golf40309

When it comes to a house, there are things that are essential. Sure a floor, a ceiling, and walls all fall into this category, a house cant exist without them. But, once the basics are in place, a house needs certain things to make it a home. The following five things help it do just that.

A playground: If you dont have kids, you can probably do without putting a playground in your backyard. But, if the pitter-patter of little feet is a common sound in your house, a playground is a must have. Whether its something as simple as a swing set or a jungle gym complete with a bouncy bridge and monkey bars, a playground is essential to keeping your kids happy...and you sane.

Locks on Doors: This day and age, a house is not safe without locks - and deadbolts - on all entry doors. But, a home also needs locks on bedroom and bathroom doors. Without locks, people feel robbed of a sense of privacy: parents might feel insecure about being intimate, kids might feel as if they arent ever trusted, and a husband may worry that someone will come busting through the bathroom door, spotting him reading a sweet Valley High book as he sits on the toilet. Locks on doors allow people to have time alone. Plus, locks can always be removed...say when your kids become teenagers.

A Peephole on the front door: Whenever there is a knock on the front door, its good to know whos standing on the other side before you open it: a peephole is like the caller ID for the door world. Unlike peeking out a window, an act that can cause the person at the door to see you, a peephole allows you to be subtle: you can act like youre not home whenever solicitors, nosy neighbors, or people to whom you owe money come aknockin. A peephole also gives your children the best chance at making sure they dont open the door to a stranger.

A front or Back Porch: When it comes to spring and summer, few things are better than sitting on the porch and enjoying the nice weather. But, a porch isnt just a place for relaxation: a back porch is great for barbequing and hosting summer dinner parties, while a front porch is a great place to sit and watch your kids play, and a great place to decorate with flowers and plants. Sitting out on your front porch and speaking to people who walk by is also a great way to meet and get to know your neighbors.

A Dining Room without a TV: Sitting down and having a family meal together may seem like a lost art, but thats only true for those unwillingly to try to find it. When it comes to a quality family dinner, the television is the nemesis. Thus, the TV has got to go. This doesnt mean you need to smash your plasma in a fit of rage or treat your Sony like it betrayed the mob by throwing it overboard into a desolate lake, just make sure your TV cant be seen from your dining room. Once that happens, your family will be forced to talk to each other.

Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor for http://www.etodoors.com. Someone who changes her mind every five minutes, her house is in a perpetual state of home improvement.

# posted by 87468 : 11:54 PM  0 comments

First of all there is no secret about how you win a handicap golf tournament. You win because you have the lowest Net score. The Net score is your Real score minus your Handicap Index. The USGA handicap system allows players with different skill levels to be able to compete with each other. It is the fairest way get two players to a level playing field. The system is not perfect. Mainly because your handicap is a mathematical formula that takes and averages your last 10 best scores. If you as a player can turn in one of your better than average rounds of golf you stand a better than average chance to win the tournament.

this is my winning strategy. Try to play a round of golf equal to or better than your average score for your last 10 best rounds. You should know what this score is before playing in the tournament. If you can post this score or better you have a good chance of winning the tournament. I know that I may have over-simplified this winning strategy. But, If you just follow my suggestions you may just find yourself in the winners circle at the completion of your golf tournament.

It is a fact that the average scores for golf tournaments are usually higher than a normal round of golf. this is a good indication that most players put more pressure on themselves during tournaments.

The better player understands this phenomenon and adopts the following philosophy - Take What the Golf course will Give You on any Hole. this means that if you make a mistake on a hole don't turn that mistake into a disaster. Accept a bogey or even a double bogey as the best that you can do on that hole. Don't try to make an impossible shot in an effort to save par. Most of the time this only compounds the mistake and creates a disaster hole. If you do this just once in the tournament you could loose the tournament. Do it twice and you will definitely loose the tournament.

In my opinion, this strategy may be the difference between winning or loosing the tournament. When you play conservative golf you are more likely to score at or below the average of your last 10 best golf scores. Just remember that your competitors scores are likely to be higher than normal because of tournament pressure.

this is a very simple strategy and ironically most players never use this approach during tournament play. Everyone thinks they have to play their career best round in order to win. Most of the time this just isn't the case. Although, if someone does shoot a career best round you haven't a chance to win that tournament.

I based this strategy on the experience of playing quite a few years as a member of the Northern Illinois Mens amateur Golf Association. NIMAGA hosted handicap golf tournaments monthly during the golf season. A high percentage of the over 500 regular members never in their life time win a tournament. I was fortunate to have won 4 times, tied and lost in a playoff 4 times, and finished in second place numerous times. Although not foolproof, I can attest first hand that without adopting my tournament strategy I wouldn't have won a single tournament.

Here is my challenge to you. Eliminate triple-bogeys or worse from your tournament and see if you can break through into the winners circle.

I have over forty years experience playing amateur golf and being the winner or runner up of numerous Handicap Golf Tournaments, I have a theory about what it takes to be a golf tournament winner. I am certain my theory will help you get into the winners circle.

Sam Novak http://www.bestgolfgear.net

# posted by 87468 : 3:33 PM  0 comments

On this second anniversary of the disaster now known by a single word - "Katrina"

all of us in disaster response look around and shake our heads. One year ago we saw misstep after misstep, failure after failure. As we look back over a landscape that is still scarred by the aftermath of flooding and looting to see both despair and rebirth we ask ourselves: Are we any better prepared today?

Two recent reports by the national Academies of Science clearly stated that Americas hospitals and emergency rooms are no more prepared now than one or even five years ago. Worse, hospitals have failed to integrate emergency medical services (EMS) into their planning and response operations. This first link in the chain is not broken it is simply unhitched.

What happens the next time Mother Nature roars? We cannot yet mitigate an earthquake or a hurricane, a tornado or a volcano. We have yet to learn how to immunize our planet against the next great pandemic or the next plague.

Why is it after we see one of the great cities of america laid low and sunk beneath the waters of its own shores that we have yet to do any meaningful planning? This is not our governments fault. Money is available and spent every day for training. Why we must fight to get any hospital to train to avoid the next catastrophic failure in the wake of unavoidable disaster?

On those occasions when healthcare does choose to train, it is discouraging to see a room more than half empty. In a profession that loudly proclaims a dedication to patient safety and customer care, to see so few people interested in preserving the most necessary of community resources, healthcare, is demoralizing beyond words. disasters can seldom be avoided. On the other hand, catastrophe can almost always be averted with conscientious planning and practice. The difference between a disaster and a catastrophe is that while disaster is when needs exceed resources, catastrophe is when needs exceed all ability to respond.

Equally disturbing is the territorialism among the specialties, each one laying claim to disaster medicine. Most healthcare delivered after a disaster is a simple the daily practice medicine under the worst conditions. These groups fail to realize that Disaster Medicine is primarily practiced before the disaster ever strikes. Disaster Medicine Specialists are part and parcel of planning for the community disaster response and the elimination of profession-specific silos of authority and knowledge. Rather than embracing the concept of board certification in the new specialty of Disaster Medicine, these territorial and fractious groups seek to stake their claim. They have learned nothing.

The good news, Disaster Life Support (DLS) has become the national standard for preparedness of individuals, families, businesses and healthcare professionals, Healthcare first Responder training (HFR) has become the ruler by which hospitals and other healthcare institutions are measured. While it is frustratingly difficult to get these audiences to come to class, it is immensely rewarding when they finally understand how important it is to be prepared, to be aware and to be able to protect themselves, their families, their communities, and their patients. Much like the early days of CPR, it will take time for the nation to understand the importance of every man, woman and child knowing what to do when the wind blows, the buildings falls, or the whole planet sneezes at once. Until then, we who teach these most precious skills will continue to strive to ensure that everyone goes home alive at the end of the day.

Will the gulf coast and New orleans recover?

Certainly in time.

The bigger question is will we ever learn to be D.I.S.A.S.T.E.R. R.E.A.D.Y. & P.L.A.N.?

Dr. Maurice A. Ramirez is the founder and president of the consulting firm High alert, LLC.. He serves on expert panels for pandemic preparedness and healthcare surge planning with Congressional and Cabinet Members. board certified in multiple specialties, Dr. Ramirez is Founding Chairperson of the American board of Disaster Medicine and serves the nation as a Senior Physician-Federal Medical Officer in the national Disaster Medical system. Dr. Ramirez has a new book: You Can Survive Anything, Anywhere, Every Time. His website is http://www.High-Alert.com

# posted by 87468 : 5:12 AM  0 comments