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Benefits of Stretching

Benefits of Stretching
The body is flexible. It is supposed to be flexible. You must be able to bend and reach that something you dropped on the floor. You must be able to zip the back of your favorite dress on your own. You must be able to reach that book you need to read at the top shelf.

These are simple activities. Nothing grand about them, you merely stretched out a bit. However, if there are difficulties in doing such simple motions, then you have to stretch your limits. You already need a stretching program.

What Is Stretching?

Stretching is simply the act of extending to full length the body or simply a part of it. This activity involves straightening or stretching the structure or the limbs.

How Does One Do the Stretching?

Stretching is fairly easy. As mentioned in the introduction, it is involved in the normal activities. It can be done by any people, regardless of age.

However the extent of stretching and flexing differs. The muscles tighten as a person ages. The range of joint movements can be minimized. This can very well obstruct an on-the-go lifestyle. That is why as the person grows older, bending or flexing becomes more limited. This is why stretching regularly, as part of a routine is very important.

Simple stretches can be done everyday. It can be incorporated in the lifestyle and the daily activities. It does not require much of your time.

Stretching exercises can also be done while training. Actually, stretching is an essential part of any training or sport. It must be done first before anything else. Stretching the body and the limbs is a good preparation for a more rigorous activity.

Most athletes would do the sit and reach, wherein they position on the floor, extend their legs and reach the tip of their foot with the tip of their hand. Actually, most trainers actually require their athletes to really do the stretching before playing.

There is actually an ideal length of time in stretching. It is best to do it in 10 minutes. This will give the body enough opportunity to move and flex the muscles, thus preparing it for more complicated and strenuous movements.

Experts however would frown upon going way beyond 10 minutes. Stretching the exercise to 30 minutes or more will already wear out the body. This will not be favorable if one is preparing for a game.

What Are the Benefits of Stretching?

1. Increase the Range of Movement
As one constantly do the stretching exercises, the length of the muscles and the tendons are also increased. This will help in increasing the range of your movement. Thus, the limbs and joints will be able to move, way before an injury can take place. You are definitely physically fit.

2. Increased Ability to Perform Skills
When you have a wide range of movement, the more you will be able to do more things. For example, you can jump high without feeling any pain when you land back on the floor. This will also help you start a new sport or improve more if you are in one. Stretching in this aspect also allows you to have a more active lifestyle.

3. Injury Prevention
One can prevent injury to joints, tendons and muscles with stretching. When the muscles and tendons are well-flexed, they are considered in good working order. This will help in a faster recovery and decreased soreness. The muscles of the body will be able to take more exhausting and rigorous movements with less probability of being injured.

4. Reduce Muscle Tension
If the muscles are given their regular exercises and stretching, it is less likely that they will contract. This will definitely relieve you of any muscle pain or problems.

5. Enhance Energy
Being able to move more will also give you more energy. Stretching will also help enhance your awareness, like knowing that you have a body that is capable of doing many things. As such, you are going to be more driven to move rather than sulk in the corner.

6. Reduces Cholesterol
Research also shows that doing prolonged stretching exercises, like yoga, will help reduce the cholesterol in the body. This of course must be done with a healthy diet at hand. This could prevent and even reverse the hardening of the arteries, allowing you to avoid coronary diseases.

Incorporate stretching in your everyday lifestyle. It has benefits you can not say no to. It also does not require much. It can be your usual activities, bending and flexing every now and then. After all, your fitness is everything so do what it takes to keep the body healthy.

Benefits of Cardio Training

Benefits of Cardio Training
Being fit and healthy is the in thing. Actually, it really never goes out of style. That body is the most valuable asset you could have in your lifetime. Thus it is important that you take good care of it. Give it the proper attention it needs.

When it comes to ensuring and maintaining the health, the best option is to do cardio training.

What Is Cardio Training?

Cardio training involves any activity that requires the use of the large muscle groups of the body in a regular and uninterrupted manner. It elevates the heart rate between 60 to 85 percent of the fastest heart rate you could get.

Some of the usual cardio training activities are walking, jogging, running, aerobics, cycling, tae bo, swimming and rowing. Cardio training is considered an aerobic exercise as one is required to move from one exercise to another.

What Are the Benefits of Training?

1. Gives Energy to the Body
You can expect more energy and higher endurance after some time of regular cardio training.

2. Prevents Diseases
One could prevent heart diseases with regular cardio training. It is also helpful in preventing other variety of diseases like diabetes, obesity and even high cholesterol. The cardiovascular training strengthens the heart and the lungs. The low to moderated type of cardio exercises are required for people seeking to prevent diseases. Examples of these are walking, brisk walking or jogging.

3. Control Your Weight
With cardio training, you are able to burn more calories. This will help one who needs to lose weight. While those who already achieved their ideal body mass, the training will make it easier to control the weight.

Cardio training helps burn calories. However this generally depends on your current weight and the kind of cardio training you are undergoing. Better consult this matter with your physician or trainer, to know the proper type of training for your needs.

4. Lose Body Fats
Some people do not have problem with their weights. However, there may be some excess fats that keep bothering. Cardio training will help in getting rid of those. The activities involve the movements of large muscle groups. Regularly doing the training will make you leaner.

5. Get Rid of Boredom
Cardio training is fun. It pumps up your system. You will definitely feel more energized and on the go.

Recommendations to Better Enjoy the Benefits of Cardio Training

Cardio training is essential when you need to make health improvements. For starters, it is best to do the 30 to 45 minutes of exercises, 3 to 5 days a week. If you are aiming for weight loss, the training must be done 5 days a week. The more frequent you do it; the more likely it is that you will lose weight. However, avoid exhausting yourself too much in exercise. Avoid going beyond 45 minutes. Remember, it has to be done in a regular basis.

Start now. Walk or ride the bike around the neighborhood now. Follow that aerobics video you purchased. Set a goal and follow that goal. At the same time, modify your diet too. Eat healthy food.

As you increase in the fitness level, the intensity of the training must also increase. This is to have an area of variation and there should always be room for improvement. Implement this by intensifying some parts of the training. If you are into jogging or running, increase speed every 5 minutes for at least a minute or two. It is important that you challenge yourself, so as not to be stuck in a stump.

Avoid doing the cardio exercises before bedtime. You will have a difficult time sleeping if you do so as the energy level of the body will stay high for sometime.

If you are undergoing weight training too, do the cardio exercises right after, not before.

It is best to take a snack 30 minutes before doing the cardio exercises. Do not start with training in an empty stomach. This will not help in achieving the proper momentum when you train. At the same time, avoid indulging in large meals too before exercise. Just give your body the proper supply it will need to sustain exhausting movements.

It is good to do the cardio exercises outdoors. This way you can easily interact with nature and breathe fresh air. You can also simply enjoy going around the neighborhood as you get your system healthier by the minute. It is possible to make some friends among the people who also do their exercises.

Be consistent and stick with the training once you have started it. This is the only way that cardio training will benefit your body and your health in the long run.

Benefits of Resistance Training

Benefits of resistance training
Do you want to have a stronger and more beautiful body? Then the best thing to do is get on your feet and start doing the resistance training.

What Is Resistance Training?

Resistance training involves activities that use weights, machines and even body weight to work out the muscles properly. It is also known as strength training or weight training. This can be very helpful in achieving a healthier body.

This kind of training is usually associated with athletes who have to build up their bodies. Most people would think that when resistance training is done, the body will grow bigger. Actually it will not. Resistance training is simply about increasing the strength of the body, not its size.

Actually, this can be practiced by anyone. It basically builds and tones the muscle to give the body a better look. This training program is even very much advisable to the elders. The usual training programs undergone by the elders are standing free-weights resistance or the moderate-intensity seated machine training.

How Does Resistance Training Work?

A resistance training program will include the use of various exercise equipment and machines like the bench press, dumbbell or barbell. When the equipment is used, the muscles of the body will be pitted against the weight. The cells of the body will then adapt to the extra weight. This will then result to hypertrophy or the enlarging and increasing of the nerve cells to help in the muscle contraction.

Before doing any resistance training, it will be best to consult first with the doctor. This goes especially for people who have medical conditions or are overweight. This kind of training is not something that you can explore on your own. You have to know the proper equipment for the needs of your body. The body must also be conditioned first before taking in the weights.

Resistance training can also be done without resorting to the equipment. Doing push-ups is one good example. You can do it just about anywhere where there is enough space for you to move. This time it is your own body weight that will be pitted against the muscles. So those who are a bit constrained in the budget can still do resistance trainings.

What Are the Benefits of Resistance Training?

1. Increase Bone Mineral Density
Bones are constantly remodeling, meaning the tissues break down at the same time they build up. The peak of remodeling takes place during puberty. However, as a person ages, there may be problems with the bone mineral density as the remodeling may not be as active anymore. This is especially a problem to post-menopausal women.

Bone mineral density is usually supported by the hormones. To address the problem of not having the hormones to maintain the bone mineral density, physical activity is the next best option. Resistance training is one physical activity that can address this.

2. Increase Strength
Strong bones and strong muscles will be developed as you undergo the resistance training program.

3. Increase the Range of Activities
When your body is strong enough to carry some considerable weight, then definitely you will also be capable of doing more strenuous activities. You are less likely to be lazy and you can live a more active lifestyle.

4. Reduce the Body Fat
Pitting the weights on your muscle will definitely give it the body the exercise it needs and get rid of the undesirable fats. Thus expect the tone of the body to improve. Even more, expect the body to look better, to be leaner.

5. Improve State of the Elders
For the elderly, undergoing a resistance training program will help improve their health and decrease the risks brought about by the age. They can be more independent, without needing to rely on other people for doing simple things. Being able to do so will also decrease the risk of injuries in the elders

6. Improve Heart Condition
Regularly doing resistance training can result to a lowered heart rate and lowered blood pressure, especially after exercise. The risk of heart diseases is reduced to a considerable extent.

This kind of training however must be properly done. It requires commitment and consistency. It will have to be done in a regular basis, following a schedule that the doctor or the physical trainer would recommend. If done incorrectly, the benefits of the program may not be enjoyed and it can even result the injury.

The key here is to simply take your time. Do things one step at a time correctly. As your body condition improves, then move on to more challenging tasks. The strength of the body and its overall look are at stake in the resistance training. So you better be sure to do it properly.

Heart Monitors

Heart Rate Monitors

Heart rate monitors used to be exclusively operated by physicians and nurses alone but that was soon rectified with today’s multi-tasking generation. Every person seemed to want to know about everything that was related to them and that of course included monitoring their own heartbeats.

What is a Heart Monitor
Also known as a cardiac monitor, a heart monitor is a piece of electronic equipment that can be used to track or observe heart functions continuously. It allows people to place a numerical value on their healthiness based on their heart rate and have a target heart rate to work for. The more complex versions of the heart monitor allow physicians to see any signs of deterioration or improvement and make the necessary adjustments immediately.

Types of Heart Monitors
Today, heart monitors are produced by the millions and designed to cater specific types of individuals. Some heart monitors are primarily designed for weight loss programs while others are meant for the use of athletes or fitness programs. Some are wireless or come as a built-in feature of exercise equipment like a treadmill or an exercise bike. It can be strapped to your wrist or of considerable size. It may or may not emit any electromagnetic waves, depending on its purpose. A fetal heart monitor, for instance, must not produce any waves at all as this may affect the health of the baby.

Factors on Selecting the Best Heart Monitor for You

ECG-Accurate Monitors with Chest Straps – Heart monitors that come with chest straps are more often not the most accurate of heart monitors. The chest strap is strapped around your chest, a few centimeters below your breast. It contains a device that’s able to detect electrical activity of your heart and transmit it to the brain of the machine – just like an ECG. The results are shown on the display monitor, which most of the times is attached to your wrist like a watch. Others however prefer results to be transmitted through audio messages via earphones.

Upon choosing heart monitors with chest straps, you need to remember to keep the strap constantly connected to your body lest you want the heart monitor to produce inaccurate readings.

Lastly, the only alternative against buying heart monitors with chest straps are the ones that rely on pulses on your fingertips. These however do not provide readings as accurate as those with chest straps.

Heart Monitor Features – Basic and lower end models tend to display only your heart rate and maybe the elapsed exercise time as well. This of course does not provide sufficient information if you want to know exactly how much you need to improve before you can be qualified as a completely healthy individual. Higher end models will naturally offer a wider range of features – for a price. Examples of such features are – but not limited to – heart rate zone alarms, timers and number of calories burned. It may also allow users to set pre-programmed workouts along with a targeted heart rate.

Ease of Use – Lastly, you must purchase a heart rate monitor that you will have no problems of using. What good would a high end heart monitor do if it takes you an hour to operate it? Are the numbers and words appearing in the heart rate monitor readable? Can it be used in no-light situations? Are buttons well-labeled and ergonomically positioned?

To Buy or Not to Buy a Heart Monitor
Heart monitors can be especially costly, more so if you are intent on purchasing higher-end models. If you have a limited budget, you should ask yourself whether or not you truly need to buy a heart monitor. You can of course purchase one of the lower-end models but low quality heart monitors can lead to inaccurate results and that sort of defeats the purpose of buying one.

If you are intent on purchasing a heart monitor, you need to ask yourself another question: do you need to make a solo purchase or is it alright with you to use the heart monitor that comes as a built-in feature of a treadmill? Lastly, you should remember as well that you can always pay your doctor regular visits and have him monitor your heart rate for you.

Traveling in France

France: Ultimate Travel Destination

You will certainly not be bored when you travel to France. Considered one of the most romantic countries in the world, France remains one of the ultimate travel destinations in the world, especially for people who love to go sightseeing.

There are a lot of places to travel to in France. One of which is the world-famous Louvre, which houses some of the most celebrated works of art in the world. Travel back to the time of such great artists like Leonardo Da Vinci. See for yourself the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the ancient Winged Victory. The Louvre is the largest and the most famous museum in the world, boasting an art and artifact collection that would make any traveler to France gasp in awe. Other museums that people who travel to France should look into are the Pompidou, the Musee Rodin and the Musee d’Orsay.

Another sight worth seeing when you travel to France is the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, which was built in the 17th century. The avenue has the Arc de Triomphe at one end and the Place de la Concorde on the other. Restaurants and boutiques can also be found along the stretch.

One’s travel to France will not be complete without visiting The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. A model for French Gothic Cathedrals in the Middle Ages, the structure still stands proud, rich in history and architecture. With its large glass surface area supported by carved stone tracery, the Notre Dame de Paris remains to be one of the greatest works produced in that era.

Children who travel to France will find the Disneyland Paris a great place to hang out. The 5000 acre resort is in itself a wonderland filled with the most exciting rides and games. Disneyland Paris in fact is one of Europe’s biggest tourist attraction.

The Bois de Boulogne will not disappoint any person who paid money to travel to France. Inspired by London’s Hyde Park and Regent Park, Bois de Boulogne is the favorite of Parisian walkers and tourists. Inside, France travelers can also find the Auteuil and Longchamp race courses. Another sight that any person who travels in France should go look for is the famous clay tennis court, Roland Garros, where the French Open is held. The court is all housed within the Bois de Boulogne.

Of course, you must see the beautiful and famous Eiffel Tower. Those who travel to France would not dare leave the country without seeing this wrought iron landmark made by French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Paris World’s Fair.

People who would love to travel in style will probably shop until they drop in some of France’s fashion squares. The Quartier Latin stretch and the St. Germain des Pres offer a wide variety of shops, from booksellers to antique shops to boutiques. The Printemps and Galeries Lafayette will also be a shopping haven for people traveling to France.

There are also great restaurants inside the QL. Try Parisian pizza, the Lebanese Mezze or just a plain croissant. Visit the bars and party on with the locals. The La Java, for instance, features live Latin bands that will entertain anyone who travels to France. The Moulin Rouge, thanks to the movie, has also attracted quite a number of following.

The Grand Canyon – 10 Things to Know Before you Go

The Grand Canyon: 10 Things to Know Before You Go

The Grand Canyon is located in northwest Arizona and arguably the worlds most popular and natural tourist attraction. The massive Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and at its deepest point, is more than a mile from rim to river. Most of the Canyon lies within the Grand Canyon National Park and is managed by the National Park Service. It incorporates three geographically separated areas: the South Rim, the North Rim and the inner Canyon. As you plan your vacation to the Grand Canyon, be prepared for everything.

1. You must decide how you will get there. Will you drive across country as a family road trip or will you fly to save time and money? Taking in mind the rising gas prices across the nation, and decide which one will benefit you more, both physically and economically?

2. Self vs. Travel Agent. How much time do you have to properly research and plan a vacation? You must decide if you should find a travel agency to help plan out your vacation to the great wonders of the Grand Canyon. Travel agencies can save you both time and money, because planning the best vacations is what they do for a living.

3. Child friendly environments. Depending on the ages of your children, you need to know that your destination is suitable for children. With babies, find out if the hotel or resort where you will be staying offers cribs or childcare during your visit. Is a Grand Canyon vacation the right choice for your children?

4. Pets care. Many people enjoy taking their pets along with them on vacation. If you do, make sure your hotel or resort allows pets on the premises. Also be sure some of your destinations are pet friendly too so you aren’t leaving your pet locked up in a room all day while you are out having the time of your life. If you decide not to bring your pet, find a pet sitting service or boarding facilities with a good reputation. Most animal hospitals offer boarding, but if yours does not, then ask your veterinarian for a referral to a reputable pet care provider.

5. Protect your home. A visit to the Grand Canyon averages four to seven days. Those are days that you will be away from your home. Talk with your neighbors and ask them if they can keep an eye on your house while you are gone, or ask a family member or friend to check in on your house every now and then. You want to prevent your home from being targeted by burglars.

6. Pack appropriate clothing, such as: a bandanna or a hat (for sun and weather protection), cut off pants for hiking, gloves, jacket, pants (heavy duty), rain coat or poncho, shoes (suitable for hiking), socks (cotton or wool for hiking), sweat shirt or sweater.
7. First Aid Precautions. Accidents happen, when they do, you can be prepared by keeping a personal first aid kit at hand. What you should take with you to meet an emergency situation depends on your family, where you are going and how long you will be staying. The minimum items to be considered would be: Antiseptic, Ace bandage, Band-aids, Burn ointment, Chap stick, First aid tape, Foot blister pads/powder, Gauze compresses, salt tablets, sharp knife and sun tan lotion.

8.Miscellaneous items. Compass, maps, water, ear plugs, eye wash, fire starter, blanket, flashlight (with new batteries), waterproof matches, paper/pencil, sewing kit, antibacterial soap, sun glasses, toilet paper, moist wipes.

9. Sun screen. SPF 15 or higher. Protect yourself and your family from sun burns.

10. Toiletries. Laundry bag, mirror, sleep wear, sanitary supplies, shaving articles, soap, tooth brush, tooth paste, wash cloth.

Never carry all of your credit cards with you or a large amount of cash. This can lead to excessive spending, theft or simply losing it. When traveling, your best bet would be travel checks or a travelers’ debit card, that will replace funds if lost or stolen. Losing all your money or having your funds stolen can end a great vacation in a heart beat. You should prepare yourself for anything, even if it requires over packing, and don’t forget to have a safe trip.

Top Tips for Booking a Flight

Booking a flight may seem like an overwhelming task, but it does not have to be. There are many things that a person can do to ensure that they are getting the most from booking a flight. There are many things that a person can do in order to ensure that booking their flight goes as smoothly as possible. In this article, we will look at some of the top tips for booking a flight.

One of the first things that you should do when booking a flight is to try to reserve your flight ahead of time. Once you have reserved your flight, you can easily change your reservations if the prices decrease or you see another special that you are interested in. You should always watch the prices of airfare because there will be many times when the prices decrease and you can take advantage of these times in order to receive the best deal possible.

When booking a flight, it is very important that you consider the days that you wish to fly on. There are a couple of days of the week that it is better to wait until another day to fly because they are busy. The busier the day of the week, the more it will cost to fly on that day. You should try to avoid traveling on Mondays and Friday when at all possible. Business people often travel on these days, therefore, making it an extremely busy time to fly. It is ideal to travel on Sundays, Tuesday, and Wednesdays. There is not as much air travel on these days and these are the days that airfare will be cheaper.

When traveling by air, it is important to try not to book flights on major holidays. If you choose to fly on major holidays, you will end up paying more for your airfare. If you are planning a trip around the times of the holidays, it is better to try to leave at least a week prior to the holidays, or wait until after the holidays to travel. This will ensure that you minimize your airfare costs.

When you are booking a flight, it is important that you research your options. You may want to consider researching various companies and websites that may offer you great deals on airfare and other travel accommodations. If you have a major credit card, you may want to see if they offer any types of savings or discounts if you use the credit card to book your travel accommodations. Many times, they will offer you package deals that you can pay back with no interest. This is a great way to travel for less.

The important thing that you should know about booking a flight is that it can be an easy process. With some research, you can find that you can save a lot of time and money by booking your own flight, on your own terms.

Air, Hotel, & Rental Car – Best Buys in Travel

Air, Hotel & Rental Car: Best Buys in Travel

If you are looking to plan your vacation but are working with a tight budget, you might be surprised to find that cheap travel deals are easier to find than you may think. Many people must plan vacations with small amounts of money but that is no reason not to take a trip. Airlines, hotels and rental car companies have realized that many travelers can not afford certain perks, this is why there have been efforts made to make cheap travel options available to those who have limited budgets.

JetBlue Airlines is one airline built on the goal of creating affordable travel. JetBlue was created as a low-fare airline based out of John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City in 2000. Five years later the airline serves 32 cities throughout the United States including Boston, Las Vegas and Washington DC. Do not think that lower air fares translate into shoddy service. JetBlue only flies new, unused airplanes and the airlines’ planes actually are the newest overall in comparison to all other airlines. The airline focuses on quality service since it relies on faithful customers who value flying for low prices.

Another airline that may make it cheaper for you to fly to your vacation destination is Southwest Airlines. Serving 59 cities across the United States, Southwest Airlines offers a number of special sales and deals throughout the year. During special offers made by Southwest Airlines, passengers can find one-way tickets to destinations across the United States for as low as $39.

If you are looking for cheap lodging, look no further than Super 8 Motel. With over 2,000 locations in the United States, Canada and China, Super 8 is likely to be able to serve you. Not only does Super 8 offer some of the lowest hotel room rental rates in the world, but they also offer a Guaranteed Best Rate program. If you find a hotel that offers a similar room for a lower price, Super 8 will give you your first night’s stay for free. No other national hotel chain offers a program such as this.

Super 8 is confident in its low rates and high quality rooms and service. The chain guarantees you will be satisfied with your stay. Super 8 also offers a number of other discounts available such as a triple A member discount, a Trip Rewards program where frequent visitors can earn reward points, and special rates for large groups. Room rates typically begin at about $70-$75 without discounts. Other national hotel chains such as the Days Inn and the Holiday Inn often run specials as well so if you know the dates of your vacation it would be smart to look into any possible discounts that would be available to you at that time.

Once you arrive at your destination, you will have to find a method of transportation to get you to your hotel and to any nearby attractions you plan on visiting. A rental car is the easiest way to do so. Although public transportation may be cheaper, a rental car ensures that you are able to travel at your own pace without having to abide by a public transportation schedule. Rental cars can be expensive and typically run by the day. However, it is possible to find rental car companies that offer low rental prices. U-Save Auto Rental is one of these companies. U-Save Auto Rentals offers cars and SUVs for rent at prices lower than that of their competitors. Small economy cars can be rented for as little as $29.98 per day, one of the lowest rates you will be able to find anywhere. SUVs are slightly higher, with Lincoln Navigators renting at $103.98 per day, considerably lower than the rates of competing rental car companies.

Planning a cheap but quality vacation is more than possible if you do your research before traveling. The internet can be an extremely valuable tool for this. Compare prices from as many airlines, hotels, and car rental companies as possible to find the ones that will give you exactly what you are looking for at a low, bargain price. If you look around you will be able to put together a great vacation at a very low price.

Best Theme Park Destinations

Amusement Business Magazine has revealed the top ten theme parks in North America for 2004 based on attendance figures. As expected, six of those ten are owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. Although no numbers were released for theme park visitor count elsewhere, it’s safe to assume that the brand also dominates internationally, as its newest theme park HongKong Disneyland just opened. Here is how the list looked with a short overview of its attractions.

1. The Magic Kingdom at Disney World (FL)

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 and is located 30 minutes south of Orlando. Cinderella Castle, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Space Mountain are just some of its popular attractions. Kids will be thrilled getting autographs from Disney characters at Mickey’s Toontown Fair.

2. Disneyland (CA)

The world’s most famous theme park recently celebrated its 50th anniversary called the “Happiest Homecoming on Earth” which was attended by, among others, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Indiana Jones Adventure and Haunted Mansion have been hailed by critics to be the parks best rides.

3. Epcot at Walt Disney World (FL)

Originally called EPCOT Center (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) when it opened in October 1982, the park was envisioned to be a futuristic city with controlled environs. Now, it is known to be a “learning-oriented” attraction in where science and international culture blend.

4. Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World (FL)

The park functions both as a full-service production lot and theme park. Five major sections make-up the park: Hollywood Blvd., New York St., Mickey Ave., Animation Courtyard, and Sunset Blvd. Of all the rides here, Tower of Terror has been said to be the best of the modern-day attractions. The freefalling thrill ride is based on the classic television show The Twilight Zone.

5. Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World (FL)

This 500-acre theme park focuses on animals and dinosaurs. The people behind it are quick to point out, though, that it is not a zoo since there certainly is a lot more to see and do here than animals on display. It’s Tough To Be A Bug and Tree Of Life are the top picks among the attractions.

6. Universal Studios at Universal Orlando (FL)

Universal’s Revenge of the Mummy ride is widely proclaimed to be among the best rides ever with coasters reaching top speeds and gut-displacing drops. It also gets props for effectively incorporating story into an action-filled ride with stunning special effects. Another reason for its success is the family-oriented approach Universal chose which means it’s relatively docile compared to its predecessors.

7. Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando (FL)

Undoubtedly, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man is the number one reason visitors keep coming back to this theme park. Merging 3D graphics with the most advanced motion base simulation technology, this ride takes visitors on a whole new level of fun and excitement that even the most jaded ride enthusiast will come out totally blown away.

8. Disney’s California Adventures (CA)

Soarin’ Over California is the perfect attraction for anyone who has always dreamed of flying. This attraction simulates a hang glider “soaring” over California’s best known locations such as the Golden Gate Bridge, San Diego, Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles, and even Disneyland itself. It has become one of the most visited attractions in the two Disney parks it is featured in. Scents corresponding to the places shown on screen are incorporated into the wind effects for added realism.

9. SeaWorld Florida (FL)

Aside from the usual marine shows, SeaWorld also boasts its own roller coaster and making it floorless gives the ride an added thrill factor. It’s also the tallest of its kind in Central Florida. There are motion simulator rides, a marine life exhibit, and, at Discovery Cove, visitors can swim with dolphins. Truly, a far cry from the whale-splashing attraction it used to be.

10. Universal Studios Hollywood (CA)

The rides and attractions at Universal Studios are all tied with Universal’s movies. There is also the famous backlot tour on a tram that visits famous film sets and complete special effects. The most recent addition to line-up is Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds set. Guests can also be part of the studio audience at television show tapings. About 35,000 visitors come to Universal Studios daily, majority of them also from Southern California. It is also the largest film studio-theme park in the world.

The eBook has Grown Up

The Ebook Has Grown Up!

There was a time when downloading an ebook was the luxury of only the tech savvy or geek weirdo.

But now, it has become so easy to use that it is the preferred way to purchase books and information by millions of Americans. The ebook is now a household term and it is here to stay.

Among the many benefits to consumers for buying eBooks is the almost instantaneous acquisition of in depth facts, on any subject, moments after an initial search on the Internet.

This means no more waiting for the next day to head to the books store, or day’s spent looking for the UPS man or Mail person to come and deliver a book. Consumers love getting their answers right away instead of waiting long after the initial flame interest has smoldered and died.

Another key factor in growing online ebook sales is the clear ecological benefits gained when a book is delivered electronically rather than by traditional means.

A traditional book as we know is printed on paper.

We all know that paper starts out as a tree growing in a forest hopefully not on a hillside outside your living room’s window and then transported miles over road by smoky diesel trucks to a paper mill which then will then use toxics chemicals to bleach the wood pulp white and then later add more toxic polymers to the pulp slurry, to reconstitute it into sheets of paper.

These first steps of simply making the paper, for printing books not only consumes incredible amounts of fossil fuels to provide energy initially, but also are responsible for sustaining eco damage that is incurred through the way of taxing the local municipal water filtration plants surrounding the mills.

Ultimately almost all paper mills will leave residual contamination in the watershed surrounding the its plant generations after it has left town and it’s jobs have moved on.

Even today’s supposedly “eco friendly” soy based inks while not immediately threatening to the end user, as some of the lead based inks of the past did also exacerbates the eco system.

By relying so heavily on the new bio engineered soybean mono culture factory farms for ink we are encouraging the creation of freak crops suitable only for growing in soil so poisoned, it has become all but sterol to any crop other than the ever more genetically modified strains used.

Negative reasons for buy traditional books aside the most important reason eBooks are threatening to upset the status quo is the sheer speed in which information can be made available to the end consumer.

In a world that changes at the speed of light, information which would become obsolete if published through traditional channels (think printing schedules at big publishing companies and distribution line lag times) can be offered to the public moments after editing in formats perfect for reading via the customers laptop or phone!

Yes indeed, the publishing worlds “baby” the ebook has certainly grown up and is going head to head with its traditional older brothers the hardcover and paperback.