Real Estate

Invisible Grivory Knives For Metal Detectors: Should Security Guards Be Worried?

Undetectable weapons passing through metal detectors have long been a problem in the security industry. Despite 3D printing experiments, usable non-metallic firearms remain a pipe dream for the average criminal. “Plastic Glocks” caused a gust of panic in the late 80s: the Austrian manufacturer developed a pistol, significant parts of which were made from non-ferrous polymers; although the barrel, slide, and other parts were still made of metal, public perception soon distorted the weapon into a plastic weapon that was undetectable by metal detectors. This version of the Glock was notably portrayed in Die Hard II. However, fears of a plastic pistol were found to be largely unfounded: as already mentioned, the actual weapon at the basis of the controversy had several metal parts, and security checkpoints equipped with metal detectors were unsuccessful. trouble finding them.

Cold weapons are a different story. With no moving parts and the need to contain explosive propellant, these are much easier to make from non-metallic materials. “Grivory” is one such material.

Grivory is the most common trade name for a polymer called polyphthalamide, which is a synthetic resin related to nylon. It exhibits heat resistance and hardness that make it a suitable replacement for metal in a number of roles, such as high-temperature auto parts.

Grivory has also found some use in knife making. Cold Steel, a California-based manufacturer of bladed weapons, uses it in several of their lines. Primarily the material is used in knife handles, because it is lightweight and strong, but some knives also have Grivory blades. Most of these are fixed blade knives, which means that they cannot be folded and the blade extends into the handle.

The questions with Grivory knives are whether they are truly undetectable and whether they constitute dangerous weapons.

There is a popular perception that all knives must have metal parts in order for them to be detectable for safety. This is comforting but false in any meaningful sense.

Unsurprisingly, many jurisdictions prohibit the manufacture or sale of stealth weapons; for example, California Penal Code section 12001.1.(a) prohibits the manufacture or importation of any “undetectable knife,” defined as “a knife or other instrument with or without a forend that may readily be used as a stabbing weapon that may inflict serious bodily injury or death that is commercially manufactured for use as a weapon and is not detectable by a metal detector or magnetometer, whether handheld or otherwise, that is established in standard calibration.”

However, we were able to easily find Grivory fixed-blade knives for sale online that only had one metal part: a key-chain-like loop. This ring can be removed with hardly any effort, making the knife truly invisible to metal detectors, which is exactly how this product was advertised (and yes, they do ship to California).

The performance of the Grivory rackets is another matter. For what it’s worth, these knives aren’t known for their strength or ability to hold an edge—some users report the tips breaking off when cutting through boxes, while another called them “as dangerous as a credit card.” Sharpening them is a risky proposition, some users say it can’t be done, while others recommend doing it carefully with a file or sandpaper. Knife aficionados report that Grivory and other polymers are pretty useless when it comes to cutting, though they are somewhat effective for stabbing.

All told, a Grivory knife can do some injury, but it’s pretty ineffective and fragile as a combat weapon – your staff or night stick has much better range and can do a lot more damage in most cases.

It’s no coincidence that Grivory knives (and other non-metallic knives) don’t seem to have great appeal among criminals, especially since their properties are useless when it comes to eluding X-ray scanners. Law enforcement practice hasn’t seen much criminal use. of these knives in routine civilian life; it seems that they are simply not used as often to commit crimes.

In conclusion, it is true that you can buy undetectable non-metallic knives for a fairly low price and smuggle them through metal detectors. However, as a security guard, the chance of running into one of them is very low, and you should be more concerned with other weapons that are frequently used to commit crimes, such as good metal firearms.

Shopping Product Reviews

How to do the Xbox 360 towel trick – Does the towel trick really work?

So it bothers you that your Xbox 360 shows the RRoD. It can be very frustrating. Chances are you’ve heard about how some Xbox 360 gamers try to fix their console using the towel trick.

The process used to do the Xbox 360 towel trick is as follows:

1) Make sure your console really has the 3 red lights error and no other errors.

2) You need three towels. More or less the same ones you use to shower.

3) Carefully remove everything on the console, such as the hard drive, controllers, games, etc. However, the power supply must not be removed.

4) Wrap towels (make sure they are dry) around your console.

5) Plug in the Xbox 360 power supply and turn it on. Let it act for 15-20 minutes.

6) Once this is done, turn off the console and unplug it from the power outlet. Let it cool down for about 10 minutes or more.

7) Once the console has had a chance to cool down, connect the power supply and turn it back on. It should be working.

That being said, I DO NOT recommend this method to fix your Xbox 360.

If anything, you’ll actually end up doing more damage to your console. There are also much safer ways to fix the dreaded RRoD. So once again, stay away from the towel trick method.

A much better and safer way to fix your console is to use an Xbox 360 repair guide. One that takes all the guesswork out by showing you how to fix your console with detailed step-by-step instructions.

So if you’re interested in fixing it yourself, stay away from the Xbox 360 towel trick and use a repair guide instead. Good luck!

Sports

Clog Dancing – Offers high levels of attitude, energy, exercise and fun

Have you ever wanted to do something excitingly challenging for yourself, knowing that it’s good for you and won’t require a lot of boring work on your part? So, that something is the dancing clog, also called a clog. You can do it alone, with a partner, or in a group. All three ways are fun, fun, and fun. Also, if you join an organized jamming group, you’ll have a new set of friends and become more palatable to yourself and your peers. Since Clogging Groups are special in their own way, so will you.

What is obstruction?

Various sources describe the American form of clogging as a hillbilly tapping or stomping folk dance, where the dancer makes musically synchronized sounds with their feet. In the past, it was done to mountain and bluegrass music with high leg movements combined with shuffling, stomping, and tapping. Today, it is done with many types of music in the same way. Children and adolescents generally do it at great speed, faster and with more precision than adults.

Where does the obstruction come from?

Clogging dates back to European folk dances and jigs of the 16th century or earlier. It has been traced to dances performed by Scotch-Irish steppers, Dutch cloggers (performed in wooden shoes or soft shoes with wooden soles), Euro-Russian gypsies, and English-French-German folk dancers. On this continent, it evolved into its own early style through immigrants who settled in Canada, the Appalachian Mountains, and the southern mountainous regions. Among all the early settlers who liked to stomp and dance were Native Americans, frontiersmen, African-Americans, cowboys, farmers, ranchers, and woodland dwellers, hill dwellers, and small villages. All of these regional sects have influenced plugging styles in one way or another at one time or another. Today, it is being further shaped by contemporary cluck groups and various types of modern music in addition to traditional ones.

How is obstruction taught or done?

Clogging is usually learned in groups under the direction of an instructor who carefully teaches the terminology and routines of the steps, and who makes sure it is done in time to the music. However, if there is no such group nearby, instructional videos and DVDs can be found in some dance stores and on the Internet.

Briefly, the basic obstruction step is a two-toed touch made with one of your feet, followed by stepping on the balls of each foot. First, starting with the left foot, brush the toe forward and then back, touch-touch, and then step on the same foot (ball). Immediately after that to the left tap-tap-ball move, step on your right ball and then step back on your left ball once more. That’s it, the basic step, left toe forward, left toe back, left step ball, right step ball, left step ball.

Now, repeat this stepping movement starting with the right foot and then again with the left, alternately. Once you have learned to repeat this step continuously and lightly, you will be able to perform the slight variations with ease. As your ability to balance and bend your knees increases, you’ll move on to longer, slightly varied routines based on these steps. In addition, you can do them alone, as a couple or within a group as a line dance or in a team. You can also develop your own solo freestyle routines.

Note: The initial two-toe touch of the basic step can also be done as a heel strike as is sometimes done in certain parts of the country. The basic movement is the same as above, except that the initial toe touch is replaced by a heel touch, like heel strike forward, toe strike back, step-ball, step-ball, step-ball Etc.

Where is it done?

Obstruction can be learned or done anywhere, in the countryside or in towns, cities and villages, usually on a fairly hard surface. Today, organized clogging is mostly done within local clogging groups under the leadership of certified instructors. These groups meet and practice in schools, gyms, churches, community centers, dance halls, garages, or houses large enough to accommodate them. Membership includes all ages and types, both adults and youth. These groups often have members who regularly compete in regional clogging events in addition to having some quiet group fun. Many of the competitive dancers are young, who can pick it up easily and do it fast.

Because these groups are generally not-for-profit and semi-private, only a few of them appear in the yellow pages. Still, jamming groups exist throughout North America, similar to how dance clubs do. If you have a square dance club nearby, chances are they can point you to a set of obstructions. Some clogging groups can also be found on the internet.

Also, in regions where filibustering has been done routinely for decades, local filibusters may assemble spontaneously without much organization. These jams will show up at local parks, community events, or county fairs, where the little portable wooden decks and recorded music are available to them and anyone else who wants to try it out. A violinist, guitarist or banjo player can also appear there.

How is the obstruction organized?

Modern jamming groups are organized into non-profit federations. That is, each group operates under its own laws and the general provisions of a state board or council. The state board or council could sponsor annual workshops for local chartered groups to attend. These workshops offer expert clogging instruction, demonstrations, competitions, and entertainment such as performances, games, or parties of all kinds. They will also provide recent music screens, cue sheets, team sources, and other clogging information.

How much does it cost?

Generally, group members pay an annual fee to maintain the group’s solvency, around $20-50. The due covers the cost of the rental space, member insurance and a newsletter. For invited beginners, the only cost is for instruction, $10-50, for about 10 weeks of classes, one or two nights a week. If you decide to go deeper into plugs after graduation, you’ll need leather plugging shoes with “jingle” (double action) taps attached, $35-70. Due and shoes are the main costs. Dress codes are typically casual, T-shirts and jeans or shorts, for weekly lessons or practice sessions. You won’t need special clothing unless you decide to perform competitively with the group or perform entertainingly with them for local charities, senior centers, conventions, and festivals. Even so, the outfits are usually homemade.

What other thing?

Clogging groups are family friendly and socially fun. Because children are included in them, these groups maintain high standards of behavior for their members. They organize many gatherings, potlucks, Christmas parties and fun times for everyone. However, some groups are set up for adults or youth only. This condition occurs for older adults whose children have left home, or for young people who travel frequently to many competitions. Still other groups could be subdivided into adults and youth for training purposes. This type of organization means that participation of some kind is available to almost everyone present. So if you’re looking for a clean and fun way to burn off your energy and get some of it back with other benefits at the same time, try clog dancing. Your sleek footwork will gracefully glide you across the floor, faster and more uniquely than most.

Technology

The Wild West Crypto Show Continues

Here is a question that often comes up: How do I choose which cryptocurrency to invest in? Aren’t they all the same?

There is no doubt that Bitcoin has captured the lion’s share of the cryptocurrency (CC) market, and that is largely due to its FAME. This phenomenon is much like what is happening in domestic politics around the world, where a candidate gets the most votes based on FAME, rather than proven skills or qualifications to run a nation. Bitcoin is the pioneer in this market space and continues to grab almost every headline in the market. This FAME doesn’t mean it’s perfect for the job, and it’s pretty well known that Bitcoin has limitations and issues that need to be worked out; however, there is disagreement in the Bitcoin world about the best way to resolve the issues. As the problems worsen, there is a continuing opportunity for developers to start new coins that address particular situations and thus set themselves apart from the 1,300 or so other coins in this market space. Let’s look at two rivals to Bitcoin and explore how they differ from Bitcoin and each other:

Ethereum (ETH) – The Ethereum currency is known as ETHER. The main difference from Bitcoin is that Ethereum uses “smart contracts”, which are account hold objects on the Ethereum blockchain. Smart contracts are defined by their creators and can interact with other contracts, make decisions, store data, and send ETHER to others. The execution and services they offer are provided by the Ethereum network, all of which is beyond what Bitcoin or any other blockchain network can do. Smart Contracts can act as your autonomous agent, obeying your instructions and rules to spend money and initiate other transactions on the Ethereum network.

Ripple (XRP) – This currency and the Ripple network also have unique features that make it much more than a digital currency like Bitcoin. Ripple has developed the Ripple Transaction Protocol (RTXP), a powerful financial tool that allows exchanges on the Ripple network to transfer funds quickly and efficiently. The basic idea is to put money into “gateways” where only those who know the password can unlock the funds. For financial institutions this opens up enormous possibilities, as it simplifies cross-border payments, reduces costs and provides transparency and security. All of this is done with creative and clever use of blockchain technology.

Major news outlets are covering this market with breaking news almost every day, yet there is little depth to their stories… mostly just dramatic headlines.

The Wild West show continues…

Top 5 crypto/blockchain stock picks are up an average of 109% from December 17/11. The wild swings continue with daily spins. Yesterday we had South Korea and China the latest to try to bring down the cryptocurrency boom.

On Thursday, South Korea’s Justice Minister Park Sang-ki sent global bitcoin prices temporarily plummeting and virtual currency markets into turmoil when he reportedly said regulators were preparing a Legislation to ban cryptocurrency trading. Later that day, the South Korean Ministry of Strategy and Finance, one of the main member agencies of the South Korean government’s cryptocurrency regulation task force, came out and said that its department would not you agree with the premature declaration of the Ministry of Justice on a possible ban on cryptocurrency trading.

While the South Korean government says that cryptocurrency trading is nothing more than gambling, and they are concerned that the industry will leave many citizens in poverty, their real concern is the loss of tax revenue. This is the same concern that every government has.

China has become one of the largest sources of cryptocurrency mining in the world, but now the government is rumored to be looking into regulating the electrical power used by mining computers. Over 80% of the electrical power to mine Bitcoin today comes from China. By shutting down miners, the government would make it harder for Bitcoin users to verify transactions. Mining operations will move elsewhere, but China is particularly attractive due to very low land and electricity costs. If China goes through with this threat, there will be a temporary loss of mining capacity, which would result in Bitcoin users seeing longer timers and higher costs for transaction verification.

This wild ride will continue and just like the rise of the internet we will see some big winners and eventually some big losers. Also, similar to the internet boom, or the uranium boom, it’s those who get in early who will prosper, while mass investors always show up last, buying at the top.

Stay tuned!

Digital Marketing

Speaking Tips – Using a projector without reading from it

Having a slideshow built into your show is a great way to engage the different learning styles of your audience. But don’t trust your projector to do the presentation for you! Whether you’re a novice or an advanced speaker, reading your slides shows a lack of preparation. For the audience, it means that you are not familiar with your own material. In fact, a speaker reading your slides is the number one complaint that comes up in audience surveys.

Here are some tips to help you break this nasty habit.

get off the notes

If you know your material, the most you’ll need to do is look at the slide as it appears to make sure it matches where you are in the presentation. That’s all.

*Pro Point: Never, and I mean never, ever, turn your back on your audience to look at the image projected on the wall. You lose the audience and it makes you look like a hacker. Turn your laptop toward you so you can see the slide being projected. There is no reason to look at the projection behind you. Ever.

If you need to read your slides or a packet of paper with your printed slides, practice until you no longer have to. Your audience is there to see you, not read aloud.

With that being said, you may need to fix your slides. If you’re tempted to read your presentation off the projector, then a lot of what’s there to say is on your slides.

You are the source, not the slides.

I can’t say this enough: if you can read your presentation outside of your slides, then you have too many words on your slides. There is simply no reason to have text-heavy slides. Your audience is there to interact with you, the speaker. They didn’t get up early, shower, shave, get dressed, and travel so they could participate in group reading. They could have stayed in bed and read. What do they need you for?

You are the subject matter expert, which is why you were asked to present the material in the first place. Through your knowledge and experience, your audience will learn more, faster, than they could if they just read a book.

As you practice your presentation, ask yourself two questions:

  1. Does the public need me? They often ask me to submit my slide deck in advance, which I’m happy to do, after assuring them that it won’t help those who don’t attend the show. If you can send them your slideshow and they get all the information they need, then what do they need it for?
  2. Would my presentation work without the slides? If you can’t answer yes, then you have too much on your slides. What if the power goes out or you have an equipment failure? Don’t depend on your projector.

Apply the rule of three

If you must use bullet points, remember the rule of three: people can’t digest more than three points at a time. Two, they feel incomplete. Four, and their brains fall out. Don’t have more than three main points on a slide. If you must dissect each point on a separate slide, do so.

This also works to your benefit. If you only have to remember three things at a time, you’re less likely to have to resort to notes.

show, don’t tell

If you design your presentation so that your slides are almost entirely visual cues (photos, clip art, clear graphics, etc.), you’ll have nothing to read!

An example would be that you are quoting Martin Luther King. Instead of having a bunch of words on the screen, just have a photo of the man himself. You can then deliver the quote with all the emotion it deserves, driving home the point.

Your audience will pay more attention to you and will also learn more.

Use multiple media

In addition to visual slides, you can include a music track. You can also have a handout with lines for them to fill out. Try to engage all three main learning styles: Visual, Audio, and Kinesthetic (learning by doing). If you’re doing this for your audience, it will also help you remember.

break it down into segments

Another effective way to not only help you ensure your presentation flows, but also engages your audience, is to break it up into segments. Here’s an example:

After your attention-grabbing introduction, start with the basics: what you’re going to talk about and why it’s important. You already know this, so there’s no need to read anything here.

Tell that personal story that relates to the topic at hand. This is your story. Have fun telling it, there’s no need to read it from a slide.

Below, break down the three main points and provide a little background on each. He is quite familiar with these concepts, so you won’t even be tempted to read his slides.

Employ a group activity. This will give you time to set up your next segment, look at notes if necessary, and you won’t even need a slide for it.

Come back together and discuss what the group learned from the exercise. No slide reading here, for sure.

…etc…

If you absolutely, positively must read your presentation word for word…

Use a second computer as a teleprompter. I highly recommend against using this method as it separates you from your audience. But, if you were told the night before that you’re submitting someone else’s material, this may be an alternative to getting past the first try. Don’t use it for the next one.

Picture yourself in your audience

Be honest: if you were a member of your own audience, you’d be insulted if someone simply read aloud to you. You would frustrate yourself. You are better than that.

If you use the tips above, you’ll find that your slides enhance your presentation, rather than become it. You won’t even be tempted to read your slides.

Relationship

BVI Yacht Charter – Ladies Only Voyages

When we think of chartering a yacht in the British Virgin Islands, we’ve all heard of “Boy Trips” to the Caribbean. It usually involves copious amounts of alcohol and, with no wives or girlfriends to inhibit them, grown men acting like, well…kids. But who says guys should have a monopoly on fun getaways? If your life is so busy that you can’t find time to have lunch with your favorite girlfriend; taking care of your own needs is removed from your to-do list; It’s been a while since you laughed at yourself or maybe you’re hitting a certain birthday milestone, isn’t it time to find your girlfriend’s groove again on a “girls” trip? Whether it’s a group of friends with a past history together, sisters, mothers and daughters, or other female relationships, a girls’ trip is the time to come together and leave all the hassles and stress of your daily life at home. It’s a chance to get away, let your hair down, and just enjoy yourself and others, without having to worry about your husband or boyfriend, the kids, the house, the car, your job, or any other responsibilities. There is perhaps no better place to get away from the daily grind and have the opportunity to bond, reconnect and rejuvenate than on a girls-only BVI charter yacht. Now don’t panic! Even if you have never sailed or don’t know how to, sailing in the British Virgin Islands is easy and safe. Think of it like a floating sleepover. If you book through a charter broker, they will help you make all the arrangements and even think of things you probably didn’t know to ask.

Imagine a “girls night”, but longer! A yacht charter in the British Virgin Islands is an opportunity to relax and feel free to be who you are, to do what you want, when you want, without having to please others. It’s about friendship, connecting and supporting without competition. It’s a time to really be yourself: laugh, cry, howl and shout, sing, relax and be a girl again, all with the incredible adventure of exploring the British Virgin Islands by sea on a chartered yacht. People come from all over the world to experience sailing in the exquisite turquoise blue waters of the British Virgin Islands. Known as the sailing capital of the Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands truly are the best and safest sailing area in the world. The islands are extremely beautiful and relatively close to each other. There are constant trade winds, but the islands are well protected from the Atlantic weather. Calm seas and visual sailing line make them ideal for first time yacht charters in the British Virgin Islands. The anchorages are beautiful and there are many secluded coves and deserted sandbanks where you can simply jump overboard and swim to shore. Plus, if you’re looking for land adventures, there’s plenty to do in the British Virgin Islands. There are many options for booking yachts in the British Virgin Islands. If someone in your party is an experienced sailor, a bareboat charter in the British Virgin Islands is the ideal adventure where you captain your own boat and visit the islands as you please. If no one knows how to sail, or you just want to experience a life of luxury while being pampered aboard a private yacht, don’t worry. Experience a crewed yacht, where a captain and crew look after you, and where your wishes are your command. Whether you choose to laze around all day on board or partake in some exciting activities, you won’t be disappointed with the time you spend on either type of British Virgin Islands yacht charter.

So what’s a girl on a BVI yacht to do besides hang out with the girls? If you don’t know how to navigate, learn. Many crewed yacht captains are more than willing to share their knowledge. Otherwise, there are plenty of other activities that are sure to be fun:

Snorkeling and Diving: Snorkeling and diving in the British Virgin Islands are fabulous. The water is incredibly clear and warm, and because the sand is light and often shallow, the corals are superbly colored. There are many pinnacles, canyons, caverns, and tunnels to explore. There are coral heads in shallow water and coral gardens on shallow reefs. Diving in the British Virgin Islands is easy and safe, suitable for both beginners and newly qualified divers. Although not particularly challenging for experienced divers, there are some interesting wrecks, including the RMS Rhone. Many dive companies in the British Virgin Islands will do meet dives. This means that you will be picked up from your yacht instead of having to go to the dive shop.

Windsurfing and Kitesurfing – This can be arranged through one or two operators spread across the islands.

Shopping: Don’t most girlfriend getaways include some form of shopping? Unfortunately, the British Virgin Islands are not a shopper’s paradise like other islands in the Caribbean, but there are some shops to distract you. You’ll find a few small boutiques offering local handicrafts, but most of the merchandise is imported from other Caribbean islands. However, the British Virgin Islands do have some prolific and talented artists, so if you’re looking for souvenirs, check out some of the galleries dotted around the islands.

Hiking: There are large areas of undeveloped land in the British Virgin Islands with trails all over the place, they just aren’t marked. The best places to hike are in the two National Parks: Sage Mountain on Tortola and Gorda Peak on Virgin Gorda. On Virgin Gorda, Victoria Wheatley will take you on a guided tour of Gorda Park, where she will explain the history and medicinal properties of the plants and trees.

JR O’Neal Botanic Gardens: Let’s face it, men don’t always share our interests, and the guys in your life probably couldn’t care less about flower gardens. So why not visit a place where you won’t have to rush because “he” is bored? Located within a wall in the center of Road Town, the gardens are dedicated to the indigenous flora of the British Virgin Islands and throughout the Caribbean, and are divided into sections on either side of a central alley lined with royal palm trees. Areas are dedicated to local orchids, cacti, and herbs, and there are collections of heliconias, anthuriums, and 62 species of palms.

Yoga/Holistic Activities: The scenery in the British Virgin Islands is exceptional and makes an ideal backdrop for the pursuit of yoga and other holistic activities, although the islands themselves offer limited opportunities. Fort Recovery, in West End, Tortola, offers free yoga and Pilates sessions that take place on its dock every day at sunset. The Spa at Leverick Bay, Virgin Gorda can arrange private Indian hatha yoga sessions on your yacht. There are also individual practitioners who will come to your yacht for a private one on one session.

Spas: Of course a girls’ getaway will include spa time! Although there are still no British Virgin Islands yacht charters with onboard spa facilities, don’t let that deter you. There are several major hotels and resorts in the British Virgin Islands that have recently installed spas that you can use. Two to look out for are The Spa at Little Dix Bay and Peter Island Resort. The Spa at Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda has a beautiful setting on a ridge overlooking Sir Frances Drake Channel. There are eight treatment rooms, all connected by walkways through the rocks and vegetation. Two rooms are wet rooms and three are on the edge of the cliff. Treatments include hot and cold stone massages, reflexology and aromatherapy, body wraps and cleansers, as well as facials and manicures. Although you can make use of the facilities, you must book in advance because hotel guests have priority. The Spa at Peter Island Resort sits on its own beach at Reef Bay. There are ten treatment rooms, including wet rooms, regular massage rooms, and two separate rooms right on the sea. Treatments include a salt scrub using salt from Salt Island, just a few miles away, body wraps, and different types of massages, including a “sand pack” massage using local sand. There is also a beauty salon. Visitors can use the spa by appointment only. Finally, if you really want the ultimate in pampering, you can arrange for a freelance massage therapist to come aboard your British Virgin Islands yacht charter.

Music, Food, and Drinks: Guys know how it is with “the boys,” so make it your version. The British Virgin Islands are very good for entertainment. If you are looking for good music, you will find it in the bars and restaurants. You will also eat well in the British Virgin Islands. If you have a crewed yacht charter with a chef, he or she will be an excellent cook. You’ll also find plenty of great places to dine in the British Virgin Islands ranging from 5-star gourmet meals to tasty snacks at roadside stalls. And, let’s face it, even if you don’t normally drink at home, it’s hard to resist those incredibly refreshing rum drinks. Beach bars must be counted among some of the best features of the British Virgin Islands. Whether it’s a shed under the palm trees on a secluded stretch of sand or something more substantial, there is usually at least one bar in almost every bay. You can cruise from bay to bay, snorkel, stop for lunch, and then after anchoring for the afternoon, watch the sunset with a rum drink in hand at a fun, fun Caribbean spot.

So if chartering a yacht in the British Virgin Islands sounds like the perfect paradise for you and your girlfriends, go for it! If you share the cost, a yacht charter vacation can be surprisingly affordable. There are yacht charters to fit almost any budget. To make the most of your BVI girlfriend getaway, follow these tips:

1. Reserve your charter now. Agree on a date and put it in your diary right away. It’s hard to go back on something you’ve already paid for.

2. Create a kitty for shared expenses like meals, taxis, etc. Keep the group from finding out each person’s share at each stop without discussing who should get the check this time.

3. Bring old photos. You’ll spend time on the trip reminiscing, so the photos are fun to have.

4. Take lots of photos, but decide ahead of time if bathing suit photos are allowed. Next year, you’ll be glad you took pictures of all the fun you’re having right now.

5. Try new things. Being inept is okay. It is impossible to be embarrassed in front of a close friend. After all, she has seen you at your best and your worst.

6. Consider sharing toiletries. I mean seriously, do you really need 6 bottles of shampoo?

7. Stand up for yourself. If part of the group wants to go diving and you just want to hang out and read that rubbish romance novel, that’s fine. It’s your vacation!

8. Leave behind the blackberries, the pagers, the laptops, the kids, the men, and maybe even the hair dryers, curling irons, and makeup.

9. Book early. If you loved your BVI yacht charter, book next year’s getaway right away. You can get preferential treatment, which can mean savings and upgrades.

A BVI yacht girlfriend getaway provides a great opportunity to laugh, swap stories, shop, exercise, explore beautiful scenery, learn new skills and relax, all while on an off-the-beaten-path Caribbean adventure. Nowhere else will she find the tremendous support, encouragement, and bonding that comes on a girls’ sailing trip. So if she’s looking for a unique way to recharge her batteries and stay connected with her friends, get on board. you will be glad you did. Just throw yourself in with the girls and throw all your worries to the wind!

Health Fitness

Tabata Anything – Four Minutes of Pain to Win

The Tabata protocol is a high intensity training regimen that produces remarkable results. A Tabata workout (also called a Tabata sequence) is an interval training cycle of 20 seconds of maximum intensity exercise, followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated without pause 8 times for a total of four minutes. In a group setting, you can keep score by counting how many lifts/jumps/whatever you do in each of the 20 second rounds. The round with the smallest number is your score.

Credit for this simple and powerful training method belongs to its namesake, Dr. Izumi Tabata and a team of researchers at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo, Japan. His groundbreaking 1996 study, published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise, provided documented evidence for the dramatic physiological benefits of high-intensity intermittent training. After just 6 weeks of testing, Dr. Tabata noted a 28% increase in his subjects’ anaerobic capacity, along with a 14% increase in their ability to consume oxygen (V02Max). These results were seen in athletes who were already in good physical shape. The conclusion was that just four minutes of Tabata interval training could do more to increase aerobic and anaerobic capacity than an hour of resistance exercise.

Although Dr. Tabata used an exercise cycle machine with a mechanical brake, you can apply this protocol to almost any exercise. For example, a basic Tabata workout can be done with crunches. The more muscles used the better, so use crunches with your knees fully bent. Sit steadily for 20-second intervals, followed by 10-second rest. Repeat for a total of 8 cycles.

How effective can just 4 minutes of exercise be? …Very. You will be surprised at how intense four minutes of exercise will feel. Intervals test both your aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. To be clear, this is not “eight sets of eight,” although the goal of doing eight reps in each of your 20-second sets is correct. Instead, it’s “as many reps as you can do” for all twenty seconds, followed by ten seconds of rest.

It helps to be able to see a wall clock with a second hand during the four minutes of fun. Stop at twenty seconds, rest for ten seconds, and continue again. Looking at the clock helps you to concentrate and also to keep track of the eight cycles…

Here’s a longer Tabata workout example. This workout consists of 4 separate Tabata intervals, each 4 minutes long. The total training will last 16 minutes. Always start with a moderate warm-up and cool-down session. And if you’re still not in good shape, check with a doctor before trying it.

* Jump the rope

* Lizards

* Squats

* Chin-ups or Pull-ups

Keep in mind that the 10 second rest periods in Tabata training are important, both physically and mentally. They not only allow partial recovery, they also provide psychological relief. Switching from work to rest makes training faster. Plus, it allows you to train at a higher level of intensity, which intervals are all about.

Another good exercise for Tabatas is the “squat booster.” The squat booster is one of the great lifts that organizations like CrossFit are popularizing. Grab two dumbbells and hold them at shoulder height. Squat down, pushing your butt back, keeping the dumbbells on your shoulders. As it rises, press the bells to the top locked position. You can press while rising or use momentum to help “kick” the bells over your head. Keep your weight on your heels and go light! A 25 pound dumbbell in each hand is a very tough propulsive workout!

Pretty much any form of cardio that uses a large number of muscles can be adapted to fit Tabata interval workouts, so feel free to get creative. In addition to the exercises listed above, use them with sprints, burpees, jump rope, heavy bag, treadmill, or rowing machine. Decrease the chance of injury by choosing an intensity rate appropriate to your level of conditioning – be conservative. Incorporate variety into your Tabata workouts. A few sessions per week will offer a lot of intensity.

Legal Law

Go Out With A Bang In Your Cheap Nursing Clogs And Scrubs

The right pair of cheap scrubs and nursing clogs will have everyone feeling the blast. What is it that makes this combination so powerful? Well, for one thing, not many people wear the cheap scrubs and nursing clogs in a way that will make everyone go nuts. The way most people wear their gowns isn’t that smart. The smart person would wear the right uniforms with the right shoes. However, most people wear the shoes and uniforms incorrectly, as evidenced by their inconsistencies.

To hit the streets in your new cheap scrubs and nursing clogs, just follow these easy steps.

1) Never wear the wrong top with the wrong pants. You wouldn’t wear a purple top with pink pants. This can be detrimental, if not catastrophic. Also, follow these same guidelines when it comes to nursing clog shoes.

2) Never wear nursing clogs with the wrong scrubs. The wrong type of shoes can ruin your outfit and wreak havoc when combining outfits. This does not show any kind of trust and can lead to dismay and chaos. You wouldn’t want that, that doesn’t show any kind of confidence in your ability to dress yourself.

To show everyone that you’re serious when it comes to pairing your cheap scrubs with the right nursing clogs, make the right combinations. You can get the blue designer outfits and wear the right shades of blue with it. You could get the pink outfits and pair them perfectly with the pink shoes. This would be great, and you could surely go out with a bang. The other way you could go out with a bang would be in the right scrubs with the right pair of shoes. Mock wrap scrubs are different, form fitting and make you walk in amazement compared to other scrubs.

The right combination of cheap scrubs with the right nursing clogs would be quite difficult. There is no magic formula, and you may find any of these tips helpful. To get the crowd-stunning hit, you would have to go through a lot of trial and error. Like all the great scientists who had to face one failure after another until they became famous. Who knows, maybe your perfect cheap scrubs with nursing clogs will cause an explosion and get you famous too.

Lifestyle Fashion

Astrological Choices – Personal Sensitive Points – Midheaven, Ascendant, Nodes

There is a big difference between the intersection points in space and the physical bodies we call planets. A planet occupies a specific location and has mass, orbit, velocity, energy, influence, and orb. An intersection point in space has none of that. There is no body, no mass, no orbit, no energy of its own, yet astrologers and astronomers award such a point with both movement and influence. Because? As an astrologer, how would you feel if you didn’t have the ascendant, midheaven, or lunar nodes to work with? That got your attention, didn’t it? I can’t imagine a chart without a precise ascendant because I’m not a solar chart astrologer. I cannot imagine a chart without a precise midheaven, nor can I imagine a chart without lunar nodes. Most astrologers use those three points regularly and they are not physical objects, they are simply intersection points in space.

The ascendant in a chart is an intersection between the ecliptic (Earth’s orbit around the Sun), which is the center line of the zodiacal belt, and the eastern horizon of Earth at the time of birth. We look to the eastern horizon at birth to determine the degree and sign of the ascendant. Usually there is no object there. Most of the time it is a point of empty space. Occasionally a planet will rise along with the ascending degree and the planet and the void point will be considered individually. Each individual body or intersection has value and each can overlap in influence. For example, Gemini is the ascendant degree, so communication and information will have a strong influence on the individual. If Mars is also rising at that time, Mars will add its influence and the communication and information indicated by the rising of Gemini will be faster, more active and can be belligerent or assertive at times. Most astrologers use the rising sign as if it were a planet and it is not a planet. It is, however, an important personal sore point, which we would not want to lose by interpretation.

The same goes for the midheaven. The midheaven represents the highest point to which a planet can ascend at the time of birth. It is that point before the planet begins to move towards the point of descent or setting. The midheaven is commonly confused with the zenith. Zenith is the 90 degree angle with the horizon (directly overhead). The midheaven may or may not be at that 90 degree angle at the time of birth. Sometimes the zenith and the midheaven coincide. If you were locating the zenith or the midheaven, either would be an empty point in space. Each of these points has influence and movement even without a planet at that location or point in space. The distinction is important because each successive four minutes of birth time brings a subsequent degree of the zodiac into the midheaven. The zenith moves with a slight variation depending on the actual movement of the ascendant.

In my astrological study and practice, the Ascendant and Midheaven are primary locations. Slightly less prominent are its axis companions, the descendant and the 4th house (IC) cusp. I use all these points in my readings. What about the lunar nodes I mentioned above? The intersection points used for the north and south node of the Moon are path points of the crossing of the ecliptic. The north node travels in a south to north direction and the south node uses a north to south direction. I use these lunar points a lot in my readings and I wouldn’t want to lose their guidance just because they are intersection points instead of physical bodies.

The ascendant, the midheaven, the lunar nodes, the zenith and many other points are also used astronomically and the tables used by astrologers come from astronomical tables. Scientifically and allegorically, these points of empty space are useful for measurement and meaning. The ascendant and the midheaven are determined by large circular intersections such as the horizon, the ecliptic, or the main vertical. There are other large circles that are not as well known.

If you are a practicing astrologer, you should be familiar with the Vertex and Anti-Vertex in a wheel. You can choose not to use them, but to study, learn and choose whether the information is useful to you. Do not deny or ignore such positions simply because they are unfamiliar or do not involve actual physical bodies. Ignorance is never your friend and these points and their study will greatly enhance your knowledge and understanding of astrology.

The apex is usually (not always) on the western (left) side of a wheel. I use it as a point for relationships, karma, and environmental expectations: my choice of meanings is based on years of study, research, and application. The Anti-Vertex is the opposite axis to the Vertex. Less is known about the position other than that it seems to cause the vertex. Once again, any point is just that, there is no physical body. The intersection point itself is sensitive and can be read.

These are just some of the personal sore points and there are several other points, definitely less well known, but astrologers are working diligently to discover their meaning and application. Like I said, ignorance is never our friend, so we’ll take a quick look at some other PSPs. If you were starting your studies or choosing which tools to study, I suggest you focus on the ascendant, midheaven, and lunar nodes. Once you are comfortable with your knowledge and application of those personal points, turn your attention to the Vertex and your partner. Then you can decide if the PSP balance is of interest to you.

The Aries Point is so easy to determine, just find 00 Aries on any wheel and you have your Aries Point. It is always 00 Aries and is considered quite useful by cosmobiologists and trans-Neptunian practitioners. The other three PSPs are called Co-Ascendant, Polar Ascendant, and Equatorial Ascendant and all three are intersection points determined by specific combinations of great circles. Most of today’s astrology programs will report or insert these positions automatically, but you’ll have to do some research yourself to apply them. I am going to limit myself to the points mentioned, but keep in mind that there is more.

I have researched two projects on all PSPs including the Aries point. The two studies were the 43 US Presidents and my research project on serial killers. The common PSPs, the ascendant, the midheaven, and the lunar nodes seemed to be more specific than the less common PSPs. These are ongoing projects and I am far from reaching a conclusion on any, but I am diligently researching all PSPs through those two main projects and will report back once conclusions are reached.

There are clear differences when it comes to a planet and a point. The planet has the ability to affect or be affected by the energy of another planet. Venus and Saturn will act and will be acted upon by each other. For example, Venus will influence and learn from Saturn and Saturn will influence and learn from Venus. A personal natal point can also be influenced or modified by a planet, but the point does not influence the planet in the same way that a body would. There may be influences that have not yet been formally studied, but for the purposes of this article, the point is simply a location in space.

What about the influence orb for these points? Would the same planetary orb be justified or should some modification be made? I use traditional orbs, eight grades on majors, but I have a tendency to lower those influence orbs if there’s a point involved. I am a person with two planets square my ascendant and I can see them both working in my life and each orb is six degrees. I can clearly see how the planets affect my ascendant but I can’t see the effect of my ascendant on the two natal planets as clearly. That to me is the distinction between planets and points.

Think of the home planet (A) influencing or being influenced by the home planet (B). Then do the same mental exercise using the natal planet (A) with the personal natal point (C) to note any differences in expression and participation. Be sure to look at all possible combinations, such as planet A with planet B and planet B with planet A, and determine the effect each has on the other. If a natal planet aspects a personal natal point, it influences that point, suggesting planet A to point C as an example. For me that is very readable. Does point C (intersection point in empty space) also influence planet A? This reminds me of the old adage about a tree falling in the woods with no one around to listen… does it make a sound?