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Music, Dance and Your Sanity

“To do science? To really do science? You don’t live in the world,” he says. “You live in an attitude.” Gerald M. Edelman, M.D., Ph.D., founder of the Neurosciences Institute, La Jolla, California. Following this same concept, “In Real Estate and Business it’s about Living in an Attitude!” Ted Borgeas, “From the Chicken Coop”.

The benefits of music and dance during the decision making
of buying or selling your home has extended as far back as
Aristotle and Plato. Even Reigning Monarchs had court
musicians and dancers, for their entertainment but possibly
for the relaxing affects from their stresses of boredom? Well
buying and selling a home sure doesn’t have boredom but a
lot of anxiety and even stress. With modern technology and
the advent of television and the Internet combining visual,
auditory and artistic qualities these medias have extended
numerous benefits to our homes and businesses.

Applying music, dance, laughter and mirth to the buying and
selling process of properties, has acquired critical acclaim
because of scientific studies that can now measure some of
the perceived health, stress and anxiety release attributes
from music and dance.

One of the best definitions for science and probably for the
home decision makers, I believe was a statement made by
Gerald M. Edelman, M.D., Ph.D., founder of the
Neurosciences Institute, La Jolla, California. He explained
the difference between scientists and other people. “To do
science? To really do science? You don’t live in the world,”
he says. “You live in an attitude.” Dr. Edelman’s statement
“You live in an attitude,” can extend to every facet involving
not only in science but our emotions, perceptions and
responses of mind as related to the pressure of the multiple
decisions and complexity of buying and selling your home. Of
course with the right Attitude of Gratitude, especially with the
right Real Estate Professional can contribute a lot of
pleasure and happiness. Responding to each emotion still
encompasses an
Attitude of Gratitude, which can be helped, developed and
improved, as related to our need for sometimes, Heroic and
Daring humanistic actions to these emotions, yes especially
when buying and selling your home or for that matter,
including your family, finances, location and the magnitude of
other disclosures.

The Neurosciences Institute, during their research, has
discovered a way to measure how the human brain
processes intricate tones, presenting incredibly new insights
into the effects of music. While there application may be
directed towards disorders of hearing. I believe, future
studies will extend far beyond into the emotions involved for
any home transactions. But don’t let technology interfere with
the Romance of the Home due your transcending enjoyment
of also listening your intuition.

Ted Borgeas uses the same concept, in addition to others,
as Hospitals that are now utilizing the media of combining
soothing music with associated pleasant and relaxing nature
scenes on television, not only in the patient’s rooms but also
in the waiting and recovery areas, but instead at his office
and while showing homes in person and on the internet. He
can recall utilizing soothing music and encouraging and
positive conversation regarding the patient’s postoperative
responses to projected recovery during surgery in the
operating room. He knew the positive subconscious
interpretations by the patient while under anesthesia aided in
they’re perceived recovery and healing and applies the same
principles to homebuyer and sellers.

“People are now using music to help them deal with sadness
and fear.” Dr. Anne Blood, a researcher at Massachusetts
General Hospital in Charlestown Massachusetts. “We are
now showing in our study that music is triggering systems in
the brain that make them feel happy.” What a startling
revelation, especially since music lovers and people lovers
have known this since eternity!

Our interpretation of applying dance and music to buying or
selling a home may not include Aristotle’s and Plato’s ancient
perceptions. But the concept of music and dance not only
stimulates physical movement, either overt or imagined but it
also affects our immunological system based on studies
relating to music, laughter and humor.

Dancing is not only physical exercise, including footwork,
rhythm, tempo, balance, control, showmanship and style but it
also helps in transcending thought. Try dancing to any type of
fast tunes and think at the same time? It is especially
beneficial, in times when we may have nasty unbeneficial
feelings and thoughts or confusing perceptions about
properties. It is guaranteed to change you attitude; to a
relaxed Attitude of Gratitude!

“I frequently perform solo dancing, yes, by your-self, utilizing
various types of ethnic music with marvelous results”. This
author has utilized music, dance, laughter and mirth, in
conquering his prostate cancer. This of course was in
conjunction with the Physician’s God inspired therapies! Try
it? It works.

Copyright © 2005 Ted Borgeas, All Rights Reserved
Ted Borgeas, Author, 35 years Self-Coaching Yourself.
Helps people get insight on Career & Life Transitions.
Email for free 30 minute intro phone coaching session.
E-zine: SELF-COACHING YOUR INTELLIGENCES.
E-mail: ted@atborgeas.com
website: www.atborgeas.com
Phone: 619-235-9393

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

Dr. Ted Borgeas is a 75 year old retired Foot Surgeon-Podiatrist who is a master of transcending through life transitions and piggybacking careers and attitudes to success.

He limits his coaching to Doctors and other professionals. Dr. Ted had been a Podiatric consultant inside a Federal Prison for 15 years and inside a state mental hospital for 7 years. How he uses Music, Dance and Meditation to help cure his cancer.

The author of 11 books. Keynote speaker and lecturer. Most business gurus will stress using “Other Peoples Money” But Dr. Ted believes and lives on the premise cultivate and enlighten “Other Peoples Youth” it nourishes your own youth.

Dr. Ted’s mutiple careers include being a prominent Keynote speaker. A proponent of “It ain’t Braggin’ If you’ver done it” one of his books.
His latest book is “Grandpa is a Giggle” How to turn Adversities into Adventures! 8 books are on amazon.com under Borgeas. Loves to hear from everybody and answers all mail.

Email: ted@atborgeas.com
Website: http://www.atborgeas.com

Since Thomas Edison’s invention of the modern cinema, countless filmmakers have endeavored to produce a moving picture that accurately chronicles the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth. Aside from Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, which chronicled only a part of the life and crucifixion of Jesus, Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth is the greatest of all. Originally aired as a television mini-series (it’s over six hours in length), the film closely adheres to the word-for-word accounts found in the Gospels.

The story begins with Joseph (Yorgo Voyagis) and Mary’s (Olivia Hussey) reception of God’s angels. Each is told of the child that Mary will bear and what his name will be. The scene where Mary receives her message is an especially powerful piece of cinematic artistry with no dialogue - only a warm light surrounding Mary as she bows in prayer. The film holds true to every utterance in the Gospels, recounting the census, Herod’s decree, and the travels of Joseph and Mary.

As Jesus (Robert Powell) develops into adulthood, we witness the beginning of his ministry. He calls on his disciples, teaches through use of parables, and displays many miracles. Zeffirelli makes powerful use of the camera by having his star, Powell, never be caught blinking in any scene. At first, it’s barely noticeable, and it takes some time to figure out what is so different. But this absence of the uniformly common trait of blinking creates a divine aura around the character of Jesus. It draws in the audience by creating an emotional sense of peace that lends credibility to the onscreen portrayal of Jesus.

From beginning to end, Jesus of Nazareth offers a plethora of memorable scenes and exchanges which are more attributable to the Gospels and the actual life of Jesus rather than brilliant direction and acting ability. But the subject matter is aptly handled by a great production team and an endless array of first-rate actors and actresses, among them are - Mary Magdalene (Anne Bancroft), the Centurion (Ernest Borgnine), Simon Peter (James Farentino), Balthazar (James Earl Jones), Joseph of Arimathea (James Mason), Nicodemus (Laurence Olivier), Caiaphas (Anthony Quinn), and many others… Overall, the individual performances come together to form a rich tapestry of wisdom and intrigue that will leave its audience with much upon which to reflect and ponder.

If you believe Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah (which this author does), then Jesus of Nazareth serves as a form of meditation and renewal of one’s spiritual connection to God. But if you don’t view Jesus in this way, no other film will leave you in such awe of the profound influence promulgated by a humble, sandal-clan man from a province on the outskirts of mighty Rome - an influence that has completely dominated the world for almost two thousand years to the present day.

For spiritual, philosophical, and cinematic reasons, Jesus of Nazareth is a definite must-see film for the ages…

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Jesus Of Nazareth (DVD).

Dear Sir,

It was with some interest that I read the article What You Should Know About Attention Deficit Disorder by Edward W. after having it handed to me by a member of our church. There were elements of the article that were insightful, helpful, and needed to be said in a public forum, especially the discussion of the moral and spiritual dimensions of behavior. For this part of the article I applaud Mr. W.

However, Mr. W’s discussion on the physiological/biological aspects of ADD ADHD was lacking to the point of being misleading to the readers. I am sure that Mr. Welch had no intention of misleading any readers, as that would hardly reflect the “biblical guidelines with which to understand ADD” that he seeks to communicate. Therefore, for the sake of clarifying some details, may I present the following evidence. Perhaps in the near future you would run an article that would present some of this information to your readers, so that they have an accurate understanding of the disorder.

We continue the dialogue here in part four. Mr. W writes,

“The popular assumption is that there is an underlying biological cause for the behaviors, but the assumption is unfounded. Although there are dozens of biological theories to explain ADD, there are presently no physical markers for it; there are no medical tests that detect its presence. Food additives, birth and delivery problems, inner ear problems, and brain differences are only a few of the theories that are… unsupported by evidence.”

“. . . there are presently no physical markers for it;”

This is not supported by research. There are many physical markers for it. One just needs a fMRI, SPECT scan, QEEG, or PET scan, to see them. I have personally performed hundreds of EEGs and some QEEGs, and can attest first hand to the differences in brainwave patterns of ADHD individuals vs. non-ADHD subjects.

“. . . there are no medical tests that detect its presence.”

This is also misleading to the readers. Many, if not most, biologically based medical conditions are diagnosed by the observation and experience of a trained clinician or physician. Many medical conditions have no “medical tests” that detect its presence.

For example, I am presently house-bound recovering from pneumonia. Did you know that until July, 2000, there were no “medical tests” that detect the presence of pneumonia? Just last summer a urine test was approved by the FDA which is between 75% and 80% accurate in diagnosing pneumonia. There are no blood tests, or other forms of “medical tests” to diagnose it.

My pneumonia was diagnosed solely on the observation and experience of the physician. He listened to my breathing and coughing. He observed and interpreted a chest x-ray. Then he made a judgment, a diagnosis, based on observation and experience (not on empirical, objective results from any medical tests), and began treatment. The x-ray, my coughing, etc., gave him evidence of a condition only. He had no “medical tests” (he did not try the new urine test) to tell him if I had viral pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, or mycoplasmic pneumonia. Yet based on observation and experience he started a course of treatment. The treatment involved the use of powerful medications, and the treatment has so far been beneficial.

The fact that there are no blood tests - “medical tests” - to diagnose pneumonia is hardly evidence that I am not suffering from a medical condition.

ADHD is also diagnosed by clinicians through observation and experience. The clinician would rely on developmental, family, academic, and genetic histories, behavioral rating scales, and objective testing. There are tests, psychological and neurocognitive tests, that are extremely helpful in making a diagnosis, such as continuous performance tests and other tests of executive functions. There aren’t any blood or urine tests - “medical tests” - as Mr. Welch would say. But that does not invalidate the biological basis for the condition.

Mr. Welch further writes: “There are some medical problems that can provoke ADD symptoms. For example, thyroid problems can affect energy level, and hearing or visual impairments can make paying attention difficult.”

Yes, these are true. But they describe thyroid problems, and hearing or visual problems, completely separate medical conditions which happen to share some symptoms with ADHD. They do not cause Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Depression and anxiety can cause symptoms that look like ADD, but they are not ADD. A head injury can cause symptoms that look like ADD, but a head injury is not ADD.

The neurological problems that cause ADD are the causes of ADD. Mr. Welch is simply unwilling to admit that there is a neurological, biological, physiological basis for a very real condition called ADHD. His position, however, is not supported by the reality presented in the research.

This is the end to part four of this discussion. You can learn more about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder by visiting the ADHD Information Library’s family of web sites.

Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library’s family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.

The food pyramid is a tool designed by nutrition experts that the United States Department of Agriculture promotes to help people make better, more nutritious food choices.

The food pyramid underwent a big change when the U.S. government updated its dietary guidelines in 2005.

In the old pyramid, food groups at the bottom were to be eaten more than the foods at the top. Grains, such as bread, cereal, rice and pasta, should be eaten the most, according to the food pyramid. This is followed by fruits and vegetables. Meat and dairy products come next. Notice that the meat group also contains items such as eggs and nuts.

At the very top were the fats, oils and sweets which should be eaten infrequently. This is because these foods contain high amounts of calories and fats with very few vitamins and minerals, if any.

Instead of using the pyramid as a visual guide to how much of each nutrient to take in (grains were on the bottom, so you were supposed to eat those the most), now they just lump everything next to each other and make individual comments.

Here are some important points about the new food pyramid:

==> Eat at least 3 ounces of whole grains per day (cereal, crackers, rice, pasta, and bread)

==> Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and prepare them any way you’d like, except frying.

==> Get at least 3 daily servings of low-fat dairy, including skim milk, hard cheese, or non-fat/low-fat yogurt (sorry, ice cream doesn’t count!)

==> Select lean cuts of meat, and prepare them by baking, grilling or broiling.

==> Use healthier oils when cooking, such as canola and safflower oils.

Michael P. Scaccia, MD, FAAP is a physician, author, speaker, and child health expert whose goal is to help families live healthier and more satisfying lives. For more information, visit ==>http://www.ChildNutritionGuide.com
If you are a concerned parent who is serious about helping your children live happier and healthier lives, read this special report about how to fight the obesity epidemic ==> http://www.ChildNutritionGuide.com/articles/nutrition-book.htm

When choosing a new greenhouse for your garden there are several things to bear in mind if you are going to get the most from your choice. A wrong decision can prove costly in the long run so be sure you know exactly what you need before you buy. Here are some of the most important things to consider:

What Do You Need Your Greenhouse For?

If you are looking to grow flowers or vegetables all year round then a tightly sealed, insulated greenhouse with good light transmition, ventilation and heating will be most desirable. However, if your greenhouse will only be used for germinating seedlings or wintering less hardy plants through light winters then a simple plastic frame with a polythene covering will no doubt suffice.

Free Standing or Attached?

Depending on your requirements there can be major benefits of either of these types of structures. An attached greenhouse can be a simple lean-to style greenhouse attached to the side of your house or a more expensive sunroom style construct in fitting with the rest of your building. The main advantage of either is in terms of maintenance and running costs as an attached greenhouse will benefit from being very simple to adapt to your existing lighting, heating and water sources. The major disadvantage here however is that being attached to your home means the greenhouse will have less direct exposure to the sun which may limit the types of plants you can grow effectively and positioning to minimise this is all important. A permit may also be required as this will be seen as a building extension to your home.

A free standing greenhouse on the other hand, offers many gardeners a much welcomed retreat away from the home, somewhere to escape the madness as it were. They are typically more expensive, requiring additional heating during the winter months and cooling during the hottest periods and you will also need to plan how to get electricity and a water to your new building. Your greenhouse will however have maximum exposure to sunlight.

What Size Greenhouse Do You Need?

Before you can begin thinking about anything else you need to know what size greenhouse you require. As a rule of thumb, whatever size you think you need right now is going to be too small for you a year later. Buy bigger than you need or you’ll end up looking at a costly extension or a new greenhouse before long.

However, that doesn’t mean you need to go overboard. If space is an issue then a lean-to greenhouse which attaches to the side of your house or other building might be the perfect solution. Equally, a mini greenhouse or a simple cold frame might cover your needs. Whichever size you choose, be sure to check out whether you need planning permission from your local authority before you put anything anywhere or you could be told to remove it later.

Which Frame Is Best?

Wooden, Metal or PVC? Experienced hobby greenhouse owners will tell you all about the benefits of a wooden frame. If you are building your own greenhouse then wood is also the easiest to work with. Wood is also a strong frame suitable for any covering you choose and if properly maintained will last a long time. The side benefit of wood comes about when you want to drive hooks in here and there to hang tools on or otherwise affix things to the frame. This is a simple hammer job with a wooden frame but a pain with an aluminium or galvanised steel frame. Wood does however need regular maintenance to protect against the humidity of the greenhouse environment and insects.

Aluminium, galvanised steel or other metal frame requires virtually no maintenance and is also strong enough to take any covering you choose. Metal frames do conduct heat and cold however and are therefore more difficult to heat and cool. Plastic frames can only be used with lightweight plastic sheet coverings and are usually only found in small structures likes portable and mini greenhouses.

Which Greenhouse Covering?

The four basic choices of covering you will find for a home greenhouse are the traditional glass panes, polycarbonate, fibreglass or polythene plastic sheeting. There really is no ‘perfect’ covering or construction material for a greenhouse, and what you choose will ultimately be as much reliant upon your budget as it is upon your requirements.

Plastic sheeting is cheap and the choice of commercial growers although probably not suited to the home user as it is less than attractive to look at, tears easily and typically needs replacing within 1 to 5 years.

For the hobbyist, the choice is most likely to be between a glass, fibreglass or polycarbonate cover. Glass is the traditional choice of greenhouse covering for hobbyists and of the three, allows the most unfiltered light to penetrate through and is the most attractive if your greenhouse is going to be a feature of your garden. It does however require a strong, sturdy frame and solid foundation and if your greenhouse is going to be placed near trees, around kids playing ball or in a particularly windy area or if you just happen to be a particularly clumsy gardener, can prove to be an expensive option. A glass greenhouse can also prove difficult to keep heated in the colder months and tough to keep cool in the summer months as glass is such a good conductor, heat and cold just pass through.

The major alternative to glass is polycarbonate. Polycarbonate sheets are lighter than glass and far less prone to breakage. Sunlight penetration through polycarbonate is less than achieved with a plain glass cover however, but as light diffuses through the sheets, plants are less likely to burn under strong sunlight. Single polycarbonate is as attractive as glass but the real value in polycarbonate comes from the double or triple thickness sheets which have an in-built air space between each sheet and can save a lot of money on heating costs.

Fiberglass is a lightweight solution which allows roughly the same amount of light to pass through as glass but is less aesthetically pleasing and is prone to staining over time.

Heating, Lighting & Ventilation

Depending on what you want your greenhouse for, you should consider the associated heating, lighting and ventilation requirements. For many, the requirements of their greenhouse is driven as much by their pocketbook as it is by any other requirements. The initial outlay is easy to see but hidden costs such as heating, lighting and cooling requirements are often overlooked. By chosing the right greenhouse in the first place you can often cut down on such costs - remember - glass and metal are conductors and are therefore harder to heat during the winter months which can prove costly if you are prone to long, cold periods. A lean-to greenhouse attached to the side of a building can, with a little bit of forethought, make use of that building’s heating and lighting sources potentially saving money on both initial set-up and running costs.

Mark Falco is the owner of ukgardeningsupplies.co.uk - a UK gardening shopping guide featuring cheap greenhouses and more gardening tools, equipment and supplies at low prices from UK online garden centres and nurseries.

It is that time of year again. The water companies are sending
us notices to reduce watering in our gardens.

What are you doing to help conserve this precious commodity?

Often we don’t appreciate something until it’s gone! That can
really be true with water. Taken for granted when it is
plentiful, its importance is truly appreciated in the garden
once it becomes scarce. If you find yourself in a drought, there
are some things you can do to help conserve water and make the
best use of what you have available.

If you have not already mulched your plants, do it! Mulch will
help limit the amount of water that evaporates from the soil.
While organic mulches such as grass clippings or wood chips are
preferable since they add organic matter to the soil, plastic
mulches are useful in limiting evaporation from the soil. They
can be laid between rows in the vegetable garden and will help
limit moisture loss; however, they also will limit infiltration.

Place your water where it will do the most good. Sprinklers are
very inefficient for getting water to the roots of your plants.
Much of the water lands on the leaves and evaporates before
reaching the ground. A slow gentle watering at the base of the
plants, allowing the water to soak into the soil, will be most
efficient.

Water those plants needing it most. Newly planted trees, shrubs,
and flowers with limited roots systems will most likely suffer
first from drought conditions. Give these plants priority if
water is scarce. Well-established plants, especially those
native to the area, are likely to withstand drought conditions
with limited damage.

Water in the early morning before the heat of the day. This
limits evaporation and supplies plants with needed moisture to
make it through the hot, sunny day.

Consider using drip or trickle rrigation systems. Many
inexpensive, easy to install systems are available that provide
small amounts of water to the base of individual plants. These
systems place the water where it is needed most, rather than
applying it across the whole garden. Check with your local
garden center.

Collect water from downspouts when it rains. Roofs intercept
significant amounts of rain. Collecting this runoff into a
barrel can help limit the use of city or well water during dry
spells.

Are you looking to imporve your backyard landscaping? Look no
further we have plenty of suggestions on our website.

# # #

Many people are now getting into online marketing to either
supplement their income or for it to become their primary source
of income. Why? Because online marketing provides a lot of
benefits and freedom!

First, you can reach just about anybody in the world who has
Internet access. That means a wider market for you, which can
translate to larger profits. Second, setting up an online
business requires less than a fraction of the cost required to
set up a traditional business establishment.

Something else that attracts people towards online marketing is
the fact that you don’t have to have your own products to get
started. With internet marketing, you can start making a lot of
money just by selling other people’s products. Getting started
with this kind of marketing strategy is actually really easy.
All you need to do is to set up an agreement with an online
retailer or merchant, after that, you can immediately start
making money selling the products. The most popular method of
selling other people’s products online is affiliate marketing.
Affiliate marketing is a relationship between an online merchant
or retailer, who has products to sell, and his affiliates, who
are willing to promote the merchant’s product on their website
for a portion of the sales.

The merchant provides their affiliates with banners and text ads
that links to their site. The affiliates will then post these on
their website and they get paid whenever sales or traffic is
sent to the merchant’s site. Affiliates are usually paid on
commission basis, although some online merchants pay a fixed fee
for the affiliate’s compensation. Getting starting making money
online with affiliate marketing is quick and easy. All that you
have to do is sign up as an affiliate for a product or an online
company that offers an affiliate program. Another option, and
usually an easier one, is to sign up as a member of an affiliate
network, although other companies and networks may ask you to
pay a fee. Such fees are made as payment for additional services
that the company has to offer, like providing you with tools and
support to kickstart your online business.

When you sign up with an affiliate program and become an
affiliate, you are now ready to start making truckloads of cash
selling other people’s product online. How do you make money?
There are a number of ways for you to make money as an
affiliate, and most depends on the type of affiliate marketing
program you signed up for.

Most affiliate programs compensate their affiliates in one of
three ways: pay-per-click (PPC), pay-per-sale (PPS), or
pay-per-lead (PPL). With pay-per-click affiliate marketing, the
affiliate is paid whenever they direct traffic to the merchant’s
site. PPS and PPL affiliate marketing programs work different.
In PPS, the affiliate gets paid when their referral converts
into a sale. In typical PPS affiliate programs, the affiliate
usually gets 15% to 20% commission for each sale. PPL affiliate
programs work is a simalar way, although the affiliate is paid a
fixed fee whenever their referral converts into a lead.

There are also two-tier affiliate marketing programs, where the
affiliate can also recommend other affiliates to the merchant.
In such programs, the affiliate would not only be paid for the
traffic or sales that they would send to the merchant’s site but
also for the traffic or sales directed by the affiliates who
signed up through his recommendation.

One of the best ways to earn more profits with affiliate
marketing is through residual income programs. Residual programs
are affiliate programs where the affiliate gets paid a number of
times for as long as the merchant keeps the customer the
affiliate referred. One form of residual income is the affiliate
gets paid a commission every time the referred customer makes a
purchase on the merchant’s site. Another form of residual income
gets the affiliate paid a percentage every month for as long as
the customer remains with the company.

There are a lot of options out there and a lot of ways to make
money, affiliate marketing is without a doubt the most popular
and the easiest way to make money selling other people’s
products online. As to how much money you can earn from
affiliate marketing actually depends on how much work you put
into it. A hardworking and dedicated affiliate will definately
get more from the program as compared to those affiliates who
sign up and don’t take action.

I discovered sailing many years ago and found it to be a wonderful way to enjoy time with friends and family as well as a way to get away from the office and become totally entranced and absorbed with a world that I did not know existed. I love to sail, so much that I became a certified American Sailing Association Sailing Instructor.

It has been 30 years now that I’ve sailed the Chesapeake Bay, East Coast U.S.A. and the Caribbean Islands and I’ve been fortunate to have owned a number sailing vessels, currently two Beneteau sail boats.

I’m often asked by my students what to look for when making an investment in a sailing vessel. I often share the following seven tips and hope that you too may find some value in them.

1. First carefully examine where you expect to use your boat, long term. Will it be on the Ocean, trans-Ocean, near the shore, in a Bay, on the Caribbean or all of the above. If you plan to sail Ocean or trans-Ocean then be sure that the construction is class “A” or rated for extended off shore passage making.

2. Beware of the buying philosophy “I’ll buy a smaller boat now and get a bigger one later.” If you’re buying new you will suffer two large depreciations. If buying used, the money you put into the first boat to bring it up to your own personal standards and needs will go a long way to paying a down payment or many monthly payments on the second boat. You will be upgrading the second boat anyway. Buy now what you expect to own for 5-10 years.

3. Take into account the area where you will be sailing and who you will be sailing with. Decide on the type of berths that will be suitable for you, your family and your guests. For example, aft doubles aligned with the axis of the boat or an aft double that runs across the boat port to starboard. Although the latter tends to be larger and more comfortable in the slip it is definitely not a sea going berth. How easily does the main salon table convert into a berth and is it sturdy enough to do so repeatedly? In a pinch or in good weather can any one sleep in the cockpit?

4. What is your likely cruising range? If just 2-4 days then water and diesel tankage can be respectively 20 and 80 gallons or less. If it is 5-10 days then a minimum would be 50 and 160. If you buy a boat with say 100 gallons diesel and 2-300 gallons water then the designer will have given up berth space to accommodate the tankage. Depending on the size of the boat the left over space may not be well utilized until you reach say a 50 ft. long boat. Look for living and storage space that is well utilized. Odd placement of the main salon settees, chart table and galley may indicate poor utilization of space and hence you may be paying good money for little advantage.

5. Boats that are heavy displacement, say 28,000 lbs for say a 42 ft. boat rather than say 17,800 lbs for a medium displacement, 42 footer will need 10- 15 knots of wind to develop any kind of “feel” at the helm and in many locations such as the Chesapeake Bay with winds typically 5 - 15 knots in the summer you may have purchased a very nice well equipped power boat. However these heavy displacement cruisers are excellent for extended off shore passage making and live-aboard sailing either in the Caribbean or the U.S.A..

6. One of the best tips, If you are a first time sailor and want to buy a boat in the 25 to 50 ft range, is to sail with someone who knows how to sail, take a sailing class and then charter a boat in the length range that interests you. Picking a boat with out sailing a boat of similar size is risky although many have done it successfully. Keep in mind that many of the modern designs of the last 10 years are designed specifically for two people to sail easily whether in the Bay or in the ocean.

7. Lastly, do insist on a survey. If the boat has any of the defects listed below find out the cost to correct them if you are expecting the boat to pass the insurer’s surveyor. Insurers have their own requirements. Your insurance agent and the surveyor should be working hand in hand. This is where a purchaser of a used watercraft can suddenly be faced with unexpected costs. Costly defects include but are not limited to:

   1. Soft or cracked gellcoat on the deck.

   2. Deck leaks around windows, masts, caprail, traveller or through deck fittings.

   3. If the engine that has stood idle for more than 6 months diesel may be contaminated with bacterial sludges, have pistons seized, injectors blocked and electrical system contaminated with water. Insist on at least a 2-4 hour run in the water at cruising speed. Check for undue vibration, overheating, proper charging of the batteries and that the engine can come up to its cruising rpm.

   4. If the boat is more than 6 years old have the surveyor check that the engine mounts are OK and particularly that all mounting bolts are intact. Two can be broken without any obvious signs or effects. When #3 breaks the engine is loose! This is a common problem on older boats that encounter rough waters while under power and can easily be overlooked by the surveyor.

   5. Obviously you will need an out of the water inspection. Check for blisters, gellcoat cracks, soft spots, shaft play in the cutlass bearing and loose rudder bearings, hull integrity around through hulls and the gap between the hull and the top of the keel which should be filled with sealant else corrosion of the keel may have caused the keel to separate from the hull.

   6. Rigging should be checked by a rigger and all running rigging must be overhauled end-to-end to detect hidden chafe.

Hope you find these tips helpful. Best wishes to you on your investment, maybe I’ll see you on the Chesapeake Bay or near the British Virgin Islands sometime, I’ll either be sailing on Majjik II or Majjik III.

About The Author

Keith Binnersley is owner of Upper Bay Sailing School, Inc. http://www.upperbaysailing.com. He is a Certified American Sailing Association Sailing Instructor and holds a 50 ton Masters USCG License. You can contact him at majjikll@msn.com.

Where two people pledge their love for one another in a service that is recognized by law, it is called a wedding; many changes have been made to the law surrounding a marriage in the last twenty years or so. The ceremony is an opportunity to perform a traditional service and celebrate with friends and family. it is not recognized as complete until the marriage license is signed. The names bridegroom and bride extend around the world; after the ceremony they are referred to as husband and wife.

Weddings in a Church

There are many factors that can affect a wedding tradition and those of religion, race and social class for example, ca make it very complicated. Even in today’s climate, the traditional Church ceremony is still the most popular service. Primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States and the British Commonwealth, these ceremonies are known as white weddings.

Double Ceremonies

A rare type of marriage is where two separate couples decide to marry at the same time; this often happens where a person has a brother or sister that decides to tie the knot at the same time and it is not unheard of for two brothers to marry two sisters this way.

Weddings in a Foreign Country

A destination wedding is where the engaged couple and often guests travel to attend the ceremony; although the idea of a isolated island beach may be your idea of a destination wedding, it doesn’t actually mean you have to travel outside your own country.

Activity weekend Weddings

Whilst it is quite normal for the Irish to have three day weddings, more couples are taking the hint and having theirs over a weekend which gives them more time to enjoy the occasion. To cater for an expanding market a number of companies arrange special themed occasions that incorporate anything from golf to surfing. Lodging is usually at the same facility and couples often host a Sunday brunch for the weekend’s finale.

Weddings Online

An online wedding is conducted on the internet which can resemble a normal ceremony; internet companies specializing in this type of ceremony are there to help you with your marriage. An internet or online wedding can also refer to a situation where a couple may broadcast their marriage to friends and family in other parts of the world.

Civil Services Elected and appointed officials can carry out a marriage ceremony which is usually called a civil wedding. These ceremonies do not normally make any reference to God as they are a legal ceremony only. Many civil ceremonies take place in local town or city halls or courthouses in judge’s chambers.

This article has only provided information on few types of wedding; many more are available.

Poker is like making love. You have to know when to raise the
stakes, when to fold and when to bluff. And when you hit the
jackpot, in either, it’s enough to hold you over until the next
one comes along.

Dames are like poker hands. There are a lot of pairs out there.
Once in awhile you’ll find a sweet little number that resembles
a full house. But how often do you find a natural royal flush?
Not often. And if you ever find a woman like this you better
hang on to her. That’s what I call lady luck.

I don’t know how many dames that I have come across that are
like a straight? They go straight for your wallet. Or how many
are like a flush? Sure, I get flushed, but it only lasts for a
few minutes and then I want to hit a casino.

I remember one dame I knew that was more like a crap game. Every
time she threw she threw bullets. One for my heart and one for
my back. I couldn’t win with that one so I gave up craps.

And then there was one dame that was more like betting on a
horserace. She was a sweet little filly but just at the climatic
moment she would pull up lame. I don’t know how many bottles of
aspirin she went through. I always betted on her to win. But she
always seemed to show then disappear.

Then there was the love of my life. A classy dame that resembled
Blackjack. No matter how many times I hit her she always came up
twenty-one. Now that’s class.

Right now I’m with a woman that resembles a slot machine. She
keeps yanking my chain until I cough up all my coin.

Anyway I look at it a woman is a gamble. They are either
stealing my heart or my money. I guess that is what makes it
interesting. I just haven’t figured out a way to beat their
odds. They always seem to be stacked against you. But I’m
working on a system. And one day I’ll beat those odds.

© Hank Bolt