David Bowie returns after years of being away from the music scene. His new album “Where are we now?” is a fitting composition for his 66th birthday. This new album has gotten contradicting reviews, with a minority gearing towards a desire to want to see Bowie sing and perform as energetic as he did in the 80s and the 90s. But then again, the entire gist of this comeback is mainly for Bowie to remember his youthful years and to hopefully leave a piece of his past behind. Does this mean that this is probably going to be Bowie’s last album? We really can’t tell for now. It’s Nostalgic, Not Energetic The song and music David Bowie offers upon his return is mostly nostalgic in nature. The videos are quite somber, which are perfect interpretations of the content of his music. This somber and nostalgic approach to songs has actually earned the approval of most of his critics. In fact, the Evening Standard preferred to his new album as stunningly beautiful while the Telegraph said it is a very emotional and surprising yet very welcome comeback in rock history. Only David Bowie can do these songs with so much emotion and experience that they would pierce through your very souls. David Bowie’s decision to create this new album is pretty much a surprise. It must be remembered that Bowie how has reportedly declined invitations to sing during the London Olympics and even turned down several opportunity’s to come back to the music arena. So, what made him change his mind? You can read more in our March/April 2013 issue of ModelsMania. Subscribe today and don't miss a single issue!

There is nothing more relaxing than having a good massage that would soothe your body and mind. But depending on the type of massage that you are getting, the impact on the body and mind could largely differ as well. Sexy massages, also known as erotic massages, offer pleasure and relaxation that is unmatched.
Its use has evolved greatly from merely offering relaxation to being used as a technique to increase the level of pleasure and arousal that one can get from sexual intimacy. Several couples have utilized this particular technique to unleash exotic energy that act as prelude to a more satisfying lovemaking experience. Whatever your reason for getting this type of massage, you are bound to enjoy wonderful benefits inside and out.
Introduction to Sexy Massages
Sexy massages were developed mainly for stimulating or increasing one’s libido, as well as to enhance sexual arousal. Its main differences with a typical type of massage are the techniques used and concentration in the area of body where massage is performed. The concept of sensual massage for erotic reasons is not an entirely new concept, though. But it hasn’t gained wide acceptance until recently wherein lovers used it to make their lovemaking more exciting and pleasurable, or as part of their foreplay technique.
Despite the common misconception that sexy or erotic massages are rooted only on the physical, it is actually based on something that is much deeper than that. The manipulation and stroking of erogenous body parts is only the start as it is a combination of external and internal stimulation. The main goal for performing this type of massage is mainly to increase your sensitivity and build up more physical alertness, which eventually leads to heightened level of sexual arousal. Thus, there are many physical and emotional benefits that a sensual massage could bring to the receiver. But it has recently been a top choice for prelude to sexual activity or intimacy between a couple, wherein they can enjoy more pleasure and excitement from the act.
There is an ongoing debate on the appropriate term to use when describing sexy massages. Erotic massage seems to be an accepted term, as well as sensual massage. However, the use of the term “sexual massage” seem to irk a lot of people because it tends to convey the idea that sex services are also offered, not just massages. Today, the range of services offered depends on one massage parlor to another.
You can read more of this article in our Jan/Feb 2013 issue of ModelsMania. 

History and Evolution

The history of sensual massage is quite long, which can go as far back as the 10^th century when Kama Sutra was introduced to everyone. This is a collection of basic to complex techniques involved in lovemaking, as well as other activities that would bring out excitement to those who are engaged in such act. The Western concept of erotic massage viewed this as a therapeutic activity.

In fact, this was a common technique used for sufferers of female hysteria during that time. The woman’s genital zone is being massaged in order to cure the symptoms of this condition, which was quite common during that time.

Animal cruelty comes in many forms and they include animal experimentation, fur farming, dog fighting, slaughterhouse abuse, abandonment, and so much more. Some of the more mainstream types of abuse we hear of nearly every day include the many pets that are awaiting their turn to be euthanized in shelters and how some of the major pet stores in the United States buy their puppies from puppy mills that abuse the many dogs that they are using to generate their profits. And what about the dogs at the dog track? They may seem like they are really excited to catch the rabbit, but what did those dogs go through earlier in the day? What happens to them after they are done racing? Most importantly, what happens to a greyhound when it stops being profitable?

It is obvious that animal cruelty is something that is a major problem in the United States, but it is also a significant problem around the world. Asia has a dog and cat meat trade, animals are used in Chinese medicine, elephants are meeting their demise in the African and Asian ivory trade, and poachers are always going after endangered species on practically every continent. Animals are living creatures that feel pain and feel emotion and that physical and emotional pain inflicted by others does affect human beings more than many would think.

Pets on Death Row & Shelters

Right now, there are tens of thousands of dogs and cats that are awaiting adoption or waiting to be euthanized in kill shelters. There are many rescue organizations that pay “pull fees” to pull the animals on death row from the shelter so that they can be placed in no-kill shelters or in foster homes while they await adoption.

Unfortunately, the average pull fee is $25 and this can become very expensive for rescue organizations that rely strictly on donations and grants to pull animals and have them vetted. Usually when these animals are pulled, they are found lounging in their own feces, they are not adequately fed, they have mange and other diseases, and the kennels that they are kept in are very small. Because of the overcrowding issue within shelters, there tends to be more than one animal in the already small kennel and the conditions are filthy.

As for the way to reduce the shelter population, which will result in fewer animals dealing with the filth, poor feeding, and possible physically abusive environment is to adopt from the shelter before considering buying a pet anywhere else. This can save the pet’s life. If you can’t adopt, you can donate money for pull fees or donate to the vetting of pets by rescue organizations. Many organizations utilize a “chip in” website that allows donors to donate toward the vet fees of a specific animal. The more funding these organizations receive, the more pets they can save. If you say you are unable to donate because cash is tight, you can volunteer with a rescue organization.
You can read more of this article in our Jan/Feb 2013 issue of ModelsMania. 

Intro – Photographing on sunny beaches is a dream come true to all kinds of photographers. If you are shooting models, the Hawaiian backdrops can add such a unique touch of sun and sand to your images, and if you are a landscape photographer you would find no dearth of interesting compositions and quality of light to work with. Even if you were an astro-photographer, you would find clear skies with comparatively little pollution to help you shoot the night skies…let’s look at some of the photo opportunities a place like Hawaii can give you, and let us get you started with tips and tricks to get rolling from day 1!

Shooting Models

The Right Timing – And by this we aren’t speaking of the decisive moment…whenever you plan a shoot, especially a commercial one, you need to take into account the climatic condition of the venue. Hawaii islands can broadly be classified as receiving dry and wet days in a pretty systematic schedule - the dry season from May to October, and the wet season from October to April…needless to say, you will want to target the dry climate if you are going to be doing any outdoor photography whatsoever, unless you are planning on something radically different (shoot models in the rain?)…

The Right Equipment – The choice of equipment that you choose to include in your kit bag is obviously governed by the nature of the shoot. If you are planning to shoot models, a basic portraiture set-up should do, and we recommend the inclusion of lenses from 50mm to 300mm, the faster the apertures the more options you will have with depth of field. You may also want to include portable flash units powerful enough to overpower the sun (more on this later), and reflectors to add. If you are planning to shoot models, a 35mm styled SLR should do nicely or maybe even a medium format. You can leave your 4 x 5 at home in most situations when shooting models (unless again you have something very specific planned out that requires large format). So, a DSLR, a 70-200 and at least one portable off-camera flash unit can give you enough to set up a very interesting portrait shoot on the beaches of Hawaii! Last but not the least, someone to assist you would help immensely, considering the sea breeze that your portable flash may have to withstand (and also your reflectors)…sand bags can help weigh down the flash and reflector stands as well.

Visualizing the Images – We always advise that the best way to get the most out of your photo shoot is not ‘trial and error’ or ‘let’s see how it goes’, but a step by step methodical approach to achieving a pre-visualized image, even if you want the candid feel! For this, a scouting of the venue is extremely critical well before the shoot, at least a couple of days in advance if not more. Take a walk around the venue and just let your imagination take over completely.
You can read more of this article in the Jan/Feb 2013 issue of ModelsMania.

Too much indifference creates a feeling of superiority that often times influences how you deal with others. There are many reasons why indifference happens and among these include bad childhood experiences, lack of self-confidence (otherwise known as living in fear), lack of self-worth, and probably the inability to cope with disappointment.

There are many ways with which a person attacks others. They could be done vis-à-vis the person attacked or via the more modern forms of communication like mobile phones and the Internet.

 Bullying in Schools

 Schools report an increase in the number of bullying cases involving students. In fact, current statistics show that almost 70% of all students in middle high school and high school have experienced a form of bullying. In addition, there have even been reports of suicides following a bullying episode. A renowned case is that of Phoebe Prince who hanged herself in 2010 after suffering from bullies for a period of time.

Bullying in schools causes irreversible damage and it can be physical, emotional or verbal. It oftentimes begins with a group of students attacking or isolating a certain individual who is physically weaker than the dominating group.

Physical bullying includes any unwanted physical contact between the one being bullied and the one who’s doing the bullying. Examples of these unwanted physical contacts include, but are not limited to, shoving, kicking, punching, tickling, teasing, fighting, and headlocks, and so on.

Emotional bullying is a form of an attack that causes temporary or permanent damage to the victim’s emotional well-being. Common examples of emotional attacks include the spreading of malicious rumors, ignoring people on purpose, harassment, and provocation, and so on.

Meanwhile, verbal bullying is all about the use of any slanderous statements that may result to any degree of undue emotional distress. Verbal bullying may include the use of foul language, rumors, harassment, and negative comments.

The last form of attack that happens in school is called sexual bullying. This is the least talked about form of bullying that is more commonly directed to girls. This happens when sexuality is used as a weapon to create discomfort, fear and distress. In fact, a survey on schools reveals that of the 273 respondents, 28 have been forced to do something sexual while 31 have seen it happening to someone they know. In addition, 40 of the respondents have experienced unwanted touching. Sexual bullying happens when children desire some sort of protection from gangs found in school.

But teachers can also be perpetrators of any or all of the above-mentioned attacks in school. They can humiliate a student or exclude him or her from activities. Bystanders may oftentimes take the side of the more dominant group or teacher for fear of becoming the next victim. In most cases, bullied students may also be treated with indifference; thereby making the situation more difficult.

Since bullied students become isolated, they develop defense mechanisms that may hinder social interaction. Most of these mechanisms affect the victim’s level of confidence.
You can read more of this article in our Jan/Feb 2013 issue of ModelsMania. 

Sports gambling and sports betting occur both on the Internet and off the Internet. Individuals bet in a number of different sports with the intentions of making some money. Basically, what betters do is predict the results of a game and they place a wager on their predicted outcome.

Sports gambling and sports betting occur all over the world. However, this is just not the act of making a bet with a friend on the results of a baseball or football game. Actual sports betting involves using a bookmaker or making bets through a website dedicated to sports gambling.

If using a bookmaker, or a bookie, he or she will use a point spread in order to adjust the odds in his or her favor. The idea is to balance the book in order to guarantee a profit. A strategy used to achieve this can be to get an equal number of bets for each possible outcome. He or she may also get the amounts wagered in order to reflect the odds. A bookmaker may even reduce the risk by purchasing bets from fellow bookmakers. The goal of a bookmaker is to profit no matter what the outcome is for the work that they have done to try and make a profit for those using them to wager.

In the United States, Nevada is the only state in which bookmaking is not illegal. It is also illegal in various places around the world. Countries such as Canada, Sweden, and Japan will only allow sports gamblers to use state-owned bookmakers. In Canada, their state-owned bookmaker is part of their lottery.

So in the United States, this means that many turn to online gambling to place wagers on their team preferences. These Internet outlets are not bookmakers, but simply a venue in which wagers can be placed. There is not an individual working behind the scenes to balance the books. It is “ever man or woman for him or herself.” In this case, a winner is a winner and they collect their winnings through the payment service used to pool the money and then disperse the winnings to the winner(s).

There are cases where sports bettors in the United States will go online and use bookmakers in other countries. The law in the United States simply states that that an individual can’t operate a scheme. In a number of European nations, bookmaking is regulated. There are some states within the U.S. considering joining Nevada and legalizing bookmaking as long as there are some regulations in place. States such as New Jersey and Delaware have shown interest. Nevertheless, polls have been conducted that show a majority of Americans do not support the legalization of sports betting. Sports betting in off-track events are forbidden in some jurisdictions.
You can read more in our special Feb 2013 issue of Modelsmania.

Scuba diving for leisure is an activity reserved for those who can pay for it. It requires training and the use of the right equipment. Scuba diving spots are locations where the sea flora and fauna are most abundant. But there is one form of scuba diving that does not only showcase the diversity of life under the sea, but as a means to locate sunken treasures. Yes, sunken treasures are not just myths. In fact, over the years, a number of gems and artifacts have been brought to the surface by strategic divers who took the time and effort to locate the “treasure hotspots”.

 Below are some of the top treasures found during several sunken treasure diving activities over the last decade:

 1.      Cleopatra’s Palace
Found off the waters of Alexandria, artifacts from Cleopatra’s palace and temple are strong representations of the last dynasty that ruled Egypt. Ruins, composed of everything from coins to common household objects, prove the accuracy of the descriptions published by Greek geographers and historians more than 2,000 years ago.

Unlike other lost cities where only fragments remain in existence, Cleopatra’s Palace and Temple are intact because as though the salty waters have preserved them to what they were prior to that cataclysmic earthquake that brought them under the sea. The original architecture is still there, together with a number of ornaments, jewels, stone heads of Caesarion and Julius Caesar, ceramic, bronze ritual vessels, small statutes of pharaohs, and amulets and so on.
2.      A Trove of Emeralds
A trove of emeralds, with an estimated worth of $500 million, started a legal tussle between the divers who discovered them, the middle man, the company who financed the salvage operation and the federal government.

Jay Miscovich is said to have found the treasure in an undisclosed location and sought the help of an individual financer who then turned to a large salvage company for help. It is said that sacks of emeralds were recovered but only Miscovich and the middle man saw and touched them. The legal battle is still on and is expected to wage for a few more years because of the amount of money involved.

3.      “Black Swan”

Five hundred thousand pieces of coins, worth $500 million, were discovered off the southwestern coast of England in 2007. Reports say that the coins were salvaged at a ship wreck found outside the territorial borders of any country. There is no fixed value of each coin because it is determined by rarity and condition. So in order to keep their values high, the treasure hunters were advised to do a controlled release of the coins into the market of eager investors and collectors.

4.      Nuestra Senora de Atocha
History has it that when the Nuestra Senora de Atocha sank in 1622, it was ferrying copper, gold, silver, gems and other jewelry. These items were scattered all over the seafloor and were preserved by their sediment casings.
You can read more of this article in the special Feb 2013 issue of ModelsMania.

Every woman’s body is hardwired to achieve multiple orgasms in one bed session. This is because a woman requires no refractory period so it is possible for you to stay aroused for longer and have multiple orgasms.

 Although a single yet mind-blowing orgasm may make you call it a night, there will always be times that you would want to keep going. Blame it to the hormones but if these times ever come, here are some orgasm tips to take to the sack:

 1.      Double the sexercise.
To achieve multiple orgasms, stretch the muscles down there. Studies show that strong PC muscles (or vaginal muscles) are crucial components to multiple whole-body earthquakes. Although they won’t help you moan with pleasure, they help you withhold urine to really reach your climax. Remember that most women can’t get there because they get distracted with the “feeling” of having to go pee.
PC muscle exercise is called the Kegel exercise. It involves the repeat clenching and releasing of these muscles on the pelvic floor. At first, the sensation brought about by this exercise will make you feel uncomfortable but once you’ve mastered it, you’ll thank the person who discovered Kegel.
Another study confirms the usefulness of the Kegel exercise. By motivating your muscles down there, you are strengthening the pelvic floor thereby improving the blood circulation for a deeper pleasure sensation.
But aside from the Kegel exercise, there’s another yet even more powerful sexercise that you can do. This is called the Pelvic Connecting Crunch. To do this, you would simply lay on your back with a ball in between your bent knees. Then, you would have to engage your pelvic muscles by doing the Kegel. With that, start lifting your head and shoulders lightly off the ground until you fill the tension extend up your spine and stomach.
Do these exercises to get your PC muscles in excellent condition. Soon, you’ll be able to use better PC muscles to your advantage. Keep pumping those muscles and don’t stop at the first feel of an orgasm. Keep pumping until you’ve gone completely into the pleasurable beyond.

2.      Connect your mind to your body.
Now that you’ve mastered the two sexercises mentioned, it’s time to start the humping. But before you get into bed, connect your mind to your body. A lot of people don’t achieve orgasm because they are simply not focused on the sex. Rather, they have a thousand of other things running in their head. So if you have to feel good, condition your mind to feel good.
You can conjure images of your man showering or some other sexy images that can make you wet and wanting. If it helps, watch a quick porn movie while he is still in the shower. Better yet, watch the movie together. You have to anticipate an orgasm because otherwise, you will be limiting your body’s pleasure responses.
You can read more of this article in our special Jan 2013 issue of ModelsMania.

With the most romantic day of the year upon us, you might be thinking of things you can do for your partner. You may even be looking more closely at your relationship. While any improvement and extra effort in the bedroom is always appreciated, you might find it's officially time to spice things up a little bit more. Valentine's Day is a great way to kick that off. Flowers and chocolate are great, but nothing beats one hell of an orgasm. Check out some of these ways you can spice up your bedroom this Valentine's Day and beyond.

Try watching an adult movie together. There's a good chance one of you is already engaging in a little adult film delight, so why not join them? Find a few videos that get you going and surprise them with them. Find a video that has a move or position that you've be interested in trying, but weren't sure how to go about it. This will work as a great segue way for the two of you.

If porn isn't your thing, you could always try incorporating a few sex toys into your routine. Go small and get a cock ring or vibrating bullet or go big and get a sex swing or bondage kit. Shopping on your own and surprising your partner can be a lot of fun, but it might be even more fun to shop together at places like Adam and Eve adult toys. This way you can talk about different toys you're both interested in and then go home and immediately try it out.

If you feel like your surroundings have become a little banal, think about moving your love making to another room in your house or better yet to an entirely new location outside. Start small by moving to the kitchen or living room and then move beyond your four walls. Try it in the car, a movie theatre, a park, the beach or even just a hotel. Changing location can make the same old moves feel incredibly new again and not to mention, can be very exciting.

Getting a little bored with the same ole same ole? Try role playing. Sexual role playing can consist of a fictitious story the two of you act out. It can involve costumes, wigs, accents and props. You can adapt it from a book you've read or even a movie you have watched. Role playing can be a lot of fun and can help you let go of some inhibitions you may have still been holding on to. It's also a great way to involve dirty talk. Need a few ideas to get you started? Check it out.

Want to be super bold and change things up entirely? Consider bringing in a third or fourth or fifth person. It may seem a little unorthodox or completely unlike you, but hear me out. If you have a secure enough relationship and truly love each other, a threesome (or more) can actually be very fun and can revitalize your sex life. It's imperative that you have ground rules, no jealousy issues and very, very open communication. If you feel like the two of you can do it, then begin looking for a third or hit up a swingers party. You just might find that your sex life has never been better. Check out these rules to threesoming.

What have you done to keep things interesting?

Have you ever dreamed at a perfect holiday on the ski slopes? A powder of white snow, a sparkling of the golden stars, the moon watching over you while furrowing the slopes cutting the frozen mountain air… Add some of the top ski resorts and best amenities and your dream come true. The long tradition in winter sports, facilities of all kinds and entertainment make them perfect for all enthusiasts. What could be more beautiful than to spend a whole day on the slopes and in the evening to warm up in front of a fireplace with a cup of hot coco, tea, or mulled wine? That’s why we gathered together the most picturesque ski resorts in USA, Canada, and Europe. These mountains host annually competitions and have perfect runs for all winter sports. These are some of the reasons why fans choose them, even the most demanding ones. Rumors say they are the best of all ski resorts in the world. 

1. Aspen, Colorado
Aspen manages to blend together the classic look of a mountain town with the modern facilities of a luxury ski resort. It is famous for being among the celebrities’ favorite places for many years. Boutiques, classy coffee shops, gourmet restaurants, museums… these are just some of the marvels Aspen prepared for you. Along with all the winter sports you can practice there are a few competitions you can attend and meet top athletes. Dogsled rides are among tourists favorites too. It can be classified as a luxury resort that offers high class services, as its reputation recommends it. As for the ski areas, there are enough for everyone. Starting with the beginners to professional skiers, everybody wants to try the perfect tracks. Aspen has many steep areas and well groomed runs, hundreds of acres where you can test your skills. The little old mining town grew in 65 years of its existence and it is more surprising every time you visit it.

2. Mont – Tremblant, Quebec
Only one hour drive away from Montreal, Canada, you can see and try one of the best ski resorts in North America. It is a perfect getaway to a place surrounded by green forests and fresh air. No matter the time of the year Mont – Tremblant attracts tourists from every corner of America, and not only. You can find accommodation based on your desires in hotels and the living areas of the region. Domaine Nansen offers beautiful homes in the middle of the forest, while in Le Domaine du Geant you can find modern condos. Versant Soleil is the newest part of Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains. In the north side of the resort you can find some of the best slopes, benefiting from free parking and equipment rental. At the end of the day try the relaxing spa and massage or a Norwegian steam bath. Sounds interesting? Wait till you try all the other amenities of the place, like the First Tracks experience when you have the chance to be the first on the slopes for 30 minutes.

You can read more in the December Issue of ModelsMania magazine 

Magic is something that fascinates everyone, whether he likes to admit it or not. The thing about magic is that, even though we know that it is a collection of tricks and illusions done with skill, sleight of hand, distractions and props, it still manages to mystify and confound us when it is done by the best. We are willing to suspend our disbelief and think that we have been transported into another magical realm where the impossible is possible, even if it is just for a few moments.
After the magic is done always comes the inevitable part where the audience tries to explain to itself what it just witnessed and try to find some justifications for the incredible feats performed in front of it. For the most part, this is a natural response, but it is also one that ruins the special allure of magic and takes away its mystique and makes it common again. The best tricks are the ones you cannot explain and, true to form, the best magicians know never to reveal their secrets.

The Beginning of Magic as Performance Art
History shows us that magic has been appreciated since ancient times. The oldest magic trick was found inscribed on a piece pf papyrus in Ancient Egypt. Even so, these people started getting the recognition they deserved as talented performers starting with the late 19^th century. And during that time there was nobody more famous than Harry Houdini.
Houdini is, arguably, still the most famous magician that ever lived. His name automatically conjures up images of death-defying feats of skill and strength. Even so, his act is not something that most people would associate with magic nowadays and is, in fact, a lost art that few people still appreciate and fewer still practice it today.
His interest in magic started at a young age and, for a time, he practiced magic tricks using cards, which was the norm back then. He performed at small venues such as sideshows and circuses and tried to get recognition for himself as the King of Cards. However, the moniker was rather unsuitable for him, mostly because his skill at performing these kinds of tricks was mediocre, at best. Fortunately for him, it would not take long until he discovered his true talent: escapology. When he started experimenting with escape acts he would mainly stick to getting out of handcuffs, which was a basic, but very important feat to learn for any escapologist. Even so, this simple act got him a lot of attention and in a short time he was already headlining much larger venues. His new moniker was the Handcuff King and it fitted him much better than his original one. Eventually, he would start changing up his act, using new devices such as shackles, straightjackets, safes, prison cells etc. He quickly gained a reputation for being able to escape any circumstance.
In fact, Houdini became so good at what he did that a lot of people started questioning whether what he does is for real or simple tricks.

You can read more in the December Issue of ModelsMania magazine

 The fascinating Asian world has always been a continuous source of places to visit for travel lovers and those passionate about oriental mysteries. Singapore is one of these beautiful locations, the gateway to southeast of Asia. This is the perfect location where you can start your journey to a different unique world. It is a small city state that presents the Eastern part in a different way. At first glance for those used with the Chinese hospitality it may seem just another part of the yellow continent. But it isn’t just that. It offers unique combinations of cultures where the Western Europe has had an important role. Tourism is the second source of income for the almost 5 million inhabitants so both the historical part and the natural environment is fully exploited.

Singapore is the starting point for exciting cruises. It gives you the chance to explore the sea and travel to Malaysia, China, Thailand, or just spend a few hours on a marvelous boat admiring the local beauty. The perfect way for doing this is a cruise on a replica of the vessel belonging to the Chinese emperor in the 15^th century from the Ming Dynasty. The ship makes a stop at Turtle Island to visit the Chinese Temple. But first let’s take a look in the past of this island, the smallest state from Asia. The records show us it was first mentioned in the 2-3 centuries in Greek and Chinese texts. According to the legend its first name was chosen by prince Sang Nil Utama when he landed here in the 13^th century. He decided to build a new city named Singapura (Lion City) after seeing a strange creature which seemed to be a lion. The island was inhabited before this and the place was an important harbor in the Srivijaya kingdom. Beginning with 1819 Singapura became an English colony and later on a free port. This attracted more traders and grew to be one of the most important locations in this part of the world. Everybody was attracted by low taxes and merchandise variety. In 1867 it was separated from the British Indian colonies and became directly ruled by the Crown. On 9 August 1965, Singapore gains its independence after being a part of Malaysia for some years. It is the only country from the modern history that was proclaimed a free country against its will.

At first the city seduces you through cleanliness and order. Wide boulevards guarded by tall palm trees and other more or less exotic ones, with huge skyscrapers seeming they are looking at you from the clouds like some proof of the modern agitated world. At nightfall colorful lights crown the streets and elegant people go out once more to relax or to celebrate another day. Fine perfumes invade your senses and let you know you are on new territories. At second glance, after you have seen more of this city, you discover the usual neighborhoods with small houses left there from old times and colonial villas where British masters once lived.

You can read more in the November Issue of ModelsMania

It all starts with the Kings. Having won their first Stanley Cup last year, the Los Angeles Kings will be looking to defend that title and take their next step in the dynasty direction. However, standing in the way will be a lot of veteran, valuable players that will be playing in some new cities this year. As part of their effort to combat that, the Kings have signed Dwight King (who had that last name before he joined the team) for two years and renewed goaltender Jonathan Quick for ten. Incidentally, Quick has been one of the best kept secrets in the NHL for years. He just needs to make sure he plays at the same level throughout the playoffs that he plays at throughout the regular season.  

No matter how this season ends, it all starts on September 23^rd when the Montreal Candiens take on the Ottawa Senators. Let’s take a closer look at each of the two conferences, and we should get some pretty good ideas as to what’s going to happen after that.

The Western Conference

First, we’ll take a look at some off season developments in the top teams within each conference. Then, we’ll take an even closer look at some of the most important teams to keep your eyes on this year in the entire league. Year after year, the Vancouver Canucks are the dominant team in the Western Conference, and this year, fans can look forward to more of the same. They have one of the best front lines in the game, and with the acquisition of Garrison, Mullen, and Joslin, they have may have put together one of the best defenses as well.

The St. Louis Blues were the only team to win thirty games at home last year. Since they resigned T.J. Oshie, it’s entirely possible that they’ll be able to keep the magic alive this year and repeat the feat, along with that of once again placing second in the conference. Of course, with Shea Weber remaining in Nashville thanks to the fact that they matched the Flyers’ offer, both teams will have to fight hard every game if they want to come out on top.

The Dallas Stars scored the fewest power play goals last year with a total of thirty-three of them. Given the fact that they’ve signed Jaromir Jagr, it appears as though they are looking to improve on that. The Colorado Avalanche had eleven shootouts last year, and they won nine of them. Their power play scoring percentage was better than ten of the sixteen playoff teams, too. Two of the reasons for their dominance are Ryan O’Reilly and Paul Stastny.

O’Reilly, at twenty-one years of age, is entering his fourth season in the National Hockey League. Last year, he scored eighteen goals and thirty-seven assists. Stastny, who is quite possibly the best player on the team, scored twenty-one goals and thirty-two assist. Not only that, he also accounted for nineteen of the Avalanche’s power play points.

You can read more in the November Issue of ModelsMania

Romania is one of the places where the time was well preserved. Here you can find the mountains, the seaside, beautiful fields, well kept villages for hundreds of years or famous castles in such a small area. You can choose to do indoors or outdoors photos, depending on the theme, the product you want to advertize, what kind of environment you want to immortalize in your shoots and so on and so forth. The medieval architecture, the European countryside spirit, the mountains in winter, national parks, buildings that have such a rich history, natural or artificial salt mines, with a novel aspect, all are just a few places where a photographer can set his territory and put his imagination to work. Along with the models, the photo shoots can be spectaculars, sensational, capturing the energy through gorgeous images. A photo session includes more than a camera. It includes art, knowledge, people with great ideas, people that know about makeup and hair styles and, of course, the background that should be inspiring. Someone said that “a picture is worth a thousand words” and he spoke the truth. Great memories and unique moments are immortalized through them. But when we are talking about photo shoots all has to be planned and the place should be chosen after a good research.

One thing Romania is famous for is Count Dracula. Even if the writer, Bram Stoker, isn’t from these parts of Europe, he was inspired by the Romanian ruler Vlad Tepes (he was also called Vlad the Devil) and his cruel punishments for those who didn’t obey his word. Vlad Tepes is said that he have lived in Transylvania, in a mysterious castle filled with ghosts and vampires, somewhere in the middle of the dark forest. This character is surrounded in mystery and, over the years, managed to take over generation after generation. There is a place that is said to be the Dracula’s home. Built originally by the Teutonic Knights, Bran Castle is located just outside the town of Bran, Romania. The castle is very popular thanks to Dracula's legend and is one of the most visited locations in Romania. Even if you won’t meet the famous characters of Bran, you will find here one of the most valuable monuments of medieval architecture in Romania but also places, customs and traditional Romanian dishes.

Bran Castle was originally a stronghold known as Dietrichstein, built by the Teutonic Knights in 1212. It was conquered by the Saxons in the late thirteenth century. It was first documentary mentioned in 1377, when the inhabitants of Brasov, a beautiful city which is close to Bran, received the right to build a citadel on the place of the former fortress. In 1920 it was donated to Queen Marie of Romania and was restored for seven years by Carol Liman, the architect of the royal court. The whole building was planned to be a summer residence. During the same period the Tea House was built. The castle was equipped with running water from a well dug in the rock, 57 meters deep, and lighted by an electric power plant turbine.

Look for more in the October 2012 issue of ModelsMania.

 South America is a unique destination where there are many natural wonders to be seen, where many wish to travel and few get the chance. South America is itself a wonder of the world. Who wouldn’t want to explore the unimaginable wild life in nature, to see sites of ancient civilization, or to discover great mysteries? It is spread on both sides of the Ecuador and the Capricorn tropic. Bounded by the Panama ism with Central America, it offers a variety of sights, a true gem of nature. The Galapagos Islands, which helped Charles Darwin shape the famous theory of evolution in the early 1800s, Machu Pichu, a site located on a picturesque isolated mountain, an Inca temple abandoned and forgotten for centuries until 1911 when it was discovered beneath a bushy vegetation, or the mysterious Salt Desert from Bolivia. These are just a few of South America’s wonders.

Our journey began in Lima, the capital city of Peru. We had a good night sleep and started our adventure in the wonderful South America. After breakfast we went to visit the center of the town, a beautiful mix of old and new. Nicknamed “The Kings City”, Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizzaro. There are some tourist attractions that you should not miss: the Square, Plaza de Armas (an unesco heritage) with the Gouvernment Palace, City Hall, the Archbishop's Palace, San Martin Square, Cathedral and Church of San Francisco, renovated after many natural disasters, Church of San Domingo, where the tombs of St. Rose of Lima and San Martin de Porres are. But the new and modern Lima is also great to see. There are some residential and commercial districts like San Isidoro and Miraflores, where you can visit wonderful exotic parks (e.g. Olivar Park, Central Park). Lima and its surrounding territory have an old history which deserves to be heard about. The next stop was the Anthropology and Archeology Museum where we admired a complete collection of clothing, jewelry, and ceramics from the Chavin, Paracas, Nazca and Mocha cultures. Simon Bolivar, the famous revolutionist, used to live in the building where these impressive collections are; actually it is a palace. The Gold Museum is strongly related to the previous one because you can admire original pieces and replicas of the ones dated from the pre-Inca period. In the evening, after a long day of walking and visiting all these great spots, we thought the best way to celebrate the first day in this exotic part of the world would be to have a traditional dinner with Peruvian music.

In the next morning we left behind the beautiful city of Lima and continued our circuit. Paracas was the next stop. When we arrived I was amazed by the red sanded beach, formed from the cliffs erosion, something I have never seen before. It was a peaceful place perfect to start our trip to the Ballestas Islands. The Paracas National Park is a part of UNESCO’s heritage and shortly after we embarked on the boat I understood why.

Look for more in the October2012 issue of  ModelsMania.

Walking is a great way to exercise giving you a high level of fitness and health benefits. It is very safe, simple, and doesn’t require any practice, along with a lot of health benefits. Below are some reasons that walking is great for you and how you can start a walking program best fit for your lifestyle.

Benefits of Walking
Just like any other exercises walking will give you a number of health benefits and here are some ways walking will help you health wise.

·    Lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and raises good Cholesterol (HDL)

·   Lowers blood pressure and manages and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes

·   Manages weight, improves your mood and stay strong and fit

Preparation Helps Injury Risk

Taking time to prepare from injuries, such as blisters or muscle pain is the first thing to do. You should make sure your shoes are comfortable and you have the correct clothing. Make sure you have loose fitting clothes and make sure you are dressed appropriately for changes in the weather. Avoid rubberized materials because they don’t allow perspiration to evaporate. Make sure when walking at night you wear bright colors or have reflective tape so motorists will be able to see you.

Warm up: Spend some time walking in place to warm up the muscles and increase your time when you feel warm.

Stretch: After warming up, stretch muscles which include the calf, quadriceps, hamstring and side stretches.

Cool Down after your Walking Session: Reduce stress on the heart and muscles, by ending walking session with a slower walk for a few minutes and then do stretches again.

Getting Started: Focus on Basics

Start slow and easy: If you are a seasoned walker continue doing things this way. If you haven’t walked in a while start out slowly. Just walk for as long and fast as you can until you feel comfortable. If you can only do say ten minutes to start then work with that and build up the length of time as you go. Eventually you will get yourself up to around thirty minutes or more. 

Use the Right Technique: Walking is one of the best exercises, but having the correct posture and movements is really important.

Measure Intensity of Workout: While walking measure your workout by checking heart rate. Knowing what your heart rate is allows you to increase intensity to maximize the workout or slow it down to avoid injury or overdoing the workout. Find out if the exercising you are doing is within the range of your targeted heart rate; check your pulse manually on your wrist or neck. You may also choose to wear an electronic device displaying heart rate.

Have you ever had the feeling someone who you can’t see is around you or have you had a strange dream? Have you ever been curious what is next in your life or if something good or bad will happen to you in the near future? Many think the persons who can answer or interpret the answers to these questions are mediums and psychics. Even if there are skeptics at first almost nobody can resist the temptation of meeting someone with these powers and not ask them questions or wanting to hear messages from their passed loved ones. Of course, there are people in the whole world who do this as a job and there are others who pretend they are mediums just to trick people and take their money.

There are persons who, just by looking at you, can say things you have never heard before. They can detect diseases about you don’t know or, moreover, they can tell how to treat them in such a way they won’t leave visible marks. Some call this ability clairvoyance, others say it is just something that happens, and the skeptics will call it quackery. Each one of them will bring the necessary evidence to support their theory. But beyond any opinion, there is something, no matter how we call it, that makes all these possible.

The difference between a psychic and a medium

Life can take many turnovers and at one point everyone needs guidance. A small advice could mean a thousand words when you are in trouble, have family problems, or you just need an advice. Many turn to their closest friends, others to brothers and sisters, others to patents, and some to the unseen powers of psychics and mediums. When choosing the last option you should know there are differences between them.

One difference that should be known by all is a medium is a psychic, but a psychic cannot be a medium. A medium is a person who uses his/her abilities to see one’s life (past, present, future) and can communicate with the other world. A medium has a highly developed extrasensory perception and uses it to get information from the other world. In other words, he can feel in one way or another the spirits and can understand them. There are two types of mediumships: mental mediumship and physical mediumship.

A psychic is a person who uses his/her abilities to feel one’s energy for interpreting it. It is transposed into facts of past, present, or future. Taking them into consideration, a person’s life can be described. Some say a psychic uses the sixth sense for interpreting what he/she is feeling. He uses information that normally is hidden from strangers or, sometimes, for close ones too.

Is there life after death?

Almost all of us have been curious at least once in our lives regarding the answer to this question. Many times the mind of human beings cannot accept there is an end for everyone.

2012 NCAA Division I FBS Football Season: 30 August – 8 December

While predictions are being compiled, let us take a look at the 2012 college football season, by pointing at some of the essential stories and team previews, along with the changes that have potential to turn around current situations. To start with, we will get acquainted with the good, the bad, and the ugly:

Eight-Game Conference Football Schedule Kept by the Big Ten

The news were made public in July by commissioner Jim Delany, after the Big Ten revisited and agreed on the nine-game schedule last year. The eight games were voted for unanimously. Thus, there is no risk of imbalance in home and away games and more flexibility is being achieved. Staff, players and fans alike were not enthusiastic about the nine-slate schedule, and are happy to stick to the ideal pattern. The coaches of Wisconsin and Northwestern from the Big Ten were the most fervent supporters of the eight games. Nevertheless, the teams have the responsibility to to find balance in the non-conference slate they schedule.

The Big East Still in a Crisis

As John Marinatto, the commissioner, mismanaged the league and was forced to move out, the Big East saw itself in a less than fortunate situation. To make things worse, Pitt filed a lawsuit against it, hoping for departure. Pitt, along with Syracuse, eventually changed their mind from leaving their Big East home and decided last year to stay until summer 2014 and possibly beyond. Disputes hadn't ceased though, and negotiations were carried out to clarify Pitt's desired early departure. No conclusions were issued for the ambiguous situation.

Pitt Filed Lawsuit, Wanted Out

Pitt, however, wanted to be out of the Big East and planned to leave the conference sooner than it had been initially planned, and the officials at the Big East said there had been negotiations concerning this. His legal action was deemed as disappointing by the spokesman. On the other hand, Pitt's representatives said that the negotiations were making no further advance and that no conclusion was in sight.

Taking a Look at Marinatto's Departure

In 2009, John Marinatto stepped up and decided to take the lead of the BCS football conference knows as the most endangered one in America. It wasn't a too surprising piece of news, but the task was nevertheless a terrible one. While Marinatto had been in charge, the top players of the Big East got attracted by other conferences, of a more stable nature. Some other players found it disappointing that there was a narrow, exclusive focus on just football. Members Syracuse and Pitt caused even more struggle as they went for the ACC. At the same time, the Big 12 lured West Virginia in. The same happened with TCU, once recruited for the Big East. Marinatto was either asked to renounce by the university presidents of the conference, or he took the decision himself, as claimed by him.

We live in a society that places a lot of emphasis on physical appearance. People are encouraged to strive to look their best at all times. We are constantly being bombarded with images of celebrities and athletes that represent the ideal body image and some of us end up resenting those people and ourselves. That is the wrong message to take, as we should see them not as an obstacle, but as an inspiration and a target image to aspire to. Having a good body is not just about keeping appearances, but it is also healthy for us and will ensure that we have a long and fruitful life.

There are a lot of muscle groups and most people are always concerned with some of them more than they are with the others. Some want to have very strong arms so they work on their biceps and triceps. Others want really powerful legs or huge pectoral muscles, but the most coveted improvement most of us would like is better looking abs. The belly is usually the first thing that stands out with overweight people and some of them can develop serious self-esteem issues because of this. Even people that have a flat stomach will always strive for more, as there is always the coveted six pack that everybody wants. In that regard, there is good news and bad news: the good news is there is no reason for anyone not to be able to get in shape and sculpt his abs the way he wants; the bad news is that this is not done overnight and it is not an easy process. It will require dedication, patience and hard work, but it can be achieved with the proper knowledge.

Dispelling the Myths

The pursuit for great looking abs is one that has been going on for a long time. Some people have tried and tried again and failed, while others managed to get great abs without a lot of effort. This randomness factor when it comes to the success levels has given rise to a lot of myths about achieving great abs and fitness in general. They need to be dispelled so people can avoid making the mistakes that others have done in the past and simply concentrate on their work and their goals.

The first myth is probably the most widespread of all. Even now it can be seen in fitness magazines and articles and some so-called fitness experts even use it. It is the idea that you can work on a specific area of your body and you will only lose fat in that area. In this case, it usually refers to people that only do crunches and sit-ups with hundreds of repetitions and still get no noticeable results. The truth is different: if you work out, then you burn calories which helps you burn fat. When you do this you start to lose weight, but the weight loss is absorbed from all over the body, not just one area.

Everyone wants to look good, but this is usually a lot easier said than done. There are so many reasons why a lot of people neglect their bodies: they do not have the time to exercise, they do not have the energy, they do not have the money to spend on gym memberships or expensive equipment or maybe they are simply lazy. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of people in the world that are out of shape. This is the reason why fitness programs, aerobics classes, gyms, supplements and vitamins have always been such a huge industry. They are used by millions of people every year that want to get in shape.

In such a competitive environment, it can be really difficult for a new product or service to establish itself as being efficient, healthy and productive. Even so, new innovations and new designs are being made every day with the intent of making the process of getting a better, slimmer and stronger body easier and less time consuming. There are always new ideas arriving that promise just that, but most of them fail to deliver. However, whenever one of them does show good results it has the chance to become a worldwide sensation. That is exactly what happened with Zumba.

What Is Zumba?             

For those that are still unfamiliar with the craze known as Zumba, it is a fitness program with a twist. It combines traditional aerobic exercises with dancing to various music genres that encourage people to lose inhibitions and move their bodies in a frenzy. Ever since it came onto the scene it has been steadily growing in popularity and now it is practiced by millions all over the world.

Make no mistake about it. Losing weight is still hard work and it requires people to put in a lot of effort. Zumba is not a miracle program that just melts away the fat. History shows us very well that there is no such thing and all the products that promised this always failed. However, what it does manage to do successfully is that it turns what used to be a long and tedious process and makes it fun. Once someone really starts to get into the groove the time will simply pass by and in just a short while the pounds will also start to come off.

Another great thing about Zumba is its accessibility. It does not take a lot of work to become a qualified Zumba instructor and with its popularity growing with each passing day it will be easy to find one in your area. If not, there are tons of Zumba DVDs or online videos available for people that want to practice in their own homes. This reveals another benefit of Zumba. It can be done almost anywhere. There is no need for an expensive gym. A good workout can be achieved just with the aid of the instructor and a music CD. Moreover, there is also no expensive equipment required.

Glamour photography is a much sought after field, and many budding photographers hope to leave their mark on fashion and glamour over the years. Glamour photography takes planning, skills, practice and dedication like any other career. One aspect that however distinguishes fashion and glamour from other genres of photography is the fact that the photographer is hugely dependant or stylists and makeup artists during the shoot, and on a retouching artist during the post processing stages. In fact, glamour images probably go through more retouching than any other form of photography.  In this article, we’ll be looking at some of the classic retouching techniques used to enhance glamour images. Since this is a technical article on advanced Photoshop techniques, we assume that the reader already has a good idea on basic Photoshop tools. Still, all care would be taken to include maximum details within the limitations of space.

Planning Before the Shoot

So how did photographers manage glamour photography during film days, without Photoshop? With make-up of course! Make up and styling is a crucial part of glamour photography.  Why not try and organize the best that you can with makeup, and minimize post production retouching? A few additional minutes in the makeup room can mean hours saved on computer at a later stage. Now, it is understandable that it is difficult for a photographer to be a makeup artist as well! On the other hand, a photographer should have at the very least, enough know how so as to be able to guide and approve the work of the makeup artist or stylist.

During the Shoot – Lighting

Your choice of lighting can and does affect the glamour appeal of the image, and this is one department where the photographer is completely in control. Usually, fashion and glamour photographs enhance the linear form of the model’s face, in other words lighting such as butterfly or Rembrandt lighting is used. Also, do keep in mind that the more the light strikes the model’s face at an angle, the more texture does it bring out (and thereby accentuate every little mark, scratch and scar on the face as well). That said and done, one also needs to think about the softness of the light. Hard light is rarely ever used with glamour photography because of the fact that it highlights every little detail on the skin, which is not always a good thing.  Some photographers like to use a ring flash with glamour, and this adds an interesting shadow all around the model (if the background is close enough). Coming back to the topic of this article though, soft directional light from about 45 degrees above the model usually makes for good, pleasing portraiture.

Post Processing

Photoshop has revolutionized the way photographs are post processed, especially so with digital cameras taking over the industry. While some may like to claim that Photoshop gives photographers a ‘cheat sheet’ to correct shooting errors, let us accept the fact that it is today a vital part of the creative photo process.

When it comes to recreation, we all have our own personal preferences. Some see their free time as an opportunity to relax and rest while others see it as the perfect occasion to do something new and exciting. There is no wrong choice here. Whatever one enjoys should be how he spends his time and money doing.

When it comes to passionate hobbies, there is one that sits way above the rest: sports. However, sport is such a broad term in our society. There are so many different sports out there and so many variations on each one that it is hard to actually label someone as a sport lover. Very few people share an interest in chess as well as mixed martial arts, even though both are considered sports (it should be noted however that there is a third sport called chess boxing which combines the two). Some sports are more popular than others, sure. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, for instance. And then there are some sports which have a much smaller, but just as dedicated fanbase. One such sport is powerboat racing.

About Powerboats

In order to be able to properly understand the world of powerboat racing people must first be clear on what exactly is a powerboat. Technically, the words powerboat and motorboat are synonymous, both meaning a water vehicle which is powered by a motor. However, the term powerboat is almost always used in order to denote a very specific kind of boat: fast, made for racing.

The thing that sets powerboats apart is their design. Primarily, they have everything possible changed in order to increase performance and speed. They always have a high power-to-weight ratio. They are also designed in such a way so that they achieve hydroplaning very easily. Hydroplaning will be familiar to most people when they drive a car on a wet surface and they lose traction because there is a layer of water separating the tire and the ground. That is a bad thing. However, in powerboat racing hydroplaning is something that the racers desire to achieve. Whenever this happens, the body of the boat skims more and more over the surface of the water, reducing friction. Not only that but a significant amount of weight of the vehicle is now supported by hydrodynamic lift instead of hydrostatic lift, more commonly known as buoyancy. In short, the powerboat goes much faster. Besides the effect of hydroplaning, these boats are also designed so as to be as streamlined as possible, thus reducing air resistance and making them go even faster. Because of their sleek design and their powerful engines, some of these boats can now reach up to 250 mph on water.

The History of Powerboat Racing                                                                              The first recognized powerboat race occurred in 1904. It started from the southern coast of England and finished in Calais, France. Then, in 1908, it was featured as a water sport at the Summer Olympic Games in London.

Everybody wants to go out and have a good time, even if it is just once in a while. The idea of a good time can mean different things to different people: some like to hit the clubs and dance all night long, while others might enjoy going to a game or to the movies. However, most of the population enjoys going out to a nice bar and spending some fun times with friends or family over a few drinks. This is a beloved pastime done all over the world by many, many people, regardless if it is done in the local pub or the newest and hottest trendy hotspot. However, if you are going to do it, you might as well do it in style. The biggest party cities in the world have plenty of great bars where the rich and the young can go and have a guaranteed good time. Some of these bars are world famous and easy to find, while others are hidden gems known only to a select few.

New York

Bar 89 is a great place to hang out located in the lower part of Manhattan. It is a food bar, which makes it ideal either for a snack and a beer during the day or for a late night drinking session. Whatever your preference is, you’d better bring your wallet because this bar is not cheap, but it is sure to provide you with a unique experience. Probably the most famous aspect of this bar are the bathroom stalls which have the walls and door made out of transparent glass, which at first can be off-putting for people wanting to use the facilities. However, once the latch on the door is turned from the inside, the glass turns opaque, which allows for maximum privacy.

If new and hip is not necessarily your speed, you could try visiting McSorley’s, if you can track it down. It is not necessarily the place where you will find all of the young and trendsetting elite, but it does regularly come in top 10 polls concerning the best bars in America. This is a non-nonsense establishment, where you can go and enjoy a cold beer and admire the decorations and various artifacts which are rich in history. This was a favorite drinking spot of Abraham Lincoln, so it is sure to live up to other people’s expectations, as well.

If you are looking for the ultimate celebrity experience in New York, then you can head on out to the 40/40 Club, a sports bar which is co-owned by famed New York rapper Jay-Z. Here you are guaranteed to see all of the celebs that are in the city and looking for a great time. You might find it difficult gaining entrance and it will be pretty rough on your wallet, but this bar is sure to show you the exotic and glamorous side of the New York lifestyle.

Medicine as a More Preventive Tool

Imagine a time when you don’t have to leave the house for a doctor’s appointment. Medical experts believe that in the near future, advancements in the human genome study will have already progressed at a rate wherein mere sample of blood and DNA carried to the physician, as data will be the next step in medicine. No longer will doctors be “reactive,” waiting for patients to come in with woes, but instead, medicine will become even more of a preventive approach. 
Doctors and scientists are currently developing the very foundation of this future in medicine by expanding the reach of technologies that aid physicians and medical technologists in measuring, qualifying, and quantifying various samples from patients. One vision for the future of medicine is paradoxically a more personal but possibly wireless scenario between doctor and patient.

The Great Value of Sequencing the Human Genome

The huge difference in this projected approach is how it focuses on studying the genes comprehensively, instead of just looking at one strain. The human genome project looms in this future, and we will see sequencers handing us a more complete view of the minuscule components that keep us alive. DNA sequencing is projected to be less costly, faster to generate, and more precise, therefore highly applicable for use in medical cases. 

Typically we go to our physician and have blood work sampled, our vitals taken, blood pressure, urine and stool sample, heart rate, and the works. In the future, thanks to both ongoing advancements in reactive medicine research and information technology, patients will be read by their doctors using the data stored in their profiles. This medical data includes a patient’s medical history, DNA, cell profile, proteins and sugar in the blood, body mass index, and more. This way it would be possible to holistically determine which component of the human body is prone to certain diseases, what environmental factors affect biological functions, how a disease could potentially form years after. In the future, patients may be able to see which of their genes are faulty and how they can address this problem.

Minuscule Machines with the Power to Measure Faster and More Accurately Biological Data

There will be micro to nano machines investigating a patient’s blood or whatever kind of bodily fluids. If our handy and ultra-fast computers today are able to predict anything from the weather and chart stock market probabilities, expect in the future for hospitals and clinics to employ powerful computers measuring and sifting biological information, providing doctors and their patients a more detailed picture faster than the result of an X-ray exam. 

Because the human genome of a particular patient will be easier to sequence, doctors will be able to see now how the future bodes. They will be able to predict whether a certain disease is more likely to crop up in the next 15 or 20 years. Patients will now have the valuable information about a potential trouble and can proceed to a more prevented approach, so that the future illness doesn’t materialize.

Everybody knows what poker is. It is the most famous game played with a deck a cards and it is also a mainstay in any casino around the world. The gambling side of it provides a rush and a surge of adrenaline like few other games can and the luck of the draw adds an element of unpredictability which only helps to make the games even more intense.

However, it should never be considered that poker is a game of chance and that you can win it with blind luck. Sure, you might win a few hands this way, but that is also one of the reasons why poker playing sessions are so long and take so many hands to finish. This way, it is assured that at the end of the game, the winner taking all is someone who relied on his skill and talent rather than someone who just drew lucky cards right off the bat.

There are a lot of subtleties which are involved with being a great poker player. Of course everybody hopes to have the luck of the draw on their side, but plenty of truly skilled poker players have won games when the cards were not working in their favor. That is how you can tell the difference between an average player and a great one. Poker is as much about the players themselves as it is about the game. It involves bluffing when you have a bad hand, being able to tell your opponents’ cards based on their reactions and body language and being able to lure an opponent in when you know you have the winning hand. It is a lot more psychological than most people might think.

A Quick Crash Course in Poker

Saying you know how to play poker is sort of a false statement nowadays since there are so many variations that have their own sets of rules and strategies. However, some are more popular than the others, so when people refer to poker they are generally referring to one of several different kinds. Regardless of the type of poker played, they all share some common points: the goal of the game is to have the best hand possible. There is a standard set of poker hands which are generally in the same order throughout most variations, although some types of games will value particular hands more than usual. Since poker is a gambling game, there will be several occasions throughout a game where the players can place bets, match their opponents’ bets, raise those bets or simply fold their cards if they do not think they will win.

Right now the most popular form of poker which is displayed predominantly in casinos and tournaments is Texas Hold’em. This is a pretty simple variation of the game: each player has two cards face down along with five community cards which everyone can use. The goal is to achieve the best possible combination using the two player cards along with any three community cards

Just like the spies in the movies, minus the suits and dark sunglasses, cyber spies can steal even your best-kept secrets. The primary victims of these modern-day spies include individuals, rivals, groups and governments. These spies use the sensitive information they have accessed for personal, military, economic or political advantage. The entire act can either be done from a personal computer at home or from a complex system found in large bases located elsewhere in the world.

But recently, all news of security breaches done by cyber spies seem to revolve around China.

Cyber Warfare: China vs. America

Just recently, the world of online security has been shaken with the news of Beijing cyber-spies accused of using fake social networking accounts to steal military secrets from the West. This began with a Facebook scam that targets Nato’s most senior military commander, Admiral James Stavridis.

This is how cyber spies tried to steal military secrets from Nato. First, they made a fake Facebook account using the name of Admiral Stavridis. With the popularity of the medium used (Facebook) and the target (Admiral Stavridis), it becomes easy for people to find the page and start making contact. Hence, personal information given away through private messaging can easily get filtered and used by the spies.

Although there wasn’t any direct lead on who began the spoofing of Admiral Stavridis in Facebook, fingers are already being pointed at China. This is possibly because of an incident last year wherein a group of criminals in China impersonated executives and companies in the US, Taiwan and Greece with the intention of stealing business secrets. The operation was best known for its codename “Night Dragon”. Because of all previous reports, security analysts in Washington believe that China has undertaken a comprehensive cyber-surveillance of the networks that control and/or monitor much of America’s critical infrastructure.

The mounting fear of the intensity of cyber spying by China is causing restlessness in Europe and UK. These countries fear of their government and industry secrets being made known to Chinese hackers. Not only that, the countries against China are also claiming that it is by hacking that China gets a hold of valuable intellectual property of some leading manufacturers. After all, China is the number one producer of fake products worldwide.

Allegedly, Beijing is involved in the anonymous theft and transfer of a huge bulk of data from the west. Officials of the US have broken all protocol and directly confronted China about the hacking issue.

According to the US cybersecurity analysts, the US government is closely monitoring twelve different groups, largely backed by the Chinese government. Each of these 12 companies is given unique names or numbers that help track where the majority of hackers come from. From their data, China is leading the cyber warfare.

Right now, the US cannot prosecute hackers in China because that would require both countries to enter into an agreement about cyber spies. Moreover, it is oftentimes extremely difficult to provide ironclad proof of hacking.

Golf is a sport for beginners and professionals. The sport has several leagues played in the United States and around the world for money and lucrative sponsorships. The game is played by kids in high school, adults, and retirees. Most games are played as nine holes or eighteen holes and can take a couple hours to complete. Golf has become one of the largest hobbies in the nation.

Golf training to improve people’s games has become a huge industry online and in sporting good stores. Amateurs and professionals buy dvds, books, and take professional classes with golf instructors to improve their game. Here is a brief sample of some more practical golf tips that can improve your game.  

Driving

When driving the ball off the tee, it is important to have a solid base while swinging. The base goes in the direction the ball travels. Even though legs may move with the swing, the rest of the body moves forward with the ball creating momentum to launch the ball further.

One way to increase the distance when driving a golf ball is to use a heavier club during practice. Consider going to a driving range and using a weighted golf club or one that at least weighs more than the normal club used. The advantage of using a heavier club is to make sure your hands stay ahead of the ball. Golfers all too often swing and hit the ball later than their body intends to. Using a heavier club during practice will help speed up the process on the course.

Putting

It seems silly when watching professional golfers on television getting down on one knee or laying on their side to look at how a putt lines up. The truth is doing this at your own golf course could shave points off your score. Getting down on one knee to line up a putt will be worth it, if you want to accurately putt on the green. Consider walking around to the other side of the green and looking at the putt from head on. If you are playing in a group of other golfers, pay close attention to how your partners putt the ball. Any slope or bend in the green could be shown with their initial putt.

Golfers need to make sure that they are not spending too much time concentrating on the ball. Taking focus away from the hole itself, can hurt a person’s golf game. If a golfer is watching the ball too much, one trick might be to look at the hole the entire putt. Another method, which has been used by some pro golfers, is to close your eyes while putting. I would not recommend keeping your eyes closed as this represents the ultimate extreme of focusing on the hole and not the ball. Golfers should have enough control to be able to look at the ball and then the hole as they putt.

Gambling is tricky business , the thought of earning a whole lot of easy money and throw in the thrill of the risk, the glamour, the sophistication and class of the casinos themselves and the thought of gambling becomes too enticing to resist. Though the experience may be grand if you’re winning, it can turn just as sour if the tables turn on you. A lot of gamblers ignore the huge amount of risk associated with it and think that they’ll just keep on winning, riding their luck to a fortune. This is a very common mistake to make for in gambling one must always be ready to lose and that too sooner than later. People tend to throw caution to the winds if they think they’re on a lucky streak not preparing for it to end and bring reality crashing down on them. Even the pro’s know the value of patience, discipline and a good sense of intuition of when to quit. That’s how they become veterans in the first place for those amateurs who don’t adopt discipline may only dream of reaching the level of the pros. So if you think you have what it takes to be a pro, that you’re smart enough to keep the tables turning against you, that you’re truly good enough, well think again for there are some basic strategies that you need to keep in mind to avoid any unfortunate circumstances and not only survive the experience but get to enjoy it properly. Some of the things to consider may be that do you have the bankroll is your family prepared to accept your passion to be a pro and that do you yourself possess the mental strength, patience and discipline to handle the times when you’ll get blindsided. All these factors are very important to consider for the life of a professional gambler is certainly not easy no matter how glitzy and glamorous it seems on the outside. So it is very important to be sure of oneself, to have complete faith that you have what it takes and that you’re good enough to sail these turbulent waters. This means not just scoring on occasion and not just playing tournaments because this is never enough. Many times you will find yourself working really hard but finding that your costs are much higher than whatever gains you are making so you have to make sure that you’re good at the cash games so as not to run dry for extended periods of time. For people who wish only to play in tournaments it would probably be more advisable to them to practice as much as they can but also have a day job as well because there is never any guarantee that you’re going to hit the bulls eye every time specially in tournaments where luck plays a huge factor between winning and losing. As mentioned before mental strength, patience and discipline is crucial for success.

Photography has gone through tremendous changes since its inception in the eighteen hundreds.  It has transformed itself through multiple chemical processes to today’s digital technology and will definitely evolve into other forms as well. Today we live in a world that has no lack of technology. Some may say that photography has become so commonplace that it no longer requires the skill and expertise that it did a hundred years ago. That may be true to some extent, but if you look at it from the point of view of an entrepreneur then things can never really reach such terminal velocity, if you can call it that! We live in ever changing times of globalization and standardizations on one hand, and extremely fast paced growing technologies on the other. Photography has and always will remain a part of recording and advertising, as long as visual art and advertising remain; in other words – forever. Let’s look at some of the branches of photography that can never really be replaced by other technologies, and some of the possible advances thanks to new technical processes.

The Silver Halide Process

The traditional black and white process is still around, believe it or not, and caters to people who swear by it. Most of its users are either artistically inclined advanced amateur photographers; in other words it is not all that popular as far as commercial photography goes, and that is probably why you do not hear of it so much. Photographers using the silver halide process shoot on roll film or sheet film, process the film in a dark room and make prints on black and white enlargers, exactly like the photographers from yesteryear. While this was a common place practice amongst photographers all over the world, it is today a rare commodity and also somewhat expensive. You rarely find roll film for sale in photo outlets today, and black and white film is all the harder to find. So what still keeps people hooked on to black and white, and why do we feel it will remain into the future? For one thing, the ease of black and white chemistry allows for home users to set up their own dark rooms. Also, the results are incomparable to anything else – a totally chemical process from start to finish allows for the photographer to have much more control over final output as compared to digital! While many may argue with that, I would like to point out that the chemical processes of developing film, making a paper exposure on an enlarging easel and fixing the print are all very subject to variables such as temperature, agitation time, chemical concentrations etc. It is therefore much more a personalized process where the photographer is definitely able to add a personal ‘touch’ to the end product. And then we have the possibility of using color filters shooting on black and white film, which gives a photographer tremendous tone control.

Once in a while everybody thinks of moving in a new place, getting to know new people, having a new lifestyle or a new job. But what are the best locations for doing just that? The hottest places to live are spread worldwide and every person has a special one where he feels like home. Before taking such decision there are many aspects to take into consideration like the economic power, developed industries, job opportunities and places to stay. Will you opt for buying a new house or renting one? The pollution level makes some people think if that certain location is the best one for them.

When there is more than one member who has to move, a family, there are more points to consider. You should think if there are any playing grounds, parks, a welcoming atmosphere for a family. Taking this decision isn’t always easy, but here are the top 10 hottest places to live in.

1.      Stavanger, Norway

The Norwegian territory has been populated since 10000 BC, assuming the first people came from today’s Germany. One of the best cities which offers a great life quality is Stavanger. It may not be the first city on the tourism map, but it has a highly developed petrol industry. Actually, this place has always been an important point for Norway in one way or the other. Stavanger had an important fishing fleet and thanks to it the canning industry developed. There were 70 sardine plants. After the food industry has declined because of the small resources from the sea, the oil domain rose and made Stavanger “Norway’s oil capital”.

The southern coast of the country is the favorite place for locals during summer time. There are many bays and rock islands and also this is the sunniest region of the country. If you want to have an overview of the city you can get in Valbergtarnet Tower, a 150 years old building which you will find at the end of Valberggata Street. But the best place nearby, about 20km away, is the Preikestolen Rock located at an altitude of 600m above Lyse fjord. The view from here is really spectacular.

2.      Amsterdam, Netherland

Amsterdam is a beautiful city known for its exceptional architecture, stunning canals crossing the city, friendly people and many places for shopping. It satisfies the tastes of every person who wants to move here, whether he prefers culture and history, parties, or just relaxing in an old European town. Many choose Amsterdam for enjoying the free attitude, taking into consideration the Dutch opinion regarding soft drugs. Selling marijuana or hashish is perfectly legal. You can buy them from the famous “Coffee shops”. It’s important to know the difference between “Coffee shops” and “Cafe”. The first one is a place where you can consume drugs while the second one is a place where you can drink a coffee or a glass of beer.

In terms of culture, there are many museums where the works of art of Van Gogh. Vermeer or Rembrandt can be admired. If you prefer more relaxing activities take a tour of the parks. They have many large green spaces. It is said “Amsterdam has more canals than Venice, more cafes than Wien, and more bridges than Paris”.  

The economical sector doesn’t look bad either.  The life quality is maintained at high standards, having the oldest stock exchange, keeping its citizens safe with low crime rates, and offering many job opportunities.

Navy Seals in Action: Becoming One of Them

Many of us have always been fascinated and enthralled with the bravery and courage of the Navy Seal. Considered an elite and prestigious fighting force, the Navy Seal, which generally functions in small groups of four to sixteen individuals, was established to perform underground operations and military actions in maritime settings. However, along with the prestige and honor of being a member of this force comes great duties and responsibilities. Once in a while, we would watch and hear news about Navy Seals in action daring and risking their lives to protect their land. Yet, only a few of us are really aware of how much these people have gone through, how much courage they have and where they get such courage, and what being a Navy Seal member is really all about. 

Navy Seals – How It All Started

In 1961, under the governance of President John F. Kennedy, the need for a special new force that has the ability to perform and operate at sea, air, and on land arise. Such need has led to the creation of guerilla and counter-guerilla teams, as recommended by then Chief of Naval Operations Arleigh Burke, which later became the Navy Seal, also known as the Navy’s Sea, Air, and Land Team.

The first two Navy Seal teams were created in the opposite coasts of the United States. One team in the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San Diego, California, and the other team in the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Little Creek, Virginia. The first members of these Navy Seals were from the Navy’s Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) teams, which are best recognized for their skills and experience in the Korean warfare. They, however, underwent more extensive and rigorous training in performing military actions at sea, air, and on land. Training included (i) safecracking, or opening a safe without using keys or number combinations; (ii) high altitude parachuting or rappelling, which are helpful in getting into mission spots that cannot be reached or accessed by boats; and (iii) hand-to-hand combats to help them easily dispatch their opponents and which include a variety of martial art techniques like Muay Thai, Jujitsu, and Krav Maga. Training also included language and tactical communications training, as well as demolition training. 

Read more of this Hot Exclusive in the May issue of ModelsMania.

Global Tattoo Art 

While it is true that tattoos have had a significant place in western pop culture for a long time, their meaning has shifted considerably over the years. Once the tattoo was an expression of rebellion against the system, it showed a wild and dangerous side and advised regular people to stay away. There was a time in western culture when people were only used to seeing tattoos on a criminal or a biker. The thought that a law abiding, regular Joe would want to permanently imprint their skin with a tattoo was out of reach for most people. The idea that a woman, whose body is beautiful and pristine, should defile it with a tattoo was even more outlandish.

However, most of that has changed over the years. Tattoos have not only become accepted, but they are endorsed by the superstars of the day such as musicians, actors and athletes who proudly display them as works of art on their body. Regular people have come to terms with the concept of tattoos and many of them get one that can symbolize various things, such as a tragedy, a personal change in their lives, an obstacle that they had to get past or anything a lot less profound.

Acceptance from the general public of tattoos and the loss of perception of people with tattoos as dangerous criminals has come in western societies. However, this was only recent. On the other hand, there are many other different cultures and civilizations that have been using tattoos as a way to express their heritage for a very long time. In fact, there is evidence that has revealed that using a primitive form of tattoos was done as early as the Neolithic period. A mummy was found dating back to over 5000 years ago which has dozens of separate, distinct tattoo-like markings on his body. Further research revealed that the mummy had suffered during lifetime from multiple degenerative diseases and it is speculated that his tattoos are remnants from certain treatments similar to acupuncture and acupressure. The mummy has been nicknamed Otzi the Iceman and can today be seen in a museum in Italy.

Read more in the June issue of ModelsMania.

Our 2012 Baseball Preview

A lot of things in major league baseball have changed since the St. Louis Cardinals won game seven of the 2011 World Series in dramatic fashion over the Texas Rangers. For starters, top free agents – Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Jose Reyes – elected to leave their former teams. Several teams also made significant trades while five teams will start the season with new managers selected – Bobby Valentine (Boston), Ozzie Guillen (Miami) and Robin Ventura (Chicago). In addition, major league baseball tweaked their playoff system so that there will be two wild card teams from each league. The two wild card teams will play a one-game series for the right to play in the divisional series.  You can read our entire baseball preview in the April 2012 issue of the ModelsMania magazine.

Daredevils: Now & Then

People often feel that their lives are too tedious and monotonous and look for ways to insert a little excitement. Of course, how everyone does this is up to each person individually: some go on exotic vacations, others go on impulse shopping sprees. Extreme sports are always a popular choice for those who are more athletic and prone to an outdoor life. However, there is one class of individuals that outdo all others: the daredevils.

A daredevil performs very risky and exciting stunts, similar to those of a stuntman. However, a stuntman does those dangerous acts as a means to an end, usually for it to be filmed and included in a movie or TV show. A daredevil, on the other hand, does it solely for the thrill it provides. He usually performs his stunts in front of a live audience who get to share in the excitement by living out their daredevil fantasies vicariously through the performer.

Most people claim that you need to be a little insane in order to be a daredevil. For the most part, that is true, and no actual daredevils are likely to contradict that statement. Stuntmen usually employ as many safety features as possible when they do their dangerous stunts because they know that they can be later removed with the help of editing. A daredevil, on the other hand, does it live, in front of large groups of people. There are no hidden safety cables, no mattresses to land on; the daredevil lays it all on the line every time he gets to perform in front of a crowd. In a monotonous world of 9 to 5 jobs and a safety conscious environment, the daredevil is as close as you can get to a true superhero.

The Daredevils of Yesterday

One of the true pioneers of the daredevil performance often gets neglected because he is considered by most as a magician. That man is Harry Houdini. While it is true that Houdini was also skilled in card tricks and other magic elements, the thing that really made him a star was his escaping acts. He was a master escapologist and most of his acts have been adopted and modified by other performers over the years and are still being used to this day. Escapism acts are at a crossroads between magic and daredevil performance. There is no illusion or deception involved in most of them, but there is the need for true skill. Houdini’s acts, at least, always contained a very real amount of danger in them. One of his most famous performances was his water escape routine, where Harry Houdini would be locked inside a box, upside down and placed in a tank of water. His escapes always thrilled the audiences and it was later revealed that the trick really involved Houdini being trapped under water, mostly relying on his ability to hold his breath for over 3 minutes. Another trick of his involved being buried alive under six feet of dirt. Many people tend not to consider escapologists as true daredevils because they think that everything is an illusion and the performer in never in any real danger. However, in the buried alive act, Houdini was actually placed under the dirt and it was so dangerous that it nearly cost him his life on a number of occasions.

Make Your Sex Life Even Hotter

How would you describe your sex life?  Would you say it’s “good?” Why not take a few steps to ensure that your sex will be great every time, and will include orgasms that will blow your mind?

We are often so dedicated to finding new tips to better our sex lives that we forgets that sometimes it’s the simple things that have the greatest impact.  Get back to basics to keep the lust alive and your love life.

First, your five senses rule every detail of your life. By appreciating your surroundings, you can use your sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch to become more appreciative of the world around you and to become a happier person.  The same is true of making love.  Stay in the moment so you can experience sex with all your senses to help to increase your pleasure and enjoy every moment. 

These tips can make you more responsive to your sexual partner.  You will be able to create sexual experiences that are more memorable and pleasurable for both of you, rather than simply having sex.  You may want to try a few new tricks such as blindfolding or turning out the lights, as your other senses will automatically compensate for the loss of sight.  This can make every touch and sound more intense as you wonder what will happen next.  Try burning scented candles and listening to sensual music to further increase the mood.  Extended foreplay can create more intense experiences and orgasms, as your body will be prepared and anticipating every new sensation.

New textures and locations can also affect the sensual experience, and can incorporate your individual preferences and mindset.  If you are feeling passionate and raw, try a thumping primal beat and make love on a rough piece of material to enjoy that side of your personality.  When you feel romantic or cozy, try making love on cotton sheets with the sound of rain in the background.

Romantic scents such as sandalwood, rose, and patchouli can increase your sexual desire and add an additional layer to the sensual lovemaking.  However, the scents that your lover gives off during lovemaking can be the sexiest of all.  We subconsciously are turned on by the smell of our significant other, including cologne, shampoos, and natural body smells.

For the taste sense, food and drink can be used occasionally used in bed.  Try a flavored breath mint to add variety to the sensory experience of kissing, but do not use it to overpower the taste of your lover’s body and skin.  Every lovemaking session does not need props and planning!  Simply be mindful of the sensory stimulation that is available with your present mood, in your surroundings, and in your imagination.

We often forget to include kissing doing our central lovemaking.  It’s a shame, because as we age, the lips will still be able to kiss as the rest of the body begins to fail!  Sex is not just about the orgasm, but the performance until the journey’s end.  Every kiss should not lead to sex, but you will build intimacy and create a sense of anticipation as great ingredients for fantastic sex.  Spontaneous kisses, chicken pecks, butterfly kisses, or lingering kisses are all important tools to establishing intimacy.  If you and your partner do not kiss often, you may need to concentrate on this activity to become more comfortable, but once it becomes a part of your regular routine, you will find that you grow happier.

You need to want sex!  Just like any other activity that you enjoy, you will want it the more you think about it.  We are accustomed to concentrating on kids, work, and all the other minutiae of life, but we need to also bring sexuality into our regular consciousness.  This will keep you ready and wanting to experience acts at any time, rather than depending only on appointment sex.  When you are ready to go, sex will become less of a task and more something that you want to do.

Triumph Motorcycles: A History

The British is known not just for its colored history, which unfolds across continents, but also for its craftsmanship and style. These qualities are on exhibited in one uniquely British brand: Triumph motorcycles. This privately owned British corporation has supplied the most iconic models of motorcycles that enthusiasts across generations have embraced.

The name Triumph is indelible from the history of motorcycles.  Innovations and styles made by the Triumph brand influenced the entire industry. A few of its models have been immortalized in popular culture. In “The Wild One,” a Hollywood movie from the 1950s, Marlon Brando, near the peak of his character, is memorably photographed astride the 1950 Thunderbird, a Triumph creation.

The history of Triumph motorcycles is not all glamour and industrial success. Spanning more than a century, surviving two World Wars, waves of economic instability, several owners, union strikes, and destructive factory fires, this classic motorcycle has been through a lot, has fallen and risen from adversity to become what is known today as a leader in the motorcycle production industry.

Although Triumph was officially founded in 1887, its story began four years before, in 1883, when a German by the name of Siegfried Bettman moved to Coventry, England. By 1884, Bettman started selling bicycles, which were named after him. Bettman bicycles eventually transformed into a full-fledged business with its own warehouse and by 1887, a new name: New Triumph Co. Ltd. The “new” was dropped, and the company would be known as Triumph Cycle Co. Ltd.

Then came a Scottish veterinarian, John Dunlop, an unlikely contributor to the business of making bikes. The tires used for the first Triumph bikes were made from Dunlop’s patent, which turned out wasn’t really his original invention. A fellow Scot, R. W. Thompson invented the pneumatic tires, but it was Dunlop who was able to put them on the market.

A new business partner, Mauritz Schulte convinced Bettman that the company should come up with its original models, and by 1888, Triumph took over an old ribbon factory and started making its own unique bicycles.

Because of British laws regarding speed limits, Triumph did not go into producing motorcycles until the new century.

The company began its production of the first Triumph motorcycle—called No. 1—in 1902, after the act banning the vehicle from British roads was repealed. No. 1 was Triumph’s signature bicycle installed with a two horsepower-engine imported from Belgium.

In 1905, Triumph successfully managed production of its first in-house models using parts and frames developed in its factory. These motorcycles ran 45 mph and powered by three horsepower-engines. In two years, the company was able to add a new 450cc motor and assemble about 1,000 units.

The Combat Workout

Fitness has become an integral part of people’s lifestyles. Eating healthy, exercising and taking good care of the body is a concern that is more important than ever before in modern society. There is a multi-billion dollar industry that caters to those who want to actively improve their physique and overall well-being, whether it is through training exercises, diets or supplements. Gyms have opened up everywhere where people go in order to get fit by undergoing intense workouts supervised by fitness professionals.

However, there is one workout regimen which is head and shoulders above all others. That is the military workout. While each branch has its own separate workout program which targets certain aspects, the most commonly known one is the army’s workout program. People who want to join the army are put through a grueling training program in order to make sure that they have what it takes. Once they are officially accepted, the workouts get even more intense as they strive to help each soldier reach his physical peak so he can be prepared for eventual real world combat situations. After all, in the regular world, the worst a workout program can lead to is some muscle fever and some soreness. In the military, being properly trained can save someone’s life. That is why the army takes its training sessions more serious than any other institution on the planet.

Preparing for the Army Workout Program

Anyone who is thinking about joining the army needs to realize that all candidates must be in great physical condition. Even out of those only the elite will manage to endure the strenuous exercises that are commonplace in the army workout program. Whoever does not consider himself to be very fit should give up from the start, as there are slim chances that he will be able to be drafted as a recruit in the first place, let alone actually survive the training regimen.

It is a good idea for those that are about to join any military branch to start a training schedule way before they actually apply. This will help them get in better shape and be better prepared physically and mentally for the challenges that await him.

When trying to come up with a workout schedule that will work as a good pre-army training program it is important to understand that their combat workout focuses on all areas of fitness: cardiovascular capabilities, strength, flexibility, endurance and building body mass. That means that in order for a workout routine to match the same level of effectiveness it will also need to focus on all fitness aspects.

Every training session should begin with a warm-up. This is a good idea not only practiced in the military, but pretty much in all fitness institutions. A few minutes of warming up with easy aerobics and light stretches will relax the muscles and decrease the likelihood of injury considerably. Those that want to emulate the army program as much as possible should do a lot of jumping jacks. These are a core component of their workouts and will be done in every training session. They increase body muscle in several areas of the body and work great as a warm-up exercise.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, is the producer of many mixed martial arts events all over the world. There are seven weight divisions in which the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts are enforced. These rules are universal. They have, however, evolved throughout the years. In the process, martial arts have branched off into different types. These different types are based upon the standard rule sets, but have adopted their own rules in order to accommodate the different strategies that are used.

In the case of the UFC and the Unified Rules, rounds last 5 minutes with a one minute period of rest in between each round. Matches that are not for a title are to last for three rounds only with title matches lasting up to five rounds. The attire that is worn must be approved and includes no foot padding and shorts worn must also be approved. The gloves that are used, as well as the protective cup and mouth guard that are used must fall within regulations. All equipment that is used is verified and approved by an official of the State Athletic committee before the ring can ever be entered.

The judging criteria include a ten-point system and each round is judged by three judges that determine the winner for each round. The winner of the round earns ten points. Depending upon the performance of the loser, the loser may be awarded nine points or less. If the round is tied, both fighters receive ten points. What is interesting about the points system is that in most states the loser does not receive more than 8 points, while New Jersey does not award fewer than seven. This shows that the individual states have a say in how the tournaments are scored.

The cage that is used is eight-sided. This area is referred to as “The Octagon.” While an octagon-shaped cage was specific to UFC, UFC did eventually grant permission for other sports to use the design.

The walls of the cage are made of chain-link fence that is covered in black vinyl at a height no higher than 5’8” that sits on a platform that is 4 feet tall. From point-to-point there is 30 feet of space, while the entire cage is 32 feet in diameter. Another factor is that the mat is never used for more than one event.

Fighters

There are a number of notable fighters that enter the Octagon. Of course, the list does change. However, there are those that have joined UFC that have gained a rather solid fan base. Champions in the sport include:

• Cain Velasquez – October 2010 champ
• Jon Jones – March 2011 champ
• Anderson Silva – October 2006 champ with 8 title defenses
• George St. Pierre – April 2008 champ with 5 title defenses
• Frankie Edgar – April 2010 champ with 2 title defenses
• Jose Aldo – November 2010 champ
• Dominic Cruz – December 2010 champ

There have also been a number of fighters inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. In November 2003, Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock were inducted. April 2005 saw Dan Severn inducted with Randy Couture following in 2006. Mark Coleman was inducted in 2008 with Chuck Liddell and Charles Lewis Jr. inducted in 2009. In 2010, Matt Hughes was inducted.

And, of course, the list of accomplished fighters is rather long. There have been only two who have won championships in different weight classes. They are B.J. Penn and Randy Couture. It is obviously very rare for a fighter to change weight classes, but it did happen with these two fighters. It could also happen again in the future. However, fighters do not purposely alter their weight so that they can earn championship in multiple classes, otherwise more than just two would have done so.

Fighting Conduct

A fighter must abide by all rules. This includes not using illegal substances, such as steroids. Fighters are tested and if these substances are found, the fighter is disqualified. While in the ring, there are legal techniques that are to be used. These techniques allow such things as elbow strikes, but not those in which the fighter makes a downward strike with the elbow. Elbow strikes to the back of the head are also not permitted. Other fouls include:

·        Head butting

·        Gouging of the eyes or any orifice, including cuts and lacerations

·        Hair pulling and biting

·        Groin attacks

·        Striking the throat or grabbing the collar bone

·        Kicking, kneeing, or stomping of the head when an opponent is down

·        Throwing an opponent out of the ring

·        Using abusive language

·        Spitting on the opponent

·        Being timid and avoiding the opponent by faking an injury or purposely dropping the mouthpiece.

·        Attacking an opponent after the round has ended or while an opponent is being cared for by the referee

There are a number of other fouls that are to not be committed. For instance, any unsportsmanlike conduct that results in the other party being injured is a foul. Any time that a fighter is charged with a foul, one or more points may be deducted by the referee. If a foul results in an injury that keeps one fighter from continuing, the match may end and the player who committed the foul may be disqualified, especially if the foul was intentional.

The fashion photography world is one that is steeped rich with designers, models and photographers. With venues that stretch from fashion layouts for top known magazines, to showcasing fashion and its designers for advertisements and much more. There are many different aspects that go into fashion photography and finding a career in any of them may be a lucrative business for the dedicated and hard-working individual. Photography in the fashion world, has been a long standing business and many top photographers around the world got there name from photographing fashion and fashion models. Many of those photographers still work in the fashion photography industry and have made a long standing career out of it. Let us take a look at and discuss further aspects of the fashion photography world.

Making a Career Out Of Fashion Photography

As far as fashion models are concerned, many have made a name for themselves and many of the fashion photographers that photograph them are just as big. Some fashion photographers mentor budding photographers and have made themselves famous on teaching others alone. In the world of fashion modeling, the photographer is able to capture two pictures in one, that of the clothes and that of the model. One has to mold and wear the other well and one cannot take precedence over the other or the photograph is a flop. If there is not a perfect alignment of model and clothing, then the photographer that knows his business well will be able to shoot them and make them work. It is all is capturing the essence of model and clothing and photographs do not need to make one overshadow the other. A great photographer knows how to make both compliment each another and perhaps it is by taking photographs at different angles, or in the right light. One way or another a great fashion photographer knows what he has to do from his end to make it work.

Fashion photography makes individuals contemplate buying clothing that they might not otherwise consider. A lot of time and effort go into making sure the model and clothing are just right for the photograph. Fashion photography is a very lucrative business to be in, but there are lots of long hours and hard work that goes into this career of choice. If you are trying to break into the business, then do not look for it to happen overnight. Many photographers have been at it for years, trying to get themselves established as a credible name in the fashion photography world. Where many have succeeded, there has also been many to fail. This job, just like any other, takes a person who can convey a story behind their photos, no matter what they take the photographs of.

Read more of this article in MODELSMANIA!

Being in a relationship is one of the most wonderful things that you can ever experience. However, along with this wonderful feeling comes the challenge of making each other happy and satisfied and keeping your relationship healthy and sexy. The excitement of being with that someone will soon fade especially if you’ve been with them for a long time. You’ve pretty much gotten used to being with them that getting bored and losing interest in them are big possibilities. Here comes the challenge of finding ways to reignite that spark and maintain a healthy and sexy relationship with your partner.

Many of today’s most successful couples are those who have managed to work on their relationship every single day no matter how busy they are. They take baby steps one at a time towards a more meaningful and stronger connection and work on every problem to ensure nothing ruins the relationship they are trying to build. Indeed, keeping your relationship healthy and sexy does take a lot of work and dedication.

Keeping Your Relationship Healthy

Keeping a relationship healthy is never difficult as opposed to what many people believe it to be. You don’t have to go extra mile just so you can impress your partner and make them feel they are truly loved and adored. Simple daily actions and gestures - a text message, a short call, a short office visit, or a warm hug - can keep the passion and spark alive in a relationship.  

Recipe #1. Define healthy relationship.

Defining a healthy relationship means knowing what you want from your partner, what your expectations are and how much you are willing to give or sacrifice for the relationship. Doing this even before your first date can be very helpful as it will help you determine whether or not your expectations of each other match well. After knowing what a healthy relationship is for both of you, it’s time to work towards meeting those expectations.

Recipe #2. Communicate with each other.

Communication has always been a crucial part of every relationship. Find time to talk every single day, in the morning, in the middle of the day, and at night before going to sleep. Do so no matter how hectic both of your schedules are. Even when you’re apart, make sure you talk to each other either through phone or chat. If there are problems and misunderstandings, make sure to resolve them before the end of the day. Listening and respecting each other’s opinions and ideas are also crucial parts of keeping the relationship healthy. Make sure both of you agree and consult each other in every decision being made.

Recipe #3. Trust each other.

Trust is one of the most common and major reasons why many relationships fail. Trust is like glue that binds two people together. Relationships without trust will always be seized by doubts, fears, and jealousy which often result to constant fight and eventually break-up. On the other hand, couples feel more secure and feel closer together in a relationship that is full of trust. No matter how tempting it is to lie, always be honest to your partner. The truth may sometimes hurt, but hiding it will only make matters worse. It’s also important not to doubt every single action that your partner makes. If you trust your partner, you will think and believe that every action being made is done with the best of intentions.