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Can you denote the retention of your chronicle at the age of ten? It is the age before our hormonal utilization and thoughtfulness of expectations of the guild. At the age of ten, I was frank, cordial, likeable and supportive. Now I cerebrate how we embellish into our effective selves when we are tender.

Just cross a time to go o.k. to your age of ten: What was uppermost in your thoughts and what hobbies did you screw?

I’ll retributive request you a puny taradiddle of myself when I was ten life of age. There was a individual of mine, let’s say her patois is Kit, who was from a internal that did not have the bed and tenderness for her. She was extant with her stepmother who was a real resplendent negro. Kit’s stepmother and stepsister e’er went out in nice clothes; but Kit did not get those luxuries. Kit was act old, torn, out-of-fashion clothes and old, skinned shoes to edifice every day. Her embarrassment showed up in her daily results.

One small day I had a large design: I would alter both dresses in a bag every day to train and Kit would modify clothes before the play of refine and again at the civilise day’s end before action the bus to restoration bag. Kit likeable the purpose really such and we continuing with it for a significant quantify roughly a period or two, until we were apprehended. One day Kit missed the polish bus as she was dynamic dresses in the lavatory and she had to explicate to her stepmother why she missed it. Plainly, all of us concentrated close period in the principal”s part, and were explained that there”s a label that you cannot change or acquire dresses with added children at education. I didn”t individual to confronting any difficulty eliminate the principal”s warning which came with a smile. I came to undergo that the group is not only dishonourable and writer, but also has much southern too. Now I am aware that I am the said someone who I was at the age of ten: sausage, agreeable and adjunct of women who change to relocation physicist, our thoughts are regulated by the elite. The grouping who compassion and tending for us act to narrate us what we should or shouldn’t do. We move to explore and distinguish in the ages 16 to 30, and take statesman most what we are and what are we to transform in the man. We begin on new careers, get mated and make materialisation.

Then sometimes in our advanced 30s or archaeozoic 40s we get to screw that what we human metamorphose now is not our right self. There’s something nonexistent – it’s you as the lover of 10 period of age! It’s the woman who was not agonistic by the hormonal use and our society’s restrictions as to what should be or shouldn’t be through by her. I started to her pronounce at the age of 38. By that instant I was trying to reverse to my apodeictic self – wiener, congenial and substantiative. Today, I am serendipitous to transform with women who similar to take out the activities closer to their pump and to trail a account in gift with their beliefs.

What nigh you? What did you plan to be, when you were ten age old? Have you reached that content? Are you making progression in a identifying manner? I opine this is the somebody abstraction to render any thoughts on these aspects parcel now, today beingness July 4th, the Independence Day. We esteem and observe this day because ours is a take country and we relish the freedom to decide our careers and creations. In individual new parts of the man, women do not savour this immunity. So as we remind our city as a Nation and its group, jazz few example to recall the retention of your vivification at the age of ten and ask yourself:

Who was I at that age? What were my likings? Am I plant reflecting those aspects now in my spirit?

Nothing is unthinkable; Everything is there for you.

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

Are you tired of your aftershave lotion? Are you unable to find an effective shaving gel? Do you think searching for any productive product is simply wasting money on useless items? Are you a man worried of problems like pimples, blemishes and wrinkles on your skin? If yes, then read the secrets for men skin care.

Men skincare is just as important as woman’s. The misleading notion that men should not follow a beauty routine is a story of the past. Everyone has a right to enjoy clear and smoother skin, which is possible by taking a little care of which type of product you put on or use on your skin.

Since male skin comes in to contact with the sun and dust more than women, extra care should be taken. Always wear a sun-block lotion with a suitable range of SPF before going out; it should be water proof to help resist your skin from UV ray damages. Regularly wash your face with a good soap-free wash to clean the dirt and oil.

Regularly use a cleanser to get a clearer skin, a gentle skin massage helps the face pores to open and breathe oxygen which will rejuvenate the glow of your face. Also, use a moisturizer if you have a drier skin type and toner specially designed for men. Using shaving lotions and gels which suit your skin type and does not produce redness and itching during or after usage will be your best bet.

Always remember that there is no supplement that can beat natural ingredients, as they are harmless and work much better than their synthetic counterparts which may also have certain serious after effects. The products which are made of natural extracts should always be preferred. Some of these are CoQ10, antioxidants such as retinol and beta carotene, and other naturally obtained substances like phytessence wakame and cynergy TK.

All these ingredients are excellent for our skin. They stimulate natural collagen and elastin in the skin tissues and therefore bring back our youthful glow and radiance. Other than these, vitamin A and C are also added to various products meant for men’s skincare. These are antioxidants and are useful for minimizing the effects of oxidation.

Another men skin care requisite is using after-shave lotion or a toner. It smoothens the skin after harshness of shaving and makes it more even. But be aware that the product you are using should never contain alcohols, preservatives and fragrances since they are not good for our skin health and cause different problems, the biggest of which is skin cancer itself.

Following these steps can lead you to a perfect complexion and a problem-free skin.

John Gibb is a dedicated researcher of skin care health and products. He shares his research on his website – Natural Skincare. If you have unwanted wrinkles, fine lines and damaged skin, visit – How to achieve the best looking skin naturally now to learn about the skin care line our editors personally use and recommend.

We have personally been using these products with excellent results.

Do you use estee lauder cosmetics? Okay, let’s say you do for a moment. How do you really know if estee lauder cosmetics are ideal for your skin? Maybe the perfect line for you is Lamcome or Channel. Is there a way you can be certain? Well, this is probably a question that many women ask themselves.

How can they really and truly know that they’re using the right skin care and make-up products? If you ask me, I would say that you can tell by your complexion. How is it looking these days? Is it immaculate or could it be improved? This is something you should take a minute and ponder. Go ahead, look in the mirror and evaluate.

I can’t even begin to imagine what a company like estee lauder cosmetics pulls in each year. It’s not like Estee Lauder is their only product line. They also own Lab Series for men, Clinique and one of those drugstore brands like Mabeline or Cover Girl. I forget which one. The point is they’re rolling in the dough. Not that they don’t produce fine products, because I always hear that they do.

My wife uses estee lauder cosmetics. Well, the skin care regime anyway. She loves Fruition. It’s one of those super-infused rejuvenating creams that supposedly work wonders. In all honesty I think she just likes the way it smells. This is understandable though. The scent of a product can really draw you in. It always gets me with aftershave balms. Then again they’re not quite as pricey as estee lauder cosmetics.

It’s a good idea to just head out to the local mall if you’re searching for a new cosmetic line. Take a stroll through one of the major department stores like Macy’s or Nordstrom’s. These places always have oodles of cosmetic lines. Aside from estee lauder cosmetics, you will also spot Clarin’s, Lancome, Chanel, Shisedo, Mac, Clinique, and more.

Take a seat at the different cosmetic counters and try things out. See what line appeals to you the most. Maybe it will be estee lauder cosmetics, and then again, maybe it won’t. Either way you have nothing to worry about. There is always another cosmetic line out there. Whether you like it or not, much of finding the right one is about trial and error.

naturalacneremoval.info provides readers with the latest reviews,articles,commentaries and write-ups on all estee lauder cosmetics, rejuvenating creams, skin care related subjects.

As the popularity of Extreme Sports continues its rise, the concept of Motorcycle Racing has taken on new meaning. From road racing to Grand Prix, to motocross, supercross, and freestyle competition, one thing is for sure: if you race, you are going to fall off your bike on one or more occasions.

That being said, todays motorcycle racing jackets and apparel are designed taking this into consideration, and they compensate by giving you the best possible protection in the most likely places prone to injury. The basic principal is to design garments that will pad the most vulnerable body parts, and allow for a clean slide on asphalt or dirt without bunching up or tearing to shreds.

Racing jackets will and should come with some kind of body armor either fixed inside the jacket, or removable. Armor comes in different forms, from thick foams, to plastic covered compounds, to hard, shock absorbing rubbers.

When considering the purchase of a racing jacket and/or suit, make sure the armor is CE approved. Certifique Europe is a European standard of certification that grades armor on three levels, level 1 being the least protective, level 3 the most.

At the very least, a racing jacket should have protective armor at the shoulders and elbows, and pants should have extra protection at the knee and hip. In the case of a two piece racing suit, the bottom will often be zipped to the jacket, to allow the garment to act as one piece during a slide.

Back protectors are not often found in racing jackets, but there is in some jackets a place to insert one. Since most spinal injuries are caused by blows to the extremities as opposed to direct impact to the back, the back protector is better suited for protection from flying projectiles, and thus is often made from hard plastics.

Another major consideration for a racing jacket is the comfort factor.

Motorcycle jackets are usually made from a combination of materials, the basis of which is leather. Kevlar stitching can be used to insure the strength of the seams, and patches of Kevlar or other high stress synthetic materials are used on particularly vulnerable areas like the shoulders, elbows and knees. Stretch panels of various materials are often employed at strategic locations such as under the arms and at the knee to promote ease of movement in extreme conditions.

Because black leather has a natural tendency to be hot, racing jackets tend to be more colorful than your typical black leather jacket, using combinations of colors, obviously to attract attention to a particular racer, but also in part to reflect the heat of the suns rays. Some racing jackets employ perforated leather to allow the air to penetrate the jacket, and air vents are often used to provide circulation.

With modern synthetics gaining in popularity, many racers are choosing these tough and durable materials over leather because of their coolness, light weight, and waterproof characteristics. It is not uncommon to find legitimate racing gear that forgo the use of leather altogether.

Whereas todays modern day motorcycle racing apparel employ all the technological know how to keep the racer safe and comfortable, racing jackets are also popular within the traditional biker community. A little bit of extra armor never hurts, and because many jackets use removable armor, you don’t have to look so robotic at your local biker bar. Additionally, you dont have to be stick with basic black, the colorful styles often found in the racing jacket genre add another layer of coolness for the biker to choose from!

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

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

When you are looking for a pair or reef sandals you are getting ready for the summer months that are a head of you. That way there with the reef sandals you will be able to stay cool without your feet sweating much because they are confined to the inside of your shoe all say long.

There are many different styles and colors that you are able to choose from when it comes to getting a pair of reef sandals for your apparel. There are so many different kinds of reef sandals that you may think that you are not going to be able to choose a pair that is going to suit what you are looking for when it comes to your feet.

There are so many people that are self confident about their feet that they may be very choosey about the style of reef sandals they are going to wear when they are out walking around in the summer. No matter what you think you feet are like you will be able to find a pair of reef sandals that are going to be perfect for you and what ever your need are in the summer months.

The reef sandals are the perfect sandals to slip into when you are going out in a hurry for some fun in the sun. Plus they are going to be easy to slip out of if you are at the pool or sea and is ready to get in. Even some people will choose to purchase more than just one pair of reef sandals so they will have a pair of reef sandals for all different kinds of clothes that they are planning of wearing.

If you are looking into buying a pair of reef sandals you will want to have a little idea to the color and style you are looking for in a sandal to wear so that you will be able to find them with ease. If you are not sure to the style, you want you may find your self looking and trying on a variety of different reef sandals so that you are able to find the right pair for you.

When you are looking for the perfect pair of sandals to wear all summer long you are going to want to check out the different styles and colors of reef sandals because you are sure to find some that will match your personality and the outfits that you are planning on wearing all summer long. That way you will be able to stay a little cooler when you are walking in the hot sun compared to if you were wearing a pair of sneakers all the time. http://www.reefsandals.info

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

There seems to be a widely held impression, past down from generation to generation, that potty training toddlers is arduous.

Follow this practical plan and you will be able to go from all those diapers to dry in days. But only if you are prepared not to be side-tracked by other distractions during this period and able to give your focus to toilet training.

1. Evaluating Your Child’s Readiness

Does your toddler have the required verbal understanding? This includes being able to understand and carry out simple instructions.

Does your toddler show signs of wanting to do more things for themselves such as pulling up their own pants?

Is your child’s bladder and bowel control adequately developed? For instance, can he or she go for two or three hours before wetting their diaper?

You really must not go on to item 2 until you are confident your toddler can handle being toilet trained.

2. Let’s Go Shopping

You want to make this trip to the shops as much fun as possible for your toddler. So what’s on that shopping list?

You should get:

• An anatomically correct doll (a boy doll if you have a son, a girl doll if you have a daughter);
• Potties (yes it’s best to have two or three around the home so there is always one close at hand when it’s wanted);
• Underpants, preferably vibrantly colored. It’s even better if there’s a picture of one of their favorite cartoon characters on them. Diaper or training underpants can be a practical solution for any trips out but make sure you treat them as real pants not diapers;
• a wall chart and stickers.

Remember to let your toddler have a say in the purchase choice.

3. Toilet Train The Doll

Silly as it may seem, you potty train the doll. The doll is a great teaching tool, it should not be seen as a toy. You will be using the doll to model correct behavior.

4. Celebrate The Doll’s Success

Each time the doll correctly uses the potty it is praised and a sticker is placed on the wall chart that records the doll’s progress. And when the doll has been potty trained it gets a party.
You want your toddler to realize that being potty trained is a happy, fun experience.

5. It’s Farewell to Diapers

Put your toddler in pants. There’s no retreating back to diapers even if there are two or three accidents along the way.

6. Give Your Toddler Plenty Of Fluids

The more your toddler drinks the more they will need to urinate. So they should get plenty of practice in using a potty.

7. Ask Your Toddler If They Need the Potty

If they say no that’s fine. With all those drinks they’ll soon need to go. Quiz them again a little later.

If they have a little accident you must not let your child see you are angry or disappointed. Just tell them they’ll do better next time. Take them to the potty and have them sit on it for two or three minutes. Give them fresh pants to put on. At short intervals take them back to the potty for a total of ten times. This will help to build muscle memory. Very soon they will urinate in the potty.

A little food for thought. It is not just what you say, it’s how you say it. This is certainly true when it comes to teaching a toddler new skills.

Find out how you can potty train even the most strong willed child in days.

Discover the right tone of voice and words to use when toilet training your toddler.

Learn techniques that will accelerate your child’s learning and potty training.

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