Real Estate

How to contact comic artists and writers

The first annual New York Comic-Con featured Milla Jovovich and was so successful that the organizers almost had to shut it down. The second annual New York Comic-con was much better organized, even bringing Steven King and Stan Lee to meet the fans.

Below are a few more tips for contacting your favorite comic book artists and writers at various comic book conventions across the country…

Meeting in person:

While most comic creators, artists, and writers will tell you where to send fan mail within their posts, the comic book industry also works hard to be available to its fan base through conventions, expos, and events. for fans.

The general rule of thumb is that if you wait a bit, a comic book convention (or “comic-con”) is likely to be announced in your area, and the organizers will make all sorts of promises about who will be there (most often who will be there). will not show up). Buy your ticket anyway, and take a few hundred bucks and a nice Sharpie pen, because even if the people who show up aren’t the people promised, they’re most likely worth meeting.

Most of today’s comic book conventions go way beyond just comics. They often feature actors, directors, TV stars, set designers, comic artists, writers, and a variety of retro names that will have you scratching your head trying to remember who they were. The show usually charges around $25 per ticket, but the attractions will last all day, from screenings of rare films to autograph sessions to bootleg comics for sale. Most conventions travel across the country so fans don’t have to spend money to travel.

What should you bring to sign? Nothing really, unless you know someone will be there and you have some important memories for that person. There are usually a lot of items for sale at comic book conventions that you can buy to sign.

The prices at the convention vendor booths are generally not cheap, however you can pick up some really cool pop culture memorabilia if you look hard enough, and the chance to get that item signed by its maker can be something really special. .

Comic book conventions and comic books themselves are a huge industry that is growing every year. So comics are a great place to spot rising stars before their signatures are worth thousands of dollars when they really hit it off.

How do you find a comic convention in your area? It’s pretty easy: just visit the Comic Book Conventions website. This resource lists all of the upcoming comic-cons, usually four or five per weekend, and also announces schedule changes, cancellations, and contact information.

The best conventions return on the same date every year, like Mid-Ohio-Con, which takes place in Columbus, Ohio, on Thanksgiving weekend. The 2004 Mid-Ohio-Con lineup included Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi and Noel Neill, TV original Lois Lane, as well as many other names from the comics industry.

Vancouver Comic-Con happens once every few months, while Dragon-Con takes place every September. Every corner of the country has a meeting of some kind, but even if you have to hop in the car and drive a few hours to get to a large convention near you, the money spent doing it can be recouped when you grab that authentic sketch of John Byrne and auctioned it off on eBay.

Big names in the comic book convention business include the following:

San Diego Comic-Con International, PO Box 128458, San Diego, CA 92112-8458, 619-491-2475

The biggest and best, Comic-Con has become a brand in the business. Tens of thousands of fans gather each year, some traveling from across the country to hear expert panels, get autographs, buy souvenirs, see special movie screenings, and just hang out.

Dragon*Con, PO Box 16459, Atlanta, GA 30321-0459, 770-909-0115

A solid number two, Dragon*Con takes on more of a fantasy slant, but it’s not just for Dungeons and Dragons fans. D*C grows every year, and as collectors grow from obsessed teenagers to well-funded adult fanatics, the money flowing through the registers continues to rise as well.

Big Apple Comic Book Convention, 75-34 Metropolitan Avenue, New York, NY 11379, 201-865-3288

This one is in New York City, so of course it’s big. If you live in the Northeast, the Big Apple Con is for you.

Mid-Obio-Con, PO Box 3831, Mansfield, OH 44907, 419-526-1427

The Midwest really knows how to put on a show, and MOC always has an interesting lineup of names. It’s not the biggest comic-con out there, but it has a reputation for being one of the best.

Mega-Con, PO Box 1097, Safety Harbor, FL 34695, 727-796-5725

New York Comic-con, Jacob Javiz Center, 655 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001, 1-888-605-6059

Sending fan mail:

To write to your favorite comic artist, look for your fan’s mailing address printed on the comic. Or send your letter to the comic publisher, whose address will also appear inside the book.

Visit Contact Any Celebrity for instant access to the best mailing address, agent, manager, publicist, production company, and charitable cause for your favorite comic book artists and writers.

Shopping Product Reviews

Healthy Way to Cook Meat

Cooking is an art that must be learned according to correct principles. People who are well versed in food preparation should not need medication. Animal meat is made up of fibers. These fibers are surrounded by connective tissue that is strong. Cooking softens and breaks down these tissues, making it easier for digestive juices to penetrate and dissolve them. That’s what proper cooking does. Poor cooking usually makes the meat undigestible.

The simpler the cooking, the more digestible the food will be. Flavors develop in the process, but these are hidden if the meats are heavily seasoned.

The various ways of cooking meat include the following:

Boiled: When boiling meats lose muscle sugar, flavoring extracts, organic acids, gelatin, mineral matter and soluble albumin. That is, they lose flavor and nutrition. Therefore, the liquid in which they are cooked should be used. The correct way to boil meat is to submerge it in boiling water. Let the water boil vigorously for ten to fifteen minutes. This will roll up the outside of the piece of meat. Then lower the water temperature to about 180 degrees F. and cook until it suits your taste. If it is boiled at a high temperature for a long time, it hardens, because the albumin curdles completely.

The salts draw the water out of the meat. Therefore, none of it should be used in boiling. The meat must be cooked in running water without adding anything. Vegetables and cereals should not be added. All meats contain some fat, and this enters the water and acts on vegetables and starches, making them indigestible. Season the meat after it is cooked or, better yet, have everyone season it to their liking after serving it.

Meats to be boiled should never be soaked, because cold water dissolves some of the salts and some of the nutritive substances. It’s better to just wash the meat if it doesn’t look fresh and clean enough to attract the eye, which it always should.

· Stew: If the meat is to be stewed, cut it into small pieces and stew or simmer at a temperature of about 180 degrees F. until tender. Must be steward in running water. If you want a meat and vegetable stew, stew the vegetables on one plate and the meat on another. When both are ready, mix both together. Cooking it like this makes a stew that will not “repeat” if it is eaten well. Food should taste while it is eaten, not after.

Broths: If a broth is desired, select lean meat. Either you grind it or you chop it well. There is no harm in soaking meat in cold water, as long as the water is used to make the stock. Don’t use seasonings. Let it stew or simmer at about 180 degrees F. until the meat strength is largely in the water. When the broth is ready, set it aside to cool. Then trim all fat and heat and use. A pound of lean meat will make a quart of fairly strong broth.

Grilled: Cut meat to desired thickness. It is then placed near a high heat, turning it from time to time, until it is done. But be careful not to burn the meat. An ordinary steak should be grilled for about 10 minutes. The time may depend on the thickness of the slice and whether you want it rare, medium, or well done.

Steak topped with onion is a favorite dish, but it is not a good way to prepare either onions or steak. A better way is to grill both the steak and the onions, or to grill the steak, slice the onions about one-half to three-quarters of an inch thick, add a little water, and bake. Steak and onions prepared in this way are tasty and easy to digest.

· Roasting: Roasting is similar to grilling, that is, cooking a piece of meat in front of an open fire. But in roasting a large part of the meat is used and, therefore, it takes more time to do it.

Baking: When baking, place meat in a closed oven. Most of the so-called roast meats are baked. The oven should be very hot for the first 10 to 15 minutes, around 400 degrees F. This heat will sear the outside of the meat quite well. Then reduce the heat to 260 degrees F. If held at a high temperature, it will produce a tough piece of meat. The length of time the meat should be in the oven depends on the size of the piece of meat and how well done it is desired. While part of the juices are baking and part of the fat is escaping. About every fifteen minutes, beat the meat with its own juice. And a few minutes before taking the meat out of the oven, it can be sprinkled with a small amount of salt, and the same can be done with roasted and roasted meats before they are cooked.

Steaming: Steaming is an excellent way of cooking, in the sense that none of its nutritional value will be lost. Put the meat in the steamer and let it rest until done. Cheaper, tougher cuts of meat, which are just as good as more expensive ones and often taste better, can become very tender when steamed. Resistant birds can be treated in the same way. A great way to cook an old hen or old turkey is to steam them until tender, then put them in a hot oven for a few minutes to brown. Some birds are so tough that they cannot be made edible by boiling or baking, but they do not become tough when steamed.

Choking: This is a modification of cooking. Any kind of meat can be smothered, but it’s especially fine for chickens. Take a young bird, separate it at the joints, place it in a pan, and add a pint of boiling water. And if a chicken is lean, put it in a little butter, but if it’s fat, use no butter. Then cover the pan tightly and place it in the oven and let it bake. A chicken weighing two and a half pounds dressed will require one hour and fifteen minutes to bake. You must keep the lid on the baking sheet until the chicken is done, you must not lift it even once. The sauce (basically the juices that drip from cooking the meats) will be found in the pan.

· Frying is an objectionable method of cooking. It is generally held that when high-temperature fat is introduced into meat, it becomes highly indigestible. And in fact, the crust that forms on the outside of the meat cannot be digested. It is folly to prepare food in such a way that it is harmful to the body. However, there is a way to use a frying pan so that there is practically no damage to yourself. Grease the pan very lightly, just enough to prevent the meat from sticking. Put the pan very hot and place the meat in it. Turn meat frequently. French fries can be cooked this way with good results. The same goes for steaks and chops.

Finally, you should strive to avoid greasy cooking. It is an abomination that kills thousands of people annually.

Sports

Top Personality Tip: Scoffers are losers! Don’t be one or more!

Scoffers are losers. That’s why they make fun of it. If you already feel bad about yourself, why not spread negative karma? You may find yourself in certain situations where you think the person being mocked is “cool” as long as they aren’t directed at you. Teasing or teasing is never okay. Why not?

Children and adults make fun of others to feel “better” or “superior” for a short period of time. In the long run, it proves that scoffers are losers. There is something radically wrong when a person tries to feel good by making fun of others. Taking others down, especially in front of a crowd, is never a good idea. When you make fun of others, you are putting them down and showing others what a loser you are.

Samuel M. Silver wrote: “To belittle is to be small. To be grateful is to be great.” Please don’t be small. Praise others. If you really feel bad, choose a lamp. Right now I want you to point at a lamp. Say: “Lamp, you are the dumbest lamp ever invented!” Now freeze! Look at your hand. How many fingers are pointing at you? My guess is three. Your index finger is telling the lamp that it’s dumb, and three fingers are pointing at you! So who’s really dumb, you or the lamp?

Of course, you are not a fool or a loser. But kids who feel good about themselves and the direction their lives are taking don’t make fun of others. They accept others as they are, warts and all.

For years I only had one “rule” posted in my classroom: “You shall not make fun of others.” Yeah, I wanted it to sound almost religious, and if you only have one rule, it becomes the law of the land. No matter how old we are, we don’t want to be made fun of. We want to be treated fairly and well by others. That one rule turned a group of kids into one big extended family. We became a small community that cared and trusted each other. Introducing the “no teasing rule” on the first day of school was like waving a magic wand that brought us all together as friendly learners. Because?

The bottom line is that feelings always matter in life, especially in a classroom. And every student knew that when they walked into my classroom. I told the class the first day that your feelings were just as important as your big toe. No one wants to get stepped on or stepped on their big toe.

At school, as a student and a teacher, I was good at not teasing, but I did joke around in some silly ways. Sometimes when a student corrected me in class, I would slowly approach him or her with my arms outstretched, like I was Frankenstein. Then I would gently put my hands close to her neck. At this point the whole class was laughing. And, if I’d been a bit annoyed at being corrected, when Frankenstein got to his victim, Frankie was smiling too. With the whole class smiling, he would slide me to the front of the class and start teaching again. They always enjoyed the break in the usual routine.

I might consider this behavior unusual for a teacher, but being funny in unexpected ways was part of the fun of teaching. Children like teachers with a good sense of humor who are willing to laugh with them, take life easy, and not make fun of others.

However, as a child, I did not like to be called “Silly Sottile”. He annoyed me. Nobody likes to be teased. I tried to ignore any taunting of my name. Sometimes it was easy. Sometimes it wasn’t.

As an author, I just hope you remember my last name. “Silly So-til-e” works for me. I no longer consider him to be making fun of me. I like the alliteration in saying it that way. It rhymes, and the kids remember my name longer that way.

If you’re being made fun of, it’s always good to remember what Eleanor Roosevelt said: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” In other words, you have some control over your reaction to nasty words.

However, it is true that sticks and stones break bones, and mocking words CAN HURT, but the real losers are those who need to mock others to spread their own misery.

Be happy that you are not one of them because they can never really love themselves or feel happy. In other words, don’t be like them. or else you’ll never really feel happy. They must share their misery to feel much of anything. How sad! Such losers! I’d rather encourage sunshine (and liking myself!) than rain down on someone’s sense of self worth or dignity. What about you?

Tours Travel

Italy By Train – Holidays That Cost The Earth Nothing

Before the arrival of the Channel Tunnel and after the Eurostar, traveling by train to Italy was quite an undertaking. Once he had negotiated the British Rail part of the journey and the cross-channel ferry, there was the prospect of an uncomfortable night in a sleeping car. Many people can still be intimidated by the prospect of a 600+ mile journey through at least 3 countries and opt to hop on a plane.

These days, thankfully, we can put aside any concerns you may have. Plus, with airports and flying becoming an increasingly dehumanizing experience, there are more reasons than ever to choose a greener, more civilized mode of travel.

I left the beautifully restored St. Pancras International aboard the Eurostar. Although more expensive, I recommend Leisure Select (formerly 1st Class) as it has more space to spread out, tasty food, and free drinks to get you in the vacation mood. You can then sit back and take in the views as the Kent countryside and northern France flash by, before you know it (well 2 hours 15 minutes actually) you’re in Paris!

Arriving at Gare du Nord I took the RER to Gare de Lyon, changing trains at Châtelet Les Halles. The journey takes about 20 minutes. However, if you don’t feel like lugging your suitcase via the metro, take a taxi. It can be a bit longer by taxi, depending on traffic, though you do get the benefit of seeing some glimpses of Paris and the Seine and not have to worry about taking the wrong train or dealing with your luggage. Better still, give yourself 3 or 4 hours in Paris or stay overnight in a hotel and stroll along the banks of the Seine, through the Jardins des Tuileries or around Notre Dame and Ile St. Louis. Whichever method you choose to cross Paris, I would always allow 1 hour to 90 minutes between the two stations to ensure you have plenty of time and can enjoy the experience.

My destination was Dijon, chosen because it is a good place to take a break on your trip and it is a very attractive medieval city. The TGV from Paris gets you there in about 1 hour 40 minutes, passing through beautiful French countryside. I spent the night at the 4 star Mercure Dijon Clemenceau. The hotel is about a mile from the station, a 5-10 minute taxi ride, and is very convenient. There are 2 and 3 star hotels closer to the station.

Feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep and the classic French breakfast of croissant and coffee, I continued my journey from Dijon to Milan, changing trains in Bern. The benefit of this route is that you enjoy a more scenic route to Italy, through the Swiss Alps and, in this case, the beautiful Bernese Oberland. You can also ride another elegant TGV followed by the Cisalpino tilting train that meanders towards Milan. Traveling on day trains, you get the benefit of all the stunning views from the comfort of your seat.

If you’re in a hurry, you can reach Milan in a day from London or travel overnight on a sleeper train. Although I prefer the more relaxed day trip.

Technology

Top 5 PHP Based Ecommerce Platforms That Can Meet Your Business Needs

PHP is considered one of the most popular programming languages ​​of the moment, powering millions of websites and web applications. The server-side scripting language has been consistently used for complex and demanding tasks, including the development of e-commerce platforms. PHP-based platforms are better than their counterparts because they allow the creation of custom stores with a minimum of time and effort.

With so many options available, it can be daunting to select the best of the lot. To make things easier for you, we have compared some of the most popular PHP-based eCommerce platforms and selected the best ones for you. Here is our pick:

1) Magento

Obviously, Magento tops our list, due to its immense functionality, versatility, and scalability. The platform powers some of the world’s leading stores and is easily the best option when it comes to store development for medium and large retailers. Retailers have the option to choose community, enterprise or enterprise cloud editions based on their requirements.

2) WooCommerce

Powered by WordPress, this PHP-powered platform is the best option if you’re looking for a store that’s quick to set up and easy to customize. Available as a plugin, it can be used to turn your existing WordPress site into an online shopping portal. With various themes, plugins, and extensions available, WooCommerce makes custom store development simple.

3) ZenCart

It provides a number of features that allow you to set up a custom store in minimal time. With support for multiple languages, currencies, payment, and shipping options, ZenCart is the perfect development platform for retailers looking to serve on a global scale. There are also a variety of themes and plugins that can modify the look as per the requirements.

4) PrestaShop

PrestaShop is mobile-ready, comes with support for over 60 languages, professional-grade eCommerce templates, and modules that make it a highly versatile platform for large-scale store development. However, some modules and templates are paid, so users will have to spend an additional sum to improve the look and functionality of the store.

5) OSCommerce

OSCommerce stands out among other eCommerce platforms due to the support it receives from a large community of developers. From free plugins to themes, users of this platform can take advantage of the wealth of resources available to add functionality to their site. It also provides a shopping cart built with PHP and MySQL and supports unlimited expansion, multiple currencies, among others.

Business

EPSDT Aging – Part III: Loss of Coverage

In Part I in this series, we discussed the state of Medicaid and the EPSDT — the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment benefit — which covers most American children with disabilities from birth until 19 (21 in some states) years of age. Since 1989, EPSDT has required each state in the Union to provide each child with “all medically necessary services” that were available under the federal government’s Medicaid program, even if that state did not offer that service to adults. This coverage is broad enough to dwarf most private insurance.

What is ‘Medically Necessary’?

One important difference is that most states adopt a definition of “medically necessary” that only includes those services that “improve or eliminate a condition,” at least for adults. But the EPSDT definition includes services that “correct or ameliorate defects and physical and mental diseases and conditions.” It may not sound like a huge difference, but it is huge.

This is because ‘correct or improve’ includes services that stabilize someone who is medically unstable (ie, vital signs are not consistently within the defined safe range). So if he is 20 years and 262 days old and his epilepsy lands him in the hospital because he hurt himself badly, EPSDT kicks in and all the services needed to stabilize him are paid for. If you’re 21 at seven hours when you land in the hospital, that (usually pretty massive) bill is sent to your parents’ insurance, and all of a sudden, significant copays and deductions apply.

Similarly, ‘correct or improve’ includes services that maintain function in someone that would not normally function without specific ongoing intervention. (Maintenance is not ‘improve or remove’). By far the most common example is ADHD medication, which is covered under EPSDT up to age 21 and thereafter, depending on your precise prescription, the cost can go up to $300 per month with no assistance available regardless of your tier from income.

A state of exposure

States have fairly wide discretion when it comes to designing the benefit packages they offer to adults enrolled in Medicaid. They are required to provide coverage for a specific list of services, including (but not limited to):

• The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program,

• Inpatient and outpatient hospital care,

• Medical services,

• Use of the Health Center, Rural Health Clinic and Nursing Home,

• Services of Nurse Midwife, Certified Pediatric and Family Care Nurse and Independent Maternity Center,

• Use of laboratory and X-rays, and

• Transportation services (only for medical reasons).

This means they are not required to provide Medicaid programs that cover:

• Prescription drugs,

• Clinical services (ie any non-hospital medical facility),

• Therapy services, including physical, occupational, behavioral, etc.

• Dental, vision, speech, hearing and language services,

• Respiratory care,

• Podiatry,

• Prosthetics, and

• Private duty nursing services.

As you can see, if you’re an adult with Medicaid, you may be very well cared for if you live in the right state…or you may be almost completely without coverage for the services you use most, even if your state agreed to Medicaid expansion. . Remember in the first post in the series we mentioned that the majority of children using EPSDT used it for developmental, mental, or emotional disabilities? Do you notice that they all fall under the “optional” services under this heading? We’ll talk about what this means in more detail in the next post.

Home Kitchen

7 ways to learn how to tile a bathroom

Learning how to tile a bathroom may not seem important, but it is. If you can do your own tile work, you will save hundreds of dollars in the cost of a professional tile installer. Laying your own bathroom tiles requires some tools and skill, but it’s not too difficult for the average person to learn. All you need is dedication and a little practice. If you want to learn how to tile a bathroom, here are some tips to help you.

1. First, find out how many tiles you will need for the area you are going to tile. This is a relatively simple process: measure a tile, then figure out how many will fit in the space along the top. Then find how many will fit along one side and multiply by two. However, add a few more tiles than this number. You may have broken some or miscounted, and having extra tiles is better than running out. Also, some extra tiles can be kept on hand if it ever gets damaged. Just replace the tile with a spare and your bathroom will look like new.

2. Use a tile measurer to determine where your tiles should go. You can make one yourself, it’s just a piece of wood marked with the tile positions. When making the gauge, lay the tiles on a flat surface with spacers between them and align the gauge of the tiles with them. Mark where the tiles are and you’ll have your own indicator.

3. Align the center. Draw a vertical line along the wall where the middle tile will go. This allows you to tile out from this point and have a well-aligned layout.

4. Start at the bottom, not the top. Lay the tiles from the bottom up and remember to use spacers, so that each tile is evenly ugly.

5. For straight cuts, a tile cutting jig is invaluable. It will help you cut individual tiles to the correct size to fit your bathroom. Curved tiles will require the use of a tile saw.

6. Use grout to fill all gaps. Once the tiles have settled, you can remove the spacers and fill the areas between the tiles with grout. Use a waterproof bathroom grout to prevent water from getting trapped between the tiles.

7. Seal everything well. Use silicone caulk or acrylic caulk to seal any gaps or seams between the tile and the tub, sink, or other fixtures. Run a wet finger along a bead of caulk to seal it.

Learning how to tile a bathroom will give you better control over your remodeling job, plus you’ll save a lot of money. So if you want to develop the skills for the job, do some in-depth tiling research and speak to an experienced tiler for more information. You could be laying your own tile soon.

Digital Marketing

Message from the Universe: Creativity at its finest

“For the record, you haven’t missed a thing, you don’t even know what downtime is, and every second of your life so far, resting, playing, distracted or not, has been deeply creative.

we’re on a roll
The universe”

Every minute counts, no matter what you do. You feel like you’re not productive because you don’t see immediate results from your hard work. Patience is a virtue and you need to take that time to plant seeds until they grow and bring wealth and happiness. Every little step you take in life is one step closer to where YOU want to go. If you want to be successful, you will do everything in your power to make every minute count. It is important to be balanced and work smart. It’s not because you end up putting thousands of hours into a project that success will be guaranteed. Quantity does not define success.

We all strive to improve ourselves in our careers, our relationships, our family, our friends, and society. No matter what you do, it will have a direct or indirect impact on others. Never underestimate your presence in others. Everything you do to help will have a positive impact on those around you. Focus on what you can give to others, even if it is small in nature. You may think it doesn’t make sense, but actually, for that person receiving the help, it definitely has meaning. The most important thing is to take that first step to help others. Once that part is complete, you can enjoy the changes and smiles you brought to those you helped.

Relationship

7 Reasons to Climb Mount Whitney in Winter

1 – The challenge

Conquer the highest point of the lower 48 during the most difficult time of the year. The two main trails are the Mountaineers Trail and the Whitney Trail. Both offer unique challenges at this time of year. When you climb Whitney in the winter, you’re working towards it using winter climbing techniques that make the summit that much more special.

2 – Photography

Capture incredible shots of the snow-capped Sierras, especially during sunrise and sunset. The light from the Alpenglow when it hits the mountains is impressive. Snow covered mountains add incredible depth and contrast to your shots. Frozen lakes and waterfalls add to the beauty of the area.

3-Improve yourself

Hone your mountaineering skills with the use of ice axes, snowshoes, and crampons. Stop buying gear just to take great photos on snowy hills that you can walk around in flip flops and surf shorts. Take a course, or teach yourself, and climb a real mountain that challenges you to use the tools you have. Using crampons and an ice ax is pretty common sense with a bit of practice. The trails have all the conditions to practice your skills. The trail has deep snow, long sections of ice, and steep inclines, which are close to death-defying cliffs.

4 – The insulation

Avoid the annoying summer crowds. Anyone can hike a pre-constructed, paved trail, but only a brave few can climb a mountain without a trail. Head out this time of year when the trail disappears under the snow and make your own route. You will have the mountain almost entirely to yourself.

5 – The night sky

Camp under an incredible endless starry sky. The Sierras offer some of the most beautiful night skies. With so many major cities just hours from Mt. Whitney, seeing the stars seems rare these days. Leave the city behind and fall asleep looking at the REAL night sky.

6 – Learn new skills

Learn to camp in the snow. Anyone can camp in an RV or in the height of summer, but what about winter? Bring a snow shovel to dig for shelter from the wind, learn how to melt snow for water, learn how to keep your stove going, how to stay warm in cold weather, and learn how to keep your wipes from freezing when nature calls. .

7 – No more apologies

The self-issuance permit means you won’t be able to use the “I couldn’t get a lottery permit to climb Mount Whitney” excuse, which I’ve heard a million times. (Because we all know the truth is, you really are scared!) Everyone says they want to climb Mount Whitney, and then they always find a reason to blame the Park Service for stopping them. Well, if you really wanted to climb Mount Whitney, then half the year is totally in your control. You can probably get an entry permit for the other 6 months of the year as well. Stop making excuses to friends and family on Instagram or Facebook, and go to the mountains now. Just get up, get out there and do it! No more excuses. You have until April 30 to make it happen.

The details of the trip

Day 1: We arrive at the Lone Pine Visitor Center at the intersection of HWY 395 and HWY 136 just south of Lone Pine, CA. We issued our own overnight permits to climb Mount Whitney and collected our Wag bags. You can self-issue the free permit from November 2 to April 30. Climbing during this time of year allows you to avoid all the crowds and permit lottery system in the summer. After retrieving our permits, we drove 2 miles north on HWY 395 to Lone Pine, CA and turned left/west on Whitney Portal Rd. From here we drove 7.1 to Lone Pine Campground at 6,000 feet to acclimatize. . The Campground is $20 a night and you can self cater a campsite. The campsite provides water and toilets. The camp offers a clear view of Mt. Whitney and the challenge ahead.

Day 2: We drive 6 miles from Lone Pine Campground to Whitney Portal at 8,300 feet, where the Whitney Trail begins. Whitney Portal Campground, store, and even the road may be closed this time of year. We were able to park right at the clearly marked trailhead with no snow. We put on our 45 pound packs and headed for the summit. The first 1.5 miles of the trail was clear of snow. The trail quickly gains elevation as it backs up towards Lone Pine Lake. About a mile before the lake, the trail disappears under the snow and the tracks go in all directions. This is where a good map study and GPS come in handy. If you don’t want to break a sweat or poke holes in the snow, this is a great time to strap on your snowshoes. You may only need them for a short time. You can follow the flame marks on the trees and slowly climb the mountain, or you can cut straight and save some time. Once you get to Mirror Lake, just 0.5 miles past Outpost Camp, you’ll want to fill up with as much water as possible, as this will be the last water you’ll be able to get to before you have to melt the snow. You’ll also want to strap on your crampons for the next steep section and keep them on until you reach Trail Camp. Continue up through the trees to the south of Mirror Lake. After leaving the tree line at about 10,200 feet, head west and keep left near frozen Consultation Lake, at the 6 mile mark on your trip. Continue 3 miles to Trail Camp at 11,800 feet and find a nice spot sheltered from the wind to spend the night. The sunset is incredible and offers an opportunity to capture a great photo.
Total: 6 hours, 6.3 miles, and 3,700 feet of positive elevation gain.

Day 3: I recommend getting up early at 530 or 6 and starting your ascent. The snow will be firm, which is good for climbing. You will also be able to capture amazing sunrise photos. This will also help you beat any overnight storms that may come your way. I recommend bringing two full 32-ounce bottles of water for the climb. From Trail Camp you have to walk up the steepest part of the trail. Head west up the slightly steep snow ramp towards Trail Crest at 13,650. You will need to understand how to properly use crampons, an ice ax, and the proper way to self-arrest in the event of a fall. A fall during this part of the trail could be fatal. Once you’ve reached the top, take a moment to soak in the majestic views of the snow-capped Western Sierras as far as the eye can see. Make sure you have wind and sun protection for this section of the trail. Continue your climb north as the trail enters Sequoia National Park and descends 150 feet to connect with the John Muir Trail. Although there may be long stretches of trail without snow, keep your crampons on! Certain sections along this 3-kilometre stretch to the summit are very icy and bordering on fatal cliffs. After about 0.5 miles into the trail, you’ll see your first glimpse of the stone hut at the top. Continue past the Needles and Mount Muir to reach the summit. Take a break at the summit hut, sign the log, and return safely. If you understand how, you can slide certain sections on the way down to make your descent faster. Once we made it safely to the Trail Camp, we removed our crampons and quickly made it to the Whitney Portal trailhead in 2 1/2 hours. We stayed at Portagee Joe Campground last night. It’s a very easy desktop publishing bootcamp for only 14 bucks. It’s only a mile from Lone Pine, so it was easy to have dinner that night and breakfast the next morning in town.

Total: 8 hours from Trail Camp to Summit Round Trip, 9.4 miles and 2,800 feet of elevation.

Health Fitness

Top Five Benefits of Pilates Exercise

Top 5 Benefits of Pilates Mat Exercise

Pilates exercise is a worldwide phenomenon, Popular with the general public and elite athletes. The simple reason is that Pilates works like no other fitness method. Here are the top five benefits of this amazing technique.

No Team. The Pilates mat exercise uses your own body for resistance. This type of back-to-basics exercise is now the top fitness trend according to a recent survey by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Pilates mat exercise is one of the few fitness methods that uses your own body for resistance. This freedom from any equipment or gym means you can do it anywhere, anytime – perfect for our increasingly mobile lifestyle!

Mat exercises are the original Pilates workout. Interestingly, the special equipment you find in Pilates studios was first created by Joseph Pilates for people who were unable to do mat exercises due to disability, illness, or injury. This is not a criticism of Pilates machines or any other type of exercise equipment, but if you want a fabulous workout with no equipment, the Pilates Mat routine is for you!

Big Breath. Joseph Pilates emphasized breathing, and each Pilates mat exercise has a breathing pattern. Big, expansive breathing combined with precise, controlled and fluid movement results in a truly exhilarating experience. You feel energized after a Pilates workout instead of exhausted!

A complete workout. According to fitness research, the body needs three different types of exercise: strength training, stretching, and cardiovascular conditioning (better known as aerobic exercise). You need all of these exercises, because any one of them alone will not keep you healthy.

The reason for this is that after the age of 30, both men and women begin to lose muscle tissue throughout their bodies. You need strength training to restore muscle tissue. Aerobics and stretching will not do this. On the other hand, you need cardio for heart health that stretching and strength training can’t provide. And lastly, you need stretching to gain flexibility, and yes, you guessed it, strength training and cardio don’t do this.

Fitness methods that combine these three exercises are called complete exercise techniques. The Pilates mat exercise at the advanced level is not only a complete method, but one of the few exercise methods that do this.

Healthy Joints. There are no sudden movements in Pilates. This prevents damage to your joints. Movement is controlled, precise and fluid. This type of joint-healthy movement means Pilates is an exercise you can do for the rest of your life! This can’t be said for many of the exercises we love to do, like running and walking, to name just a few, that put wear and tear on our joints.

Relief for most back problems. Nearly 100 years ago, Pilates discovered that by strengthening the muscles around the center of your body, popularly known as the core muscles, most back problems disappear. Today, doctors agree that most back problems are best resolved with exercise rather than surgery or medication. This is one of the reasons why I refer to Joseph Pilates as the Einstein of fitness. His exercises and his core strength principles are widely used by physical therapists and trainers around the world.

Now that you know the fantastic benefits of Pilates exercise, it’s time to give it a try. Pilates will change your life!