The Truth About Barefoot Running
These are my real feet and with my home made Invisible Shoes Huaraches. I have been a long distance runner for over 40 years. I was running barefoot before the term became popular. We did it because it felt good. While attending Minnetonka Sr. High School, Coach Gary Schmidt had us running 100 yard acceleration sprints on the grass football field that he called “Strides” after we were done running our distance runs. The barefoot accelerations were good for us even though at the time we really did not understand why.
This afternoon I was running the Peak 8 sprint work out in an open grass field in my bare feet. Sprint 8 is a 30 second work out that is repeated 8 times. I did a complete workout in less than 30 minutes. You can find out more about this awesome workout at Mercola.com. If you want to increase the HGH production naturally in your body, do your research on this topic. You will never look at working out the same way again. You run as hard as you can for 30 seconds. It’s the hardest work out that I have ever done. Today is the first day that I took my shoes off and ran the entire workout in bare feet including the return trip home on paved roads.
What is So Special About Barefoot Running ?
I was first exposed to the world of barefoot running about a year ago, right before I went traveling South East Asia and were looking for a good pair of shoes that will withstand the great outdoors over there. I then started reading the science behind the evolution of our skeleton and feet, and the importance of running appropriately, and when I say appropriately – I mean barefoot, or at least practically barefoot, which is exactly what the Mexican huaraches allow you.
The Real Truth About Barefoot Shoes
Barefoot shoes is a marketing term made up my running shoe companies. Big corporations are exploiting naive buyers again. There is no such thing as “Barefoot Running Shoes”. The correct term is minimalist running shoes. Barefoot running means that you run without shoes. End of story. Minimalist shoes are good for some people. But you cannot lace up or slip into a pair and start running immediately without suffering or getting injured. If you are under the age of 10, you will have no problem running without shoes. We are Born To Run without shoes. The problem is that most of us were pushed into wearing shoes by our parents and to try running barefoot as an adult needs to be done with care. Tread lightly and begin your journey in the comfort of your home. Walk barefoot until there is no pain. Get the mail, paper, walk the dog, etc. in your bare feet.
Are Huaraches Safe To Run In?
I made my first and only pair of Huaraches more than a year ago. It’s like running without shoes. I liked running in Huaraches so much that I took them off and started running with naked feet. It was not much different.
The Huaraches are basically barefoot running sandals that are so thin and light that you actually don’t feel like you wear anything at all! They allow you to maintain that natural spread grip that symbolizes cultures that have never been exposed to modern shoes, and I promise you that it’s seriously the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn. It’s not really a shoe, nor a sandal, but you get the drill.
One thing I found a little bit irritating about the Invisible Shoes Huaraches is the amount of time and effort taken to tie them on and off, but this is apparently very easy to solve using a tie called ‘slip on slip off’ which I never tried to implement. Overall, these running sandals are truly great and I hope you’ll enjoy them just as much as I did. If you don’t want to bother making them, I highly recommend buying Luna Sandals made by no other than BareFoot Ted. I am a tight wad and am still running occasionally in my home made Invisible shoes that I cost me less than $25.
I highly encourage you to order some more straps in advance, as the straps wear off way, way sooner than the sole and you better save yourself the headache of getting new ones right now. I hiked, trekked, ran, jumped and did everything with the Huaraches in the last seven months, and they still feel like new.
Any Other Recommended Minimalist Barefoot Style Running Shoes ?
Yes, definitely. You can also try the Vibram Five Fingers. Many people fall in love with them at first sight, and for a good reason. Aside the fact that they naturally invite an initial curious look, they are a very good barefoot shoes alternative to the Huaraches. In fact, the original Invisible Shoes huaraches sole is made from Vibram soles, the same ones that are used on the InvisibleShoes. You can also try out Terra Plana shoes as well. I have used all three of these shoes. The worst shoes were the Vibram 5 Fingers. They were hard to put on. The seams ripped in less than 30 days. I own 2 pairs of Terra Plana and use them for doing the Beach Body P90X as well as Beach B0dy Insanity. I have yet to try these intense workouts in my bare feet because of the jumping and push ups. I am afraid of breaking my toes! I also own the Merrell Trail Glove. The Trail Glove is a fantastic shoe for running rugged trails. I have yet to feel sharp stones, cactus, and sticks under my feet. They are made with a very durable Vibram sole.
Authors: Mark Keeler & Regev Elya, blogger at FreshBeetle.Com. Drop by whenever you feel like you are willing to expand your nutritional expertise. We have plenty of informational articles around a variety of subjects, just waiting for ya!
My Adventure in Making Homemade Ice Cream
I’m not much of a cook and I don’t spend much time in the kitchen at all. But I do love to eat, and I admire those who can turn simple recipes into works of art. I’d just rather be on the receiving end than making these dishes myself. So I’ve never had any lifelong goal of getting a cooking degree, and making ice cream certainly never crossed my mind. But it wasn’t until my cousin showed me her ice cream maker that my interest was piqued.
I never really thought about the process behind making ice cream, and quite frankly, I didn’t know how it was done. I thought it was a complicated process and wondered why anyone would want to do it themselves. But my cousin showed me the process from start to finish, and I was amazed at how easy it was. She made one of the best fresh strawberry ice creams I’ve ever tasted using fresh fruit and all natural ingredients. I watched as she expertly cooked the custard and then put it into the ice cream maker. And that was it – after that the machine did the rest of the work!
When I tried the results, I couldn’t believe how good it tasted. It was definitely different than anything I had before, whether purchased at a store or at my local ice cream parlor. And I watched my cousin make it so I knew there were no additives or extra ingredients that were unhealthy. In fact, there were basically only five ingredients, and all of them were things I had in my kitchen already.
So I thought to myself, “wouldn’t it be great if I made ice cream for my family”? I know my wife would be absolutely shocked, and delighted if I could pull it off. I ended up buying a Cuisinart model that was around $70. Little did I know it would eventually become one of the most used appliances in my home. And just like my cousin, I gathered all of the ingredients and made my first custard ever. Since I prefer a chunkier ice cream, I didn’t purée the strawberry completely so that there would be some nice big pieces in the final product.
When everything was done, I put it all together and kept it in the freezer until after dinner. And then that night when we were finished eating, I pulled out my homemade ice cream for everyone to enjoy. It was funny because at first, no one believed that I actually made it myself. But I showed them the brand-new ice cream maker and the broken egg shells I had used for the custard. And pretty soon my wife and kids were hugging me for making such a delicious treat. And now, we do it as a family where my kids chip in and contribute their own ideas. You can take it for me, anyone can use an ice cream maker, and it might just be the start of a great brand-new hobby for you.
What You Need To Know About High Frequency Trading
Since 2008 equity markets have become increasingly volatile, with more frequent 100- to 500-point swings in a single day. Some of the volatility is due to economic conditions, such as the collapse of major financial institutions in 2008, and more recently, the debt woes in Greece and the European Union. The chief driver of market volatility today, however, is the rise of high-frequency trading (HFT).
High frequency trading is practice of the rapid buying and selling of equities many times each day to scalp small profits on each trade. A trader making as little as $.01 profit on a million share trade can net $10K in seconds. Repeat that trade thousands of times each day, and we’re talking about real money here.
No human trader could possible trade that fast and accurately. High frequency trading is done by complex computer applications that analyze changing prices and execute trades in sub-milliseconds to shave small profits on millions of trades each day. HFT is a relatively new phenomenon, but is now responsible for most of the trades on daily world equity markets.
Where did HFT come from? Most of the trading algorithms have been created by brilliant young “quants” and computer programmers recruited from top university research labs, and trained in the specifics of trading by hedge funds and private trading firms. Then they were turned loose to design “black box” trading applications that enable trading activity far beyond anything possible in the human realm. HFT has become so profitable to Wall Street that hedge funds and trading firms actively regularly recruit the top math and computer students, and fund relevant research at major universities.
There are those who question whether HFT is a good or bad thing for the efficient functioning of markets. High frequency trading has the potential to distort markets and to siphon money away from productive uses to purely speculative uses.
Historically, equity markets evolved to finance the development and operation of businesses, while generating profits for those who willing to risk their capital. Today, equity trading is more about making fast profits buying and selling shares, with little or no benefit to the companies or society at large.
As for now, the jury is still out on the question of whether HFT is a good thing. More research is needed to understand how high frequency trading affects local, regional and world economies, and whether those effects are harmful or helpful. Until it’s all sorted out, stock market traders can take advantage of the increased volatility to scalp a few trades for themselves.
How To Choose A Headstone
I remember when my parents died, they had already picked out a headstone to be placed on the grave. Maybe that is why when I am making out my own plans for preparing to die, I have an example to follow. I am finding out that they were in the minority. Times have not changed that much, and most people today would rather leave these plans to the children and not talk about dying.
I have started to talk to some cemeteries and do some shopping on the internet. I am finding that there is quite a big variation in price when you try to nail down some of the costs.
For example, when you talk to the cemetery about a funeral package, they gave me the price sheet and it did not include headstones. I did not realize this until I started to break down all of the costs and look at what the “average” funeral might cost.
You can pick out a headstone on the internet and even design your own interactively. Pick out the size, style, color, type your name and dates in, and even the floral carving. You can even leave space for a color photo to be put on the stone if you want.
I guess I never got that far at the funeral home. I did not pick out the kind of gravestone to go on the grave. They did include the price for installation on their sheet. You should keep in mind that when you shop on the internet, shipping might be “free”, but they might not ship the stone to your house. Headstones can weigh 500 pounds to 1500 pounds. So they are going to want to ship it to the cemetery or to the installer’s place of business.
Get the rules from the cemetery before you place your order on line. Understand the cost of the shipping, permits required, installation fees, inspection and layout fees, and foundation costs before you start comparing apples to apples. Take your time. It is great if it is for you and you are planning ahead. If not, you still do not need to hurry. There is no legal requirement that you even have to have a gravestone, so don’t let any one rush you into buying something before you are ready. After all, you will be making your decision “carved in stone”, so make sure it is what you want.
A Handy Guide to Buying a New Refrigerator Online
Traditionally when buying a new fridge freezer, consumers have walked into a large appliance retail store and had the time to check out all the brands and models on offer, speak to a sales assistant, and measure up the refrigerators in order to make an informed decision and choice on what they are going to buy.
However, times have now changed with more and more people shopping online for larger appliances due to time constraints plus the fact that there are far better bargains to be found with web-based retailers. But there is a draw-back to shopping online because you can’t get a real feel for the product as you can do if walking into a shopping mall or physical store. With that in mind here are a few hints and tips to what to check for when shopping online for a new refrigerator.
Measure Up Your Cabinet Dimensions
Before you even start looking at a new refrigerator it is essential that you measure up your kitchen so you know what dimensions your new fridge should be. Some refrigerators are designed to be cabinet or counter-depth meaning that they will fit seamlessly into a fitted kitchen. Measure height, depth, and width and then consult the technical specification of your potential purchase.
Decide What Internal Capacity You Need
Typically the following capacities will suit different sized families who only want to shop once or twice a month. For average sized families of 4 don’t go any lower than a 25 cubic foot capacity refrigerator. Anything smaller than that probably won’t suit you. Larger families can find new fridges that are very large – even up to 33 cubic feet. The best larger models tend to be the Samsung refrigerator range.
Think About the Refrigerator Style
There are a number of different styles on the market as follows:
- Stainless Steel
- French Door
- Side by Side
- Counter or Cabinet Depth
- Bottom Freezer
- Top Freezer
To find out what all the different styles and types mean then consult the Refrigerator Reviews 4U website which goes into a lot more depth and has some excellent FAQs (frequently asked questions) that go into a lot more detail than is possible in this small and handy guide.
Length of Warranty and Guarantee
Most manufacturers offer a lengthy parts and labor warranty and the online retailers should have a returns policy of nothing shorter than two months. It’s sometimes possible to pay for a longer warranty should you need it – expect to pay an additional $100 US Dollars if you want to extend the terms.
Delivery Times to Suit Your Schedule of Kitchen Renovation
So many people buy a new refrigerator online and fail to check what the delivery time is going to be. If you are in a period of kitchen renovation then you need to check that the fridge freezer will be delivered to suit your timeframes. Some retailers tend to hide this information a little deeper into their website – especially if they can only guarantee a long-term delivery time of over one month. Don’t get a nasty surprise – make sure you check their terms and conditions thoroughly before you make a purchase.
Final Thought on Your Refrigerator Purchase
Those are the top five tips you should consider when buying a new fridge freezer online. Of course, a lot of this does come down to pure common sense. Your new refrigerator should be a part of your home and kitchen life for the next five to ten years so it’s imperative and hugely important that you really take your time when making what could be one of the biggest and most expensive purchases for your home.
Orthodox Jewish Online Dating Services
One of the most popular ways for Orthodox Jewish people to meet one another to form a lasting relationship other than looking at Jewish dating services online is through the Shabbaton that is held almost every weekend. The person will find that in order to attend these that they will have to pay money and sometimes this can cost as much as three hundred dollars per person. This is meant to cover the cost of the facility in which the Shabbaton is held, and the refreshments that may be provided. But, what is the Shabbaton? This is the event that is held for Jewish singles and combines them with other Jewish singles that may or may not be in their close area. It is here that the person is supposed to meet their soul mate and start the rest of their lives together.
At the Shabbaton, the person may be reminded of speed dating that they see on television as there are tons of people and everyone is encourages to meet and mingle with everyone that is there. The person will find that they are going to have set meal plans in which they are going to be thrown into a room with these people and are supposed to make small chat. This is probably one of the reasons why some Orthodox Jews are not too crazy about attention these events as they find that they are just too many people in one place and narrowing these people down to who is going to be their future mate is nearly impossible.
There will be various activities that they can all participate in which is meant to help the people to get to know one another. At the end of the weekend, people that are interested in one another are exchanging contact information and hoping that someone will call them. This is basically viewed as a dry run for those that may be interested to see if they do have anything in common and if a second or third date is something that they should consider or not.
The Shabbaton is something that many Jewish people go to and there have been those that have success. However, most people are eager for the Shabbaton to change in the way that it is held since these people want to make sure that they are connecting with one another, and this is hard to do with an even that can cater to hundreds of Orthodox Jews at a time. However, until that time, people are still lining up and paying a ton of money to attend this event.
Natural Hair Loss Solutions For You
The hair is our crowning glory; hence, hair loss can be one of the culprits that every one of us wishes to win over as soon as possible. Hair transplant has been one of the quickest and easiest solutions these days when speaking of hair loss treatment. But, hair transplant prices are actually expensive. In fact, according to CostFacts.com hair transplant procedures start at $4,000 and can go as high as $20,000 in the U.S.
The great news for people with hair loss problems or those that do not want to experience such problem is that there are cheaper solutions for hair loss. They are none other than natural remedies that will help prevent or treat hair loss.
Diet
When thinking about the health of your hair, understand that every food that does good for the body works for your hair, too. Hence, you must consider eating foods that are low in carbs, high in protein, and low in fat. Fatty acids are also essential for healthy hair. They can be sourced from walnuts, canola oil, soy, and fish.
Moreover, studies show that most women who suffer from hair loss are often deficient to vitamin B12. Therefore, to avoid and treat hair loss, adding vitamin B12-rich foods such as meat, poultry, and egg in your diet is necessary. Other foods you have to consider in your diet are those rich in Biotin, zinc, copper, and antioxidants.
Herbs
Image via Wikipedia
A lot of herbs are known to promote healthy hair. Some of the well-known herbs for hair loss are the following:
- Ginkgo Biloba. This herb is known to help improve the blood circulation to the skin and the brain. With this increased blood flow to the scalp, more nutrients are delivered to the hair follicles resulting to hair re-growth.
- Green Tea. This has natural chemicals such as catechins that can block the chain of hormonal activity in the human body that usually initiates hair loss.
- Stinging Nettle. A tea made from stinging nettle is known to prevent the testosterone from becoming DHT, which promotes hair loss. With this, stinging nettle has been popular for keeping the hair healthy and thick.
- Red Pepper. This has been used all throughout history for promoting hair growth. Applying it onto the scalp can work to attract blood and nutrients to the scalp. It promotes the release of histamines that may help in stimulating both cell division and hair growth.
- Onion Juice. Applying onion juice directly onto the scalp two times a day can encourage hair growth. Within four weeks of use, hair re-growth can be apparent.
Even though hair transplant is known to be an efficient treatment for hair loss, it is still good to know that there are natural, cheap, and safe options to help us deal with hair loss. After all, there’s nothing wrong with trying these natural remedies as a lot of people have proven their efficiency already.
How To Plan For Care Giving
It has been reported that 30 to 40 percent of caregivers will die before the person that they are caring for. That is a sad story. Many of them try to do too much and they get stressed out. They get sicker than the ones that they were trying to care for. They are not aware of the resources available to them for help. Some of these people are spouses that are not physically able to provide the care around the clock that a live in caregiver can help with and they just make themselves sick trying.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are 43.5 million Americans providing care for someone who is 50 years old or more and 14.9 of these are providing for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s. That number is going to increase. Someone new is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease every 69 seconds. Unfortunately, as our average life span increases, so do our chances of contracting this disease.
It is a very difficult thing to know when it is time to ask for help. If you are the caregiver, you are not going to want to give up. You may not want to lose your parent or spouse and will do anything possible to hang on to them, thinking that you are the only one who can provide the care that person needs. You might also be lonely without them, knowing that they would have to go into a facility that could provide around the clock care. Or maybe, it is about money. You might not have the resources to hire a caregiver and may not be aware of the services available to you if you were to ask.
Having the adult children involved does not necessarily make the decision making any easier. The children are apt to argue with each other and not agree on a course of action. The Alzheimer’s Association is a good place to start if you need help or want to chart a course for the future. Start with them. If you want to read more, visit preparingtodie.com to get more ideas on how to start planning for the future.
There are some issues such as living wills, end of life care choices, power or attorney, funeral arrangements, bills to pay, safety issues, insurance, and last wills that can be talked about with the family and some plans laid down before it becomes an emergency or before someone in the family becomes incapacitated.
Creating an Emergency Water Supply
Even though you can live a few weeks without food, you cannot live without water. The goal of this article is to teach you how to create an emergency water supply. After air, water is our next most precious resource. Just a few days without it, and were done. One of the most important things we can do to prepare for an emergency is to store an adequate water supply. You can either physically store a short term supply or buy a portable biological water treatment system.
Why You Need More Water Than You Think
At the very least, you’ll want to have 3 days worth of water saved. The first 3 days are the most difficult in an emergency, and after 3 days help has usually arrived. For this critical period, you’ll want at least 1 liter per person, as FEMA recommends. If you have the space, consider more- having 2-3 liters per person per day would allow you some extra water for washing and cleaning, as well as cover you if you’re losing a lot of your hydration through sweat or otherwise over the 3 day period.
For long term storage, you’ll want a little more per person- consider 4+ liters per day. That way you’ll know you have all your bases covered for cleaning and washing.
For more information on making unknown water sources drinkable, read this article on emergency water filtration and purification systems that can be purchased at REI, Amazon, and other fine online stores.
How to Store It?
The easiest method for water storage is just to buy large cases of bottled water. It’s already bottled and sealed, with the shelf life printed on it. It is more expensive than tap water though, so if you have some free time there is a cheaper alternative.
We can fill up old bottles with tap water and use them. Consider old bottles made of plastic or another stable material. Old 2 liter pop bottles are a good choice. Avoid any bottles that had juice or milk in them, as sugar and fats are difficult to fully remove and can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
Wash the bottles out with soap and water, then with 1 teaspoon of unscented household bleach and water. Rinse thoroughly. Then fill the bottles with tap water. If your tap water is treated with chlorine, you’re done. If not, add 2 drops of bleach to kill any bacteria in the water. Seal the cap tight, and you now have 2 liters ready for storage!
Where to Store Your Emergency Water Supply?
Store your water in a dark, cool area. Cover it with dark plastic garbage bags, to minimize any light it wound receive. Keep away from fuels or pesticides, as their fumes can penetrate plastic, and avoid placing a plastic bottle directly on cement.
Inspect your water 6 months to 1 year in, looking for changes in color or leaks. You now have an emergency water supply!
Finally, invest in a portable d water purification and treatment system for emergency use like the Sawyer Complete.
Good luck and stay prepared!
Read more from RamboMoe at preparedforthat.com
Where To Sell Your Junk Silver Coins
Personally, I am buying more and more junk silver coins as the price has dropped significantly in the last part of 2011. Junk silver coins are made with 90% pure silver. We see replicas of them everyday in cash registers and when we receive our change when purchasing goods and services. Before 1965, coins such as Washington quarters and Kennedy half dollars were 90% silver! Today, there is no silver left in our coins. They have as much value as a paper Federal Reserve Note. Nada. Nothing. Zero. Yes, you can still purchase something with a quarter or a dollar, but at the end of the day, there is nothing backing up the currency. I guess in some ways, you can actually buy something for nothing because in my opinion, the US dollar is worth nothing.
The question “where do I sell my junk silver and gold bullion coins?” has been asked on many gold and silver bullion forums. There are going to be thousands of opinionated answers to that question because most silver buyers see that it is crazy to sell any junk silver or gold at this time. Many professionals question why people would part with something as valuable silver bullion at the moment that this asset class is going up in value. Many people are confusing the rise in the price of silver with the actual value of the silver. The actual value of silver rarely changes. If silver were still used as money, it could still buy approximately the same amount of goods and services that it did 100 years ago depending on market conditions, supply and demand, etc. It’s a commodity with market driven prices. Scarcity is the only thing that will cause it to go up in value.
The 3 Best Places To Sell Your Junk Silver Coins
- Local coin shops and jewelry stores are a great place to sell your junk silver and put that money into another hard asset class.
- Craigslist or EBay is another great place to sell if you want to get the highest price. You can set your own price and terms.
- If you really need to sell your silver quickly, you can arrange to have your gold and silver picked up discretely at your home and have it shipped fully insured to reputable dealers like GoldSilver or GoldenEagleCoin.
But if I were you, I would buy more junk silver as it is selling for a bargain when you consider it was selling in the $40′s a few months back. When buying precious metals such as junk silver coins, buy for the long term Sell when the asset class starts declining in value and buy a rising asset.
Has Your Silver Really Increased In Value?
Of course silver can and will increase in value. Because it is rare like gold, the price is market driven. Silver has many industrial uses. It’s used in manufacturing consumer electronics products like smart phones, lap top computers, etc. The more the demand, the higher the price. As investors are clamoring to silver, industrial buyers and end users are in direct competition for buying this precious metal. When this happens, the value does increase. Just don’t let inflation fool you thinking that you have made “bank” when your silver shot up in value in 2011.
People confuse inflation with increased valuation. How many times have you heard people tell how much money that they made on their home because they said it increased in value? If you live in California, then you may have been one of the lucky ones that made money by selling and then moving to an inexpensive area like Nevada. But if sold in California and then moved to a nearby city and bought another home, you made nothing.
Assume that a person bought silver for $20/oz. A year later silver bullion is selling at forty-two dollars an ounce. Many people believe that silver bullion has increased in value by $22/ounce. In reality, inflation has increased and the value of the silver bullion has not changed one iota. You need to be concerned that the Federal Reserve has tripled the money supply in the last 3 years. There are 3 times as many dollars chasing the same products. Do not think that the prices of goods and services are going to remain low for extended period as inflation has a way of sneaking up on you and stealing your wealth. As long as the Feds keep the interest rates low, not too many people are complaining because they are getting borrowed money for cheap.
People have this illusion that paper assets are the sign of true wealth. This is a myth because most paper assets are not backed by anything of real value. The rise in the price of your paper assets means that your dollars are worth less.
Many people that sell their junk silver coins are doing so to invest in other assets such as bonds, stocks and real estate. Don’t let the hype of Wall Street suck you into thinking your precious metals are worth exchanging for dollars or stocks. If you want to trade either gold bars or silver bullion coin and buy into the stock market, then contact a trusted fee only adviser and invest in silver & gold mining stocks.
Be wise and keep your junk silver coins as a hedge against inflation. When there is a run up in the price of silver, you can make money if you sell it before it hits the top. Supply and demand are going to dictate the price along with human emotion and greed.
Now that you are armed with knowledge, maybe you are considering buying more junk silver. Check out Golden Eagle Coins as they have great service and a large inventory.
