Buying a Triathlon Wetsuit - The Real Guide!

If you have got the "tri" bug and have decided to take part in a triathlon event, you will most likely need a triathlon wetsuit. Of course, there are same rare occasions when an event takes place in warm conditions and triathlon wetsuit is not required.

When it comes to buying a tri wetsuit, especially for the first time, a lot of people get understandably confused. If you check the manufacturers websites you will find that most of them claim to use some unique technology or other which will help you glide in the water.

The truth is that most tri wetsuits are pretty much the same. After all, a Japanese rubber company called Yamamoto supplies almost all of the big brands.

Yes, a triathlon wetsuit may help you swim faster due to added buoyancy, but if you haven't put the time in the pool no tri wetsuit will do the work for you.

So, if most triathlon wetsuits are very similar, how do people choose which one to buy? There are 3 main factors.

1. Price - Most manufacturers have different models in 3 price ranges - under £150, £150-£300 and £300+. Before you decide which wetsuit is for you, you need to decide how much you can afford to spend.

2. Fit - As similar as tri wetsuits are, there are some differences when it comes to sizing. You need to know your measurements - weight, height and chest. The sizing parameters are different for men and women. It is possible that a brand may not have a tri wetsuit in the exact size that fit you, but another brand will.

3. Looks - Lets face it, all triathletes like to look good in the water, on the bike and while running. I have a lot of friends that have bought a more expensive tri wetsuit not because it is better or will make them swim faster, but because it looks better, its different and cool.

There you have it, the no BS real guide to buying a triathlon wetsuit. Whichever brand you decide to go for - Quintana Roo, Orca, Aqua Sphere or 2XU - just make sure your triathlon wetsuit fits well and it doesn't burn a hole in your pocket. Well, unless it looks really good of course.

Stock Market Tips - Are Mutual Funds Really Mutually Beneficial?

Mutual funds are one of the most popular investment vehicles in America.  So popular that there are well over 10,000 available to choose from!  Most articles focus on picking a fund but I'm going to ask a completely different question. Are the benefits of mutual funds mutually beneficial?

What is a fund?

To start let's define what a mutual fund is for those readers who may be a little unsure.  A mutual fund is an account (called a fund) where many people pool their money for the purpose of investing. Imagine you want to buy a McDonald's franchise.  However the cost of opening this store is going to be almost $2 million.  You do not have that much money so you look for partners.  Eventually there are 5 partners, each splitting the $2 million startup investment.  Then 4 years later the 5 of you decide to sell.  You sell the complete business for $10 million and divide the profits 5 ways.  That would be a partnership.  And yet it's also a good  picture of how a mutual fund works.

A mutual fund is a bunch of people who become small partners.  They pay in their investment and then someone else runs the business - in this case a stock portfolio.  However there are some partners who don't pay in.  In fact they get paid to not pay in.  They are the fund managers and all the people involved in the business.  And that's where the mutual benefits break down. 

The inequality comes in the form of SEC rules.  According to SEC rules a mutual fund can only buy stock, hold it, and sell it later.   That means a mutual fund can only make money when the stock market goes higher.  The plan of the fund manager is to buy low, and sell high.  Unfortunately the stock market does not always go up (just look at the October 2008 market crash).  So inevitably the fund's value will go up and down.  At the end of the year investors are hoping generally for an annual return, or growth, of about 15-20%. 

This description may not sound bad to you.  That's because you have probably adjusted to this treatment and assume it is "the rules of the game".  After all this is how you have been programmed to respond.  But what you may not know is what happens behind the scenes. 

It may not be legal for a mutual fund to trade your MONEY during a down market, but they CAN trade the fund's assets.  And they do.  And they make bank.  In fact the trading behavior of institutional investors is so predictable an entire segment of stock market analysts spend their time watching behavior of institutions and trading off of that behavior. 

What Are They Doing With Your Money?

So what exactly are they doing with your stocks?  Most they are doing one of two things.  They are:

Lending your stocks to Short Sellers.   When an institution has a fund full of stock shares those shares are available to be lent out.  And believe me, they do.  When it looks like a stock is going down they lend your stock to people who want to sell it without owning it.  These people are known as short sellers.  When they lend these stocks you know of course they make profit.  In and of itself lending stock to short sellers is not a problem.  The unfair part is the fact that the institution alone, and not the fund investors, benefit from this little dealing.  So the fund manager is lending your stock, and making money, while you sit at home wondering why your portfolio is getting smaller and smaller.

Write Options against it.  The second thing funds may do is to write options against your stock.  They really don't even care how it pans out.  Worst case scenario for the fund is they sell your stock for less than they meant. So long as the people make a little profit the fund doesn't care if the people don't make as much as they could.  And what about the option?  Well they make money on that too.  Usually 10-20% per month.  That's right, you are settling for 20% each year, while the people managing your mutual fund are making 20% each month with the stock you bought. Again, the practice they are doing is fine - but it's not fair that they make the money and do not share in the profit.

There is however a way you can profit from the same tricks traditionally held for fund managers.  You simply learn the same strategies and techniques and do them on your own, without a fund manager.  Not only are these strategies legal, they are done every day by millions of Americans.  The difference in you and them is simply a little education. 

First-Time Landlord - Your Guide to Renting Out a Single-Family Home

"First-Time Landlord: Your Guide to Renting Out a Single-Family Home" by Attorney Janet Portman, Marcia Stewart, and Michael Molinski is one of the NOLO/USA TODAY collaborations that are described as the leading publisher of legal information for consumers teamed with the nation's largest circulation newspaper, to produce great books that feature up-to-date legal and financial expertise, a reader-friendly style, and USA Today's famous graphics. I find these books to be just that, a great series of books and this one is no exception. I liked it and found it very practical.

"First-Time Landlord" provides a very good overview of being a landlord of a single-family home, and much of the information is relevant for other types of properties as well. The book is easy to read, organized well, and contains all of the basic topics you should know if you desire to be a landlord. However, for some topics, you will want more detailed and in-depth information and will have to look to other resources. In fact, there are several places in this book where they refer the reader to "Every Landlord's Legal Guide" also published by Nolo. (I own and have reviewed that book and think it would be an excellent companion to this one)

This book covers the following topics:

One: Is Owning Rental Property for You? This chapter focuses on the good and bad parts of being a landlord and gets you thinking about why you want to be a landlord, what kind of property, what your profit may be, and what your goals are.

Two: So Happy Together: Landlording With Family or Friends. Should you be a landlord with a friend or family member? This chapter will help you decide, and provide guidance on how to do it.

Three: Preparing and Marketing Your Rental Property. This chapter is an overview on making sure your property is in rentable or better condition and then how you should go about advertising and showing it.

Four: Screening and Choosing Good Tenants. Remember the movie "Pacific Heights" where Michael Keaton terrorized his landlords Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine? You don't need a tenant that bad to realize the difference good tenants and bad can have on you being a landlord. This chapter will help you find good ones.

Five: Preparing a Lease and getting the Tenant Moved In. This chapter provides some information on lease and rental agreements but is one of the chapters that refers you elsewhere for assistance in drafting the document you choose. Good chapter for introduction to topic.

Six: Manage Your Rental Income to Maximize Tax Deductions. Because tax laws change so often, I recommend you use this chapter, which has some good advice, as a starting point to know what to talk about with your tax adviser. It is good basic advice, but you should seek professional advice from someone in your state and who keeps on top of all of the changes.

Seven: Keeping Things Shipshape: Repairs and Maintenance. If you own it, you are going to have to deal with fixing it. This chapter provides some good advice on the legalities of your obligations as well as some suggestions on adopting a good maintenance and repair system. For those not into handyman activities, the provide some information on hiring someone else to do the work.

Eight: Landlord Liability for Injuries, Crimes, and More. This chapter provides some basic information regarding liability for tenant injuries, environmental health hazards, crimes and some guidance on insurance. Every landlord need to be aware of these issues and unfortunately may have to seek further information if something bad happens.

Nine: Living in Perfect Harmony? Dealing With Difficult Tenants. You will not always have ideal tenants, and even if you do some problems may arise. This chapter has some good basic information on common problems and some suggestions on methods to resolve disputes. I'm glad they listed mediation, because as a mediator, I feel this is a great way for disputes to be resolved, rather than entering more expensive litigation. I would suggest learning more about the topics in this chapter from other resources since it could be very important during your time as a landlord.

Ten: Don't Want to Do It Alone? Hiring a Property Manager. This chapter explains what a property manager does, and helps you determine if hiring a property manager is right for you. If it is, this chapter provides some guidance on how to find a good one.

Eleven: Read to Quit? Exiting the Rental Property Business. All good things come to an end, and this final chapter will help you plan your exit strategy. Good things to consider when you are ready to sell.

No one book has everything you need to know about the real estate business. However, if you are thinking about becoming a landlord, this is an excellent starter text to provide you with solid basic information. After reading this book you will be able to determine if you really want to be a landlord and will have the knowledge to get started. You will then probably want to invest in more real estate/landlord resources. This one is an excellent start!

Yoga Teachers And The Yoga Alliance

Registering with the Yoga Alliance has many advantages for the yoga professional and offers more credibility to those who teach yoga. Their global registry acknowledges your training and knowledge and your ability as a yoga teacher. Being a member will also help when applying for a job, as being a member of the Yoga Alliance instills confidence and respect in your students. As a member of the Alliance, you will have achieved certain recognized standards, and those students who know of the Alliance respect its work and will seek out members as teachers. By using their designated registry marks - RYT or E-RYT after your name on business correspondence, business cards and advertising, your membership will be instantly recognizable.

The Alliance offers many networking opportunities, as the founders realize that in order to spread the word about the benefits of yoga, their members need to be able to communicate with others on a business level. The Yoga Alliance is very aware that those who run their own studios or those who are independent yoga teachers can become cut off from the main stream. Through their networking opportunities, yoga professionals can learn about opportunities for further education and interact with others on a professional level.

As many aspects of yoga are acknowledged by some in the medical community to help with weight loss, stress, high blood pressure and other medical conditions, having the designated registry mark RYT or E-RYT after your name, means you are more likely to be recommended by another health professional.

If you have a website you use for advertising purposes, those searching for a yoga teacher or studio in their area will also be more attracted to those with bona fide qualifications. By offering a link through to the Yoga Alliance website, the searcher will be given an in depth look at what the Alliance sets out to do, and be given salient information about the many benefits of practicing yoga themselves. It is a good selling point for those who have an established business and for those wishing to build clientele for a new yoga studio.

Registration fees with the Yoga Alliance are low, compared to the many benefits they offer. Schools that offer yoga teacher training can apply under a number of different programs within the Yoga Alliance, as long as a number of criteria are met by the school. The Alliance offers four basic programs: Children's yoga, pre-natal yoga which is becoming a very popular choice for new mothers, plus either 200-hour or 500-hour certification and can take up to 90 days once the application is received.

A small annual fee is required to maintain registration with the Yoga Alliance and a convenient application form to join is available on the Yoga Alliance website.

Nine Good Irish Quotes and Proverbs

The Irish, those who hail the country of Ireland, both by birth and those who simply claim it, are a God-fearing and unique group of people. It is said that everybody has been an Irish Catholic at least once in their lives. Who won’t join in the festivities of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? Attributed to the Irish are hundreds of thousands of quotes over the centuries, and here are a few of their best. Enjoy, and feel free to use for yourself as often as you like.

1. "There is no language like the Irish for soothing and quieting."~~ By John Millington Synge~~

2. "St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time -- a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic."~~ By Adrienne Cook.~~

3. "Ireland is rich in literature that understands a soul's yearnings, and dancing that understands a happy heart."~~ By Margaret Jackson.~~

4. "Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat."~~ By Alex Levine.~~

5. "Maybe it's bred in the bone, but the sound of pipes is a little bit of heaven to some of us." ~~ By Nancy O'Keeefe.~~

6. "In Ireland the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs." ~~ By Sir John Pentland Mahaffy.~~

7. "Long life to you, a wet mouth, and death in Ireland"

8. "A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures"

9. "I believe in the sun when it's not shining, I believe in love even when I feel it not, I believe what whiskey will not cure, there is no cure for."

Many of the quotes that are attributed to Ireland are those that are full of dealing with strife and problems. For many individuals in Ireland’s history, their lives were anything but easy. They struggled to find food, homes and shelter many times. And, when they had that there was disease ravishing them. For those in Ireland, many quotes are very religious in nature as well. The goal of each is to inspire or just to learn to deal with the things that were put at their feet.

Leather Hiking Boots, Which Ones Are Right for You?

Hiking is not just a sport. It's a way to break free from the norm of everyday life. It has become a fantastic sport performed by countless people across the country. People have begun to not only feel the benefits of regular exercise, but feel the benefits of being completely free, going on a one man/women adventure through the mighty wilderness.

If you have become part of this hiking craze then congratulations. But if you are new to this wonderful world of trails and fields, and need to know the sort foot ware you will need to continue. You are reading the right article.

Hiking boots come in all shapes and sizes; some are more durable, while others focus more on comfort. You must find the right balance that suits you. If you are a beginner, focus on comfort. Nobody wants to come home after along hike with painful blisters at the heels of your feet. Not only is it uncomfortable and off putting, but they can become infected if they burst. We want to have fun on our hikes, not suffer for them.

Leather is the key ingredient for well-built hiking and walking boots, they usually have other materials stitched with them but leather is usually the main focus for brands such as bates, wolverine and vasque clarion. But a key feature in top quality hiking boots is the famous Gore-Tex fabric. This miracle material allows air into your boot while still being completely water proof. Allowing your boots to 'breath' and giving your feet that extra comfort.

There is of course different types of leather on the market, each changing the specs and qualities of the boots in question. Full grain leather is the toughest you can get. It is made from the entire thickness of a cows hide. Boots made from this are not very flexible but are more suited for extremely rocky terrain and dangerous terrain. In time, if not blisters, your feet will develop tougher skin to deal with this type of boot. A Gore-Tex layer improves comfort, but not a great amount.

Nubuk leather is the leather of choice for the casual hiker, being fairly comfortable but still packing a bit of extra durability. The nature of this leather makes it easier to lift than full grain making it more agile and adds flexibility to your movements.

Regular leathers are formed from the inner layer of the hide, which is used to make up those shoes you wore to your high school prom. Nubuk leather is made from the outer layer; the hair is chemically removed and moulded to shape. The skin is tough but flexible making it perfect for hiking conditions. Fusing the layer of Gore-Tex just adds to the comfort you can get from this leather.

Please be aware that any new boots you where must be broken in meaning you will need to where them a lot before going on an actual hike with them. This is for your own safety as a un broken in boot is very likely to cause blisters.