Elaine

Playing basketball requires vigorous moves like running, jumping, side-to-side movements, blocking, and shooting. This involves a lot of wear and tear on shoes. In order to reduce wear and tear, basketball players need specially developed shoes, like basketball shoes.

Basketball shoes help in preventing lower body injuries by allowing the players to move quickly and by helping to transfer body weight. At the competitive, level you have to choose proper shoes.

Different players require different types of basketball shoes. Some players, especially power players, need shoes with high tops with maximum ankle support and comfort. Some others, like all-around players, need mid-sole shoes. Speedsters need lightweight, low-top shoes with no restriction of the ankles. Many players use tennis shoes for playing basketball, but there are risks in wearing these shoes, like the increased chance of sliding, becoming injured, and slowing down by weak grip.

Basketball shoes are made up of leather, synthetic leather, or canvas. The most frequently used material is synthetic leather, which is more durable and lightweight than natural leather. Some use only natural leather but these shoes have a tendency to stretch. Many basketball shoes have combinations of synthetic leather and natural leather or textile.

Team shoes feature a highly durable sock liner. Today, there are different styles of basketball shoes on the market. When buying a basketball shoe, the most important things to be noted are durability, support, traction, comfort, and style. There are different shoes for men and women.

Basketball shoes are more advanced than running shoes. When playing on a hardwood floor, you need shoes that provide good traction, both for forefoot and heel. The basketball shoe size must be suitable for the toes, arch, and heel. Many of these shoes have pillow-like landing pads with elastic quality. Many have heel plates for increased support. Basketball shoes are available in different colors or as team colors, and the pricing changes accordingly. These shoes can be purchased directly or online. The price of leather shoes ranges from $35 to $190 for a pair, but canvas shoes are available from as low as $17.

Basketballs provides detailed information on Basketball Sizes, Basketballs, Imprinted Basketballs, Nike Basketballs and more. Basketballs is affiliated with Volleyball Clipart.

Do you believe that child labor is wrong? Do you believe that children should be in school as compared to a shop making clothes that people wear? If you answered yes, to both of these, you are not alone. There are many educational institutions nationwide within our country whom have a "Sweatfree Policy" with their curriculum materials as well as certain apparel. These particular institutions have adapted a "Code of Conduct for the Manufacturer of Apparel". The apparel industry has been exposed to rampant worker abuse. A man by the name of Andrew Ross reported back in 1997 the following, "The textile and apparel industries are a showcase of horrors for the labor abuses sanctioned by the global free trade economy, where child labor, wage slavery, and employer cruelty are legion." ~ NO SWEAT: Fashion, free trade, and the rights of garment workers, Andrew Ross, editor, 1997.

The following is some examples of apparel made in sweatshops: Sports uniforms (This includes gym uniforms); school uniforms; shoes, athletic shoes or sneakers; sweatshirts, caps, and other imprinted clothing with school's logos; academic regalia; lab coats and staff uniforms.

What is a sweatshop? A sweatshop is a workplace which consist of systematic violations of one or more of the fundamental workers' rights have been violated according to international law and site-of-production laws and regulations. The rights include:

Workers receiving a fair wage and benefits; Children not being subjected to working conditions that could harm them physically, psychologically, or intellectual development; Freedom from excessive work hours and forced labor, freedom from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and protection of workplace health and safety hazards.

A code of conduct is utilized to hold companies accountable. Most companies of today have adapted their own "Code Of Conduct", unfortunately, company codes are often inadequate to protect the workers.

The following is a list of CEO's and their compensation for year 1998, do keep in mind all of these CEO's are employed by companies whom do indeed utilized sweat shops.
Millard Drexler, GAP $660 million
Michael Eisner, Disney $177 million
Floyd Hall, Kmart $ 23 million
Phil Knight, Nike $ 3 million
Paul Charron, Liz Clairborne $7 million
David Glass $ 40 million

The following are samples of starvation wages around the world.
Guatemala 37 cents an hour
El Salvador 60 cents an hour
Nicaragua 23 cents an hour
Honduras 43 cents an hour
Haiti 30 cents an hour
Mexico 50 cents an hour
China 28 cents an hour
Indonesia 20 cents an hour
Burma 4 cents an hour
Bangladesh 13-20 cents an hour

These wages are called "starvation wages". I use to be one of those people that constantly stated that our economy can not be compared to other countries, I was innocently stating this believing that what US Companies were paying workers within these countries were fair wages within their economies, but after viewing the evidence of what the company CEO's are making and knowing that in countries such as El Salvador as well as others, these families are not making enough to even raise their families, I have definitely sustained a change of heart.

I do feel our own economy needs a serious facelift, but why can we not be humane about it? I feel that consumers have more power than they even know. I feel that consumers should hold corporations accountable to respect the rights of workers, but not only as workers, but as human beings and they need to be paid a "living" wage, not a "starvation" wage.

I do not feel we should boycott these corporations, for why should we? We enjoy their products, the reality here is that we enjoy purchasing these items, besides, boycotting these corporations would only hurt jobs in developing countries. I support jobs for developing countries, but I feel that consumers should want the people of those countries to have jobs with dignity and fair wages. I believe the CEO's of these huge corporations could spare some money to ensure the people whom are indeed aiding in their wealth can work with dignity and support their families, and if the CEO's refuse? The consumers should demand fair wages. What if these children were our own children? Our own families? This places a different perspective on things for every child performing these tasks is someone's son/daughter or someone's mother/father. This truly places a realistic perspective on this most often ignored epidemic.

For those of you whom are truly passionate about this issue, I have included some links that will educate you on this topic as well as direct you to organizations whom are striving to end "starvation wages".

http://www.cleanclothes.org/

http://www.globalexchange.org/

We have all heard reports that the human food supply was somehow tainted. Is this true or was it really just in the pet food? There have been reports that feed fed to pigs was tainted with poison and food fed to fish was also tainted. And thus the poison has supposedly entered the human food supply food chain in the United States. But is all this a Conspiracy Theory and a secret ploy? Is the Human Food Supply really tainted?

It has been speculated that this is all a ploy to get people to stop eating so much. This was told by one conspiracy nut case to be orchestrated by the Health Care Insurance Industry in order to help America lose weight and cut down on the number of folks with diabetes. It was thought that in doing so it would scare people enough so they might stop feeding their faces with so much food that they clearly do not need because America is too fat!

Just in case you think this is not real the homeless Vietnam Vet under the big over pass says he knows the truth, but is happy because if people eat less then they will share more food with him. He also points to the possibility that all the alcohol is also tainted and if you want to save yourself then you need to give him the alcohol to test to see if it is indeed safe.

He explained his new service. If you buy a six pack, buy two and give him one. If he is still alive the next day it is okay to drink your six pack and he only charges $5.00 for this service. So, you better think about this to save yourself from tainted food poisoning.

There are also some teen agers who offer the same service and are ready to serve to protect you and your family, but they charge $20.00 of course you can also pay them in advance and they will text message you the same day to let you know the alcohol was okay!

L. Winslow is an Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entreprenuer. Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.Calling-Plans.com and all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.

How do I get my oak port barrel producing?

The process to mix or blend a unique port from basic ingredients is quite simple. However, it takes time as it is difficult to define our preferred taste easily, so there needs to be a number of trials. There are some basic tasks that will reduce the trial time. Fortunately a barrel can be used to blend and mix different ingredients into a tasty drink.

Firstly, purchase your barrel from a reputable supplier, and select the accessories that you need. A stand is important, unless you can make your own and the style of tap and bung are also important. The tap needs to easily start and stop the flow of liquid and the stopper needs to be a good fit. As you will need to loosen the bung to let air in before turning on the tap, and replace bung when finished.

Most times, the supplier will provide instructions for the setting up of their port barrel, but if they do not, here are some basics. There are many other ways to produce a port to your taste.

First check that there are no visible flaws in the barrel itself and the accessories, such as chip or cracks etc. They may not be harmful. Fill the barrel with water, to see if it leaks. Many oak barrels leak if they have not had any liquid in them for a while, because the wood shrinks. Do not worry about this yet as in the majority of cases this can be fixed by filling the barrel with water and allowing the oak to swell so that the leaks are sealed. Make sure you leave the port barrel somewhere where the leaking water will not do any other damage. The most difficult barrel that I have had to deal with took four days to seal and has not been a problem since. Then flush the barrel a number of times to make sure that the water is clear as it comes out of the barrel.

Next, fill the barrel at least half full with brandy and leave for at least three days this will assist in the flavors later on. Some people drink these dregs it is up to you.

Finally, start filling the barrel with you choice of port. A good mix to start with follows. Mix fifty/fifty of vintage port and tawny port, and after a week add marsala for a smoother taste or brandy for a sharper taste. I usually add only 100 to 200ml at a time. It is here that clear explanations fall away as you would add the ingredients to your taste. Wait a few days between tastings. It may take a couple of months before the desired taste is achieved. Take your time and in no time you can top up the barrel with whatever ingredient you choose. It is best to keep the barrel at least half full.

Now that the port barrel is producing a fine drop, use a port sipper to enjoy it!

Some people use their barrels for muscat and other wines, or almost any other liquid.

We are researching this amazing product following some discussions with friends recently and found that Port had an interesting story to share. The debate about how to produce a good port from an inexpensive port using a port barrel at home is interesting as is the use of port sippers by some keen port lovers who like to taste port as it was intended by the maker. For more information go to http://enjoyingport.googlepages.com and enjoy.

Michigan is one of the absolute hardest states to find a job in. In fact, many areas in the United States have a surplus of qualified teachers and very, very few open positions to fill.

Why? It's the economy. The manufacturing jobs that were once the staple of the northeastern economy are going bankrupt and/or relocating in other countries, where labor is cheaper. (You can thank NAFTA for the job losses.) As high-paying jobs leave the state, young people with families leave to areas with stronger economies. Schools, therefore, need fewer teachers because there are fewer students.

The population in Michigan isn't growing much (if at all). The economy is dead. The state is getting less tax money as companies and people leave the state. And, yet, Michigan still has high-quality teacher colleges that pump out hundreds of candidates each year. The result: Lots of excellent teacher candidates in a location with no available jobs.

This trend isn't unique to Michigan. Similar teacher job markets exist throughout the northeastern United States, in places such as Upstate New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

So, if you're in one of these tough job markets, what should you do? If moving is a possibility for you, consider relocating to places with stronger economies and booming populations like: Las Vegas, Arizona, Carolina, Colorado, and Florida.

If moving is not an option for you, you can still get a job; you just have to work REALLY hard to market yourself. Schools still need SOME new teachers, though certainly not enough to seriously decrease the huge supply. In order to land a job, you'll have to market yourself so well that you stand out as one of the top 2% of teaching candidates.

Suggestions:

1. After you've formally applied for a job through a district's human resources office, send a paper copy of your resume and a letter of interest to the PRINCIPAL of the school you want to work at. HR offices typically forward 10-20% of the candidates to principals and ignore the other 80%. Since principals usually have direct control over hiring, you need to make direct contact with them. If a principal is impressed with your qualifications, he/she can easily arrange an interview.

2. Teaching jobs advertised in newspapers and on the Internet typically have TONS of candidates applying. Your best bet-- call schools directly and ask if they'll be hiring in the near future. Most jobs aren't advertised heavily (because they already have lots of candidates). The jobs that ARE advertised heavily will have way too many qualified candidates -- which decreases your chance of getting the job. So, use the phone book to find those unadvertised jobs.

3. Be sure your cover letter is so good they won't pass you up. Do something to make it stand out-- color letterhead, bold faced key words, bulleted lists-- something. Have a great introduction sentence that catches their interest. If you're not a great cover letter/resume designer, have it done professionally.

4. Practice common interview questions beforehand. Typically similar questions are asked at all teacher interviews. If you practice beforehand and think about what you'll say, the questions will seem routine and familiar.

Best of luck to you in your job search!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim W. is the author of http://www.iwantateachingjob.com Guide to Getting the Teaching Job of Your Dreams! It's a helpful eBook that describes everything you need to know about teacher applications, teaching interview process, 50 common teacher interview questions and answers, building a teaching portfolio, resume and cover letter secrets, and lots more!
Here's a link to an eBook about getting teaching jobs. It has advice for finding jobs, tips to polish your cover letter and resume, common teacher interview questions and answers, and more. The eBook has enough solid advice to give you an edge over the other candidates. It can be downloaded at: http://www.iwantateachingjob.com

Mobile home roofing is home construction convenience wherein the roofs are pre-cast before installation. This makes it easy to set on the house, saving the homebuilders time in connecting one roofing material to the other. Using a circular-knit rubber membrane that fits your roof, the mobile home roofing method is one easy system that gives home owners a shorter time to anticipate a finished job.

Components of Mobile Home Roofing

Mobile Home Roofing emerged in the US during the 1960's and has been used for over forty years in the West. The key element in Mobile Roofing is EPDM, or "ethylene propylene diene monomer", rubber which is 45 mil compacted and preformed and cut to fit the roof in a single job.

The material of mobile roofing is resistant to impact, puncture and tear. It is made to stand very hot and cold temperatures, as it builds motion and thermal shock. It also lessens noises in roofs caused by the wind, which gives a relaxing ambiance for families to comfortably rest. White Elastomeric Roof, Peal and Seal, Kool Seal Aluminum Roof, Brewer Cote Plastic Roof, Stone Patch Flexx Sealer are just among the many samples of mobile roofing styles.

After problems with leaks in mobile home roofing materials in 1978, a new type of system was invented by Bob May, which includes insulating the material then rolling out the sheet with the roof membrane. This allowed the roof to be automatically attached into the deck which guarantees the membrane to be fixed around the edges. Such a membrane radiates 78 percent of the heat of the sun, which helps warm up cold areas.

Cost Worthy

Not only is mobile home roofing worthy of a purchase, it is also cost-effective since it usually comes in a complete package. These mobile roofs can also last for twenty years or more with no special instruments used during installation. The set up of mobile home roofing can done by the local handyman or by the home owners themselves.

Also, with the help of roofing calculators, ordering for a desired roof size is made easy and less time-consuming. More conveniently mobile home roofing can be bought online.

Some websites even accept orders with customized appearances, making the roofs more attuned to the owner's taste. And if there is a problem on the roof ordered, calling for help is easier because mobile home roofing materials also come with warranties. With this system, everyone can definitely have their own houses without having to wait too long and, yet, be assured that they have sturdy roofs over their heads for a lifetime.

Ernest Jarquio is a dedicated family man hopelessly addicted to do-it-yourself projects. For more information, visit Flooring2Roof.com, where he discusses various subjects such as mobile home roofing, roofing calculator and roofing franchise

Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancerous tumors originating in the body tissue known as the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a specialized layer of cells that line and protect many internal organs such as the chest and abdominal cavities.

Types of Malignant Mesothelioma

The first type of malignant mesothelioma is called Pleural Mesothelioma or mesothelioma of the pleura. It is the most common type of mesothelioma making up approximately 75% of all mesothelioma cases. The pleura is a thin serous membrane found between the lungs and the chest cavity that provides a lubricated surface preventing the lungs from chafing against the chest walls. It also serves as a protective layer.

The second most common type of mesothelioma is Peritoneal Mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma of the peritoneum. The peritoneum is a thin serous membrane that encloses the organs of the abdomen. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a rare form of malignant mesothelioma cancer. This disease accounts for approximately 10% to 20% of all mesothelioma cases. It tends to be a more invasive form of cancer; patients diagnosed with this disease have a shorter life expectancy than if they had attracted Pleural Mesothelioma.

The third and least common type of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma also known as mesothelioma of the pericardium. It accounts for less than 10% of all mesothelioma cases. The pericardium (heart sac) is the serous membrane that surrounds and protects the heart.

There are about 2,200 new cases of malignant mesothelioma of the visceral pleura each year. Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose and is rarely curable. The most common symptoms are dyspnea and chest wall pain.

Causes Asbestos is the predominant cause of malignant mesothelioma of the visceral pleura. The period between the time of exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms is about 20 to 50 years. Because of this late onset, it occurs most commonly in the later years of life. It also occurs more often in men than in women.

Diagnosis

Doctors usually make an incision through the chest wall and insert an instrument called a thoracoscope between two ribs to view the area. Doctors will then do a biopsy to select a tissue sample that can be analyzed under a microscope.

Stages of Mesothelioma

Stage I: The cancer is found in the lining of the chest cavity near the lung and heart or in the diaphragm or the lung.

Stage II: The cancer has spread beyond the lining of the chest to lymph nodes in the chest.

Stage III: Cancer has spread into the chest wall, center of the chest, heart, through the diaphragm, or abdominal lining, and in some cases into nearby lymph nodes.

Stage IV: Cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues.

Treatment Radiation and radiotherapy are used in situations where the cancer is localized at the point of origin. Chemotherapy is used in more advanced stages of malignant mesotheliomas.

Cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic (heated) chemotherapy improves the survival and quality of life for patients with peritoneal metastases (tumors involving the lining of the abdomen).

Surgery is the option used for Stage I malignant mesothelioma. For stages II to IV, treatment by surgery is still evolving.

About the Author:

Dave Casey is a medical writer for Mesothelioma-Adviser.com, a guide for mesothelioma lung cancer victims. Visit the site for informative articles on the causes of mesothelioma, mesothelioma stages and treatment options.

Copyright 2007 Mesothelioma-Adviser.com

More and more Americans are cashing in on their homes equity by taking out a second mortgage. Home equity financing has evolved to meet the growing consumer demands for borrowing, spending, and building. One of the most powerful cash vehicles driving our economy is the new and improved home equity loan. Consumer debt is at an all time high, and home equity values are also peaking at all-time levels. Lets examine the primary reasons for the increasing popularity of home equity loan products.

Home equity lines of credit are revolving accounts that are considered to be second mortgages secured by real estate. These 2nd mortgage credit lines have become very accessible online. Equity lines of credit can be beneficial tools for homeowners if used properly. Helocs offer flexibility because you can borrow and re-borrow without having to start the loan process over again like you would with a traditional home equity loan. Another great home equity line benefit remains that you only pay interest on the money you access.

A few years ago, second mortgage rates hit all time lows. Over the last year and a half, the Federal Reserve has increased the WSJ prime rates almost 3% points. Unfortunately this has had the biggest impact with variable lines of credit rates. During this record period for rates, home credit lines were over 1% lower than the traditional fixed rate home equity loan. There are many reasons people continue to take out home equity lines of credit. Some of the most common purposes for an equity line are bill consolidation, home improvements and buying a second home. What people love most about the equity credit line is the affordability feature that comes standard with low minimum payments.

On the flip-side, many homeowners like the responsible amortization that comes with fixed rate home equity loans. With these fixed rate second mortgages, each monthly payment allocates a portion to pay down both interest and principal of the loan. In 2006, fixed rate home equity loan rates are actually lower than equity lines of credit. The fixed rate mortgage is becoming increasingly attractive to consumers. Fixed rate loans offer "peace of mind" because people can go to sleep at night, knowing that their payment will not go up.

Both types of home equity financing offer lower interest rates than credit cards. Increased cash flow and lower monthly payments are great benefits of home equity. Many lenders have expanded their second mortgage guidelines for people with bad credit. Stop playing the balance transfer game with your credit cards and lock into a low rate second mortgage. In most cases, consolidating credit cards with a home equity loan will save you thousands of dollars a year.

Barry Donavan is a business writer who focuses on home finance and consumer credit. In addition to writing, Barry is a finacial consultant and loan officer at BD Nationwide Mortgage. You can read more of his home equity articles and get more information about fixed rate second mortgages and variable home equity lines of credit.

Copyright BD Nationwide Mortgage Company 2006