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Some recent and not so recent research has prompted my writing this article. Over the past two decades horseshoe manufactures have been inadvertently or perhaps purposely setting trends that could be proving to be detrimental to even those horses that go barefoot. You read it right; trend set by horseshoe manufacturers could have an effect on your barefoot horse. Not through their production of horseshoes, but rather by the style of shoes that they produce.

Thinking back to when I began as a farrier almost 25 years ago, I can remember making my weekly pilgrimage to the local farriers supply store to purchase the required horseshoe inventory to stock my shoeing truck for the week. I would calculate the number of pairs and the sizes I would need for the coming weeks’ work. As my business increased, it became more difficult finding the time to make those weekly trips, and I soon found myself buying inventory for the month.

Establishing a horseshoe inventory was pretty straightforward. I, like most farriers at that time, would buy fullered, punched keg shoes by the case, in the most common sizes 00, 0, 1, 2, 3. The term keg shoe defines the most common of machine made horseshoes. The keg shoe comes in a generic oval shape and was called the “keg shoe” because they were originally shipped in kegs (barrels). This type of shoe almost always needed to be shaped to fit the hind or front foot of the horse. All too often the hurried farrier simply would spread, or close the shoe to fit a foot, and then shape the foot to the shoe., rather than the shoe to the foot.

This practice was likely the first in the beginning of what would become trend, started by the type of shoe that was available from a shoe manufacture. It was the shape of the early manufactured keg shoes where it all began, trend setting.

As new manufacturing techniques developed, manufactures began producing shoes in a variety of new shapes. The first new style shoes to be offered were front and hind pattern shoes which came out of Europe. American farriers who at the time were taking flack for setting the trend of long toe and low heels, this said to help increase stride, were quick to embrace this convenient way of addressing breakover. This ws the beginning of a new trend, ont that may prove to be just as damaging to today’s horse as long toes and under run heels.

It was the hind pattern shoe that really changed things. The hind pattern shoe was the first readily available shoe to be offered with a square toe. Quickly manufacturers introduced hind shoes with ready-made side clips, and front shoes with toe clips. The front shoe pattern was often rounder than the standard keg shoe that many of the farriers were using at the time. This may have been why some farriers began using hind patterns on the fronts of the horse; this proving to be a simple way of providing a square toe to the front foot, making fitting easier.

Twenty years ago, the square toed horseshoe, was more often viewed as a remedial or corrective type horseshoe. It was not often used as a keg shoe. Prior to being able to purchase the square-toed shoe, the square toe needed to be forged.

Over about a ten year period pattern shoes flooded the market.

American based companies began producing front pattern shoes that were not as round as the European type pattern shoes. These new patterns more closely resembled the traditional keg shoe. With increase in production came price reductions, making it more economical to purchase clipped shoes, rather than forging them. In the mid nineties Eventer-type shoes were introduced. These pattern shoes had a rolled cross section, claiming to aid in breakover, they also came in front and hind patterns.

About the mid nineties, we say increase in the use of the Natural Balance Shoe (NBS), which was fashioned after the footprint of the feral horse. It too had square toe and came in front and hind patterns. Each time a new shoe was introduced, it was accompanied by claims that the shoe aided breakover, and / or provided needed heel support. This is still true today, of most newly developed horseshoes.
So where is all this going?

To the point, shoe manufacturers have been setting trends that influence the way the farrier addresses the foot.

Recently, I have compiled research on a little understood malady that affects many of today’s horses, the black hole seedy toe.

Our research began in 2001, the opening of the International Institute of Equine Podiatry. Inc., since which time we have examined over 1200 hoof cadaver specimens. We observed a dramatic increase in the occurrence of black hole-type seedy toe. Investigation has now provided evidence that suggest that various trimming and shoeing trends could be that cause for this increase in the incidence of this malady.

Our research has shown that more often that not, the black hole is evidence of a Hyper Keratinized Horn mass, located at the creana marginalis of the coffin bone (seen as a notch in the coffin bone). One theory suggests that an abnormal increase in the size of the creana marginalis was likely due to a compromised blood supply. Further studies implicate that the cause of manifestation of the HKH mass at the site of the creana marginalis is stress.

Biopsies were taken from twenty (20) specimen masses and prepared for examination. Opinions gathered from several pathologists were unanimous; the HKH mass was the result of hyperplasia of epithelial cells with keratinization, this likely caused by stress.

Microphotographs of tissue samples from the masses often showed elongated secondary epidermal laminae (SEL); this occurrence has been associated with changes in response to stress.

Measurements were taken of the solar foot print of the twenty specimens from which the masses were harvested. This showed us that the greater the variance in balance, the larger the mass often appeared. The most widespread causes of imbalance were the under run heel, and the creation of excessively short breakover.

The research has allowed us to develop a number of hypotheses.

1. The theory that abnormal increases in the size of the creana marginalis of the coffin bone is the result of a compromised blood supply due to long toes is no longer tenable.
2. Research supports the theory that abnormal increases in the size of the creana marginalis may be nature’s way of increasing surface area in response to increased stress.
3. Evidence supports the theory that stress and the resulting HKH mass is the cause of the enlargement of the creana marginalis of the coffin bone.

Our conclusion are that trends perpetuated by various shoe types and various trimming techniques proposed over the past decade, are responsible for an increase in the development of the HKH mass, and the resulting black hole seedy toe. The majority of the proposed techniques promote dramatic reduction in breakover, which can lead to improper positioning of the coffin bone within the hoof capsule. There are a number of factors that have surfaced, many of which are the result of improper trimming.

What this all means to those of you that have chosen to go shoeless with your horse, is that you should look more closely at the way your horse is being trimmed.

Here are some recommendations that may help in preventing mass growth, and may aid in stabilization of an existing condition.

1. Aggressive rolling of the wall at the toe should be avoided. Avoid dubbing the wall or rockering of the toe into or palmar of the whiteline.
2. Avoid ground parallel coffin bones.
3. Do not lower the heels to the viable (live) sole at the angle of the bar/wall (often results in ground parallel coffin bone).
4. Under run heels do not justify radical break over placement.
5. Treating of black hole seedy toe with topical solutions or soaks will do little to remedy the problem.
6. Balance should be addressed and any cause of stress relieved; this does not mean excessive removal of material at the toe.

This new evidence bring into question the Universal Sole Trim theory, Natural Balance trim, and any other method that may disrupt balance, causing stress at the site of the creana marginalis (tip of coffin bone).

There are far more studies to be done. Immunology studies are underway, and further research into the cause of the HKH mass is ongoing.

About the Author: KC La Pierre, RJF, PhD is the Co-Founder of the Institute of Applied Equine Podiatry, Inc. A professional Farrier for over two decades, a researcher, and educator. KC La Pierre is a proud member of the Guild of Professional Farriers and a traditional Journeyman Blacksmith. Recongnized by many as one of the foremost Applied Equine Podiatrist in the world today. His lectures and teachings have been presented throughout the U.S. and Abroad. His innovative approach to teaching the art of Applied Equine Podiatry has met with rave reviews the world over.

For more information on Applied Equine Podiatry please visit the Institute’s web site at http://www.appliedequinepodiatry.org

For many years skincare has been the sole preserve of the ladies. After all, men don’t need it, do they?

As I came downstairs to breakfast the other day, my wife stroked my cheek lovingly.

‘Your skin is so soft!’ she said almost wonderingly. ‘I really don’t know how you manage it!’

Now my wife is a dear, dear woman but she thinks that a soft skin is only achievable by using amounts of night cream, day cream, anti-wrinkle cream (not that she has any anyway!), protein cream and just about any other cream that the cosmetic companies can dream up.

She, like many other ladies, is convinced that many men have made a pact with the Prince of Darkness in return for facial skin that is not only soft but free from spots and blemishes. I will probably be marked for use as a bridge support filler or receive a nice pair of concrete overshoes from the League For Excessively Scratchy Chins for revealing the truth but I can contain myself no longer: men really do use skincare products!

There. I’ve said it. What a relief to finally ‘come out’ (about men’s skin, that is). The thing that is different about men’s facial skincare and that used by women is that men don’t pay anywhere near as much for theirs – and that’s because men do something to their faces every day that women never, ever do. They shave.

Now I know women shave their legs and sometimes other unmentionable bits. All we men know that. But they don’t do it every day. So why does that make a difference?

Oh, well, the cat’s out of the bag now so I may as well tell you everything. The act of shaving, when done daily, is an excellent exfoliant. A razor doesn’t only take away the stubble from the chins and cheeks of the average male, it also removes quite a few of the old dermal cells. This tends to leave our homely pans soft and smooth – especially if you use (as an increasing number of today’s guys do) a straight razor.

That’s the reason why – when we’re freshly planed off – the facial skin of your everyday male is as soft as a woman’s that has had enough cream on it to make a raspberry pavlova. The only problem is that it doesn’t last. Hence the tendency in recent years for an increasing number of guys to reach for the bottle.

The skincare-for-men bottle, that is. I’m not convinced that I am the first to have uttered this truth as to the original method of skincare for men – shaving – and doubtless the cosmetic companies’ intelligence task force has been keeping their ear well and truly stuck to the floor over the years. So what do we have now? You got it in one – cream for men.

Oh, they don’t call it ‘cream’. Far too girly. It’s called ‘rejuvenating facial cream’ or something equally crafty – it simply wouldn’t do to call it ‘day cream’ or ‘cool night cream’, would it? It’s done like this. After we men have carefully eradicated all traces of stubble, in proper manly fashion with some horribly sharp steel, we are smiled at from some webpage by an incredible hunk with biceps like footballs and a six-pack made of very large ballbearings who suggests that it would be a good idea to – moisturise our skin!

And do you know what the worst thing about it is? Yep. It works. Guess what I got for Christmas last year? Worse still, guess what I bought recently? Resistance, as has been said, was futile.

The male skincare culture steamroller is gathering momentum. We poor males, hapless victims of our own primitive but effective skincare method, have been sucked into mainstream skincare by forces we can hardly comprehend. What happened to the good old days when the only perfume men wore was good, honest sweat and we all changed our socks once a week even if they were reasonably pong-free? When boxer shorts were things boxers wore and after-shave lotion was considered only fit for wearing on a hot date?

Don’t know about you but I sure thank my lucky stars they’re firmly in the past! Now where’s my anti-aging wrinkle-destroying masculine protein emollient?

Steve Dempster is a recent and happy convert to modern men’s skincare and doesn’t mind anymore who knows it. Learn more here about shaving and skincare products for men.

When you are going on your honeymoon, no doubt you want to make the time as romantic as possible. You’ll want to have a honeymoon that leaves you with wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Romantic honeymoons are very possible. To have the most romantic getaway possible, here are a few tips and ideas.

Tip #1 – Get the Special Honeymoon Suite – It is well worth it to stay in a honeymoon suite on the first night of your lives as a married couple. Even if you can only afford to book it for one night. Go ahead and spend the money at least for one night because the lavish suite is something you’ll never forget.

Tip #2 – Go Somewhere New – If you want romance, you need to embrace adventure as a couple. This is a definite way to make your honeymoon even more romantic. Going somewhere new and different will bring the two of you closer together.

Tip #3 – Bring Some Music – For romantic honeymoons, taking along some of your favorite romantic music is a great way to breathe a little romance into the air. Romantic music can get the both of you in the mood for walking on a beach at night, slow dancing, or simply having a romantic evening together. It’s a grand way to set the mood.

Those are just a few of some of the many things couples can do to create romantic honeymoons. Keep a journal to record the special moments, use candlelight, and have some strawberries with wine to set the romantic mood. The most important thing is to be sure that you have wonderful and romantic time as a couple.

Want to make your honeymoon unforgettable? Visit Honeymoon Deals and discover how to have a Disney honeymoon or even a New Zealand honeymoon that you will be talking about for years to come.

Some people researching alpacas as an worthwhile business investment are concerned that the alpaca industry may go bust like the emu schemes of the 1980s. (Emus are a large, ostrich-like bird.) Actually, alpacas are not only a different species, but also a completely different market with a viable, well-established end product–luxurious fiber.

The original strategy for emus was to create an alternative market for meat, like chickens and turkeys. But an emu meat market never materialized in the U.S. You never saw emu roasts in your supermarket, packages of emu drumsticks, smoked emu in the deli, or emu on a restaurant menu. That’s because the emu industry created the infrastructure to harvest the meat and byproducts, process the meat for consumption or get it properly packaged for supermarkets. The emu industry never bought advertising to bring the meat to the public awareness and create a demand.

Emus also produce a valuable oil on their rump pad, although they must be slaughtered to get this oil. However the emu industry never developed an infrastructure to process and market the oil. So there was no real profit from emu oil.

Alpaca is an Elite Fiber

Alpacas produce fiber, not meat. So you don’t have to slaughter the animals to obtain end product. The alpaca lifespan is 15 to 20 years, producing elite, luxurious fleece that can be sheared and processed into textiles year after year. Alpaca fiber is hypoallergenic. Many peolple, who are allergic to sheep’s wool, can comfortably wear alpaca next to their skin. In addition, alpaca is an elite fiber that in demand by fashion houses worldwide.

A raw, unprocessed alpaca fleece usually brings in enough money to pay for an alpaca’s feed and upkeep. Selling alpaca fleece gives the alpaca rancher another revenue stream for his operation. Processing raw fleece into yarn and then into finished apparel adds value that results in higher profits.

Run Away Emu Breeders Market

One female emu can lay 30 to 50 eggs each year. This means that an emu rancher must find buyers for the eggs and/or hatched offspring of each hen. Thus the U.S. emu flock grew too quickly to allow for stable market values. The demand for emus could not keep up with the supply. Since there was no emu meat processing infrastructure, emu ranchers ran out of emu-buying customers. The rapid reproductive rate of emus also made it difficult to keep up with expenses and needed equipment.

In contrast, alpacas give birth to just one baby a year. So alpaca herds grow slowly, yet the demand for alpaca fiber in the fashion industry remains high and is even growing. New U.S alpaca ranches are growing by about 30% per year, with the average start-up ranch purchasing a start-up herd of 2 to 5 animals. Demand for alpacas greatly exceeds supply. Based on the slow, but steady growth rate of the overall U.S. alpaca herd, demand will continue to exceed supply for many years to come.

Closed Alpaca Registry

In addition to the run-away emu growth rate, emus and emu eggs were still being imported into the U.S., which flooded the market. This was a terrible situation for emu farmers, who had no way to sell the meat, and no new emu farms to sell live birds and eggs. Many emu farmers quit the business and turned their birds loose into the woods.

The North American alpaca industry has closed its animal registration book, the Alpaca Registry, Inc. (ARI), to imports. This means that only alpacas, whose parents are already in the stud book can be registered. Having an unregistered alpaca is like having a house without a deed or a car without an owner’s certificate. A closed registry protects North American alpaca farms from seeing their alpaca investment lose value in a market flooded with imports.

AOBA National Marketing

Another way that the alpaca industry differs from the emu industry is that it has a well-organized national marketing organization, the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Organization (AOBA), which drives the alpaca industry in the following ways:

• Purchases TV advertising on satellite that markets into rural areas.
• Certifies alpaca halter and fleece shows throughout the USA
• Publishes the Alpaca Farm and Ranch Guide for people researching alpaca investment and provides well-qualified sales leads to AOBA members
• Publishes Alpacas Magazine to promote alpaca ranching and apparel
• Hosts an annual Fiber to Fashion conference to promote alpaca fiber and apparel.

Herdsire Stud Fees

Unlike emus, alpacas herdsire can earn significant stud fees. The value of an alpaca is directly related to the quality of it’s genetic charactistics. The quality of an animal’s fiber is greatly determined by its genetics. Fortunately, a female with mediocre fleece can produce babies with much better fleece characteristic by simply breeding her to a superior herdsire. There can be dramatic fiber improvement in just one generation. This makes it possible to improve the genetics of the offspring, and thus improve the overall value of a rancher’s herd on a continual basis. So breeding females “up” to a superior male is important in the alpaca industry.

The majority of ranches own less than 10 females. So alpaca ranches, especially smaller ranches, often need to purchase breeding services. Either they don’t own a herdsire, or their males are too closely related to the females, which would result in in-breeding. It’s very common for a stud service fee to cost between $1000 to $2000, with really top national herdsire services going for $3500 to $5000.

In short, the prognosis for the alpaca industry is excellent because it is based on the sound market principles of steady herd growth rate, demand exceeding supply, and the increasing value of elite fiber.

Virginia Lyons owns Able Oaks Ranch Alpacas in East Texas. She has been breeding and raising elite alpacas and miniature llamas with persistently fine fiber since 2003. Virginia is an experienced weaver and teaches workshops and hosts free events about alpaca ranching, alpaca fiber, and much more.

Please visit http://www.ableoaks.com

We see it every political season. Every TV, radio, print, web, and now cell phone bogged down with political advertisements. It’s nearly impossible to go anywhere without something telling you who to vote for this fall. Here is the real kicker… Even with the extreme overkill in political advertising – we often see businesses attempt to make the marketing pieces for their own businesses resemble political advertisements. With slogans such as “I’m X-name and I approved this message”, or marketing brochures that resemble political flyers. To anything and everything in between.

Is it really a good idea to take a business’s marketing theme, and mold it to resemble one of the most publicly hated types of marketing? Probably not. While there is nothing wrong with marketing that pokes fun at pop culture and the issues of the day, there can be backlash, or simply “block-out” of a message that is delivered in a style the general public has been conditioned to tune-out for years. The result of molding a business marketing campaign to resemble a political campaign is quite simple… marketing money lost. Not because your commercials or marketing pieces were not creative, entertaining, or compelling. They simply resembled something that the public is very prone to block, and that just doesn’t translate in to ROI.

In a time frame when 60-70% of all marketing is political, it is more important than ever to make your marketing stand out on its own merit. Not blending into the river of politics that grows deeper every day. So when you begin to think up and put together your fall marketing theme’s, ideas and strategies. Keep in mind the importance of standing out, and showcasing what your business is really all about. And if your business is not about getting someone into an elected office, your marketing shouldn’t be either.

Tony Brueski is president of V Marketing & Media Inc. He strives to help business effectively reach their target customers through compelling & creative marketing. For more information or to contact Tony Directly email tony@bestradiocommercials.com

Or visit

http://www.bestradiocommercials.com
http://www.bestmediaplacement.com

The choices of motorcycle jackets available today are varied and plentiful. Styles are as unique as their designers, and modern synthetic materials give the biker an added option over the standard leather jacket, a tried and true material for protection against the elements and the road

When making a decision on the purchase of a new motorcycle jacket, there are basically three areas of consideration that come into play, with various degrees of magnitude:

• the style of jacket preferred by the individual consumer
• the comfort and durability of the style and material used
• protection against the elements of wind, water, and temperature, as well as against the road

By today’s standards, most of the major motorcycle apparel manufacturers have come to agree on a common set of characteristics that tend to the specific needs of bikers as learned over the years. Many of these needs vary with personal taste, and will vary with the type of riding being done, and the individual priorities of the discerning consumer.

To begin with, lets discuss the different styles of motorcycle jackets that have made the biker culture into a sub category of the fashion industry.

For Motorcycle Jackets, Style Counts

While it may seem frivolous compared to the dire consequences of safety and protection, motorcycle fashion has evolved into distinct styles that offer the consumer choices based on just what kind of riding is being done, how often, and in what kind of weather.

As is its nature, the fashion industry has come up with just the right piece of clothing, tailored to fit your kind of riding, and making sure you are looking good doing it! Lets look at some of the general styles available.

The Traditional Classic Motorcycle Jacket

The traditional motorcycle jacket first came on the scene in 1928 in the form of the double sided Perfecto, manufactured by Schott NYC. Through the years the Perfecto style has been improved upon in many ways, but the basic traditional style remains a constant.

The traditional motorcycle jacket has enjoyed wild bouts of popularity in the fashion world.  In 1958 Marlon Brando debuted the style in the film The Wild Ones, and subsequent appearances in films by James Dean and others have brought the jacket in and out of style throughout its history. Perhaps because of the kind of films it was portrayed in, the traditional motorcycle jacket has taken on a somewhat bad boy image, a rebel type personality, or even a criminal element, consequently gaining or loosing cool points, depending on your side of the fence.

While fads and fashion trends go in and out of style, for the biker community, the classic motorcycle jackets popularity is based not on its cool good looks, but on its practicality

Traditional style motorcycle jackets have become classic mainly because the material they are made of, leather, is and remains one of the best form of protection from the elements. More importantly, it provides a second layer of skin between the biker and the rough surface of an asphalt road, reducing the likelihood of painful skin grafts in the event of an unfortunate skid across the road.

Of course, leather jackets can be made into many different styles, but what makes the classic motorcycle jacket unique for bikers is that it tends to the bikers needs. Plenty of storage is provided for with cargo pockets, inside pockets, and the generous use of zippers and snaps in the form of pockets, air vents, sleeve cuffs, and snap downs.

The modern motorcycle jacket is designed with an eye on the various positions a biker might find himself in. Slightly longer arm length provides for a more comfortable ride when leaning forward, and the backs of the jackets provide for some extra length so they dont ride up in the same position.

The option of side laces makes for a snugger, warmer fit in the cold months, and the better traditional motorcycle jackets will have an insulated zip out lining, making it a jacket for all seasons.

One particular aspect of most traditional motorcycle jackets that pretty much defines the look, is the inclusion of a belt. Classic motorcycle jackets that include a belt opt for a half belt more often than not, with a large buckle in the front. Full removable belts complete with belt loops are available on some jackets. Practically speaking, a belt is good for tightening up the jacket, and to keep it from flapping around at high speeds.

Throughout the years, the traditional style motorcycle jacket has catered best to the needs of the biking community by providing a tough and durable jacket that conforms to the unique positions only a biker would find themselves in. With the use of heavy duty hardware, this classic style provides for plenty of places to put things (to counter the lack of such on the motorcycle itself), and includes multiple options for your comfort and protection year round.

Michael Talbert is the creator, owner, and operator of Biker Leather Ltd., an online retailer of fine leather and textile motorcycle jackets, chaps, leather vests and biker accessories. visit the website at http://www.NakedLeatherBiker.com

Having a husband in prison is a stigma in our society. However it is possible to cope and get through this difficult time in your life. Let me help you along the way and give you a few tips.

I myself am a “Prison Wife.” My husband has been in the prison system for the past 22 months. He was first in a minimum security unit, a place called “THE FARM, ” with open doors, and no barbed wire. Now, he is in a half-way house, hoping to come back home the summer of 2005.

The “Prison Wife” is the forgotten one, as she waits at home for her husband. Our society takes care of the sick, the dyimg, the homeless, but the prisoner’s wife is alone and forgotten.

She is faced with insurmountable problems….financial,emotional, psychological, social, stigmatization, health problems to face alone, children to take care of. She keeps the household “together,” until her husband comes home. She works, pays the bills, pays the mortgage or rent, the car payments, insurances. She takes care of the children, repairs for the house, and just about everything else under the sun. Holidays and birthdays come and go. She is alone and lonely, most often faced with depression.
Most find it difficult to even face another day. She lives in hiding because she is afraid the neighbors may find out. So she lies and says he is on a “business” trip, to protect herself…after all, the neighbors would be shocked to know a criminal’s wife lives next door to them. And, what does she tell the children? No one wants to let their child play with a criminal’s child.

When her husband leaves for prison, the wife goes through a period of “grieving.” She goes through the same “grieving process” that a widow goes through. The only difference is that the widow can eventually move on, while the prison wife cannot. The Prison Wife is a “wife,” without a husband. She cannot go out and socialize, and it is difficult to make new friends, as she feels she is being “unfaithful” to her husband.

After a certain amount of time (months or even years), it is acceptable in our socity for the widow to step out, and start dating and even re-marry. The Prison Wife who is faithful and dedicated to her husband does not have this option….some women wait years for their man to return…10 , even 20 or more years.

There are close to 2 million prisoners in our country….that makes me wonder just how many wives and loved ones are left behind and forgotten. We think about the prisoner, but never, ever, think about those left behind…..the wives, the children, the mothers, the girlfriends, to name a few. Those loved ones, who did not commit a crime, except the crime of “loving a criminal.” They did not commit a crime, and yet they are punished.

When their husband goes to prison, they are not notified by the prison system where their husbamnd is. I believe there should be some notification system in this country. The wife must sit and wait, until her husband is able to place a collect call to her.

There should be support systems in this country for prison wives. There should be follow-up programs for families of the incarcerated, to see how they are coping.

I will now give you some tips on how to get through this period of your life. It is from my own personal experience, and I hope it can help you………..after all, just remember, you are not alone……….there are so many of us out there experiencing the same feelings and emotions…the same problems.

“Ways To Cope”

1. Take one day at a time……..Do not think too far in advance. Try to get “through one more day.”

2. Plan small projects for each day, and try to reach a goal. For instance, I put all our photos in photo albums, during the first few weeks of my husband’s incarceration. When that project was complete, I started cleaning out drawers and closets.

3. Organize tour life…………I re-organized bills and mail, using folders and envelopes, and I kept logs, writing everything down.

4. Keep pictures of your husband around the house….I had pictures in every room. I even had one posted on the refridgerator door.

5. Join a church group. I started baking cakes for the monthly cake sale. I enjoyed doing it, and felt I was contributing something to society.

6. Get involved…acquire hobbies. Knitting, needle-point, gardening, writing, keeping a diary….anything. just do something, even if you force yourself to do it. As time goes on, it will get easier, and you will begin to enjoy it. I planted an “Angel Garden,” outside in the yard, with angel statues, and flowers. I also began writing poetry, stories and letters to the editor. I also began writing a journal, which became a very important part of my life.

7. Keep in close contact with your husband….Accept phone calls (if you can afford it, as prison phone calls are extrememly expensive), send your husband letters, cards,magazine and newspaper clippings, and computer print-outs of thingd that interest him. Send him pictures (old and new)…Men in prison love to look at pictures from home. It helps them from becoming homesick. My husband has almost 100 pictures that he keeps in photo albums, and loves to share with the inmates, and show them our family and home. If I change something around in the household,or buy anything new, iI take a picture and send it to him, so he always feels connected to our home. I also tkae pictures of the pets, the garden, and the cars.

8. Keep a notebook near the phone at all times. Jot down things you want to discuss with your husband when he calls. Remember, those are 15 minute calls, and there is a lot to say in a short period of time, so get organized beforehand.

9. Cry when you have to, but also try to stay focused. Do not be torn apart by the prison system. You are still a person, and a wife…and you need to be supportive to your husband.

10. Try to stay healthy. Eat right, avoid junk food and alcohol. Exercise. Try walking. After all, you want to be physically fit when your husband comes home!

I hope this article will be of some help to the wives and loved ones of prisoners, as they await their loved one while he is in prison.

My name is Frances Russo,RN,BSN,MA. I am a retired Registered Nurse,who is now legally- blind , and does free-lance writing, as a hobby. I enjoy writing short stories for magazines and poetry. During my life, I enjoyed education, and international travel, having travelled to 28 countries. I’ve lived in Manhattan, California, Las Vegas, and New Jersey. My husband is currently within the prison system, and I enjoy writing a journal, which has become quite popular. It is called “Reflections Of A Prison Wife.” Please visit my web-site! http://journals.aol.com/crystalmoon222/reflectionsofaprisonwife/

Over 5800 have read my journal, leaving comments and identifying with it. They find strength in my journal. I have recently been interviewed by 2 newspapers, and my story will soon be published , along with photos (ASBURY PARK PRESS AND THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY). My journal is the basis of a book I am writing.

Okay, that’s a tongue-in-cheek title but the fact is that most men have never been taught how to shave properly. This article will try to remedy this fact and keep men’s faces rash-free!

There are many rites of passage in a man’s life and the first ‘real’ shave has to be one of them. You all know the one I mean – where real bristles are poking out of your chin to replace the fluff of adolescence. It’s an important moment, yet how many young men are taught to shave correctly? Very few, it would seem.

That’s an odd thing when you think about it. A father will teach his son all manner of things, from how to fish to how to how to service a car – but almost never how to shave. My theory is that it’s the same mindset as when men visit a public washroom. No-one speaks and for sure no one looks! Some of this taboo seems to have rubbed off into all grooming activities – and that includes shaving.

I’m an advocate of the cut-throat or straight razor but I’m no zealot. If you want to use a safety razor that’s fine by me. The principles will still be the same for obtaining not only a smooth shave but also avoiding razor-burn and the dreaded shaving rash. So here, for all of you out there who view shaving as a dismal experience and for those just starting, is how it’s done.

First off, make sure you’re using a sharp razor. That may seem an obvious thing to say but remember that mature stubble, say in a man of twenty-five years or more of age, has the same tensile strength as copper wire. Strong, eh? So you are asking a lot of any razor to plane that lot off! Straight razors are whetted on a strop before each use, so giving (in effect) a new blade every shave. Safety razors lose their edge progressively with each use – how long before you have to replace the blade depends on how often you shave and the toughness of your beard, which varies considerably from man to man. So if this is your first ever real shave, use a new blade.

Secondly, learn a bit about your beard and how it grows. Place a finger under your nose. If you draw it straight down across your lips and under your chin, chances are that that’s your beard’s ‘watershed’. (To call this a ‘watershed’ is not far from the truth. Our remote ancestors’ beards grew like this so rain would shed from their faces.) The hairs on your lips and chin, and the ones on your neck, will ‘fan out’ from this imaginary line. This is called your beard’s ‘grain’. The hairs on your cheeks also usually grow away from this line but point downwards more.

Having learned the ‘grain’ of your beard – and it does differ amongst individuals – the first pass of the razor should be ‘with the grain’ so, having applied a good quality shaving cream or soap, draw the razor in the direction of the ‘grain’. It also helps to stretch the skin slightly in order to present the flattest possible surface to the blade – this will help to avoid nicks. Watch your fingers! When you have finished shaving with the grain, try your face out for smoothness. You’ll notice that with the ‘grain’ it feels great, but against it it still feels quite scratchy – unless you’re one of the lucky guys whose beard hair grows straight out from his skin!

So what to do? If you want the smoothest shave possible, lather again and shave across the ‘grain’, then again against it. This last direction – against the ‘grain’ of the beard – gives the smoothest finish of all but can be tricky for a novice, especially if using a straight razor. Personally I find that two passes gives me a great smooth shave.

In this article I’m only talking about straight razors or single-blade safety razors. There’s a reason for this. The triple- and quadruple-bladed razors available today are great, but one single pass of a four-blade cartridge is the same as four separate passes with a single and this heavy skin exfoliation is one of the prime causes of both razor burn and unsightly rashes, particularly on young skin. Too, multi-blades can cause the problem of ingrowing hairs and ‘razor bumps’ if used too enthusiastically. Save them until you’re so familiar with your face that one pass is all you need.

To finish, use a good skin food or after-shave balm – your face will love you for it and so will the opposite sex! Try to avoid alcohol-based lotions – not only do they sting like crazy but the have a very drying effect on the skin. If you want to go down the biological route, try one based on Aloe Vera – it’s a great moisturiser and chemical-free.

So that’s it. A very basic guide to getting a good shave without looking like you’ve been in a bar brawl. The watchwords are simple – practice and concentration. Take your time – shaving isn’t supposed to hurt or be a boring chore – and enjoy what is a truly manly art.

Steve Dempster uses a straight razor and survives the experience on a daily basis. For more information on shaving and shaving equipment, take a look at The Invisible Edge

For many years skincare has been the sole preserve of the ladies. After all, men don’t need it, do they?

As I came downstairs to breakfast the other day, my wife stroked my cheek lovingly.

‘Your skin is so soft!’ she said almost wonderingly. ‘I really don’t know how you manage it!’

Now my wife is a dear, dear woman but she thinks that a soft skin is only achievable by using amounts of night cream, day cream, anti-wrinkle cream (not that she has any anyway!), protein cream and just about any other cream that the cosmetic companies can dream up.

She, like many other ladies, is convinced that many men have made a pact with the Prince of Darkness in return for facial skin that is not only soft but free from spots and blemishes. I will probably be marked for use as a bridge support filler or receive a nice pair of concrete overshoes from the League For Excessively Scratchy Chins for revealing the truth but I can contain myself no longer: men really do use skincare products!

There. I’ve said it. What a relief to finally ‘come out’ (about men’s skin, that is). The thing that is different about men’s facial skincare and that used by women is that men don’t pay anywhere near as much for theirs – and that’s because men do something to their faces every day that women never, ever do. They shave.

Now I know women shave their legs and sometimes other unmentionable bits. All we men know that. But they don’t do it every day. So why does that make a difference?

Oh, well, the cat’s out of the bag now so I may as well tell you everything. The act of shaving, when done daily, is an excellent exfoliant. A razor doesn’t only take away the stubble from the chins and cheeks of the average male, it also removes quite a few of the old dermal cells. This tends to leave our homely pans soft and smooth – especially if you use (as an increasing number of today’s guys do) a straight razor.

That’s the reason why – when we’re freshly planed off – the facial skin of your everyday male is as soft as a woman’s that has had enough cream on it to make a raspberry pavlova. The only problem is that it doesn’t last. Hence the tendency in recent years for an increasing number of guys to reach for the bottle.

The skincare-for-men bottle, that is. I’m not convinced that I am the first to have uttered this truth as to the original method of skincare for men – shaving – and doubtless the cosmetic companies’ intelligence task force has been keeping their ear well and truly stuck to the floor over the years. So what do we have now? You got it in one – cream for men.

Oh, they don’t call it ‘cream’. Far too girly. It’s called ‘rejuvenating facial cream’ or something equally crafty – it simply wouldn’t do to call it ‘day cream’ or ‘cool night cream’, would it? It’s done like this. After we men have carefully eradicated all traces of stubble, in proper manly fashion with some horribly sharp steel, we are smiled at from some webpage by an incredible hunk with biceps like footballs and a six-pack made of very large ballbearings who suggests that it would be a good idea to – moisturise our skin!

And do you know what the worst thing about it is? Yep. It works. Guess what I got for Christmas last year? Worse still, guess what I bought recently? Resistance, as has been said, was futile.

The male skincare culture steamroller is gathering momentum. We poor males, hapless victims of our own primitive but effective skincare method, have been sucked into mainstream skincare by forces we can hardly comprehend. What happened to the good old days when the only perfume men wore was good, honest sweat and we all changed our socks once a week even if they were reasonably pong-free? When boxer shorts were things boxers wore and after-shave lotion was considered only fit for wearing on a hot date?

Don’t know about you but I sure thank my lucky stars they’re firmly in the past! Now where’s my anti-aging wrinkle-destroying masculine protein emollient?

Steve Dempster is a recent and happy convert to modern men’s skincare and doesn’t mind anymore who knows it. Learn more here about shaving and skincare products for men.

If you are a rock , or metal fan chances are you have heard of the rock gods Metallica. This band set fourth a steady stream of fans for years, even after the band had stopped playing. Metallica fans tend to be one of the most dedicated, and extreme fans out there. Chances are, if you are reading this article you are one and the same. Now the question of what you should do, you have your own band tees, and other Metallica paraphernalia. However, you are becoming a parent. It is time to start shopping!

Metallica onesies, and toddler tee’s tend to be one of the most readily accessible band logo clothing for children. You can find these items anywhere from your local wholesale retailer, to even the farthest depths of the internet. Chances are, the moment you type in “Metallica onesies” into your browser, you are bombarded with thousands of sites begging for your business. However, it is important to keep quality in mind. Not all companies will provide you with a long life, fade resistant logo on your child’s onesie or tee. If you are a parent, you know the importance of durability in your child’s clothing.

Now that we have that covered, we will spend some time on the pricing of a onesie. As in articles past, I have told you that you can expect to pay anywhere from fifteen to fifty dollars on a band logo item. This of course, doesn’t necessarily breed truth in the world of Metallica. They seem to populate nearly every store in America, that provides clothing for infants and toddlers. Since this is the case, you may be able to find a onesie as cheap as five dollars from your local store. Just keep in mind, that you will need to keep an eye on the quality of the item, if you intend it to last over a week with your rambunctious child.

A few selections that you may have to choose from would be :

* A fashionable black onesie sporting a rock god mouse, which resembles your standard skull and crossbones, and the band name “Metallica” in vibrant colors.

* A tattoo parlor picture, sporting a parent under the machine and his daughter standing by. This also includes the “Metallica” logo.

* Cd cover simulator onesies, that bear the beautiful artwork from the CD covers.

Of course you aren’t limited to these few, as you are likely to find many others. Metallica shirts and onesies, unlike a lot of band logo fashions. Are available in many different colors, ranging from your standard black, grays, and whites all the way to vibrant pinks, blues, and purples depending on the store you shop at. Chances are, is that you will find a onesie or toddler sized tee, to fit both your needs and your child’s personality.

Shopping for organic baby apparel and childrens apparel? Add style to your baby with a designer t-shirt, a black onesie or a funky diaper bag. We carry black baby clothes, rock toddler t-shirts, maternity apparel, punk baby onesies and Metallica onesie. Find the perfect maternity tees or matching mom and baby set for a new mother.