Finding A Scarce Lalaloopsy Doll For The Holidays

The latest and greatest toys that all the kids are asking for during the holidays are always the ones that become increasingly difficult to find as we approach closer to Christmas. Lalaloopsy dolls certainly belong in this category, and retailers are already experiencing a lot of difficulty in keeping their shelves stocked with these popular dolls. There just don't seem to be enough of them to go around, and getting your hot little hands on one of these dolls may be quite the accomplishment. Many retail stores like Toys R Us, Walmart, and Target are becoming sold out of the product almost as soon as they hit the shelves. Finding a Lalaloopsy doll can be an especially difficult task if you're looking for one of the specific characters for a little girl who has requested it by name. But fear not, it is possible to find and purchase a Lalaloopsy doll for that young girl in your life. Finding workarounds for these difficulties is possible, even with your very busy schedule. A little strategy and forethought will help you find your Lalaloopsy doll even if you have very little time to spend on the endeavor.

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To maximize your effectiveness, you should try to use the Internet to its fullest. There are many websites online to help you in your Lalaloopsy search efforts. Most importantly, if you plan on shopping at retail outlets in the real world, you will want to take a look at their websites first. In many cases these days, companies will actually list how much stock they have of a certain product in their individual stores right on their website. Using this resource, you can easily check to see whether there is a Lalaloopsy doll available for you to buy before you go down to the store to pick it up. You should always make sure to actually call the store first though in order to make sure that the number listed on the website is an actual reflection of what is available in the store. Sometimes there is a mistake in the system, or it could be the case that the number you're looking at hasn't been updated in several days. You should always keep this in mind and double check the data before you head out and risk wasting your time.

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The staff at the retail store of your choice may even offer to put the item on hold for you until you're able to make your way down to the store to make your purchase. It may not be possible for them to do so with such a popular product however, but in any case it can't hurt to ask. You should also make sure to ask any staff at the store when they expect to get re-stocked. Many stores set out new stock either late in the evening or early in the morning, and it may benefit you to show up at those times when few other people are around so that you can have your pick of Lalaloopsy dolls as they're being set up to be sold.

If you keep your wits about you and plan ahead, finding a Lalaloopsy doll for the coming holiday season should be a very feasible and rewarding goal.

For more information of where you can find Lalaloopsy Dolls in time for Christmas, see our Author's box below.

Finding A Scarce Lalaloopsy Doll For The Holidays

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Alpha Lipoic Acid Side Effects - Hazardous Or Benign?

Today all types of allergies are skyrocketing, and more common now than ever before are fatal allergies. Food allergies also have risen dramatically in the last ten years.

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Although there is no clinical research evidence suggesting that alpha lipoic acid (ALA) side effects are a common or significant problem, with the rise in allergies it's wise to take extra precautions when introducing any new substance to your system.

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If you are prone to allergic reactions which are sometimes unpredictable, as is often the case with autoimmune illnesses, or if you have a progressive disease, like multiple sclerosis or tuberculosis, you should proceed with caution with alpha lipoic acid.

Some rare non-dangerous alpha lipoic acid side effects may include skin rashes and the potential of hypoglycemia in diabetic patients. If such side effects occur, it is usually a sign that the dosage can be lowered, which may eliminate any uncomfortable reactions.

Most nutritional supplements, including alpha lipoic acid, have an excellent safety record and pose no health risks if used as advised. This is one reason why they are regulated as food, rather than the strict regulations that pharmaceutical medications fall under.

While taking the precautions mentioned previously, ALA offers many potential benefits as a powerful antioxidant that can offer enhanced protection against cellular damage by toxins and stress.

ALA is emerging as the premier anti-aging antioxidant. The widely accepted theory today asserts that accumulated cellular damage, caused by free radicals, is the basis of aging. Another condition that it benefits is treating nerve damage that can result from diabetes.

Some Benefits of Alpha Lipoic Acid Include:

Treating symptoms of nerve damage (neuropathy) in people with diabetes. Preserve brain function in aging adults. Lessen numbness and tingling. Protect the liver in cases of hepatitis and other types of liver disease. Combat chronic fatigue syndrome. Reduce the incidence of cataracts.

ALA can be found as an individual supplement or as part of a "multi-nutrient" formula. In a multi-vitamin, ALA should be combined with vitamin C and E because it enhances their antioxidant activity.

With alpha lipoic acid side effects being rare and of little significance, and using caution if you are allergy prone, the benefits of this nutrient make it very useful in addressing many different health concerns as well as being a powerful protector against the illnesses connected with aging. It is recommended that you consult your health care provider before changing any medication or starting a nutritional supplementation program.

Alpha Lipoic Acid Side Effects - Hazardous Or Benign?

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Omega 3's - How Much to Lower Cholesterol?

Increasing the amount of omega-3 fats in our diet and decreasing the amount of omega-6 is beneficial in reducing your risk for heart disease. Most American's consume a high omega-6 diet, with omega 3 being a common deficiency. Omega 3 deficiencies and the imbalance between omega 3 and omega 6 intakes have been linked with serious conditions, including heart attacks. Successfully maintaining a ratio of 4:1 to 1:1 omega 6 to omega 3 will help lower cholesterol levels and control high blood pressure.

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How much omega 3 do you need to add?

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This is under debate and more research is being done. Right now the range experts recommend is from 500-2000 mg/day. Here are the current American Heart Association (AHA) recommendations.

The AHA recommends that individuals without heart disease eat a variety of fish twice a week, use heart healthy oils (flaxseed, canola, soybean oils), and consume flaxseed and walnuts.

For individuals with heart disease, the AHA recommends 1 g of EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) + DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) daily, preferably from fatty fish.

The AHA recommends 2 to 4 g of EPA + DHA daily, under physician's care only, for individuals that need to lower triglycerides. High doses, > 3 grams/day, can result in excessive bleeding. (Do not self medicate! Talk to your MD before supplementing greater than 2 grams.)

Omega 3 Content of Different Foods

Wild Salmon, 4 oz. 1700 mg (DHA 700 mg, EPA 400 mg)

Tuna canned in water, 4 oz. 300 mg (DHA 200 mg, EPA 50 mg)

Cod, 4 oz. 600 mg (DHA 160 mg, EPA 50 mg)

Flaxseed, 1 Tbsp. 1000 mg (ALA - alpha-linolenic acid - 1000 mg)

Soybeans, dried, cooked ½ cup 500 mg (DHA/EPA 250 mg, ALA 250 mg)

Walnuts, 1 oz. 2570 mg (ALA 2570 mg)

Pecans, 1 oz. 280 mg (ALA 280 mg)

Wheat germ, ¼ cup 210 mg (ALA 210 mg)

Canola oil, 1 Tbsp 1300 mg (ALA 1300 mg)

Olive oil, 1 Tbsp 100 mg (ALA 100 mg)

There's a reason I included details on amounts of DHA, EPA, and ALA for each omega 3 source. Right now, DHA and EPA have a greater link with lower cholesterol levels, lower triglycerides, and higher HDL levels than ALA. The body is able to convert ALA to EPA and DHA, but the conversion rate is low; therefore, it is best to include high DHA and EPA sources in your eating plan.

My recommendation:

As a preventive measure and to promote lower cholesterol and blood pressure control, I recommend eating fish twice a week, select a supplement that will provide you at least 1000 mg of omega 3 fatty acids daily (choose a good source of DHA and EPA), and use ground flaxseed when appropriate in your meal preparation.

Omega 3's - How Much to Lower Cholesterol?

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Lalaloopsy Dolls - A Hot Christmas Toy For 2010?

Dolls seem to be a perennial favorite when it comes to Christmas gifts and toys, especially for girls. There are plenty of types of dolls that appeal to girls of all ages, one such range that is a fairly new line is the Lalaloopsy dolls. Many are predicting they will be a hot seller for Christmas. This article will try to explain why this is the case and what makes them so different from others.

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There seem to be two types of dolls that are popular these days. The first are those that are like real babies and behave like a real baby. So they will cry and gurgle and do things that a real baby might do. They encourage a little girl to look after them and pretend that they have their own baby.

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The other type are products like Barbie and Bratz which are more aspirational in philosophy. They are for older girls and even collectors. They follow the latest trends and fashions. They encourage girls to act out how they might want their own life to turn out. Barbie are also constantly tapping into the latest cultural trends too. The latest example of this might be the Twilight Barbie dolls.

Lalaloopsy dolls are different yet again. They are described as colorful and a little bit silly. And if you look at them it is immediately apparent that this is the case.

They are very colorful with a heavy emphasis on pink. They also have a cartoon like look about them. They have over sized heads and button eyes. Their bodies are soft like an original rag doll that your Grandma might have played with when she was a little girl.

They are inspired by the old raggedy dolls that people used to make for their kids way back when. These handmade toys would be crafted from left over material like old buttons, strands of wool and cuttings from fabrics that might have made a dress. And the Lalaloopsy dolls try to recreate this look.

In the case of each Lalaloopsy doll, different materials are used to make them and, in some magical way that is unique to Lalaloopsy land, this influences their personalities.

So Dot Starlight is made form an old Astronauts suit. Consequently she has an interest in the stars and flying. All the dolls have their own pet which also reflects their personality and interests. In fact, you could even say the pet is like an avatar for the doll. There are 8 characters that all have unique looks and personalities.

The Lalaloopsy dolls have a far more innocent look to them than the seemingly sophisticated Barbie and Bratz alternatives which may not be suitable for younger girls. And they encourage fantasy and creative play rather than modeling adult behavior like a life like doll.

Lalaloopsy Dolls - A Hot Christmas Toy For 2010?

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6 Very Common Spanish Words That Always Give English Speakers Trouble

Today you will learn 6 very common Spanish words that always give English speakers trouble and tend to confuse them. These words can get tricky when trying to figure out when to use them as they are easy to confuse with each other. These words are:

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1. NADA
2. NADIE
3. NINGÚN
4. NINGUNO/A
5. ALGÚN/A/O/S
6. ALGO

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NADA (Nothing) is the opposite of TODO (All), and NADIE (Nobody) is the opposite of TODOS (Everybody). Both can be used as a subject, and to express "no existence", for example:

- Nada en esta habitación es de color verde. (Nothing in this room is green.)
- Nadie aquí habla ruso. (No one here speaks Russian.)

However, when we use NADA or NADIE after a verb, we have to use a NO before the verb.
For Example:

- No me gusta nada de esta tienda. (I don't like anything in this store)
- No hay nadie que quiera ir al cine conmigo mañana. (No one wants to go to the cinema with me tomorrow)
NADA/NADIE/ALGUIEN and ALGO are "Pronombres Indefinidos".

ALGUIEN refers to at least one person.

- ¿Alguien tiene un lápiz? (Does anyone have a pencil?)

- Alguien me dijo que iba a traer bebidas, pero no recuerdo quién fue. (Someone told me they were going to bring drinks, but I don't remember who.)

ALGO, is any number of things.
- ¿Hay algo que puedan beber los niños en esta fiesta? (Is there anything that the kids can drink at this party?)

So remember, with ALGUIEN and ALGO, ALGUIEN will always refer to a real person, while ALGO will always refer to something, a thing, which is not a person.

NINGÚN/O/A/S and ALGÚN/O/A/S are "Adjetivos Indefinidos".
NINGÚN is an adjective that refers to anything from a certain group and always has to be accompanied by a noun.

Ningún estudiante tiene buenas calificaciones en esa clase. (No student has good grades in that class.)
If it is feminine we have to use Ninguna.

- Ninguna casa es hecha de vidrio. (No house is made from glass)

If I want to say that at least one is in the group, you should use ALGÚN/A.
- ¿Alguna chica puede prestarme un collar? (Can any girl lend me a necklace?)
ALGUNO/S and NINGUNO/S can go with the preposition "de".

- Ninguno de mis amigos me miente. (None of my friends lie to me)
- Algunos de los Argentinos no beben mate. (Some Argentines don't drink mate)

If a response to a question is negative that involves ALGUNO and NINGUNO, you need to make the response double negative.

- ¿Alguno de ustedes tiene un lápiz? (Does anyone have a pencil?)
- No, ninguno. (No, no one.)

You can't just say NINGUNO, you have to say NO beforehand, making it a double negative.

For additional help learning areas of Spanish that often confuse English speakers try the Learning Spanish Like Crazy course which was created to help native English speakers learn how to speak conversational or colloquial Spanish. You may also want to take a look at the book Correct Your Spanish Blunders: How to Avoid 99% of the Common Mistakes Made by Learners of Spanish.

6 Very Common Spanish Words That Always Give English Speakers Trouble

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Austin Day Trip - Cave Without a Name

Cave Without a Name is worth a day trip from Austin. Just 11 miles west of Boerne, TX, Cave without a Name is just about two hours from the center of Austin. The tour of the cave isn't long, but there are some huge rooms with amazing formations in the cave.

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So the first thing you might be wondering is why it is called Cave Without a Name. At some point after the cave was rediscovered in the 1920s, a contest was held to name the cave. As the story goes, a young boy said that the cave was too beautiful to name, so the Cave Without a Name was called just that.

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The Cave Without a Name tour entrance is a man-made series of stairs that drop down under the ground about 90 feet. The tour goes through a series of large rooms. There is usually quite a bit of water dripping in the cave, which is why formations are constantly growing. The cave has some magnificent stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstone formations, soda straws, cave bacon, draperies and rimstone dams. There is also a helectite that looks remarkably like a chicken's foot pointing up toward the ceiling of the cave.

Not as commercialized as other caves in Central Texas, Cave Without a Name is pretty fun to go through. Tours depart not on a schedule, but when a large enough group forms. If the group is fairly small, the guide will take more time to point out and explain formations. There is a point at the end of the tour where the only way to proceed is in an underground river. The only people allowed past this point are people who have been trained in cave diving.

People can get to Cave Without a Name by taking County Road 474 from Boerne to Kruetzberg Road to Cave Without a Name Road.

Austin Day Trip - Cave Without a Name

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Types of Omega 3 Fatty Acids Explained

There seems to be some common confusion when it comes to understanding omega 3 fatty acids. One of the most common misunderstandings is when people think of EPA or DHA versus fish oil as a source of omega 3 fats.

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Folks, DHA and EPA are omega 3 fatty acids. There are several different types: DHA and EPA and ALA. So, in short DHA is a type of omega 3 fat, just as EPA is, and ALA is.

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Now, this is not to say they are all the same. DHA and EPA and ALA are different. ALA is the variety that mostly comes in plant sources. Flaxseed is a well know example of a food source rich in ALA.

ALA needs to be converted by the body into DHA and EPA. DHA and EPA are different too, even though they are often found in the same food sources, albeit in different amounts.

Food sources that contain DHA and EPA would be fatty fish, and eggs. If you do enough research you will find various arguments about the respective importance (healthwise) of DHA versus EPA. Some studies claim DHA is the more important of the two, especially for brain health.

Regardless of what is right, both DHA and EPA are important and you need them both. Luckily, because they are found in the same food sources, you don't have to go hunting for different things to get enough of these nutrients.

I personally take a high quality omega 3 fish oil supplement every day. I also try to eat organic, omega 3 rich eggs in the morning.

I am also someone who happens to like the taste of fatty fish, whether it's tuna or sardines from a can. I like sushi too. I understand that not everyone likes sushi or the taste of fish. There is also the problem of contamination. I know that one should not eat too much fish as toxins are built up in the flesh due to pollution in the Ocean waters.

Even the FDA advises against consuming too much fish on any given month, especially if you are pregnant or nursing.

This all strengthens my belief that your primary source of omega 3 fats should be purified fish oil supplements in which the contaminants have been removed, leaving the DHA and EPA you need for optimal health.

Types of Omega 3 Fatty Acids Explained

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Ala Moana Beach Park

Considered the "largest urban beach park in Honolulu," Ala Moana Beach Park is a free 100-acre beach park with a spacious half-mile golden sand beach. If you are looking for surf without the crowd that typifies nearby Waikiki Beach, Ala Moana Beach Park is your best option. Plus, you can also view Diamond Head from here.

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Located between Waikiki and Honolulu, the beach is the favorite of locals, and families tend to hang out here on weekends and in summer. It's easy to understand why. Behind the beach, the park offers plenty of picnic shades, running trails, tennis courts, and other entertainment facilities.

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Ala Moana may be a quieter and calmer place to relax, but its surf condition fares no less than that of Waikiki Beach. Protected by an outer reef, the water in Ala Moana Beach is always calm. It is considered safe for children, and ideal for swimming, body boarding, boogie boarding, and surfing.

However, water visibility is poor so children should always be watched and made sure they don't stray from the shore. Also, waters in the beach channel can be deceptive. If you are a weak swimmer or a beginner, do not swim near the reef area; the water may look calm on the surface but have strong undercurrents. Watch out also for swift tidal changes and sharp, jagged corals near the reef area. On the other hand, swimming near the boat channels are strongly advised against.

Services and amenities: lifeguards, picnic areas, phones, restrooms, shower rooms, sand and reef beach, barbecue grills, ample free parking space, concession stand, tennis courts, volleyball courts.

5 Unique Things:

The beach is man-made! In the 1950s, the beach when the dredged earth of the Dillingham Dredge Company was dumped at the park. Boat channels lie on both sides of the beach A boat channel and the 25-foot swimming channel were also once dredged out of the reef. Ala Moana Beach Park is just across the street from Ala Moana Center, the largest open air shopping center in the world. Pride Festival and Memorial Day Lantern Festival are celebrated by locals here.

Ala Moana Beach Park

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Phase I, II and III Surveys

When purchasing property, there are many different avenues that must be traveled in order to get through the process as seamlessly and painlessly as possible. Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III surveys are just one aspect of the many hurdles that must be jumped through in order to get things completed, and although these surveys are rather different from one another they are used for a common cause and are therefore often lumped together into one category. In fact, Phase I, II, and III surveys are all very different from one another but all contribute toward a common purpose. Below is a discussion of each phase survey that will explain why they are used and when.

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Phase I Survey

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o The Purpose: To identify any potential contamination or environmental hazard in a particular area. This identification can be done by sampling the habitats, or species of plant life and animal life that make up a given area. This includes common or rare species, as well as ancient or endangered species. From this information, laboratory studies are done and a summation.

o How It Is Performed:

The survey is performed by inspecting the property and taking a detailed account of what is and is not found in a given area. Most times, Phase I surveys are performed by a single person or a group of single people on foot.

o How Long Does It Take to Complete?

Depending on how extensive the area to be covered is, a Phase I survey may take a few weeks or a few months. This also depends on who is hired to complete the Phase I survey, although it should not take an extended period of time in any case.

o What is Covered? What is Not Covered?

All wildlife and vegetation in a given area is covered by the Phase 1 survey. This is to make an appropriate assessment of what is and is not in a given area. This information is useful to either party in many cases, and can be done in the event of an environmental audit.

o What Is The Cost?

The cost of a Phase I survey varies from case to case. Depending on how extensive the survey must be, the cost of a survey can be any of a number of price points.

o When Is It Performed?

Phase I surveys are performed at any time during the year but they are best carried out during the Spring and Summer when the vegetation in a given area is more common and more easily identified. More information is obtained this way.

Phase II Survey

o The Purpose:

Phase II survey investigates the quality of soil or the ground water in the event of its need, in order to determine whether or not the property is 'healthy' or any type of hazardous material or contamination exists.

o How It Is Performed:

Firstly, a plan (Sampling and Analysis Plan) is generated to determine what things must be tested and what action must be taken. Thereafter, samples are taken and tested in a laboratory to determine the presence of hazardous materials and to assess the quality of the environment.

o How Long Does It Take to Complete?

A Phase II survey may take anywhere from two to three months to complete, depending on the need for it and how extensive the sampling is that must be completed, as each sample must be tested individually in a laboratory atmosphere.

o What is Covered? What is Not Covered?

During a Phase II survey the earth soil and the water in a given area are covered and tested.

o What Is The Cost?

Although a Phase II survey may vary in cost, the typical Phase II survey may cost anywhere from ,000 to ,000.

o When Is It Necessary?

A Phase II survey is necessary in the event of acquisition of land that must be zoned for a particular purpose or when hazardous materials are suspected, or both.

Phase III Survey

o The Purpose:

To identify any still-present hazardous materials or contaminated areas in a given property.

o How It Is Performed:

The Phase III survey is performed in the same manner as Phase I and Phase II surveys but in a more extensive manner.

o How Long Does It Take to Complete?

The Phase III survey can take even longer to complete than a Phase I or Phase II due to the extensive processes involved. Timing is dependent upon the type of testing that is required.

o What is Covered? What is Not Covered?

The Phase III survey covers all of the same issues and areas are covered as in the initial Phase I and Phase II surveys.

o What Is The Cost?

A Phase III survey can cost up to ,000 or in some cases even more, depending on the extensive nature of the survey and the area in which it is to be performed.

o When Is It Necessary?

Phase III surveys are not always performed. They are performed in the event that there is hazardous material present or the area is not up to standard and the property is still going to be developed.

Never buy without an Environmental Site Assessment or ESA. The ESA can let you know whether or not you are over paying for a given property as hazardous materials can render a particular property unusable and you may not be able to recoup the money from your investment.

IF you are in need of an ESA, there are many places to go about looking for a provider of that service. Your local government is the best resource to find out how to go about having an ESA conducted.

Phase I, II and III Surveys

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List of Uncommon Spanish Words You Really Need To Know

In this lesson, I will give you a list of uncommon Spanish words. There are at least 6 uncommon Spanish vocabulary words that you will learn today. But the only thing that makes these words uncommon is that you will not find them taught in your typical Spanish course. But if you ever have the chance to live in Latin America, I can assure you that you will find that these words are commonly used.

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1. Calambre - Dolor intenso que se siente cuando un músculo se contrae de manera involuntaria. (Intense pain that one feels when a muscle contracts in an involuntary manner - i.e. cramp.)

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El corredor cayo antes de llegar a la meta a causa de un fuerte calambre en la pierna. (The runner fell before arriving at the finish line because of a strong cramp in his leg.)

"Calambre" is a very common Spanish word for me. I have started taking Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes here in Colombia and it is not uncommon for Jiu Jitsu participants to get cramps when when grappling.

2. Cólico - menstrual cramps

Muchas mujeres sufren de cólicos durante la menstruación.
Many women suffer from menstrual cramps during their menstruation.

3. Menstruación - menstruation

4. Regla - this is an informal word than means "menstruación" that you will often hear used throughout Latin America.

Algunas mujeres sufren dolores durante la regla, otras no.
Some women suffer from pain during their menstruation, but others do not.

"Regla" also means the English word "ruler" and the English word "rule."

Mi regla mide pulgadas.
My ruler measures inches.

Hay muchas reglas en esa escuela.
There are a lot of rules in that school.

5. Periodo - period

Marisela no se siente bien porque está en su periodo.
Marisela doesn't feel well because she has her period.

If you are a male, you may be thinking that you do not need to know Spanish words such as cólico, menstruación, regla and period and some of the other words on my list of uncommon Spanish words. But if you ever have a Spanish speaking "novia" (girlfriend) or "esposa" (wife) it would be every "insensible" (insensitive) for you to not familiarize yourself with these Spanish vocabulary words.

NOTE that the Spanish word "insensible" does NOT mean the English word "insensible." The Spanish word "insensible" when translated into English means "insensitive." The English word "insensible" when translated into Spanish means the Spanish word "inconsciente" (unconscious).

6. Rinitis - Inflamación de la mucosa nasal. (Inflammation of the mucus membrane or nasal area.)

The English word for "rinitis" is "rhinitis." Although "rhinits" may not be a commonly used English word, Spanish speakers often use the word "rinitis" interchangeably with the Spanish word "alergia"
(allergy) especially when referring to an "alergia" (allergy) that affects the sinus area.

Rinitis es una enfermedad que produce estornudos.
Rhinitis is a sickness that causes sneezes.

By the way, the verb "estornudar" is how to say "to sneeze" in Spanish.

Estoy estornudando y tosiendo por la gripe/gripa.
I am sneezing and coughing because of a common cold.

Notice that in Colombia they say "la gripa" but in Mexico and some other countries they say "la gripe."
The Spanish word "resfriado" also means "common cold" but is less commonly used in Latin America.

List of Uncommon Spanish Words You Really Need To Know

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Alpha Lipoic Acid Cream

ALA proves beneficial to the human skin mainly by virtue of its potential antioxidant ability. The universal antioxidant inhibits cross-linking and thereby slows the aging process. It safeguards from wrinkling of the skin, hardening of the arteries, and stiffening of the joints. In one short-term study, a high dose of ALA was found to reduce mild-to-moderate wrinkles by up to 50 percent. In another study, ALA Cream usage resulted in a significant improvement in the appearance of certain types of scars.

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ALA acts as a co-factor in a key biochemical pathway responsible for the production of energy in the cells (citric acid cycle). ALA exhibits a moderate anti-inflammatory effect and has a modest capacity to neutralize and eliminate a variety of toxic metals from the body. However, serious scientific research is required for the confident prescription of ALA Cream as a wrinkle cure option. Even then, the use of ALA Cream can be tried as a preferable remedy, because of its relative safety as compared to other marketed agents such as Retin A, vitamin C or glycolic acid.

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One of the most significant disadvantages of ALA use is its high market cost. However, because of the ready availability of the R-form lipoic acid in the market, it is always preferential to home-prepare the cream for self-usage. This also helps optimize the dosage required. It should also be noted that only R-lipoic acid holds the efficiency to improve cellular energy production and reduce inflammation.

The topical products of Dr. Perricone, based on Alpha Lipoic Acid and vitamin C, include: N.V. Perricone ALA Nutritive Cleanser (to tone the skin), N.V. Perricone Vitamin C Ester Amine Complex Face Lift (lifts the skin and helps treat underlying causes of inelastic skin), N.V. Perricone ALA Eye Area Therapy (to nourish, restore, and protect the eye), N.V. Perricone ALA Lip Plumper (enhances fullness, contour and color of lips), N.V. Perricone ALA Evening Facial Emollient (to smooth, renew, and refine the skin overnight), and N.V. Perricone Face Finishing Moisturizer (to soothe, hydrate, and protect skin).

Alpha Lipoic Acid Cream

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Google SketchUp Cave Maps

Google SketchUp may be the best free way to display information about caves that is available. From showing the cave location on Google Earth to displaying a complete 3D model with photos, profiles, sketches, notes and anything else you wish to display. With the turning off and on of layers you can select items you wish to display or study. The model can be rotated in any direction in real time and the landscape can be placed right over the cave.

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Drawing

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Editing and free hand drawings can be created. Google SketchUp has many of the common drawing features of other drawing programs that are expensive.

The Line feature is very simple to use with quick color or textures filled in automatic when you close a face.

With the Arc feature you select two points and then adjust the curve.

The Freehand allows tracing of previous drawings or creating new ones.

Of course you can select the color, texture and layer. I have not been able to find a way to change the line width. However when you turn on the Depth Cue feature under View/Edge Styles, the lines become thinner in the distance and thicker for close items. If a line is drawn going off into the distance such as telephone lines they will decrease in width the further you are in the back ground.

You can also create circles, rectangles, and polygons in the three dimensional space. Then use the Push/Pull tool to give them depth. For example a passage could be drawn in the plan or top view, then pushed to give it the correct height. Use the tape measure to check the distance and add dimensions. To get more realistic delete the top of the passage and use the fill tool to paint the floor of the passage with rocks. Then apply sand or dirt to the sides and you have a realistic 3D passage the you can view from any angle.

Import

You can import most any type of file and position it in the drawing. It is easy to resize pictures and reposition them. By turning on X-Ray you can see all of the items and how they relate to each other. I am using the CAPS cave mapping software to export DXF files for survey lines as well as complete 3D wall models and then importing them into Google SketchUp.

By importing a drawing section in plan and another in profile, you can position them over the survey line. Scale them to match and position them at right angles for a clear understanding of the cave passages.

Printing

Any view you create on the screen, you can print to the printer. This is perfect for surveys in progress. By printing to PDF files using the free PDF995 tool you can distribute maps.

Conclusion

There are many other features such Look Around and camera positions and animations that I have yet to experiment with. I believe that Google SketchUp will become my drafting tool of choice for all of my projects in the future.

Google SketchUp Cave Maps

Cave

Take Flax Seed for Optimum Heart Health

The essential fatty acids in flax seed help to lower cholesterol and triglycerides (amount of fat in your blood), keep blood pressure stable and prevent clotting and plaque building up. Given that the heart attack rates in America have increased steadily at approximately three percent over the last century, more Americans could certainly use a daily dose of flax seed in their diets.

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Studies have been conducted on people suffering from high cholesterol that have proven the ALA in walnuts lowers cholesterol as well as triglycerides. Flax seed also contains high levels of ALA, which indicates that it would also have these same effects.

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Reportedly those who have diets with a high ALA content are much less likely to have a heart attack. Two fatty acids that ALA produces, EPA and DHA, help with avoiding clots and prevent plaque build ups occurring, which both contribute to heart attacks.

Often those who have had one heart attack are at a higher risk of experiencing another possibly fatal one. Adding an omega 3 fatty acid supplement containing ALA, DHA or EPA can reduce this risk considerably, possibly preventing serious strokes or even death. This Means flaxseed is a perfect supplement for anyone with a history of heart attacks in the family or having had one before themselves.

A natural way to lower your blood pressure is by taking omega 3 fatty acids. Many people choose to take flax seed oil instead of fish oil because there isn't the risk of it having high levels of damaging mercury.

If heart disease runs in you family, you have had a heart attack previously, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or blood clots, start supplementing your diet with flax seed. There is a powder form you can put onto your cereal or in smoothies, milkshakes or salads. You can use the oil in all the above also, or if you are extremely fussy and sensitive to taste, the capsule form would be more suited to you.

Heart health is definitely one of the most important aspects of your physical being. So don't wait until it's too late and you have a heart attack, or worse, a fatality. There are so many benefits overall to taking flax seed as an essential fatty acid dietary supplement, you will notice you start feeling better in not much time at all. Your skin will glow, and you moods will elevate, contributing to less overall stress and less pressure on your heart.

Take Flax Seed for Optimum Heart Health

Ala

Are Lalaloopsy Dolls the Next Cabbage Patch Dolls

Casual observers may notice that the new Lalaloopsy dolls share some similarities to the Cabbage Patch dolls that became a sensation in the early 80's The obvious question to ask here is are these similarities great enough to make the Lalaloopsy dolls an equally popular toy among children this holiday season?

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The Cabbage Patch Kids dolls were extremely impressive creations. The most impressive feature of these dolls is that each one was created to be unique by manipulating a number of variables such as gender, skin color, eye color, dimples, freckles, teeth, mouth shape, hair color, hair style, and so on. They were remarkable in the doll world for providing a doll as individual and unique as the child who received it. They have their own little story, birthday and birth certificate for children to enjoy.

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Lalaloopsy dolls also offer recognition of a child's uniqueness, but in a different way. There are only a set number of Lalaloopsy dolls, each one is not a unique creation, but instead are characters in a fictional land. But each character does have its own story and birthday, and the character traits of each doll can be matched up to the interests of a young girl so that she can enjoy a personalized gift that recognizes her unique personality. In this way, a Lalaloopsy doll is quite similar to the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls in providing a doll that a child can connect with on a more individualized level.

However, there are also some differences that should be recognized in order to see whether the frenzy surrounding the Cabbage Patch Dolls will actually be duplicated with the Lalaloopsy dolls. The main difference is in regards to the target audience. The Cabbage Patch dolls were made to appeal to a wide range of people with different preferences in skin color, gender, and all the other factors. Lalaloopsy dolls are targeted specifically at young girls, whereas Cabbage Patch Kids also appealed to young boys and even adults. This was a large factor driving the popularity of the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, and without the same broad range of appeal it seems unlikely that the Lalaloopsy dolls will create as much of a frenzy.

Cabbage Patch Kids also had the appeal of caretaking going for them. The way the story of the dolls is set up, with the birth certificates and uniqueness of features; these dolls are built to activate the nurturing instinct. Baby dolls that appeal to this nature in young children are not new, but the Cabbage Patch dolls brought the art to a new level. This also undoubtedly helped them to become the huge sensation that they turned out to be. Lala loopsy dolls, on the other hand, are not babies that need to be cared for.

The Lala loopsy dolls, however, are quite likely to become incredibly popular and be a hot commodity for this coming holiday season. Even if they don't become a sensation like the Cabbage Patch Kids, they are still highly sought after dolls by young girls and are sure to become increasingly difficult to find as Christmas approaches.

Are Lalaloopsy Dolls the Next Cabbage Patch Dolls

Ala

Which IRA Is Best For You?

An Ira is one of the greatest ways to save on taxes currently and accumulate money for the future.

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For individuals three types of IRA's will normally come under consideration.

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The Traditional or Regular IRA

The Education IRA

The Roth IRA

Education IRA is now called the Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA).

Education IRAs allow you to save for qualified higher educational expenses for a beneficiary. Parents and guardians are allowed to make nondeductible contributions to an education IRA for a child under the age of 18.

Contributions are allowed prior to the beneficiary turning 18, and contributions may not exceed ,000 per beneficiary per year.

Contributions are made with after-tax dollars. There is NO deduction for the contribution. Withdrawals, however, are tax- and penalty-free when adhering to certain rules.

The traditional IRA allows you to contribute an amount and take a current deduction for the contribution. Withdrawal minimums must begin at a certain age and all withdrawals are taxable at the rate applicable when withdrawals are made. The main benefit is that any growth or gains remain free from taxation up to the point of withdrawal. Thus you would be getting tax-free accumulation.

The Roth IRA is perhaps the simplest - and potentially the most effective - sheltered account available.

Roth IRA has a tax structure different from any other IRA: contributions are after-tax (no deduction is available) but growth is tax-free; AND once you put your money in you NEVER pay taxes again.

Additionally, unlike a regular IRA, a Roth IRA does not require that you start withdrawing funds at age 70½ or any other time.

It's more flexible...

Since you have already paid taxes up front, there are no minimum distribution requirements and since withdrawals are not reportable income, they won't affect your adjusted gross income during retirement.

There are special techniques and strategies in creating and managing ANY IRA that create some huge benefits for the right person under the right circumstances.

If you've ever been successful investing in things other than stocks and bonds, you've probably wished that these investments could be included in your IRA, 401(k) or other tax-deferred retirement plans.

Amazingly to most people it's possible to have retirement dollars in
vehicles such as:

Real Estate

Limited Liability Corporations,

Private Stock Offerings,

Trust Deeds,

Mortgage Notes,

Leases and Lease Options,

Joint Ventures,

U.S. Treasury Gold and Silver Coins,

Gold Bullion and many others.

While some investors are privy to the information above, most people are just clueless to the fact that they have a lot more avenues for investing than what their Wall Street Journal tells them.

If you are interested in exploring what your financial advisor knows that you don't, including where they put THEIR money for strategic returns and investments, you can start with a search engine inquiry using the term, "self directed IRA. Check book control over your IRA can be accomplished using independent trustees that offer that service.

Which IRA Is Best For You?

Esa

Electronic Entertainment Expo

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, which is commonly known as E3, is the world's premier trade show that showcases products and services pertaining to the computer and video game industry. It is an annual trade show owned by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a United States based association dedicated to serving the business and publicity needs of video companies that publish interactive computer and video games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet.

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Throughout the years since its establishment, the E3 Expo has been a venue for many game developers to show-off their upcoming game and game-related hardware. Through the E3 Expo, thousands of professional and avid gamers are able to experience the future of interactive entertainment. The most influential people leading the most innovative companies in the business attend E3 Expo to see groundbreaking new technologies and never-before-seen products for computers, video game consoles, handheld systems and the Internet.

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The E3 Expo has been considered to be the Ultimate Expo for the video game industry with a record attendance of nearly 70,000 people in 2005 and 60,000 people in 2006. Because of this most video game companies spend more time and resources on their presentation for E3 than any other convention.

The E3 Expo has been widely covered by many websites and blogs with live webcasts, game previews, game media and blog entries detailing the event.

G4 has been airing the live coverage of each E3 from 2005 onwards.

History of E3

E3 begun with its creation in 1995 and has continued through the latest expo in 2011. From 1995 to 2006, the conference was known as the Electronic Entertainment Expo. For a brief time in 2007-2008, the conference was known as the E3 Media and Business Summit but was reverted back to Electronic Entertainment Expo in 2009.

Before the introduction of E3, most game developers showcase their products and hardware to other trade shows like the Consumer Electronics Show and the European Computer Trade Show. The idea of the first E3 was conceived by IDG's Infotainment World and Interactive Digital Software Association (now known as Entertainment Software Association).

The first E3 in 1995 coincided with the start of new generation of consoles. The first E3 featured the start of Sony's entrance to the video game industry with their new Sony Playstation console. Sega Saturn, capitalizing on its head start on the gaming industry with Nintendo, used the event to unveil its Virtual Boy system. SNK Playmore Corporation has also participated with the release of their Neo-Geo CD. The E3 Expo has also showcased several video games for both Playstation and Sega Saturn. Some of the games that were shown and garnered attention were Battle Arena Toshinden, Ridge Racer, Panzer Dragoon, Virtua Fighter, and D. Despite being on its first year of demonstration, the E3 expo proved to be the premier event for gaming in the United States.

Throughout the succeeding years, the event continued to grow and became a common place for unveiling of new products. E3 was able to featured the release of new game consoles like the Sega's Nintendo 64 (1996), Dreamcast (1999), Playstation 2 (2000), Nintendo GameCube (2001) and Xbox (2000), Playstation Portable (2004) and Nintendo DS (2004), Xbox360 (2005), and Playstation 3 and Nintendo's Wii (2006).

In the year 2005, the E3 convention was first aired on television. From then on, all future E3 conventions were slated to air on G4 networks. It was also during this year that the 11th annual E3 summit was able to attract around 70,000 attendees. But despite recent successes in the years 2005 and 2006, E3 has announced that the following conferences would be downsized and restructured due to the overwhelming demand from the exhibitors.

On October 13, 2006, E3 has released a detailed new format of the show. E3 was originally envisioned as an expo open only to game industry professionals. Throughout the years, E3 expo has been populated by a great number of bloggers and attendees who were not perceive to be industry professionals. Through the revised format, these persons were excluded from the event and transformed the E3 conference as an invitation only event.

From 2007-2008, participants of E3 expo has been greatly reduced to 10,000 by 2007 and 5,000 by 2008. A separate conference called the Entertainment for All Expo has been held during these years to accommodate the public demand for a major, annual video game event; but this didn't duplicate E3's previous success and was later abandoned. During these years, the E3 expo has been criticized by both from within and outside the gaming industry; speculating that these changes have excluded, and even damaged, independent developers in favor of larger game companies.

By 2009, Electronic Entertainment Expos has decided to revert back to its original format before the 2007 restructuring. During this year the show was greatly expanded in terms of its size compared to its previous years. The conference has been reopened to all qualified computer and gaming audience, which was greatly appreciated and well received by game makers after a disappointing performance by E3 2007 and 2008. E3 2009 and 2010 has both shown high attendance figure.

E3 Expo 2011 For 2011, E3 will be having its annual trade show this coming June 7-9, 2011 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This year, leading computer and video game companies, business partners, media and industry analysts from over 80 countries will converge on the Los Angeles Convention Center. Here's the schedule for E3's 2011 Annual Trade Expo.

The latest 2011 E3 Expo ran from June 7, 2011 TUESDAY 12:00PM - 6:00PM June 8, 2011 WEDNESDAY 10:00AM - 6:00PM June 9, 2011 THURSDAY 10:00AM - 6:00PM

The E3 Expo's are not only open to software developers, programmers, manufacturers and retailers. It also welcomes researchers, educators, financial and industry analysts and worldwide electronic and print media. For more information you can visit E3's official website.

Electronic Entertainment Expo

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Cave Of Forgotten Dreams

There is no better filmmaker in existence to have made this film, a document of one of the greatest treasures in human history made by a director who is one of the greatest living legends in cinema history. Werner Herzog, who deftly alternates between fiction and documentary films like no other filmmaker alive (Spike Lee has done fairly well in this regard, too), presents a truly jaw-dropping 3D journey through the Cave of Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc, a cave in southern France that houses some of the oldest known artworks of the human race. Through his necessarily limited exploration of the cave (the crew was allowed to film only four hours a day for one week, and only under the strictest of guidelines) and extensive interviews with various fascinating and eccentric experts, Herzog delves into the mysteries of the beginnings of human consciousness and, by looking deep into the past, ultimately considers the possibilities of the future.

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The deep underground cave explored and documented in loving detail by Herzog and his crew of four was discovered in 1994 by Jean-Marie Chauvet (for whom it was named), Eliette Brunel Deschamps and Christian Hillaire, who found it by following an air current coming out of the ground. A landslide over 20,000 years ago had sealed the cave, effectively making it a perfect time capsule for the ensuing millennia and keeping its extraordinary artifacts amazingly fresh, which led to suspicions by some that the paintings on the walls were, in fact, a modern hoax. This is briefly addressed in the film, with experts pointing out the layers of calcification over the charcoal lines of the paintings that could only have been produced over thousands of years. The excitement and emotion felt by the many archaeologists, scientists and other experts in various fields is palpable, and the often amazing cinematography makes it infectious.

Cave

This is 3D filmmaking at its finest and most essential. While successful past films like James Cameron's Avatar (2009) used the technology to make a fantasy world that the audience could never physically experience into something real and almost tangible, Cave of Forgotten Dreams does the same for a real, earthly place that the audience has no more hope of actually physically experiencing, since the French government has again sealed off the cave in order to protect its contents for generations even further into the future. In a way, then, Herzog's film is like the cave art itself - a unique and truly exceptional piece of human history to be treasured. The use of 3D accentuates the contours of the cave walls and the way that the ancient artists used them in their depictions of the various animals they painted, most of which are now extinct (or at least evolved into the elephants, antelope, bear, lions and other mammals we know today). While the 3D effect is not always as slick and perfect as in CGI extravaganzas like Avatar, the reality of the surfaces it is used to photograph makes it an even more immersive experience; at times I was transported back to the wonder I felt when I saw my first 3D movie as a child, the 1953 Jack Arnold sci-fi thriller It Came from Outer Space (no, I'm not that old - it was a revival), and I literally felt like I could crawl into the screen and walk around the cave myself.

Beyond the visual experience, though, amazing as it really is, Cave raises a number of very intriguing and tantalizingly unanswerable questions about the nature of human development. At one point, we are shown a series of overlapping paintings of antelopes which were created a few thousand years apart (determined by carbon dating), which provides one possible answer for the eternal question of why early humans began to create such art: whether intended or not, perhaps the expressions of the first painter provided instruction for that of the later ones. Additionally, we see several examples of animals depicted with multiple legs, indicating motion in a surprisingly early prototype of cinematic imagery itself. Herzog follows one of these revelations with a throwaway point-of-view shot of one of his 3D cameras in use that, when seen in the intended way on the big screen in 3D, will seriously mess you up.

Many critics and audience members have complained about the film's score by Ernst Reijseger, which is a bit intrusive and gratuitous at times, as well as its slow pace, which I personally found more contemplative and, as the title suggests, dreamlike, and therefore perfect. There is also a "Postscript" at the end of the film that seems to come out of left field and has also been cited as a source of alienation for some, but this actually points, in a somewhat oblique way, to the unanswerable questions that have come before. Herzog, to his great credit, is not interested in answers and solutions, but rather in exploring the great mysteries of the human experience, and this particular excavation is well worth the trip. More impressive than the surprisingly advanced paintings found in the Chauvet cave is the cave itself, which often resembles some sort of alien planet in its strange and sometimes seemingly impossible formations. Even if the ancient paintings that serve as the film's ostensible subject seem a little primitive to our modern eyes, nature is still as wild and wondrous as ever, and Herzog captures it like no other.

Cave Of Forgotten Dreams

Cave

What is the Optimum Omega3? - Find Out Here

When I discuss optimum omega3 products, there are a few considerations. All simple but important to understand.

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First, there is the actual level of omega3's provided by the product itself per serving and then compared against what it costs against other products.

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The second is the issue of contaminants, because fish oil supplements provide the best source of omega 3, but not if they are not purified.

And the third criteria is the freshness of the product itself.

In this article, I will address all three of these points so you can become a more educated consumer.

1. Does the product list how much omega 3 fatty acids you are getting per serving? It should. But it goes further than this. Does it give you the breakdown between DHA, EPA, and ALA. These are the three main types of omega 3 fats.

DHA is the most important, followed by EPA, and lastly, ALA.

Here's why: ALA is a form of omega 3 found in plant/vegetable matter. Flaxseeds are a prime example. However, ALA needs to be converted to DHA and EPA by the body before it can be used and this process of conversion happens inefficiently, particularly if you are not in optimal health.

DHA and EPA are the types of omega 3 fats you get from fatty fish, which is the best source, as no conversion has to take place.

However, DHA is more important than EPA. Scientific studies have shown this to be the case. It's also a medical fact that DHA comprises a large component of the brain's weight, and, therefore, is crucial for the proper functioning of your body's master organ (the brain!). An optimum omega3 product will not just list the total amount of omega 3 per serving, but also the actual breakdown between DHA, EPA and ALA.

And it better contain more DHA than EPA, and certainly more than ALA.

2. Fatty fish, although being the best source of omega3, unfortunately is often contaminated. You ever hear those FDA warnings to limit the amount of fish you eat per month even though it's healthy? It sounds weird, right? LIMIT the amount of this healthy food you eat.

That's because of contaminants. Fatty fish is very healthy. What's not healthy is the mercury, lead, and PCB's that build up in its flesh because of pollution.

That's why optimum omega3 must be fish oil supplements that have undergone molecular distillation, a process which separates the beneficial oils from the harmful toxins.

3. Freshness. Oils, and fish oils being no exception, go rancid quickly. Scientifically, this rancidity process is known as oxidation. The problem is most fish oil products are made from fish that is caught a long, long way from where it is ultimately destined for. This means there is a long time for the oil to go rancid before it's even produced into products.

The best fish oil products will be produced from companies that have a very short time lag between harvesting and turning the oil into an omega3 product.

If you've found this short article informative, I recommend you visit the doctor run website I have found in my research process that will help you decide on an optimum omega3 fish oil supplement product.

What is the Optimum Omega3? - Find Out Here

Ala

My French Story

Don't get me and most men wrong but "Sex and the City" is a top favorite. Yes, even the male species got hooked with this phenomenal television show. There was actually a high viewership of this show among American men for the six seasons it ran in the boob tube. It gave us a strategic peek in the very unfathomable psyche of cosmopolitan women. *Carrie Bradshaw* and the rest of the girls embodied the kind of women most modern-day sons of Adam dream of dating or ending up with. The kinky notoriety of Samantha Jones served as an effective handbook guide we used and still use in dealing with women of her kind. The show was such a hit among the male species that it gave us practical insights on how to handle the complex world of Eve's daughters.

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My favorite episode of the show was when Carrie went to Paris with Alexander Petrovski. The hard-core New Yorker dispatched her life in the city that never sleeps to be with her artist lover in the city of romance and sensuality. What I particularly like about that episode was Carrie's hardships in dealing with the language barrier. For those who saw the episode, the scene between Carrie and Alexander's daughter was a nostalgia of my experience with a French lady. Nope, I did not go to Paris and met a lover's daughter. I actually tried my luck and came up to a fair French lady during a month-long break in France a couple of years ago. Trying to be impressive, I spilled out all the customary French phrases I know and attempted on taking her out for a date that same night I met her in the subway. Unfortunately, the fair French lady's English vocabulary was limited to "hi," "hello," and "thank you." I did not bother myself anymore of finding a translator for us and just said "thank you" for her time and sorry for the interruption. The language barrier made a could-have-been-Paris-love story greatly impossible. Anyway, that's past already and I've learned my lesson from it-- learn the French language.

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So I did. I studied the tongue-twisting language. I first learned about the language's history and background before taking on French classes. I made my own research and lots of reading about the language and discovered so much about it. French is apparently the mother tongue of about 120 million in different countries. It is the third largest of the Romance languages in terms of after Spanish and Portuguese. As a Romance language, it is an offspring of the Latin language and with much influence from the ancient Greek language. I was so surprised to discover that French is actually an official language of 30 countries. Not only that, French is also an official or administrative language in several communities and international organizations such as the European Union, International Olympic Committee, World Trade Organization, NATO, FINA, FIA, UCI, FIFA, World Anti-Doping Agency, United Nations, and the African Union. Even the International Court of Justice, IHO, International Secretariat for Water, International Political Science Association, International Bureau of Weights and Measures, European Broadcasting Union, ESA, Universal Postal Union, and the Interpol are apparently using French as their official business language.

In France, French is the mandated language to be used in official government publications, public education, legal contracts, and *promotions and advertisements* (foreign translation must also be present though). This is probably the source of a common misunderstanding among Americans and Britons that France prohibits the use of foreign words in websites or in any other private publication. But actually, the French government is not imposing a language policy as stringent as that. The French-speaking nation is actually a staunch advocate of freedom of speech irregardless of the language being used. It's just that in the affairs of the state, the use of the national language is a requirement. Fair enough, since most countries do the same.

After learning its background, I then enrolled myself in a French online language course. I chose the free online course, of course. I took the basic French course offered in http://www.jump-gate.com Jacques Leon made the course outline and served as my online teacher. The course started from pronunciation guidelines, proceeding to articles and genders, then pronouns and verbs, followed by sentence structure. As the course was progressing, I got really motivated to learn more French words and phrases so I could incorporate them with the lessons and exercises provided. Now that I already have basic training in the usage of French, I can give dating another French lady a try. If still it won't be enough, then I'd enroll myself on a higher French online language course immediately.

My French Story

Esa

The Analogy Way

While illustrating tone of good customer service -

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Trainer 1: You must please your customers with every transaction. Make them smile, be courteous. Show them that they are important to us.

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Trainer 2: I was listening to Irfan Khan's (actor - Bollywood) interview and the interviewer asked him, if given a choice, who would you work with - Deepa Nair or Danny Boyle (both directors). Irfan: well, definitely whosoever gives me more importance and time!

Coach 1 to wicket-keeper: crouch behind the striker and stay ready for the ball to be hit, you have to make sure that the batsman is out.

Coach 2 to wicket-keeper: you are to the team as 'Stripey the Cub' to 'Save Our Tigers' campaign; i.e., very essential. So, crouch behind the striker and don't miss the ball.

The examples above are to expose the difference between explaining and explaining with an analogy. In his book, 'Analogy as Structure and Process', Esa Itkonen emphasizes that 'analogy is a central concept of language and linguistics'.

Now you may ask - Why analogies work?

The answer quite simply put - Aren't you more likely to buy a product for which you have seen an advertisement or heard from someone? Am sure the answer would be yes, moreover,

...analogies help you in building connections...

...the listener remembers the marrow for a very long time...

...they sound out of the box and are very stimulating...

I completely agree with Dudley Malone that "One good analogy is worth three hours of discussion."

The Analogy Way

Esa

Mile 5 of the Pettyjohn Cave Survey

Most of the fifth mile took place in The Labyrinth, a maze of stream passages. Surface water drains in from Screech Owl Cave and other holes east of the entrance to Pettyjohn Cave. I have been in Screech Owl Cave but not to the end. It is a very small and tight cave. We have also made attempts to dig out other deep holes in the area that possibly also drain into Pettyjohn.

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Most of the Outer Limits are included in this mile. The Outer Limits is a fitting name for this far- flung section of the cave. After about three hours of hard caving, you reach the really tough stuff.

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The Pulverizer Squeeze allows you to climb and squeeze down into the Sleazy Passage and Tobacco Road. Just before Tobacco Road you turn north toward the Outer Limits. At The Slit you have the choice of dropping down, if you have a rope, to the stream level or stay high for about three hundred feet. Three passages at the end trend north west to south east with the longest about 200 feet.

August 22, 1970 - Richard Schreiber, Ted Wilson and Steve Wells went out to the end of Tobacco Road and picked up the survey at station W80A. After mapping about a hundred feet they went out to the Outer Limits and surveyed to the 4 Mile Mark. They surveyed up the stream almost to the end of the passage. The survey resulted in 589.87 feet T.H.C. Total survey now 21,450.15 feet.

September 12, 1970 - Richard Schreiber, John Eastburn and Allen Padgett made a surface survey from the entrance of Pettyjohn Cave to Screech Owl Cave some 325 feet to the east. Screech Owl Cave was probably first found during the spring of 1970, by Ed Renner of the Florida State Cave Club. On September 16, Screech Owl Cave was dug open and the survey begun by Marion O. Smith, Cricket Haygood, Jon Resager and Dan Dougherty Jr.

September 26, 1970 - Richard Schreiber and John Eastburn surveyed the north end of the Outer Limits. While Ted Wilson and Bill Steele surveyed The stream passage from station W112 of the May 14, 1970 survey. The combined surveys resulted in 1,497.29 feet T.H.C. Total survey now 22,947.47 feet.

October 10, 1970 - George Morris, Allen Padgett, Marion O. Smith and Doug Strait deepened Screech Owl Cave by digging and continued the survey. And on October 20, 1970, Richard Schreiber, Marion and Jim Young completed the survey of Screech Owl Cave at 325.9 feet long and 107.1 feet deep. Chuck Horton did the chimney but did not survey because of the lack of room!

October 20, 1970 - Richard Schreiber and Chuck Horton first mapped a short passage just above the stream level near the Chute or Luge. They then went down stream to the main stream and up to the Water Fall, where they mapped the Squirrel Room above the water fall. Returning to the junction of the two streams, they surveyed down stream to connect to station P135. Next they started a survey up the small stream passage in the direction of Screech Owl Cave. At the bottom of the 30-foot mud climb down they picked up station P77 and started mapping the upper-level stream passage. The survey resulted in 824.96 feet T.H.C. Total survey now 23,772.43 feet.

November 1, 1970 - Richard Schreiber and Allen Padgett resumed the survey in the upper-level stream passage and surveyed another 259.85 feet T.H.C. Total survey now 24,032.28 feet.

November 2, 1970 - Richard Schreiber, Allen Padgett, Don Hunter and Barry Prince resumed the survey in the JVC Room. On a rock in the middle of this room is a marker JVC 1964. I presume that is when this room was discovered. The lower stream passage (Porpoise Passage), was surveyed down stream toward the mud climb down. From the JVC mark they went down three feet under a ledge to enter The Labyrinth. This is a maze section that is south of and below Screech Owl Cave. The survey resulted in 872.72 feet T.H.C. Total survey now 24,905.00 feet.

June 21,1971 - After nine months of no surveying, Richard Schreiber, Rod Price, John Eastburn and David Teal returned to The Labyrinth for more surveying. The survey resulted in 675.03 feet T.H.C. Total survey now 25,580.03 feet.

December 7, 1973 - Two years later Richard Schreiber and Allen Padgett return again to The Labyrinth and mapped 803.77 feet T.H.C. Total survey now was 26,383.80 feet, only 12.89 feet short of the 5 Mile Mark.

February 22, 1974 - Two months later Richard Schreiber and Allen Padgett surveyed again in The Labyrinth and on the first survey shot of 32 feet they surpassed the 5 Mile Mark. However, they were not aware of it due to the calculation errors in the survey books.

Survey trips have really started to slow, with three more survey trips in 1974 for a total of only four. There was one more survey in 1981, then four more in 1983 and the last recorded survey by Richard Schreiber in 1985.

After 15 years of caving in Pettyjohn Cave I started re-mapping the parts that we had visited, unaware of the work done by Schreiber. In 1987 we made our first survey trip and began to record the previous survey station marks and would follow these with our own survey when possible.

The raw survey data for the fifth mile is available in PDF format on my caving web site.

Mile 5 of the Pettyjohn Cave Survey

Cave

Meet The Lalaloopsy Dolls

Meet the Lalaloopsy dolls, each has a unique personality based on the clothes they wear, and each has a cute little house to match. Perhaps one of these magical little characters will appeal to a little lady in your life:

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Bea Spells-a-Lot wears clothes made from the scraps of an old school girl's uniform. She has a pet owl and loves to spell. Her house is surrounded by a picket fence made from giant pencils, and her lawn is littered with educational items like a globe, an abacus, letter blocks, and rulers.

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Mittens Fluff 'n' Stuff wears clothes made from the scraps of an old Eskimo's scarf. She has a pet polar bear and loves the winter and winter sports, as well as hot coco and snuggling by the fire. Her house is pure white and is surrounded by snow. She has beautiful evergreen trees in her yard, where she wraps them with a scarf to keep them warm.

Jewel Sparkles wears clothes made from the scraps of an old Princess dress. She has a pet Persian cat and loves to show off her sparkly clothes and boss people around. Her house is a pretty pink fabric house inlaid with diamonds. Her driveway is lined with giant pearls, and she uses a velvet cushion as a step up to her door.

Pillow Featherbed wears clothes made from the scraps of a baby's blanket. She has a pet sheep and loves bed time stories and cuddling up with milk and cookies in bed. The roof of her house is decorated with cookies, and her door is yellow with red outlined stars and a moon painted on it. The steps to her door are made up of giant pillows.

Crumbs Sugar Cookie wears clothes made from the scraps of a baker's apron. She has a pet mouse, and she loves to bake and eat lots of sweets and baked goods. Her house is decorated with heart shaped sugar cookies, and she has a birdbath on her lawn filled with giant donuts. Her trees also grow cookies, donuts, and other sweet delights.

Peanut Big Top's clothes are made from the scraps of an old clown's costume. She has a pet elephant, and loves to tell jokes and make people laugh. Her house is decorated like a circus tent, and she has many colorful triangle flags draped from colorful poles in her yard. She also has a small stage and a giant ball for performing.

Dot Starlight's clothes are made from scraps of an astronaut's suit. She has a pet bird, and loves science and looking at the stars. Her house is silver and purple, and her lawn is littered with scientific items like a silver satellite dish and a geode.

Spot Splatter Splash's clothes are made from the scraps of an old painter's overalls. She has a pet zebra, and loves to do artistic things. Her house is decorated with colorful fabrics and buttons. Her driveway is adorned with colorful wooden blocks, and she has a ladder made of pencil crayons leading up to her roof.

Thank you for reading all about the magical world of Lalaloopsy Dolls. For more magical information, please see our author's box below. Have a Lalaloopsy day:)

Meet The Lalaloopsy Dolls

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Make Yourself a Man Cave

Gone are the days when a typical man cave consisted of a dingy couch, a spent TV, a few posters, and maybe even a workstation all crammed into a wire- and box-filled utility room. Today's man caves-also known as a guys' hangout space-have evolved into more accommodating havens for relaxation with poker tables, sports bars, and more. Heck, these masculine-driven spaces are becoming so popular they even have a TV show named after them. Here's how to transform your garage, basement, or other unused room into a cool space to kick back with the guys.

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The best part about creating a man cave is that it's your personal space to decorate-you can do what you want with it. So if you're forbidden from displaying your autographed Brett Favre jersey in your redesigned blue-and-brown bedroom, you can proudly flaunt it in your man cave-along with your other Packers paraphernalia.

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Treat your man cave-building endeavor the same way you would tackle any other home improvement: arm yourself with specific ideas, carefully measure your space, stay organized, and allot yourself ample time. Prevent snags before you start by checking out the DIY Network's 10 tips for designing and building the ultimate man cave. I especially like their handy how-to videos for projects such as creating a sports bar or a media cave.

A big-screen TV is a man cave must-have, as are comfy chairs and recliners, a wet bar, and games such as a pool table and dartboard. But if you're going to go all out, check out the Gamerator. Designed by three guys, it packs just about everything a guy could ever want into one machine-more than 150 arcade games, a beer dispenser, and a 26-inch flat-panel HDTV. And because it's difficult to hold a beer and play games at the same time, the Gamerator even has two strategically placed cupholders. My favorite part: You can even customize its appearance. What's not to love?

If anything's for sure, it's that man caves aren't going away any time soon.

Make Yourself a Man Cave

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Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Photorejuvenation And Photodynamic Therapy

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) was developed in the 1980's for the treatment of photo-damaged skin. Unlike laser devices that use a single wavelength of light, IPL uses a xenon flashlamp to generate intense pulses of broadband light at very high energy. Filters are used in the IPL device to restrict the actual wavelengths that are emitted. Thus, various IPL's have been developed with a range of filters depending on the application that the machine is used for. For instance, a filter that lets out light of a shorter wavelength would be expected to treat melanin in sunspots, while a longer wavelength filter would let through light that would tend to heat collagen and penetrate more deeply to stimulate collagen remodeling.

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IPL has gained great popularity through its application for the "photofacial." This is generally a quick and relatively painless office procedure. Patients with sun damage in the form of sun spots / age spots, abnormal redness and sallow skin tone stand to benefit the most from the treatment. Additionally there are benefits for superficial wrinkles and other textural problems. Unlike lasers that are used for skin resurfacing, such as the CO2 laser, IPL is better tolerated and has fewer side effects. Typically it is administered as a series of 4-6 treatments with incremental results from each visit. Common side effects include redness and roughness of the skin that may last up to a week. Contrast this with treatments by lasers used for resurfacing, such as the CO2, that can leave denuded skin that requires prolonged healing and carry a higher risk of scarring.

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As with other lasers that target melanin, darker-skinned patients are not good candidates for IPL. The increased baseline melanin in darker skin creates a stronger background target for the light and increases the risk of a burn. If the skin is too dark, then the therapeutic window may be too narrow to expect good results. An ideal candidate is one who is fair-skinned but who has significant photodamage, usually from years of sun exposure.

More recently, a novel approach to facial rejuvenation has arisen that combines light sources, such as IPL, with photosensitizers that increase the effect of the light. This is termed photodynamic therapy. The most commonly available photosensitizer in the US is 5-amino levulinic acid (5-ALA). 5-ALA was previously described with the use of a light source for treatment of actinic keratoses on the face. Subsequently, it was shown that 5-ALA could be combined with IPL to increase the effectiveness of photorejuvenation. This showed significantly increased benefit for fine lines and pigmentation.

5-ALA is applied to the skin for at least 30 minutes prior to the procedure and allowed to soak in. After treatment with IPL, the patient may experience more redness and scaling than with IPL alone. Furthermore, strict sun avoidance and protection is required for 48 hours since the 5-ALA remains within the skin and can increase redness and discomfort if the skin is exposed to sunlight. Also, commercially available 5-ALA, marketed as Levulan Kerastick, costs approximately 0 per application. On the other hand, the increased effectiveness of photodynamic therapy makes the addition of 5-ALA an attractive option.

Further research is constantly being pursued in this popular area of laser and light source technology. Already, companies have combined additional technologies with IPL. Syneron, for instance, has added bipolar radiofrequency with the idea of enhancing the IPL's effect. Aesthera, has combined suction with broad-band light to increase effectiveness. Watch for future developments in this exciting arena.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Photorejuvenation And Photodynamic Therapy

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Decorating a Man Cave: Essential Appliances

A man cave is defined as a dedicated area of one's home where a man can be alone or socialize with his friends without interruption. As you probably already know, a guy does need his own refuge to kick back and relax in. As they continue to grow in popularity, certain guidelines have been created to follow when it comes to designing the perfect man cave. In order to create the perfect getaway for your man, there are four essential appliances that should be included in the room's design.

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* Mini Refrigerator - Mini fridges can vary in price from .99 to over 9.99. Depending upon the size of the fridge, the top of it could also double as additional workspace. With a compact fridge, your man will be able to have his snacks and drinks within easy reach whenever he needs or wants them. Fridges ran in size from 1.7 cubic feet to upwards of 4.9 cubic feet.

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* Microwave - Microwaves are going to range in price from .99 to 9.99, depending upon the number of features and extras it has. They can range in size from.7 cubic feet to 1.6 cubic feet; however, a microwave is an essential part of any man cave getup. The man in your life will be able to pop popcorn or heat his food as he needs. To get the most cooking power, look for a microwave that has at least 800 watts of power.

* Wet Bar - A wet bar is an ideal place for storing liquor and wine and the necessary components. A wet bar can be built into a room's wall, or it can be as simple as a standalone cabinet and sink. They can be pre purchased or a contractor can be commissioned to build one to your exact specifications. The size of one's liquor collection will determine how large the wet bar needs to be.

* Flat Screen Television - A flat screen television may not necessarily be considered an appliance, but it is generally considered to be the defining feature of a man cave. The size of the flat screen that you purchase will be dependent upon the amount of space available and your personal preferences. You will have to bear in mind that you may have to pay additional fees to have the television in the man cave hooked up to cable.

Decorating a Man Cave: Essential Appliances

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Amarnath Cave - The Legend

Amartnath cave is among the most famous memorials in Hinduism. This shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in Kashmir and Jammu of the Indian state. According to the Hindus, this cave is more than 5, 000 years of age and plays a very essential part in their religion. This cave was where Lord Shiva narrated the secrets of the creation of the entire universe and immortality to his wife, Parvati.

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Thousands of centuries ago, Parvati asked Shiva when and why he wore the Mund Mala or the beads of heads. He replied by saying that whenever she was born, he would add another head to his beads. As Parvati is immortal, she wanted to know the reason why this does not happen to him. She kept on asking and asking Shiva about this until Shiva himself got fed up and told her the secret of immortality.

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He looked for a place that no living soul would be able to listen. This is when he chose the Amarnath cave and he made the necessary precautions. He left his mount, the Nandi at Bail gaon or Pahalgam. He also released the moon from his hair during Chandanwari and released the snakes on the banks of the great Lake Sheshnag. He also left his son, Lord Ganesha, at Mahaganesh Hill. As he was the master of the five elements used to create living things, he also left them at Panjtarni.

After doing all these, he and Parvati entered Amarnath Cave where he took his deer skinned Samadhi so that he could concentrate. To make sure that no living creature hears the holy, immortal tale, he also spread fire by calling Kalagni and eliminate those around and inside the cave. It was only then that Shiva started the story.

Unfortunately, an egg that was lying under his deer skin was protected and the egg itself was not considered non living. A pair of pigeons came from this egg and since they have heard the immortal tale, they, too, became immortal. Right now, there are many reports that they have seen these pigeons during their trek to the holy Amarnath cave.

It was sad to be discovered by a shepherd. The story says that a saint gave him a bag of coal but when he reached home, the bag was actually full of golden coins. He was happy that he went back to the saint to give his thanks but found the cave instead. He told this to the villagers and the cave became a holy shrine since then.

Amarnath Cave - The Legend

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Cueva De La Pileta Paleolithic Cave Paintings

Just outside Benaojan lies one of the most spectacular cave systems in Spain, and in the mouth of one, several galleries of cave paintings dating back as much as 30,000 years to paleolithic residents of the Serranía de Ronda, and best of all, the caves are open to the public with a local tour guide to explain the significance of the artwork found.

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Tours often kick off early to the chagrin of tourists who have been told to arrive on time, especially since the door to the cave is barred after a tour starts, and visitors should plan to arrive before 10am and 1pm for the 90 minute tour.

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Pileta sits at 670m above sea level, and the cave entrance around 40m above the road making it a steep walk from the carpark, but inside the cave guests mostly find the experience quite gentle, in fact even people poor condition are able to enjoy the tour though good rubber soles are recommended.

The cave is owned by a local family, the same family who arrange the tours, and even though the caves are now commercialized one would be forgiven for thinking you'd stepped back in time after entering as members in your party are handed paraffin lamps dating back to bandit times.

The caves were rediscovered after hundreds or perhaps thousands of years of being closed off only in 1905 by Jose Bullon Lobato, the man who owned the surrounding land, after he realized that bats in the area were living inside the mountain. Wanting their droppings for fertilizer he was quite surprised to discover pictures on the walls and pottery shards and human bones on the floor of the cave.

Thinking the artifacts were from Moorish times and therefore unremarkable he abandoned his quest until 1911 when a British retired colonel heard of the paintings and decided to take a closer look, and immediately recognized their significance.

Since those times numerous discoveries of animal and human bones dating back more than 30,000 years have been made, and paintings identified that prove the Serranía as being one of the most important crossroads of human migration in Southern Europe.

Paintings to be seen include pictures of cows, birds, deer, dolphins, tortoises, people, fish, and numerous lines that appear to be a form of ancient calendar. The precise meaning of many of the pictures has yet to be deciphered, but this hasn't prevented the owners opening the cave to the public so you too can enjoy seeing what our ancestors wrote on cave walls.

Cueva De La Pileta Paleolithic Cave Paintings

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Create Your Own Man Cave in Style

If you are a guy who is lucky enough to have that elusive extra room in his house, there is nothing better to do with it than to make it into a man cave. If you live by yourself, this really won't be a problem since you don't have to ask anyone else for their blessing. If you are married, it might take a little sweet talking to get your wife on board with this project. By working some magic and using a little bribery, you will be well on your way to your dream man cave.

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The first thing that every man cave needs is a large flat screen TV. While not everyone's budget can afford to furnish a man cave, there is a viable option: rent to own. With the rent to own option, you can make small monthly payments rather than one big lump sum up front. This means that you can buy more pieces for your man cave right away instead of having to wait until you have the first big purchase paid off and your money saved up again.

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If you are a gamer, the second piece that your man cave needs is some sort of gaming system. No matter which system is your favorite, you can also get these at a rent to own store. Rent to own game systems are really awesome. If you are interested in checking out a different system that you don't have any games for, you could buy the system with a rent to own contract and test it out. If you decide that you don't like it, simply return the system to the store and get the one you really want. If you decide that you have to have it, just keep it and go out and buy some more games. If you would rather play your games on the computer, they also have rent to own computers as well.

To finish your man cave off in style, you will need to have some sort of refrigerator for all of that cold beer. Rather than having to run up or down to the kitchen each time one of the guys needs a cold one, all you will have to do is open up the fridge in the cave. For a little extra bonus you could even find an awesome neon sign and some bar stools for extra seating.

Create Your Own Man Cave in Style

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Fish Oil Vs Flax Seed Oil - Why There's No Comparison!

Considering the benefits of fish oil vs flax seed oil?

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It's no contest.

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Fish oil wins.

A little explanation. Flax seed and its oil are good foods, much better for your health than the soybean oil that is so common in North American prepared foods, salad dressings and cooking oils.

But it's definitely not a good replacement for fish oil. The omega-3 fatty acid in flax oil is alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA. It's often claimed that ALA from flax oil is converted in the human body to the critical long-chain fatty acids DHA and EPA, the most important fatty acids in fish oil.

The problem is, it doesn't work.

The truth: not enough ALA gets converted into DHA and EPA to do us any good. Our bodies just can't do this efficiently. A recent scientific publication says this in a nutshell:

"Alpha-linolenic acid, (ALA) does not convert to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at levels that confer any physiological benefit," according to a summary of omega-3 research conducted by the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids. ALA converted to DHA at negligible levels, said J. Thomas Brenna, PhD, professor of nutritional sciences at Cornell University, chair of the committee that drafted the statement.

Dr. Brenna said the "pre-formed" DHA and EPA found in fish oils is much more effective in raising levels of these essential oils in the body.

DHA and EPA have been shown in thousands of clinical studies to have healthful effects on brain function (DHA is the most important fat in the brain, accounting for nearly a third of its weight). Fish oils have also proved beneficial for heart health, arthritis, Crohn's disease and many other chronic diseases with underlying inflammation.

More details on the benefits of fish oil vs flax seed oil, with specific recommendations, are available on my website.

Fish Oil Vs Flax Seed Oil - Why There's No Comparison!

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Preparing Income Taxes - When You Withdraw Retirement Funds "Before Their Time"

There are a variety of qualified savings/retirement fund plans available to taxpayers. Some like traditional and Roth Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) are specifically designed for a taxpayer's retirement years. Others, like a health (or medical) savings accounts (HSA/MSA) and (Coverdell) Education Savings Accounts (ESA) are established for specialized needs such as medical or educational expenses respectively. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you can contribute or add money to these funds oftentimes on a tax-deferred basis. These qualified contributions typically have some incentivized tax treatment; they either reduce taxable income (like an IRA) or provide a tax credit (like a Saver's Tax Credit). However, there are strict rules regarding the withdrawal or distribution of these same funds. You might receive preferential tax treatment if you make a contributions to these funds but be warned; you could be taxed most likely at your marginally income tax rate AND suffer "early withdrawal" penalties if you drawn down these funds "before their time" or for any reasons other than for those for which they were originally intended.

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IRS Form 5329, Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (including IRAs) and Other Tax-Favored Accounts is an eight-part tax form that calculates additional taxes on early distribution, distributions from ESAs, IRAs, and HSAs. It also reports additional taxes on excess accumulations in qualified retirement plans when contributions exceeded IRS rules. If you receive, for example, a IRS Form 1099-R and Box 7 shows a code 1 (early distribution without exception) or code 2 (early distribution with exceptions), you might be subject to an additional 10% tax penalty in addition to the income taxes levied on the additional income resulting from the distribution. A Form 1099-INT also reports an early withdrawal penalty amount. For example, if you receive a Form 1099-R with code 1 in Box 7, there are no exceptions to the early withdrawal penalty and you will be charged a 10% penalty that will be computed in Part I of IRS Form 5329. You also file Form 5329 to report regular, or rollover conversions from one type of qualified retirement fund to another.

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Tax and financial implications of what might appear to be simple transfers of "your money" can be VERY complicated especially if they violate IRS rulings and regulations. Consult a practiced tax professional if possible BEFORE you take any financial action. There are ways to avoid penalty fees under qualifying circumstances. If you have received distributions from any of these plans and an IRS Form 1099-R, have a tax professional review your tax returns.

Preparing Income Taxes - When You Withdraw Retirement Funds "Before Their Time"

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Yes, Walnuts Have Omega 3 Oil Benefits

As you may have heard or read somewhere, walnuts have omega 3 fatty acids. They are one of the best plant sources of omega 3, and contain significantly higher amounts of omega 3 compared to other nuts. Walnuts specifically contain the essential fatty acid called alpha-linoleic acid or ALA. This fatty acid can be converted into DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), the two EFAs richly found in fish oil.

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Walnuts are not only rich in omega 3 fatty acids, but are also rich in other nutrients such as dietary fiber, magnesium, B vitamins and antioxidants such as vitamin E. As such, they are considered to be one of the top "super foods" that can promote an overall healthy body.

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Why Are Omega 3 Fatty Acids Important?

There are increasing scientific evidence that show the importance of omega 3 fatty acids for maintaining good health. These are the kind of fats that help protect us from a wide range of health problems. They can support a healthy body's response to high blood pressure, pain and inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol, stroke and heart attack, psychosis, depression, diabetes, and even cancer. Their role in regulating body function is too important that they have been recommended by the American Heart Association and the White House as necessary nutrients you should take everyday.

Walnuts vs. Fish for Omega 3

There is still an on-going debate whether walnuts are a better source for omega 3 than fish oils. Of course, both are excellent sources of the much-needed EFA's, but which one is better than the other? The answer to the question generally depends on who is asking. If you are suffering from conditions such as gout, arthritis and other conditions triggered by high amounts of uric acid, you may well be better off avoiding walnuts (and other nuts and various uric acid laden foods) and opting for fish oil for your omega 3 needs. On the other hand, if you are a vegetarian or a vegan, your preference for walnuts vs. fish source oils may be expected.

As mentioned earlier, ALA can be converted into EPA and DHA once they enter the body. More than ALA, EPA and DHA play significant roles in proper functioning of the mind and heart. The conversion from ALA to the two essential fatty acids is not usually efficient. If you want to optimize the health benefits of omega 3, taking fish oils rich in bio-available fatty acids is still preferable.

The only downside with fish sources vs. plant sources of omega 3 is that fish sourced from polluted seas and oceans may be prone to contamination with heavy metals like mercury and chemicals like PCBs and dioxins. Fish oil supplements are an excellent alternative source of omega 3, but your choice of fish oil supplement brand is crucial. You must choose one that comes from pristine clean waters and healthy fish, and then is processed immediately and with great care.

Walnuts Have Omega 3 But...

Indeed, walnuts have omega 3. They are good sources of omega 3 fatty acids, but they are not the best. Nature has gifted us with much better sources of these essential fatty acids - like that found in fish oils.

Yes, Walnuts Have Omega 3 Oil Benefits

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