Koi Care - How to Protect Your New Koi From Stress and Disease

Koi are sturdy fish and although they can survive in relatively rough environments, they are not inexpensive and an owner should do everything in their control to make ensure proper Koi care is given so that their pets are safe from stress and disease. Just like with humans, stress is the number one reason why the immune system is weakened and when this natural defense system is lowered, the Koi will be subject to pathogens that can be lurking in their surroundings.

Taking proper care of your Koi should come well before you place it in your pond with the other fish. In fact, preparation should happen even before your Koi arrives from the dealer. Having a suitable quarantine tank is part of proper Koi care because the new fish has definitely undergone a lot of stress, this holds especially true if it was shipped to you. Even if your new Koi came from a reputable breeder who has taken all the precautions to make sure it's free from any virus and parasites, the stress of being put in a plastic bag and getting transported for lengthy periods will definitely lower its immune system. Quarantining new Koi will thus let it regain rest and regain its defense against sickness and disease.

Quarantine tanks act as "buffer zones" between the new Koi and your existing ones. They are effective disease and parasite protection for your valuable pets because this is where you can let new Koi acclimatize with its new environment. Ph and salt levels as well as water quality between your pond water and the water in which the new Koi was shipped can also differ greatly. This is one of the main reasons new Koi die upon arrival in their new homes, call it chemical shock.  Quarantine tanks are also perfect places to watch out for any threats your new Koi might have with it so you can avoid introducing viruses and bacteria into your pond.

The biggest mistake a Koi hobbyist can make is dumping new Koi in the quarantine tank right when it arrives. Water temperature, ph and alkaline levels between the container water and tank water can vary drastically and this be too much on your new pet. It's important to let the bag temperature get equalized with that of the quarantine tank's by letting it float on the surface for half an hour. It's also a good idea to introduce some water from the quarantine tank into the bag gradually at intervals of 10 minutes. This will help the new fish acclimatize to the water conditions of the quarantine tank.

The quarantine process should last for at least 3 weeks to make sure there's no oversight. It would be a shame to lose your new fish, or worse, the whole pond because of impatience. Also keep in mind that Koi are social and enjoy company. It would be a good idea then to choose a healthy Koi from the pond and put it in the quarantine tank with your new pet to keep it from getting lonely during the 3 weeks.

Cardio Kickboxing Classes

I Assume You Have A Gym Membership

This article assumes you have a gym membership which has cardio kickboxing classes available. If you don't have one, then get one!

Do You Get Bored On The Bike Or The Treadmill?

A lot of people get their cardio in on the stationary bike or the treadmill but if you're like me then you find it easy to get bored on these machines. Sure watching TV and listening to music can make it go by a little faster but it's still pretty boring. The hour can take forever to go by when I'm on the bike.

The "excitement" factor is one of the main reasons that I enjoy taking a cardio kickboxing class. Sure it's a lot harder than just riding the bike (of course there's also benefits to it being harder that I'll get to in a moment) but it's worth it because it actually can be fun to do. Even though the cardio kickboxing class I take is 75 minutes long - goes by faster than just 30 minutes on a bike or a treadmill.

Cardio Kickboxing Burns More Calories

Muscle and Fitness Magazine has ranked Cardio Kickboxing as the #1 fat burning workout. It burns an average of 1000 calories per hour. Compare that to the 300 or so calories you may burn in an hour on the stationary bike and it's obvoius which one is the right answer for you if you really want to burn fat fast.

All Cardio Is Wasted Without A Good Fat Burning Diet

While cardio is important, so is your diet. Diet without exercise is a waste but so is exercise without diet. You need to do both if you really want to burn fat fast and reach your peak condition.

Caribbean Cruises - Selecting a Caribbean Cruise that Suits You

Often considered the vacation of choice for a certain age group, the demand for Caribbean cruises is increasing; this has got to be the easiest way to see a variety of Caribbean islands in a short space of time. It should be on everyone's list of vacations with tropical Caribbean islands, clear, clean beaches and of course a fun filled time on board the cruise liner. Some people only take a short break and visit perhaps only a couple of islands as part of a larger vacation but most people are doing a tour of as many islands as they can with some lasting over two weeks.

Vacations like this are about enjoyment and it what these companies do best irrespective of weather or environment, it is your choice; enjoy the on board entertainment or that at each destination. Never worry that there will not be enough to keep you occupied as cruise liners are past masters at ensuring their travelers have everything they need.

It is always a pleasant use of your time to see what vacations on ships are available and see what choice of packages there are so why not start at the local travel operator for some advice. Almost every Caribbean island will receive cruise liner guests but they can't call on every one each trip as it would take to long so you need to look for a package that will call at the islands you want.

Some cruise vacations to the Caribbean are for people that like to party with plenty of discos and non-stop entertainment and may not be the ideal place for families. Don't forget that more and more information is put online these days and whilst the travel agent will be helpful, there is every chance you can take a virtual tour of the Caribbean cruise ships if you visit the website directly.

Remember that a vacation on board a ship allows you more opportunity to dress up as there are more functions than you are probably used too. These are the sort of times when you will need to have a tuxedo for men and evening gown for women as part of your attire.

The great thing about cruise vacations is that if you take your children along you can be sure they will have a fun filled time. You can even take time off for a little quality adult time as there is fully trained staff to look after them.

Some Caribbean cruises are specifically for adults only, which ideal for couples, honeymooners and people that would like to have a child free vacation. There is no end to what you can actually request on your cruise liner vacation so if you have just got married or are celebrating your fiftieth wedding anniversary, something special can be arranged.

If you let the staff on your Caribbean cruise do their job, all you will have to do is enjoy the vacation, after all isn't that what it's all about.

What You Should Know About Epoxy Adhesives

There are several good reasons why epoxy is the adhesive of choice for a wide range of bonding and sealing projects. Not only does epoxy provide high strength adhesion, it also has the capability to work well even under constant load. Epoxy moreover remains resistant to chemicals and moisture. This is precisely why epoxy is one of the most reliable adhesives for various structural applications, as well as for outdoor installations.

One component and two-part systems

Epoxy adhesives may either be one component systems or two-part systems. One component systems provide less flexible but extremely tough bonding. Due to this, one component epoxy adhesives are ideal for bonding metals and for use in sealing wide-area surfaces.

Two component systems on the other hand are more flexible and highly versatile. The separate components need to be mixed at equal volumes to achieve the right consistency and the desired bonding results. These adhesives may start setting from a few minutes to a few hours, and will start to cure completely from several hours to even days. Almost all substrates can be bonded with a high strength epoxy adhesive, including wood and wood products, metal, stone, ceramic, glass, and plastic.

High quality epoxy adhesives

The many types in the market have made this popular adhesive an excellent choice for many projects around the home as well as for a variety of professional tasks. There are epoxy adhesives that take only one minute to set while others take as long as 12 hours to 24 hours to completely cure. Moreover these adhesives can be colored or transparent and have a gel-like consistency. In projects where two components are to be joined and high-strength bonding is needed, an epoxy adhesive usually accomplishes the job well. Compared to other types of adhesives in the market, epoxy is heat resistant and chemical-proof. A marine epoxy is a specialized type of epoxy that provides excellent adhesion for materials constantly immersed in water such as boats and kayaks, or those exposed to heat and moisture, which is usually the case with many outdoor applications.

The Master Mend Epoxy from Loctite is a 2-part epoxy adhesive that is perfect even for complex assembling, bonding, and sealing. It can work as filler for gap bonding or surface repairs and comes highly recommended even for fiberglass, stone, and concrete, which makes it an ideal all-around adhesive choice for a wide range of home and professional projects.

LG ENV VX9900 Review - A Review of the LG ENV VX9900 Cellular Phone

A multimedia messaging phone, the LG ENV (VX9900) is the go to device for those who need to be connected at all times. One of the best phones on the market, the ENV combines EvDO high speed technology, large internal screen, dual stereo speakers and an external memory port. From camera to multimedia player to cell phone extraordinare, this phone has everything one would ever need (and then some).

For those who are addicted to text messaging, the ENV (VX9900) offers a flip open QWERTY keyboard and up to 1,120 character text messages. The phone is also enables picture and video messaging, as well as web based email and instant messaging. With Mobile Web 2.0, users can check their MySpace.com profiles, purchase airline tickets from their favorite discount ticket broker or even bid on Ebay.com items. The internal antenna makes this phone difficult to break and a keyguard function prevents unintentional dialing.

The camera is the best out of all of the phones LG produces, and is a 2.0 megapixel with autofocus and flash. With four different resolution options, he camera even has a protective lens cover to help prevent scratches and dings. The video format is 3G2, and the digital zoom will increase the picture size up to two and a half times. Camera features include white balance, customizable brightness, color effects, night mode, and shutter sound, as well as a self timer that can be set for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. Up to one full hour of video can be stored, and 15 seconds of video at a time can be messaged to another phone or email address.

This phone truly has it all, including a VZ NavigatorSM that provides voice prompted turn by turn directions. All in all, it's a fantastic buy and one that won't be regretted.

5 Exercises on How To Be Psychic

Learning how to be psychic is a lot like a fish learning how to swim. We are all psychic in one way or another but it's such a complete part of who we are that we often find it difficult to understand what does it mean and how to use it.

Let's play a little with the idea of being psychic and find out if how you may already be psychic. Follow these tips to discover your own natural psychic nature.

Exercise 1. Picture Images

As children we called it using our imagination. But any psychic intuitive will tell you that learning to see images with your imagination is an important first step toward the skill known as clairvoyance.

Try this exercise to see how well you do. Close your eyes and imagine walking into your home. As you walk from room to room count the number of windows in each room. Do your best to remember subtle details of each window. Remember the total and then compare your imagined experience to actually walking through your home and doing the exercise live.

This is a first step in learning how to be clairvoyant.

Exercise 2. Listen to the Sounds

This is an exercise that so many people do naturally that it may seem effortless at first. Imagine a song that you've heard. Now focus on the lyrics and each subtle change of the voice quality of the lyrics throughout the song. Of course you're doing this all within your own mind.

Next focus on the melody, and then the instruments. With each repetition of the song you will be increasing your focused awareness and ability to replay the song without actually hearing it except in your mind.

This is your first step in learning how to be clairaudient.

Exercise 3. Feel the Feelings

We all have physical reactions to everyday experiences. But for most of us we are taught to ignore our feelings and discard any information that may come from these physical sensations. People with psychic clairsentient abilities have learned to pay attention to these feelings and then be able to act upon the feelings or sensations.

Start with a book, CD or magazine article. Don't read or listen to the material at first. As you physically pick up the material, allow yourself to feel any physical or emotional sensations that you may have. Once you've been able to identify two or three sensation, then review the material and notice how it makes you feel. Once again, bring your awareness to within your own body and just notice whatever you notice.

This is a first step in learning how to be clairsentient.

Exercise 4. Reading a Person

After you've practiced the above exercises a minimal of 10-100 times you're then ready to move on to reading a person. The reason so much practice is required is that you will first need to discern your own feelings from those that will come to you from your intuition.

Imagine a person that you know. Then just allow your imagination to bring forth pictures, images, thoughts or feelings. Simply notice everything that comes to you. You can then share what you noticed with the person. It doesn't matter if it's accurate or not. In the beginning you will only be learning to develop your skills of how to be psychic.

Exercise 5. Building Intuition

Next you'll be using the skills in the above exercises to build the foundations for precognition. This is where you can begin to get information or feelings about events that have not happened yet.

Next allow yourself to think of some event that you know will occur in the near future. This can be a few days or even a few weeks but preferably not within the same day. Next, using all the skills we've used so far, allow yourself to gather images, feelings, knowings and sensations. Take note of everything that comes to you.

Many people think that being psychic means that you can know the future. But what would be more accurate to say is that being psychic gives you the discernment of how to respond to what happens in the future.

With just a little practice, you will come to know that you already know how to be psychic.

Your Bird Feeder Needs to Be Squirrel Proof, Not Squirrel Resistant

One of the very best squirrel proof bird feeders that I have been using for years and years now is the excellent Squirrel Buster Plus, as even when I started with the older and much earlier models, success came quickly.

These feeders employ a baffle system that drops down to block the feeding holes on the inside of the feeder whenever anything that is heavier than your birds lands at the feeding points. These are truly the best out there for combating those pesky creatures. They really are squirrel proof!

So if you are at all interested in buying wild bird feeders because you want to feed the birds then you should take into consideration the fact that it might not only be the birds that you end up feeding with the seeds you buy.

You may have to make a bigger investment than you first thought to get one of the many top designs of squirrel proof feeders that are available today. But it will be worth it in the end as you will save on bird food and broken or even destroyed feeder.

Your squirrels will hate these feeders so much as they really cannot ever get into them to steel the bird food and for sure they will all try more than once, but they will always fail in their prime objectives.

Perhaps the biggest problem for most of us is always how to position these bird feeders for optimum results in stopping those squirrels!

Just think and consider the fact that if the squirrels were all so easy to stop you really would not be here now looking for a solution to your problems, which can only be sorted by buying a good squirrel proof feeder.

Squirrel resistant really does not cut it as resistance is futile where squirrels are concerned as you really have to stop them and not just slow them down!

You really want to help yourself by aiming for the best success with the location of these bird feeders and if you find that the first location actually does not work then keep on trying in new locations until you find one that does.

Always remember the simple fact that a healthy squirrel can jump over eight feet and up to ten feet from one object over to another so keep your feeders away from other objects.

Then when you get a good location go buy a real squirrel proof feeder that actually stops the squirrels getting to the food. Forget about squirrel resistant, as squirrel-proof is what you need as anything less will be destroyed sooner or later!

The Art of Searching For a Gift

Searching for an appropriate gift is an art, which needs to be mastered by all. There are various occasions in everybody's life when he or she is required to choose a perfect gift for his or her loved ones. A perfect gift makes the occasion more meaningful and more memorable. A gift to be unique and appropriate to the occasion needs to be carefully chosen. A gift conveys a message with it to the recipient.

Research for a Perfect Gift: If you want to give a most appropriate and perfect gift to your friends or relatives, first do a small research on their favorite hobbies. Include their age, location etc. as parameters for this research. This simple activity can bring you lot of ideas when you are searching for an appropriate gift. For e.g. if your friend likes playing golf, you can buy a gift that is related to golf. May be a pair of Golf shoes. If his hobby is drawing, why not present him a high quality brush set?

Handmade crafts also are an excellent gift idea. Handmade crafts are unique, since a personal touch is involved in each of these individual items. Handmade greeting cards, handmade wooden articles etc. are a great source of enjoyment.

The Role of Internet: Internet has made it very easy to search for a unique and appropriate gift. There are numerous websites, which provides excellent service in searching for an appropriate gift. Use these websites regularly when searching for a gift. These websites can offer you a great help in finding a gift that is both memorable and unique.

Expensive Gift Vs Simple Gifts: A gift need not be that expensive to make it a perfect gift. A gift carefully chosen after doing a thorough research described above can make a person happy.

Find Unique Gifts From around the

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How to Pick a Stand in Large Hardwoods

Where do you set up your deer stand in big hardwoods?

One big question every rookie deer hunter has is where do I set up my stand? The question really needs to be how do I decide where to set up my stand. Even experienced hunters ask themselves that question sometimes when in new territory.

The answers to the question have a few common rules regardless of the terrain being hunted, but a lot has to do with the specific terrain you will be on. This article will concentrate on what I'm most familiar with, and that's hunting big woods with no agriculture in the area.

Big woods hunting can be very difficult. There is seemingly an endless amount of places deer can hide. With plenty of oak trees around and a generous mast the past few years, they don't have to travel far to find food during the hunting season. Chances are there's a stream or at least a little crick where the deer can get water nearby. So what does a guy do?

It's going to take a lot of leg work and more than a couple of hours in the woods to figure this out. The first thing you need to figure is where the deer are bedding down. Think about the geographic features of the area you're in. In the northeast it's pretty hilly if not exactly mountainous. My experience is deer like to bed near the top of ridges when the weather is decent. They do this so they can spot a predator at a distance and put the top of the ridge between themselves and danger in a hurry. Plus the sun stays on the top of a ridge longer than in the valleys so it tends to be warmer up there.

In cold and windy weather the deer tend to go into the valleys to get out of the wind and they hunker down in the thickest stuff they can find. One real cold and windy day after deer season was over I was hiking where we hunt and kicked up three deer that were bedding under a huge oak that had blow over a few years before. It was in a tight little valley between four good sized hills in real thick cover. They let me get 20 feet from them before they bolted. Scared the heck out of all of us!

So keep in mind the terrain and the weather and go looking for sign - tracks and droppings. Even though there may be a fair amount of sign all over the place there will be areas with more sign than others. Finding the actual beds is your goal. Here's a hint: look for thick brush. Amongst young saplings, mountain laurel, swampy areas, this is where the deer like to bed down.

Now there are a couple of options. You can setup in the bedding area or try to ambush them on the routes to and from food and water. There are advantages to both.

Notice earlier I said bedding areas - a plural. Deer don't go to sleep in the same bed every night like we do. Based on weather conditions and hunting pressure things change. So finding the active bedding area can be a little tricky. But if you're right, you can have action all day long. Early morning they're coming back in. The deer will then bed down during the day, but, they don't stay down all day. They'll get up and browse a bit. I have shot as many deer between 10 am and 2 pm as early or late in the day when the deer or more active. A lot of guys leave the woods by 10 and come back at 2 for the night sit. I think your missing a lot of good hunting by doing this.

One late bow season about 1:00 pm I had a doe walk up to my tree stand and browsed around a bit and finally she bed down 20 yards away. She was pretty alert for a while but finally put her head down. Every time the wind blew a little hard or a dead branch fell out of a tree I could see an ear perk up to interrogate the possible threat. Finally about 2 hours later her head popped up fast. She got up real easy and just meandered off, browsing a little and looking back once in a while. You could tell she was concerned but not panicked. About 15 minutes later my hunting buddy appeared from the direction the doe had been looking. She had made him way off in the distance, but didn't bolt. It was a real good learning experience.

The second option is to look for likely routes for the deer to get into and out of the bedding area to find water or food. They will either go through real thick stuff in the valleys or along the side of a hill. I have almost never seen them travel on the top of hill in daylight. There may be sign up there, but it's almost always made at night. While the bedding areas change, the better food and water supplies typically don't. If you can find some mature oaks, you'll notice the woods are little more open as the big trees tend to make it tough on saplings to grow. Also, if there are homes within a mile or so look for routes to and from the houses. Deer look at your shrubs as a smorgasbord and easy pickings, especially when the ground is covered in snow and finding acorns is hard.

Trails leading to food and water tend to be many coming from the bedding area and funneling down to a few trails. Try to find a number of places to set up stands along these routes closer to the water and food than the bedding areas. That way, there are fewer trails you can minimize the chance of being on the wrong trail that day. These stands work best at first light and later toward dark.

By spending quality time scouting and paying attention to the type of land you're hunting, you will see more deer and greatly increase your hunting enjoyment.