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The best laptop computers are listed here according to what consumers say are the best laptops…

1. Best Laptop Computer #1: Apple MacBook MA700LL/A 13.3″ Notebook PC (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive) – White

• Product Description: Why just notebook? The world and cyberworld seems brighter when you’ve MacBook. The most advanced and affordable Mac notebook ever gives you a blazingly fast mobile architecture in a beautiful design that costs less than slower, clunkier models. It’s like getting a sports car for the price of a scooter. Talk about performance, MacBook’s powered with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with speeds revving up to 2.0GHz. Thanks to a 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display, MacBook provides the perfect combination of pixels and portability. Built-in wireless capability of MacBook puts the world back in World Wide Web. If there’s a wireless hot spot nearby, you can get online. No need to waste valuable surfing time configuring your computer. Just open it up. MacBook automatically detects wireless networks within range and asks nicely if you’d like to join any of them. That’s it. Catch up on your blog, share this weekend’s trip as a Photocast, or just chat with your friends. With built-in utility software to help make living easier and funnier, the MacBook MA700LL/A helps the business and joys that embrace who you are and aspire to be. Your MacBook comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. SuperDrive DVD Writer – (write) up to 2.4x DL DVD+R, 6x DVD-R/+R, 4x DVD-RW/+RW, 24x CD-R, and 10x CD-RW / Read up to 8x DVD-ROM and 24x CD-ROM Intel GMA 950 Graphics Processor with 64MB of Memory (memory is taken from the main system) Built-in 802.11g Wi-Fi AirPort Extreme Adapter Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+ Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) Built-in iSight Camera and Omnidirectional Microphone Built-in Stereo Speakers Ports – 2 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire 400, 1 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, Combined Optical Digital Audio In/Line-In, Combined Optical Digital Audio Out/Headphone Out Color – White Unit Dimensions – 1.08 (h) x 12.78 (w) x 8.92 (d); Unit Weight – 5.2 lbs. Up to 6 hours use per charge.”
• To see picture and get more info:

2. Best Laptop Computer #2: Apple iBook Notebook 14.1″ M9848LL/A (1.42 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB DDR SDRAM, 60 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)

• Product Description: “Includes: lithium ion battery, AC adapter, VGA adapter, Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, iLife ’05, Safari, Sherlock, iSync, iCal, AppleWorks, Quicken 2005 for Macintosh, & more. Apple 14.1″ iBook G4 Notebook Computer – This lightweight (a mere 5.9 lbs.) notebook computer features a powerful 1.42GHz PowerPC G4 processor and 512MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM. An impressive 1-2 punch that can handle your everyday applications, as well as your more demanding programs – like graphical and video editing or games. Being a great mobile computer has it’s drawbacks though – you’ll want to take it everywhere, which can increase the odds of your iBook getting a few bumps and bruises. Not to worry though, because Apple has you covered. The built-in Sudden Motion Sensor senses changes in the iBook’s axis position, as well as accelerated movement. So if you drop it, the hard drive heads are instantly parked, protecting your data. When the iBook is level, the hard drive is automatically released for normal operation. Those are just a few of the many features this iBook has in store for you. Take a look at what else it has to offer: 60GB ATA/100 4200RPM HDD Slot-Loading SuperDrive – up to 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD-RW, 4x DVD+RW, 24x CD-R, 16x CD-RW, 8x DVD-ROM, & 24x CD-ROM 14.1 XGA Display Native Resolution – 1024×768 ATI Mobility Radeon 9550 graphics with 32MB of dedicated DDR SDRAM Built-in 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g Wi-Fi Wireless Network Adapter Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR Support 1 FireWire 400 Port (up to 400 Mbps) 2 USB 2.0 Ports (up to 480 Mbps) 10/100 Ethernet VGA Video Out (with included adapter) S-Video & Composite Video Out (requires optional adapter) Built-in 56k v.92 Modem.”

3. Best Laptop Computer #3: Sony VAIO VGN-C240E/B 13.3″ Notebook PC (Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 1.66 GHz Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD RW Drive, Vista Premium)

• Price: $1,449.99
• Product Description: “More than just good looking, the VAIO C240E/B has the heart of a champion backed by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, DVD Writer and Energy Saving 13.3-inch Widescreen LCD with XBrite-ECO Technology. Enjoy the freedom and flexibility of integrated Wireless LAN and extended battery life to bring the Internet to you anywhere in your house. This 5.07 pounds lightweight mobile PC also comes with Windows Vista Home Premium operating system making content management a breeze and an easy way to enjoy your digital entertainment on-demand. 2GB (1GBx2) PC2-4200 DDR2 533MHz Max Memory 160GB Serial ATA 5400rpm Hard Drive Optical Drive – 4x DVD+-R Double Layer, 8x Write DVD+-R, 6x DVD+-RW, 24x Write CD-R/RW, 24x Read CD, 8x Read DVD, 5x Read and Write DVD-RAM Multimedia Card Reader – ExpressCard 34 Slot 5-in-1 Memory Card Adapter supporting Memory Stick, Memory Stick(R) PRO, Secure Digital, xD Picture Card and Multimedia Card (MMC) Windows Sound System 13.3-inch 1280×800 XBrite-ECO WXGA LCD Technology Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 224MB Video RAM VGA Out with Smart Display Sensor Interface Ports – Ethernet Port, Headphone Jack, 4-Pin iLink Interface, Memory Stick(R) Media Slot, Modem, Microphone, Port Replicator Connector, S-Video Output, 2 USB 2.0 Port, VGA Output and DC-in Operating System – Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Dimensions – Width 12.98 x Height 1.47 x Depth 9.28 inches Weight – 5.07 pounds Note – When you first turn this machine on, you will have to wait ONLY 5-6 minutes before you use Windows Vista.”

Visit http://www.top-10-gift-ideas.com to see more top rated products and gifts. All have been rated excellent by consumers.

As I casually strolled across the dingy Boston playing field on a brisk Sunday afternoon the winds began to whip through my jacket and the words watch your step scrolled across my mind as I carefully navigated through the debris that is a part of many urban ball fields , broken glass, geese droppings, etc. Wait a minute is that human feces? I finally made it to the sideline set up my portable sports chair and got ready to watch an M2Sports flag football game between the Giants and the Eagles. The only reason I was at this game was to watch my son Tony aka “Tadow” along with the rest of his Giant teammates “H8me, Sho Nuff, Killa, Toby, Javafi,Jeebies, El Negro, Phil, Cbert and P.T compete.

Before the game started the first thing I noticed was how diverse the teams were, there were men of all racial, social, religious and economic backgrounds playing side by side or as opposition. The formation of the league was the brainchild of Mario Lopez a Latino brother who had the vision to create a format where men can be men have fun, stay in shape and release the stress of daily living at least once a week and have the freedom to unleash their alter ego’s with names like K-Dogg, Speedy, Mr. Puerto Rico etc. It was great to see such a diverse collection of men gathered together.

The game finally began and immediately there was a lot of trash talking, this was my first time attending the games, so the language assault I experienced caught me off guard, I was sure someone was going to take the comments out of context and blows would be thrown, this was definitely not a PG-13 event and don’t get it twisted just because it’s a flag football league, this sports is not for little boys, hits on the sideline are legal and people can and do get cracked, much to the delight of the crowd on run backs or blocking at the line. Both teams spent a fair amount of time and energy trading verbal air assaults from ethnic put downs to the questioning of “Manhood” for everyone to hear and laugh at on the sidelines. The contest was intense and went back and forth the Giants scored first then the Eagles and this pattern lasted over two hours, until “Tadow” scored the game winning touchdown. What happened at the conclusion of the game is what really impressed me, I just knew that after all the jarring that took place the end of the game would be the opportunity for someone to over react to something that was said and blow it out of proportion, as I watched the teams walk toward each other at midfield, the teams simply shook hands, embraced, laughed, shared water and a genuine respect for their brothers after all it was just a game they left their differences on the football field.

At that very moment I pondered the following, why can’t these same men who represent something larger than themselves come together for a common cause away from the playing field and take that same passion and energy back to the community to help tear down the walls that separate us and make a difference? What is it that keeps our neighborhoods segregated once they exit the playing surface? After the games are over, the blacks will go their way and hang out with the blacks, the Latino’s will hang with the Latino’s and so on for the white males. It’s been said that sports serves as a microcosm of the larger society in many ways, but it’s ironic that the same people who can spend hours together as teammates or engaged in healthy competition go their separate ways and live in different worlds once the games end. Imagine how powerful it would be to see these same men standing side by side leading voter registration drives, mentoring programs, policing the block to make the hood safe, visiting classrooms, and juvenile detention centers. They would be excellent role models in demonstrating to our youth that beneath the obvious differences of color and race we can get along. On the playing fields diversity is what helps a team come together, the successful teams adopt the philosophy of inclusion and appreciation of variety and they figure out how to make those differences work together for a common goal, “winning”. Yet that same approach is rarely seen in other area’s politics, education, religion and employment to name a few.

Perhaps one day we will find a way to make society a microcosm of sports, rather than the other way around.

Tony Price

A Boston Based Collegaite Athletics Administrator and Head Basketball Coach. A Hall of Fame Inductee(Worcester State College) with 20 plus years experience as an athlete, coach, and administrator.

This mysterious cat is originally from the country of Siam, now known as Thailand. Siamese cats were highly esteemed by generations of Siamese monarchs,
even to the extent that they resided in the royal palace. You wanna talk about the royalty of the cat world! They were trusted to protect the palace as well as monasteries from evil spirits and were also thought to bring good fortune.

In the year 1884, the first Siamese cats made their way to England when the current Monarch of Siam decided to gift them to a top general in the British Army. They made their way from there to America. The Siamese cat is now one of the most
recognized domestic cat breeds around. According to the Cat Fancy Association they are the single most popular shorthair cat and the 3rd most popular breed of cat overall.

Although this breed features a variety of different colors, there are some disagreements concerning what makes a true Siamese cat and what does not Still, these delightful felines are well known for bodies that are mostly light in color with darker areas called points. The darker points are generally (but not always) around the face, legs, feet and the tail.
Weighing in at between about 8 and 15 lbs, this blue eyed sensation of the cat world has 2 distinct body types.

The modern Siamese have long and elegant bodies with very refined tapering lines and wedge-shaped heads to match.

Conversely the traditional Siamese cat is a robust and round-headed creature with a muscular physique
These particular cats are as well-known for their distinct personalities as for their color points. They have a great talent for communicating with people that other cats simply do not have. If you like to come home to peace and quiet, then you may want to consider another cat altogether. These are the most social cats in existence.

Since Siamese cats believe the world revolves around them, they want lots and lots attention. They are also quite dependant on their human owners. They crave interaction and they really love their games! These cats are simply not meant to be left alone for too long.

While this cat may be high maintenance emotionally, they are generally not in any other area. For example they need only a minimum of grooming.

Because their coats are so close as to appear painted on, a gentle weekly brushing is usually enouph. Like all other types of cats, they have a few minor genetic faults, such as occasional crossed eyes and kinked tail, which are primarily cosmetic concerns.

In terms of life expectency, these cats are blessed with above-average life spans compared to other cats, generally between fiften to twenty years and sometimes longer. The reward for such a cat is well worth it as you can have a staunch supporter for a substantal amount of time.

Just imagine having a cat that can help teach your kids on the art of speech and then live long enough to see them go to college. For information on cats and cat nutrition visit Premium Cat Food from Life’s Abundance and learn more.

Ryan Joseph is a writer researcher. For more information visit http://www.dog-food-nutrition.com/

The best laptop computers are listed here according to what consumers say are the best laptops…

1. Best Laptop Computer #1: Apple MacBook MA700LL/A 13.3″ Notebook PC (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive) – White

• Product Description: Why just notebook? The world and cyberworld seems brighter when you’ve MacBook. The most advanced and affordable Mac notebook ever gives you a blazingly fast mobile architecture in a beautiful design that costs less than slower, clunkier models. It’s like getting a sports car for the price of a scooter. Talk about performance, MacBook’s powered with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with speeds revving up to 2.0GHz. Thanks to a 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display, MacBook provides the perfect combination of pixels and portability. Built-in wireless capability of MacBook puts the world back in World Wide Web. If there’s a wireless hot spot nearby, you can get online. No need to waste valuable surfing time configuring your computer. Just open it up. MacBook automatically detects wireless networks within range and asks nicely if you’d like to join any of them. That’s it. Catch up on your blog, share this weekend’s trip as a Photocast, or just chat with your friends. With built-in utility software to help make living easier and funnier, the MacBook MA700LL/A helps the business and joys that embrace who you are and aspire to be. Your MacBook comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. SuperDrive DVD Writer – (write) up to 2.4x DL DVD+R, 6x DVD-R/+R, 4x DVD-RW/+RW, 24x CD-R, and 10x CD-RW / Read up to 8x DVD-ROM and 24x CD-ROM Intel GMA 950 Graphics Processor with 64MB of Memory (memory is taken from the main system) Built-in 802.11g Wi-Fi AirPort Extreme Adapter Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+ Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) Built-in iSight Camera and Omnidirectional Microphone Built-in Stereo Speakers Ports – 2 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire 400, 1 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, Combined Optical Digital Audio In/Line-In, Combined Optical Digital Audio Out/Headphone Out Color – White Unit Dimensions – 1.08 (h) x 12.78 (w) x 8.92 (d); Unit Weight – 5.2 lbs. Up to 6 hours use per charge.”
• To see picture and get more info:

2. Best Laptop Computer #2: Apple iBook Notebook 14.1″ M9848LL/A (1.42 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB DDR SDRAM, 60 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)

• Product Description: “Includes: lithium ion battery, AC adapter, VGA adapter, Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, iLife ’05, Safari, Sherlock, iSync, iCal, AppleWorks, Quicken 2005 for Macintosh, & more. Apple 14.1″ iBook G4 Notebook Computer – This lightweight (a mere 5.9 lbs.) notebook computer features a powerful 1.42GHz PowerPC G4 processor and 512MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM. An impressive 1-2 punch that can handle your everyday applications, as well as your more demanding programs – like graphical and video editing or games. Being a great mobile computer has it’s drawbacks though – you’ll want to take it everywhere, which can increase the odds of your iBook getting a few bumps and bruises. Not to worry though, because Apple has you covered. The built-in Sudden Motion Sensor senses changes in the iBook’s axis position, as well as accelerated movement. So if you drop it, the hard drive heads are instantly parked, protecting your data. When the iBook is level, the hard drive is automatically released for normal operation. Those are just a few of the many features this iBook has in store for you. Take a look at what else it has to offer: 60GB ATA/100 4200RPM HDD Slot-Loading SuperDrive – up to 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD-RW, 4x DVD+RW, 24x CD-R, 16x CD-RW, 8x DVD-ROM, & 24x CD-ROM 14.1 XGA Display Native Resolution – 1024×768 ATI Mobility Radeon 9550 graphics with 32MB of dedicated DDR SDRAM Built-in 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g Wi-Fi Wireless Network Adapter Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR Support 1 FireWire 400 Port (up to 400 Mbps) 2 USB 2.0 Ports (up to 480 Mbps) 10/100 Ethernet VGA Video Out (with included adapter) S-Video & Composite Video Out (requires optional adapter) Built-in 56k v.92 Modem.”

3. Best Laptop Computer #3: Sony VAIO VGN-C240E/B 13.3″ Notebook PC (Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 1.66 GHz Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD RW Drive, Vista Premium)

• Price: $1,449.99
• Product Description: “More than just good looking, the VAIO C240E/B has the heart of a champion backed by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, DVD Writer and Energy Saving 13.3-inch Widescreen LCD with XBrite-ECO Technology. Enjoy the freedom and flexibility of integrated Wireless LAN and extended battery life to bring the Internet to you anywhere in your house. This 5.07 pounds lightweight mobile PC also comes with Windows Vista Home Premium operating system making content management a breeze and an easy way to enjoy your digital entertainment on-demand. 2GB (1GBx2) PC2-4200 DDR2 533MHz Max Memory 160GB Serial ATA 5400rpm Hard Drive Optical Drive – 4x DVD+-R Double Layer, 8x Write DVD+-R, 6x DVD+-RW, 24x Write CD-R/RW, 24x Read CD, 8x Read DVD, 5x Read and Write DVD-RAM Multimedia Card Reader – ExpressCard 34 Slot 5-in-1 Memory Card Adapter supporting Memory Stick, Memory Stick(R) PRO, Secure Digital, xD Picture Card and Multimedia Card (MMC) Windows Sound System 13.3-inch 1280×800 XBrite-ECO WXGA LCD Technology Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 224MB Video RAM VGA Out with Smart Display Sensor Interface Ports – Ethernet Port, Headphone Jack, 4-Pin iLink Interface, Memory Stick(R) Media Slot, Modem, Microphone, Port Replicator Connector, S-Video Output, 2 USB 2.0 Port, VGA Output and DC-in Operating System – Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Dimensions – Width 12.98 x Height 1.47 x Depth 9.28 inches Weight – 5.07 pounds Note – When you first turn this machine on, you will have to wait ONLY 5-6 minutes before you use Windows Vista.”

Visit http://www.top-10-gift-ideas.com to see more top rated products and gifts. All have been rated excellent by consumers.

As I casually strolled across the dingy Boston playing field on a brisk Sunday afternoon the winds began to whip through my jacket and the words watch your step scrolled across my mind as I carefully navigated through the debris that is a part of many urban ball fields , broken glass, geese droppings, etc. Wait a minute is that human feces? I finally made it to the sideline set up my portable sports chair and got ready to watch an M2Sports flag football game between the Giants and the Eagles. The only reason I was at this game was to watch my son Tony aka “Tadow” along with the rest of his Giant teammates “H8me, Sho Nuff, Killa, Toby, Javafi,Jeebies, El Negro, Phil, Cbert and P.T compete.

Before the game started the first thing I noticed was how diverse the teams were, there were men of all racial, social, religious and economic backgrounds playing side by side or as opposition. The formation of the league was the brainchild of Mario Lopez a Latino brother who had the vision to create a format where men can be men have fun, stay in shape and release the stress of daily living at least once a week and have the freedom to unleash their alter ego’s with names like K-Dogg, Speedy, Mr. Puerto Rico etc. It was great to see such a diverse collection of men gathered together.

The game finally began and immediately there was a lot of trash talking, this was my first time attending the games, so the language assault I experienced caught me off guard, I was sure someone was going to take the comments out of context and blows would be thrown, this was definitely not a PG-13 event and don’t get it twisted just because it’s a flag football league, this sports is not for little boys, hits on the sideline are legal and people can and do get cracked, much to the delight of the crowd on run backs or blocking at the line. Both teams spent a fair amount of time and energy trading verbal air assaults from ethnic put downs to the questioning of “Manhood” for everyone to hear and laugh at on the sidelines. The contest was intense and went back and forth the Giants scored first then the Eagles and this pattern lasted over two hours, until “Tadow” scored the game winning touchdown. What happened at the conclusion of the game is what really impressed me, I just knew that after all the jarring that took place the end of the game would be the opportunity for someone to over react to something that was said and blow it out of proportion, as I watched the teams walk toward each other at midfield, the teams simply shook hands, embraced, laughed, shared water and a genuine respect for their brothers after all it was just a game they left their differences on the football field.

At that very moment I pondered the following, why can’t these same men who represent something larger than themselves come together for a common cause away from the playing field and take that same passion and energy back to the community to help tear down the walls that separate us and make a difference? What is it that keeps our neighborhoods segregated once they exit the playing surface? After the games are over, the blacks will go their way and hang out with the blacks, the Latino’s will hang with the Latino’s and so on for the white males. It’s been said that sports serves as a microcosm of the larger society in many ways, but it’s ironic that the same people who can spend hours together as teammates or engaged in healthy competition go their separate ways and live in different worlds once the games end. Imagine how powerful it would be to see these same men standing side by side leading voter registration drives, mentoring programs, policing the block to make the hood safe, visiting classrooms, and juvenile detention centers. They would be excellent role models in demonstrating to our youth that beneath the obvious differences of color and race we can get along. On the playing fields diversity is what helps a team come together, the successful teams adopt the philosophy of inclusion and appreciation of variety and they figure out how to make those differences work together for a common goal, “winning”. Yet that same approach is rarely seen in other area’s politics, education, religion and employment to name a few.

Perhaps one day we will find a way to make society a microcosm of sports, rather than the other way around.

Tony Price

A Boston Based Collegaite Athletics Administrator and Head Basketball Coach. A Hall of Fame Inductee(Worcester State College) with 20 plus years experience as an athlete, coach, and administrator.

As I casually strolled across the dingy Boston playing field on a brisk Sunday afternoon the winds began to whip through my jacket and the words watch your step scrolled across my mind as I carefully navigated through the debris that is a part of many urban ball fields , broken glass, geese droppings, etc. Wait a minute is that human feces? I finally made it to the sideline set up my portable sports chair and got ready to watch an M2Sports flag football game between the Giants and the Eagles. The only reason I was at this game was to watch my son Tony aka “Tadow” along with the rest of his Giant teammates “H8me, Sho Nuff, Killa, Toby, Javafi,Jeebies, El Negro, Phil, Cbert and P.T compete.

Before the game started the first thing I noticed was how diverse the teams were, there were men of all racial, social, religious and economic backgrounds playing side by side or as opposition. The formation of the league was the brainchild of Mario Lopez a Latino brother who had the vision to create a format where men can be men have fun, stay in shape and release the stress of daily living at least once a week and have the freedom to unleash their alter ego’s with names like K-Dogg, Speedy, Mr. Puerto Rico etc. It was great to see such a diverse collection of men gathered together.

The game finally began and immediately there was a lot of trash talking, this was my first time attending the games, so the language assault I experienced caught me off guard, I was sure someone was going to take the comments out of context and blows would be thrown, this was definitely not a PG-13 event and don’t get it twisted just because it’s a flag football league, this sports is not for little boys, hits on the sideline are legal and people can and do get cracked, much to the delight of the crowd on run backs or blocking at the line. Both teams spent a fair amount of time and energy trading verbal air assaults from ethnic put downs to the questioning of “Manhood” for everyone to hear and laugh at on the sidelines. The contest was intense and went back and forth the Giants scored first then the Eagles and this pattern lasted over two hours, until “Tadow” scored the game winning touchdown. What happened at the conclusion of the game is what really impressed me, I just knew that after all the jarring that took place the end of the game would be the opportunity for someone to over react to something that was said and blow it out of proportion, as I watched the teams walk toward each other at midfield, the teams simply shook hands, embraced, laughed, shared water and a genuine respect for their brothers after all it was just a game they left their differences on the football field.

At that very moment I pondered the following, why can’t these same men who represent something larger than themselves come together for a common cause away from the playing field and take that same passion and energy back to the community to help tear down the walls that separate us and make a difference? What is it that keeps our neighborhoods segregated once they exit the playing surface? After the games are over, the blacks will go their way and hang out with the blacks, the Latino’s will hang with the Latino’s and so on for the white males. It’s been said that sports serves as a microcosm of the larger society in many ways, but it’s ironic that the same people who can spend hours together as teammates or engaged in healthy competition go their separate ways and live in different worlds once the games end. Imagine how powerful it would be to see these same men standing side by side leading voter registration drives, mentoring programs, policing the block to make the hood safe, visiting classrooms, and juvenile detention centers. They would be excellent role models in demonstrating to our youth that beneath the obvious differences of color and race we can get along. On the playing fields diversity is what helps a team come together, the successful teams adopt the philosophy of inclusion and appreciation of variety and they figure out how to make those differences work together for a common goal, “winning”. Yet that same approach is rarely seen in other area’s politics, education, religion and employment to name a few.

Perhaps one day we will find a way to make society a microcosm of sports, rather than the other way around.

Tony Price

A Boston Based Collegaite Athletics Administrator and Head Basketball Coach. A Hall of Fame Inductee(Worcester State College) with 20 plus years experience as an athlete, coach, and administrator.

Christmas is responsible for more waste and consumption than any other holiday. North American’s trash contributions to the landfill increase by 25% during this time of year – which equates to a minimum of 25 million extra tons of garbage going to the landfill. By recognizing the incredible waste that is generated the urgency to do something becomes apparent.

A truly useful or environment friendly gift that provide some convenience or financial benefits is a better ecological choice. At the same time, you can help alleviate the guilt you might feel during this period of high consumption and travel activities. Here is a brief list of frugal and environmentally sound ideas to inspire you.

For the homeowner – A thermostat control that automatically turns the heat down at night; low flow showerhead attachment; draft cozy (placed in front of doors to prevent drafts) and tubes of caulking or weather stripping. Dimmer switches, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL’s) or hot water tank and hot water pipe insulation kits are also excellent ideas. Yellow CFL’s are perfect for exterior lighting because they attract fewer insects. Consider making an eco-package combining some of these items for the homeowner.

For the gardener – A subscription to an organic gardening magazine or a membership to a seed organization is always an interesting gift idea. Bird, bat and butterfly houses, baths and feeders – or the patterns to build them – are a wonderful optional gift. Alternatively consider composting worm bin, gift certificate to a nursery or a membership with an environmental group.

Give Services – Rather than giving an item that must be wrapped, consider purchasing tickets to a performance, restaurant gift certificates or services such as lawn care, diaper, cleaning, music lessons, exercise or dance classes, tune-up or tire rotation services. Don’t forget to look at dog walking, babysitting, and massage, spas or gyms when looking at gift certificates. All of these ideas will help you support local businesses that you believe in while giving something that the recipient can truly benefit from.

Give Food – Home preserves such as dehydrated or canned foods make excellent gifts. Those that find cooking tasks cumbersome treasure frozen meals. Snack foods and deserts are appreciated by most anyone; keep in mind that purchasing Brazil or cashew nuts supports a tropical rainforests. Baskets of healthy foods are another wonderful idea to consider – especially if it contains samples from local producers.

Books – Most of us realize the benefits of literacy and supporting local businesses. You can do both by choosing to purchase books as gifts this year. However, we can also leave a legacy with a book of our own. This could be a journal, a collection of our poetry, a family tree that you’ve researched or even a family recipe book. Perhaps you might consider including quotes from family members or people you admire and possibly a few favorite family photos.

Alternative gifts – A reusable coffee filter and whole organic coffee beans makes a nice gift for coffee lovers. Consider slippers and sweaters – the recipient is less likely to turn up their thermostat. Toys and games with positive environmental or education values and those that emphasize cooperation, exploration or creative thinking. If you choose to purchase electronics, consider those powered by solar or rechargeable batteries.

The Tree: Give or purchase a living tree for yourself this year (it removes carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, ozone and nitrogen oxides). A living Xmas tree can be donated to individuals with space on their land, the city, schools or parks when the season is over. Alternatively, plant it in your own yard for privacy, summer shade or soil and water erosion control.

The Photos – For holiday photo memories, avoid disposable cameras. Instead use a digital camera and load directly to your own computer and CD burner. Alternatively, use a normal camera using 36 exposure film rolls and have the pictures put on CD’s at the development outlet. Choosing these options reduces chemicals, paper and waste, while you save some cash.

~ Dave Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk, Purple Snowflake Marketing and Towards Understanding; co-host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (http://www.brummet.ca)

So you want to host a wine tasting? Make it fun! Wine tasting doesn’t have to be a stuffy affair. After all, wine is first and foremost about pleasure. So even if you are trying to organize an education tasting, you should keep it enjoyable. One of the best ways to keep your guests interested and focused on the wine while having a great time is to plan a fun wine tasting theme. A cohesive theme helps keep the tasting focused and helps to get guests involved, drawing them out to comment on and discuss the wines. After all, the discussion is what is really the most fun and educational, not just tasting the wines. Otherwise you could just have wine tastings all alone at home!

Some of the themes listed below are not mutually exclusive. Mix it up, make it interesting in any way that seems entertaining to you and your guests. You can even throw in some wine tasting party games to really turn up the excitement.

Blind Wine Tastings:

A blind wine tasting is a fun way to get everyone involved and keep your guests guessing. In a blind tasting, the tasters are blinded to the wines. Generally, the bottles are covered with a brown bag to hide their identity and then numbered with a marker. That way your guests are not biased based on the label, producer, price or anything else. You can share your unbiased thoughts and impressions about the wines. You can have random wines or they can all have some theme, such as a vertical or horizontal tasting (see below). It can even be fun to incorporate a game such as scoring each wine to see which wine gets the most votes. Or you can award prizes for the person who guesses the the most wines correctly (vintage, producer, region, grape varieties, etc.). At the end you reveal the wine and can discuss further once you know what the wines were. It is a good idea to reveal the wines while everyone still has a bit of each wine left to taste so they can go back and reassess their impressions after finding out what they were drinking.

Vertical Wine Tasting:

A vertical tasting is an assortment of the same wine, from the same producer and vineyard, across several vintages. It is a great way to begin to understand both the style and specific characteristics of a producer or vineyard as well as the subtle differences that result from the different growing conditions of different vintages. While this can be difficult to arrange for someone new to wine, who only has access to the newest wines that are on the current market, if you have friends who collect wine and can help source the bottles this type of tasting can be very educational.

Horizontal Wine Tasting:

A horizontal wine tasting theme is much easier to put together. It is a tasting of various wines from the same vintage. Ideally, wines from the same region and general style are tasted from one vintage to compare the different producers and vineyards. This helps to learn about the characteristics of the vintage as well as the differences between the various producers or vineyards the wines come from. This type of tasting is much easier to put together than a vertical tasting because the wines all come from the same vintage. If you stick to a current vintage then you will have many options you can find in the marketplace. While it is generally best to stick to one region or style of wine, if you really want to challenge your guests you can include several wines from the same vintage but from different regions, grapes or countries to help learn about the, sometimes dramatic, differences between them.

Wine Region Theme:

A great way to learn a lot about a particular wine region is to host a tasting where the theme is just one wine producing area. Choose several wines produced in that region, from different producers, vineyards and sub-regions within the area. As you and your guests taste through them, pay attention to the similarities as well as the differences. Can you identify any characteristics that unify the wines? What sets them apart? Ask these questions to your guests. If you draw people out to talk, discuss and argue, your tasting will be more fun and educational.

Wine Scoring Party:

Another fun way to get your guests all personally involved is to ask everyone to score each wine. While most tasters find it easy to say if they like or don’t like a wine, it requires much more attention to the details of the wine to give it a specific score. There are different ways to do this. One of the best is to supply your guests with a wine tasting score sheet which serves as a template to score wines. You can have sections with room for notes on the wine name, color and appearance, aroma, flavor and mouthfeel and overall impressions and conclusions. For the standard 100 point score they can give up to 5, 15, 20, and 10 points each for the color/appearance, aromas, flavors and overall impression/finish, respectively. The scores for each are added and added to 50 to create the final score between 50 and 100. You can then compare scores across guests and figure out how the wines ranked.

Wine and Food Pairing Dinner Party Theme:

Traditionally, wine is not meant to be enjoyed alone. Throughout history wine has accompanied food and many people believe that alongside food is where you should enjoy and judge wine. While tastings of wine alone is a lot of fun, a full dinner can really make the food and wine shine, bringing out nuances of each that were missing before. If you or your friends love to cook, pairing wine with each dish or course is a great way to both learn about the wines but also to learn about what types of wines work with specific foods. You can serve several wines alone with a given course and vote on which paired the best with the food. A fun way to do this is to choose a country or region and pair that area’s cuisine with the wines produced there. For example, you can pair traditional Spanish cuisine with Spanish wines. The cuisine and wine of these old cultures grew up alongside each other over centuries and therefore they often create some of the most profound food and wine pairings. There are so many other options, from the general (like French wine with French food) to the specific (like Provençal cuisine with Bandol wine or Southwestern French cuisine with Bordeaux). If you are really enthusiastic you can even decorate the room and table in the style of that region to get everyone in the mood. Get creative and make it fun!

Josh Dusick is the editor of the Wine Tastings Guide at http://www.wine-tastings-guide.com where you can get information about how to host a wine tasting party, how to serve and taste wine and even about pairing wine and food.

This mysterious cat is originally from the country of Siam, now known as Thailand. Siamese cats were highly esteemed by generations of Siamese monarchs,
even to the extent that they resided in the royal palace. You wanna talk about the royalty of the cat world! They were trusted to protect the palace as well as monasteries from evil spirits and were also thought to bring good fortune.

In the year 1884, the first Siamese cats made their way to England when the current Monarch of Siam decided to gift them to a top general in the British Army. They made their way from there to America. The Siamese cat is now one of the most
recognized domestic cat breeds around. According to the Cat Fancy Association they are the single most popular shorthair cat and the 3rd most popular breed of cat overall.

Although this breed features a variety of different colors, there are some disagreements concerning what makes a true Siamese cat and what does not Still, these delightful felines are well known for bodies that are mostly light in color with darker areas called points. The darker points are generally (but not always) around the face, legs, feet and the tail.
Weighing in at between about 8 and 15 lbs, this blue eyed sensation of the cat world has 2 distinct body types.

The modern Siamese have long and elegant bodies with very refined tapering lines and wedge-shaped heads to match.

Conversely the traditional Siamese cat is a robust and round-headed creature with a muscular physique
These particular cats are as well-known for their distinct personalities as for their color points. They have a great talent for communicating with people that other cats simply do not have. If you like to come home to peace and quiet, then you may want to consider another cat altogether. These are the most social cats in existence.

Since Siamese cats believe the world revolves around them, they want lots and lots attention. They are also quite dependant on their human owners. They crave interaction and they really love their games! These cats are simply not meant to be left alone for too long.

While this cat may be high maintenance emotionally, they are generally not in any other area. For example they need only a minimum of grooming.

Because their coats are so close as to appear painted on, a gentle weekly brushing is usually enouph. Like all other types of cats, they have a few minor genetic faults, such as occasional crossed eyes and kinked tail, which are primarily cosmetic concerns.

In terms of life expectency, these cats are blessed with above-average life spans compared to other cats, generally between fiften to twenty years and sometimes longer. The reward for such a cat is well worth it as you can have a staunch supporter for a substantal amount of time.

Just imagine having a cat that can help teach your kids on the art of speech and then live long enough to see them go to college. For information on cats and cat nutrition visit Premium Cat Food from Life’s Abundance and learn more.

Ryan Joseph is a writer researcher. For more information visit http://www.dog-food-nutrition.com/

Currency trading has gained much popularity in recent years. Once thought to be the playground of the rich investor, it has become apparent lately that the currency trading market is accessible by investors of all levels.

Forex has now become an often-used term as opposed to just a few years ago when most people had never heard it. Now, the advantages of Forex trading are readily appreciated as more and more investors devote the major portion of their investing activity to the Forex market. The trading of currency involves simultaneous purchasing of one currency and selling of another.

It is the world’s largest market, with trades every day totaling over three trillion dollars, a staggering amount. It’s no wonder then that investors have flocked to it given the enormous amount of money changing hands and the opportunities presented by that volume.

One of the best things about this arena is that one can practice at will and play games online to improve skills and knowledge. Pretend, or phantom trading is referred to as ‘the game’ in the Forex field. This, of course, allows you to risk no funds while you thoroughly learn techniques through constructive practice.

To locate sites that supply practice training simply do a Google search for ‘Forex Trading’ and many sites will be presented. By the way, the term ‘Forex’ is derived from the formal name of the trading type, Foreign Exchange. The trading practice is also sometimes referred to as just ‘FX’.

For a complete overview of the Forex market, visit my web site through the link in my resource box below.

A major difference in this market, as opposed to the stock market, is that trading is not accomplished through a central point, such as the New York Stock Exchange. Trading in the Forex market is done on a direct basis, that is, between the two parties who are making the trade. Another major difference is that trading takes place twenty-four hours a day, through trading centers all over the world. The market trades continuously from Sunday night at 20:00 GMT to Friday night at 22:00 GMT. That gives investors a chance to make trades based on financial developments in the news without having to wait for a market to open the next day.

Many times, trades are done without commissions coming into play, a distinct advantage over the stock market. Still another advantage is the liquidity of the market, which translates into a constant supply of sellers and buyers, so there’s always a trade in the making around the clock. The market is constantly in flux and presents trade opportunities no matter whether a particular currency is moving up or down. The Forex market also offers the investor great leverage. An investor can control a position that is as much as one hundred to one more than his margin deposit.

Currency trading is a fascinating field and one that should be looked into if you are searching for an opportunity to invest and a chance to seriously increase your net worth. Check it out carefully and do practice investing before you make the plunge. And, of course, never risk money you can’t afford to lose. Visit my site listed below for much more information.

Good luck.

About the author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and TV professional with wide-ranging interests. Visit his thorough Forex site for information in depth and real time quotes on currency pairs.

http://www.jaynetinc.com/ForexMaster