Building muscle what is it worth to you

It seems like steroids are everywhere you turn your head these days. On the news, in most sporting circles, in high schools, on the street, in foreign drug rings, and on and on. It’s amazing what people think they know and really don’t know about building muscle. While most people are probably getting sick of it, I for one and glad that this is happening. I as a bodybuilder think that it is about time that this became “dinner table” talk because people’s perceptions really need to be changed in order for this sport that I love to be a legitimate endeavor.

Building muscle is a very complicated and often abused activity. I believe there are good and bad reasons for doing it. Human strength and the muscular body are amazing and beautiful things, in my opinion, but only if it takes hard work to do it and only if it is done in a healthy way. Pushing the limits of human performance in athletics is awesome and a great motivator for people to stay healthy and fit, but the problem is that these have stopped being the prime movers in the “business” of sports. The whole problem is that is has become a business and whenever money becomes the motivation the dark side starts creeping in.

It is amazing what people will do for power whether it is prestige, or wealth, or popularity, or visibility, or whatever. All that happens is that people get hurt and the sport is denigrated and ends up losing the respect and all of the above things that people are craving when they become involved in it. I mean come on can it be that fun to be better than everyone else, when it means that you have to resort to cheating to do it? Aren’t the best things in life those things that don’t come easy? And since when did the risk of death become worth it to so many people in exchange for a few fleeting moments of “respect” that you’re give? Well I want to be the first to tell you that all people who spend a lot of time building muscle are vain.

Why do I spend lots of time building muscle? Well for one thing it is a healthy thing to do when done correctly. It protects you from all sorts of injuries and pains. It keeps you fit as muscle is one of the best metabolizers in your body. It makes your bones strong, it protects your joints, it gives you good balance and control of your body, it allows you to do activities that you enjoy for longer. It also has positive effects on you mental health. It gives you a sense of accomplishment, it elevates your mood, makes you more confident, gives you the same kind of high that a runner gets by releasing natural endorphins, etc.

So by all means get into sports and get strong but do it for the right reasons and in the right ways or you are going to end up exactly where you don’t want to be—an object of scorn and ridicule and lying on your back in a hospital bed.

Gift ideas for your nearest and dearest one

:
Gifts are a medium to express love and emotion towards another person. It is usually presented to people who are very close. Presenting gifts has now become a very common affair, whereas initially it was just restricted to occasions like, marriages, birthdays, Christmas, New Year etc. Today with the growth of society and with growing relationships, the frequency of presenting gifts to near and dear ones has multiplied several times.

A lot of things need to be considered while gifting somebody. Topping the list is the relationship you share with the person. Secondly, the occasion needs to be taken care of and finally, fixing of your budget is necessary.

Gifts are exchanged on various occasions, a unique gift presented with love, does not only makes the recipient happy but it also helps in the strengthening of bond.

Various occasions can be listed when gifts are shared. Lets check on a few interesting ideas of gifts on various such occasions.

Marriage Gifts:
Marriage is a very special occasion in a person’s life, and to make this day a memorable one, unique and special gifts are presented to the newly wed couple by their near and dear ones. Depending on your relationship and of course your budget, you can choose from a special honeymoon package to a remote island, to gold and diamond jewellery to present to the couple. If a honeymoon package does not suit your budget you can also arrange for a cozy dinner for the twosome in a good restaurant, which they can enjoy and make it memorable. Presenting them with a surprise gift while they are dining will be an added treat. Presenting household items to the newly wed is also a good and useful idea, if they are moving into a new home after marriage.

New Baby Gifts:
To welcome the new life in your relative or friend’s house, gift them with baby stuffs, like baby toys, dresses (make sure they are little large in size, as babies grow fast), baby toilette sets etc. If your budget permits you can also present them with a small nursery setup in their home, for the new baby.

Birthday Gifts:
Birthdays are unanimous occasion to present gifts to someone. Not much needs to be thought while choosing a birthday gift for someone. You just need to pick up things that will suit the person’s personality or if you are aware of something he/ she has been looking forward to buy. Surprising the birthday boy/ girl with flowers and cakes is a tried, and tested idea, which always clicks.

New Year and Christmas Gifts:
This is probably the oldest occasion in history when family members exchange gifts. There is no specification as to what you should gift. The idea of exchanging gifts on New Year and Christmas is to wish them a happy and successful year ahead. It is a great idea to present things your friends and relatives have been wishing to have. This shall make them happy. What else could beat a happy New Year start?

Gifts for Him/ Her:
To gift that special person in your life is the toughest job indeed. You always want your present to be the best for your partner. If the choice is getting too difficult, it is safe to settle for generic options. In case you are looking to gift her, pick up a good jewelllery piece, which is a hit amongst women. You could also chose from cosmetics, stuffed toys, dresses or a good ladies perfume, which she will surely like. While choosing a present for him, the best options include the eternal, perfumes, shirts, office stationeries like organizers or a good branded pen. If your partner is a music freak you could also gift them with the latest release of their favorite musician.

The custom of exchanging gift is a sweet gesture to develop relationships and to show how much you care. Gifts are a great medium to express those thoughts, which you could not phrase in words.

History lover s paradise

The “Old Lady of Threadneedle Street Museum,” or the Bank of England Museum as it is popularly known is one site which any person just cannot miss. The Museum is housed within the Bank of England itself, right at the heart of the City of London. It traces the history of the Bank from its foundation by Royal Charter in 1694 to its role today as the nation’s central bank. There are gold bars dating from ancient times to the modern bar, coins and a unique collection of bank notes, as well as many other items one might not expect find - such as the pikes and muskets once used to defend the Bank and Roman pottery and mosaics uncovered when it was rebuilt in the 1930s. On display are documents relating to famous customers such as the Duchess of Marlborough, George Washington and Horatio Nelson.

The Bank Stock Office, a late 18th century banking hall by the great English architect Sir John Sloane, has been reconstructed and two award winning inter-active systems allow visitors to look behind the doors of the nation’s central bank or to examine the intricacies of bank note design and production. Live information on gilt-edged stocks and securities and the foreign currency and money markets is given at the Dealing Desk, similar to those in everyday use at the Bank. One can even try your hand at dealing on the US Dollar/Sterling Exchange market by pitting your wits against a computerized simulation.

There are also less expected displays of wonderful antique furniture, much of it used by the bank directors over the centuries, such as a set of chairs specially designed by architect Sir John Soane. In addition, an extensive collection of artwork portrays bank personnel and the changing look of the bank premises over time. There is also antique silver and statuary, weaponry used to defend bank premises, and banking paraphernalia such as weights, scales, keys, and calculators. The Bank of England Museum hosts a regular program of special events, talks, and exhibits. An audio tour is available for a small fee, with the commentary “provided” by Abraham Newland, Chief Cashier of the Bank from 1778 to 1807.

There are also ancient ledgers and other bank documents containing the signatures of famous figures such as William Pitt the Elder, George Washington and Admiral Lord Nelson. The museum documents the history of the Bank of England since its formation in 1694. In addition to the historic currencies are many fine paintings, some depicting important figures in the banks history, some donated by patrons of the bank across the centuries. The museum holds regular exhibits including a fascinating recent display on forgery and method of detection, past and present. Another absorbing exhibit was ‘Amusing, Shocking, Informing’ a collection of cartoons and caricatures taken from the press over the past three centuries depicting various famous faces – most famously –‘the old lady of Threadneedle Street’, a fictional lady who guards the money dressed in banknote clothes, and the source of the nickname for the Bank of England.

The museum has many permanent exhibits also including an in depth look into the fantastic detail put into banknotes throughout history - in order to deter forgeries. Visitors are also encouraged to take the mental aptitude tests that applicants joining the bank in Victorian London were required to pass and are given the opportunity to hold a genuine Gold bar. The bank holds many seasonal events including an Easter egg hunt and Christmas carol service.

Community college online classes

We all know that the education is the key to success that gives us the possibility of improving the state of our lives and we also know that one of the best ways where we could just do that and earn a degree that we could use and be proud of is through community colleges. But on the other hand, you may feel like your schedule is already bombarded with the different kinds of activities that you need to do that could hinder you in pursuing the education that you want.

Well, worry not because there is a great way where we could earn a degree from a reputable institution that offers community college online classes without ever leaving the comforts of our own homes that would also allow us to attend to our families and our job. Here is one of the best community college online classes that you could take in order for you to reach for your dreams and start your quest for success without compromising the other things that matters to you as well.

For years now, Community Colleges has been offering community college online classes that are suitable for working people and as one of California’s largest two-year colleges, this institution continues to search for the best ways where they could grow and partake that growth into others. And because of their dedication, Community Colleges has developed new strategies where they could give service and share their knowledge to a lot of people, knowing that they would eventually help them start their quest for success in life through their community college online classes.

Also, another great thing is that the faculty members of the Community Colleges could also communicate with the other members by just logging on that truly offers a collaborative field of learning and teaching. So visit their websites if you are interested in community college online classes and start your way through success without having to compromise your day to day activities. And surely, after years of hard work and learning, you get to reap all the benefits and be successful on your chosen field.

For Information Contract, Telecommuting and Part time Jobs in India Visit bharathcontractjobs. com/index. php

4 things to think about before declawing your cat

Declawing is a major surgery known as onychectomy, performed under anesthesia, that removes the tip of each digit (from the first knuckle out) of the cat's forepaws. There is a slight chance of death in the surgery, and a declawed cat may have an increased risk of infection and life-long discomfort in its paws. This surgery is not recommended for an adult animal and is considered an act of animal cruelty in some countries (see below).

People generally have cats declawed to prevent them from hunting and from damaging furniture. Rarely, vicious cats are declawed. In the United States, some landlords require that tenants' cats be declawed.

Veterinarians are generally critical of the procedure and some refuse to perform it because the absence of claws in a cat:

1. Deprives it of its main defense abilities, including escaping from predators by climbing trees;

2. Impairs its stretching and exercise habits, leading to muscle atrophy;

3. Compromises its ability to balance on thin surfaces such as railings and fence tops, leading to injury from falls;

4. Can cause insecurity and a subsequent tendency to bite.

This operation is rare outside of North America. In Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, declawing is forbidden by the laws against cruelty to animals.[17] In many other European countries, it is forbidden under the terms of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, unless "a veterinarian considers [such] non-curative procedures necessary either for veterinary medical reasons or for the benefit of (the) animal". [18] In Britain, animal shelters find it difficult to place imported cats that have been declawed and subsequently most are euthanized.

An alternative to declawing is the application of blunt, vinyl nail caps that are affixed to the claws with nontoxic glue, requiring periodic replacement when the cat sheds its claw sheaths (about every four to six weeks). However, the cat will still experience difficulties because the capped nails are not as effective as claws.

Creating your own web page is easy - a tutorial part 2

:
Now, Let's continue with Part 2. We will discuss the following here:

Creating tables
Using CSS boxes as webpage layout

Here's how:

Creating tables

Tables are very useful in the presentation of data. The following are the html tags to be used to create a basic table:

Single-column table:

<table width="400" border="1" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="4">
<tr><td>row 1 data</td></tr>
<tr><td>row 2 data</td></tr>
</table>

Type the above in your mywebpage. html within the body tags, save and refresh your browser. That's the table on the web. Referring to the above html codes, width refers to the width of the whole table (you may also use pixel here like "800"), border is the outside line or outline of the table, cellspacing is the space between the cells, cells are the area where the data are located, cellpadding is the space between border and cells. You may change the values of these table attributes or properties based on your preference or requirement.

Though the above table html codes are still working, W3C. org requires the table properties or attributes be defined in the style sheets or CSS. Using CSS, the above table properties could be presented as follows:

Within style tags in the head:
.type1 {
width: 400px;
padding: 4px;
margin: 2px;
}

.border {
border: 1px solid #000;
}

Then, within the body tags:

<table class="type1 border">
<tr><td>row 1 data</td></tr>
<tr><td>row 2 data</td></tr>
</table>

Looking at the codes, "type1" is preceded by dot (.), meaning it is a class selector. For the next type of table properties or attributes, you may label it as type2, then type3 and so on or with other names you prefer. "border" is also a class selector and "border: 1px solid #000" is the thickness (1px), border type (solid) and color (#00f) of the border. There are more discussions of CSS in "Creating CSS boxes as web page layout" and in "Using CSS in styling your web pages"

If you want to try the above, then type the codes within the style and body tags as noted, save it and refresh your browser. It must be the same as the first one.

Now, let's make a 2-column or multi-column table:

<table width="400" border="1" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="4">
<tr><td>row 1 data 1</td>
<td>row 1 data 2</td></tr>
<tr><td>row 2 data 1</td>
<td>row 2 data 2</td></tr>
</table>

Type the above in your mywebpage. html within the body tags, save and refresh your browser. That's the 2-column table on the web. To add a column, just insert <td></td> after </td>. 1 <td></td> is one column, 1 <tr></tr> is one row and 1 <table></table> is one table.

Now, lets make a table with 1 main heading and 3 subheadings:

<table width="400" border="1" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="4">
<tr><td colspan="3">Main Heading</td></tr>
<tr><td>Subheading 1</td>
<td>Subheading 2</td>
<td>Subheading 3</td></tr>
<tr><td>row 1 data 1</td>
<td>row 1 data 2</td>
<td>row 1 data 3</td></tr>
<tr><td>row 2 data 1</td>
<td>row 2 data 2</td>
<td>row 2 data 3</td></tr>
</table>

Type the above in your mywebpage. html within the body tags, save and refresh your browser. See? Yes, just use colspan to merge the columns. To merge 2 columns, use colspan="2" and for 3 columns, use colspan="3" and so on.

If you want to merge rows, use rowspan instead of colspan. See this example:

<table width="400" border="1" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="4">
<tr><td rowspan="2">merge row data</td>
<td>row 1 data 2</td></tr>
<tr><td>row 2 data 2</td></tr>
</table>

Now, type the above in your mywebpage. html within the body tags, save and refresh your browser. Now, you see that 2 rows in your first column were merged.

Try creating your own table using different values to familiarize yourself in manipulating tables.

Creating CSS boxes for web page layout

Before, tables are being used as layout of a web page. So, the header, right bars, left bars, main content areas and footer are inside of a table. This slows down the loading of the page as the browser will have to complete first the table before it will display the content. Your visitor may have already left before your page could be displayed. If you prefer to use table as your layout, you have to avoid using big tables. You better use small tables to allow the browser display your page little by little but faster.

Though table could still be used, W3C requires CSS boxes to be used for layout instead of tables due to the issue of accessibility. CSS boxes load faster than tables. These could be controlled within the style sheets that could be within the head tags or in separate CSS file. The most critical part in css boxes is the positioning. So, I'll explain to you the positioning properties of these boxes, based on my experience:

position: absolute - You have to define the x-axis and y-axis as point of reference of the corner of the box. x-axis is either left or right and y-axis is either top or bottom. You have to define also the width or the left and right margin or padding of the box. The box is not affected by the preceding or subsequent boxes. Likewise, the boxes preceding or following the boxes that are positioned as absolute are also not affected.

float: left or right - You need to fix the width. You also need to select if left or right. The box will lean on the side you selected. It will lean on the box preceding it if there is enough space for it. This is affected by the other boxes except for the absolutely positioned boxes.

no position or position: static or fixed - This follows the normal flow. This is also affected by the other boxes except for the absolutely positioned ones. You need to define the width or the left and right margin.

Now, see the illustration below that will create 5 boxes, namely: headerbox, leftbox, centerbox, rightbox and footerbox. These are liquid boxes, which automatically adjust in width when the display window size of the computer is changed:

<style type="text/css">
body {
text-align: center;
margin: 1px;
}
#headerbox {
width: 100%;
height: 15%;
background-color: #9cf;
border: 1px solid #00f;
padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}

#rightbox {
float: right;
width: 20%;
margin-top: 5px;
text-align: center;
background-color: #cff;
border: 1px solid #00f;
height: 100%;
}
#leftbox {
float: left;
margin-top: 5px;
width: 20%;
text-align: center;
background-color: #cff;
border: 1px solid #00f;
height: 100%;
}

#centerbox {
width: 99%;
margin-top: 5px;
text-align: center;
background-color: #cff;
border: 1px solid #00f;
height: 100%;
}

#footerbox {
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
height: 15%;
vertical-align: middle;
margin-top: 5px;
background-color: #9cf;
border: 1px solid #00f;
}

</style>
</head>
<body>

<div id="headerbox">HEADERBOX content area</div>

<div id="leftbox">LEFTBOX content area</div>

<div id="rightbox">RIGHTBOX content area</div>

<div id="centerbox">CENTERBOX content area</div>

<div id="footerbox">FOOTERBOX content area</div>

</body>

First, you type the above html codes to you mywebpage. html within the head, style and body tags as noted in the above. Then, save it and refresh your browser or open the file with your browser. Are you seeing the headerbox on the top, the leftbox, rightbox and centerbox in the middle and footerbox at the bottom? Try to change the width of your browser window. See? The width of the boxes are also adjusting and that is excellent as your page will auto-adjust depending on the browser window size of your visitors! That is because I used %s in defining the width of boxes.

Now, let me explain the above codes for creating boxes as your layout.

headerbox - preceded with #, meaning it is an id selector and could be used only once per page; float: left means the box will lean on the left if fit; width: 100% means the box is 100% of the browser window and that is the reason why it is liquid; height: 15% means the box is 15% of the browser window; text-align: center is the alignment of the objects or characters inside the box; background-color: #9cf is the color of the space within the box; border: 1px solid #00f is same as discussed in Creating Tables.

rightbox - same explanations in the above except for the float: right which means the box will lean on the right and margin-top: 5px is the distance from the bottom line of the box above (headerbox).

leftbox - same explanations in the above.

centerbox - same explanations in the above except that it has no position defined, meaning it will follow the normal. It will fit itself based on the available space. This will be its 100% or full size. More than this limit will distort the box alignment.

footerbox - same explanations in the above except for the vertical-align: middle, which means that the objects or characters inside the box will be vertically-aligned in the middle.

Try changing the values of the values of the css boxes above, then save. Refresh your browser and familiarize yourself with the effect of each change. Please note, however that there may be minor differences if the above css boxes are displayed with browsers other than internet explorer like firefox and opera.

Continue with Part 3.