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We bought our daughter Julie a St. Bernard five years ago. Each evening “Mackie” climbed up on my lap to take a nap (even after she was full grown)! A couple years later Mackie died of a kidney disease. We buried her under her favorite tree, made a marker, and thanked God for the wonderful gift of Mackie. But each of us experienced grief and pain over the loss of our beloved dog. This article will give you several guidelines to help you experience good grief as you suffer the loss of your pet.

As I share the following guidelines to help you grieve the loss of your pet, please keep in mind that each person’s grief process is as unique as the relationship between that pet and its owner. However, pet grief can be good grief.

1. Just as in the loss of a spouse, parent, child, or other significant person, you must ACKNOWLEDGE THE LOSS of your beloved dog or pet. I know that sounds obvious, but denial is a powerful emotion during times of significant loss. In fact, pretending that you are not hurting during times of significant loss can actually be detrimental to your physical and emotional health. There really is such a thing as “Good Grief.” Grief is a healthy emotional process. Admit that your cherished dog or pet is gone. Don’t let others trivialize the importance of that dog in your life. A couple quotes will show you that we recognized many years ago how important dogs and other pets are to us. For example, Roger Caras once said, “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” Josh Billings noted, “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” And Will Rogers once quipped, “If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.”

2. GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO GRIEVE. The fact is that people often invest as much love and affection in a pet as they do in many personal relationships. (Don’t laugh: dogs miss you when you’re gone, dogs never complain about your cooking, dogs don’t criticize your friends, dogs don’t shop, dogs mean it when they kiss you, dogs think you sing great, and a dog’s parents never visit). Other people might scoff, be confused, or misunderstand, especially those who have not experienced a loss of this kind. Don’t worry about what others think or feel; this is a time to be true to yourself. Allow yourself the time and freedom to be sad, to cry, and to miss your friend and companion. Tell yourself it’s OK – because it is. Pet grief can be good grief.

3. THANK GOD FOR THE GIFT OF YOUR PET. God created the animals that become our cherished pets. Good grief comes when we begin to recognize that God is the giver of all good gifts, and dogs are definitely good gifts. Do something symbolic to give thanks and show respect for this wonderful gift from God. Cheri and I buried Mackie and made a makeshift concrete headstone in the ground over her grave. Just the other day my son went out and found the marker in the woods, cleaned it off, and spent a moment remembering Mackie fondly. Pets matter! You can give a donation to an animal shelter in honor of your pet. Other meaningful acts people have shared with me include writing a special poem or story, commissioning a painting of their pet from a photograph, or framing an enlarged photo to hang on the wall. A fairly new phenomenon is the Pet Cemetery, where you can actually bury your pet, place a marker, and bring flowers. The bottom line is this; it was your pet, and it is your pet grief – do something that is meaningful for you. It will make you feel good about yourself and your pet, and it will assist you in bringing good grief to your grief process.

4. SHARE YOUR PAIN. Pet grief hurts. Talk to someone you trust about what you are feeling. Grief is a painful process; don’t go through it alone. Most of us know someone who has experienced the pain of pet loss. Talk to them. There is a healing process (Good Grief) that occurs when we hear ourselves talking about our pain, our grief, our loss. And there is empathy when two people can share similar experiences. It helps to hear someone else say “I know how you feel, I’ve been there too.” It helps to know you are not alone in your feelings. If there is no one you can talk to in your immediate family or circle of friends, consider talking to your pastor, or joining a pet loss support group in your community. Check the internet, and you may be able to find a pet loss “blog” group to join.

5. CELEBRATE YOUR MEMORIES. Pet grief can be good grief. When you think about the relationship you had with your pet, what is it that brings a smile to your face? Think on those things. Get out the pictures of your child and pet dressed alike for Halloween. Or the one of you and your pet covered in soap suds and soaking wet during bath time. Franklin P. Jones says “Anybody who doesn’t know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.” Or remember all the “tricks” your pet used to do just to please you. Recall those winter evenings relaxing together by the fire, or the summer days romping in the park. I remember opening the front door one day and finding my St. Bernard sitting right there, looking up at me, with a huge “bubble” poking out both sides of her mouth – looking like she chewing bubble gum! It’s a scene I will never forget. That’s Good Grief! “We give dog’s time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best deal man has ever made” – M. Facklam.

6. BE A VOLUNTEER. Pet grief can consume you if you let it. This is a great opportunity to volunteer some time and energy to help someone else. You can volunteer some time at your local animal shelter. You could help feed the homeless at the local soup kitchen. Be a volunteer at your local church. And the list goes on. Volunteering is a healthy way to give something back to your church or community. Helping your fellow man is a good thing, and it makes you feel good about who you are. It takes your mind off your pet loss and the emptiness you feel, and helps the process of good grief.

7. RELY ON YOUR PERSONAL FAITH. Pet grief is just as real as losing a person. Lean on your spiritual belief system. The scriptures tell us that God loves us and wants to comfort us during times of grief and loss. Does God care about animals? Is God concerned with my pet dying? You bet He is! Does God really care about my pet grief? Absolutely! The Bible says God knows when a sparrow falls out of the sky. And it says every hair on your head is numbered, so He cares about you very much! During this time of grief and loss, reconnect or recommit to your personal faith. Spend some extra time in devotion, worship, meditation, and prayer. God’s comfort and help during this time will help you experience good grief.

8. DON’T REPLACE YOUR PET UNTIL YOU ARE READY. Statistics show that after the loss of a spouse, many people remarry too soon, because of the fear of loneliness. Pet grief can cause the same mistakes. Don’t be too anxious to fill the void left by your precious pet. Remember that every relationship is unique, just as every person and dog are unique. Pet grief can be immense for some, and can take significant time. How soon should you get a new pet? Experts disagree, but estimates range from a few weeks to a year. They do agree, however, that you should be sure you are emotionally ready to explore a totally new relationship before you get a new pet. They also agree that the vast majority of people can and do benefit from getting another pet, as long as they cherish each new pet relationship as unique and special. Do not expect your next pet to be like your last, but love the next one just as much. Each one is a fantastic, life-changing experience. And a part of the process of good grief is to replace that love relationship you had with that dog, with another dog or pet.

We all know that dogs and other pets are not human, but they certainly do bring a great deal of joy and happiness to our lives. (Andy Rooney says “The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.”) The loss of a beloved pet should not be taken lightly or dismissed as unimportant. If you have lost a cherished dog or pet; if you are experiencing Pet Grief; use the suggestions we’ve outlined here to experience good grief, cherish the memories, and prepare yourself for your next awesome pet/owner relationship. Then go out and find that amazing dog or pet that can benefit from the love and affection only you can give.

Danny Presswood, 2006 All rights Reserved.

Danny Presswood is a retired US Army Combat (Airborne) Chaplain. After traveling 17 countries and 10 islands, he and his wife Cheri settled in the wooded Ozarks hills of SW MO. Presently working on his Doctorate, Danny writes the Feature Articles for K-9 Outfitters, A Division of Damascus Road Enterprises, which offers a plethora of AWESOME discount, luxury, unique, and Handmade in the USA Online Pet Supplies. You’ll find K-9 Outfitters at [http://www.Damascus-Road-Enterprises.com]

The insurance industry in Los Angeles is extremely competitive, with an increasing number of insurance companies entering the market. A number of laws strictly regulate the insurance industry in Los Angeles. It is mandatory for all the car owners to get their cars insured, regardless of the model of the car and how old it is. It is in the best interest of the car owners to have car insurance, as it offers financial relief in case of sudden accidents and mishaps. Everybody wants to have car insurance that offers maximum coverage at unbeatable prices. A good research is probably the only way in which, car owners can find a good insurance company that offers, car insurance at reasonable prices. Car owners can opt for an insurance company, only after comparing quotes offered by different Los Angeles insurance companies.

Car insurance prices are fluctuating and change from time to time. Car owners can look around for better policies at reasonable prices, before renewing their policy. Many people continue to use the services of the same insurance company for years, without trying to find out if they can get a better deal elsewhere.

Many car owners seek assistance from an insurance agent who can guide them. The make, model, and the condition of the car are some of the deciding factors, a person must consider while selecting, an appropriate car insurance. Car owners must first decide how much coverage they wish to have, before looking out for an insurance company.

There are several auto insurance websites on the Internet that provide, rates of various reputed insurance companies. Car owners can easily compare the rates of all the insurance companies before making their choice. They can specify their individual requirements on these websites, to obtain rates of only those companies that best suit their needs. They offer online car insurance policies and the latest insurance information to help car owners to make the right choice.

Car owners must verify that the insurance company has a valid license, issued by the state. Generally, car owners who have good driving records can get car insurance at a lower price.

Los Angeles Car Insurance provides detailed information on Los Angeles Car Insurances, Los Angeles New Car Insurances, Los Angeles Car Insurance Quotes, Los Angeles Used Car Insurance and more. Los Angeles Car Insurance is affiliated with Philadelphia Car Insurance Quotes.

The poet Oscar Wild, wrote these moving lines: “Children begin by loving their parents. After some time, they judge their parents. Rarely, if ever, do they forgive them”. It is a well known fact that the well-being of today’s children is inseparable from the peace, progress and prosperity of tomorrow’s world. It is, therefore, important that children be nurtured in an environmentally sustainable pattern to promote national and global peace and progress. The importance of their welfare was underlined during the World Summit for Children in September, 1990, held under the auspices of the United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) where world leaders maintained that “unless the investment in children is made, all of humanity’s most fundamental long-term problems will remain fundamental long term problems”.

Put succinctly, children are a country’s most precious assets and they demand the highest priority on both national and international investments. In spite of this open acknowledgment of the importance of their survival to our collective global future, evidence abounds that children are facing the worst tragedy in the world today. In a recent seminar organised by the United Nations non-government liaison services in Geneva, participants at the seminar from more than 120 countries were in agreement that “millions of children around sub-Saharan Africa live under especially difficult circumstances where special protection measures are required to enable them enjoy fulfillment of their basic rights”. These children in addition to being poor, are exploited, abused, abandoned, neglected, disabled and deprived of liberty.

The greatest manifestations of child abuse, exploitation, deprivation and neglect are very obvious in situations where children are used as a veritable source of cheap labour, soldiers, and prostitutes against their innocent and passive will. Many children seldom report cases of such abuses against them and most child abusers rely on this fact to continue in their wicked acts. Child labour thrives in our societies today mainly because some employers consider it cheaper to employ and over-work children who have very weak resistance to exploitation and oppression than adults. Such employers often betray and take undue advantage of the innocence of children’s dependence and trust. Families also use child labour to make additional income. While some of the hapless children are engaged in domestic duties of hawking goods, others are made to do hard labour meant for adults. Some Non-Governmental Organisations, (NGOs) have continued to express their concern over this unfair practice that is conducted not only in Nigeria, but also in other countries of the world. In an interview granted to a newsmagazine, Mr. A.C. Onukwue, a director of Media Environment Initiative (MEI) in Nigeria said that “children as young as eight years old are being subjected to a bland agreement by their parents to serve as slaves all their childhood and youths in the name of apprenticeship”.

Those working as domestic servants are the most exploited and most difficult to protect. Most of them are girls who live with their employers and are totally dependent on them. The United Nations Organisation (UNO) and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) have made some legal provisions in their bid to checkmate this growing monster. Article 32 of the United Nations Convention of the rights of the child and article XV of the Organisation of African Unity Charter on the rights and welfare of the child, unanimously condemn child labour in all its ramifications. The two articles recognize “the rights of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous, or to interfere with the child’s education or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social developments”. In Asia, South America and some migrant communities in the United States, it has been reported that children even as young as five years of age are forced into what can be termed “slave labour”. They work like little robots in dreadful conditions that damage their immature bodies and minds. Most of them have no education, are homeless and deprived of parental love and care.

Children as Child-Labourers

Most people have argued that the main cause of child labour is poverty. Others are economic and social inequality, war, unemployment, broken homes and juvenile delinquency. The merchants of children peddle stories of pleasurable life awaiting the kids in the cities in order to entice their victims from their poverty-stricken parents. Most poor parents swallow such stories hook, line and sinker and so inadvertently release their children to the slave merchants. Because of the nature of their minds, children believe what they are told by adults without reservation. Some of them on hearing such false stories of bright future awaiting them at imaginary lands, sometimes sneak away from their homes to be taken away without their parents’ knowledge. Most of them also follow child merchants because their parents find it difficult to feed, clothe and train them in school. Though many children in the advanced industrial nations and in some urban centers of the Third World countries enjoy good care and welfare, yet it is obvious that majority of them in some rural and urban areas whose parents are living below subsistence level are more often exposed to this risk. The situation has been considered dangerous enough that it was brought to focus in 1997 at a forum organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) for jourlalists in Lagos to deliberate upon. The theme of the forum was The Impact of Child Labour on Development. Participants at the forum agreed that child labour exists in Nigeria as in other parts of the world. It is interesting to note that most of these unsuspecting children lured from their homes in Nigeria are taken to Gabon in Central Africa and other neighbouring countries where they are subjected to the highest form of child abuse.

Children as Articles of Trade

But how widespread are cases of child abuse? Let us at this stage, embark on a historical excursion in order to reveal the extent of abuse and danger our children had been exposed to. On May 30, 1995 when 330 Nigerian deportees arrived in Calabar from Gabon, 109 of them were children below 16 years of age. Again, in March 1996, four students of Ikono Ibom Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Aya, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria were cajoled into embarking on a trip to Gabon by a fellow student. But these students, made up of three girls and a boy whose ages were between 10 and 14 years were lucky as they could not reach their destination. As fate would have it, officers of Nigerian Immigration Service intercepted their boat at the Oron Creek. And in January 1997, 150 Gabon-bound children were rescued from a camp at Mkpanak near Ibeno. Among the children aged between 11 and 18 years were 20 Nigerians. The rest of them came from neighbouring Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana. In February 1997, 86 under aged children were freed after a raid on an uncompleted building at Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State. It was reported that the nefarious dealers on children had intended to ship them to Gabon before they were rescued. A breakdown of the rescued children’s nationalities showed that 25 were from Nigeria, 23 from Togo while 38 were from Benin Republic. Of the 86 kids, 46 were girls.

It is also sad that not all of these children had been lucky. The hapless ones do not get to their destinations and do not live to tell their stories. In January 1996, more than 200 persons perished in the high seas of Ibeno Beach. About 73 per cent of the victims were school children, some of whom were in their school uniforms. These difficult circumstances represent serious hazards and risks to the survival and development of our future generation.

Children as Sex Tools

Apart from child labour and trafficking, sexual harassment is another area of high risk that confronts our children. Convincing indication of the enormity of this crime was tendered at the World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1996 which was attended by representatives of 130 countries. For instance, it was documented that in several parts of the world, there are millions of young girls, some even as young as 10 years of age who are constrained to work as call girls. After years of physical, mental, and emotional molestation, these girls are scarred for life. In most cases, they surrender to this atrocity simply because they want to eat and stay alive. The option is like choosing between six and half a dozen. As a result of such abuse, some children develop social and psychiatric problems later in life. Furthermore, the activities of pedophiles who occupy influential positions in our society do not help matters. Pedophile refers to a psychological disorder which causes adults to be sexually attracted to children whose sexual experience is nil. In August 1997, a Dublin Chief Judge, Cyril Kelly, committed Reverend Berndan Smith a 72 -year old Roman Catholic priest to 12 years imprisonment for a case involving 74 count charges of indecent and sexual assaults against children. Rev. Smith who admitted to a 36-year career of sex offenses against a total of 26 children in the Republic of Ireland, pleaded guilty to the charges. The Daily Telegraph of June 2, 1998 carried a report on a 44-year old soccer coach who used his position of trust to abuse young boys. He was jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to 23 specimen charges against children. The Chester Crown Court was told that from 1978 to 1992, the coach invited boys from the North West and Midlands to stay with him or go on holiday to North Wales and Spain where the offenses took place. According to The Daily Telegraph: “Benndell would take the boys into his trust by offering them the chance of not only training with his teams but also an occasion at Grewe Alexandra and Manchester City”.

Children As Child Soldiers

Compounding the tragedy further, there has been an increase in the use of child soldiers in guerrilla armies. Children are easily kidnapped, separated from their parents and siblings and conscripted into the army to fight wars. In such situations they are systematically brutalized, at times by being forced to watch gruesome murder. Some have been ordered to kill their own parents, brothers and/or sisters. Where they find it difficult to carry out these bloody assignments as a result of their innocence, such children are encouraged and compelled to take drugs in order to heighten their killer instinct. In Freetown, Sierra Leone, child soldiers whose innocence had been destroyed by the crimes of a protracted civil war resolved that they were not going to hands-off arms. They took the resolution in October, 1998 when Carol Bellamy the then UNICEF’s head in Sierra Leone, asked them in Bo to surrender their weapons. The child soldiers belonged to the hunter militia group known as Kamajor. In addition, children generally suffer a high death rate during civil or international wars. Most of them die of hunger or hunger related diseases such as kwashiorkor. Because they are fragile and defenseless, they are easy victims in war situations. On August 31, 1997 about 21 children fell into a swimming pool in panic and got drowned in Nsele, 60 kilometers east of Kinshasa, capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo when some armed troops tried to maintain order in the area. In Northern Uganda, rebels of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), headed by Joseph Kony, who have been fighting against the Ugandan government have continued to carry out atrocities against children in that country.

It is interesting to note that children are gradually becoming aware of the injustice and oppression against them by the adult world. In July 1997, Eric Ndelema, a councilor from Kaziso, West Rand, was stoned to death by an irate mob of about 200 primary school children. The mob also set his house ablaze. Mary Martins, a sergeant and South African Police spokesman, confirmed the incident that occurred in Johannesburg but said that the motive for the attack was not yet known. If the cause of the attack was not known, perhaps the peaceful demonstration that was carried out by children from January 5 to June 4, 1998 is enough proof that children are gradually getting fed up with the whole game. Pakistan played host to the global march against child labour in April, 1998 as part of a campaign to draw world attention to children’s rights. The campaigners, numbering about 45,000 children from various countries, walked through Manila, Vietnam, Thailand, India and Geneva into the boarder town of Wahgah, 25 kilometers from Lahore, capital of Pakistan, amidst cheers from the citizens. Kailash Trithay, the leader of the demonstration said his group was carrying a message from every working child that “the world should be free of child abuse”.

In spite of the above facts, which are by no means exhaustive, it appears that not many countries of the world have taken definitive stand against this global monster of child abuse which is threatening to turn our God-given children into slaves and make this world an unsafe place for those who are undoubtedly our leaders of tomorrow. The situation quickly calls to mind, the admonition of an erudite scholar, Martin Luther King, who once remarked that “the world is full of evil today not because of those who do evil, but because of men who keep silent and watch evil being done”.

I strongly advise everyone interested in this article to purchase my new book titled – MASTURBATION:How to Overcome and Quit the Habit. You can get the ebook version from the following link, http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=3962841

While those interested in having the printed and bound copy of the book should send me an email via: donationsglobal@yahoo.com Please quote REQUEST FOR BOOK on the subject line, to distinguish your mail from spam mails.

Victor Izuogu was born on February 8, 1973 in Egbema, Imo State, Nigeria. He attended Egbema Secondary School, Egbema where he obtained his West African School Certificate. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secretarial Administration from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Victor has worked in many reputable organisations as a an Executive Secretary and a Banker. Because of his humble beginning and experience in life, he has a passion for charity and humanitarian services. In order to execute his dream project, Victor formed a charity organisation, GLOBAL INTERCHANGE VENTURES. The proceeds of his literary works go to charity homes, churches and hospitals, e.t.c. You can support his charity and humanitarian services by sending your donations by mail to: GLOBAL INTERCHANGE VENTURES, P.O. BOX 1291, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

PHP is a very versatile language, allowing for programmers to make applications according to their various tastes or styles. But one thing all programmers should maintain is the ability to comment effectively. In essence, commenting can save hours of time perusing code months down the road- and is often required by employers.

Comments aren’t parsed by the PHP engine, so they are only visible to those who are viewing the original source code of the file. This is great for documenting what each code block does, all while keeping the casual visitor to a website oblivious to the extra comments present on the application they are using.

Unlike HTML comments, PHP comments aren’t even visible in the source code of a website. HTML comments are visible to the general public, which can potentially lead to the stealing of code or may even help hackers exploit applications. PHP comments aren’t output to the browser at all, so they are completely safe from prying eyes.

There are actually three operators that we may use to tell the PHP engine that we want to use a comment. Single inline comments can be used with the “//” and “#” operators. For multiple-line comments, we use “/*” and “*/” respectively to indicate what is a comment and what is actually PHP code. While the first two operators are synonymous, the last one discussed is the only one that can perform multiple line comments with relatively little work.

Unknown to most, PHP comments can also be used for more practical scenarios, such as troubleshooting. Expert programmers will find they have a problem with their application, and comment out different blocks of code to see what is causing the error. While it is usually in new code blocks, this method will indeed show that sometimes the problem is due to program code interacting wrong, which can in effect mean the problem is anywhere in the application.

Commenting in PHP is also great to use in selection structures, since PHP has long been known as a hard to scale language. Once files start getting big, it can be dizzying to try and remember which loops and selection structures go where, and what they do. By commenting out every closing bracket, and what it is in relation to, the problem is easily fixed. This is often mandatory for programmers who work for employers.

Closing Comments

PHP Comments are quite handy as we can see, more so than most would think. From troubleshooting to simple documentation, the three methods of commenting have a lot of use to the proper programmer. For more information on comments in PHP, and in other languages, check out more books, articles, and magazines for a more detailed guide in using them effectively.

You can learn more about the inner workings of PHP Comments via a PHP Comments Tutorial to get more experience with Comments In PHP

It is hard to imagine many places a dog is happier than at a beach. Whether

running around on the sand, jumping in the water, digging a hole or just lying in the sun, every dog deserves a day at the beach. But all too often dog owners stopping at a sandy stretch of beach are met with signs designed to make hearts – human and canine alike – droop: NO DOGS ON BEACH. Below is a quick traveling tour of America’s beaches with each state ranked from the most dog-friendly (****) to the worst (*).

DOGS ON ATLANTIC OCEAN BEACHES (traveling North to South)

The rocky coast of Maine (***) is mesmerizing to look at but doesn’t leave much

room for sandy beaches. Dogs are generally banned from the beaches at the many

small state parks along the Maine coast, but dog owners will find more friendly

sands on the town beaches. Around Portland, the state’s biggest city, and the tourist

towns of the Southern Coast dogs are often allowed on the beach anytime Labor Day

to Memorial Day and in the mornings and evenings during the summer. The

spectacular Acadia National Park is one of America’s most dog-friendly national

parks but does not allow dogs on its beaches.

It is lucky for dog lovers that New Hampshire (*) has only 18 miles of coastline. State

beaches and parks don’t allow dogs on the sand at all. If you must stop in New

Hampshire, try the Grand Island Common in New Castle or Foss Beach in Rye during

the off-season from October to late May.

Around Boston, the beaches of the North Shore are off-limits to dogs during the

summer but other towns in Massachusetts (****) are more generous – dogs are

usually allowed year-round with restrictive hours in the summer. Cape Cod,

however, is the best destination for beach-loving dogs in New England. Cape Cod

National Seashore, America’s first national seashore, allows dogs on the beach

anytime outside the swimming areas (and not on the trails). The curviture of the

Cape limits sightlines down the beach and gives the park the impression of being

comprised of a series of dune-backed private coves. The two tourist islands off

southern Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, are both extremely dog-

friendly – on Nantucket, dogs can even take the shuttle to the beach.

The beaches of Rhode Island (**) are kept dog-free during the summer but if you

take the ferry to Block Island, dogs can enjoy the black sand beaches throughout the

year. In Newport, you can take your dog on the fabled Cliff Walk (poop bags are

provided at the trailhead) through the backyards of America’s rich and famous. The

hike begins at Bailey’s Beach, which welcomes dogs from Labor Day to Memorial

Day.

The sandy beaches of Connecticut (*) are not known for being dog-friendly. But

many aren’t that friendly to people either, with restricted access being common. If

your dog is hankering to try the benign waves of the Long Island Sound, stop in

Groton. Dogs are not allowed to experience America’s most famous beach at

Coney Island in Brooklyn.

The further east you go out on Long Island the more dog-friendly New York (**)

becomes but whether on the north shore or south shore you can find a place to get

your dog to the sea. Dog owners must pass on the prime destinations at Jones

Beach and Fire Island National Seashore until reaching the Hamptons, where the tails

of surf-loving dogs will start wagging. Many towns in the Hamptons offer dog-

friendly sand and at Montauk, on the very tip of Long Island, several beaches allow

dogs year-round, including Gin Beach on the Block Island Sound. The wide, white-

sand beaches of the Jersey shore are some of America’s most popular and there isn’t

much space for a dog to squeeze into in the summertime.

Most of the beaches in New Jersey (***), including the Sandy Hook Unit of the

Gateway National Recreation Area, open to dogs in the off-season. Summertime

visitors should take their dogs to Island Beach State Park, one of the last

undeveloped stretches at the Jersey Shore. Pets are allowed on the non-recreational

beaches in this ten-mile oasis. Dogs will never get to trot down the historic wooden

planks of the Atlantic City boardwalk, however – no dogs are permitted on the

beach or boardwalk of the Grande Dame of America’s seaside resorts. Dogs are also

not allowed anywhere in the Victorian village of Cape May but dog lovers can travel

south of town to Sunset Beach, a sand strip at the southernmost point of the Jersey

shore that is actually on the Delaware Bay. In the water offshore of “Dog Beach” are

the remains of the Atlantis, a unique concrete ship built to transport soldiers in

World War I.

Off-season, the sandy beaches in Delaware (****) are a paradise for dogs. Two state

parks, Cape Henlopen and Delaware Seashore, both welcome dogs between October

1 and May 1. During the summer season dogs can also share the beach with their

owners on select stretches of sand in Delaware state parks. In Cape Henlopen, the

80-foot high Great Dune is the highest sand pile on the Atlantic shore between

Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras. The concrete observation towers standing as silent

sentinels along Delaware beaches were built to bolster America’s coastal defenses

during World War II. Summer vacationers can take dogs on the Dewey Beach town

beach in the mornings and evenings. Along the Delaware Bay just north of Cape

Henlopen you can find several beaches that offer frisky wave action and wide swaths

of sandy beach – and best of all there are no restrictions against dogs on the bay

beaches.

The Assateague Island National Seashore is the prime destination for dog owners

heading for the beach in Maryland (***). The undeveloped dunesland permits dogs

year-round on the beach and in the campgrounds (but not on the short nature

trails). Keep your dog alert for the wild ponies that live on the island. Its neighbor to

the north, Assateague State Park, often celebrated as one of the best state parks in

America, is off-limits to dogs. If you are not roughing it on your trip to the Maryland

seashore, nearby Ocean City allows dogs on the beach and boardwalk between

October 1 and May 1. Traveling along the Chesapeake Bay, dogs are banned from

the thin beaches in Maryland state parks. Exceptions are the small beach in the

former amusement park at North Point State Park and the beach north of the

causeway at Point Lookout State Park.

There is plenty to like for beach-loving dogs in Virginia (***). Canine romps on the

clean, wide sands of Virginia Beach’s “Strip,” the commercial oceanfront from 1st

Street to 40th Street, can’t begin until the day after Labor Day but during the

summer dogs are allowed on residential beaches above 41st Street before 10 a.m

and afer 6 p.m. Dogs can jump in the ocean anytime at Cape Henry on Fort Story,

where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Chesapeake Bay. Fort Story is an active military

base, the only installation devoted to coastal operations, but its uncrowded, pristine

beaches are open to the public and dogs. Just to the west is First Landing State Park,

where canine swimming is allowed on unguarded sandy beaches. Check for seasonal

restrictions against dogs in these places. Just off-shore are views of the Chesapeake

Bay Bridge-Tunnel, one of the seven modern engineering marvels of the world. Each

span of the 17.6-mile crossing utilizes more than 2,500 concrete piles to support

the trestles.

Except for designated wildlife areas, dogs are permitted on the beach year-round

virtually everywhere on the Outer Banks in North Carolina (****). Cape Hatteras

Natonal Seashore has only four swimming beaches (in season) on its entire 70 miles

of protected coastline which leaves plenty of open sand for the dog to roam.

Seafaring dogs can reach Ocracoke Island and Cape Lookout National Seashore by

ferry or private boat for many miles of more undeveloped, dog-friendly beaches.

The northern part of the barrier islands has been rapidly developing in the past

decade but where you can still find access to the beach, unleashed dogs are sill

allowed year-round in towns like Duck and Corolla. Mainland North Carolina

beaches on Cape Fear are almost as dog-friendly; most swimming beaches restrict

dogs only during the day in the summer.

South Carolina (****) ranks among the most dog-friendly beach states on the

Atlantic seaboard. Get away from the people and commercial beaches and there is

plenty of unrestricted sand for dogs in the Palmetto state. Most of the smaller towns

allow dogs on the beach under voice control and only Myrtle Beach (from 21st

Avenue North to 13th Avenue South) bans dogs completely. One of the best places

to take dogs here is Hunting Island State Park. More than one million visitors

(human) come here each year, 85 miles south of Charleston, to enjoy three miles of

unspoiled beach.

Georgia (**) doesn’t sport much coastline and many of the beaches on Georgia’s

barrier islands and the Golden Isles are under control of resorts and most welcome

dogs except during the middle of the day in summer. Cumberland Island National

Seashore permits dogs but is accessible only by private boat. Savannah’s beach at

Tybee Island is closed to dogs.

Florida (*) ranks among the most dog-unfriendly of states. Entire counties and

regions ban dogs from the beach. There are so many prohibitions already against

dogs on Florida beaches that when they change, it is typically in favor of dog

owners. For the Atlantic beaches, the northeast part of the state around Jacksonville

(Amelia Island) offers some of the best beaches for dogs in the state but heading

south below Daytona, dogs are almost universally banned from the sand. Jupiter, on

the Treasure Coast, is one place you can find a break from the ubiquitous NO DOGS

ON BEACH signs. Fort Lauderdale has thrown dog owners a tiny bone – they have

set up a 100-yard long Dog Beach (at Sunrise and A1A) on Saturdays and Sundays

only from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

DOGS ON GULF OF MEXICO BEACHES (traveling East to West)

The Gulf Coast beaches in Florida (*) offer precious little for dog owners. Dogs were

once associated as closely with the Florida Keys as conch shells but today you have

to look hard for a beach to take your dog. Anne’s Beach in Lower Matecumbe and

Sombrero Beach in Marathon are two safe places. In Key West the “Dog Beach” is at

Waddell and Vernon avenues but there is really just enough sand to accomodate one

good beach blanket and the little amount of swimming available is treacherous over

coral outcroppings. On the Suncoast, seek out Bonita Beach Dog Park north of

Naples, the excellent Fort DeSoto Dog Beach and Park in St. Petersburg and the Dog

Beach on Honeymoon Island in the Dunedin area. Head for Franklin County, though,

where dogs are allowed on all the public beaches – and the only county in Florida to

allow dogs to run free. On the Florida Panhandle the Gulf Islands National Seashore

is the only national seashore that bans dogs completely. It is the same story in town

after town on the Gulf of Mexico across Florida. Near Panama City, dogs can reach

the water on Carrabelle Beach and Bruce Beach. At Saint Andrews State Beach, a past

winner of “The Best Beach In America,” dogs can hike the sandy nature trails and run

on the beach of the Grand Lagoon. It isn’t actually the Gulf of Mexico or the Best

Beach In America, but you can them from here.

For dog owners, Alabama (*) may as well not even have the few beaches it does on

the Gulf of Mexico.

In Mississippi (**) dog owners need to stay on the western coast in Hancock County;

dogs aren’t allowed around the populated Biloxi beaches.

People don’t seek out Louisiana (*) for its sandy beaches; most of the coastline is

made up of bayous. Grand Isle State Park is the only state park with access to the

Gulf of Mexico and dogs are allowed in non-swimming areas here.

In Texas (***), Padre Island is America’s longest barrier island and there is plenty of

room for dogs on its 113 miles of sand. At Padre Island National Seashore dogs are

allowed anywhere except on the deck at Malaquite Beach and in front of the Visitor

Center at the Swimming Beach. Galveston Island serves up another 32 miles of

mostly dog-friendly beach.

DOGS ON PACIFIC OCEAN BEACHES (traveling North to South)

Dogs on leash are allowed in all Washington (***) state parks, often on the beach,

but not in many swimming areas around Puget Sound. No dogs are allowed on

beaches in the city of Seattle. The uncrowded Pacific Coast beaches are some of the

dog-friendliest in America – even Olympic National Park, which bans dogs from

almost all of its 632,324 acres, opens some of its remote coastal beaches to dogs.

Dogs are allowed on almost all beaches on the Washington coast as long as they

remain out of the active swimming areas.

All of the beaches in Oregon (****) are public. You can step on every grain of

Oregon sand for 400 miles and, in the rare exception of a ban due to nesting birds,

your dog can be with you all the way. One beach dog owners won’t want to miss is

the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area with its 40 miles of sandy shore. These

are the biggest dunes in the United States – as tall as 500 feet and reaching two and

one-half miles inland at their widest point.

Northern California (****) would get plenty of votes from beach-loving dogs for

having the best beaches in America. Only a beach here and there restricts dogs from

its sand on the North Coast. Even in the highly populated areas, concessions are

made for dog owners. In Marin County a “Dog Beach” has been set aside on the

north end of Stinson Beach and many towns allow dogs on the beach under voice

control. San Francisco ranks among the dog-friendliest of beach cities. Take your

dog to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and have your pick of several

designated dog-friendly beach areas. At Baker Beach, dogs are allowed to romp off-

leash. Further down the coast, dog owners will want to visit the Monterey Peninsula.

Dogs are welcome to run on the Carmel City Beach and can slip into the water near

Monterey and Pacific Grove as well. At Big Sur dogs can enjoy one of the prettiest

secluded beaches on the coast a Pfeiffer Beach. Skip Santa Cruz and there are plenty

of opportunites to get your dog on the sand in California’s Central Coast, especially

on unnamed beaches.

Heading south on the California coast the water warms up and beach restrictions on

dogs increase accordingly. There is still sand time for dogs in Oxnard and Ventura

but things are getting bleak as dog owners reach Santa Barbara. In Los Angeles

County the beaches are for people. In Southern California (**), San Diego is the place

for sand-loving dogs. Several popular beaches have set aside “dog beaches” that

attract hundreds of dogs. Every day is a beach day for dogs in San Diego.

DOGS ON GREAT LAKES BEACHES (traveling West to East)

Possessing the largest surface area of any freshwater lake in the world, there is

enough water in Lake Superior (**) to easily fill the other four Great Lakes to

overflowing. Lake Superior is known for its cold water and rugged shoreline but

there are some sandy beaches scattered across its 300 or so miles of southern

shores. Other beaches are more of the cobble variety. Most of the shoreline is

sparsely populated which bodes well for finding a dog-friendly beach. In Michigan,

the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore allows dogs on the beach from Twelvemile

Beach Campground to Au Sable Lighthouse and at Munising, dogs can dig in the

sand at Miners Beach. At Sand Point, dogs can play on the beach until the trail

begins to climb the cliffs. In Wisconsin, dogs are allowed on the beach in Ashland

and in Minnesota, dogs can swim in Lake Superior at Duluth’s Park Point Beach.

Dogs will have to admire the spectacular dunes and sandy beaches of the eastern

shore of Lake Michigan (**) mostly from the car as dogs are not allowed on Michigan

state beaches and most county and town beaches. In-season, the metropolises of

Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin are even more restrictive. Chicago has recently gotten

its first official dog beach at Montrose Avenue. Belmont Beach is not an official

Chicago beach so dogs are allowed on this small patch of sand in a fenced area. In

nearby Evanston licensed and vaccinated dogs are allowed on Dog Beach but a

beach token is required for non-residents from May to October which costs $80 to

$100. Your best bets to dip into Lake Michigan, the only Great Lake totally within

the United States, are the national lakeshores and the state parks of Wisconsin’s

Door County. At the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore dogs are restricted to the

easternmost beaches at Mt. Baldy and Central Avenue until October when all

beaches open to our four-legged friends. In the Sleeping Bear Dunes National

Lakeshore, dogs can swim in the waves of Lake Michigan backed by some of

America’s larges dunes on all beaches except Platte Point Beach, the D.H. Day

Campground Beach and the Manitou Islands. Dogs also cannot make the Dune

Climb up hundreds of feet of sand.

Lake Huron (*) features 3,827 miles of shoreline, characterized by shallow water and

many sandy beaches. None of this will matter much to your dog, however, since the

Lake Huron beaches in Michigan are mostly closed to him. Alpena is a rare

exception. Dogs are allowed on the resort destination of Macinac Island, however.

Although its shores are the most densely populated of any of the Great Lakes, there

is plenty of opportunity for a dog to explore Lake Erie (***). The smallest of the five

lakes, Erie waters average only about 62 feet in depth and warm rapidly in the

summer for happy dog paddling. Ohio, especially around Cleveland, is the most

restrictive of the Lake Erie states. Try some of the smaller town beaches in Ohio and New York, most of which permit dogs outside of designated swimming areas. Some

of the best Lake Erie beachfront is in Presque Isle State Park, the most-visited state

park in Pennsylvania. Your dog can can hike the sandytrails past the swimming

beaches and enjoy the waves on the long, unsupervised sretches on the northern

end of the peninsula.

Not many people have settled most of the hundreds of miles of shoreline of the

south side of Lake Ontario (*) in New York. There aren’t many beaches and not many

bans on dogs – as long as they don’t try to swim with the humans.

Copyright 2006

I am the author of over 20 books, including 8 on hiking with your dog and the widely praised The Canine Hiker’s Bible. As publisher of Cruden Bay Books, we produce the innovative A Bark In The Park series of canine hiking books found at http://www.hikewithyourdog.com. During the warm months I lead canine hikes as tour leader for hikewithyourdog.com tours, leading packs of dogs and humans on hiking adventures. Tours, ranging from one-day trips to multi-day explorations, visit parks, historical sites and beaches. My lead dog is Katie, a German Shepherd- Border Collie mix, who has hiked in all of the Lower 48 states and is on a quest to swim in all the great waters of North America – [http://web.mac.com/crudbay/iWeb/Katies%20Blog/Katies%20Quest.html]. I am currently building a hikewithyourdog.com tours trailer to use on our expeditions and its progress can be viewed at [http://web.mac.com/crudbay/iWeb/Teardrop%20Trailer/Building%20A%20Tour%20Trailer.html].

Most are familiar with the old adage cautioning against discussing religion or politics in polite company, but a recent survey indicates that many are not heeding this advice when it comes to talking politics at the office.

According to a 2007 survey by Vault, 66% of respondents say that their co-workers discuss politics at work, while 46% have witnessed a political argument at the office.

With election season in full swing, impassioned political debate has the potential to escalate into conflict of a deeply personal nature, some of which may create bad will among co-workers that can far outlast the current issues of the day.

While a certain amount of political discussion at work is unavoidable, it’s not surprising that such talk often leads to heated and emotional argument. Political viewpoints often serve as umbrellas that cover a spectrum of deeply held personal beliefs that are informed by an individual’s religion, culture, upbringing, economic class and other influences.

Appropriateness: When and how much?

Best practice dictates that employees avoid political discussion of any form during the regular conduct of business. Interjecting political commentary into meetings, work-related email and/or other official communication is highly unprofessional and grossly inappropriate. Doing so drags down productivity, creates unnecessary distraction, and can potentially alienate fellow employees and/or clients.

While the line is clear in the conduct of official business, it’s not as clear when socializing with co-workers while on the job. The following are a few guidelines to help you steer clear of any unintended harmful side-effects that may come about when expressing your political views.

Be mindful of those around you:

While a boisterous political discussion may seem to you to be the perfect way to spend your lunch break, others may not share your enthusiasm for politics. Never take an individual’s silence as agreement. It is equally likely to signal discomfort.

Before launching into a political discussion, ask all within earshot two questions:

1. Are you comfortable having a political discussion with me?

2. Do you mind overhearing me talk about politics?

If the answer to either of these questions is no, then it is not appropriate to continue.

Remember that others may feel as strongly as you:

While it can be frustrating when someone refuses to be swayed by your

seemingly reasonable arguments, it’s important to remember that others have deeply and honestly held convictions as well. Bullying and/or pestering others until they come around to your viewpoint is inappropriate behavior and will likely create conflict, workplace disruption, and hard feelings.

Avoiding escalation always begins with the respecting the rights of others to believe differently than you. When in doubt, it’s best to “agree to disagree” and drop the issue.

Never make it personal:

People of good faith can disagree on all manner of things. A particular political viewpoint is nothing more than a set of ideas and has no bearing on an individual’s integrity or intelligence.

Never allow political disagreement to become personal. Always take care to avoid inflammatory language, personal insults, and sweeping generalizations.

Allow your sensibilities to be guided by basic courtesy. A good rule of thumb is to follow the same conversational etiquette that you would follow if you were a dinner guest in your co-worker’s home.

Handling Harassment

No employee should feel compelled to agree with or remain silent in the face of aggressive political advocacy. Attempts to embarrass, ostracize, harass or punish employees for their political ideologies can create a hostile work environment.

If you are uncomfortable with the discussion of politics at your workplace, it’s recommended that you make your feelings known and politely assert your wish to avoid political discussion at the office. If met with resistance or retaliation, report your discomfort to a supervisor or a Human Resource representative.

Distributed by http://www.workexcel.com

Free workplace wellness and mental health fact sheets on topics that include stress management, making the holidays more positive, planning for a great New Year, safety prevention, resolving workplace conflicts, helping teenagers stay safe in summer, and topics of sudden national, seasonal, or economic concern to employees and employers.

Car importers know that car auctions in Japan are a great place to find low mileage, high quality used cars at good prices. My aim in this article is to help you understand these car auctions in Japan better so that you can make a good, informed decision about whether to buy from them or not, and how the whole process works.

Why consider buying from Japanese car auctions?

This is a good place to start. After all, right now where you sit reading this article is probably many thousands of miles away from Japan. So why would you want to import cars from a country so far away?

There are two excellent reasons to consider buying cars from used car auctions in Japan.

First of all, the selection is immense and you can view all these cars remotely online. Auto auctions outside Japan may typically have a few hundred used vehicles, but only the tiniest auction in Japan would have such a pitiful selection.

In terms of individual auction locations, we are usually talking about over 1,000 cars per location, and sometimes over 10,000 cars (in the case of USS Tokyo) all in one place and being auctioned there weekly. Put all these individual car auctions together on the Internet, and over 30,000 on a single day is really not at all unusual.

So there is a huge breadth of choice. But that is not all. There is also a great depth of quality. The fact is that Japanese people just do not drive as much as people in other countries. An excellent public transport system and high levels of neighborhood walkability, in addition to the simple fact that urban driving speeds in Japan are incredibly low, all works together to keep people from using their cars very much.

Then on top of this the Japanese are fastidious in caring for their vehicles and yet it does not take long before the car they have seems old to them and they want a new one.

So, cars that are low mileage and well maintained are a dime a dozen. But the ironic thing is that the Japanese themselves are really not into secondhand items, so they don’t really want these used cars for themselves.

You can see where this is going: The car auctions in Japan have a great selection of great condition, low kilometer cars, but the Japanese people are really not that interested in buying them, so prices are relatively low and there is all the more opportunity for buyers from outside Japan to compete.

Car auction groups and locations in Japan

In Japan individual auctions are rare. They are usually part of a larger auction group. Here are just some of the more prominent groups:

• USS
• TAA (Toyota)
• Honda
• JU
• JAA
• CAA

USS Tokyo is the largest single used car auction location in Japan. This car auction runs once a week on Thursdays, and at peak season can have up to 20,000 vehicles all being auctioned on one day.

One auction group that does not have multiple auction locations (called kaijo in Japanese) is Aucnet, who hold their auctions on Mondays. Their model is a little different in that they do not have a physical auction house where all the cars are gathered.

Instead, they send out inspectors to car dealers who then keep their cars on their lots until they are sold. Since these dealers are still hoping to sell to a regular consumer at retail price, their reserve price at auction is often a little high compared with what a similar car might fetch at a regular auction.

How can you access the car auctions in Japan?

So far, so good. But wait a minute: How on earth are you going to be able to get a car from some used car auction way over there in Japan? You don’t know anyone there. You don’t speak Japanese. Even if you could buy the car, how would you ship it?

You need a Japanese car exporter to help you with this one.

Car exporters in Japan are set up to handle the process of bidding at the Japanese car auctions, transporting the car from the auction to the port, doing the paperwork and shipping the car over to you.

There are many car exporters shipping used vehicles from Japan, so this then begs the question of how you find yourself a good one. After all, we are not talking about trivial sums of money here, so it is vital you find one who is going to do a good job for you.

Here are some things to look for:

• How many auctions can you buy from, and can you access them all from one place online?
• Can you deal with a native English speaker who is also fluent in Japanese? (Nothing is more stressful than trying to overcome language barriers.)
• Does this exporter offer professional translations of the car auction inspector’s reports and help you really understand the condition of the cars in the auction?
• Does the exporter in Japan have good communication skills, keeping you in the loop about what is happening with your vehicles so you don’t worry?
• Does the exporter work hard to ensure your cars get to you from the car auction in Japan as quickly as possible?

Who will bid for you at these car auctions in Japan?

In order to buy from a car auction in Japan, the first thing you need is to be a member of that auction.

This usually entails being a registered business in Japan as well as having property as collateral and having a guarantor. This precludes regular consumers accessing these car auctions directly, so they tend to be a place where Japanese car dealers and Japanese car exporters buy at wholesale prices.

Japanese car exporters are usually registered Japanese companies and therefore have access to the car auctions in Japan.

Japanese car auction vehicle inspections

Car auctions in Japan have a strict inspection regime. Obviously the quality of the inspection can vary a little between auction houses since they are independent companies, but in general the grading system they use is very similar and easy to understand.

The cars and other vehicles are registered for the following week’s auction, after which they are inspected by inspectors who are qualified mechanics.

Now, it is important to bear in mind that these inspections are very thorough, but they do not involve any dismantling of the vehicle, nor do they involve test-driving it. They will often pick up mechanical issues very well, although problems which would only come to light if the vehicle is driven at anything more than the kind of speed you would expect in a parking lot can be missed. This is no fault of the inspectors, just a limitation of an inspection that does not involve a road test.

The inspector writes his report on an auction sheet. He gives the car an overall grading as well as a grading of the interior quality. He also writes details of issues that he has found. Some comments he writes in Japanese, and then issues like scratches and dents that relate to the car’s exterior condition, he writes on the “car map” – a diagram of the exterior of the car.

Remember you should not need to just rely on the overall grading when buying from Japanese car auctions: A good car exporter should give you detailed translations and help you understand what the Japanese car auction inspector has written on his report.

How does bidding work in these car auctions in Japan?

As we have noted above, only members of these auto auctions can actually bid. They do so in two ways: Either at the auction location (kaijo) itself, or online from anywhere.

The computer bidding system is the same whether bidding at the auction house on one of their machines or remotely online.

Bidding is very fast. Generally a car will be sold in anything from 10 to 45 seconds or so. The actual process may just look like pressing a button in a video game, but there is a real art to doing it right to avoid paying too much for a car – or equally letting it get away by holding back too much.

Sometimes cars will fail to meet their reserve price and bidding is stopped. It is then possible to make offers to the seller under the auspices of the car auction. Fewer cars sell in negotiation like this than are sold in live bidding. A good Japanese car exporter will handle the process of live bidding and negotiation seamlessly to get the best deals for his customers.

What happens after the car is won at auction?

After a car is bought at a Japanese car auction, the first thing that happens is that it is moved by car transporter to the port. Once at the port, the car waits to be loaded onto a RORO ship, or waits to be loaded into a container.

While the car is in transit from the auction, the car exporter will immediately start looking for bookings on the earliest ship, as well as doing paperwork to de-register the car and pass it through Japan-side customs.

Once on a ship, the car will take anything from a few days to over a month to reach its destination. This is mainly dependent on the distance of the destination country from Japan.

The car exporter will send the end customer the Bill of Lading, invoices, the de-registration document and any other documents that the customer requires for importing the car into his or her country. These import regulations vary from country to country so it is vital to check them before buying anything.

Conclusion

Car auctions in Japan can be a great place for car dealers and car importers around the world to find really good quality used vehicles at lower prices than they would expect to be able to find locally. The huge numbers of used cars in the Japanese car auctions that can be viewed online is another great plus.

The key to doing this successfully is to find a top-notch Japanese car exporter who both can communicate well, and also steer you safely through the process of buying from the car auctions in Japan.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to learn more, I have a huge amount of in-depth articles and videos covering every aspect of buying from the car auctions in Japan, including details about Japanese car auction inspections on my company website.

About the Expert Author

Stephen Munday has 12 years experience living and working in Japan, including 5 years buying from car auctions in Japan for customers around the world. His company, Integrity Exports, was set up with the goal of making buying from Japanese car auctions a stress-free and smooth experience.

This article is (c) Stephen Munday 2011. Permission is only given to reproduce this article in full with the URLs correctly hyperlinked and with the authorship and copyright correctly attributed.

Hiking can be a satisfying way to improve your health with exercise either alone or with friends and family, while enjoying beautiful scenery. Aside from purchasing the best hiking shoes for your trek, hiking does not have to require any other special equipment making it a very inexpensive exercise option. The right footwear will help you derive the most benefits from your activity while maintaining your safety and reducing muscle soreness and fatigue. Everyday shoes are not suitable for hiking, many special features of hiking shoes, also known as cross training shoes, provide extra comfort and protection for use on outdoor trails.

Most importantly when hiking, moisture should be kept away from your feet at all times. Hiking shoes are designed to keep outside water out, minimize sweating, and move moisture away from your feet at all times, preventing blisters and keeping your feet more comfortable. Whether you are hiking on a paved trail or a well worn path in the woods, hiking shoes will provide superior traction so you are less likely to slip during your outing.

Finding the best hiking shoes will greatly benefit even the novice looking to spend some time at any of the many local hiking trails throughout the country. Local trails are often concrete paved or well-worn clear paths and provide several different trails to provide challenge to the hiker who becomes accustomed to the easiest trails. The comfort and foot and leg support supplied by hiking shoes is important for anyone hiking for up to 5 or 6 hours on a variety of surfaces.

Hiking boots are also available, providing many similar features as hiking shoes plus features that make them suitable for use on more dangerous hikes. Waterproof design and some breath-ability are still important, as is the use of fabrics that will move moisture away from the skin. There are various levels of traction available, some suited to hikes in specific kinds of areas. Hiking boots can require more of an adjustment period than hiking shoes; they are heavier cover the ankles for better support, which also results in less freedom of movement. For hiking through wooded and mountainous areas consider a pair of hiking boots with built-in heel and toe guards for extra protection.

The extra support offered by hiking boots is imperative for anyone attending a hiking trip where they will be hiking for several days at a time. Areas covered in snow and ice can be especially dangerous without the superior traction of hiking boots and crampons.

Hiking with a heavy pack requires better ankle protection than afforded by hiking shoes, even on paths that seem safe and level. Hiking boots are available with different traction levels, so that you may need more than one pair if you plan on taking hikes in a variety of climates and terrains.

As a father of a 5 year old and a 7 year old, this is my first summer watching my boys play team sports. They played T Ball earlier in the summer and they play flag football now. Its great that they are able to play on the same team for logistics, but I’m sure that ends in the next couple of years. I’ve watched our boys take a lot from their team sports experience and I’d like to share with other parents what I’ve seen:

10. Teaches kids to “be on time” – both coaching staffs were very adamant that practice started at a certain time and held all kids and parents accountable. As the seasons progress, I’ve noticed our boys getting themselves ready for practice at the appropriate time.

9. Builds friendships – This is an easy one as we’ve seen our boys make lots of new friends, attend birthday parties, and basically just smile when they see their friends outside of practice/games.

8. Hand/Eye Coordination – Too many children are perfecting their hand/eye coordination by means of video games. Simple activities such as throwing a ball, catching a ball, and hitting a baseball do wonders for motor skills.

7. Creates self pride – When our kids got their jerseys with their own name on the back, the smile on their face was unforgettable. They really felt important and it created confidence.

6. Teaches kids that bullying is unacceptable – In both football and baseball this season, there were a few cases of some of the “alpha players” trying to assert themselves at the expense of the younger/smaller players. Both coaching staffs immediately addressed this with both the kids and the parents and the problem went away. Bullying is a terrible problem in schools and the more kids that can be turned off this path at an early age, the better.

5. Coaches are more like teachers than parents are. – As much as we try, we always see our children in a different light as an outsider….and that’s a good thing. Coaches, like teachers tend to treat the kids equally and hold them all accountable for their actions and responsibilities.

4. Kids are learning Math and don’t even realize it! – For all of you former football players out there, you’ll likely remember that each “hole” (gap between lineman) is assigned a number telling the running back where to run the ball and the rest of the team how to block a play. As the kids learned this, I watched several kindergarten level students now able to count by 2′s as that is the way the football numbering system works. Also, when coaches teach defensive players to run at an angle where the player with the ball is going to be, not where he is at….kids are getting introduced to geometry. As per my earlier blog entry…physics is everywhere as well!

3. Respecting elders – Talking back and yelling at coaches and other parents is not tolerated in most team sport environments and at the young ages of the players, this tends to stick with them away from the game field.

2. Teamwork – Team sports are a great way to teach kids how to work together for a common goal. Specifically, our kid’s football coach requires all kids to run their laps as a group (emphasizing that this is not a race, but rather teaching them to do things together) and has them chant and do their warmups together as a group.

1. Exercise – Above all else, in the video game/tv dominated world we live in, I’m elated watching my kids get a couple hours of outside activity including cardio work, stretching, fun games, agility tasks, etc. Remember when we used to spend every summer day outside? This is a great way to show our kids what was great about our childhood and keep them in shape at the same time.

My weekly updated blog features tips for science teachers, laboratory professionals, and lab supply resellers. I’ll often share helpful hints on travel, share new products, and promote professional growth events and trade shows in the scientific industry. Visit my blog at http://www.fischertechnical.blogspot.com

You can also follow me on twitter to be the first to know when we’ve updated the blog, debuted a new product, or have something helpful to add to the scientific community. Follow me at http://www.twitter.com/johngura

Fashion designers use flair and know-how to create everything from hospital uniforms to the eye-popping outfits worn by rock stars and models. Jobs for fashion designers are expected to grow more slowly than the average for all careers through 2014, according to government economists. A study of the work of several other fashion designers records how fashion changed throughout the decade.

Fashion

Fashion design is also a labor of love, requiring long hours and little chance of superstardom — but for many, the work itself is the reward. Fashion designers, in fact, are some of the most creative and eclectic people that you will ever meet. Men’s fashions during the 19th and 20th centuries have been conservative and dull in comparison to women’s. The fashion industry is a big part of our economy. Here is a short list: Chanel Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel (1883-1971) created feminine fashion that provided the feeling of luxury and combined traditional women’s clothing with styles, fabrics, and articles of clothing used by men. Her fashion revolution liberated women to express their femininity with elegance and grace.

The Hollywood film “The Devil Wears Prada”, starring Meryl Streep, has brought a lot of attention to the world of fashion. More information about Prada Versace Gianni Versace (1946-1997) became interested in fashion working in his mother’s small dress shop. By 1978 he had become a design leader of women’s and men’s fashions. More information about Giorgio Armani Jean-Paul Gaultier (1952- ) is a French fashion designer who never received formal design training. In 1967 he purchased the Polo label and launched a world-wide fashion empire that includes clothing lines for men and women.

Fashion

The high prices commanded by the fashionable Fendi purses have created a large market for fake goods from Asia bearing logos that are eerily similar to the inverted FF. In 1985, they took part in a fashion show featuring “New Talent”, and the following year, they presented their first independent women’s ready-to-wear show. You’d have to be walking around with a shopping bag over your head to not realize that fashion is everywhere. In order to succeed in the often cutthroat–and frequently debt-ridden–world of fashion, designers can no longer hide behind their model’s skirts.

Most fashion designers, however, work for apparel manufacturers, creating designs of men’s, women’s, and children’s fashions for the mass market. Employment growth for fashion designers will be slowed, however, by declines in the apparel manufacturing industries Designers in most fields are expected to face strong competition for available positions.

Most women of means had a dressmaker who would create garments according to the latest fashions. Instead of catering strictly to a few wealthy clients, coveted fashion designers now create product lines ranging from perfumes to pantyhose that can reach consumers at every price point. “Consumers at the middle and lower level have realized they can get just as good a fashion direction with clothing at disposable prices that they can wear once and throw away–or if it falls apart, who cares.

Trishia Lopez is a successful Webmaster and publisher of www.TheFashionGurus.com. She provides more information about Fashion and fashion issues that you can research in your pajamas on her website.

Encouraging a group of participants/players of setting their own goals within the team or for an individual is a great way of increasing motivation, keeping focus on the task in hand and building a sense of unity. The most important aspect of goal setting is that they are realistic and achievable otherwise you risk the reverse effect. When setting goals as a team, class or group it is vital that you take every one’s input into consideration. This important because this will boost commitment and dedication as individuals will feel they have an affiliation to the goals and a shared purpose.

Additionally, giving out responsibility shows you value their views. This blog would suggest that you sit down together as a group to establish the goals. If you are coach you may already have goals you have established for the team, now it is the time to maybe allow the team itself to come up with some goals. The coach can be involved in some aspects of goal setting such as process goals to provide technical information.

Here are three key themes to think about when setting goals.

1. Planning – This the period of constructing the goals and discussing the possible strategies to use in order to reach the goals. The goals can be decided within of a training session. Alternatively they could be set through workshops/presentations in a controlled environment. Also, meetings where discussions are held are advisable. One of your goals may be to improve team work ethic. In this case you may consider a pre-match routine which everyone gets involved in. It may be something simple as one/different individual leading the warm-up each week whom the rest of the group follow. The planning period is the key part of the participant/player’s mental development since they are learning how to set realistic goals in the future. Avoid emphasising outcome goals especially for kids and those low on confidence. Process goals are more suitable for the latter.

2. Meeting – The meeting period is about confirming the deadline/dates for meeting specific goals. It could be when a certain movement/routine has to be perfected. You can keep a record of deadlines team and individual goals by using Log Books and Diaries. Combine short term and long term goals. Short-term goals because it will help to give an immediate focus to the overall goals. Set long-term goals as this is likely to link to the main incentive which can maximise effort.

3. Evaluation – The Evaluation period is meeting as a team and individuals to assess progress and make adjustments to team and individual goals. Question such as: How are we doing? What needs to be changed? Are there any problems? What needs to improve? This can be after each session. If you are a more organised team/club then organise specific dates which are dedicated to collectively evaluating the goals.

Appropriate goal setting will reduce the possibility of anxiety when the goal is not achieved. Overall goal setting is important because it gives the participants/players perceived sense of control and self-confidence when they have been achieved. Another important thing to remember is to make the progress visible to the participants and players.

Often, when considering cooking dinner with a Crockpot, people may automatically think of soups, stews, a pot roast or chicken pieces. However, with a little creativity and a spice rack some delicious, impressive foods can be the result.

Slightly altering recipes from a variety of cookbooks and sources, Crockpot cooking need not be mundane. If you are leaning towards a recipe that calls for slow roasting in the oven, use the Crockpot instead!

One of the main reasons for not using the Crockpot with more creative recipes might be the fear of the unknown for some cooks. Trying something new with an long-standing, tried and true appliance can be a worrisome prospect to some and for good reason. However, trying and failing is better than not trying at all! If one recipe doesn’t work for you, try the next one, and the next, until you find a grouping of recipes that will work. Always remember to write down the ones that do work, so you’ll have the recipes at the ready the next time you wish to try “something new”.

The beauty of the Crockpot, when it comes to cooking, is it allows whatever ingredients you are using to marinate in their flavorful juices. If your primary ingredient is a pork roast, a slow cooker helps to create a tender, tasty piece of meat. In altering recipes from cookbooks, always remember, the lid stays on during the cooking stage, therefore any recipe that requires liquids will use less, due to lack of evaporation.

Some suggestions for the Crockpot might be lasagna, linguine with clam sauce, your choice of white or red, macaroni and cheese, fish with stuffing, Swedish meatballs with gravy, adding a layer of egg noodles for good measure, or meatloaf, a staple in most households.

As most gourmet recipes call for wine, flavored vinegars, olive oil or some combination of the three, some of the liquid is provided but when in doubt add a can of flavored stewed tomatoes, liquid and all, to provide some zest to your dinner table. In addition, if you find yourself at a loss for a liquid, you can always add a cup or two of beef or chicken bouillon or broth to add some flavor to whatever it is you’re cooking.

Crock-pots can be used to create a tremendous variety of Hors d’oeuvre, entrees, side dishes and desserts. With the array of sizes in which crock-pots are available, the possibilities are unlimited. Given the versatility of cooking with a Crockpot, you do not have to feel trapped with the same old, tired recipes.

Overcoming your fears and trying something new in your crock-pot will be an advantageous and delicious way to feed your family while not spending all your time in the kitchen, both before and after dinner. Try some new recipes in the crock-pot when company comes and give yourself more time to enjoy your company, which is really what entertaining is all about, isn’t it?

Gourmet cooking in your crock-pot is obtainable and oh so delectable! Your family will love you for it and guests will marvel at how much time they might think you have spent preparing a delicious, “time-consuming” meal making them feel even more special!

The author loves cooking and sharing cooking tips with everyone. Take a look at this article on becoming a gourmet cook for more gourmet ideas. For some more information on cooking for kids take a look at this interesting article at http://hubpages.com/hub/Become-A-Gourmet-Cook

Anyone who has seen the Lamborghini Reventón or the Aston Martin DBS knows that unmistakable feeling. It’s the thrill & the allure of the exotic sports car, overhauled & updated for the 21st century. Since their inception, sports cars have continually pushed the boundaries of both engineering & art. These are the cars that exemplify speed, power and beauty.

Alfa Romeo: The Grandfather of Exotic Sports Cars

Alfa Romeo first began producing racecars in Milan, Italy in 1910. Their first endeavor, the HP 24, turned some heads with its superior speed and handling. Chief Designer Giuseppe Merosi worked on all Alfa Romeo models from 1910 to 1923. When Merosi retired, racecar driver Enzo Ferrari persuaded Vittorio Jano to leave Fiat and take over Merosi’s work.

In 1925, Alfa Romeo unveiled the P2 Grand Prix Car, Jano’s first car with Romeo and widely considered the first “supercar.” The P2 was powered by a straight-8 cylinder supercharged engine, and placed first in 14 Grand Pix races between 1924 and 1930. Today, the P2 Grand Prix is considered one of the most rarified of the collectible antique cars, with less than a dozen still intact.

This year marks the return of Alfa Romeo to the United States. Their current sports car, the 8C Competizione, is stunning with its sleek lines, 4.7L 6-cylinder engine & a top speed of 181 mph. This car is destined to send ripples throughout the US market.

Ferrari: High Performance, Luxury Cars

After racing Alfa Romeos in the 1920′s & 30′s, Enzo Ferrari decided that he wanted to build his own racecars. He prototyped a few models in the 1940′s, but it wasn’t until after World War II that he found success. Notably, Ferrari’s exotic sports cars took first place in the Formula 1 World Championships, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Sportscar Championships throughout the 1950′s.

Ferrari’s Gran Turismo series remains its most successful lines, with the 2007 599 GTB Fiorano bringing even more luxury and innovation to the table. Patrons of the Ferrari Club of America cite performance as the primary reason for purchasing a Ferrari over other collectible cars.

Lamborghini : Exotic Sports Cars for a New Generation

Ferruccio Lamborghini had a successful business building tractors in Italy before his eyes turned to the exotic sports car. And it wasn’t a love for performance that stirred his fire, but a disdain for Enzo Ferrari.

According to Lamborghini’s family, Ferruccio purchased a Ferrari 250 GT in the early 1960′s and was unhappy with the handling & response of the clutch. He brought it into Ferrari’s factory and met with Enzo Ferrari to voice his concerns. Ferrari was immediately upset with Lamborghini’s complaints so he mocked Lamborghini and sent him away. Lamborghini went home, dismantled the car and discovered that the clutches installed in Ferraris were from the same manufacturers he used for his tractors. He installed a new clutch and vowed to create a higher-quality, luxury sports car than Ferrari.

While Lamborghini has countless models that produce awe and wonder in car enthusiasts, it’s the 1974 Countach that remains their most iconic. Designer Marcello Gandini, then just beginning his career, placed his focus on style over aerodynamics. With its scissor doors, sharp lines and low, wide frame, the Countach raised the bar for Lamborghini. The Diablo, the Murciélago, and even the 2008 Reventón follow in its wake.

Aston Martin: Unforgettable Collectible Cars

Britain’s Aston Martin was founded by Lionel Martin & Robert Bamford in 1914. They designed exotic sports cars and drove in competitions, but it wasn’t until David Brown became managing director of the company in 1947 that they were able to establish themselves as a maker of high-quality, high-performance sports cars. They introduced the DB line (DB standing for David Brown) in 1950, and many of their models have become synonymous with antique and collectible cars.

Newer DB models include the luxurious DB-7, which was designed by Ian Callum and produced from 1994 to 2001. This model won the Jim Clark Award in 1995, and remains Aston Martin’s most successful car to-date.

Where to Find Collectible Cars for Sale

Buying and selling exotic sports cars is a specialized process that requires a credible and secure collector car trader. Some of the best experts are other exotic sports car owners. To find out more about buying and selling antique cars or classic collectible cars the first place to look are exotic sports car clubs such as http://www.lamborghiniclub.com or [http://www.exoticcarrental.com/FerrariClubs.com]

Interested in online car dealers that specialize in buying and selling exotic sports cars? Check out http://www.chooseyouritem.com/exotics/dealerpage.html, ebay classic cars and a new website called [http://www.HighEndCrazy.com] These sites will get you started on the road to driving the exotic sports car of your dreams.

John Green is an Electrical Engineer who has worked for prestigious companies, such as Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Union Switch and Signal Corporation where he oversaw completion of large commercial projects. John was frustrated with hard to use websites while selling some luxury merchandise online. So he teamed with his brother, Richard, to develop a website for buyers and sellers of luxury merchandise. Visit: [http://www.HighEndCrazy.com] or email highendcrazy@bellsouth.net for more information.

The way you choose to furnish your home will reflect greatly on your personal style. Therefore it is important to think very hard about what you want before you buy furniture for your home. There is different kind of furniture for every room in the house. Whatever type of furniture that you decide to buy, it should accentuate the style and general theme of your house. Here are a few things that you might want to consider to help you buy stylish furniture for your bedroom, dining room as well as your kids’ room.

Elegance should be part of your dining room decor. The dining-room furniture that you get should be able to bring out the elegance in your dining room. The dining room set should not only be visually pleasing, it should also be comfortable enough.

Your bedroom furniture should provide a peaceful ambiance to the room since this is where you will be relaxing most of the time. You want to get the furniture that will fit perfectly into your bedroom and still leave some room for other things. Make sure that you get furniture that is of quality, stylish and comfortable.

When buying children furniture, the most important thing to think about is how attractive it is. The surface of the furniture also matters. Kids can be a little rough sometime, and you do not want them destroying their furniture when they are playing. For that reason, you should get furniture with hard and durable surfaces. It is important to buy the furniture that is discounted as this will help you save some money.

Buy colorful, playful and stylish Children Furniture to keep in their bedrooms. When there view exquisite and elegant Dining room furniture and Bedroom Furniture Sets.

This article shows you, as a vehicle owner, how to prepare yourself for a breakdown even

before they occur. And to help you fix problems quickly if you are into Do It Yourself auto repairs.

Breakdown Can Be Really Nasty:

Though we don’t pray for breakdowns, they do occur, and at the time we least expected.

The frustration, time wastage, and other losses incurred from breakdowns can be reduced to minimum

level, if adequate preparation are made for it.

The following steps will guide all vehicle owners who are into do it yourself auto

repairs, and help them to quickly tackle problems that surface in time of breakdown.

1. Prepare Yourself Psychologically:

One of the first thing you will experience
during a breakdown, especially if you are not familiar with car repair and maintenance is panic, you
don’t just know what next to do.

Just have it at the back of your mind that a vehicle can breakdown at any time, and even
without giving any sign, prepare your mind for this and use other points I will also show you to
deal with the situation.

2. Study Your Auto Repair Manual:

Get yourself a well detailed and well illustrated repair manual, and familiarize yourself with your car parts, systems and their functions. These are the
basics of Do It Yourself auto repair jobs.

Study the areas dealing with troubleshooting car engines very well, so that you can easily discern what happened when your car broke down, and you know where to go to solve the problem.

3. Become A Do It Yourself Auto Repair Mechanic:

This will actually help you to
tackle the problem, not only to identify it. Start trying your hands on some little repair and maintenance work now.

Join an auto repair site for guide and instruction (especially those crucial to your vehicle) so as not
to fail. You will be glad you did when next you have a breakdown.

4. Always Get Your Tools Ready:

Get a small toolbox, with necessary repair and
maintenance tools (you can get the details from your repair manual), and go anywhere with them always. You can’t repair anything without the right tools, and with them Do It Yourself auto repair becomes easy.

5. Always Keep Some Money With You:

It requires that you need to buy auto parts and accessories in the cause of a breakdown. Money can actually bail you out, so always keep them handy.

6. Get Some Auto Parts Ready:

You can buy and keep some necessary, highly-susceptible-to-breakdown auto parts and accessories in your car, like fan belt, plugs, etc, and you can just pick them and use, to replace faulty ones instead of wasting time buying another one.

7. Use The Service Of Auto Centres:

Register with a good auto centre and keep
their phone number handy. This is good if the problem is such that you cannot solve it, you can quickly call them to tow the car for repairs. Because you have registered, you can get prompt and cheap services from them.

Tope Olawumi is a seasoned auto-infopreneur, for more info on how on how to prepare yourself for a breakdown and Do it yourself auto repair visit http://www.all-about-auto-part.com/Do-It-Yourself-Auto-Repair.html You can also get the latest in cheap car part blog from http://www.all-about-auto-part.com/Auto-part-blog.html