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Ultralight backpackers want to give up weight, not comfort. Sleeping pads are pretty much a necessity for backpacking comfort, but who wants to carry those monstrous old inflatables down the trail? Try some of these lightweight options instead.

You can make four-ounce sleeping pads - then sometimes carry two of them. Start with the plain blue closed-cell foam pads available from any backpacking supplier. These are made larger than necessary, usually 24 by 72 inches. You can just cut them down to a four-ounce size.

It’s important that it reaches from your shoulders to your hips, so cut it to that length. Cut the width a little at a time, testing for comfort as you go. You want the pad as small as you can make it, while still big enough to insulate your torso from the ground. Your head can be on a pillow of spare clothes, and your legs on your empty pack to insulate them.

Sleeping Pads For Ultralight Fanatics

If you want it really light, cut pieces out of the pad. Half-inch holes in the pad don’t seem to make it less comfortable. Cut out a hundred little pieces of foam, and you get to save an ounce and join the ranks of the fanatical ultralight backpackers.

To be comfortable with a thin pad, or none at all, try sleeping where the ground is soft. You can also pile up leaves or dry grass to sleep on. Please do this only where it won’t harm the enviroment, and scatter the leaves in the morning so they won’t kill the vegetation they’re on. With fifteen minutes of work each night collecting materials, you can leave the sleeping pad home and be more comfortable. A thick pile of dried grass - now that’s a nice camping mattress.

More Comfortable Sleeping Pads

Do you need more cushioning? Inflatable sleeping pads are no longer out of the question for lightweight backpacking. REI’s Big Agnes Air Core Pad is a 3/4 length pad that weighs just 16 ounces and is an incredible 2 1/2″ thick! I haven’t tried this one yet, so if you’ve slept with Big Agnes, let me know how she is.

There are also several self-inflating sleeping pads that are reasonably light. My old Thermarest is actually only 21 ounces, but both Thermarest and others now have self-inflating sleeping pads that are under a pound. Now that’s lightweight backpacking comfort!

Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos and stories can be found at The Ultralight Backpacking Site: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

For many years I maintained confidence in my personal identity. I knew exactly who I was and was quite comfortable in my skin. Although, I must confess my skin used to fit me better than it does these days.

Recently several things happened to shake this confidence in my person. I don’t know about anyone else, but I take pride in my personal mettle.

About two months ago my credit card company informed me somebody hacked into their records and stole my identity, along with approximately one million other customers. They went on to assure me that my account would be safe.

It wasn’t my money I was worried about at the time but my identity. How can anybody steal someone else’s identity?

More important than that, why would anybody want to steal somebody else’s identity? Especially somebody like me.

In thinking about this I wondered, how much can I charge someone for borrowing my identity? I might have a cottage industry here in the making. Or, perhaps it’s just cottage cheese.

I could understand if I were a good looking, rich tycoon with more dollars than sense. I’ve been looking for money all my life and have been unsuccessful. I am so poor some church mice have loaned me a dollar or two over the years. And if I ever see those mice again I aim to repay those loans.

The way I feel about it is if anyone can get money out of my account, good luck to them, because I can never get money out of my account when I need it. In fact, I have a good mind to find these identity thieves and ask how they’re getting money out of my account.

I’d pay good money to find the secret to that puzzle.

The ATM at my bank stands for Automatic Thief Machine. It holds me up from getting to my next appointment with cash and never returns my card.

A second incident furthered my identity malaise. A few days ago, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly were in a little bit of a tight spot. Actually, it was I in the tight spot, which is nothing new for me.

I can’t remember the events leading up to the spot I found myself but my wife looked at me, placed both hands on her hips and declaimed, “Who do you think you are?”

At the time, I did not know quite how to answer that philosophical inquiry. I mean, she has known me for over 35 years ,and for her not to know who I am at this point is just a little bit puzzling to me.

At the time, I must confess, I was a little confused about who she thought she was. Being the gentleman I am, I kept my befuddlement to myself.

My selfhood perplexity deepened. One day this week, I was going about minding my own business n which is a full-time job with part-time pay and no benefits n when I bumped into an old friend. After we exchanged a few pleasantries, he looked at me and said, “Is there anything wrong? You don’t look yourself today.”

Now, the question plaguing my mind was simply, if I don’t look like me, who in the world do I look like?

I simply smiled and mumbled something to the effect that recently somebody had stolen my identity. Frankly, I was surprised someone noticed it.

In thinking about this, I wondered when someone’s identity is lost where does it go? Is there a lost and found department somewhere for lost identities?

Then an awful thought tugged at my mind. What if someone lost their identity, went to the lost and found department and, by mistake, picked up someone else’s lost identity?

How do I know it hasn’t happened to me? What proof do I have that I am who I say I am?

The evidence before me is quite overwhelming. A major corporation in the United States has informed me that someone has stolen my identity; my wife asked me who do I think I am; and a friend I’ve known for years tells me I don’t look like myself.

Talk about having your reality check bounce.

I must confess to times when my mind does wander a trifle. But I refuse to accept the judgment that I am absent-minded. I grant you my mind, on the odd occasion, does take a little break every now and then, but it is never absent.

This recent identity crisis caused me to do a little evaluating about my personhood. Who am I really? I jotted down a few notes: son, brother, uncle, husband, father and grandfather.

Although I’m not old enough to be a grandfather, I do accept the privileges of this position. After all, I’m living with a grandmother, so it is easier just to go along with the program, if you know what I mean.

Then a marvelous thought poked its way into my mind. How it got in with all the clutter is beyond me.

The thought was simply this; I am also a son of God. This is based upon a wonderful verse of scripture. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12 KJV.)

I’m unsure about many things, but one thing I am confident in is my relationship to God.

James L. Snyder is an award winning author and popular columnist living with his wife, Martha, in Ocala, Florida and can be contacted at jamessnyder2@att.net.

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

Radical and Disruptive Innovation

One of the most interesting aspects of creativity and innovation is the relationship between incremental and radical change.

a) Incremental change leads to radical shifts. A look at the work of many innovators shows that they tend to experiment for long periods with an idea, followed by a radical shift into new territory.

b) The shift into radically new territory results from the input of new knowledge or perspective or simply boredom with the old approach.

c) The distance between the original idea and the final idea increases exponentially when sustained tinkering is involved.

d) Radical experimentation benefits from the competencies learned whilst incrementally toying with previous ideas.

These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop MBA, is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com/

So now you have your brand new home theater system components sitting in their boxes in front of you and it’s go time. You have to somehow connect all of these foreign objects together and make it all work. For many people this is a really intimidating scenario, but actually if you follow a few simple guidelines it doesn’t have to be all that difficult. So here are the top 5 tips for home theater wiring installation.

1. This may sound corny but read the manual. I know that there are lots of you folks that prefer to just pick up a screwdriver and dive in, but you cannot believe how much you can mess up by not taking the time here to read the installation instructions through and get a good feel for what you need to do in advance. In fact, you may somehow get the system to work without doing that, but odds are that it will never perform as well as it should simply because a few steps were left out while it was being installed. So save your self the extra grief and just read the wiring installation instruction manual before you get started.

2. Use the correct gauge wire for your installation. Remember that when you have to run wire for longer distances it requires a heavier gauge to be able to successfully transmit the signal. Here is a simple general guideline that you can use: for lengths under 100 feet 16 gauge wire should be adequate, up to 200 feet 14 gauge wire will work and over that you will probably need 12 gauge wire to make sure things work properly.

3. Whenever you are making any kind of home theater wiring installation whether it be from one component to another or from a component to the speakers, make sure that both components are powered off when you connect them. Many is the heartache caused by someone turning on components before making the connections and experiencing high sudden power loads that damage their brand new equipment. Avoid that by always keeping the components powered off as you make wiring connections.

4. Gather your cables and wires together in advance and make sure that they will stretch far enough from each installed component before you begin installation. It’s really frustrating to find out that one of your wires or cables isn’t long enough after you already have everything else set up.

5. A common mistake that many people make when installing their own home theater setup is stacking the components like the receiver, dvd player, cable box and so on, so closely together that they have no room to breathe. Often they will even put them inside a closed cabinet too, which only compounds the problem. So before laying out your system try to think of a way to provide plenty of air flow between each component which will allow it to run more efficiently, last longer, and perform better.

If you plan ahead to set aside plenty of time for your home theater wiring installation, you should be able to get it done with little problem and frustration if you use the tips provided above.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find out more about surround sound setup and surround sound installation by visiting our Home Theater website.

The Bahamas are a great escape if one wants a week of peace and tranquil. Just off the coast of Florida, the Bahamas and the Abacos beckon people with their crystal blue waters even as people fly over them in their flights. They are not as crowded as the Caribbean islands and other prominent sailing destinations and hence are favorites with peace lovers.

Sailing vacations in the Bahamas are mainly conducted on yachts. Both small and big yachts ply the coasts of Bahamas carrying people in groups of all sizes. Families hire small boats - either bareboats or skippered boats. Even catamarans can be seen in Bahamian waters; however yachts outnumber all other modes of sailing vehicles. Yachts are usually chartered by people along with food and drink, as also locations to stay overnight.

Daytimes are spent exploring the various cays in the Bahamian waters. Most of these cays are inaccessible by huge catamarans. People also go snorkeling in the Bahamian waters. Scuba diving and other water sports such as surfing are also popular. The greatest appeal of the Bahamas lies in the clear azure waters that envelop the entire island. Even beachcombing is a wonderful pastime on the pristine beaches of the Bahamas.

Meals include various varieties of seafood such as prawns, lobsters, crabs and conches. Popular stops in the Bahamas are the Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Man-o’-War Cay, Tahiti Beach and Hope Town. The candy-striped lighthouse is a tourist attraction at Hope Town.

The Bahamas are also popular for their regattas. Regattas are boat-races that may be competitive or non-competitive. Local instructors take visitors on guided regattas for a small fee. Regattas are also coupled with parties, barbecues and social events. They are a great way to making friends on vacation.

The Bahamas are like tropical islands. They are perennial sailing destinations, i.e. they can be visited throughout the year. Winters are a bit colder with winds tending to be faster. Yet, the climate is welcoming enough all year round.

Sailing Vacations provides detailed information on Bahamas Sailing Vacations, Caribbean Sailing Vacations, Catamaran Sailing Vacations, Family Sailing Vacations and more. Sailing Vacations is affiliated with Caribbean Sailing.

The system of promise rings may seem to be something that has been started in modern times. However, mythology and history has proven that promise rings have been around for quite some time. Promise rings are given for variety reasons and are given as a sign that the giver and the wearer share a promise with one another. Titanium promise rings are given to signify a strong friendship, to demonstrate purity by abstinence from sex until the right time, to represent religious beliefs of a particular group and to be replaced by engagement and marriage rings in the future. To prevent confusion, it is always better to clarify the meaning of the titanium promise ring before its exchange.

Promise rings are less formal than wedding and engagement rings and are usually less expensive. Titanium promise rings are more reasonably priced than gold and silver promise rings. Titanium is a metal that was accidentally discovered in 1791. It is used in making aircraft, golf clubs, watches and rings. It is the strength and durability of titanium that makes it a wise choice as a promise ring. A titanium promise ring retains its shape and is hardly scratched or broken. Moreover, its strength proves the very point that the giver and wearer are committed to each other. To make this point stronger, most sellers also engrave titanium promise rings with messages of the buyer’s choosing. An advantage of titanium promise rings is that they are biocompatible with human skin and don’t cause irritations like rashes; additionally they do not rust, corrode or lose their color.

Titanium promise rings have fast become a unique alternative to traditional gold wedding rings. Men also buy titanium promise rings, as they look more masculine than most jewelry and are available in colors like black.

Promise Rings provides detailed information on Promise Rings, Diamond Promise Rings, Meaning Of Promise Rings, Titanium Promise Rings and more. Promise Rings is affiliated with Best Prom Dress.

If whacky hormones are getting you down, take heart! Relief
is just around the kitchen corner!

Many of us assume that a good diet is …well, a good diet, no
matter what our age. But increasingly doctors recognize that
certain stages of life present unique and different nutritional
challenges. And menopause is no exception.

From day -to- day symptoms like hot flashes,night sweats, mood
swings and fatigue, to long range risks for heart disease,
breast and endometrial cancer and osteoporosis - doctors now
know that what you eat, especially at mid-life, can play an
integral role in your immediate and your long term health.

To help you cope with symptoms today and lay down a foundation
for feeling better tomorrow, check out these
“Menopause-Friendly” foods - and the ones you should avoid.

Menopause Friendly Foods

1.Hormone Boosters: Cherries, bananas, apples, and citrus
fruits can act much like a booster shot for waning hormones. The
key lies in their high concentration of “phytoestrogens’- plant
hormones that that can take some of the edge off symptoms like
hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia, which ca occur when
hormone levels dwindle.

Other hormone boosters include whole grains like wheat, barley,
brown rice and oats and rye, plus spices like fennel, parsely,
red clover, sage and cinnamon.

2. Vitamin E Boosters - Many experts report that foods
high in vitamin E - like wheat germ, nuts, and soybean or
safflower oil - are true energy boosters, battling of
perimenopause. Add them to your diet and you may also experience
a new sense of well being, and fewer mid-life symptoms,
including intimate dryness and hot flashes.

3. Cacium/Vitamin D Boosters - It’s no secret that foods
rich in calcium and vitamin D can increase bone strength and
improve your overall skeletal health. But now new evidence shows
these same foods may also help calm jangled hormonally harassed
nerves and even reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Foods to
include every day: 1 cup of low fat yogurt, 1 cup of skim milk,
I ounce of low fat swiss cheese (naturally low in sodium), or
low fat cheddar cheese.

4. Hot Flash Eliminators: Fish high in omega 3 oils and
vitamin E including mackerel, blue fish, tuna, salmon,
butterfish, pompano, haddock - up to 12 ounces weekly. Nuts
including brazil and walnuts. Seeds such as anis, flax or
sesame. Citrus pulp, and grapes. Cayenne pepper (in
moderation reduces flashes - excess can bring it on so
experiment with small doses first). Soy foods including tofu,
soy milk, soy flour.

Foods to avoid during menopause:

Excess Sugar - because it can stimulate cravings, increase
appetite, and suppress the body’s ability to utilize calcium and
phosphorus needed to build bone.

Fats and cholesterol: As estrogen levels plummet, cholesterol
can s rise. Reducing fatty food intake can compensate for the
control you lose when hormone levels plummet.

Alcohol - A little is good, a lot can increase menopause
symptoms so limit intake to one glass of wine a day or less -
and much less if you are at risk for breast cancer.

For more healthy foods that can ease menopause symptoms visit
http://www.YourMenopause.com or pick up a copy of
Your Perfectly Pampered Menopause by Colette Bouchez

Handbag styles are not only very diversified but they also fall in and out of fashion quite frequently. Although a handbag is not considered one of the main components of your outfit, it can still influence your overall aspect as much as a pair of shoes, blouse or jeans. Choosing the right handbag goes far beyond matching colors with the shoes. There are several things that you should consider, such as shape, size and length of the handbag. Here is how each of these factors can influence the impact a handbag has on your looks.

Unlike clothing, the handbag is an accessory that stands out from your body figure. This is why the shape of the handbag can have such a powerful visual impact. When shopping for one, try to get the exact opposite of what your body type is. If you are short try to get a taller handbag that will enhance your vertical look. Not only will the vertical handbag make you look taller but it will also help you look slimmer, since it directs the viewer’s eyes on the vertical rather than on the horizontal. On the other hand, if you are tall and thin, you might want to get a rounder handbag.

There are several handbag types that you can choose from. Hobo bags are popular shoulder bags that offer a nice round shape and a lot of interior room. Satchels are large handled bags that offer a lot of room but are less elegant. On the opposite side you will find the clutch bag, which is very small and fancy, mostly used for evening wear and other special occasions.

The duffle bag takes us back to the larger sized category, while the field bag is sportier and is a flap top shoulder bag. Hermes style bags are structured in shape and they have select closures that are intentionally visible. Tote handbags are highly popular. They have handles or straps, depending on the model, and are open top bags. Messenger style bags are mostly shoulder bags and are usually worn across the body. Among other popular handbag styles, you will find the cigar box, which is a hard cover bag and the pouch, which is a small and soft covered bag.

The other thing to consider is the size of the handbag. If you are small and thin, try not to carry around huge bags that will look disproportionate to your body. On the other hand, if you have a few extra pounds, you might not want to stress that with a bag that is barely visible and seems more like a toy rather than a real handbag. The length of the handles is also important - medium sized handles work best in all cases. In general, long handles and a vertically oriented handbag make you look slimmer.

There is one other final element for you to consider: Will this handbag suit your lifestyle? Do not get an elegant and fragile bag if you are used to carrying a lot of stuff in it and going through subway traffic everyday. Make the choice that will complement your life style in the best way and make the most out of enjoying your shopping experience.

* Strategically park your RV to take advantage of any shade that is available, especially on the side where the refrigerator vent is located. Don’t be afraid to ask for a shady site when you check in at the campground. This will not only help cool the RV down, but your refrigerator and roof air conditioner will work much more efficiently.

* You can also improve your air conditioner’s efficiency by keeping the filters clean. In most cases you can wash the filters in warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly and allow them to dry before reinstalling. Another option is to clean the filters with a small hand-held vacuum cleaner. I recommend you keep a new set on hand in the event the old filters have seen better days.

* Use your main awning and any window awnings to assist in cooling the RV down. In addition to the awnings use your window blinds or drapes to help keep the sun out and the cooler air in.
Install a thermostatically controlled 12-Volt Fridge Vent Fan at the back of the refrigerator, or at the top of the roof vent, to assist with drafting the hot air away from the refrigerator. These fans are fairly easy to install, or you can have Camping World install one for you. Either way it’s worth it. The fan removes the heat built up behind the refrigerator, improving the refrigerator’s performance by up to 40%.

* Another factor in keeping your RV cool is proper ventilation. Proper ventilation helps prevent excess heat from building up in your RV. You can install Vent Covers over the roof vents to allow for ventilation. They are inexpensive, easy to install and they let the fresh air in, even when it’s raining, while the stale, musty air, smoke, cooking odors and heat escapes. I use a vent cover on each end of our RV to promote cross ventilation.

* To help keep the inside of the RV cool, try to avoid opening the door as much as possible and cook outside rather than inside whenever possible.

* Take a couple of small fans with you to help circulate the air. If for some reason you can’t run the air conditioner, you’ll be glad you have them.

Happy Camping!

Mark J. Polk

Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk, owner of RV Education 101

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America’s most highly regarded series of DVD’s, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/ Sign up for your free “RV Education 101″ Newsletter http://rveducation101.com/email/

He made his mind and decided that he would not allow it to happen any longer. He wanted to be alone, quite and silent. But this power was too much to handle. It was reaching him, invading his spaces and in a certain way, was taking all his being.

There was neither joy nor sadness that he could hide. All was known, almost predictable and what is more serious, his laughter and weeping could not be controlled. But he decided to face this situation since he felt that he was losing control. His will was being played with and he was not capable of controlling the infinity of processes that took him beyond his own limits.

He was not able to distinguish reality from illusion, or strength from weakness. At those moments, what was certain would become uncertain and there was no possible escape since it was like being submerged and taken by a current, while unable to move in another direction. There was no alternative, it was like having the hands tied, like losing the mind and nevertheless, to be in the presence of this inexplicable phenomena.

And he said: How is this possible? To lose control and fall into the hands of this power that surrounds, enamors, posses and controls? It is like being in the middle of a storm. How to be able to avoid being there? And what is most peculiar and strange is that everything seems less real, while we are there. But how heavy it is, how invasive, it seems like chains, dragging even the strongest, while the weak does not have words or anything to say.

At times is like the fire of incense, consuming and taking everything. Besides, it takes the freedom, it takes and drags you, it presses and also cheers and scares you. And when it gives you everything and you gave everything, it laughs and says: ” I have not given you anything, it was your own doing”

And other times, it takes me, drags me and without mercy, hurts me and takes me, I don’t know where. But also, embraces me and gathers me and I don’t have strength to escape. When I think that I have defended myself and that I am back in control, I realize that I am lost. And in the horizon of its being, I am like a tree in the middle of the forest, lost in the immensity, watching and contemplating the dance of feelings, emotions that inevitably surge, because is also like fire, like the sea. It warms up my bones and my blood and it makes me to act in a thousand different ways but also drowns and dilutes me into the all and the nothing. It is a mystery that very few can explain: Dreaming.

Excerpt of the book, “The Mystery” by Mr. Oscar Basurto