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Sunday, December 16, 2007

6 Fantastic Public Golf Courses in North Carolina

The United States is blessed with many wonderful public golf courses, including several in the state of north carolina. In this article, we will review some of the best public golf courses in the north carolina, and what they offer.

1. Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Course in southern Pines, was laid out by the Scottish born golf architect, Donald Ross. The course, which has always been lovingly maintained, has in recent years been restored back towards the original Donald Ross design, while the greens' foundations have nevertheless been rebuilt to USGA specifications.

2., 3. and 4. Pinehurt resort and country club in the village of pinehurst is home to no less than 8 different golf courses as well as the pinehurst Golf academy. The most highly rated are No. 2, No. 4 and No. 8. The No. 2 course was designed by Donald Ross in 1907. The No. 4 and No. 8 courses are both designs by Tom Fazio (2000 and 1996 respectively), although the No. 4 course owes a great debt to an earlier Ross course on the same site. The No. 2 is especially known as a challenging course, not because of any individual feature, but because of the combination of features that it offers, and hence is a popular site for golf championships, more in fact than any other course in the country, including having hosted the 2005 U.S. open championship.

5. Rivers edge Golf Course is an Arnold Palmer Signature Course in Shallotte. The course is home to spectacular landscapes, and six of the holes sit upon bluffs which overlook the Shallotte river and surrounding marshlands.

6. ocean Ridge plantation in Sunset beach is home to four courses: "Lion's Paw", "Panther's Run", "Tiger's Eye", and new in 2007, "Leopard's Chase". While all the courses have something special to offer, perhaps the best known and most highly regarded is the "Tiger's Eye" which has been rated as one of the best public golf courses in the country by Golf digest.

For contact details of 100 excellent public golf courses in the usa, and a detailed guide to family-friendly golf vacations in the usa, please visit http://www.guide2golfvacations.com/

For a guide to improving your golf fitness, please visit http://www.guide2golffitness.com/

If you have a golf web site, click the "Affiliates" link at the bottom of the page to earn great commissions promoting either of these guides.

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Drinking a Cup of Green Tea And Dieting Benefits

The popularity of green tea drinking in the West has exploded throughout the past few years. It's become a desirable holistic patent medicine for a conglomerate of acute diseases known to mankind. By drinking green tea a great many people generally testify to decreased degree of inflammation, improved skin conditioning, lowered their cholesterol, and decreased risks of various types of cancers.

people at large have experienced that by taking green tea and dieting efforts are improved. On the whole, it's considered that green tea will improve body metabolism and therefore calories will be burned of rather more efficiently and weight loss is more likely. Obviously the regular dieter will find this an immense help on the journey to weight loss heaven.

It is possible to feel real results even from consuming just a single mug of green tea each day and when the consumption increase so does the benefits. If you are dieting then you should be aware of the diuretic qualities of drinking and dieting. The tea can lead to dehydration and the way to avoid this is to ensure that you have an adequate intake of other fluids, preferable natural water.

Purchasing green Tea and Dieting

These days you will not have to travel far and wide to buy your green tea, quite frankly you can get it almost anywhere and every street corner shop and certainly every large supermarket chain has made the effort to introduce the drink onto its shelves. Previously you could only find green tea and dieting form specialist health food shops.

There are several green teas for dieting to be found on the World Wide Web. A basic internet search will soon deliver a vast number of suppliers of the tea you would wish to buy. There is one supplier in particular, The tea Farm, that will offer diverse varieties of green tea lots of these are cultured in countless different countries. The tea Farm will even propose a green tea taster that comes with a range of five sundry teas. They may perhaps be a huge medley for the individual new to green tea dieting. This sample pack costs around twenty-five dollars or so, and can be bought from www.theteafarm.com

You may also wish to try www.teanobi.com you'll find that that they offer a broad selection of different types of green tea and dieting. The tea obtainable on this website are all developed and produced in Japan. It comes in tea bags, loose leaf and powder. These also suggest a sample and sell a range of green tea and dieting accompaniments.

For persons in general who wish to consume green tea for dieting yet are not particular about its taste there are numerous corporations that will present green tea extract. The extract is added to other foods allowing a full advantage whilst not having to take it as green tea. Furthermore you can discover countless green tea additionals which are mixed together with other advantageous holistic products to provide something of an all round holistic supplementary diet.

DIET RUBRIC

If you feel its time to transform your appearance then you should see what else we have to say. Peter Wellington writes for www.dietrubric.com a website providing a comprehensive archive of free information and guides on healthy diets for the modern lifestyle - he answers the common question "how can I obtain my ideal weight and still remain healthy?"

Origin Of Yoga Cl

Karmic Yoga-Correction Agents

Throughout the ages there have been men and women who have labored to better the world. Some of them worked through communities and institutions while some of them worked at what some people call the grass roots level, to raise a group of people wanted to help provide for the needs of the society at a deeper, more personal level, than most governments. These groups were often met with a great deal of resistance, but as more people joined them and they gained more power, they also gained enough prestige to become part of the larger system. This was both a blessing and a curse.

Today, due to the speed of communication, we can see the fruit of their success faster. As they become part of the system they get more power, but the amount of compromising necessary to remain at the table and keep that power also increases. After they have compromised too much they become the system instead of agents of correction. They begin to make a few cosmetic changes here and there and to pass out the Band-Aids, but they really dont make the foundational changes needed to stop people from getting wounded.

their success has ultimately become their failure. They have ended up selling their souls to do good and bending their values so far they dont exist anymore. Finally they end up being the oppressors and suppressors they thought they were fighting. This is an example of how ones success externally can contribute to ones demise internally. The Shaolin discuss this in their wisdom literature. They say that some people only use their energy and light of awareness to fight against darkness and evil externally. While their awareness is being applied on the outside the evil they are fighting finds a place of welcome on the inside. They are then turned into what they are fighting against.

The Shaolin say that is more important to use the light of awareness on the inside to purify and strengthen oneself so one can work to fight evil from a place of wholeness, completeness, and goodness. To create a better society it is important to know who one is and to cultivate ones sense of self, honor, and dignity. One can work from a place of strength and power then, creating new ways to bring about social change. If one is moved by anger or by fear it can seem that she is doing great work while she is destroying the very principles inside herself that she wants the world to embrace. But if she struggles from a place of certitude and love, she will bring the principles she embraces to the world and be an example for following generations.

If you want to be a social change agent as part of your Karmic yoga, cultivate love of self and neighbor. Treat yourself kindly. Truly love yourself and your neighbor--even those who oppose you. Love combined with just action will lead you to life. This life will replace the drudgery of fighting unbeatable odds, or the tiredness from maintaining a sense of righteous anger throughout the years and transform your work to one of joy. Your work will become part of the great spiral dance that weaves together and takes apart corrupt thoughts, concepts, and social systems, and recreates them in the image of love. You will be the very essence--the creative process of life, and your legacy of justice, which is applied love, will endure forever.

Dr. John W. Gilmore is the founder and spiritual Leader of the Cyber Circle of Creation spirituality, which is an online service dedicated to deep ecumenism, mystical union with the Divine, and a progressive voice for societal transformation. He is a spiritual Director, Martial Arts Instructor, a writer and a certified reiki Master Teacher, Massage Therapist, a Reflexologist. For more commentaries like this one explore this e-zine or our Free journal of Practical spirituality at http://www.dswellness.com . You can also find a link to our cyber service, The Circle there.

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Dear Office Dweller

The following letter is a composite of feedback from road warriors in the field to the much respected and appreciated office dwellers who occupy the ivory towers, headquarters or maze of cubicles. The office dwellers are the curators of much needed scrolls, documents, data, financial information and other incredibly essential data and processes that enable the organization to function. The road warrior is the tireless face and voice at the front lines of the information supply chain, responsible for maintaining that delicate balance between the vision of the clients and the magic of what really happens behind the curtain.

"Did you get my electronic calendar invitation for our meeting in ten minutes?"

No, I did not get your electronic invitation for the meeting.

I am currently sitting in front of a very important client and giving my undivided attention. The Cell phone is turned to Vibrate and put away to avoid distraction. The laptop computer is turned off and in it's case. I have a pad and paper in front of me to take notes on highlights of our conversation. The client has my complete attention, especially when we are face to face. The client has specific needs and a vision of the future. I need to understand that vision and effectively communicate how our features will meet the needs of the client. When we are together, the client and I, we have one purpose that isolates us from the interruptions of the outside world. Our purpose is to find the best solution for a mutually beneficial business arrangement.

When the meeting is done, I will have to use my notes to draft a comprehensive document that I will send back to the ivory towers. This document must accurately convey the details of our conversation with the needs and vision of the client. It must accurately assess and explain the mutually beneficial business arrangement and establish the covenants or commitments of our conversation. My notes of those critical personal moments shared with the client will become the basis for a thesis that will be drafted many hours later in a hotel room in another city.

That electronic calendar invitation is buried amid two hundred and one other emails, many of which are from other clients. I will ready them all when I sit at my hotel room desk, eat my hotel cookie and drink my single serving hotel room coffee. The hotel has a Jacuzzi, pool and amenities that I will never see. What are the real amenities for a road warrior? High Speed internet connection, clean bed, hot shower and a continental breakfast are what constitute Home Sweet Home.

"Did you get the email with the attached 32MB Video of the receptionist's granddaughter's birthday party, the pictures from the company sponsored bar-Be-Cue, the invitation to have your car washed in the parking lot or the plethora of other emails with embedded cartoons and enormous attachments?"

Some places still define high speed internet connection as a 56k modem or a single wireless router available from the hotel lobby. Hopefully the download will be complete before I finish packing my suitcase in the morning. I can't wait to read the internal company announcement about the hot lunch yesterday, accompanied by the gratuitous oversized images of greasy burgers, fries and pizza slices. I am tempted to send an email with embedded pictures of my bran muffin and banana but fear that the humor will only create another burdensome download to my fellow road warriors. Besides, somebody already beat me to the punch line and responded with a "Reply to All" message to HR that included a social security number and complete medical history. There will be at least ten to fifteen more "Reply to All" messages that simply say "Thank You", but I won't know that until I open them. I have worn the letters off of my delete key.

"Did you read the email that I just sent to you?"

Thank you for the phone call. I am now driving in bumper to bumper traffic with one hand on my cell phone so I can talk to you. In my other hand is a pen, ready to scribble notes on the printed directions that I downloaded from some mapping software three days ago. I know that this call must be really important if you take the time to write the email and then call to make sure that I see it and respond. Where am I?

On the passenger side of the car is a slowly wilting drive-through lunch. A cup of car temperature coffee is perched in the console beside my elbow. I am driving with my knees and trying to avoid that other erratic driver who does not seem to be paying attention to the road or traffic. Was that my exit?

That's right, my cell phone does get messages. I wonder if I can scroll through my messages and read the pinpoint text while simultaneously talking to you about the attached files. Can you hear me? I think that I found the email that you are talking about. Yes, this is the email. Was that a police officer that I just passed? Is it legal to talk on the cell phone while driving in this city? Better not take any chances, I have to hang up for now and call you back. I may not be able to talk on the cell phone, but I don't think that there are any laws about doing email or text messaging on your phone while driving, not yet anyway.

"I just sent you an instant Message, did you get it?"

Oh, you mean the instant Message that you sent to ask me if I read the email that you called about while I am trying to drive? Sorry, I missed that one. Calculating route, when possible, please make a legal U-Turn. Oh, it is the agenda for the conference call that started five minutes ago. I need to provide a report and rolling forecast based on the staff meeting today? What meeting?

"Oh, we decided to change that feature three days ago. It is not available anymore."

I see, the features that I just explained to our client are no longer available. The new features will cost three times as much. The meeting that you just scheduled is for me to present how we are going to sell these expensive new features and to provide an updated forecast on the revised revenue. What, it is my turn to present? You do realize that I am hundreds of miles away right now, don't you? No, I can not email my presentation and review it with everyone by phone right now. Why? I have not started the presentation yet. I must have missed the announcement. What's that? Oh, you were not aware of the changes either and there was mp announcement. I understand completely, trust me, I really do.

So, we have a new company strategy and a new corporate direction. We have decided to reinvent ourselves. There will be a big meeting to unveil our new business plan and assigned goals. I got it. What's that? Oh, I need to submit my presentation on how I will achieve those goals and my plan must be sent before the close of business today. I'm sorry, you are breaking up. It must be a bad connection because I am close to the airport now. I do not know if you can hear me, but if you can then I want to you know that I will be boarding a plane soon and will call you again later from another city to find out what you are trying to tell me. Better yet, send an email.

"I bet you really enjoy those frequent flyer miles."

You really have no idea how much I look forward to taking my vacation, at home. After several weeks on the road and a different hotel room every night, I look forward to my own bed, the one that I picked out and paid for. These days we need to arrive at the airport at least two hours before the scheduled flight. This is not productive time. Imagine spending one quarter of your eight hour day in the office standing in line with your shoes in your hand. There is a line to check in, a line to go through security and a line at to board the plane. When you arrive, stand in line to collect your luggage and another line to get your rental car. Of course, you can bypass the line to collect your luggage if you do not travel with toothpaste, shaving cream, deodorant, any gels or liquids. You can identify those fellow passengers who have elected to expedite the cattle car processing by jettisoning their personal toiletries. It would be impolite to discuss how you can identify these passengers, just trust me on this one, you can.

Working on the computer on a tray table is only effective if you the proportionate arms of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and if the individual in front of you is incapable of reclining. More than likely, you will be staring at the liver pots in the bald patch on the top of the head in front of you for hours. Remember to bring large bills in exact change to pay for your wedge of wet cheese, two individually wrapped crackers and box of sixteen fabulous handpicked raisins. Ask for a receipt so you can expense your mid-air snack and then pay for the aisle or window seat next to you so you can claim it as entertainment expense if the snack is over your approved per diem.

If you fly as often as I do then you also get the benefit of memorizing the dialogue from abbreviated movies that you would not pay to see in the theatres. Of course, the bad language, violence and parental guidance scenes are all removed to make the movies safe for general audiences. Needless to say, we will never see Ozzy Osbourne on the eight inch monitors. Would you like to hear us recite the complete dialogue from "Coal Miner's Daughter" or "Vanity Fair"?

"You must hate your job."

On the contrary, I love it. The travel, the schedule, the hours and the inconveniences are sacrifices that must be made in the pursuit of a passion. Road warriors do not travel for the excitement of hotels, or for frequent flyer miles or because we enjoy the restaurants. The travel and time are a means to an end, and that end is something much more meaningful and personal. If you were to talk to us, really talk to us for a few hours, you would learn that the real passion is for family. For some road warriors that pursuit of accomplishment means a better life for a spouse or children at home. Every day away from home is a personal sacrifice that is an investment for the ones that are left behind. For other road warriors, the family is defined as the coworkers in the ivory towers. For these people it is the professional family and the success of the organization that keeps the fire burning within. For some other road warriors the extended family includes a special personal relationship with clients, and a true dedication to help each customer achieve their individual aspirations. For the vast majority of road warriors it is a combination of all of these things, the family at home, the family at work and the extended client family on the road.

We make sacrifices, but we are thankful to have the chance to do it and grateful to the people in the ivory tower. office dwellers are a source of constant support and amusement, for this we salute you

Sincerely,

Your Devoted Road Warrior in the Field

______________________________________________________

Words of Wisdom

"Do Not Disturb signs should be written in the language of the hotel maids." - Tim Bedore

"The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark." - Barbara Hall, Northern Exposure

"The road that we travel may be long and arduous, full of many challenges. Yet it is the same road that leads back home and that is never too far." - John Mehrmann, Executive Blueprints Inc

______________________________________________________

About the Author: John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital

John Mehrmann is an author, speaker and industry expert with Executive Blueprints Inc. http://www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com

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High Definition DVD The Format Wars Second Act

Once again, there is a technology format war looming on the horizon. Many people dont remember the VHS - Betamax battle that broke out when video players were first introduced, making it possible for people to watch movies at home. This was a case of two non-compatible technologies, each of which was a format for taping full length feature films. Ultimately VHS won out, and the movie companies put out their products in that format thus dooming Betamax and the product manufacturers that had adopted their technology, not to mention the thousands of consumers that had invested in Betamax players. We now find ourselves on the verge of creating a new set of sore losers.

Skirmishes over LCD versus plasma screen HD TV technology are ongoing, but that type of technology contest isnt as acute because you can watch TV or a movie on either type of screen. Currently, you can also play every DVD available on any DVD player that is in production and on the market. The next generation of DVD players, however, is coming over the horizon in the form of two distinct and incompatible technologies.

Toshiba versus Sony

Toshiba has developed a proprietary technology dubbed high definition DVD (HDDVD) and to support their format has developed alliances with Microsoft and Universal Films, among others. The HDDVD disks will be available in 15GB and two sided, 30GB versions.

By way of comparison, the current DVDs have enough storage for two hours of standard definition (SD) images, while the one-sided 15 gigabyte HDDVD disk can store up to eight hours of high definition (HD) images. The difference between SD and HD is simply twice the number of pixel lines displayed on the screen in the HD format, thus providing a crisper picture. The increased capacity of these disks will also allow for interactive features such as screen-in-screen directors discussion of movie scenes playing behind him that todays standard DVDs cannot support.

In the other corner is the Blu-Ray technology developed by Sony, who has lined up support from Apple, Disney and 20th Century Fox. Both formats use blue laser technology, which has a shorter wavelength than red, allowing it to read the smaller digital data "spots" packed a lot more densely onto a standard-size disc. Blu-Ray disks are designed to carry up to 50GB of digital material, which may mean that Sony wins the compression competition.

The Early Rounds

Sony Pictures released the first six films on Blu-Ray disks in June of this year, and have released a few more since. Samsung has a Blu-Ray DVD player in the stores, while Sonys hardware division has released a Blu-Ray compatible PC. Toshiba has its initial HDDVD player on the market and there are a limited number of titles available in the format, mostly re-releases of previous first-run features.

Sony clearly jumped out to an early lead, with support from Dell, HP, Mitsubishi and a number of other hardware manufacturers. In addition, Sony Pictures also owns Columbia and MGM, giving them an enormous library to work with. Sony will also fold its technology into the PlayStation 3 gaming machine, their proprietary product whose 2nd version rules the roost in the videogame market.

On the Toshiba side of the battlefield, proponents argue that the HDDVD disks will be cheaper to produce and that it will be comparatively easy for disk replicators to retrofit their equipment for production purposes. The HDDVD format also makes production of recordable DVDs much simpler than with the Blu-Ray design.

Further, an alliance with Microsoft will be a formidable edge in this battle, should it turn into a protracted conflict. Microsofts operating systems are going to be important cogs in the development of future home viewing systems, as the technology moves closer to merging the functions of computers and televisions. If movie downloads become a commercial success, PC compatibility will be critical for these disks.

The Consumer Issues

One of the reasons that Microsoft aligned with Toshibas technology is that HDDVD provides for mandatory managed copy. What that means is that unlike with today's conventional DVDs, managed copy allows consumers to make legitimate copies of their HD movies and enjoy this content around the home or across their personal networks. Making this feature mandatory will ensure a consistent consumer experience across all next-generation DVD content.

Then there is the element of iHD, which is the concept of maximizing high definition video for transport across the internet. This is a specific set of video specs which the iHD.org, a group of tech and media companies, is pushing as a cross-platform standard.

The theory is that next-generation HD movies will provide a level of interactive experience well beyond that of today's conventional DVDs. iHD technology is meant to provide a broad foundation to enable new interactivity with standards-based development tools and technologies.

The pitch for this standard is that it will provide consumers with enhanced content, navigation and functionality for HD films. The business reality is that Microsoft plans to implement iHD support in its Windows Vista operating system, which will not only be a significant step towards integrated video and computer systems but will make help drive adoption of the new Microsoft platform.

Duel to the Death Unlikely

There is some indication that all of these conflicting issues may ultimately force a compromise some sort of merger or unification of the two technologies. Hardware manufacturers are hedging their bets, with the latest wrinkle being that Blu-Ray-aligned Hewlett Packard has requested that mandatory managed copy and the iHD standard be included in Blu-Rays feature set. Sony has agreed to include the managed copy feature, but said no to iHD.

The Betamax VHS battle was a tussle over hardware with the movie companies playing a predominant role, one Sony lost. This time around, there is much more uncertainty about how the next generation of home video will roll out. How will the Web and the PC fit in? Will the movies be delivered via disk or via download? How will the film industry protect its content rights and how can the hardware companies maximize their role?

PCs have become a commodity. If a scenario arises where every household needs a new computer to match up with new video technology, the Dells and HPs of this world stand to win big. If competing technology keeps people from investing in either, every involved business will suffer. If the film and DVD houses have to produce two sets of content and two disks for every film, their margins will grow considerably thinner as well. The tech bloggers seem to be increasingly inclined to believe that unification of some sort is inevitable. The corporations with the most to lose are too smart not to insist on it.

Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate for http://www.apollohosting.com. She helps clients understand how a website may benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, & VPS hosting to a wide range of customers.

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How A Home Water Filter Can Reduce Your Child's Risk Of Learning Disabilities

Lead is one of the most dangerous toxins a person can be exposed to in his lifetime. Besides damage from radioactive or nuclear chemicals, significant exposure to lead can cause some of the most severe and even fatal health effects possible.

It seems to be fairly common knowledge that lead is dangerous and that one should avoid exposure to lead whenever possible. Fewer and fewer paints are lead-based and leaded gasoline has been almost entirely phased out. People all over the world are now making concerted efforts to protect themselves from this dangerous metal.

Without doubt, most, if not all, parents would agree that they would like to protect their children from the damaging effects of lead exposure and ingestion. Most parents would also agree that they are doing an adequate job of protecting their children from lead exposure. Still, these same parents (unknowingly) may be exposing and even encouraging their children to take lead into their bodies each and every day.

So, where does this lead come from and why does nobody seem to know about it? The answer to these questions lies in the water we take into our bodies each day. The seemingly safe tap water of most homes in the United States contains lead. When we drink this water untreated, we are consistently allowing lead to poison the inner workings of our bodies.

In most homes built before 1978, lead from lead-soldered pipes in the plumbing system corrodes into drinking water as that water passes through pipes on its way to faucets. From the pipes to the faucet, lead infiltrates our drinking water and makes its way into our bodies and our childrens bodies. municipal water treatment plants cannot control for this contaminant in water; therefore, lead continues to make its way into our water, with little or no regulation. In order to remove this dangerous contaminant from drinking water, it is absolutely vital to employ a point- of-use water filter.

Clearly, we all know that lead is dangerous and that we should make efforts to avoid it, but what exactly is so very dangerous about lead? It is only a naturally occurring metal, after all, and iron--another naturally occurring metal--is supposed to be good for the body. Lead, however, while dangerous for all people, leads to particularly damaging health and mental problems in babies and young children. Lets first examine the general damaging health effects of lead ingestion and then focus specifically on the results of lead poisoning for babies and small children.

General Health Effects of Lead
Short-term exposure to large amounts of lead has been known to cause severe vomiting, cramping, convulsions, coma, and even death. While such exposure is increasingly unlikely in todays world, even relatively low-level exposure to lead can cause some significant health problems. Lead is a leading cause of anemia, a syndrome that affects more than 3.5 million people in the United States. Continued exposure to lead can also affect nervous system functioning, resulting in impairment of mental functioning, difficulty in memory and concentration, and inability to sleep. A lifetime of exposure to lead can adversely affect kidney functioning. Lead poisoning is also a leading cause of high blood pressure, one of the current deadliest conditions for individuals in the United States. Consistently rising numbers of high blood pressure and anemia cases--syndromes that have not traditionally been connected to lead poisoning--should certainly be considered when discussing the role of lead ingestion on the body.

Effects of Lead Poisoning on Babies and Young Children
Lead is especially damaging to babies and small children, due to the relative ease at which their bodies absorb the contaminant and the sensitive nature of their developing brains. Concerning the impact of lead poisoning on children, the U. S. environmental Protection Agency recently stated, Childhood lead poisoning remains a major environmental health problem in the U.S.. According to the Centers for Disease control and Prevention, approximately one out of every 22 children has high levels of lead in his blood.

Lead poisoning gives rise to several damaging health conditions in young childrens developing bodies. The younger the child is, the more damaging lead poisoning can be. The long-term effects of exposure to lead for young children include learning disabilities, hyperactivity, depressed growth, hearing impairments, and even brain damage.

For pregnant women, ingestion of lead can result in a host of birth defects and developmental problems for their growing babies. Ingestion of lead is particularly harmful to babies during the critical third trimester of pregnancy. Lead can pass into a babys body through breast-feeding, as well.

Diagnoses of hyperactivity and learning disabilities are growing by leaps and bounds in public schools, perhaps because of so much unknowing exposure to lead and increasing cases of lead poisoning.

What You Can Do
Knowing what we do about lead and its effects on our children and ourselves, what can we do to prevent exposure to this dangerous metal? There are several approaches--all of them important--that you can take now to protect yourself and your family. Firstly, it is important to keep your home clean and dust-free because much of your childs exposure to lead comes from dirt and dust on the floor. It is also incredibly important to have your child tested for lead poisoning if you suspect or notice any of the symptoms. With early treatment, many of these problems can be quickly alleviated.

It is also absolutely vital to begin, or continue using, a home water filtration system. Untreated tap water is likely the culprit of the majority of you and your childs exposure to lead. A simple home water filter can remove lead quickly and easily to ensure that you and your family are protected from the volatile, dangerous nature of this metal.

Every parent wants to give her children every opportunity possible to succeed; taking a few minutes to provide clean, healthy water to drink is one of the best and easiest ways to accomplish this goal.

Vanessa Lausch is a writer for http://www.historyofwaterfilters.com/ - online source for water information.

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The Perfect Golf Swing

Every golfers are looking to master the perfect golf swing. You can lower your golf scores and and add 25 yards to your drive range by doing simple golf fitness. These specific exercises will enhance your flexibility and power.

Golf fitness consists of exercises that are specific to the sport of golf and is especially designed to increase your flexibility, strength, balance and endurance. The most important is adding flexibility to your range of motion to make you hit the ball farther. You will extend your shoulder during your backswing which determines how much power is transmitted into the ball. Perform each of these exercises with one set of fifteen reps.

1- The Golf Twist

stand in a golf-address position with your feet slightly more than shoulder-width apart, and place your weight on the inside of each heel. Use both hands to hold a 5-pound medicine ball or dumbbell at the center of your chest, with your elbows extended out to your sides. Keeping your head still and your feet flat, bring the ball up and to the left, as in a backswing, until your right shoulder is underneath your chin. Return to the starting position and repeat to the right.

2- Golf Squat

stand, holding a 10-pound dumbbell down in front of you with a hand-over-hand grip. Your feet should be more than shoulder-width apart in this starting position. lower to a squat. Rise, turning to the right, while bending your elbows and raising the weight over your right shoulder. Your hips should face right, with your weight over your right foot and your left heel off the floor. Return to the starting position and repeat to the other side. That's one repetition. Do a total of 12 repetitions.

There is no doubt that the perfect golf swing drill happens only with those whose muscles and bodies have been prepared.

Patrick is a golf enthusiast since 12 years and love to help others learn the ropes of this awesome sport that is golf. For a limited time he is giving away a free report on how to improve your Golf Swing and get additional tricks and tips in his newsletter.

Click here to visit his website

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