Skates

So you’ve decided to try inline skating. It is a great sport: fun, great exercise, and looks really cool.

Now what? You already know you need the skate, but which skates?

Well there are several things you can do

·First check the boot (hard or soft)

·Then the frame

·And the fastenings

·Don’t forget wheel size

·Then there’s the rocker

Okay now that your totally confused, pay a lot (from $35 to $100 or more).

Then there’s the easy way, go and rent some skates or buy a used pair. It will be cheaper than buying new and you can find out if you like them.

The most important thing about extreme skating is the part about having fun (and looking cool while doing it).

If you buy according to price or some one telling you what skates you “need”, you may not like the way the skates feel once you use them. If they don’t feel right, you won’t want to skate.

There are some things to look for even in used skates

·Fastenings: (how the skates stay on your feet) you can go with laces or Velcro straps. I prefer laces, Velcro straps are quick, but don’t allow for as much adjustment if your ankles are a different size than “average”.

·Fit: The skates shouldn’t allow your feet to move around.

Now go get your skates.

Thalidomide may boost immunity to HIV in children. Researchers from the United States and South Africa recently completed a study of thalidomide treatment in HIV-infected infants and children. The drug was safe and did not affect virus levels, but did increase the frequency of specific anti-HIV killer T cells in 3 of 4 children tested. This is the first report of an oral drug that may enhance HIV-specific killer T cell function in infected children.

Weakened viruses generated for potential dengue fever vaccine. Dengue virus is an emerging pathogen in many regions of the world, including a current outbreak in Hawaii. In pursuit of a vaccine against dengue infection, NIAID researchers have produced several weakened strains of the virus. The so-called temperature-sensitive mutants cannot replicate effectively, and therefore may be useful as vaccines.

T cells fight HIV in many ways. Helper T cells that recognize a specific HIV protein known as Gag appear to fight HIV infection. But how they do so is largely unknown. Recently, scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School led a study of Gag-specific helper T cells taken from HIV-infected individuals. The researchers discovered that these T cells could recognize multiple regions of the Gag protein. The cells also appear to attack infected cells by releasing proteins that drill holes in their membranes. The research suggests HIV vaccines should include components that stimulate helper T cells and identifies a short protein fragment that might be used to accomplish this goal.

Bacterial vector induces HIV-specific antiviral immunity in mice. Researchers from the Institute of Human Virology in Baltimore have used a weakened form of an intestinal bacterium as part of a novel AIDS vaccine. The scientists added a gene for gp120, a major HIV surface protein, to weakened Shigella bacteria. When injected into mice, the modified bacteria effectively delivered the HIV gene to immune cells, inducing strong anti-HIV killer T cell responses. The research suggests that weakened bacteria can be used as safe and effective shuttles for DNA vaccines.

Tuberculosis helps HIV thrive. Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common opportunistic infections in people with HIV. Scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Case Western Reserve University recently studied how TB affects HIV replication in infected cells. Their research showed that viral production was higher in two types of immune cells, T cells and macrophages, when those cells were exposed to the inflammatory fluid from lungs infected with TB bacteria. The results explain how TB might accelerate HIV disease progression.

Finding the immune system’s “on” switch. Little is known about how specific immune cells are switched on when an infectious microbe invades the body. Many believe the innate immune defenses, which recognize general features of many microbes, play a key role. Scientists from Yale University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Osaka University in Japan recently studied molecules called toll-like receptors (TLR) of the innate immune system. The researchers found that these receptors play a critical role in activating certain T cells. Their studies suggest that different pathways of innate immunity can switch on different arms of the body’s specific immune responses.

Blood vessel walls help HIV survive in other cells. Endothelial cells, which line the inner walls of blood vessels and lymph nodes, can help other cells harbor HIV. Researchers from Pennsylvania State University recently identified a molecule, C/EBP?, that assists in the process. Endothelial cells interact with macrophages, specific immune cells that are early targets of HIV and long-term reservoirs of the virus. Those interactions activate C/EBP? in the macrophages, enhancing HIV replication. The study offers new insight into the complex interplay of multiple cells and factors involved in HIV infection.

Huntington Memorial Hospital is attempting to address these problems with its newly opened Appearance Center. The center aims to help calm the fears and feelings of negative self-image that often follow chemotherapy and cancer surgery.
With its assortment of hats and turbans of different shapes and sizes, the center also carries lesser-known items, including some for male patients.Other items include special body hygiene products. Licensed cosmetologists also offer their services at the center, including wig fittings and makeup tips, hairstyling and skin care consultations. The products and services are only offered to patients of the hospital.

Life was made easier for me when Cutler found me a wetsuit, courtesy of Weaver’s Dive and Travel Center, located in the Table Mesa Shopping Center in Boulder. For a mere $15, Weaver’s will rent out a wetsuit for the day – a much cheaper prospect than buying one! I managed one training swim in Boulder Reservoir on Friday morning, two days before the event. The wetsuit made it harder to lift my arms out of the water – undoubtedly an annoyance. On the flip side, it did make me more buoyant. Nonetheless, I was worried about the swim.

Cutler also graciously arranged for me to stay in comfort at Keystone Resort’s Inn at Keystone Hotel, located on Highway 6 within walking distance of the XTERRA event. I crashed there with my friend Natalie Luhtala, also a competitor, and her husband, Erik, the night before the event. Though an avid athlete in his own right, Erik graciously accompanied both Natalie and me to the event in the role of a supporter, tuning up our bikes and providing encouragement throughout the event.

When the whistle blew to start us off on the swim the next morning, I knew that I’d be relieved as soon as I hit the shore again. I found myself quickly gasping for breath due to the combination of the high altitude (Keystone is at around 9,000 feet) and the cold water. One-quarter of the way around the loop, I decided that if I didn’t switch to breast stroke, I wouldn’t complete the swim. This decision proved the right one, as my breathing calmed down almost immediately as I settled into the rhythm of the stroke. I finished the swim in just over 12 minutes, but it seemed much longer than that. Even at 61 degrees, the water felt cold!

As I started to jog, barefoot, to the transition area, I realized that my hands were so numb that I couldn’t undo my wetsuit. Visions of biking 13 kilometers in a full-body neoprene sheath flashed through my head, but after a few pumps of my hands, feeling returned, and I undid the Velcro and yanked the zipper down. Underneath my wetsuit, I had on a swimsuit top and bike shorts. In the transition area, I donned my bike helmet, shoes and gloves, then charged out.

I hopped on my bike and began the 1,500-foot climb on dirt roads and singletrack trails. I spun along at a comfortable pace, swigging sports drink when I could and remaining cheerful, despite my panting – I was overjoyed to be finished with the dreaded swim. My mood only faltered when I passed an aid station and was informed, “you’re two-thirds of the way up!”

“Ugh,” I thought. “I didn’t want to know that I still have a bunch of climbing left.”

By the time we reached the turnaround point to head downhill, I was psyched to cruise. I’d been sucking wind for nearly an hour, trying to keep up a steady pace despite the altitude (topping out at around 10,500 feet above sea level). The downhill was a fun, winding singletrack to a steep dirt road that led back into the transition area.

Back there, I threw down my bike, popped off my bike shoes and put on my running shoes. I sucked down a Clif Shot and took off on the run, eager to get to the shady, mostly flat trail. I picked up a steady pace and held onto it for the whole run segment. Toward the end, the trail emerged from the woods to drop competitors into a stream crossing, which felt fabulous on my hot and tired body. I finished with a smile on my face and immediately headed to chow down on the food – bagels, fruit and pastries – that awaited competitors at the finish line.

More free food – yummy lasagna – was in store, courtesy of Mitch’s. As a bonus, I won a free pair of sunglasses from Zeal Optics (www.zealoptics.com) during the awards ceremony – the first nice pair of sunglasses I’ve ever owned in my life!

All in all, the MicroSupreme XT far surpassed my expectations. Aside from a few minor glitches, the race was well organized. The volunteers were absolutely fabulous, and the course was beautiful, fun and well marked. Look for the XTERRA series to come to Keystone again next summer, or to a location near you. If you’ve never done an off-road triathlon before, the XT is the perfect place to start!

The first suggestion is to apply estrogen/female hormones onto the scalp, because the hair will be stronger. Female hormone production is not limited to animals or humans. Several plants have the ability to make a version of these hormones. The plants include: hops, licorice, sage, clover, sweet clover, and some more.

The first three plants are the most potent. In combination with the plants possessing stimulating and antiseptic properties, the outcome will be better than just arresting the hair loss. The hair thickens and gets shiny once again.

Nourishing Lotion:
Castor Oil – 30 ml
Hops (cones) – 40 g
Sage (leaf) – 20 g
Hot pepper (fruit) – 10 g
Licorice (root) – 10 g
Turpentine purified – 20 ml
Stinging nettle (leaf) – 20 g

To get the lotion ready, dry and powder the plant material. Add 1 liter of 70 percent alcohol, then place for fourteen days in a dark location, shaking it now and then. Then strain it and pour it into a dark glass jar. Use a tincture made with Castor oil, turpentine, and water that is available in the pharmacy, shaking it for a few minutes until the solution is uniformly mixed.

Apply this to the scalp on a daily basis with a cotton swab, moving it around for 5 minutes. Shake the lotion first, before applying it. The treatment takes one to six months to complete.

Since androgenic is quicker than an organic process, not a pathology, then some time after cessation of the use of lotion, hair begins to get weak again. Since he needs to keep a 1 to 2 month continuous treatment, schedule treatments accordingly.

Second piece of advice – drink tea concocted from sea buck-thorn leaves. Place 2-5 g of leaves in a glass. Pour over them boiling water that has been boiled on low heat for 5 minutes. Steep for 15-20 minutes, and then strain. Consume a glass of this hot, containing honey, 2 to 3 times a day.

Here is a recipe for a useful oat tincture: To a glass of grains, add three glasses of water that have been heated to a boil. Boil for 15 minutes, cool and strain. For each glass, use it twice or three times per day.

Third piece of advice - massage your head two or three times per day using a massage brush. Work with it for three minutes, brushing in the direction from the periphery to the crown.

Description:It is believed that the Greeks probably named asparagus, which means “young shoots”. British settlers brought the veggie to North America during the 1600s in the form of “crowns”. Crowns are the first year growth of the underground stem and roots from which the asparagus is usually grown. The crowns are used to start the plants to cut down an extra year if plants from seeds are used. Asparagus (female plant) has red berries, which birds like to eat and then carry to other fields or parts of the garden so that asparagus can be non-cultivated. Asparagus is a perennial and in the first year is not harvested and looks much like a fern. After three or four years, the asparagus plant can produce crops for about 15 years. Generally speaking, European consumers prefer the white asparagus because of its tenderness and sweetness. Rule of thumb on whether to use a knife or fork when eating It’s okay to eat asparagus with your fingers as long as the stalks are not dripping with a sauce or butter.

Nutrient content According to Meredith Sayles Hughes in Stinky and Stringy Stem and Bulb Vegetables, “asparagus provides an amazingly well-balanced range of substances. Included are potassium, which keeps our water levels in balance; fiber, which keeps our digestive systems running smoothly; vitamin B6, which helps make the best use of our food; and thiamin, important for daily energy. Of all vegetables, asparagus has the highest content of folic acid, the key component necessary for blood cell formation. Asparagus has no fat and very few calories, about four per spear.” Also, it neutralizes poisonous chemicals. The green variety has more vitamin C than the white.

Peak season: Peaks in March and April. Can be available all year round. In the U.S., California, New Jersey, Washington, and Michigan are the chief sources of asparagus.

Selection: Look for spears that are uniform in appearance and deep green color, which indicates higher quality. Buy stalks that have compact buds and taut skin. Select stalks about the same size for even cooking. How to tell if stalks are firm? Hold a stalk from the bottom and it should stand up straight no matter how thin the stalk.

Storage: Can store several days wrapped in a damp towel in the refrigerator or wrap stalks in a damp paper towel with foil around the paper towel.

Preparation: Spears that are larger than your pinkie finger will need to be peeled. Break off the woody or tough part. When serving cold, place cooked asparagus in an ice bath or run under cold water. For cooking, find the tender part by bending the spear several times until you find the most flexible place and snap it off at that point. Then you can make an even cut with your knife.

Granted, not everyone likes pumpkin. In fact, its popularity has declined over the centuries since it was first discovered in the Andes mountains in 3000BC. It used to be a staple in every kitchen before refrigeration was invented. The tough outer shell of pumpkins kept it fresh for many months after harvest. But today that’s not a worry for most of us, so the need to grow it as all but vanished.

Then there’s the yuk factor. Some people may be turned off by pumpkin’s texture and taste. But we’re sure that’s just because the pumpkin wasn’t cooked properly or seasoned properly. That’s truly a shame because it’s one of the most versatile and nutritious veggies today.

Nutritionally, an average serving includes less than one gram of fat, just 49 calories, no cholesterol and 310 percent of your daily adult requirement of vitamin A.

How do you tell the difference between a pumpkin and a squash?
Throw a pumpkin into the air, and when it hits the ground it becomes squash. (Ouch) Okay, enough joking around. Let’s see what recipes we have for you:

Pumpkin peanut butter spread
We did say these recipes would make portable foods, didn’t we?

1 medium apple, quartered but not peeled
1 cup pumpkin, chopped
1 tablespoons Tang or 1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup dried cranberries (optional
1 cup peanut butter

Prepare the pumpkin by cutting a whole pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds and sprinkle halves with cinnamon. Place the halves, flesh side down on an oiled/sprayed cookie sheet. This allows the moisture to drain out of the flesh as it bakes. Pop it into a 350F (180 C) oven for about 1 hour, or microwave for 5 to 6 minutes or until just tender.

Let cool for 5 minutes before scooping cooked flesh into blender or food processor along with apples, cranberries; puree until smooth (Remove any large fibrous threads). In a small bowl, combine peanut butter and Tang, then add to blender and pulse until combined well. Cover and refrigerate, use as spread for sandwiches. Makes about 2 and half cups.

Pumpkin cookies
No silly, they aren’t the size of pumpkins!

1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup cooked (see recipe above) pumpkin, fibrous strings removed or canned pumpkin
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup molasses
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375F or 200C. Blend shortening and sugar, mix in molasses, pumpkin and egg. Stir in dry ingredients, spices and raisins. Drop by the tablespoonful onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 12 to 14 large cookies.

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
12 ginger snaps
2 and half cups ricotta cheese
1 cup canned pumpkin or squash puree
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 and half teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger or minced ginger
3/4 cup non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
1/2 cup mixed dried fruit

Place one ginger snap in bottom of each of 12 cupcake papers. Beat ricotta cheese until smooth. Add remaining ingredients except topping and dried fruit, mix well to combine. Pour into cups and bake at 350F or 180C until lightly set. Turn off heat. Let stand in oven for 1 hour. Cool on rack and chill overnight in fridge. Top each mini cheesecake with one tablespoon of topping with a sprinkling of dried fruit. Makes 12 servings.

Pumpkin or Squash Candies

1 medium-sized non-stringy squash such acorn squash (should be a little bigger than your hand)or pumpkin
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 cups pure maple syrup
pinch of cinnamon
1 cup puffed whole wheat or 2 cups Rice Krispies

Cut squash in half lengthways, scoop out seeds. Put one tablespoon butter, sugar and syrup in each half. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Bake at 350F or 180C until tender about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on size of squash. Or, microwave for 15 minutes on High. Pour juices into bowl and let cool. Mix with 1 cup maple syrup before pouring into an ice cube molds. Add shishkabob sticks cut to quarters as ‘popsicle sticks’ after 1 hour in freezer, then refreeze for 1 more hour. Makes 12 popsicles.

Meanwhile, scoop squash/pumpkin flesh into blender once it has cooled slightly. Add 1 cup maple syrup and blend till smooth. Roll in puffed whole wheat or Rice Krispies, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour, uncovered. Makes 12 ‘crunchy outside, chewy inside’ squash or pumpkin candies.

Did you know? Most commercially-made pumpkin pies aren’t made with pumpkin. They’re a mixture of squash, rice flour and starch. So don’t despair if your made-from-scratch pumpkin pie is a little stringy!

Everybody wants big and/or shapely arms, but a key to a good physique is well-developed shoulders. Fortunately, it’s not too hard to have both.

There are three parts to the deltoid—the muscle that caps the shoulder. The front, or anterior, deltoid gets a lot of work in bench presses, so if you do presses, you may not need to work the anterior deltoid separately. A classic exercise that works the whole shoulder, while emphasizing the anterior deltoid, is the military press. Stand with your knees slightly flexed, holding a barbell at shoulder level with your elbows bent, palms forward, and hands outside your shoulders. Press the barbell straight overhead, without leaning backward, until your arms are straight but not locked out, and return to start. Do not do the version behind the head, as this can strain the shoulders. The same exercise, although called a shoulder press or overhead press, can be done seated, or with dumbbells either standing or seated. Try some variations when it comes time to change exercises. Many weight training machines have a shoulder press station.

The side raise is a good way to develop the middle deltoid, and also work the supraspinatus, part of the rotator cuff. Stand holding dumbbells at your sides. Keeping a slight bend in your elbows and your knuckles pointed up, raise your arms out to the sides until your hands are even with your shoulders, then return. You can also work the middle deltoid, plus biceps and trapezius, with an upright row. Although the classic way is to use a barbell, dumbbells are easier on your shoulders. Stand with your dumbbells at arms length, in front of your thighs, palms facing back. Raise the dumbbells up until they are at your collarbone, keeping your elbows as high as you can comfortably, with the dumbbells close to your body throughout.

The reverse fly will develop the rear, or posterior, deltoid. Sit leaning forward until your chest is on or near your thighs. Let your dumbbells hang straight down, then lift them until your hands are even with your shoulders, keeping just a slight bend in your elbows.

Biceps development calls for a variety of biceps curls. You can use a barbell or dumbbells. You can alternate dumbbells or do them together with palms facing out, or do a twisting curl where you start with your palm facing your body at the side, then turn it forward as you begin the curl. The key to biceps work is to keep your elbow close to your side and not move at the shoulder or lean back. Machines sometimes have a variety of preacher curl, where your upper arms are angled out. You can use this if you have it, but if you don’t, don’t bother to rig one up. You will get a good workout from a seated dumbbell curl, either upright or at a slight incline, where you start the curl with your hands a little bit behind you. A hammer curl, like a dumbbell curl but with your palm facing your body, works both the biceps and brachioradialis, which runs from your upper arm into your forearm. Do the curl with your palm facing down, and you will shift the emphasis to your forearm. This can be done with dumbbell or barbell.

The triceps, at the back of the upper arm, takes up more of the arm than the biceps, so if you want big arms, you need to develop the triceps. Women, who tend to carry excess fat at the back of the arm, also want to work the triceps, but the result is most likely to be firming, not size.

The most common way of doing triceps exercises on a machine is to put a slanted handle on your lat pulldown station and do pressdowns, keeping your elbows at your sides and straightening your arm downward by moving at the elbow. With dumbbells, the French press behind the head is a good one. Point your elbow straight up and, starting with the dumbbell between your shoulders, straighten your arm out, finishing with the dumbbell overhead. You can hold your upper arm with the other hand to keep it from moving. For a kickback, lean over from the waist, either with your hand and knee on the opposite side from the one with the dumbbell on a bench or bracing that arm on a counter or other solid surface, and keep your elbow next to your side while you move the dumbbell from your shoulder to straight out parallel to the floor behind you. Move only at the elbow. You can also do a pressout. Lie on a bench with your elbows pointed up, start with the dumbbells by your ears and straighten your arms so the dumbbells are overhead. The barbell version of this exercise is called a “skull crusher” and should only be done when you have a spotter. A multi-joint exercise that emphasizes triceps is the close-grip bench press, where you do your benching with your hands about 18 inches apart and your elbows close to your body.

The only downside to developing or toning your arms and shoulders is that you may have to buy some new shirts.

Most of these people that are equally right-brained and left-brained have a daily battle for control going on in their heads. Part of them wants to do the normal and expected thing- the logical one. The other part longs to just let it all hang out and do a much more unconventional and creative thing. Many whole-brained people are plagued by this, because their thinking is so very split.

You see the majority of people are either primarily left-brained or primarily right-brained. Many times people that are ambidextrous or were as a child are wired this way. Each decision is a fight. The right side of our brain wants us to brainstorm and just flow, but the left side of our brain is urging us to get the facts and stay focused.

By learning to detect which mode your brain is in on a particular day, you can get much accomplished. If you are just having many random thoughts with no rhyme or reason, the right side of your brain is dictating to you. If you are hung up on details or maybe frustration, usually your left side is to blame. How do you get a good combo of both? Learn to recognize the two different modes of your writing.

Once you notice the difference and stop trying to fight it, but embrace it, you will find the middle road. On a right-brained day you may muse and daydream, planning things for the future. On other days you will get so much accomplished, because the left-brain side is in charge. Always remember to ask yourself what mode you are in on a given day. I bet that you’ve also had those days when you couldn’t even manage to cook dinner let alone organize your tax documents. (These usually occur right at tax time.) When you know what side of the brain you are using on a given day, you will be more in touch with your current mode of thinking.

Set yourself a goal and then go achieve it. This is so rewarding for anyone, but especially a writer. This is one of the best ways to become a disciplined writer. Set yourself a deadline and then meet it. Write-offs help so much with this. If you are curious about write-offs sponsored by various groups at Themestream, you may email me by using the link at the bottom of the page. Setting goals can push you that extra little bit that you need. Obtaining my writing goals is one of my best assets. When I want to achieve a goal, I make a detailed plan, and then I do my best to accomplish it. Like an experienced sailor, I stay steadily on course, only deviating from my plan when a stumbling block hinders my path.

Focus and determination can give a writer an advantage while attempting any writing assignment. I believe that recognizing our weaknesses and then overcoming them is the key to any writer’s success. You will soon find that you’re getting much more done in any given day. This will mean much less frustration and a better sense of accomplishment in all facets of your life, especially for a writer. Now quit thinking and start writing!

What types of foods are you eating? Are you eating fast food regularly? Many chemicals and preservatives are included in processed fast food and over time, they will build up to toxic levels in your body. Do you regularly purchase potato chips, soda (regular or diet), or frozen foods? All these items that we consume include chemicals and preservatives that accumulate in our bodies over time.

The sticky issue is that our lifestyles result in toxic build up that takes place over a long time period. Actually, over the course of our entire life. Pollution occurs slowly. Our bodies tolerate the toxins up to a certain point, but eventually they break down and when the damage is done, and sometimes it cannot be repaired.

Many products are available to assist with body cleansing; there are also a variety of diets that claim that toxins can be eliminated from your body if you consume a particular food — whatever the latest dietary cleansing fad is. This is not to criticize those diets and items that do not do what they claim. Most likely they are supported by good data, scientific studies and results.

What steps do you take after the toxins are out of your body? Do you start using alcohol and tobacco and consuming soda, chips and fast food again? If that is the case, you only clean up your system to mess it up all over again. You must begin consuming unprocessed food.

You need to stop or at least cut back on smoking and drinking. And you must stop consuming soda and chips. You will want to cook your own food. It may require learning how to cook. Or find a person to do your cooking.

You will come to understand that our bodies are marvelously designed. By starting healthy habits, your body is able to take out the toxins in its own natural way. Begin living a healthier life today.