Soft Drinks:
12-ounce beverage or as noted milligrams
Red Bull (8.2 oz) 80.0
Jolt 71.2
Pepsi Max 69.0
Pepsi One 55.5
Mountain Dew 55.0
Mountain Dew Code Red 55.0
Diet Mountain Dew 55.0
Kick Citrus 54.0
Mellow Yellow 52.8
Surge 51.0
Tab 46.8
Diet Coke 45.6
Shasta Cola 44.4
Shasta Cherry Cola 44.4
Shasta Diet Cola 44.4
RC Cola 43.0
Diet RC 43.0
Dr. Pepper 41.0
Diet Dr. Pepper 41.0
Diet Sunkist Orange 41.0
Mr. Pibb 40.0
Sugar-Free Mr. Pibb 40.0
Red Flash 40.0
Sunkist Orange 40.0
Slim-Fast Cappuccino Delight Shake 40.0
Ruby Red 39.0
Storm 38.0
Big Red 38.0
Pepsi-Cola 37.5
Pepsi Twist 37.5
Diet Pepsi Jazz 37.5
Diet Pepsi 36.0
Wild Cherry Pepsi 38.0
Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi 36.0
Diet Pepsi Twist 36.0
Aspen 36.0
Coca-Cola Zero 35.0
Coca-Cola Classic 34.0
Cherry Coke 34.0
Lemon Coke 34.0
Vanilla Coke 34.0
Diet Cherry Coke 34.0
Snapple Flavored Teas (Reg. or Diet) 31.5
Canada Dry Cola 30.0
A&W Creme Soda 29.0
Nestea Sweet Iced Tea 26.5
Nestea Unsweetened Iced Tea 26.0
Lipton Diet Green Tea with Citrus (16.9 oz) 23.0
Barq's Root Beer 23.0
A&W Diet Creme Soda 22.0
Slim-Fast Chocolate Flavors 20.0
Lipton Brisk, All Varieties 9
Canada Dry Diet Cola 1.2
Diet Rite Cola 0
Sprite 0
7-Up 0
Mug Root Beer 0
Diet Barq's Root Beer 0
Sundrop Orange 0
Minute Maid Orange 0
A&W Root Beer 0
Slice 0
Sierra Mist 0
Yoo-Hoo 0
Fresca 0
Other:
Starbucks Grande Coffee (16 oz) 330
Coffee, Drip 115-175
Starbucks Grande Latte (16 oz) 150
Dunkin' Donuts Coffee (16 oz) 143
Coffee, Brewed 80-135
McDonald's Coffee (small) 100
Coffee, Espresso (2 ounces) 100
Coffee, Instant 65-100
Tea, iced 47
Tea, brewed, imported brands (avg.) 60
Tea, brewed, U.S. brands (avg.) 40
Tea, instant 30
Tea, green 15
Hot cocoa 14
Starbucks Grande Decaf Latte (16 oz) 13
Chocolate Milk (8 oz) 5
Coffee, Decaf, brewed 3-4
Coffee, Decaf, instant 2-3
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Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tipping Guide for Miscellaneous Services
In this guide by James G. Lewis, the suggested amounts for tips are as follows:
Miscellaneous Services:
Accountants - Nothing.
Appliance repairman - Nothing.
Auto mechanic - Not necessary. If you insist, tip about $10-20 for bills up to $500, and $50 for bills over $500.
Bagger at grocery store - Check in advance to see if the store has a no tipping policy. Most have one. If it doesn't, then $1-3 for the bagger and $1-5 for the person who loads your car.
Car detailing - 15%
Car salesman - Nothing.
Car wash - $2-3 for a car; $3-5 for an SUV or large vehicle. If there is a tip jar, leave your tip there. It will be split among the workers. Otherwise, tip the person(s) who did the cleanup after the wash.
Carpet cleaners - Nothing.
Contractors, installers, and home remodelers - Nothing. Offer a cool drink instead.
Cosmetologist at makeup counter - Nothing. Makeover specialist at department store - Nothing unless you used over 15 minutes of her time and then bought nothing.
Electricians and plumbers - Nothing. Offer a cool drink instead.
Farriers or horse haulers- Nothing.
Financial planners - Nothing.
Graphic designer - Nothing.
Interior designer - Nothing.
Maids - Nothing, except at Christmastime.
Mary Kay representative - Nothing.
Mortgage loan officer - Nothing.
Nurses - Nothing.
Painters (house) - Nothing. Offer them a cool drink instead.
Personal shopper or salesperson at department store - Nothing.
Pet groomers - Most pet groomers are paid based upon a commission, not a regular salary or hourly wage. Typically your tip is 15% of the bill or $2 per dog, whichever is greater. If your dog is difficult, then tip more. Obviously, don't tip if the quality is poor.
Pet sitters - Tipping is not required, but most pet sitters will appreciate a tip. 15% is appropriate if you want to tip.
Physical therapist - Nothing.
Piano tuner - Nothing.
Sports arena in-seat food service - This one is tricky. At most arenas you tip the person who takes the order 15%. You tip at the time of payment, not delivery. The best thing to do is to ask before you order. You definitely do not need to tip both the order taker and the deliverer unless you split it.
Shoeshine - $1-2.
Swimming lesson instructor - Nothing.
Tailor or seamstress - Nothing.
Tattoo or piercing artist - 10-20% or whatever you can afford. It isn't necessary, but it is appreciated.
Telephone, security, cable, satellite, internet installers or repairmen - Nothing.
Title company closing agents - Nothing.
Travel agents - Nothing.
Tree removal service - Nothing.
Weekly lawn or landscaping service - Nothing.
Window tinting service - Nothing.
Window washer - Nothing.
Tip Jars:
They're showing up everywhere -- tip jars. Most people hate them. If you get the idea that tip jars are out of place at any food-service establishment that does not actually bring the food to your table and keep your drinks refilled, then you are correct. Where is it appropriate to leave a tip in a tip jar? We'll cover some of the basics.
Starbucks - Nothing.
Any fast-food restaurant - Nothing.
Buffet-lines or cafeterias - Nothing. If there is a person who comes around and keeps your tea glass full, tip him personally $1-2.
Donut, bagel or coffee shop - Nothing.
Sports arena concession stands - Nothing.
Laundry service - Nothing.
Car wash - $2-3 for a car; $3-5 for an SUV or large vehicle. If there is a tip jar, leave your tip there. It will be split among the workers. Otherwise, tip the person(s) who did the cleanup after the wash.
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Miscellaneous Services:
Accountants - Nothing.
Appliance repairman - Nothing.
Auto mechanic - Not necessary. If you insist, tip about $10-20 for bills up to $500, and $50 for bills over $500.
Bagger at grocery store - Check in advance to see if the store has a no tipping policy. Most have one. If it doesn't, then $1-3 for the bagger and $1-5 for the person who loads your car.
Car detailing - 15%
Car salesman - Nothing.
Car wash - $2-3 for a car; $3-5 for an SUV or large vehicle. If there is a tip jar, leave your tip there. It will be split among the workers. Otherwise, tip the person(s) who did the cleanup after the wash.
Carpet cleaners - Nothing.
Contractors, installers, and home remodelers - Nothing. Offer a cool drink instead.
Cosmetologist at makeup counter - Nothing. Makeover specialist at department store - Nothing unless you used over 15 minutes of her time and then bought nothing.
Electricians and plumbers - Nothing. Offer a cool drink instead.
Farriers or horse haulers- Nothing.
Financial planners - Nothing.
Graphic designer - Nothing.
Interior designer - Nothing.
Maids - Nothing, except at Christmastime.
Mary Kay representative - Nothing.
Mortgage loan officer - Nothing.
Nurses - Nothing.
Painters (house) - Nothing. Offer them a cool drink instead.
Personal shopper or salesperson at department store - Nothing.
Pet groomers - Most pet groomers are paid based upon a commission, not a regular salary or hourly wage. Typically your tip is 15% of the bill or $2 per dog, whichever is greater. If your dog is difficult, then tip more. Obviously, don't tip if the quality is poor.
Pet sitters - Tipping is not required, but most pet sitters will appreciate a tip. 15% is appropriate if you want to tip.
Physical therapist - Nothing.
Piano tuner - Nothing.
Sports arena in-seat food service - This one is tricky. At most arenas you tip the person who takes the order 15%. You tip at the time of payment, not delivery. The best thing to do is to ask before you order. You definitely do not need to tip both the order taker and the deliverer unless you split it.
Shoeshine - $1-2.
Swimming lesson instructor - Nothing.
Tailor or seamstress - Nothing.
Tattoo or piercing artist - 10-20% or whatever you can afford. It isn't necessary, but it is appreciated.
Telephone, security, cable, satellite, internet installers or repairmen - Nothing.
Title company closing agents - Nothing.
Travel agents - Nothing.
Tree removal service - Nothing.
Weekly lawn or landscaping service - Nothing.
Window tinting service - Nothing.
Window washer - Nothing.
Tip Jars:
They're showing up everywhere -- tip jars. Most people hate them. If you get the idea that tip jars are out of place at any food-service establishment that does not actually bring the food to your table and keep your drinks refilled, then you are correct. Where is it appropriate to leave a tip in a tip jar? We'll cover some of the basics.
Starbucks - Nothing.
Any fast-food restaurant - Nothing.
Buffet-lines or cafeterias - Nothing. If there is a person who comes around and keeps your tea glass full, tip him personally $1-2.
Donut, bagel or coffee shop - Nothing.
Sports arena concession stands - Nothing.
Laundry service - Nothing.
Car wash - $2-3 for a car; $3-5 for an SUV or large vehicle. If there is a tip jar, leave your tip there. It will be split among the workers. Otherwise, tip the person(s) who did the cleanup after the wash.
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tipping Etiquette Guide for Various Services
This is a guide. Remember that tipping is discretionary. If you don't think tipping is necessary in a particular circumstance, then don't tip. This is a guide for people who are planning to tip and want to know the customary amount.
Barbers, Salons, Spas:
Barber - $2-3
Hair Stylist or Color Specialist - 10-20%. $3-5 extra for last-minute service.
Hair extensions - 10-20%, regardless of the cost of the service.
Shampoo or other assistant - $2-5 for each person. Hand the tip directly to the person providing the service.
Manicure or Facial - 15%
Massage therapist - No tip if at doctor's office. 10-15% otherwise. If they come to your home or hotel room, find out in advance whether a tip is included in the price.
Electrologist, laser hair removal - Nothing.
Salon or spa package - Determine in advance whether a service charge is included. If none is included, then 15-20% split among the service providers. You can ask for it to be divided, pay each person at the time of service, or leave it in envelopes available at the front desk.
If the salon messed up your service, and you return for a re-do, do not tip again.
Owner who provides any of the above services - Follow the rules above.
The location of the service provider is irrelevant in determining the tip. It doesn't matter if they work in a salon, rent their space, or work out of their home.
Restaurants or Bars:
Food server - 15-20%.
Self-service restaurant or buffet - Nothing unless there is some service. Tip 10% if the server delivers all or part of your meal or keeps your drinks refilled.
Takeout - If you get good service, in other words, the waiter gets and packages the food, then at your choice you can tip $1-2 or up to 10%. Nothing is really necessary.
Drive through - Nothing.
When breakfast is included in the price of the hotel room - Estimate the value of the meal by looking at a menu. If there is no breakfast menu, consider the quality of the hotel and the price of an evening meal, then make your best estimate. Your tip is 15-20% of your estimate.
Teppanyaki chef - 15-20% of the total bill. The gratuity will be split among the wait staff and the chef.
Counter service - 15-20%.
Cocktail server - 15-20%. For free drinks in Vegas, tip $1-2 per round.
Bartender - 15-20% or $1 per drink. If at the bar before a meal, settle up with the bartender before you go to your table.
Wine steward or sommelier - 10% of wine bill.
If a bar has a cover charge, you do not tip on it.
Busboys - Nothing, unless he did something extra special like cleaning up a huge mess. Then give him $1-2.
Maitre d' - Nothing, unless he gets you a special table or the restaurant is full and you had no reservation. Then give $5-10 or more.
Coat check - $1
Restroom attendant - $1
Separate checks - If you want separate checks, ask the server to go ahead and add 18% gratuity to each check.
Musician that visits table - $2-3 if you make a special request. Optional if he just stops by and plays.
Musician in lounge - $1-5
Emergency Roadside Service:
Consider the level of danger. Tip an additional amount if it is roadside service versus in a parking lot.
Towing service - $5 - $20 depending upon circumstances and your desperation.
Jump start - $3 - $5
Tire change - $4 - $5
Locked out of car - $5 - $10
Tipping for Deliveries:
Furniture or appliance deliveries - $5-10 per person. If the delivery is huge, then $20 per person.
Grocery delivery - Usually included in the fee.
Pharmacy deliveries - Nothing. If you insist, $2-3 per delivery, not per prescription.
Flower deliveries - $2-5 for normal deliveries and $5-10 for large ones.
UPS/FedEx- None.
Dry Cleaning or Laundry Delivery - Nothing. Most services instruct drivers not to accept gratuities.
Newspaper - Nothing except at Christmastime.
Pizza deliveries or other food deliveries - 15%, but not less than $2.
Delivering a big box like a TV to your car - Nothing. Most stores prohibit employees from receiving tips, and the employee may be subject to discipline for doing so.
Tipping Movers:
Tipping occurs at the completion of the job. Consider providing lunch if the move extends over lunch, and always provide beverages for the movers.
One mover - limited move - 1-10 items and nothing over 20 pounds - $10-20.
One mover - difficult move - The degree of difficulty changes based upon stairs, narrow passages, small elevators, large or heavy items, appliances, etc. - $20-50.
Multiple movers - Basically tip each mover the same as above, but lower it by $5-10 for each mover. Feel free to pool the tip and give it to the supervisor for distribution, but don't lower the amount because you combined it. The problem with combining the tip is that you cannot reward people based upon their individual performances.
Car Shipping - There is not much information available about tipping the truck drivers. $20-25 is probably appropriate.
At The Airport:
The first opportunity to tip during travel is usually upon arriving at the airport or train station. Here are some tipping guidelines:
Porter or skycap - $2 per bag or more if the bags are heavy. $2 extra for curbside check-in is optional. If you arrive late and he helps you get to your flight on time, tip an extra $5-20.
Electric cart driver - $2-$3 a person.
Wheelchair pusher - If they are just pushing you down the ramp from the gate to the plane (or in reverse), then nothing. If it is from the ticket counter to the gate/plane or from the gate/plane to the luggage carousel, then $5 is appropriate. Tip more if they help you with your luggage ($1-2 per bag) or if they help you to your car. If they are pushing you from one terminal to another (long distances), then $10-20 would be appropriate plus extra for luggage. Tip less if they are unpleasant or rude.
Flight attendant or other in-flight personnel - Nothing.
Charter pilot - Nothing. It is not necessary to tip pilots unless they provide extra services. Then it is whatever you deem appropriate for the service.
Cruise Ships:
Many cruise ships have a no-tipping policy. Find out in advance. If you are supposed to tip, find out if it is done at the end of the trip or at the time of service. Oftentimes, at the end of the cruise you are provided envelopes with suggested tip amounts. If you are supposed to tip, budget about $20 per day.
Waiter - $3 per day per person.
Cabin steward - $3 per day per person.
Bus boy - $1.5 per day per person.
Maitre d' - Not necessary unless special services provided.
Bar steward - Usually, 15% is automatically added to bill.
Information by James G. Lewis
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Newby Realty Website: http://www.newbyrealty.com/
Barbers, Salons, Spas:
Barber - $2-3
Hair Stylist or Color Specialist - 10-20%. $3-5 extra for last-minute service.
Hair extensions - 10-20%, regardless of the cost of the service.
Shampoo or other assistant - $2-5 for each person. Hand the tip directly to the person providing the service.
Manicure or Facial - 15%
Massage therapist - No tip if at doctor's office. 10-15% otherwise. If they come to your home or hotel room, find out in advance whether a tip is included in the price.
Electrologist, laser hair removal - Nothing.
Salon or spa package - Determine in advance whether a service charge is included. If none is included, then 15-20% split among the service providers. You can ask for it to be divided, pay each person at the time of service, or leave it in envelopes available at the front desk.
If the salon messed up your service, and you return for a re-do, do not tip again.
Owner who provides any of the above services - Follow the rules above.
The location of the service provider is irrelevant in determining the tip. It doesn't matter if they work in a salon, rent their space, or work out of their home.
Restaurants or Bars:
Food server - 15-20%.
Self-service restaurant or buffet - Nothing unless there is some service. Tip 10% if the server delivers all or part of your meal or keeps your drinks refilled.
Takeout - If you get good service, in other words, the waiter gets and packages the food, then at your choice you can tip $1-2 or up to 10%. Nothing is really necessary.
Drive through - Nothing.
When breakfast is included in the price of the hotel room - Estimate the value of the meal by looking at a menu. If there is no breakfast menu, consider the quality of the hotel and the price of an evening meal, then make your best estimate. Your tip is 15-20% of your estimate.
Teppanyaki chef - 15-20% of the total bill. The gratuity will be split among the wait staff and the chef.
Counter service - 15-20%.
Cocktail server - 15-20%. For free drinks in Vegas, tip $1-2 per round.
Bartender - 15-20% or $1 per drink. If at the bar before a meal, settle up with the bartender before you go to your table.
Wine steward or sommelier - 10% of wine bill.
If a bar has a cover charge, you do not tip on it.
Busboys - Nothing, unless he did something extra special like cleaning up a huge mess. Then give him $1-2.
Maitre d' - Nothing, unless he gets you a special table or the restaurant is full and you had no reservation. Then give $5-10 or more.
Coat check - $1
Restroom attendant - $1
Separate checks - If you want separate checks, ask the server to go ahead and add 18% gratuity to each check.
Musician that visits table - $2-3 if you make a special request. Optional if he just stops by and plays.
Musician in lounge - $1-5
Emergency Roadside Service:
Consider the level of danger. Tip an additional amount if it is roadside service versus in a parking lot.
Towing service - $5 - $20 depending upon circumstances and your desperation.
Jump start - $3 - $5
Tire change - $4 - $5
Locked out of car - $5 - $10
Tipping for Deliveries:
Furniture or appliance deliveries - $5-10 per person. If the delivery is huge, then $20 per person.
Grocery delivery - Usually included in the fee.
Pharmacy deliveries - Nothing. If you insist, $2-3 per delivery, not per prescription.
Flower deliveries - $2-5 for normal deliveries and $5-10 for large ones.
UPS/FedEx- None.
Dry Cleaning or Laundry Delivery - Nothing. Most services instruct drivers not to accept gratuities.
Newspaper - Nothing except at Christmastime.
Pizza deliveries or other food deliveries - 15%, but not less than $2.
Delivering a big box like a TV to your car - Nothing. Most stores prohibit employees from receiving tips, and the employee may be subject to discipline for doing so.
Tipping Movers:
Tipping occurs at the completion of the job. Consider providing lunch if the move extends over lunch, and always provide beverages for the movers.
One mover - limited move - 1-10 items and nothing over 20 pounds - $10-20.
One mover - difficult move - The degree of difficulty changes based upon stairs, narrow passages, small elevators, large or heavy items, appliances, etc. - $20-50.
Multiple movers - Basically tip each mover the same as above, but lower it by $5-10 for each mover. Feel free to pool the tip and give it to the supervisor for distribution, but don't lower the amount because you combined it. The problem with combining the tip is that you cannot reward people based upon their individual performances.
Car Shipping - There is not much information available about tipping the truck drivers. $20-25 is probably appropriate.
At The Airport:
The first opportunity to tip during travel is usually upon arriving at the airport or train station. Here are some tipping guidelines:
Porter or skycap - $2 per bag or more if the bags are heavy. $2 extra for curbside check-in is optional. If you arrive late and he helps you get to your flight on time, tip an extra $5-20.
Electric cart driver - $2-$3 a person.
Wheelchair pusher - If they are just pushing you down the ramp from the gate to the plane (or in reverse), then nothing. If it is from the ticket counter to the gate/plane or from the gate/plane to the luggage carousel, then $5 is appropriate. Tip more if they help you with your luggage ($1-2 per bag) or if they help you to your car. If they are pushing you from one terminal to another (long distances), then $10-20 would be appropriate plus extra for luggage. Tip less if they are unpleasant or rude.
Flight attendant or other in-flight personnel - Nothing.
Charter pilot - Nothing. It is not necessary to tip pilots unless they provide extra services. Then it is whatever you deem appropriate for the service.
Cruise Ships:
Many cruise ships have a no-tipping policy. Find out in advance. If you are supposed to tip, find out if it is done at the end of the trip or at the time of service. Oftentimes, at the end of the cruise you are provided envelopes with suggested tip amounts. If you are supposed to tip, budget about $20 per day.
Waiter - $3 per day per person.
Cabin steward - $3 per day per person.
Bus boy - $1.5 per day per person.
Maitre d' - Not necessary unless special services provided.
Bar steward - Usually, 15% is automatically added to bill.
Information by James G. Lewis
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Newby Realty Website: http://www.newbyrealty.com/
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Good Golf for Bad backs
Playing golf is a challenge in itself, let alone with a bad back! Many golfers are, however, injuring themselves unnecessarily on the course. The causes of injury to the back are usually due to:
~ Poor technique involving too much twisting in the spine and
~ Inadequate stretching leading to a lack of flexibility.
These problems are easily remedied with improvements in the swing and gentle exercise. It is important to note that an injury may occur that does not result in immediate pain, but causes compensation elsewhere in the body. And this can affect your golf!
How often can I play golf if I do suffer from a bad back?
You can play golf daily as long as you exercise! This involves: a thorough warm up before each game, including the simple exercises below; doing general exercise on daily basis, and following our advice on how to perform the most commonly used golf movements without sustaining further back problems.
- Warm-ups before playing golf.
- Roll your neck but be careful not to go too far back.
- Shrug your shoulders rolling them forwards then backwards.
- Bear hug yourself and twist to the left and right.
- Roll your trunk around your hips.
- Stretch one arm up above your head and bend your elbow, then pull your elbow down with your other hand.
- Rock up and down on your toes; raise both hands above your head and lean from side to side.
- Take a step forward, lean back on your rear foot, and lift the toes of your forward foot off the ground.
- Roll your ankles keeping your toes on the ground.
Helpful hints for playing golf safely:
Full swing - Back sufferers lose distance because of weakness and loss of flexibility so they compensate by using a shorter back swing, come down steeply from the outside resulting in lots of slices and striking the ground. Ouch! Very bad for backs. So take a shallow angle of approach and allow your hip to turn with your shoulders. Turn your grip so that the v made by your thumb and forefinger points towards the rear shoulder.
- Work on a swing that draws the ball with the club head going away from you as you hit the ball i.e. form inside to outside as you swing.
- Use a closed stance with you toes turned out slightly. Allow your foreword heel to lift during the back swing and your hips to turn with your shoulders.
- Keep your back straight and aim to the right and draw the ball andfinish with your body vertically, hips and shoulders facing the same way.
Chipping - Keep your back straight, and tall, grip at the top of the club, flex your knees, rather than your back, and play with the ball back. Use the whole body swing. Practice in shorter sessions with a variety of shots to vary the pressures on the back.
Bunker - Keep the ball back in the stance and swing easily, chipping/ pitching style the ball and turning the whole body.
Putting - Puts a big strain on the back because of the prolonged slight bending. Buy s long putter. Keep the top of the long putter next to your sternum (chest bone) with one hand at the top and the other about half way down.
General Tips
Look at the longer shafted clubs, this also increases head speed and distance. Graphite reduces shock by absorbing the shock and soft spiked shoes also absorb shock. Walk rather than ride a buggy and always use a trolley.
Lifting clubs - Use legs, not waist to bend. Keep your bag close to your body. Keep your body square to your bag. Lift by using your legs. To pick your ball up, squat or use a suction cup. Play shorter games i.e. 9 holes!!
Remember after exercise, use cold/ice to keep inflammation down. You are already wearing the world’s best back support in the form of your back and abdominal muscles, so look after them!
by Luke Ramsey
Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook
Newby Realty Website: http://www.newbyrealty.com/
~ Poor technique involving too much twisting in the spine and
~ Inadequate stretching leading to a lack of flexibility.
These problems are easily remedied with improvements in the swing and gentle exercise. It is important to note that an injury may occur that does not result in immediate pain, but causes compensation elsewhere in the body. And this can affect your golf!
How often can I play golf if I do suffer from a bad back?
You can play golf daily as long as you exercise! This involves: a thorough warm up before each game, including the simple exercises below; doing general exercise on daily basis, and following our advice on how to perform the most commonly used golf movements without sustaining further back problems.
- Warm-ups before playing golf.
- Roll your neck but be careful not to go too far back.
- Shrug your shoulders rolling them forwards then backwards.
- Bear hug yourself and twist to the left and right.
- Roll your trunk around your hips.
- Stretch one arm up above your head and bend your elbow, then pull your elbow down with your other hand.
- Rock up and down on your toes; raise both hands above your head and lean from side to side.
- Take a step forward, lean back on your rear foot, and lift the toes of your forward foot off the ground.
- Roll your ankles keeping your toes on the ground.
Helpful hints for playing golf safely:
Full swing - Back sufferers lose distance because of weakness and loss of flexibility so they compensate by using a shorter back swing, come down steeply from the outside resulting in lots of slices and striking the ground. Ouch! Very bad for backs. So take a shallow angle of approach and allow your hip to turn with your shoulders. Turn your grip so that the v made by your thumb and forefinger points towards the rear shoulder.
- Work on a swing that draws the ball with the club head going away from you as you hit the ball i.e. form inside to outside as you swing.
- Use a closed stance with you toes turned out slightly. Allow your foreword heel to lift during the back swing and your hips to turn with your shoulders.
- Keep your back straight and aim to the right and draw the ball andfinish with your body vertically, hips and shoulders facing the same way.
Chipping - Keep your back straight, and tall, grip at the top of the club, flex your knees, rather than your back, and play with the ball back. Use the whole body swing. Practice in shorter sessions with a variety of shots to vary the pressures on the back.
Bunker - Keep the ball back in the stance and swing easily, chipping/ pitching style the ball and turning the whole body.
Putting - Puts a big strain on the back because of the prolonged slight bending. Buy s long putter. Keep the top of the long putter next to your sternum (chest bone) with one hand at the top and the other about half way down.
General Tips
Look at the longer shafted clubs, this also increases head speed and distance. Graphite reduces shock by absorbing the shock and soft spiked shoes also absorb shock. Walk rather than ride a buggy and always use a trolley.
Lifting clubs - Use legs, not waist to bend. Keep your bag close to your body. Keep your body square to your bag. Lift by using your legs. To pick your ball up, squat or use a suction cup. Play shorter games i.e. 9 holes!!
Remember after exercise, use cold/ice to keep inflammation down. You are already wearing the world’s best back support in the form of your back and abdominal muscles, so look after them!
by Luke Ramsey
Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook
Newby Realty Website: http://www.newbyrealty.com/
Monday, August 23, 2010
How To Get a Florida Fishing License
How To Get a Florida Fishing License ~ By Renee Chapple, About.com Guide
Florida is a fisherman's paradise! From Miami to the Florida Keys, we have some of the best saltwater and freshwater fishing spots in the world. If you'd like to join the area's anglers, you'll need to obtain a Florida fishing license. We'll explain the process, step-by-step.
Here's How:
1. Determine if you need a license. The following individuals do not need to purchase a license:
•Children under 16
•Florida residents aged 65 or older
•Florida residents who are in the military, stationed outside Florida, and home on leave for 30 days or less
•Those fishing on a man-made pond located on private property
•Those fishing with cane poles in their county of residence
•Florida residents fishing in saltwater from land or a structure attached to land
•Florida residents fishing in saltwater from a boat with a vessel fishing license
2. Try fishing on Free Fishing Weekend. If you're not sure that fishing's for you, the first weekend of April is a free fishing weekend. No license is necessary for freshwater fishing in Florida that weekend.
3. Determine the type of license you need. You may purchase any of the following types of license:
•Resident 12-month Freshwater OR Saltwater Fishing License: $13.50
•Nonresident 7-Day Freshwater OR Saltwater Fishing License: $16.50
•Nonresident 12-Month Freshwater OR Saltwater Fishing License: $31.50
•Resident 12-month Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing License: $25.50
4. Purchase your license. You can purchase your license online, (fl.wildlifelicense.com), if you're willing to pay a $2.25 + 2.5% surcharge. Alternatively, you may purchase your license by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA and pay a $3.25 + 2.5% surcharge. Licenses may be purchased without surcharge at a county tax collector's office or for a small fee at many fishing stores.
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Florida is a fisherman's paradise! From Miami to the Florida Keys, we have some of the best saltwater and freshwater fishing spots in the world. If you'd like to join the area's anglers, you'll need to obtain a Florida fishing license. We'll explain the process, step-by-step.
Here's How:
1. Determine if you need a license. The following individuals do not need to purchase a license:
•Children under 16
•Florida residents aged 65 or older
•Florida residents who are in the military, stationed outside Florida, and home on leave for 30 days or less
•Those fishing on a man-made pond located on private property
•Those fishing with cane poles in their county of residence
•Florida residents fishing in saltwater from land or a structure attached to land
•Florida residents fishing in saltwater from a boat with a vessel fishing license
2. Try fishing on Free Fishing Weekend. If you're not sure that fishing's for you, the first weekend of April is a free fishing weekend. No license is necessary for freshwater fishing in Florida that weekend.
3. Determine the type of license you need. You may purchase any of the following types of license:
•Resident 12-month Freshwater OR Saltwater Fishing License: $13.50
•Nonresident 7-Day Freshwater OR Saltwater Fishing License: $16.50
•Nonresident 12-Month Freshwater OR Saltwater Fishing License: $31.50
•Resident 12-month Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing License: $25.50
4. Purchase your license. You can purchase your license online, (fl.wildlifelicense.com), if you're willing to pay a $2.25 + 2.5% surcharge. Alternatively, you may purchase your license by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA and pay a $3.25 + 2.5% surcharge. Licenses may be purchased without surcharge at a county tax collector's office or for a small fee at many fishing stores.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Manatees - Gentle, Tranquil Mammals
Description: West Indian manatees are large, gray aquatic mammals with bodies that taper to a flat, paddle-shaped tail. They have two forelimbs, called flippers, with three to four nails on each flipper. Their head and face are wrinkled with whiskers on the snout. The manatee's closest relatives are the elephant and the hyrax (a small, gopher-sized mammal). Manatees are believed to have evolved from a wading, plant-eating animal. The West Indian manatee is related to the West African manatee, the Amazonian manatee, the dugong, and Steller's sea cow, which was hunted to extinction in 1768. The average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds.
Habitat and Range: Manatees can be found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal areas — particularly where seagrass beds or freshwater vegetation flourish. Manatees are a migratory species. Within the United States, they are concentrated in Florida in the winter. In summer months, they can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts, but summer sightings in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina are more common. West Indian manatees can also be found in the coastal and inland waterways of Central America and along the northern coast of South America, although distribution in these areas may be discontinuous.
Behavior: Manatees are gentle and slow-moving animals. Most of their time is spent eating, resting, and traveling. Manatees are completely herbivorous. They eat a large variety of submerged, emergent, and floating plants and can consume 10-15% of their body weight in vegetation daily. Because they are mammals, they must surface to breathe air. They may rest submerged at the bottom or just below the surface of the water, coming up to breathe on an average of every three to five minutes. When manatees are using a great deal of energy, they may surface to breathe as often as every 30 seconds. When resting, manatees have been known to stay submerged for up to 20 minutes. Manatees can swim up to 20 miles per hour in short bursts, but they usually only swim about three to five miles per hour.
Lifespan, Mortality, Population: West Indian manatees have no natural enemies, and it is believed they can live 60 years or more. As with all wild animal populations, a certain percentage of manatee mortality is attributed to natural causes of death such as cold stress, gastrointestinal disease, pneumonia, and other diseases. A high number of additional fatalities are from human-related causes. Most human-related manatee fatalities occur from collisions with watercraft. Other causes of human-related manatee mortality include being crushed and/or drowned in canal locks and flood control structures; ingestion of fish hooks, litter, and monofilament line; and entanglement in crab trap lines. Ultimately, loss of habitat is the most serious threat facing the approximately 3,800 manatees in the United States today.
Breeding and Reproduction: The reproductive rate for manatees is low. Some female manatees do not sexually mature until they are five years of age, and males mature at approximately seven years of age. It is believed that one calf is born every two to five years, and twins are rare. The gestation period is about a year. Mothers nurse their young for one to two years, during which time a calf remains dependent on its mother.
Legal Protection: West Indian manatees in the United States are protected under federal law by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which make it illegal to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal. West Indian manatees are also protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. Violations of these federal or state laws can be met with civil or criminal convictions associated with monetary fines and/or imprisonment.
Conservation: The Florida Manatee Recovery Plan was developed as a result of the Endangered Species Act. The recovery plan is coordinated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and sets forth a list of tasks geared toward recovering manatees from their current endangered status.
In October of 1989, Florida's Governor and Cabinet directed the state’s wildlife agency to work with 13 "key" manatee counties in Florida to reduce injuries and deaths. These 13 counties were: Brevard, Broward, Citrus, Collier, Dade, Duval, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Sarasota, and Volusia. Over the years, these 13 county governments have worked with the state to develop site-specific boat speed zones to reduce the likelihood of watercraft collisions and to implement comprehensive manatee protection plans (MPP) for each county. Other conservation measures deemed important to saving manatees include: research addressing biology, mortality, population and distribution, behavior, and habitat of manatees; implementation of management plans; posting of regulatory speed signs and levying of fines for excess speeds in designated areas; manatee education and public awareness programs; and public acquisition of critical habitat and creation of sanctuaries.
SMC's Role: Save the Manatee Club’s mission is to protect endangered manatees and their aquatic habitat for future generations. To achieve this mission, we work to: increase public awareness and education; sponsor manatee research, rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts; and advocate for strong protection measures, such as boat speed zones and sanctuaries. SMC also supports research and conservation efforts for other Sirenian species around the world.
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Monday, August 16, 2010
Cool about Cucumbers!!!
Cucumbers are quite resourceful! Who knew they were so healthy for us and useful too?
1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.
3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6.. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!
7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.
8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!
10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.
11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.
13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!
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1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.
3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6.. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!
7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.
8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!
10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.
11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.
13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!
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Friday, August 13, 2010
Trashing old credit cards? Be careful!
In a world of escalating identity theft, one man's trash is another man's excuse to help himself to a new line of credit. Making a few halfhearted snips with the scissors to your old credit cards just won't cut it anymore. Dumpster divers intent on looking for account numbers do not need much. Experts say even shredded cards can be pieced together by an earnest thief.
"Anything you put out on the street, you're saying, 'Have at it,'" said Jim Stickley, the author of "The Truth About Identity Theft" and a security expert who has done more than his share of picking through trash to identify security breaches for corporate clients.
Much of the identity theft that touches millions of Americans each year could can be prevented with a few simple measures that take less than a minute. Here are six tips for doing it right:
1. Properly cut up your credit cards
This article was reported by Cynthia J. Drake for CreditCards.com.
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"Anything you put out on the street, you're saying, 'Have at it,'" said Jim Stickley, the author of "The Truth About Identity Theft" and a security expert who has done more than his share of picking through trash to identify security breaches for corporate clients.
Much of the identity theft that touches millions of Americans each year could can be prevented with a few simple measures that take less than a minute. Here are six tips for doing it right:
1. Properly cut up your credit cards
- Scissors can do a fine job of destroying a credit card -- provided you use them correctly.
- After suffering from several cases of both credit card and identity fraud, blogger Jim Wang of Bargaineering.com developed a system for cutting his cards that involves slicing each set of four numbers into six pieces. Make sure you also cut through your signature and the magnetic stripe on the card.
- Shredders can also do the trick, but be sure your shredder is designed to handle credit cards and has a crosscutting function. Such machines are typically twice the price of a normal shredder but still less than $100 -- worth the price to protect your credit.
- Wang recommends taking an extra step to deactivate a card's magnetic stripe and, if there is one, its RFID chip. To scramble the data in the magnetic stripe, run a very strong magnet along it.
- Apply scissors or a hammer to the chip embedded in the card, as "all the information stored on the card is also stored on the magnetic stripe and the chip," Wang said. This takes just a few extra seconds.
- To prevent curbside identity theft, deposit the pieces of your destroyed credit card into different trash cans around your house. The idea is that some receptacles are emptied more frequently than others, so if half of your destroyed credit card goes to the curb with the kitchen trash one week, the other half will go out with your office trash a different week. This makes it nearly impossible for a thief to piece together your entire account number.
- It's an unexplainable yet prevalent myth that recycling bins are somehow safer than trash bins for credit cards, statements and other sensitive documents, Stickley said. They are not. At a recycling center, materials pass through a conveyor belt, and employees pick through items to make sure only recyclable materials get through. Stickley said confidential information could easily be taken off the conveyor belt by someone who's looking for it.
- If you want to recycle an item containing your account information, shred it first -- preferably with a crosscut shredder -- and follow the steps for bagging the pieces separately for maximum security.
- Of course, one way to completely eliminate any chance of credit card or identity theft is to incinerate all card-related documentation. Though it might not be the most Earth-friendly activity, credit cards can be melted down, and credit card statements, applications and blank checks from credit card companies can be burned. "We use our bills for kindling. All our bills go into a bag right next to our fireplace," Stickley said.
This article was reported by Cynthia J. Drake for CreditCards.com.
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Thursday, August 12, 2010
5 Excuses That Kill Your Heart
5 Excuses That Kill Your Heart
* Dog ate your statins?
* 1. "There's nothing I can do to lose weight."
* 2. "But I eat out a lot."
* 3. "I don't have time to work out."
* 4. "I don't want to take Rx meds."
* 5. "I'm too old to change."
Dog ate your statins?
In nearly 40 years of practicing cardiology, I've heard some pretty extraordinary excuses for not exercising, losing weight, taking medications, or practicing other heart-healthy habits. Although the reasons are often couched in some rather creative language, I've become adept at cutting through the veils of self-deception and steering my patients onto a more healthful path. Here are the five most common excuses I hear in my practice and how I typically respond.
1. "There's nothing I can do to lose weight."
The cardiologist says: In my experience, this is true for only 10 to 15% of people. These are the "fat and fit" who truly are limited by genetics. But for the majority of overweight Americans, significant weight loss is possible. Here's the test: If you've lost weight before, even short-term, you can do it again and keep it off. The key to success is thinking of your new eating plan as a permanent lifestyle change rather than a temporary diet.
2. "But I eat out a lot."
The cardiologist says: I have an overweight, diabetic friend who's a gourmand—he likes to dine out at fancy restaurants almost every night of the week. He recently broke his leg and had to stay home for 6 weeks. Just by cooking for himself, he lost 25 pounds and reversed his diabetes. When you eat in restaurants, you forfeit control of ingredients as well as portion size. Unfortunately, my friend is back to eating out again. I tell him that if his health deteriorates, I'm breaking the other leg.
3. "I don't have time to work out."
The cardiologist says: I used this one a lot myself until I discovered interval training, a technique used by elite athletes that can work for anyone. It has helped me reduce my elliptical trainer workout from 45 to 20 minutes while actually increasing the benefits. Here's what I do:
* 3-minute warm-up
* Ten 60-second intervals ((alternating 30 seconds fast pace with 30 seconds normal pace)
* Eight 30-second intervals (alternating15 seconds at an even faster pace with 15 seconds normal pace)
* 3-minute cool-down
Whatever your activity (walking, treadmill, elliptical machine, biking), try doing intervals. They strengthen your heart and burn more calories and fat than steady-state exercises, and they take less time. A bonus is that this kind of intense activity is good for brain health.
4. "I don't want to take Rx meds."
The cardiologist says: Patients often ask for natural alternatives when prescribed medication—particularly statins, which I believe are heart savers. But many "natural" supplements either are chemically derived or contain chemicals themselves. Plus, there's less quality assurance in the manufacturing of supplements than there is with prescription medications. I've been prescribing statins for 20 years, and their safety record has been consistently impressive. Why experiment with something you saw advertised in a magazine or read about while surfing the Internet? Trust your doctor.
5. "I'm too old to change."
The cardiologist says: Whenever I hear this excuse, I say, "Look around. Why are there so many 70-, 80-, and even 90-year-olds who look and feel so great?" The answer is simple: Because they exercise regularly, eat well, and follow their doctor's advice. They're living proof that simple changes are tremendously and instantly effective. And it's never too late to start.
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* Dog ate your statins?
* 1. "There's nothing I can do to lose weight."
* 2. "But I eat out a lot."
* 3. "I don't have time to work out."
* 4. "I don't want to take Rx meds."
* 5. "I'm too old to change."
Dog ate your statins?
In nearly 40 years of practicing cardiology, I've heard some pretty extraordinary excuses for not exercising, losing weight, taking medications, or practicing other heart-healthy habits. Although the reasons are often couched in some rather creative language, I've become adept at cutting through the veils of self-deception and steering my patients onto a more healthful path. Here are the five most common excuses I hear in my practice and how I typically respond.
1. "There's nothing I can do to lose weight."
The cardiologist says: In my experience, this is true for only 10 to 15% of people. These are the "fat and fit" who truly are limited by genetics. But for the majority of overweight Americans, significant weight loss is possible. Here's the test: If you've lost weight before, even short-term, you can do it again and keep it off. The key to success is thinking of your new eating plan as a permanent lifestyle change rather than a temporary diet.
2. "But I eat out a lot."
The cardiologist says: I have an overweight, diabetic friend who's a gourmand—he likes to dine out at fancy restaurants almost every night of the week. He recently broke his leg and had to stay home for 6 weeks. Just by cooking for himself, he lost 25 pounds and reversed his diabetes. When you eat in restaurants, you forfeit control of ingredients as well as portion size. Unfortunately, my friend is back to eating out again. I tell him that if his health deteriorates, I'm breaking the other leg.
3. "I don't have time to work out."
The cardiologist says: I used this one a lot myself until I discovered interval training, a technique used by elite athletes that can work for anyone. It has helped me reduce my elliptical trainer workout from 45 to 20 minutes while actually increasing the benefits. Here's what I do:
* 3-minute warm-up
* Ten 60-second intervals ((alternating 30 seconds fast pace with 30 seconds normal pace)
* Eight 30-second intervals (alternating15 seconds at an even faster pace with 15 seconds normal pace)
* 3-minute cool-down
Whatever your activity (walking, treadmill, elliptical machine, biking), try doing intervals. They strengthen your heart and burn more calories and fat than steady-state exercises, and they take less time. A bonus is that this kind of intense activity is good for brain health.
4. "I don't want to take Rx meds."
The cardiologist says: Patients often ask for natural alternatives when prescribed medication—particularly statins, which I believe are heart savers. But many "natural" supplements either are chemically derived or contain chemicals themselves. Plus, there's less quality assurance in the manufacturing of supplements than there is with prescription medications. I've been prescribing statins for 20 years, and their safety record has been consistently impressive. Why experiment with something you saw advertised in a magazine or read about while surfing the Internet? Trust your doctor.
5. "I'm too old to change."
The cardiologist says: Whenever I hear this excuse, I say, "Look around. Why are there so many 70-, 80-, and even 90-year-olds who look and feel so great?" The answer is simple: Because they exercise regularly, eat well, and follow their doctor's advice. They're living proof that simple changes are tremendously and instantly effective. And it's never too late to start.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
How Your Favorite Foods Were Invented
Check out the strange beginnings of some of your favorite foods!
Chocolate Chip Cookies: Ruth's Baking Mistake
A simple cooking error led to the creation of the now-classic Nestlé Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie. In 1930, Ruth Wakefield, who ran the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts, added chopped pieces of a semi-sweet chocolate bar to her Butter Drop Do cookie dough, expecting the chunks to melt. But the chocolate only softened and held its shape. The cookies were a hit at her inn. Eventually Ruth's recipe was published in a Boston newspaper and ended up on the wrapper of the Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate bar.
PEZ's Anti-Smoking Start
Kids and adults alike collect PEZ dispensers to store the beloved candies. But PEZ wasn't always so fruity. It was developed as a peppermint candy more than 70 years ago in Vienna and marketed as a cigarette substitute. (In fact, the name PEZ was derived from the German word for peppermint: PfeffErminZ). Although PEZ has come a long way from its anti-smoking roots, it's still a popular treat. Today, more than 3 billion PEZ candies are consumed annually in the U.S.
Potato Chips: A Joke Gone Right
A chef reportedly invented potato chips in 1853, but he wasn't trying to make the world's best snack food. Chef George Crum sent the paper-thin potatoes cooked until they were crisp to a customer in his Saratoga Springs restaurant who complained that his fries were too thin. "Saratoga Chips" became a menu favorite, but potato chips didn't gain widespread popularity until they were mass-produced in the 1920s.
Popsicle's Kid Inventor
You can thank an absent-minded 11-year-old for your favorite summer treat. On a cold night in 1905, Frank Epperson left a mixture of powdered soda, water, and a stick in a cup on his porch. The next day, Epperson found a frozen pop he called the "Epsicle." His friends loved the frozen treats, and so did his own kids in later years (they always wanted "Pop's 'sicle"). In 1923, Epperson applied for a patent, then sold the rights to the brand name Popsicle to the Joe Lowe Company in New York.
German Chocolate Cake Hails from the U.S.
The birth tale for this dessert begins at Walter Baker Company. In 1852, chocolatier Sam German created a sweet baking bar named "BAKER'S German's Sweet Chocolate." When a woman from Texas sent a cake recipe using German's Sweet Chocolate to a newspaper in Dallas in 1957, sales for the chocolate bar spiked. Other newspapers picked up the recipe for German's Chocolate Cake, but at some point the apostrophe and "s" was dropped, leaving just German Chocolate Cake.
Breakfast Gets Corny
While experimenting with shredded wheat cereal, W.K. Kellogg and his brother, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, accidentally discovered the process of creating flaked cereal. W.K. persuaded John Harvey to start a commercial cereal business. They named it Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company. Production of Kellogg's Toasted Corn Flakes began in 1906. Although the packaging has changed, Kellogg's Corn Flakes still grace grocery shelves today.
Warm Waffles Meet Ice Cream
The International Association of Ice Cream Manufacturers credits a pastry vendor at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis with the birth of the waffle cone. Ernest A Hamwi was selling a crisp, sugary, warm waffle at the fair. One day, Hamwi rolled his waffles into a cone and gave them to the ice-cream vendor next door, who filled them with ice cream. Visitors devoured what they called "World's Fair Cornucopias." At the Fair's end, fair goers took the idea home with them, across the country and around the world.
Cracker Jack's Exclaimed Name
Ever wonder how Cracker Jack got its name? In 1893, F.W. Rueckheim and Brother introduced caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts at Chicago's first World Fair. In 1896, Louis Rueckheim, F.W.'s brother and partner, discovered how to keep the popcorn morsels from sticking together. Louis gave the treat to a salesman, who exclaimed, "That's crackerjack!" F.W. had the words trademarked. The treat's name was later immortalized in the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."
And the beginning of one appliance: Microwaves Get Cooking
In 1945, Raytheon scientist Percy Spencer noticed that a candy bar in his pocket began to melt as he stood in front of an active magnetron tube. He conducted experiments with kernels of popcorn and a raw egg, ultimately discovering that microwave radio signals cook food. In 1947, Raytheon demonstrated the world's first microwave oven, called "Radarange." Housed in refrigerator-sized cabinets, the massive microwave cost between $2,000 and $3,000.
Information provided by Delish.com.
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Chocolate Chip Cookies: Ruth's Baking Mistake
A simple cooking error led to the creation of the now-classic Nestlé Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie. In 1930, Ruth Wakefield, who ran the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts, added chopped pieces of a semi-sweet chocolate bar to her Butter Drop Do cookie dough, expecting the chunks to melt. But the chocolate only softened and held its shape. The cookies were a hit at her inn. Eventually Ruth's recipe was published in a Boston newspaper and ended up on the wrapper of the Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate bar.
PEZ's Anti-Smoking Start
Kids and adults alike collect PEZ dispensers to store the beloved candies. But PEZ wasn't always so fruity. It was developed as a peppermint candy more than 70 years ago in Vienna and marketed as a cigarette substitute. (In fact, the name PEZ was derived from the German word for peppermint: PfeffErminZ). Although PEZ has come a long way from its anti-smoking roots, it's still a popular treat. Today, more than 3 billion PEZ candies are consumed annually in the U.S.
Potato Chips: A Joke Gone Right
A chef reportedly invented potato chips in 1853, but he wasn't trying to make the world's best snack food. Chef George Crum sent the paper-thin potatoes cooked until they were crisp to a customer in his Saratoga Springs restaurant who complained that his fries were too thin. "Saratoga Chips" became a menu favorite, but potato chips didn't gain widespread popularity until they were mass-produced in the 1920s.
Popsicle's Kid Inventor
You can thank an absent-minded 11-year-old for your favorite summer treat. On a cold night in 1905, Frank Epperson left a mixture of powdered soda, water, and a stick in a cup on his porch. The next day, Epperson found a frozen pop he called the "Epsicle." His friends loved the frozen treats, and so did his own kids in later years (they always wanted "Pop's 'sicle"). In 1923, Epperson applied for a patent, then sold the rights to the brand name Popsicle to the Joe Lowe Company in New York.
German Chocolate Cake Hails from the U.S.
The birth tale for this dessert begins at Walter Baker Company. In 1852, chocolatier Sam German created a sweet baking bar named "BAKER'S German's Sweet Chocolate." When a woman from Texas sent a cake recipe using German's Sweet Chocolate to a newspaper in Dallas in 1957, sales for the chocolate bar spiked. Other newspapers picked up the recipe for German's Chocolate Cake, but at some point the apostrophe and "s" was dropped, leaving just German Chocolate Cake.
Breakfast Gets Corny
While experimenting with shredded wheat cereal, W.K. Kellogg and his brother, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, accidentally discovered the process of creating flaked cereal. W.K. persuaded John Harvey to start a commercial cereal business. They named it Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company. Production of Kellogg's Toasted Corn Flakes began in 1906. Although the packaging has changed, Kellogg's Corn Flakes still grace grocery shelves today.
Warm Waffles Meet Ice Cream
The International Association of Ice Cream Manufacturers credits a pastry vendor at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis with the birth of the waffle cone. Ernest A Hamwi was selling a crisp, sugary, warm waffle at the fair. One day, Hamwi rolled his waffles into a cone and gave them to the ice-cream vendor next door, who filled them with ice cream. Visitors devoured what they called "World's Fair Cornucopias." At the Fair's end, fair goers took the idea home with them, across the country and around the world.
Cracker Jack's Exclaimed Name
Ever wonder how Cracker Jack got its name? In 1893, F.W. Rueckheim and Brother introduced caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts at Chicago's first World Fair. In 1896, Louis Rueckheim, F.W.'s brother and partner, discovered how to keep the popcorn morsels from sticking together. Louis gave the treat to a salesman, who exclaimed, "That's crackerjack!" F.W. had the words trademarked. The treat's name was later immortalized in the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."
And the beginning of one appliance: Microwaves Get Cooking
In 1945, Raytheon scientist Percy Spencer noticed that a candy bar in his pocket began to melt as he stood in front of an active magnetron tube. He conducted experiments with kernels of popcorn and a raw egg, ultimately discovering that microwave radio signals cook food. In 1947, Raytheon demonstrated the world's first microwave oven, called "Radarange." Housed in refrigerator-sized cabinets, the massive microwave cost between $2,000 and $3,000.
Information provided by Delish.com.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Heart Healthy Foods
5 Best Heart Foods - By Phillip Rhodes, Men's Health
1. Almonds
These nuts provide a rich source of cholesterol-lowering sterols, but Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., a cholesterol researcher at Stanford University, credits monounsaturated fat with most of the benefit. Unlike saturated fat, the mono kind doesn't block the removal of LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream.
2. Apples
Cornell University researchers found that eating one Red Delicious apple a day can block LDL oxidation, resulting in
an 8 percent drop in levels. Bonus: Apples (and their skins) contain soluble fiber, the kind that scrubs artery walls clean. Cut one up and mix it into your oatmeal, another top source.
3. Beans
Much has been made of soybeans' ability to overcome everything from cholesterol to cancer. Gardner isn't convinced: "I'm not sure how much of the health benefit is soy versus what soy displaces." When it comes to controlling cholesterol, he says, that means substituting a vegetable patty for a fatty beef burger and topping your salad with edamame or kidney beans instead of chicken tenders a couple of times a week.
4. Blueberries
Similar to the resveratrol in grapes, pterostilbene, an antioxidant found in blueberries, can stimulate liver cells to better break down fat and cholesterol, according to USDA scientists.
5. Fish
Two weekly servings of fatty fish, like salmon, can lower LDL by 20 percent. Tufts University scientists found that, in high enough quantities, the omega-3 fatty acids from fish chewed through cholesterol molecules in the bloodstream and shrank the size of remaining LDL particles by 12 percent.
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1. Almonds
These nuts provide a rich source of cholesterol-lowering sterols, but Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., a cholesterol researcher at Stanford University, credits monounsaturated fat with most of the benefit. Unlike saturated fat, the mono kind doesn't block the removal of LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream.
2. Apples
Cornell University researchers found that eating one Red Delicious apple a day can block LDL oxidation, resulting in
an 8 percent drop in levels. Bonus: Apples (and their skins) contain soluble fiber, the kind that scrubs artery walls clean. Cut one up and mix it into your oatmeal, another top source.
3. Beans
Much has been made of soybeans' ability to overcome everything from cholesterol to cancer. Gardner isn't convinced: "I'm not sure how much of the health benefit is soy versus what soy displaces." When it comes to controlling cholesterol, he says, that means substituting a vegetable patty for a fatty beef burger and topping your salad with edamame or kidney beans instead of chicken tenders a couple of times a week.
4. Blueberries
Similar to the resveratrol in grapes, pterostilbene, an antioxidant found in blueberries, can stimulate liver cells to better break down fat and cholesterol, according to USDA scientists.
5. Fish
Two weekly servings of fatty fish, like salmon, can lower LDL by 20 percent. Tufts University scientists found that, in high enough quantities, the omega-3 fatty acids from fish chewed through cholesterol molecules in the bloodstream and shrank the size of remaining LDL particles by 12 percent.
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Seven Natural Wonders of the World
Seven Natural Wonders of the World
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- Mount Everest in Nepal - Quick Facts: Highest mountain in the world, represents the highest spot on the earth's surface. Summit reaches a peak of 29,029 feet (8,848 m). Located in the Himalaya mountains on the border between Nepal and Tibet. Also known as Chomolungma. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world with the summit reaching a peak of 29,029 feet (8,848 m). It is located in the Himalayan mountain range on the border between Nepal and Tibet, China. Mount Everest represent the highest spot on earth, but it is not the tallest mountain in the world. Mount McKinley in Alaska is the tallest mountain based on measurements taken from the base of the mountain, which is above sea level, to the peak. However, Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the actual tallest mountain in the world measured from its base, of which most of it is under water. Collectively, it rises 6.3 miles (10,200 m) from the base beneath the sea to the peak at 13,796 feet (4,205 m).
- Victoria Falls in Simbabwe - Quick Facts: Also called Mosi-oa-Tunya meaning “smoke that thunders.” Largest waterfall based on width and height. One mile wide (1.7 km) and 360 feet high (108 meters). Two national parks (Zambia) and (Zimbabwe) protect the falls. Victoria Falls is a waterfall located in southern Africa on the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Zambezi River serves as the fall's water source. With the collective height and width of the falls, it is attributed as the largest sheet of falling water in the world. The name Victoria Falls was given by the Scottish explorer Dr. David Livingstone.
- Great Barrier Reef in Australia - Quick Facts: Largest coral reef system in the world. Consists of over 2,900 separate reefs. Stretches over 1,600 miles (2,600 km). Can be seen from outer space. The 133,000 square miles (344,000 km) includes 900 islands. The great barrier reef is the world's largest individual formation created by living organisms. As the largest coral reef in the world, the Great Barrier Reef includes over 900 islands, over 2,900 separate reefs, and supports one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.
- Northern Lights - Aurora Borealis - Quick Facts: Also known as polar auroras. The northern lights are the most notable, but a southern aurora does occur in the southern hemisphere. No specific or consistent measurements. Appear as glowing sheets or dancing wave. The auroras, also known as the Northern Lights, are naturally occurring lights that create intriguing and spectacular displays in the sky. The aurora lights frequently appear as diffused glow lighting up the horizon. The most amazing sight is when the northern lights appears as waves across the sky; it is almost as if the lights are dancing.
- Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Quick Facts: Located around Rio de Janeiro, Brazil . Surrounded by unique mountains and formations. Also known as Guanabara Bay. Largest bay in the world based on volume of water. Rio de Janeiro translates "river of January" in Portuguese. The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro is located in Brazil and was created by erosion from the Atlantic Ocean and is also known as Guanabara Bay. The Harbour is surrounded by gorgeous granite monolith mountains that include the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain at 1,296 feet (395 m), Corcovado Peak at 2,310 feet (704 m), and the hills of Tijuca at 3,350 feet (1021 m). Visitors will also experience numerous islands including Governor's island, Fundao and Snakes Island.
- Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA - Quick Facts: The canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long. The width ranges from 4 to 18 miles (6.4 to 29 km). The depth is over one mile (1.83 km). Majority is housed within Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon is a massive gorge located in the state of Arizona in the United States, and was created by the Colorado River. Although not the steepest nor the longest canyon in the world, the Grand Canyon is recognized as a natural wonder because of the overall scale and size combined with the beautifully colored landscape. The canyon offers a variety of lookouts and experiences that provide visitors with a view that cannot be matched.
- Parictin in Michoacán, Mexico - Quick Facts: A cinder cone volcano. Official height varies reported as 9,101 feet (2,774 meters) or 10,397 feet (3,000 meters). Last erupted in 1952. Youngest in America and birth witnessed by a human. Paricutin is a cinder cone volcano in Michoacán, Mexico. Paricutin was named one of the seven natural wonders as an active volcano. The volcano has been dormant since the last eruption in 1952. It was established as a natural wonder because mankind witnessed its birth. The volcano was also fast growing reaching three-fourths of its size within the first year.
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Monday, August 9, 2010
How To Care For An Elderly Parent
Baby Boomers Taking Care of Aging Family Members ~ by Lin Burress
Caring for aging or elderly parents can often be a complicated and emotionally stressful process for the entire family, except when everyone helps with the needed care.
As the numbers of “baby boomers” reach the age of 50, it is expected that this group of Americans will spend more years caring for elderly parents than they spend raising their own children. This phenomenon is often referred to as the “sandwich generation”, and rightly so.
The care of elderly parents should be discussed amongst everyone in the family, with the entire family involved in making care giving decisions that are in the best interests of the elderly parent as well as all caregivers. It is important to have respectful and open conversations, gently discussing a parent's wishes, needs and abilities based upon their mental, emotional and physical condition.
Of course, the ideal situation is when parents take the initiative to make decisions regarding their own care in advance, rather than waiting for an emergency to occur that can sometimes leave elderly parents at the mercy of uninformed relatives. Many problems can be avoided by parents investigating the types of retirement options available, making advanced decisions regarding insurance and life-sustaining medical care, and making sure that all necessary documents such as powers of attorney and wills are readily available to those who must take responsibility in the event of an emergency.
How To Help Elderly Parents
During a family conference, decide who will be the primary caregiver, and what role each member of the family will play in helping care for the aging parent. Everyone in the family, including teenage relatives and younger children, can help care for Grandma or Grandpa by making regular visits, calling on the telephone to chit chat, assisting with household chores, preparing nourishing meals, running errands, shopping for groceries, doing the laundry, supervising medications, trips to the doctor and so on.
Relatives that live further away can also contribute to the care of the aging parent by making regular phone calls, sending cards and letters, attaching recent photos or sending scrapbook collections of fun and happy times for the parent to enjoy. They can also make weekend trips to visit as often as possible. Dealing with elderly parents, and the numerous problems that often arise, should not be left entirely to the primary caregiver simply because they are living closer to the parent.
Elderly Parents Moving In
Making the decision as to where aging parents should live when they are no longer able to live independently in their own home can be exponentially difficult for everyone in the family, and often leaves family members feeling guilty regardless of the decision made.
Some elderly parents are difficult to deal with it, whether it be due to being overly demanding and controlling in their wishes, or perhaps due to changes in their mental state. This is a time where caregivers must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of having an aging parent living with them. They need to balance the needs within marriages and the care their own children need to ultimately make the decision that is best for everyone involved.
While it is admirable to want to have an aging parent living in the home with family, Grandma or Grandpa may require 24-hour nursing care that is not possible in the family home with both husband and wife having to work fulltime, so other alternatives may need to be evaluated and chosen.
Useful Eldercare Resources
Newby Realty Website: www.newbyrealty.com
Caring for aging or elderly parents can often be a complicated and emotionally stressful process for the entire family, except when everyone helps with the needed care.
As the numbers of “baby boomers” reach the age of 50, it is expected that this group of Americans will spend more years caring for elderly parents than they spend raising their own children. This phenomenon is often referred to as the “sandwich generation”, and rightly so.
The care of elderly parents should be discussed amongst everyone in the family, with the entire family involved in making care giving decisions that are in the best interests of the elderly parent as well as all caregivers. It is important to have respectful and open conversations, gently discussing a parent's wishes, needs and abilities based upon their mental, emotional and physical condition.
Of course, the ideal situation is when parents take the initiative to make decisions regarding their own care in advance, rather than waiting for an emergency to occur that can sometimes leave elderly parents at the mercy of uninformed relatives. Many problems can be avoided by parents investigating the types of retirement options available, making advanced decisions regarding insurance and life-sustaining medical care, and making sure that all necessary documents such as powers of attorney and wills are readily available to those who must take responsibility in the event of an emergency.
How To Help Elderly Parents
During a family conference, decide who will be the primary caregiver, and what role each member of the family will play in helping care for the aging parent. Everyone in the family, including teenage relatives and younger children, can help care for Grandma or Grandpa by making regular visits, calling on the telephone to chit chat, assisting with household chores, preparing nourishing meals, running errands, shopping for groceries, doing the laundry, supervising medications, trips to the doctor and so on.
Relatives that live further away can also contribute to the care of the aging parent by making regular phone calls, sending cards and letters, attaching recent photos or sending scrapbook collections of fun and happy times for the parent to enjoy. They can also make weekend trips to visit as often as possible. Dealing with elderly parents, and the numerous problems that often arise, should not be left entirely to the primary caregiver simply because they are living closer to the parent.
Elderly Parents Moving In
Making the decision as to where aging parents should live when they are no longer able to live independently in their own home can be exponentially difficult for everyone in the family, and often leaves family members feeling guilty regardless of the decision made.
Some elderly parents are difficult to deal with it, whether it be due to being overly demanding and controlling in their wishes, or perhaps due to changes in their mental state. This is a time where caregivers must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of having an aging parent living with them. They need to balance the needs within marriages and the care their own children need to ultimately make the decision that is best for everyone involved.
While it is admirable to want to have an aging parent living in the home with family, Grandma or Grandpa may require 24-hour nursing care that is not possible in the family home with both husband and wife having to work fulltime, so other alternatives may need to be evaluated and chosen.
Useful Eldercare Resources
- AARP.com Webplace- Providing helpful information and regarding caring for the elderly and encourages elder advocacy.
- Aging Parents.com: The Family Survival Guide - This guide is designed to help family members respond to eldercare crises and to plan ahead for long-term care giving, consisting of a booklet and two videotapes.
- Aging Parents and Elder Care.com - Comprehensive checklists, articles and links to key resources.
Newby Realty Website: www.newbyrealty.com
Friday, August 6, 2010
Top 10 Wonders of the West
Countdown to the Top 10 Wonders of the West ~ by Rani Robinson (Travel Channel)
10. Death Valley, California
Death Valley is a land of harsh extremes, but this ultimate desert landscape was once the bottom of a sea on the earth's equator. Today, the only moisture you'll find in this desert is your perspiration.
Death Valley hits an average high temperature of 120 degrees in the summer, and it is the lowest and driest spot in the world. According to park rangers, approximately 3 people die here every year from exposure. But try not to let these statistics discourage you from visiting Death Valley. Millions come year-round to soak in the sun, have an organized hike and take in the beauty of this vast, open landscape.
9. Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
East of Portland, OR, flows the Columbia River Gorge. In 1916, the first highway ever built in the United States was constructed along the cliffs of the Columbia River, no doubt so that travelers could take in the beautiful views. The Columbia River region has 1 of the highest concentrations of waterfalls in the United States. It's home to the second-highest year-round flowing waterfall in the United States, Multnomah Falls, which stands an eye-popping 620 feet high. It's no wonder that nearly 2 million visitors come each year.
8. Arches National Park, Utah
Take a first glance at Arches National Park and you would think several sculptors got together and created something absolutely breathtaking. In fact, centuries of wind and water have sculpted the Utah sandstone into over 2,000 natural arches. You won't find more natural arches in 1 place anywhere else in the world.
Aside from the obvious reason 1.5 million visitors come to the Arches National Park each year, the park also brings in the adventurous traveler. Extreme mountain biking was born at Arches. Slick Rock Trail is 9 miles of heart-pounding adventure, a trail etched out of slippery sandstone that can be deadly for the inexperienced cyclist.
Arches National Park lies right in the middle of a desolate, treacherous and demanding landscape. Temperatures can easily each into the hundreds, making an afternoon walk or ride feel like a trip into a preheated oven.
7. Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
Roughly 750 feet below New Mexico's Guadalupe Mountains exists a maze of tunnels that is the state's number 1 tourist destination. Visitors venture into the damp and dark just for a glimpse of another world and its inhabitants.
Of the 300 known caves in the Guadalupe Mountains, 120 of them are in Carlsbad National Park. Created by 500,000 years of dripping water, the caverns consist of 30 miles of vaulted halls and maze-like passages adorned with dazzling formations and colors of iridescent pinks, beiges and tans. The largest cavern, named the Big Room, is a colossal chamber that could fit 6 football fields and reaches as high as a 30-story skyscraper.
Aside from the grandeur of the cave, visitors also come to see the residents of the caverns -- bats. For 5,000 years, the Mexican freetailed bats have come soaring out of the cave each evening in search of night flying insects.
If all the walking and hiking of the 75 stories of cavernous cave makes you hungry, an elevator will carry you from the cavern floor to the outside world in 58 seconds flat. However, if you desire to stay below ground a bit longer, the Carlsbad Caverns lunchroom is sure to satisfy your appetite.
6. Channel Islands National Park, California
Only accessible by boat, the Channel Islands are located 90 miles off the coast of Los Angeles. Consisting of 177 miles of coastline, these 5 islands; often referred to as America's Galapagos, are decorated with rocky cliffs, arches, and beaches populated by 2,000 plants and animals, including sea lions and pelicans. One hundred and fifty of the animals found on the islands are found in no other place in the world.
Channel Islands National Park is considered one of the top destinations for scuba divers. Its waters are home to 17 different species of sharks, including the great white. But that threat doesn't stop the divers, who flock there from all over the world.
5. Mount Hood, Oregon
Since its last eruption 250 years ago, this beautiful, dormant volcano has been a paradise for hikers and skiers. A great combination of beauty and danger, Mount Hood is the second-most climbed peak in the world. During climbing season, you can expect roughly 200 people a day. These include skiers and snowboarders, who can take advantage of many of the mountain's slopes until the Fourth of July. With so many people climbing, skiing and playing in the park's 189,000 acres each year, it's important for everyone to be careful. The unique landscape of Mount Hood is especially treacherous.
After a long hike or a day of skiing, make sure to visit the historic Timberline Lodge to rest and warm up. Constructed in 15 months and built in the height of the Great Depression, this lodge displays the handiwork of over 300 craftsmen.
4. Redwoods National Park, California
The redwoods of Northern California the oldest living things on Earth and the main attraction at this national park. What's most unique about this attraction is that you can experience 2 natural wonders in one place -- the forest and the ocean.
Roughly 300,000 visitors come to Redwoods National Park each year to experience the grandeur of these giant trees. Coastal fog and cool, moist air keeps the trees damp, a perfect condition for their growth. The trees measure from 8 to 20 feet around and can grow as tall as a 35-story building. They live an average of 600 years, but some of the trees have been known to reach the ripe old age of 2,200 years old!
3. Yosemite National Park, California
Nestled within the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite National Park greets nearly 4 million visitors each year. A glacier-carved canyon, Yosemite was the first territory in the United States set aside for public use. Filled with meadows, cliffs, waterfalls and forests, the park is also home to the fifth tallest waterfall in the world.
The best way to see Yosemite is on foot, as the park has over 800 miles of trails. However, this hike is not for the faint of heart. Yosemite ranges from 2,000 feet to 13,000 feet! The park's most famous attraction is Half Dome; carved from granite by glaciers and millions of years of erosion, it stands 4,000 feet above the valley. Visitors can see Half Dome from Glacier Point, or they can hike to its peak in one day. Yosemite's second lookout, El Capitan, fondly known as El Cap, is officially the largest monolith of granite in the world.
2. Yellowstone National Park
The first national park of the United States, Yellowstone covers over 2.2 million acres of the American West, filling it with spectacular mountain scenery, animals and endless natural beauty. But did you know that this park also lies on top of 1 of the most dangerous volcanoes in the United States? In researching the geological history of the park, scientists have recorded 3 major eruptions more powerful than any in the world's recorded history, and they all happened at Yellowstone. The eruptions toppled a mountain range and left a crater the size of the Los Angeles basin. Moreover, the volcano that sits underneath this beauty is still alive. But that little detail doesn't stop nearly 2 million visitors from coming to the park each year.
The main attraction at Yellowstone is Old Faithful. A result of a volcanic eruption, Old Faithful has expelled gallons of boiling water over 180 feet in the air.
Herds of buffalo and elk roam freely in Yellowstone. Visitors also spot the occasional grizzly bear. Just as in any national park, there are safety rules to follow: hike with a group, never go near a bear and her cubs, and most importantly stay away from bear dens.
1. The Grand Canyon, Arizona
The Colorado River started its work on the Grand Canyon over 20 million years ago. So far the result is a 1-mile-deep, 10-mile-wide and over 1 million-acres-long canyon. A magnificent example of erosion, the Grand Canyon was formed by water cutting through layers of rock for millions of years.
One of the best spots to hike is along the rim. For more adventurous travelers, the Colorado River offers some rip-roaring whitewater rapids. In any event, visitors should be aware of the apparent dangers when exploring as there are no railings and protective barriers along the entire canyon.
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10. Death Valley, California
Death Valley is a land of harsh extremes, but this ultimate desert landscape was once the bottom of a sea on the earth's equator. Today, the only moisture you'll find in this desert is your perspiration.
Death Valley hits an average high temperature of 120 degrees in the summer, and it is the lowest and driest spot in the world. According to park rangers, approximately 3 people die here every year from exposure. But try not to let these statistics discourage you from visiting Death Valley. Millions come year-round to soak in the sun, have an organized hike and take in the beauty of this vast, open landscape.
9. Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
East of Portland, OR, flows the Columbia River Gorge. In 1916, the first highway ever built in the United States was constructed along the cliffs of the Columbia River, no doubt so that travelers could take in the beautiful views. The Columbia River region has 1 of the highest concentrations of waterfalls in the United States. It's home to the second-highest year-round flowing waterfall in the United States, Multnomah Falls, which stands an eye-popping 620 feet high. It's no wonder that nearly 2 million visitors come each year.
8. Arches National Park, Utah
Take a first glance at Arches National Park and you would think several sculptors got together and created something absolutely breathtaking. In fact, centuries of wind and water have sculpted the Utah sandstone into over 2,000 natural arches. You won't find more natural arches in 1 place anywhere else in the world.
Aside from the obvious reason 1.5 million visitors come to the Arches National Park each year, the park also brings in the adventurous traveler. Extreme mountain biking was born at Arches. Slick Rock Trail is 9 miles of heart-pounding adventure, a trail etched out of slippery sandstone that can be deadly for the inexperienced cyclist.
Arches National Park lies right in the middle of a desolate, treacherous and demanding landscape. Temperatures can easily each into the hundreds, making an afternoon walk or ride feel like a trip into a preheated oven.
7. Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
Roughly 750 feet below New Mexico's Guadalupe Mountains exists a maze of tunnels that is the state's number 1 tourist destination. Visitors venture into the damp and dark just for a glimpse of another world and its inhabitants.
Of the 300 known caves in the Guadalupe Mountains, 120 of them are in Carlsbad National Park. Created by 500,000 years of dripping water, the caverns consist of 30 miles of vaulted halls and maze-like passages adorned with dazzling formations and colors of iridescent pinks, beiges and tans. The largest cavern, named the Big Room, is a colossal chamber that could fit 6 football fields and reaches as high as a 30-story skyscraper.
Aside from the grandeur of the cave, visitors also come to see the residents of the caverns -- bats. For 5,000 years, the Mexican freetailed bats have come soaring out of the cave each evening in search of night flying insects.
If all the walking and hiking of the 75 stories of cavernous cave makes you hungry, an elevator will carry you from the cavern floor to the outside world in 58 seconds flat. However, if you desire to stay below ground a bit longer, the Carlsbad Caverns lunchroom is sure to satisfy your appetite.
6. Channel Islands National Park, California
Only accessible by boat, the Channel Islands are located 90 miles off the coast of Los Angeles. Consisting of 177 miles of coastline, these 5 islands; often referred to as America's Galapagos, are decorated with rocky cliffs, arches, and beaches populated by 2,000 plants and animals, including sea lions and pelicans. One hundred and fifty of the animals found on the islands are found in no other place in the world.
Channel Islands National Park is considered one of the top destinations for scuba divers. Its waters are home to 17 different species of sharks, including the great white. But that threat doesn't stop the divers, who flock there from all over the world.
5. Mount Hood, Oregon
Since its last eruption 250 years ago, this beautiful, dormant volcano has been a paradise for hikers and skiers. A great combination of beauty and danger, Mount Hood is the second-most climbed peak in the world. During climbing season, you can expect roughly 200 people a day. These include skiers and snowboarders, who can take advantage of many of the mountain's slopes until the Fourth of July. With so many people climbing, skiing and playing in the park's 189,000 acres each year, it's important for everyone to be careful. The unique landscape of Mount Hood is especially treacherous.
After a long hike or a day of skiing, make sure to visit the historic Timberline Lodge to rest and warm up. Constructed in 15 months and built in the height of the Great Depression, this lodge displays the handiwork of over 300 craftsmen.
4. Redwoods National Park, California
The redwoods of Northern California the oldest living things on Earth and the main attraction at this national park. What's most unique about this attraction is that you can experience 2 natural wonders in one place -- the forest and the ocean.
Roughly 300,000 visitors come to Redwoods National Park each year to experience the grandeur of these giant trees. Coastal fog and cool, moist air keeps the trees damp, a perfect condition for their growth. The trees measure from 8 to 20 feet around and can grow as tall as a 35-story building. They live an average of 600 years, but some of the trees have been known to reach the ripe old age of 2,200 years old!
3. Yosemite National Park, California
Nestled within the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite National Park greets nearly 4 million visitors each year. A glacier-carved canyon, Yosemite was the first territory in the United States set aside for public use. Filled with meadows, cliffs, waterfalls and forests, the park is also home to the fifth tallest waterfall in the world.
The best way to see Yosemite is on foot, as the park has over 800 miles of trails. However, this hike is not for the faint of heart. Yosemite ranges from 2,000 feet to 13,000 feet! The park's most famous attraction is Half Dome; carved from granite by glaciers and millions of years of erosion, it stands 4,000 feet above the valley. Visitors can see Half Dome from Glacier Point, or they can hike to its peak in one day. Yosemite's second lookout, El Capitan, fondly known as El Cap, is officially the largest monolith of granite in the world.
2. Yellowstone National Park
The first national park of the United States, Yellowstone covers over 2.2 million acres of the American West, filling it with spectacular mountain scenery, animals and endless natural beauty. But did you know that this park also lies on top of 1 of the most dangerous volcanoes in the United States? In researching the geological history of the park, scientists have recorded 3 major eruptions more powerful than any in the world's recorded history, and they all happened at Yellowstone. The eruptions toppled a mountain range and left a crater the size of the Los Angeles basin. Moreover, the volcano that sits underneath this beauty is still alive. But that little detail doesn't stop nearly 2 million visitors from coming to the park each year.
The main attraction at Yellowstone is Old Faithful. A result of a volcanic eruption, Old Faithful has expelled gallons of boiling water over 180 feet in the air.
Herds of buffalo and elk roam freely in Yellowstone. Visitors also spot the occasional grizzly bear. Just as in any national park, there are safety rules to follow: hike with a group, never go near a bear and her cubs, and most importantly stay away from bear dens.
1. The Grand Canyon, Arizona
The Colorado River started its work on the Grand Canyon over 20 million years ago. So far the result is a 1-mile-deep, 10-mile-wide and over 1 million-acres-long canyon. A magnificent example of erosion, the Grand Canyon was formed by water cutting through layers of rock for millions of years.
One of the best spots to hike is along the rim. For more adventurous travelers, the Colorado River offers some rip-roaring whitewater rapids. In any event, visitors should be aware of the apparent dangers when exploring as there are no railings and protective barriers along the entire canyon.
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