Attorney Wardrobe Advice From An Image Consultant

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ATTORNEYS

This article explains how attorneys should dress. It focuses on suits, hairstyles, footwear, and accessories.

LAWYERS AND SUITS

As we look at the legal profession we usually see men and women in suits, but few attorneys, including the most experienced, are aware of the unwritten rules covering their most prized outfit, the business suit. As image consultants we look beyond the surface and can tell you that your suit needs to be in earth tones, tailored neatly, and made of wool or a wool blend, except in the summer when Belgian cotton is acceptable.

Men often forget to have a second fitting. Demand one. Women usually neglect to have their jackets tailored, leading to bumps and wrinkles that will cost them points in the minds of clients, colleagues, and judges. The best advice we can give you is to look at Jay Leno and observe how his suits fit. Copy that style. Shop at Brooks Brothers or other quality stores. Avoid stores that don’t have tailors on staff.

SHOES FOR ATTORNEYS

The only two shoe styles acceptable for male attorneys are black cap-toes and wingtips. No other shoes are as inoffensive and effective. Yes, F. Lee Bailey does wear boots. But he’s F. Lee Bailey.

Female attorneys often make the mistake of matching shoes to suits. This only works when your outfit is black. Female attorneys should not wear light-colored shoes. They send the wrong signals. Nor should your toes be visible. You need to wear black pumps, with heels no more than two and a half inches high.

HAIRSTYLES AND ACCESSORIES

Male attorneys need to have neat hair, trimmed around the ears. It should not be too shiny with gel. It should not have the spiky look common with college students. Judges react unfavorably to such styles.

Female attorneys can wear different hairstyles as long as their hair does not pass their shoulders. They can even wear it up in a semblance of a beehive or bouffant look, if it’s not excessive and if it’s neat.

Attorneys should have the best accessories. Luxurious leather briefcases. Gold Cross pens. Leather wallets. Movado wristwatches. Simplicity. Fine lines. No sport watches at work.

Following these suggestions will ensure that you’re at least not making major mistakes and turning off clients, colleagues, and judges.

Copyright (c) 2011 William Cane

Got Shopping Mall Anxiety?

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Development in the retail market has resulted in the growth of a huge number of shopping malls and departmental stores all around the world. Even small towns are getting their own malls alongside the cities. We have become so addicted to shopping in these shopping malls that we visit these places very often. People throng these places for buying the daily groceries and essentials as well. This factor does result in quite a congested scenario as a huge number of people throng these malls. In turn, this huge development often fuels the people’s anxiety in shopping malls.

It is very common to trace people suffering from anxiety in shopping malls. A very common reason for this anxiety is the prospect of being intimidated by a number of people as soon as you enter through the gates of the shopping malls. Henceforth wherever you move to, a number of people confront you, be it the shoppers or the salesmen. Sometimes the anxiousness makes you seem completely lost in the vast sea of people. You may seem to get disoriented while everything suddenly turns black around you! Panic attacks inside elevators in malls are quite common instances. Sometimes you just keep on roaming around blankly without any idea what you are doing. You gasp for fresh air and always stay alert as you see a number of unknown faces roaming around you. People suffering from anxiety in malls even think that everyone is looking at him or her, which often makes them tipsy in their gait, ending in an embarrassing situation.

So what to do about anxiety in shopping malls?

Is there any anxiety disorder help that is available? Well, every single thing on this earth has a solution. Man has only to find that solution out. One of the remedies is Cognitive Behavioral Treatment. Here the psychiatrist sits with the person with the anxiety condition and together they chalk out ways to cure this anxiety disorder. This treatment is not very prolonged as all the patient needs to do is stick to the goals set by him and his doctor.

In 12 -16 sittings you’ll start showing remarkable symptoms of anxiety solutions. Usage of proper therapy manuals online can also help you achieve success in overcoming this anxiety, and exhibit symptoms of anxiety solutions. But these solutions can also trick you into making you think that you have recovered; when you have not. So just see how patiently you can handle the situation, how calmly and comfortably you can confront a group of people. As these prospects brighten up, so do you and your anxiety disorder recedes with time.

Japanese Martial Arts: History, Styles, and Weapons

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Japanese Martial Arts

The history of the island nation of Japan paints a clear picture of a proud and powerful people forging a national identity, robust culture, and unique way of life from the crucible of war and uncertain peace. Central to this culture was the concept of martial valor, of being able to fight aggressively as well as defensively, both for the very practical purposes of waging war along with strong notions of duty, honor, and personal development. It was from this militaristic and spiritual foundation that the Japanese martial arts styles, of which there are legion and which will be discussed throughout this article, developed.

History

Broadly speaking, the history of Japanese martial arts can be broken down into two categories: Koryu Bujutsu (bujutsu meaning the practical application of martial tactics and techniques in actual combat) and Gendai Budo (budo meaning a way of life encompassing physical, spiritual, and moral dimensions with a focus of self-improvement, fulfillment, or personal growth).

Koryu Bujutsu encompasses the more ancient, traditional Japanese fighting styles, while Gendai Budo is more modern. The division between them occurred after the Meiji Restoration (1868), when the Emperor was restored to practical political power and Japan began the process of modernization in haste. Prior to the Restoration, the Koryu styles focused extensively, if not exclusively, on practical warfare. The Samurai, or warrior caste were expected to be masters of all forms of combat, armed and otherwise. Their martial arts evolved as weapons and technology did, but the focus always remained the same: victory in actual combat, for their own honor and for the cause of their ruler.

However, with the Meiji Restoration and the modernization of Japan, including the large-scale introduction of firearms, the traditional Japanese fighting styles of the samurai became outdated and no longer useful for their practical purpose of military combat. In their wake, the Japanese martial arts styles evolved into what came to be known as Gendai Budo, which focused far less on broad-scale military application and far more on self-improvement and personal growth. They became not just a tool for military victory, but a vital component of a fulfilling, meaningful, and spiritually connected way of life.

Interestingly, this distinction can be noted in the differing terminology: the traditional techniques were referred to as bujutsu, which specifically relates to waging war, while the modern styles are collectively known as budo, which are far more involved with personal betterment.

Styles

Traditional Japanese Martial Arts (Koryu Bujutsu)

Sumo: The oldest of Japanese martial arts styles is sumo, named after the emperor who popularized it (Shumo Tenno) in 728 AD. However, the origins of the fighting style go back long before him, to 23 AD, when the first sumo battle was fought, watched over by the emperor and continuing until one of the fighters was too wounded to continue. After Emperor Shumo reintroduced the sport, it became a staple of the annual harvest festival, spreading throughout Japan and even incorporated into military training. From the 17th century onward, it became a professional sport in every regard, open to all classes, samurai and peasants alike. The rules of the sport are simple: The first man to touch the ground with a part of the body other than the bottom of the feet, or touch the ground outside the ring with any part of the body, loses. It is still an incredibly popular sport in Japan to this day, followed religiously be legions of fervent fans.

Jujutsu: This Japanese martial arts style literally translates into “soft skills”, and uses indirect force such as joint locks and throws to defeat an opponent, rather than direct force like punches and kicks, to use the attackers force against them and counterattack where they are weakest. It was initially developed to fight against the samurai, who often terrorized townspeople, as more direct forms of combat proved ineffective against well-armored foes. Small weapons such as daggers, weighed chains, and helmet smashers (tanto, ryufundo kusari, and jutte, respectively) were used as well in jujutsu. Many elements of jujutsu have been incorporated into a wide variety of more modern Japanese martial arts, including judo, aikido, and non-Japanese martial arts styles like karate.

Ninjutsu: Ninjutsu, or the art of the Ninja, has in the modern period grown to become one of the best known styles of Japanese martial arts. However, when it was developed, Ninjas were used as assassins during the turbulent Warring States Period. Although many a martial arts movie has portrayed ninjas as expert combatants, their true purpose was to avoid combat, or even detection altogether. A skilled ninja would kill his mark and be gone before anyone even suspected he was there. Ninjas were trained in the arts of disguise, escape, concealment, archery, medicine, explosives, and poisons, a skillset uniquely suited to their particular task.

Although there are a number of other Koryu Bujutsu Japanese martial arts styles, they mostly involve weapons, and will be discussed in the Japanese Martial Arts Weapons section.

Modern Japanese Martial Arts (Gendai Budo)

Judo: Literally translated into “the gentle way” or “the way of softness”, Judo is an extremely popular Japanese martial art style developed in the late 19th century based on grappling, and used for sport as well as personal and spiritual development. While incorporating many jujutsu elements, it mainly involves freestyle practice and is used for competition, while removing many of the more harmful jujutsu aspects. In 1964, Judo became an Olympic sport and is currently practiced the world over.

Aikido: Aikido is one of the most complex and nuanced of the Japanese martial arts styles, and that is reflected in its name, which translates into “the way to harmony with ki”, “ki” meaning life force. Aikido was developed by Morihei Ueshiba in the early-mid 20th century, and focuses primarily on striking, throwing, and joint-locking techniques. Aikido is well known for its fluidity of motion as a signature element of its style. Its principle involves the use of the attacker’s own force against him, with minimal exertion on the part of the wielder. Aikido was influenced significantly by Kenjutsu, the traditional Japanese martial art of sword combat, and in many respects practitioner is acts and moves as an empty-handed swordsman. Aikido also places a strong emphasis on spiritual development, reflecting the importance of spirituality to its founder, and the resultant influence on the martial arts style.

Japanese Karate: Karate, the “way of the empty hand”, was actually not originally a Japanese martial art, having been developed in Okinawa and later influenced by the Chinese. However, early in the 20th century Karate found acceptance in Japan, going so far as to be incorporated into the Japanese public school system. Japanese Karate involves linear punching and kicking, executed from a fixed stance. In this sense, it is very different from the other Japanese martial arts such as Aikido and Judo, which are more fluid in their motions.

Kempo: Kempo is a system of self-defense and self-improvement developed after WWII, based on a modified version of Shaolin Kung-Fu. It involves a combination of strikes, kicks and blocks, as well as pins, joint locks and dodges, making it a middle way between the “hard” styles like Japanese Karate and the more “soft” styles like Judo and Aikido. It was originally introduced into Japan after the war in order to rebuild Japanese morale and spirits, first adopted by large scale corporations for their employees before spreading into the culture of Japan and the larger martial arts world. Now, Kempo is practiced by over 1.5 million people in over 33 countries.

Japanese Martial Arts Weapons

Weapons played a key role in the Japanese Martial Arts, especially during the Koryu Bujutsu phase when they were practically used in combat. Here we will go through a number of Japanese martial arts weapons, as well as the martial arts styles associated with each.

Sword (Katana): Undisputed amongst the hierarchy of Japanese martial arts weapons is the Katana, or the traditional curved sword. The first Katana, with its famous strengthening folding process was forged by legendary swordsmith Amakuni Yasutsuna in 700 AD, with subsequent developments occurring between 987 and 1597 AD. During times of peace, artistry was emphasized, and during times of war, like the 12th century civil war and the 13th century Mongolian invasion, durability, effectiveness, and mass production were more important. The evolution of Swordsmanship was cyclical, with peaceful times being used to invent new techniques, and war times being used to test them. What worked survived, what didn’t, didn’t. During the more than 200 year peaceful period of the Tokugawa Dynasty, the art of swordsmanship changed from one focused on combat and killing to one of personal development and spiritual perfection.

Japanese Martial Arts Weapons Techniques (Katana):

Kenjutsu: the “art of the sword”, this technique is the oldest and used to refer to partnered, one-on-one sword training.

Battojutsu: This is the Art of Drawing a Sword, and involves quickly stepping up to your opponent, drawing your blade, cutting them down in one or two strokes, and re-sheathing the blade. The fact that it has a category onto itself speaks volumes for the philosophy behind Japanese martial arts weapons styles. Battojutso is connected with Iaijutso, or the art of mental presence and immediate reaction, which needs to be perfected if battojutu is to be effective.

Kendo: Kendo, which translates into the “way of the sword”, is a modern, gendai budo Japanese martial arts style. As the sword is no longer a combat weapon, Kendo has reinvented Japanese swordsmanship into a competitive sport. Kendo really took off once the bamboo sword and lightweight wooden armor were introduced, as they allowed for full-speed strikes without the risk of injury. Now, almost all of competitive Kendo is governed by the All Japan Kendo Federation, established in 1951.

Other Japanese Martial Arts Weapons and Martial Arts Styles

Naginata & Naginatajutsu: The naginata was a wooden pole with a curved, single-edged blade at the end. It was used by the samurai, as well as by regular footsoldiers. Naginatajutsua was the art of the naginata, used extensively in traditional Japanese combat. Interestingly, during the Edo period, the Naginata was traditionally a weapon of high-born women, and many practitioners and teachers to this day are women. In the modern world, naginata-do is the ritualistic and competitive form of naginatajutso, practiced by many in Japan and beyond.

Spear & Sojutso: this is the art of fighting with a spear. Although it used to be practiced extensively, and was a primary skill of average soldiers during times of war, it has since declined significantly in popularity, for obvious reasons.

Bow & Kyudo: Kyudo is the “way of the bow”, with the Koryu name being Kyujutsu, or the art of the bow. In traditional Japanese martial arts, the bow and its art was a staple of Samurai discipline, as it was a potent military weapon. When used on horseback, it was even more devastating. However, as Japan adopted firearms, the bow was displaced as a practical instrument of war. Thus, in modern times, Kyudo is practiced for sport and contemplation rather than for warfare.

Other Japanese martial arts weapons exist, such as the tanto (dagger), ryufundo kusari (weighed chain), and jutte (helmet smasher), but the Katana, naginata, spearm and bow were the mainstays of the warrior class.

Japanese Martial Arts List

If the above was a bit too long to read, here is a concise list of the major differing Japanese martial arts styles:

Traditional Japanese Martial Arts Styles

Sumo: earliest style, involves pushing a single opponent over or knocking them from the ring.

Jujutsu: An early style used against samurai and armored opponents, it involves using throws and joint locks to use the enemies own force against them.

Kenjutsu: The art of the sword, involves fighting a single opponent one-on-one with a Katana.

Ninjutsu: The art of the ninja, involves using stealth and indirect or long-range methods of assassination.

Modern Japanese Martial Arts Styles

Judo: “The Gentle Way”, based on grappling, used for sport as well as spiritual and personal development. Judo was accepted as an Olympic sport in 1964.

Aikido: “The Way of Harmony with Ki”, Aikido involves fluid motion and turning the attacker’s own force against him. It is also used for spiritual and personal development.

Japanese Karate: An “imported” martial art to Japan, Japanese Karate is more linear than the other arts, involving direct punches and kicks from a fixed position.

Kempo: Based on Shaolin Kung-Fu, Kempo incorporates direct strikes, kicks, and blocks, as well as indirect pins, joint locks, and dodges. Having been introduced after WWII, is incredibly popular in Japan and throughout the world.

Kendo: The “way of the sword”, Kendo uses bamboo swords and lightweight wooden armor to allow full-speed strikes and has reinvented Japanese sword fighting into a competitive sport rather than an art of war.

Hawaiian Music History – A Brief Overview

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Music is a part of everyday life. We listen to it on the way to work, when we work out, while running errands; all too often in the background. Yet, music is a unique form of expression that charts history, tradition, and culture. Music is the very fabric of Hawaiian culture, its story interweaving through the centuries and evolving to the sound you hear today. European settlers may not have discovered the islands until the 1700s, but Hawaiians discovered the gift of song well before foreigners set foot on Hawaii’s shores.

One of the more curious things about the Hawaiian language is that there is no word for “music,” but its structure has been a mainstay of Hawaiian tradition. Mele, or chanting, was a ritual in ancient Hawaii, a means of preserving ancestral history. These chants chronicled stories of family lineage and legends of Hawaiian gods, tales visually told through the dance of hula. Rituals were guided by a drum beat and a small orchestra of stones, sticks, and rattles, laying the foundation for early Hawaiian music.

Contact with European settlers in the 1700s introduced Hawaiians to the cultures of the world. Missionaries brought Christian hymns and various European instrumentation such as the flute, violin, and the piano. But the Hawaiians were more fascinated with the guitar brought by Spanish cowboys, or paniolos. Hawaiians referred to Spanish music as Cachi-cachi because their fast and improvised style of playing quickly caught on. When the Spanish returned to their home countries, they left their guitars as gifts.

Keen on creating their own playing style, locals began slackening the strings, creating a distinct finger-picking style that suited their rhythmic sensibilities. “Slack-key” guitar became a local craze and encouraged the innovation of another playing style – “steel-guitar.” This involved sliding a piece of steel along the strings, which gave off a soothing, dream-like quality that would soon become the sound representing Hawaiian music.

These innovations inspired locals to embrace other forms of instrumentation. The melody remained firmly in the vocals, an emphasis on language and culture, while the sound, just as ancient rituals had dictated, provided harmony and support. Many were discovering they had innate musical talent and Hawaii quickly garnered such talent for an orchestra. In 1915, the Royal Hawaiian Band was invited to compete at the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. This was the first-time people had heard of Hawaii, a culture and a language being expressed through song. It painted a lush portrait of the islands, an impression that everything is as melodic and polished as the music they performed.

The Royal Hawaiian Band put the culture of Hawaii on the map and it was Tau Moe, a family of four also known as, “The Aloha Four,” who popularized the steel-guitar. They were Hawaii’s very own supergroup, touring across the mainland, then the world. Hawaii’s island-born innovations and rhythmic harmonies had found a global audience.

The onset of recording made it possible for people to bring Hawaii home with them. In the 1920s, the radio programming of “Hawaii Calls” and live broadcasts of Hawaiian music made people feel as if they were truly there. Almost every hotel – the only venues big enough to house bands and orchestras – had radio equipment set up. A band that was entertaining guests was suddenly playing to the world. By the 1950s, Hawaii Calls was being broadcast to 750 stations.

Hawaiian music waned in the 60s. Local musicians like Don Ho and Joe Keawe still thrived, but mainland artists had flooded the scene, having tried their hand at the genre solely because of its popularity. Hawaiian music was in danger of becoming a fad had it not been for the next generation of musicians.

Gabby Pahinui put the emphasis back on culture. A slack-key and falsetto wunderkind, he had found inspiration through tradition. As Hawaiian music became more popular, it became increasingly about style. With mainland artists having moved on, the genre refocused on long-held cultural themes of sovereignty and national pride, thus spearheading a cultural awakening.

Hula was in the middle of a resurgence. The Merrie Monarch Festival, once a tourist-pageant, became a celebration of culture as hula groups, or halaus, were now required to create original chants for their routine. It was a license to create rather than repeat, introducing a new tradition to the festival by honoring those of the past. The Merrie Monarch gave rise to artists such as Keali’i Reichel and The Brothers Cazimero.

This renaissance ushered in an era of Hawaiian superstars. Sonny Chillingworth and Willie K were revered for their slack-key prowess, while Linda Dela Cruz and Amy Hanaiali’i Gillom’s falsetto wonder made them overnight sensations. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, simply known as Braddah Iz, remains as the most renowned Hawaiian musician of all time. His medleys of “Starting All Over Again” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” are in syndication to this day, while “Hawaiian Supa’ Man” is a suitably mythic representation of his talent and style.

Reggae didn’t arrive in Hawaii until the 80s. Initially shunned by traditionalists, reggae’s rhythmic wonder meshed well with Hawaii’s similar music sensibilities. Hawaii has since adopted reggae and the larger Jamaican culture with open arms. The Rastafarian flag is a symbol of national pride alongside Hawaii’s own state emblem. Reggae and Hawaii are inseparable on the radio today, breeding “Jawaiian” as a popular and meaningful subgenre in the canon.

What made Hawaiian music so pivotal was the culture. It made people stop and listen. Hawaiian themes, traditions, and the stories they tell are what define Hawaiian music as a genre. So long as artists take inspiration in the language and the culture, the music will remain essential to the world.

Why Do People Have Different Fashion Styles

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The term fashion style simply refers to the way a particular person wears her/his clothes, shoes, bags and other accessories. It can also be determined by the types of clothing items that she/he wears in a given situation. Fashion styles may differ from one person to another because of so many reasons. It can because of a person’s age, taste, gender, budget, the situation or the environment.

To start with, a teen’s fashion style is definitely different from an adult. Teens are more prone to be influenced by magazines, famous celebrities, movies and their friends compared to adults. They also love to wear more colorful clothes and accessories which are in contrary to what adults wear. Adults prefer to wear clothing items with conventional color particularly when they are at work because such clothes are formal to look at. They also differ on their hair styles or on how they get their hairs done.

It is another fact that every person has different tastes not only when it comes to foods but also in clothes, shoes, bags, hair styles and accessories. There are people who love to wear different types of accessories like bangles, charm bracelets, necklaces and rings that match their outfits and there are those that are not brave enough to make a loud fashion statement. These people are the types that just want to keep everything simple but elegant. This simply proves that they have different fashion tastes and perceptions.

The gender of a person is another factor that sets a big difference in terms of fashion styles. It is evident that girls do not wear the clothes that boys wear. The same things apply to grown up women and men. This is basically the most obvious reason for such difference.

On the other hand, budget is another factor that contributes to the difference of people’s styles. Basically, people who have bigger budgets allocated for their fashion styles can buy the clothes that they really want while those that are on tight budgets, they can just use their initiatives and creativeness to come up with something fashionable and stylish.

The situation or the environment can also affect a person’s fashion style. Even if a person prefers a simple style, it is unavoidable that he/she has to be in events where he/she must dress up, wear crazy costumes and step out from his/her comfort zone. These events may refer to Halloween parties, masquerade balls and other gatherings. In these events, a person has to fit in the environment and dress up according to the theme of the gathering.

Being fashionable and stylish does not always mean that a person should follow the latest fashion style. Sometimes, it means that you have to be different and find the particular fashion style that fits him/her perfectly. And besides, why should a person base her/his fashion style on other people, magazines and movies when he/she can create her/his own?

How to Make Money Fast by Retrieving and Returning Shopping Carts

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Are you looking for a way to make money fast? If you have a large utility vehicle, like a pick-up truck, you can retrieve and return shopping carts for a cash reward.

Most every mid to large retail grocery, variety and department store has a stock of shopping carts on hand. They are purchased by the store, of course, so that customers can use them when shopping in their store.

Shopping buggies are expensive. The average cost to the retailer for just one is between 75 and 100 dollars. Large ones like the kind you find at wholesale and club stores can run upwards of 200 dollars or more.

Most retail stores have dozens of them; busy big-box stores may even have hundreds of them. Purchasing enough of them to meet a store’s demand and traffic levels requires a significant expenditure of cash.

It is, therefore, in the best interest of the retailer to protect that investment. Most retailers do their best to make sure that carts remain on store property. However, shopping buggy theft is all too common. The average store loses about $8,000 $10,000 to per year to this problem.

Because they are so expensive to buy, many store owners and retail companies pay cash rewards for the return of their carts which have been stolen (or “borrowed”) and not returned. Cash rewards typically range from 25 to 50 dollars per cart.

Here’s how you can retrieve and return those buggies for cash: contact retailers in your area which have shopping carts. Find out if they pay for returned carts. Many do, but won’t give cash rewards to just anyone. (Store owners don’t want the public to abuse the reward system by stealing carts themselves in order to get the reward.) Usually you have to sign a cash-for-retrieval contract.

You’ll have to provide some forms of identification, usually a driver’s license plus one other item (like a Social Security or credit card). You may have to sign a waiver absolving the store of liability in the event of something unforeseen.

You can make arrangements with any or all of the retailers in your area. The more contracts you have, the more money you can make.

If you’ve lived in your city for any length of time, you’ve probably seen common dump sites for stolen shopping buggies. Visit these areas regularly. Additionally, get in the habit of keeping your eyes open every time you’re out and about town. You’ll probably spot discarded shopping carts regularly. You can pick these up and return them as you come across them, or store them at home until you have several of them.

Review of VPX’s NO Shotgun and NO Synthesize Stack – Pre and Post Workout Formulas

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If there’s one bodybuilding supplement category that I’m huge fan of, its pre and post workout supplements. Pre and post workout times are crucial times to get the proper nutrients and supplements into your system. You need fuel and energy that will sustain you throughout your workout and you need proper elements to rebuild and start the recovery process after your workout. Formulated products are a quick and convenient way to do this.

I’ve tried a ton of different supplements in my life, including various pre and post formulas. Since post workout supplements aren’t supposed to give you any stimulating effects, it’s difficult to tell whether or not the product actually works. The important factor here is to make sure you’re getting the essential supplements your body needs to start repair and recovery after a grueling workout. Some of the essentials are creatine, glutamine, and branched chain amino acids which both NO Shotgun and NO Synthesize contain. However, pre workout formulas are designed to give you a boost of energy. Since my weight routine starts at 5 a.m. every morning, pre workout formulas are of extreme importance in my supplement program. What I’ve noticed with many pre workout formulas is that the effects are generally greater the first several times but diminish after that, or you have to mega dose the product, taking two to three servings. This may be OK, but can get expensive. Both NO Shotgun and NO Synthesize recommend only one serving, which is another feature that attracted me to try them.

To date, the most effective product I’ve taken for pre and post workout times are VPX’s NO Shotgun and NO Synthesize. They’re essentially the same product, with the exception that NO Shotgun which is the pre workout formula contains VPX’s Red Line blend which consist of stimulants. There’s a ton of ingredients in these products, but as I stated, some essentials I look for are creatine, glutamine and branched chain amino acids.

Before I started taking both products, I first tried NO Synthesize on its own, taking a half serving with a couple caffeine pills pre workout, then a full serving post workout. My muscles felt fuller, but mainly I was gaining strength while gradually losing fat simultaneously. Once I started throwing in the NO Shotgun, I noticed not only increased energy, but sustained energy throughout my workout, as well as increased strength and fat loss. Granted, my bench press didn’t go up 100 pounds that week or anything outrageous. But the bottom line is these products work quite well for me and have become a staple in my supplement regimen. I don’t get any kick backs from this (from VPX or the website I’m recommending), but the cheapest place I’ve found these supplements is at massnutrition.com.

So Fresh Spring 2010 – A Mix of Chart Hits and Fresh New Tracks

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The “Now That’s What I Call Music!” compilation series has made over thirty CDs, including country and Christmas editions and a Power Ballad album. Each season the team put together a hits compilation that features the best songs for that period. The following review of the So Fresh Hits of Spring 2010 CD will help you get a feel for the series – and the album! – before you buy it.

Hits of Spring features 20 tracks and a DVD. You can also get the lyrics online – might be a good thing for those road trips with your mates!

The album starts with a strong showing – it begins with Enrique Iglesias and his collaboration with Pitbull.

The song “I Like It” is Iglesias’ first number one hit since 2001’s “Hero.” A real favourite with many, in my view the song is competent if not outstanding. I was pleased to see Iglesias broadening his musical appeal and like the combination with Pitbull. It’s a crowd-pleasing, big sounding dance-y track and is going gangbusters on the charts.

Also featured on the album are newcomers Taio Cruz and Mike Posner, who both spent weeks on the top of the charts with their debut songs.

Both songs are young but fun songs that spent so much time on radio playlists that they got stuck in your head whether you liked them or not. You’ll certainly recognise these. Fortunately, “Dynamite” and “Cooler Than Me” are both sleeper hits, songs that grow on you after you hear them more than a few times, which is what you want from a long-playing CD compilation like this one.

Usher’s second hit single of the year, “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love,” is more of a dance song while “OMG” was a club song, but “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” is a good example of a mature artist sounding mature while still singing songs that perfectly match what all the twenty-somethings are singing.

Ke$ha’s contribution to this disc is her fourth single from her debut album. “Take It Off” perfectly coincides with Ke$sha’s party girl image, yet straddles the line of being sexy and seductive without being trashy. Unfortunately, and perhaps a bit harshly, she is Often called a second rate Katy Perry – if that helps you get a feel for her music a little better.

Train and Rihanna both have songs on this CD, but though great songs, neither of their contributions were their best singles of the year even thus far – Train’s “If It’s Love” was definitely eclipsed by the success of “Hey Soul Sister” and Rihanna’s single “Rockstar 101” was nowhere near as much of a hit as “Rude Boy.” Still, good to have a couple of solid songs on the album by established artists.

Of course, there wouldn’t be a “hit singles list” CD without one, if not more, contribution by Justin Bieber. From his highly successful My World 2.0 album, “Somebody To Love” is the latest release by Bieber, a collaboration with Usher that, like every other single of his, went to the top of the charts.

The good times just keep rolling for this boy wonder! I’ve kind of outgrown it – so for me it’s jarring to see a sixteen year old artist that looks and sounds as though he’s fourteen singing about needing to find somebody to love – but nonetheless this song is in the top three of Justin Bieber singles, so a worthy inclusion on the album and you’ll enjoy it.

All in all, the So Fresh Hits Of Spring Album 2010 is a diverse and upbeat compilation CD with plenty of songs that are sure to please.

7 Steps To Tuning Up Your Rifle For Hunting

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I used to have some bad habits when it came to getting ready for hunting season. Like a lot of hunters I spent way more time worrying about my gear and accessories than getting my rifle ready. I’d go out the day before a hunt and fire off a couple of rounds downrange and call it good. Ready to go. Now I’m not saying this method doesn’t work, but it cost me a hell of a nice deer once, and that’s enough reason to figure out another system.

It was early in the morning and frigid as hell and the buck I’d been watching for months, waiting for opening day was just about to cross the property line and step into my kill zone. The monster buck we called “the big ten” flinched as my first round went right over his back. Frustrated, I racked another one and let it go, where it went I’ll never know! The big buck took off like a bolt of lightning and in about all of two seconds he was gone, not to be seen for the rest of the season. That was a pretty bad time to find out that two of the mounting screws on my scope were gone. Just like that buck. I started following these seven easy steps to tune up my rifle before hunting season to ensure that I don’t run into the same trouble again.

1. Clean and Inspect Your Rifle

Most bolt guns are so easy to disassemble and clean that there’s just no reason to jeopardize the few days you get to hunt every year by carrying an un-inspected firearm into the field. After making sure the rifle is unloaded, remove the bolt. Use a simple cleaning and lubricating product to remove the dirt and debris and lubricate the bolt. You’ll want to do the same with the internal components of the action. It might seem pretty basic, but it doesn’t always take very much gunk in the right spot to prevent a bolt from closing. Now, check the screws that hold your action in the stock. There’s generally at least one screw at the front of the magazine and behind the trigger guard. If these screws come loose in the field, you’re in for some serious accuracy problems.

2.Show Your Barrel Some Love

Next, take a cleaning rod and run a patch through your barrel. If the barrel is dirty or you didn’t clean it after your last range session, I’d also run a brush and cleaner through it first. This will help remove carbon debris and copper fouling that hinder accuracy and will help prevent future rusting. You can get a basic cleaning kit from Brownell’s for less than $30, a small price to pay to ensure you get the most out of your rifle hunting for years to come. Some folks get into copper bore cleaners that require a hazmat suit to administer, but for the average hunter it’s really not necessary.

3. Don’t Rush the Range

One thing I have to continually remind myself is that a trip to the range shouldn’t be rushed. Set aside a few hours or an afternoon, enjoy the process, and take your time. Familiarize yourself once again with the nuances of your rifle, from the unique way your bolt runs to the feel of your trigger. Take time to set-up, enjoy the sunshine, and give your rifle plenty of rest in between shots. Not only does slowing down help you focus on proper shot mechanics, it also makes the experience more enjoyable.

4. Believe in the Bench

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve fired my fair share of test shots from the hood of my pickup, but that’s far from ideal. If you want to get the most out of your rifle and ensure that shooter error is subtracted from the equation, it’s paramount to invest in a good bench and rest. My go-to setup is Caldwell’s BR Pivot bench ($450), which breaks down quickly and features heavy-duty tripod legs and a hardwood pivoting top, and a Caldwell Lead Sled ($200) rest that helps mitigate recoil and ensure consistency in shooting. I went without these items for years, but to my own detriment. Check out the options at Brownell’s and get something that works for you.

5. Check Your Optics

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve had screws on my scope mounts fall out, so I’m a stickler for checking screws on my optics. Once I’ve ensured the bases are fastened down securely, I’ll tighten the ring screws again. My current rifle hunting setup is a Mossberg Patriot Bantam rifle in .308 with Leupold VX-3i scope, and with the Leupold mounting system, I’ve got to take the scope off to re-tighten the bases. At the very least I’ll re-tighten the scope ring screws. Once the scope is secured, I’ll readjust the eye relief and check zero with a few shots at 100 yards.

6. Verify Your Loads

I cringe when I see people shoot different loads from year to year without adjusting their scope or at least verifying zero. Sure, you might be shooting minute-of-deer, but that’s hardly acceptable for the sake of a shooter’s confidence or ethical hunting. Because of the physics of barrel harmonics, different loads and different sized bullets will impact at different points, sometimes with a substantial variance. So if I shot a 150-grain Hornady American Whitetail in my.308 last year, I’m going to re-check zero when I switch to the new Hornady ELD-X 178-grain load for this year’s elk season. If there is a substantial difference, I’ll adjust my scope accordingly, with my preference being 2 inches high at 100 yards.

7. Target Practice Makes Perfect

There are many different styles of paper targets, but I’ve used EZ2C rifle targets for several years now. They’re relatively inexpensive (a 12-pack is less than $5), and the 1-inch grid makes scope adjustments easy.

Whatever target you decide on, the important part is that you get out and practice, practice, practice. Remember, you’re not just making sure the rifle is on, you’re making sure you’re still on, too! Work on your breathing, steadiness, and smooth trigger press. Shoot a group of three shots, let the rifle rest, then do it again. Move around in the field and try shots from shooting sticks or field positions. Try to put yourself in a real-world scenario: Range a target, get in position, and make a timely shot. Good luck!

Walther P99 Replica Pistol Paintball Gun Review

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When shopping for the best paintball pistol, the first thing to consider is that there are two sizes of these guns to choose from,.68 and.43 caliber..68 caliber pistols use the standard size ammunition found at most commercial fields while.43 caliber guns depend on a much smaller ball that’s a bit harder to find. While.68 caliber paintball pistols are larger and more cumbersome to carry, they are more powerful and shoot much farther than their smaller counterpart. This is an important factor when deciding how you’re going to use your pistol paintball gun in the game. If you’re going to use it as your primary weapon, you will need a.68 caliber marker. If you’re going to use it as a secondary weapon for back up only, a.43 caliber pistol is a great choice.

The P99 paintball pistol marker is an amazing replica of the Walther pistol firearms. As far as realistic paintball guns go, the P99 is as authentic as it gets. The most realistic P99 paintball handgun comes in black, however other colors are available in olive, silver and blue. Different colored P99 pistols only have the top slide as the colored part, while the rest of the gun is black. While the colored pistols are cool looking, the black is by far the most realistic. Besides a nearly identical appearance to the real thing, the Walther P99 paintball gun is also almost exact in weight, feel and action. This pistol marker is mostly made of metal (but has a rubberized grip) so it has a compact, solid feel in your hands and mimics the weight of a real handgun terrifically. Size wise, the P99 pistol is the perfect paintball handgun and is very easy to carry in a belt holster, thigh rig or on the front of a tactical vest. When strapped to the body, the P99 is compact enough so it won’t interfere with your movement or throw off your balance like most of the larger.68 caliber pistols do.

Besides a killer look and feel, the Walther P99 pistol doesn’t disappoint when it comes to performance either. While it may not be the most powerful weapon, the P99 is plenty fast and fun to fire when used in the right capacity. This paintball gun pistol has an effective range of 50 feet or less, perfect for close quarter fighting and room clearing. The smaller.43 caliber rounds it shoots hardly sting like the larger.68 caliber bullets do, so you can play without the usual fear standard size paintball guns tend to elicit. The P99 semi auto paintball handgun has a top slide mechanism that works just like the real thing; you can slide it open to put one ball in the chamber and it jumps back a small amount with every trigger pull. As the top slide kicks back slightly, it also contributes to the gun’s kick, which the P99 does with every shot, but not so much that it throws off the gun’s accuracy; only enough to add to its realism. Another authentic feature is the pistol’s drop out magazines. These slide out/drop from the handle of the gun with the push of a button above the grip, just like the real thing.

Considering the Walther P99 replica paintball pistol is.43 caliber, it doesn’t have a lot of power to shoot far distances. Its compact size makes it perfect for fighting at the front lines, close to the enemy, inside buildings or mock town settings. This gun is intimidating looking but really meant to be used as a secondary weapon. Players who choose this pistol as their only paintball gun should be fast moving, extremely agile and not afraid to mix it up right next to their targets. Besides playing paintball, the P99 is also commonly used by military and law enforcement units for realistic combat simulation training because it so closely imitates the real thing. When equipped with pepper spray rounds, the P99 makes a formidable less lethal weapon for security guards or even prison guards. This same application can even be used as a personal self defense weapon; the compact sized P99 armed with capsaicin rounds will fit nicely in a large purse for a female to carry for protection.

The only drawbacks to the Walther P99 semi automatic paintball pistol is its power. You will be lucky to shoot anything beyond 50 feet with this marker. This means, realistically it should only be used as a secondary gun or when you’re dangerously close to your enemy. As the P99 pistol paintball handgun is incredibly realistic, this puts players in the dilemma of always wanting to use it more but finding they rarely get to. Another slight drawback of this gun is the magazines. While they clip in and fall out easily enough, the small.43 caliber ammo can be difficult for players with larger hands/fingers to load quickly. Carrying only 10 rounds in a clip means you must carry several as you will go through them faster than you think. While they’re small and easy to carry, they’re made out of metal and their weight can add up quickly, becoming more of a burden to keep your load balanced. As far as technical issues or glitches with the P99, there are virtually none as this pistol paintball gun is very sturdy and extremely reliable. The makers of the Walther P99 pistol (Real Action Marker) are also very good, easy to deal with and quick to repair/replace their guns should there be a problem.