How to properly find your stance

Opening day, cold temps, and a parking lot. You’re setting up your new board in the parking lot and realize that if you keep doing this you won’t feel your hands after awhile…

Don’t be that guy. Be ready when opening day comes. Set up your in a heated shelter. All you need is a screwdriver and a little bit of knowledge. A tape measure can also help too.

TIP 1: Angles

This is the direction your toes will point when strapped into the board. First, lay your board on an even surface, then stand on top of it. See what feels comfortable, having your angles the opposite or the same. The basic stance angles are between -18 to 18 degrees. If you’re planning on riding switch, make sure you have a little “Duck” to your stance. This means that your back foot is the opposite angle of your front foot. So say your front foot is a 15, your back foot would then be a negative 15. If your goal is to do some harsh carves, put both bindings at a positive angle. Try a variety of stances to see what you’re most comfortable with.

TIP 2: Width

The width of the stance is the distance between the center of each binding. To measure what your stance width would be, measure from heel to knee cap. This is what the normal distance is for most people. Make sure of one thing, that it is not uncomfortably wide or narrow. The typical stance width is a tad wider than your shoulders. The most important thing is to not feel awkward while strapped into your board.

TIP 3: Throwing it all together

For this step you are going to need a #3 Phillips head screwdriver. First, place the bindings on the board where you found what was most comfortable. Now you are going to want to place the center plates or as we like to call them cookies in the bindings. Make sure that the holes in the cookies match up with the screw holes on the board. Place the bolts in the correct spot, use the #3 Philips head screwdriver to tighten the bolts. An easy way to test the stance is to make the bolts loose and stand in the bindings. This way it will be easier to re-adjust them if it doesn’t feel right.

Once you have the bindings on and tightened, it’s time to strap in. When you strap in, make sure the binding strap is centered around the boot. If it is not centered you might have uneven pressure points, which suck by the way. If the straps aren’t centered, there should be something on the strap that lets you tighten and or loosen it.

TIP 4: Finishing touches

Before hitting the slopes you are going to want to dull or sharpen your edges. If you hit rails you are going to want to dull the edges just enough so it reduces the chances of you catching an edge. To dull or sharpen them you are going to need a file. Watch this short video on how to dull your edges. After you finished the technical part, it’s time to make your board look good. As everyone calls it, a “sticker job”, is an inexpensive way to make your board look slick. Die cut stickers or regular stickers can turn any board into a masterpiece. You just have to find stickers that you like!

CONCLUSION:

So, you’re all ready to go. Get to your Local Mountain, strap in and shred.

Kidco safety gates have always been the top choice among many consumers. This is because Kidco is a trusted manufacturer of all kinds of baby products, most especially their safety gates. For years, the company has already introduced a number of models that have been notable for their durability, quality, versatility, and safety. In fact, Kidco offers a variety of baby safety gate models that can fit in almost all areas at home.

What to Consider

Safety gates sold by Kidco are available in an array of styles, types, models, sizes and designs. Make sure to choose accordingly by taking note of the following factors:

• the height of the toddler or baby
• the installation area
• the precise measurement of the distance in between the walls
• the intended purpose of use
• type of locking mechanism used

These criteria will help you to select the appropriate type of safety device that will be able to satisfy your installation requirements and home setup.

Available Types of Kidco Baby Gates

There are various safety gates to choose from depending on your preference and special requirements. To help you spot the most suitable type, here are some of the safety gate models that you have to look into:

Kidco Pressure Mount Gates

These safety gates are top-rated by many experts. For instance, the Gateway Model G11 is ideal for those looking for gates that provide easy setup. The G11 gate model is best placed at the bottom level of the stairs to prevent your baby from climbing up. Those looking for stylish gates that will complement their home décor should check out the Premiere Gateway G150 model. It is one of the high-end child gate models produced by Kidco.

Kidco Hardware Mount Gates

There are three different models of safety gates for stairs under this category — the Safeway G20, Angle-Mount G22, and Angle Mount Wood Safeway G32. All of these models are highly recommended for use at the top of the stairs. The G20 gate model is a wall-mount, swinging gate that is 30 1/2 inches high. It can also be used as a window barrier or when blocking pets. The G22 model boasts an angle-mount hardware that allows users to install the gate in any position. It is the perfect choice when you are placing the gate in angled banisters or walls. Meanwhile, the G32 gate model offers an adult operated walk through wood gate. It also features a furniture-grade wood construction, quick release hardware, and an angle-mount hardware system.

Kidco Extra Wide and Irregular Shaped Gates

As the name suggests, these custom gates are intently designed to fit in extra wide and irregular shaped areas at home. This series features gates that form angles so they can be fitted in oddly-shaped spaces.

All models of Kidco baby gates are approved by JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) to be used with small children. This accreditation gives you the guarantee that they have passed or exceeded the government standards. Therefore, you are assured that buying a Kidco baby gate will help you ensure the safety of your little one.

For many bungalow house plan homeowners, they enjoy the look of crown molding, but just aren’t sure how to go about installing it by themselves, and don’t want to pay someone to come do it for them. If you are interested in adding crown molding to add some elegance to your home, you can do it if you take your time and think about what you need to do before the next step.

The thing that makes installing crown molding so complicated is that the wood sits at an angle between the wall and the ceiling. Installing the molding along the wall is the easy part. Simply make sure you have the bottom edge of the molding lined up straight as you go. To make the cuts for the corners you can use either a coping saw or a miter saw, depending on which one you are more comfortable with.

To get started, measure the length of the wall of your bungalow home plans. We will work with a short wall to keep things simple. Once you have your measurement, cut your wood to length in a straight line at a 90 degree angle. The wood will look like it could just squeeze into the length of the wall and stay. Now you need to move your miter saw to a 45 degree angle to make the corner cut. You will also need to think hard about the next step. The way this cut works is that the molding is upside down. You will need to imagine that the saw that your wood is resting on is the ceiling. There are two different cuts for two different corners. For an inside corner, the bottom of the molding should end up being longer than the top part of the molding. The opposite goes for when the corner is an outside corner. Once you are sure about the cut orientation, make your cut at a perfect 45 degree angle.

With your wood cut at the proper length and angle, it is now time to nail it to the wall using a finishing nail gun. Finish off the look by adding caulking on the top and bottom to seal up any visible gaps. Once you get going you will find that makes more sense the more cuts you do. You might even feel extra ambitious and decide to install crown molding for your vacation house plans!

Resistance training is the key to decreasing body fat, increasing bone density and developing lean, healthy muscles. But in order to maximize your results with resistance training, it’s important to mix things up; otherwise you will hit a plateau and stop making gains. To avoid this, you should incorporate a form of resistance training called isometrics, which allow you to really challenge your muscles and make gains, without any movement. In fact, you can perform isometrics pretty much anywhere, whether you’re in the gym, sitting at your desk or driving home from work.

What are Isometrics?

Isometrics are a form of resistance training that involves static muscle contractions. In other words, the muscle does not lengthen or shorten. For example, one isometric exercise is to hold a dumbbell in each hand while bending your elbows at a 90 degree angle and holding that same position for 60 seconds. Even though you aren’t actively moving, your muscles are still being engaged.

Benefits of Isometrics

There are many benefits to isometrics but one of the most important is that they don’t require expensive equipment, gym memberships or large amounts of space in your home. In fact, many isometric exercises can be performed using only your body weight, such as planks and squats.

Isometric Training Basics

One of the key things to remember when adding isometrics to your training regime is that the muscle gains you make are going to be joint specific. In other words, using the previous example, if you only train a group of muscles at 90 degrees, then any benefits you gain are going to be limited to that angle only. That’s why it’s important to use isometric exercises that train your muscles at a variety of angles, not just 90 degrees, such as 20, 40 and 60 degrees.

To develop your own isometric exercises, simply decide what muscle group you want to target, choose a challenging weight and then determine what angle you want to train at. Then lift your weight to that angle and hold it for three to ten seconds before releasing – that’s one repetition. You’ll want to perform anywhere from 5 to 10 repetitions for each exercise, five days a week. And don’t forget to vary the angles!

Dangers of Isometric Training

While isometric training is very effective, it can be dangerous if you don’t train properly. If you suffer from any cardiovascular problems or have high blood pressure, then you will definitely want to consult your physician first before doing isometrics. Why? Because isometrics are static, which means we tend to hold our breath during the exercise. This causes an increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure because of a reduction in venous return to the heart. To avoid this, you need to be sure that you always breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth during the entire muscle contraction rather than holding your breath.

We all know the major and minor aspects of astrology, and the levels of importance placed on them. But what of those aspects that aren’t given as much importance. Looking at astrology from a numerology perspective you would automatically take into consideration all divisions of the Natal chart by numbers one through nine. But main stream astrology focuses only on the numbers one (conjunction), two (opposition), three (trine), four (square), five (quintile), six (sextile), and finally, eight (semi-square). These are considered major aspects, with the sextile, semi-square and quintile all considered minor aspects in descending order.

Also, when dealing with the major aspects (conjunction, trine, square, and opposition), some astrologers will allow up to 10 degrees for aspects involving Sun, Moon, or Ascendant, but only 6-8 degrees for the other planetary aspects. The less important aspects, the sextile, sesquiquadrate, and inconjunct, are allowed 2 degrees of orb. However, the rarely used aspects, the novile and septile, are often listed in astrological programs at a default 0 degree orb and as such will only appear in a chart when an aspect to a planet, angle, etc is exact. So, bearing in mind all this active discrimination, what of these other numbers, the seven and the nine?

The number seven divides the chart into segments of approx 51 degrees, and is called a Septile, but is used very little. The number nine however, is rarely, if at all, used. The nine divides the zodiac wheel of an astrological chart by 40 degrees. This aspect is called a Novile. The novile is, interestingly, given much greater importance in Indian or Vedic Astrology in the case of a Navamsa Chart where each 40 degree section of the original chart is stretched over a 360 degree circle. This function in eastern astrology adds weight to the case for using this particular aspect more. After all, why ignore the obvious importance?

The Septile (7) is the first number of all the aspects that does not divide evenly. The general interpretation of this is that because this division is a somewhat irrational force of energy, there is something sacred and holy going on here. Much like the numerological interpretation of the number seven, septiles contain spiritual power and imply the possibility of cosmic intervention. Septiles indicate harmony and union, though in a non-conforming way. These aspects can indicate extraordinary creative efforts at self-knowledge and ultimate understanding. Septiles resonate with Venus, Cardinal, Air and Libran energy.

When operating as a transit they can represent roundabouts or forks in the road where we will choose which way we will define our future. 7 is Saturn’s number, so that’s why it is assumed these points deal with “destiny.” Character is destiny; you make your character by your choices; and you meet destiny with the creative use of your potentials. This is the responsibility that we accept as a result of Saturn’s lessons. Any planet septiling any other planet has hit a fork in the road of that process, a point where reason may not serve your ability to choose. Relying on your intuition at this point, and accepting guidance this way, will help with the irrationality of this energy.

A Novile (9) occurs when two planets are forty degrees apart. It would require a tight orb, but not necessarily an exact one: maybe two or three degrees. The novile series of aspects are related to the trines and sextiles. They’re all in the same family as it were. Interestingly the word novena is rooted in novile, and also is related to the nine muses and to the ennead. The novile conveys a somewhat charismatic, transcendental, mystical force, latent karmic details and spiritual growth. It is said to indicate development, or the ability to digest information necessary for evolutionary growth. Noviles can indicate ceremony and relate to marriage. Noviles resonate with Jupiter, Fire, Mutable and Sagittarian energy. This aspect can also symbolise a type of ‘bondage’ that people may find themselves under with regard to the planetary energies that are involved. It is an aspect that can help you to acknowledge and release past lives that hold you in servitude. This aspect is used a lot in specialist fields such as Karmic and Spiritual astrology.

A sharply defined and tight neck is associated with a youthful and healthy appearance. Loss of a good neck angle certainly does occur with age as the neck skin loosens and jowling along the jawline develops. However, poor neck shapes and an obtuse neck angle occurs in the young as well but for different reasons. Necks with a lot of fat above the platysma muscle, with or without a short chin, creates a neck appearance that is full and ill-defined.

A very effective ‘cure’ for this type of neck problem is the combination procedure of chin augmentation and neck liposuction. Submental and neck liposuction can be very effective at thinning out a full neck. As the fat is removed, the skin contracts up and back above the thyroid cartilage (adam’ s apple), decreasing the wide open neck angle and creating more visible horizontal and vertical neck lines in profile. Bringing out the chin, ,if short, will make the horizontal part of the neck line longer both in appearance and in actuality.

Neck liposuction and a chin implant is another example of a ‘ying and yang’ plastic surgery procedure. The neck angle becomes sharper and the jawline becomes longer. Each procedure alone produces an improvement, but together the effect of each is even better. This is easy to see before surgery through computer imaging. See the results of each procedure separately and then together. You will convince yourself if one or both is better.

The other benefit of combination neck liposuction and chin augmentation is that they are done through the same incision. Right under the chin in the submental skin crease, a small stab incision is made and the neck liposuction performed through it. The stab incision is then lengthened to about an inch through which an implant is introduced in front of and on top of the chin bone.

There is just something special about looking at a lawn that you have just mowed and edged. The smell of the freshly cut/trimmed grass! A personal feeling of pride! Just a combination of things that for that moment pushes all your other thoughts, worries, and concerns aside. Truly, a “feel good about yourself” time and a moment to savor! To help you enjoy that moment a little more, here are a few tips and reminders on using your McLane 101 Lawn Edger/Trimmer.

1. You will usually want to set the cutting depth of your edger blade so that the blade is cutting about 1″ deep into the soil. Setting the depth at this level should allow you to reach and cut the roots of the grass.

2. If possible, do not edge your grass when it is wet. Wait until the grass is dry! Edging your grass when it is wet does not give you as neat and clean looking a cut. Additionally, edging wet grass has a tendency to clog up the edger’s blade guard.

3. When edging along the outside (non-pole side) of a fence, set the edger’s cutterhead angle so the cutter blade angles slightly toward and underneath the fence. Edge carefully so the cutter blade does not hit the fence itself.

4. For a professional looking cut along flower beds and gardens, set the cutter blade at a 15-20 degree angle so the lower part of the blade is angled toward the flower bed/garden.

5. When edging along driveways and sidewalks, push your McLane edger at your normal walking speed. (Note: When you edge your yard for the first time at the start of the edging/mowing season, I have found that pushing my edger in a forward 2 steps then back 1 step, then forward 2 steps and back 1 step, etc approach produces the best edging results. This 2 steps forward and then 1 step back approach does a good job of cleaning out the edger blade’s cutting area along the driveway/sidewalk which has become filled with soil over the winter.

6. Reminder: With your McLane 101 edger, you do not need to mix oil with the gasoline.

7. As it is with any piece of equipment, it will be worth your time to read the 15 page McLane edger’s operator’s manual before you begin operating your edger the first time. (Actually, there are only about 7 1/2 pages of easy reading. The rest of the pages are cover page, pictures, a parts list, maintenance note pages, etc.)

8. When edging along curbs, you might want to try removing the spacer bar between the front wheels and then moving the right wheel up against the left wheel and then reinserting the spacer bar to the right of the side by side wheels. This should provide your edger with better balance as you cut along the curb. Important: Be sure you have your edger turned completely off before you ever begin to remove the spacer bar/move the front wheels.

9. Use a synthetic 5W-30 or 10W-30 SAE viscosity grade motor oil in your McLane 101 edger. This will provide you with the best temperature range for operating your edger. Many people use SAE 30 grade motor oil; but if you operate your edger using SAE 30 grade oil when the outdoor temperature is below 40 degrees, the edger may be harder to start.

10. A good habit to get into is to double check your edger’s oil level each time before you use your edger.

I hope these tips and reminders will be helpful!

Making Use of Gann Analysis to Get the Most from Your Investments

One of the pioneers of technical analysis is William Delbert Gann. He was a finance trader who developed a tool for Gann analysis called Gann angles.  He wrote a number of books, with the wall street journal hailing his book “Truth” as one of his best works. Over time, he began to release information on the techniques he used to make his forecasts on the stock market. He discovered what he termed Market time factor. To test his theory out, he opened an account and started trading stocks using his new theory on his stock picks. The result was very successful, and within three months he had made huge profits.

Using Gann Analysis for predictions and forecast on price movement were based on three things; price, time, and range. Using these factors for prediction, he looked at price study using a support and resistance line with pivot point and angles. The study involved looking at historical reoccurring dates that occurred as a result of natural or social means. This included the study of stock charts and performing chart analysis, which involves looking at market swings by using trend lines and reversal patterns.

The most important Gann angles is what he called the 1×1 or 45 degree angle. This represents one unit of price for one unit of time. There are also other important angles like 2×1, 3×1, 4×1, 8×1, and 16×1.Gann would watch for the most notable tops and bottoms to form on a daily, weekly and monthly chart. He would then draw his angles based on these trend changes. If there was an uptrend and the price stayed in the space above a rising angle without dipping below it, this would be indicative of a strong market. However, if the trend is down and the price remains below a declining angle without going above it, this indicates that the market is weak.

The results that are obtained from using Gann analysis will vary from person to person. Like with all other forms of technical analysis, nothing is fool proof. Investors who use Gann analysis in the stock market today should in theory get better than average returns. When doing technical analysis, it is better to use two or three other methods to fine tune the results you get. To learn more about technical analysis and how it works, you need to research and watch a stock market video showing how to use the tools properly.

Polarized sunglasses, like many great inventions, are used by many of us without a second thought. But did you ever stop to think about where polarized sunglasses come from? Somebody had to come up with them.

Actually, we owe the creation of polarized sunglasses to four men. In the 1750s, James Ayscough experimented with using tinted glass to correct vision problems.

Many scientists of the time were studying the properties of light and color. In 1808, Etienne-Louis Malus, a French physicist and mathematician, he discovered that light waves from the sun, which usually vibrate in all directions, can be aligned into one direction when it is reflected off something, like water. According to Malus’ law, the intensity of light transmitted through a polarizing filter depends on the angle of the filter in relation to the light.

While Malus’ law is important in the study of optics, it remained for Scottish physicist, astronomer and inventor Sir David Brewster to discover the angle at which light with a particular polarization can be transmitted through a surface with no reflection. This he did in the year 1815. The angle, called Brewster’s angle or the polarization angle), is critical in the invention of polarized sunglasses.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, experiments continued. People began using yellow- or brown-tinted sunglasses to counteract light sensitivity. People realized that color had something to do with polarization. The optical company Bausch & Lomb began producing a dark green glass to protect U.S. Army Air Corps pilots from glare at high altitudes.

However, it wasn’t until 1936 that Edwin H. Land, an American inventor, created polarizing light filter that was light and inexpensive enough to use on sunglasses. He later created the Polaroid Corporation and developed many inventions, including the Land camera, which allowed amateur photographers to watch their pictures develop instantly.

Land’s invention was quickly put to use in sunglasses produced by Ray-Ban, a unit of Bausch & Lomb. Ray-Ban also created the distinctive “aviator” frame that protected a pilot’s eyes as he repeatedly glanced down at his instrument panel. Army pilots received these glasses for free and as their popularity grew, Ray Ban soon began to sell them to the public. The polarized sunglasses helped pilots to see and complete their missions safely. Their ultra-cool and effective sunglasses added to the pilots’ mystique and soon everyone wanted them in order to imitate their heroes.

Polarized sunglasses are one fashion trend that continues to serve a useful purpose.

The general public are similar to crows in that they like shiny new products when they make a purchase at a shop. This is why it is important that the products are presented in their best light and most attractive manner. Measuring the level of gloss of the product, as well as the packaging that it is presented in, is central to it being appealing to a potential customer and them purchasing it.

How Is Gloss Measured?

The instrument used to measure gloss is a gloss meter. This is a small device which shines a known amount of light on to the surface at a specified angle; the angle and intensity of light which is reflected determines the gloss level which is measured in Gloss Units (GU).

The standard angle of measurement is 60°, but this can be adjusted depending on the GU level. For a high-gloss finish, a 20° angle is used, whilst an 85° angle is used for matt finishes. The adapted angles give a more accurate GU level for gloss finishes on the extremities of the gloss spectrum; high gloss and matt.

Why Use a Gloss Meter?

Gloss meters are not standard pieces of equipment for the general public; they are used by professionals in a range of industries. They are mainly used to agree on a level of gloss of a surface and set the appropriate machinery to create products at this standard and also for quality control purposes, to ensure that all of the different batches of the same product are being finished to the same high standard.

Who Uses Gloss Meters?

There are a range of industries that rely on gloss meters as an indicator of the shine and lustre of their products. This includes printing companies, paper manufacturers, paint manufacturers and the automotive industry amongst many others. All of these industries rely on the finished product being perfect and appealing to the customer and using a gloss meter to ensure quality and consistency guarantees this.

Overall then, measuring gloss is an important factor in many manufacturing procedures and for many products. There are a number of different gloss meters on the market which differ in performance and functionality. The most basic instruments offer only a 60° gloss reading, whilst more advanced equipment offers readings at different angles, as well as determining any haze or orange peel that may be affecting the finish of the product.