Posts Tagged ‘mind’
How to Care for Your Cast Iron Skillet (includes recipes)
Some of the best meals I’ve ever eaten were made by my grandmothers in their cast iron skillets. Tender, flaky catfish; finger-lickin’ chicken; and mouth watering cornbread were the traditional scrumptious fare. Today, we have a new generation of cooks, and they are conjuring up all sorts of new and tempting recipes to cook in cast iron skillets that have either been handed down through generations, or picked up brand-spanking-new at the local Williams-Sonoma store. But before I share some of those unusual recipes with you, I would like to first educate you on how to care for your skillet.
First rule: Don’t ever wash your cast iron skillet! Doesn’t that just blow your mind? I was positive that my mother was slipping into early dementia when she told me that years ago. But I soon found out she knew what she was talking about, as always. Actually, you should wash your skillet the first time, but afterwards, put away the soap when it comes to cleaning your skillet. And never put it in the dishwasher.
If you have a used skillet that was handed down or picked up at a garage sale, you can clean the rust and crud off with a steel wool pad. Then wash it with mild soap and water, dry thoroughly, and prepare to season it as follows:
SEASONING YOUR SKILLET
What is seasoning? It’s a process that you go through to “break in” your skillet, giving it a smooth, non-stick surface. And the more you cook in it, the better it becomes seasoned. You cannot overuse a cast iron skillet.
The seasoning process is applicable for both new and used skillets that you are breaking in. Generously grease the insides with shortening, oil or bacon grease, and heat in the oven for a couple of hours at 300 degrees. Allow it to cool completely, then drain off any excess grease, wipe completely dry with a paper towel and store. This procedure may need to be repeated a few times until your skillet has been completely broken in. And from time to time, you may still need to repeat seasoning sessions to maintain a good surface; especially if you cook acidic foods, like tomatoes, in it.
CLEANING YOUR SKILLET
Seasoned cast iron skillets can be cleaned up nicely with boiling water and a stiff-bristled brush. Brush the skillet vigorously with the brush, rinse it out with clean water, and completely dry it to prevent rust spots. Some people reheat the skillet again on the stove to make sure it is thoroughly dried. Remember, no soap and no dishwasher.
Another bonus when using cast iron cookware, is that it can also enhance the iron content of food. Scrambling eggs or simmering spaghetti sauce in an iron skillet can double or triple the iron absorbed in a meal. To this day, many doctors still recommend that a person with an iron deficiency have their food cooked in a cast iron pot or skillet.
RECIPES THAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT OF COOKING IN A CAST IRON SKILLET
Okay, here are some of those recipes I promised that you can stir up in your nicely broken in cast iron skillet:
CAST IRON GERMAN POTATO SALAD
4 slices bacon
1 medium red onion, diced
1 pound red potatoes, precooked and cut in half
3 tbsp. white vinegar
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fry the slices of bacon in a cast iron skillet. When done, remove bacon with a slotted spoon and add onion to bacon drippings, cooking and stirring until onion is clear. Add potatoes and sear for 1 minute, cut side down, until brown and crisp. Remove from heat and pour the contents into a large mixing bowl, setting the skillet aside. Crumble the bacon and add to potatoes, along with the vinegar, salt and pepper, mixing thoroughly. Chill and serve.
MADIERA TUNA STEAKS
4 tuna steaks (3/4 to 1-inch thick)
1 cup orange juice
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
1/8 teaspoon onion salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Salt to taste
Extra-virgin olive oil
4 tablespoons soy sauce
1/3 cup Madiera
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 tablespoon horseradish or to taste
Marinate the tuna steaks in the orange juice for 3 hours or overnight, in the refrigerator.
When ready to cook, combine celery salt, onion salt, white pepper, flour, and salt in a large bowl. Remove the tuna steaks from the orange juice and dip in the flour mixture, lightly coating both sides.
Heat the olive oil in a cast iron skillet on high and add the tuna, searing for one minute, before turning over and searing for another minute. Reduce heat to medium and cook for one extra minute, being careful not to overcook. Remove tuna steaks to a warming plate and reduce heat to medium-low.
Add soy sauce, Madiera, cream and horseradish to skillet and stirring until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat and pour sauce over tuna steaks. Serve immediately.
PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE
1 20 oz. can sliced pineapples in syrup
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
10 maraschino cherries
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or nut of your choice
1 16 oz. package pound cake mix
Drain the pineapple and reserve the syrup. In a 10″ or 12″ cast iron skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar to the butter and stir until dissolved, then remove from heat. Arrange the pineapple slices in the sugar mixture, placing a cherry in the center of each slice and sprinkling the chopped nuts in the remaining spaces. Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions, using the reserved pineapple syrup in place of milk. Pour the batter over the pineapple in the skillet and bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes, then loosen the edges and invert onto a serving plate.
CAST IRON SKILLET CARROT CAKE
1 3/4 cups flour
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. grapeseed oil
1 egg
3/4 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups grated carrots
1 cup raisins
In a large bowl, beat the egg, then add the sugar and buttermilk, stirring together thoroughly. Then add the two kinds of flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and salt. Once these ingredients have been thoroughly blended, add grated carrots and raisins. Next, coat the insides of your cast iron skillet with the grapeseed oil and add cake mixture. Bake for approximately 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center. Cut into slices and serve warm.
BASURS ZALDA (GARLIC SOUP) OR MOSCOR ZALDA (DRUNKARD’S SOUP) (I don’t know where this recipe originated from, but I have seen it on several sites and thought it was a hoot!)
2 tbsp. oil
3 eggs
3 cloves garlic, sliced thin
Parsley
Dry French bread, broken into small chunks
Water
Coat bottom of cast iron frying pan with oil. Add garlic and brown gently. Next add the chunks of French bread, stirring to thoroughly coat with oil. Add enough water to cover the bread, and add parsley. Simmer for about 15-20 minutes, then add the eggs, which can either be stirred in or poached.
This soup is good for sinusitis, colds and hangovers. However, be a good neighbor and stand down wind from people.
Bon appetite!
Charlene Davis is an experienced and published freelance writer specializing in online auctions, business trends, marketing strategies, e-commerce, parenting, travel, spirituality, cooking and food. She has a popular recipe website (http://www.busymomsrecipes.com) for today’s busy Christian women, that has been featured in Quick Cooking magazine.
Tiger Woods, the Greatest Ever? ?NOT!
Tiger is great but still a long way from claiming the title of “Greatest That Ever Played The Game”. Although I do believe he is more then on his way to claiming that illustrious title, God willing. But until then, Slammin’ Sammy Snead is my pick. That’s right, not even Nicklaus.
If you look at the 11 win gap between Jack’s 70 total victories and Sam’s 81 and then figure Sam’s total of 165 victories he claims, no one even comes close. Sorry Jack. Now figure in the shape of the courses today, the equipment and the level of competition and there is no doubt in my mind that Sammy is the man. Keep in mind, Sam played against, Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan — all born the same year – they were considered the era’s Big Three. Hogan amassed 63 total wins and Nelson won 52, putting both of them in the top 5 of the all time winners list. Does anyone really thing that Tiger’s best competition today, is going to end up in that illustrious group? I think not.
Statically speaking there is a large gap between the top of the all time winners list that not even the great Walter Hagen bridges. Hagen, in 7th place with 40 wins, is eleven short of the 6th placeholder, Billy Casper. Eleven wins is an entire career for even a great player on the tour today. Again I ask you to look at the gap between number 2 on the list, Jack Nicklaus and Number 1, Sam Snead, eleven wins.
Even if you are the most vehement “Tigernite” or Nicklaus Nut, you have to admit, the real all time golf elite includes only a very few, 6 to be exact: Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson and Billy Casper. And Billy Casper gets my vote for the greatest player with the least recognition, by far.
Now I’m going to really tick you Tigernites off. My money says he never gets there. (However, I’m not betting the really big money) Why? I think he runs out of desire. The bigger he gets, the closer he gets, the more he wins, the more the pressure will build. If he has shown any weakness at all, it is his temper that occasionally gets the best of him. As the pressures mount, and with the glare of the media of today it will, I think that pressure will sooner or later wear him down. No, I’m not predicting he will go “postal” and toss a camera in a lake with the owner still attached, but I think the “fire in the belly” will dime. And if I am right, it will be a travesty to lose, not the greatest that ever played, but one of the greatest, that could have toppled “the” Greatest Player That Ever Lived, Sam Snead!
Only time will tell!
More Great Golf Stories at: http://www.sbmag.org/Golf_Stories/Great_Golf_Stories_Index.html
No permission is needed to reproduce an unedited copy of this article as long the About The Author tag is left in tact and hot links are included. Email floyd@sbmag.org.
Floyd Snyder is the founder and former owner of Executive Advertising, Camera Ready Art and Strictly Business Magazine. Currently he is the owner of Strictly Business Magazine at http://www.sbmag.org
An Interview on History and Educational Media
1. Can you briefly summarize why you think history is a weapon of war against people?
Briefly?, not really, except to say Sun Tzu wasn’t the first to notice that propaganda was the first and most important part of conquest. Caesars won more through secret deals and blackmailing the likes of Herod and the Sanhedrin than they ever did through force of arms. We saw how guerillas work against a conqueror in Vietnam and even in Iraq at the present. I have written about fifty books. The framework for a new history that is based on forensics and science or artifacts rather than priestly power-mongers is now available.
2. But surely there are many who have written a truer history since the end of the Dark Ages?
Yes, but the destruction of libraries and the records of supposed beliefs in things like the Flat Earth or Kelts being ‘barbarians’ is still a part of current scholarship because people quote Caesar’s Journals that were actually written by Hirtius or other propaganda as if these reports are actual fair reportage to some extent as they say that is all we have. Michael Parenti and others like Howard Zinn of Harvard who have often been drummed out of Universities do tell a little of what I consider is true history. There has been some earlier authors quoted in the works of Herodotus and others once considered fiction but now being supported by actual artifacts.
3. What about when war is not going on? We still get the same history don’t we?
I love how Joseph Campbell described the SPIN which occurred at the start of WWII in his address called ‘Permanent Human Values’ to the women he taught at Sarah Lawrence University. It ended up getting him branded as a Nazi by some truly sadistic government mouthpieces in the media. In any event we have always been preparing for or engaged in war as I see it.
4. I recall having read that address, it was magnificent and should be required reading for everyone and covered before every movement of government towards more conflict. But surely you aren’t saying that all history is a lie, are you? Campbell didn’t go that far.
No, of course not. There are always lots of facts presented along with dates and data that can boggle the mind of a good statistician. Mark Twain knew a lot about ‘lies, damn lies and statistics’ though.
5. Yes, and we recently saw how the standard operating procedure of passing the buck or Hide the Ball worked on the cover-up of the real reason we invaded Iraq and all that weapons of mass destruction ? didn’t we? But let’s get into the Great Pyramid which you write volumes about. You make the point that the ‘fit’ of the rocks or blocks can’t be explained by the scholars who say Egyptians built it as some sort of make-work program now that the slaves fiction has been thoroughly disproven due to artifacts. In fact you have built a rather intricate charge of a conspiracy to destroy and lie about these things to the point of blaming WGBH and the video called ‘This Old Pyramid’. Can you substantiate these charges for my listeners?
I do, but it isn’t done in a sound byte. Let me say this though. I saw a letter from David Suzuki of ‘The Nature of Things’ in response to formal factual presentations from Davidovits and Morris about how they used modern equipment with forklift trucks and hardened steel tools to make that puny Pyramid which they didn’t even have the guts to admit shifted in the sand. He noted he had not been given the footage or facts that showed these things. And when it comes to Hawass and his trotting out weird alien theories or theorists as if that proves he is open to alternatives ? THAT is pure SPIN!
6. I found the part where Archaeology Magazine was printing articles saying the Sphinx and Pyramids were mere imitations of natural landforms a little bizarre. But that poured in place theory of Davidovits which you support doesn’t explain the ‘fit’ of the sarcophagus or the obelisks found in their quarries.
I support that as just one of the technologies they used and you are right it cannot explain a 1/150th inch tolerance in the lidless sarcophagus that never had any human remains in it. In fact no Giza Pyramid had any funerary purpose and no remains of humans have been found in them. The American Research Center in Egypt did use AMS accelerators to date biologics found inside the Pyramid in some places. These biologics like straw showed the Great Pyramid is 450 years older than the Step Pyramid which Egyptology says was built before the Great Pyramid.
7. Ok, I guess we can’t cover all the other possible technologies that you and the likes of Christopher Dunn have shown could have been used. You really do have a passionate stance on the matter of Hawass and the likes of Cayce the Masonic agent and his Foundation which paid to educate Hawass and Lehner though.
I surely do have issues with liars and the Bible Narrative which ultimately justifies Manifest Destiny and blames G-d or attributes things to aliens when man is responsible for all these things. National Geographic and other Egyptologists outside that cabal have provided me with lots of good reading and I share these perspectives with my readers.
8. But you carry on about Kelts and Phoenicians to the point that it is almost impossible to imagine they really were all over the earth with the Red-headed League of Megalith Builders making the hundreds of Pyramids. And some of the uses of the Earth Energy Grid they are built to enhance which are located or aligned with; are really TOO fantastic to accept for someone who has not studied all the sources you quote.
I know that, believe me. There are no simple or true black and white answers that you can answer tests with in order to get a better grade. There are lots of good questions and I think those questions lead to us challenging the current leadership about why we aren’t using free energy or Tesla Technology and many other things don’t you? As to Plato and the Atlantis fiction I now have genetics to support this real history. It shows white man was in the Americas as soon as he arrived in Europe and he may even have come to Northwest Europe from the Americas; before he arrived in Central Europe and Iberia or Spain. That was 30,000 years ago just shortly after the first white men (Kelts of the Caucasus) arrived in Casiberia.
9. Yes, I do see the corporate entities and names or other linguistic proofs of older scholars are soundly backed by genetics and the forensics like the cocaine from Peru in Egyptian mummies. But I am sure most people will have a hard time swallowing that their teachers have been so disingenuous.
My first wife and lifelong significant other is a teacher-leader and activist of some standing. I totally understand the difficulties they face. Kaoru Yamamoto does a good exposé on the testing industry and the lack of teaching thinking or a Joy of Learning in the Kuiper’s Social Science Encyclopedia or other articles he has written. Alfred North Whitehead gave an address at Harvard in about the same time Campbell was talking in New York to the ladies of Sarah Lawrence. He makes a good case for the kind of real education that should have been occurring as do many others since him. How can a teacher pierce the veils of propaganda and all the lies as well as baby-sit kids whose parents were never taught to teach in the first place? Is there anything more important to the future of humanity than breaking this Cycle of Violence where parents are allowed to train more deviates and dump all the same issues from generation to generation, as the system grinds down all individuality and aborts the soul?
10. Hey, I am the interviewer. I see what you mean but getting back to my question ? why should we believe your history rather than the one we have been taught?
I ask people to consider the facts and do their own research or checking. I have the quotes from the sciences and data in the archaeological record which supports cell diffusion history ? don’t I? Most reviews from readers certainly suggest that Diverse Druids was a major impact on their view of history.
11. You say that the builders of the Great Pyramid or ‘arch-tectons’ as the Septuagint calls the family of Jesus are still connected or part of what forces really govern us today. Yet you also seem very amenable to the true teaching of Jesus. Do you really think the Merovingians and Stuart or Hesse/Battenbergs are related to the Rothschilds?
It is funny how people have no difficulty with connecting the Hapsburgs with the De Medicis and Borgia but the Rothschilds are supposed to be different and were merely good financial types. Yes, I am certain the Rothschilds were passed the whole spy network and monopoly through the adopted son of the De Medicis that goes by the name St. Germain. This monopoly that the Templars once had, included secrets of esoterics and trade in the era of Solomon or Joseph of Arimathaea and probably before Melchizedek.
12. You must get a lot of people calling you a conspiracy theorist. Your assertions leads to a person having to think their whole history has been a mere puppet show and all the wars were arranged to de-populate and keep people busy rather than finding out what really is going on.
It is highly complex and yet well-orchestrated. The last 150 years have actually been worse than any other time in history when it comes to wars and what the noted journal The Economist says is ‘inhumane bureaucracy’, which they call ‘a Napoleonic legacy’. His ‘vision’ and reason for going to the Great Pyramid should be made into a movie.
13. But he never told people what he saw and you are just speculating, aren’t you?
Yes, but he was terrified and there are others who have been similarly impacted by some constructs they saw. If you read my book Hitler vs. Frabato and ‘The Charm of Making’ I think you might agree my insight or speculation has some validity.
Author of Diverse Druids
Columnist for The ES Press Magazine
Guest ‘expert’ at World-Mysteries.com
Ten Things To Do When You Really, Really Hate Your Job
1. Begin focusing on what you want instead of how much you want to escape. When you find yourself sharing the latest horror story, stop in mid-sentence and say, “What I want to have is…”
2. Create an image that describes you in your job. Are you on a riverbank with no way to get to the other side? Lost in a jungle? Poking through a thorny hedge? When you get comfortable with the image, begin visualizing a change in the obstacle. Imagine building a bridge across the river or finding a path in the forest. Don’t force the image or the change. When you’re ready it will come.
3. Think of developing skills, not serving time. Take every course that’s offered and focus on skills that can lay a foundation for your own business or next job. Can you learn HTML or PowerPoint? Can you use some evenings, weekends and lunch hours to solicit some free lance gigs?
4. Focus on satisfactory, not superior performance. Use the time difference to build your new life. People often say, “I can’t do anything — I work ten hours a day!”
If you are firing yourself or expecting to be fired, your job is finding a new job. Be ethical: you owe your company the minimum you need to earn your salary.” But don’t be surprised if you start to accomplish more than ever and find yourself getting promoted.
5. What conflict are you escaping? Dishonesty? Corporate greed? Hypocrisy? Allow yourself to wonder if these qualities are mirrored in your own life — or even in your mind. If everyone around you seems dishonest, are you being dishonest with yourself? With others? After you resolve your own conflict, you may find the workplace has changed or you have been catapulted into a new, more satisfying life.
6. Put on your shield and armor when you enter your workplace. Everyone should learn how to create a psychic shield. Imagine that you are surrounded by an outer shell that is made of a solid material — so strong that nothing can get through to hurt you. Some people prefer to imagine a protective golden light, but I think the solid shield is stronger. Take two or three minutes to put on your shield, every day, before you enter the workplace.
7. Give yourself a gift every day — a splurge of time or sensual taste buds. Read a book, talk to a friend, eat your favorite food. Don’t deaden your senses with alcohol (although if you’re a wine connoisseur, your special wine can be a gift) or spend big bucks at the mall. Think simple.
8. Find at least one thing in your life to appreciate: the softness of your cat’s fur, the winter sky, the spontaneous hug from a friend. Appreciate as much as possible about your job: the money, the view from the window, the new computer, friendly conversations with the guy down the hall. Savor the experience. Appreciation is the engine that attracts good things into your life.
9. Tune in to your intuition before deciding what to do next. Meditate and listen to the world around you. The saying “frying pan into the fire” is real. If your goals and desires do not come from a secure place within yourself, you will find yourself paying undue attention to wet blankets (“If you quit you’ll never get another job”) and false friends (“Just quit! Move to Tahiti! You won’t starve!”). Sometimes the same “advisor” proposes both ideas in the same week. A good coach or counselor will give you confidence in your own intuition, not impose their views of what you should do now.
10. Write this down somewhere: After you’ve left — and you will — all that time will seem to have gone in the blink of an eye. You will have trouble remembering what bothered you so much. The rest of your life will still be ahead of you.
I offer one-to-one consultations on career strategy.
About The Author
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.
“Ten secrets of mastering a major life change” mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com
Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
Handing in Your Resignation and Serving Notice
Have you made the right choice? Before deciding to resign from your current position and move to a new employer, you should weigh up as objectively as possible all the relevant factors: remuneration, working environment, location, travel demands, training and development opportunities, promotional prospects, and your future bosses.
Consider also what impact a job with the new company would have on your resume. Once you have received and accepted a formal written commitment from your new employer, you should serve notice immediately.
It is important to behave in a professional manner throughout the resignation process. Your character and your personal integrity should never be in question. Be positive; be co-operative; and avoid recriminations.
State that you are leaving the company and hand in your letter of resignation at the same time.
Be prepared for a reaction. If your employer presses you for reasons, give brief and positive answers. Don’t argue or complain. Don’t allow yourself to be deflected from your purpose or drawn into a protracted discussion.
Do everything possible to establish a friendly tone and leave a good impression. State that you are leaving because your new employment offers you opportunities for advancement. Your decision is the result of careful consideration.
Your written resignation should be concise and definite. Do not go into details or give your reasons for leaving. If you have any grievances, don’t express them in the letter. Give no cause for animosity. Ask if there is anything you can do to ensure a smooth transition.
In the letter, state that you are leaving and when. Give as much notice as possible. Two weeks is generally acceptable, but check your contract or the company handbook.
Sample letter:
Dear ( )
I have decided to resign my position as (??..) at (company) effective (date) to take a position with (new employer). I greatly appreciate the opportunity that you and (the company) have given me to develop my skills and further my career.
I shall make every effort to ensure that the transition period goes smoothly for all concerned.
Yours sincerely
( )
Counter offer. Your decision was carefully thought out, so stick to it. Changing your mind makes you appear indecisive and creates a negative impression. It calls into question your long-term commitment and loyalty to your current employer.
During the period of notice, carry out your duties in a diligent and professional manner. Assure your boss that you will complete any outstanding task. If this is not possible, leave detailed instructions for your replacement. Check that all your records are in order. Inform your colleagues that you are leaving. When discussing things with them, resist the temptation to make disparaging comments about your present job or boast about your new one. Do your best to leave on good terms with everybody.
Exit Interview. Many companies expect their employees to attend an exit interview with the Human Resources Manager. If requested to do so, co-operate fully. Conduct yourself in a professional manner. Say only positive things about your employer and the company. Focus on accomplishments or learning experiences you had while employed there. Remember that anything you say is likely to be recorded in the personnel profile.
Visit the author’s website at: http://www.assignmentsplus.com
Gerard McLoughlin, author of ‘Four Minutes To Interview Success’, has contributed career-related articles to hundreds of recruitment companies, websites and publications throughout the world, including: USA Today, JobBankUSA.com, US-Recruiters.com, etc.
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Here?s A Golf Training Tip To Boost Your Drives
Every golfer would like to have a golf training tip to increase their drives by 10, 20, 30 or even 40 yards. But what do you need to focus on to accomplish that?
Have you ever received a golf training tip that didn’t work? I think we all have. That can be very frustrating to say the least. But the key to implementing a golf training tip that’s effective is to look at your swing.
Do you lack a full, 90 degree shoulder turn on your backswing? Do you breakdown at impact where it really counts? Or do you have a hard time staying in your golf posture through out your swing?
You’ve got to take a deeper look at your swing faults AND physical limitations to determine what golf training tip will be the most effective in improving your driving distance.
Don’t just try any golf training tip your golfing buddies tell you. Give it some serious thought before you do one of the golf training tips in the magazines. There are hundreds golf training tips you can read about, but won’t work for you.
Have you ever heard of the “62 point check-list?”
If you haven’t, it means instead of having one golf training tip you think about during your swing, you think of 62 of them. Maybe not that many, but you think of enough to accomplish what they term “paralysis by analysis”.
When this happens, your swing will go south real quick. This happened to the Number One ranked golfer in the world back in the 90’s. His name? Nick Faldo. He became so mechanically he couldn’t even hit a ball. He would enter a tournament and take so many practice swings, and not have one golf training tip on his mind, but many.
It took him right out of the world rankings and ultimately off the tour. He is now commentating and doing a great job.
Here’s a golf training tip that will help your backswing range of motion, enabling you to have a much higher clubhead speed and quickly improve your driving distance.
I call it the Backswing Shoulder Stretch:
? Extend left arm out in front of you (if you are a right handed golfer), in a handshake position, thumb pointing skyward.
? Take right hand and put under left wrist, so the back of the hands are touching each other.
? Pull with right hand against left wrist and make as big a turn on back swing as possible.
? Hold for at least 15 seconds, repeat two more times.
? Reverse the stretch to work the follow through.
As you can see this is a simple golf training tip, but one that is very effective if you do it consistently. This is a great stretch to do throughout your round to maintain a full backswing.
This is just one golf training tip that can have a big impact on your performance; and is well worth trying.
About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf trainers in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. For more information on his golf training programs, visit his new golf training site at Perform Better Golf.
Whats In A Name: Selecting the Right Business Name
With all that’s written about selecting a domain name, I thought I would address the ART of selecting a name for your business. It’s by no means an easy task or one that should be taken lightly. So here we go.
Ask 500 people, already in business, how they decided upon their business name and you will get 500 different answers. Everyone has a story behind how they chose their business name. Even if the business is named after their own birth name, there’s probably a reason why this was done.
When you open a business, in a sense, you are giving birth. This new birth was created from an idea by you or your associates. It will have its own bank account, it’s own federal identification number, it’s own credit accounts, it’s own income and it’s own bills. On paper, it is another individual! Just as if you were choosing a name for an unborn child, you need to spend considerable time in deciding upon your business name.
There are several reasons why a good business name is vitally important to your business. The first obvious reason is because it is the initial identification to your customers. No one would want to do business with someone if they didn’t have a company name yet. This makes you look like an amateur who is very unreliable. Even if you call your company “Bill’s Lawn Service”, a company name has been established and you are indeed a company. People will therefore feel more comfortable dealing with you.
Secondly, a business name normally is an indication as to the product or service you offer. “Joan’s Typing Service”, “Karate Club for Men”, “Jim-Dandy Jack-of-all-Trades”, “Main Street Laundry”, “Missy’s Gift Boutique” and “Star Publishers” are all examples of simple business names that immediately tell the customer what product you offer.
However, most people will choose the simple approach when naming their business. They use their name, their spouse’s name, their children’s names or a combination of these names when naming a business. The national hamburger-restaurant chain “Wendy’s” was named after, owner, Dave’s daughter. Actually, research has proven that these “cutesy” names are not the best names to use for a business. Many experts claim that it makes the business look too “mom-and-pop-sie.” But this depends on the business. If you are selling something that demands this mood or theme to appeal to your market, it’s okay to use this approach.
Names like, “Sensible Solutions”, “Direct Defenders”, “Moonlighters Ink”, “Printer’s Friend”, “Strictly Class”, “Collections and Treasures”, and “Starlight on Twilight” are all good examples of catchy names. These types of names relate to your product or service but serve as a type of slogan for your business. This is a big help when marketing.
When you name a child, you may not decide upon a definite name until after they are born. Hospital nurseries are loaded with “Boy” Smith and “Girl” Jones name tags. You do this because a name is sometimes associated with a type of personality. Somehow, I don’t think Tarzan and Jane got the message, “Boy”? (dah!). When you name a business you may need to wait until you have a product or service to sell and then decide upon a business name before going into the business itself because your business name should give some clue as to what product or service you are selling. A business named “Joe’s Collections” normally wouldn’t sell car parts and a business named “Charlie Horse” would not sell knitting supplies.
To generate ideas – begin looking at business signs everywhere you go. Notice which ones catch your eye and stick in your mind. Try and figure out “why” they stuck in your mind. Naturally, the business “Dominos Pizza” sticks in your mind because it is nationally known. These don’t count! Look around and notice the smaller businesses. Take your time. Within a few days you should be able to come up with a few potential business names.
Then, when you finally find a few names you really like – try reciting them to other people and get their opinion. It won’t be long until your business will have the proper name that will carry it through it’s life!
A final thought. Are they kidding? What your company does or long product description, domain names?
Try VeryLongBusinessNamesThatAreHardToRemember.com (and enter it without a typo)?
Well maybe it’s just me; but what happened to KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)?
About the Author —- Jim Capobianco, the author of “10 Steps to Your Own Home-Based Business”, has been self-employed for over 25 years, both on and off line. At his web site, Cap-Tech.com and in his newsletter, The Cap-Tech Times, he shares his experience and expertise when it comes to owning your own business. Come pay a visit at: http://www.cap-tech.com
Sets And Reps – The High And Low Weight Workout
Big weights! Wicked pump! I always get caught between two minds whenever I hit my workout at the gym. One side of me says to lift heavy to get big and the other says that form should matter more than my weight poundage. This is an issue that used to cause me to get quite twisted every time I would prep a workout training cycle. I know each technique has its merits, so I used to be swayed back and forth never staying with either method long enough to see the results. With the low weights I get to move some decent poundage’s and my ego gets gratified but alas, there is no killer pump. When I stick to the perfect form method with lighter weights I get great pumps but I never feel like I am really working hard enough to get anywhere because my weights are so light. So in my search for the perfect weight workout, I decided to combine the two methods and get the best of both worlds.
Seems obvious when some one else says it doesn’t it? I love the pump from drop sets and isolation exercises and I love the feeling of grunting under large loads, so why not do both in a workout?
What I do is put in two exercises of 5×5 with 1 minute to 2 minutes rest between sets and then move on to one or two more exercises for 3 or 4 sets a piece with the odd drop set or super set in order to finish the workout with a great pump. I stay with the same weight on the 5×5’s until I get all 5 sets of 5, usually hitting 4 or 3 reps on the last two sets in the beginning. When I finally complete the full 5×5 I up the weight by 5 to 10 pounds and start over. This ensures that I don’t get lazy and that I am always getting stronger, so that’s the first rule of muscle mass realized.
Once I have trained the muscles with between 85-100% of my one rep max, I’ve stimulated strength gains through enhanced neural drive and hit my type IIB fibers hard. Now onto the second group of exercises. I squeeze and pump the muscle, trying to fill it with blood while keeping in my mind that weight is a secondary concern. Here is where I hit the type IIA fibers with a slightly higher time under tension developed from the intensity techniques. The weights for this type of training are usually within 70-80% of your one rep max. Whenever I reach the point that the lighter weights no longer fatigue the muscle at around 10-12 reps, I bump it up a notch. Chasing the pump I rest no longer than 30-45 seconds causing me to hit a totally different set of fibers and making sure that all life has been thrashed out of the muscle. The best of both worlds in one workout!
The 5×5 method can also be seen as a lazy mans periodization, as the intensity varies from week to week depending on if I am trying a new weight or if I am still trying to get my “5’s” at an already accustomed to weight. The high intensity at the end allows me to get nutrients and blood into the muscle, gives me my time under tension and stretches the fascia while the body part is still stuffed full of the goods.
So in effect this routine develops the type IIB fibers through high tension multiple sets making me stronger by increasing relative strength though enhanced neural drive. Then moves on to hit the type IIA fibers through a slightly higher time under tension given to me by the extended sets. This makes me larger by increased hypertrophy, stimulating increased muscle glycogen, ATP and Krebs cycle activity. The only variable to fill in after this is your nutrition habits, but that’s a topic for later discussion. Here is an example of this type of weight workout. None of the set totals include your warm ups:
Monday
Chest
DB Bench press 5×5
Dips 5×5
Incline flyes super set with incline smith presses for 3x failure on both. Anything past twelve reps and you should bump up the weight.
Biceps
Barbell curls 5×5
Incline dumbbell curls 10/8/6
Rope pulley hammer curls drop set – 4 sets
Tuesday
Quads
Squats 5×5
Front squats pyramid up 12,10,8,6
Leg extensions 3-drop sets, each drop being 10 reps (10-10-10)
Hams
DB or barbell, stiff leg deadlifts 5×5
Lying Frankenstein curls (toes down on way up and toes out on way down) 4-drop sets, each drop being 8 reps (8-8-8)
Calves
Standing calf raises 3-drop sets of 10-10-10 per set.
Seated calf raises for 4 sets of 40-50 seconds each
Wednesday
Shoulders
Standing presses 5×5
High pulls from the hips 5×5
Face down incline laterals superseted with reverse cable crossovers for rear delts – 4 sets to failure
Triceps
Close grip bench 5×5
Low pulley behind head extensions off bench (Vince Gironda style) 4×8
Superset of kick backs and close grip pushups with elbows wide 3x 10
Thursday
Back
Deadlifts 5×5
Weighted chins 5×5
Drop set low cable rows with under grip for 4 sets
Abs
4 sets of crunches supersetted with hanging leg raises
Take the next two days off and then restart the cycle.
There are several ways to manipulate this schedule depending on your recovery ability and other stress factors in your life. Some of my clients respond best if they drop the second exercise of 5’s or alternate it with a 10/8/6 rep scheme.
For maximum recovery I like to take a day off after every workout, especially if you’re hitting the cardio hard. If this is something you may like to try than you can get away with another exercise per muscle group as you won’t be hitting it again for a while, just watch for signs of over training.
The other popular way to split this workout, fits nicely into the workweek. Split your workout to fall on Mon-Tues-Thurs-Fri. Take the weekends off to recharge.
Don’t worry about wilting away between workouts because as a natural bodybuilder the more rest the better. If you are going the assisted route, then you can add in a set or two extra here and there. It’s far more productive to be slightly under trained than over trained. However if you give every workout your all on this routine, you will look forward to the rest!
Ray Burton is the owner of the Fitness Site and the Fat To Fit email course. Take a look for more great workout information.
The 7 Simple Steps To Harnessing Your Creative Power And Achieving Incredible Success
Let me repeat what I believe is the most powerful and fundamental knowledge available to man:
“YOU CAN CREATE ANY ACTUAL PHYSICAL REALITY YOU WANT THROUGH THE INTENSE DESIRE, BELIEF AND PERSISTENCE OF YOUR MIND”
Your desire for success brought this knowledge to you at this very moment, there is no doubt of that. But do you know how to harness it? To wield the power it makes available?
Every great man and woman to ever walk the Earth harnessed this knowledge and wielded a power that allowed them to exceed the limitations of regular humanity.
But if the power of creation is available to all of us, why is it only a small few ever achieve greatness?
Because only a few know how to harness this knowledge and wield the incredible power it makes available.
Do you know how? No?
Well listen up because you’re about to learn.
The information contained in the rest of this article has the power to change your life forever….
The 7 Steps To Harnessing Your Creative Power And Achieving incredible Success
Follow the 7 steps to the letter and I GUARANTEE, your success will exceed the limitations of regular humanity.
Are you ready? Here we go:
STEP 1: Decide exactly what or how much money you want, not just “a lot” or “heaps”. For example my present goal is $69,300/month. It doesn’t have to be money here, it can be anything you desire.
And who knows, perhaps by the time you read this article I have already exceeded this goal and set a new one. Notice my goal is specific.
STEP 2: Decide exactly what your willing to give in order to achieve your dreams; as in time, money and effort.
STEP 3: Decide on a specific date for achieving your goal. Month and year.
STEP 4: Decide on a specific plan. You must have a plan, without one you cannot TAKE ACTION. http://007WorkFromHome.com is a great place to start your education.
STEP 5: (IMPORTANT) Write a clear “Promise” of:
-the amount of money you will make
-the time limit for getting it
-what you intend to give in order to get it
-and the plan by which you aim to get it
STEP 6: (MOST IMPORTANT) read your “Promise” aloud twice a day. Once after getting up and once before going to bed. As you read it – see, feel and believe yourself already making that money using the plan you have chosen.
STEP 7: For 1 minute after reading your “Promise” (or longer if you can) close your eyes and see yourself following your plan and the money actually already in your possession as a result.
Mix it with strong emotion; excitement, happiness, sense of achievement, self-admiration. The stronger the emotional cocktail the more potent your success will be.
That’s it. I have just put into your hands the magic to create anything you ever dreamed of.
But remember, if you want to succeed you must have a plan. Do you have a plan?
Please follow all 7 steps I outlined above, they are not nonsense, but an incredibly potent process.
I VERY SERIOUSLY want you to be successful and happy beyond your wildest dreams.
I know you can do it!
By Murray Hughes
http://www.007workfromhome.com/harnessing-your-power.php
Learn how to easily build your own Internet marketing business from the ground up from a long-time marketer giving away his experience for nothing. A Warehouse of Internet Marketing Knowledge at no cost, EVER! Home Based Businesses
