pile of hundreds of other pieces of luggage without popping open. It is a good idea to add extra banding... for a wide nylon strap with side snap locks at WalMart... or airport plastic wrap or duct tape to your luggage locks to prevent anyone from opening your luggage without detection. When flying, I do NOT lock my bags. I only use self-locking plastic tie-wraps. They work well for securing my luggage. All airport inspectors have replacements if they have to cut your ties to inspect your bags. You can buy these at any home improvement store for about a dollar. The reason for this is that smugglers have been known to slip drugs/weapons, etc into luggage only to retrieve it later and maybe with force. Passengers have unknowingly transported illegal substances/firearms that were slipped into their suitcase by baggage handlers only to be arrested later by authorities. What explanation you would give to prove your innocence to a foreign government of why you are carrying drugs or guns? If your luggage was properly sealed, you should see if it has been tampered with prior to opening it. Report any luggage tampering immediately to security before opening the case.

Luggage locks: If there is a combination lock on the bag, I put a piece of tape on the bag under the lock with the combo... usually, 0-0-0. This is because my bag was seriously harmed by customs forcing the bag open EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNLOCKED. A sign of the times, no?

Airplane security: Beyond the obvious precautions, I would suggest trying to reserve a window seat as close to the middle of the cabin as possible. The rear and front of each cabin is where the bad guys congregate to watch over the victims. Consider what you can do to avoid being obvious about your business/military/nationality/religious affiliations.

Cruise Ship Security: Cruise ships are like a small city where passengers are encouraged to forget their troubles and relax once onboard ship. It is natural for passengers on vacation to let their guard down, especially when out to sea in a resort-like setting. Try to not let a false sense of security aboard a cruise ruin your vacation by becoming a crime victim. Before you ship out, consider taking some of these preventative steps:

After you enter your cabin, and while the door is still open, always check inside the bathroom or closest before sitting down inside. Don't assume that your cabin is as secure as a hotel. Many people have keys to your cabin and your cabin door may be left standing open for hours while the cleaning crews or cabin steward services the room. Cabin doors locks are sometimes horribly outdated and are not re-keyed as frequently as hotel rooms. Obviously, don't leave valuable items lying around. It is a good idea to have inventoried your luggage and photographed expensive items at home, and even emailed the info to your web email account for easy retrieval anywhere before you packed them at home in case of loss. Since most ship passengers are set up on a charge account system, be sure to use the ship safe deposit box for storage of valuable items, papers, credit cards or extra cash. Use all locks on the cabin door including the night latch. Consider carrying a hardware store door stop in your luggage and deploying it for extra security while in the cabin. Some are available with alarms from web suppliers. Don't open your cabin door to strangers. Whatever the person wants can be expressed from the other side of the closed and locked door. Be sure to teach children about this important procedure.

Just like in a hotel, protect your cabin key and cabin number. Dishonest crew or passengers will look for the opportunity to snatch a loose key or one that is left unattended. When in port, be sure to leave your key with the registration desk before disembarking.

Remember the phony hairspray/deodorant can safe if small items need to be secured and no safe is available. Once on board and out to sea, don't assume that you are totally safe from criminal acts. While there is little danger of an outside predator robbing or attacking you on a cruise ship, crimes can just as easily be committed by crew members or by fellow passengers. Many cruise lines hire transient and seasonal employees at low wages. Because of this, turnover is high and cruise lines struggle to keep a ship fully staffed. While most crew members are hardworking and honest people, you cannot assume that the ship has properly screened that nice cabin attendant, waiter or below deck crew.. Consider a Family Security Plan: If you bring your children aboard, be sure to establish family rules in advance. Set curfews and restrictions...just like at home. Teenagers especially should be told never to accompany crew members into non-public areas nor should crew members be allowed inside your cabin. Being at sea can cause a false sense of security. Even though the crime incident rate per thousand is relatively low, there can still be predators on board. Ship nightclubs, casinos, swimming pools and jacuzzis are favorite spots for those looking for a victim.

You also need to keep your guard up with intoxicated passengers. Food and liquor consumption peaks on board ships and cause bring out the worst in some people not used to it. Just because passengers are dressed up, doesn't mean they will act appropriately or not be overly aggressive. It is not unheard of for a ship passenger to slip a drug into your drink and take advantage of you just like on shore. There are pickpockets, purse thieves, and cabin burglars on board waiting for you to let your guard down or become careless. There are also scam artists who seek and prey on rich vacationers if given the chance.

Your family security plan for children might include bed checks, curfews, restrictions, and special meeting places. Beware of which children they hang out with, just like at home. Your children can be exposed to other children who use drugs or like to get into mischief, just like at home. Try to limit your child to ship sponsored activities in public areas. You should make contact with your children periodically even if they are supervised. Giving them the run of the ship while you are otherwise engaged is not a good idea. Always have a backup plan and identify a ship crew member as a contact person in case your child fails to show up or you get separated at a port. Make certain that the kids understand there is nothing you can do to retrieve a kid from the police if they are caught in a foreign country with contraband.

You are not in Kansas anymore. Although you boarded a ship in a US port doesn't mean that you are protected by the US justice system. Most ships are registered in non-US countries and travel in territorial waters where US laws might not apply. The cruise industry does not report crime data consistently, if at all, to the FBI or have a database of ships with the most crime problems. Shipboard crimes sometimes fall into a "no man's land" of law enforcement. A crime can occur between two people of different nationalities, on a ship from a third country, and in the territorial waters of a fourth country. The governing law is the International Maritime Law and is not as well developed as US law. Reporting a crime on board a cruise ship doesn't mean anything will be done or that the crime will ever be investigated. The FBI is the only US law enforcement agency that can investigate a major crime but only if it occurs in International waters, otherwise crimes are reported to the jurisdiction of the closest foreign country and to the embassies of the parties involved. Prosecution of crime, in many cases, will be left in the hands of the local port authority where no one can predict the outcome.

Be aware that if you or your family member gets into trouble on board a ship or in a port, you may be held accountable to the laws of a foreign country. The thing to do is to stay alert, be cautious, and stay safe while at sea. For details on the safety record of your cruise ship or how your ship will handle problems such are lost luggage or crime acts, contact the cruise line directly and ask for written disclosure of their policies and regulations. You can also contact the Cruise Lines International Association in New York City who represents the twenty five largest cruise lines for more information.

AVOIDING DISASTER

Location: Local terrorists may target locations frequented by foreigners or foreign military personnel such as certain hotels, apartment buildings, public transportation centers, and nightclubs. Avoid possible target locations. They often use the employees of foreigner frequented establishments, taxi drivers, airport staff (especially banking/money changing establishment personnel) and adult entertainment workers as associates or sources of information about possible lucrative targets.

Opportunity: Terrorists and criminals look for "soft targets"... so, learn to avoid appearing so. It is difficult to over stress the need to maintain vigilance, practice good personal safety, and to alert the proper authorities of suspicious behavior. If you find yourself unable to avoid being outdoors at night, try to walk down the middle of the street (not always possible). Be especially watchful if passing a large van or a vehicle with people in it, courtyards and deep doorways near your path. Walk purposefully with strong, determined strides... shoulders back, head erect, head and eyes constantly moving. Use windows/mirrors near the street to check your surroundings. Under no circumstances allow anyone to engage you in conversation at this time. Criminals will try to slow you down while their helpers get into position to assault you. Keep moving, speak into your cell phone as if carrying on a conversation... preferably in a language you think the possible attackers don't know. To attack you, terrorists generally must perceive you, your association, or your location as a target. Put serious thought on the subject of how to avoid appearing to be an easy target.

Be alert for how criminals/NarcoTerrorists prepare and conduct attacks through predictable steps. Through vigilance, you might be able to recognize preparations for an attack before it is executed. Be alert to unusual behavior that may indicate intelligence gathering, surveillance, collecting materials for attack, dry runs, and rehearsals. For example:

* Taking photos or videos of potential targets
* Writing notes or sketching details about a possible target
* Showing abnormal attention to details of routine activities and security measures
* Using false identification
* Paying cash for items normally bought on credit
* Purchasing large quantities of items that could be used as part of an attack (e.g., chemicals or cell phones)
* If you see something unusual, report it immediately to security officials for further investigation. Make a note of the individual's description and activities, the time of day, and equipment being used.

TRAVEL TIPS
Terrorist/criminal attacks at the Spanish/English/Japanese rail systems, Mexican border towns, Bali, Indonesia, Luxor, Egypt, London, England, and other tourist locations signal an increased threat to foreign travelers. While visiting a new location, it is natural to tour local sites of interest. While sightseeing, you should keep good anti-crime/anti-terrorism practices in mind.

Plan Ahead

* Research any known potential threats in the area. If the threat is elevated, take extra precautions or postpone your activities.
* Plan activities and a route that includes safe locations. Keep thinking, "What if..."
* Ask a friend or coworker to join you - small groups are usually safer than individuals.
* If sightseeing with others, pre-designate a location to meet at if separated during an emergency. Make sure someone knows your itinerary (acquaintances, business contacts, hotel staff?) and what time you may be returning.

BLEND IN TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS

* Conceal your national/business/religious affiliation and try to blend in with other tourists. USA red white and blue t-shirts, soccer/baseball logo clothing and religious jewelry are overly conspicuous in many instances.
* Observe and conform to local culture. Activities such as public displays of affection, drinking alcohol, or wearing shorts or skirts may be inappropriate.
* Do not bring undue attention to yourself. Avoid loud or boisterous behavior. Walking the streets at night in an inebriated state in very dangerous in many locations.


Traveler Security - How to Stay Safe While Out of Your Comfort Zone and Survive While Traveling

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Thursday, October 20, 2011

Turks and Caicos - The New Caribbean Hot Spot

!±8± Turks and Caicos - The New Caribbean Hot Spot

With a recent surge of celebrity weddings and honeymoon in Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), have these sunny islands of the hot new romantic destination. In addition to its appeal is the fact that these islands to accept dollars and speak English. Travelers who like to relax in cushioned in a Caribbean atmosphere that goal.

WHAT TO DO: Turks and Caicos is divided and quieter than many other Caribbean islands, but there is still much toto do. The main attraction is the beach, especially in Providenciales or "Provo", which was voted the "best beach" in the Caribbean by Conde Nast. The coast north of Provo, near Grace Bay is a particularly beautiful. Besides the beach, TCI is also famous for its diving. The islands are surrounded by a coral reef 1,000 miles square and visibility is excellent (up to 200 feet). Shipwrecks are also a common place for divers. Although diving is excellent in all thisIslands, Grand Turk, divers often prefer to Iceland. Programs for divers and non divers are offered by most real property on the island. It is not a diver but still love the marine life? TCI provides the world's only Conch Farm, shows humpback whale in the late winter and early spring, and even dolphins swim voluntarily with people on the beach. Eco-tourism is big in these islands, including 27 national parks.

Where to stay: Accommodation is available throughout the island, butconcentrated in Providenciales. Prices range from inexpensive to luxury hotels, including Comfort Suites resorts like Parrot Cay, the resort as a world exclusive touted. There are two all-inclusive resort on the island - Club Med, which is only for adults, and the beaches, a family-friendly Sandals family member. A number of villas are available for a more intimate experience available. Finally, a Grand Turk Cruise Center built in 2006 has attracted a growing number of cruise shipsTCI ships.

WEDDING INFORMATION: bride and groom must reside on the island for 4 days before getting married (24 hours residence time of an additional 2-3 days processing license). Couples must be at least 21 years old to get married in Turks and Caicos, if they have a statement certified by a parent or guardian. Weddings religious basis requires proof of membership in the faith.


Turks and Caicos - The New Caribbean Hot Spot

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Tuesday, October 18, 2011

The Beautiful Beaches Of Cape Town

!±8± The Beautiful Beaches Of Cape Town

Cape Town in winter, between June and August, many locals in Cape Town fly around the world in search of a perfect holiday destination and then back and relax on the beaches of pure white sand of his city. Not because there's no place like home, but because there's no place like Cape Town.

South Africa was the first county outside of Europe to receive the Blue Flag beach status - argues that our beaches have a high degree of water quality, cleanliness and safety. Most ofCountry Blue Flag beaches are in the area of ​​Cape Town. If you're a hardcore surfer, a swimmer or a Barbie Beach guaranteed pristine, pure satisfaction on the beautiful coast of Cape Town.

Atlantic Coast Beaches

The Atlantic coast is the fashion, Cosmo beaches of Clifton, Camps Bay and Llandudno drilled. Even if the ocean temperature over the Atlantic is a bit 'cold, the beaches are sheltered from the prevailing winds and offer spectacularOutlook. This is the stretch of coast, where most residents spend their weekends.

Clifton is in four bays with sandy beach named first, Beach 2, 3 and 4 Beach or the beach are all hiding under the majestic Lions Head hidden and accessed via stairs off either Victoria Road or from the various car parks. Clifton 4 is definitely the beach to the head during the summer, as the most popular atmosphere. Everyone knows regular Clifton, in order to get a good parkingInstead you must be a morning person is limited to parking lots. With deck chairs, umbrellas and a kiosk snack all at your disposal, there is no doubt because everyone flocks to the beach just after sunset leaves majestic.

Less than a mile from Clifton is a long stretch of sand of Camps Bay. The beach is close to the road, which is nice with palm trees and a strip infinite row of the market, trendy and happening street cafes and restaurants.A few firm favorites include Blues, Cafe Caprice, Piranha and Summerville. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Salma Hayek and Colin Farrell often frequent this area as they can sundowners in Camps Bay, without the intrusion of the paparazzi and relaxed, but to enjoy the friendly people.,

The picturesque capital of surf Llandudno is undoubtedly the most beautiful beach in all of Cape Town. The beach is a long and winding road - perfect for unusual albumsphotography. Huge granite boulders hug the beach giving it a private, isolated feel from the rest of the world. Although there are no shops, beach vendors are available selling an array of snacks, drinks and ice creams

False Bay

Contrasting to the Atlantic Seaboard beaches, False Bay is usually more casual than the chic Camps Bay and Clifton and the ocean current is much warmer. During the holiday season the beach is packed with both locals and vacationers as the shallow waters stretch far into the surf, which makes swimming for all ages safe and pleasurable. Lifeguards are always on duty and as an extra precaution designated swimming areas will be set up between brightly coloured flags on the beach.

Muizenberg

Muizenberg is the local hangout for surfers because the vibe is lazy and the swell is first-rate, especially for beginner's children and long boarders. A glamorous past is evident when you look at the many gracious homes and elegant mansions that dot the landscape. There is also evidence of South Africa's colonial past visible in the brightly coloured bathing boxes, a legacy of the British occupation of the Cape Colony between 1806 and 1948. There are quite a few cafés directly behind the beach as well as a miniature golf course (Put-Put) and waterslides for family entertainment. There are bathroom and changing facilities available but you'll need to bring along your own umbrellas, beach rugs and deck chairs.

Boulders Beach

Though more like a cove than an actual beach, Boulders gets its name from the huge granite boulders that lie strewn all over the beach. The beach is also home to one of only 3 land-based colonies of the African penguin (affectionately known as the Jackass Penguin, as it makes a sound like a donkey) These cute creatures which stand about half a metre tall, can be seen floundering in the waters or interacting with the locals on the shore. Wooden pathways have been specifically built for visitors to see the penguins in their natural habitat. With warm waters and changing tides, Boulders Beach is ideal for swimming and exploring. This idyllic setting demands a lazy afternoon, a good book and the crystal clear water lapping at your feet.

Hout Bay

Hout Bay beach has a great location on the Atlantic seaboard and is overlooked by Chapmans Peak and the last remaining leopard in Cape Town on one side and the original fishing village on the other. Hout Bay is a hot spot among tourists and locals with its traditional harbour where anyone with a fishing rod is allowed to get a bit of the fishing action. The harbour hosts a number of great restaurants and Fish on the Rocks offers the best fish and chips in town. Plenty of tasty treats to tickle your taste buds. Hout Bay beach is home to windsurfers, paddle skiers, surfers and general vacationers. So when you plan a visit to Hout Bay beach, come prepared.

Bloubergstrand

Big Bay is one of the more popular beaches on the Bloubergstrand coastline. From the beach you have a picture-perfect view of the famous Table Mountain. The scenic beauty, soft pure white sand and stunning view of Cape Town makes Bloubergstrand a definite must see when visiting Cape Town. There is no real peak period at these beaches; it is always occupied by water sport fanatics like surfers and kite-surfers and sometimes even whale watchers.

When you are spoiled for choice with the most beautiful beaches in the world, with waters that range from luke warm to icy cold, you'll know why most Capetonians never want to leave home. With the picturesque mountain peaks as a backdrop you're always guaranteed a sheltered beach to enjoy.


The Beautiful Beaches Of Cape Town

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