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A host of iPod speakers have emerged in recent weeks, ranging from retro to futuristic.

SpeckTone Retro Docking iPod speaker system

This fifties retro system costs 119, and is available in the UK from iWorld. It integrates an iPod dock, a wooden cabinet, and illuminated front volume-knob as well as 28 watts of sound. The systems wood cabinet is available in black, white or mint green. www.iworld.co.uk

logitech AudioStation

This is a more compact answer to Apples iPod Hi-Fi. Audiostation cost 199, and carries a Universal Dock connector. Unlike Apples speaker system, Logitechs integrates a digital AM/FM radio tuner. Controls are touch-sensitive and illuminated by LED lights. www.logitech.com

Gear4 HouseParty 24/7

A home stereo speaker system for iPods, its equipped with an AM/FM radio and an alarm clock. This bedside companion (available in black or white) costs 99, and ships with a 16-function infrared remote control. It offers a pair of 6W speakers and a 12W subwoofer, and features an LCD screen that displays iPod tracks of the station thats playing. www.gear4.com

sonic Gear A6

The A6 is a 160 speaker for iPods that deliver a frequency response of 20Hz to 20KHz, and is equipped with a pair of 4in mid-bass drivers for a better spread of frequencies. It can deliver 50 watts of sound, and is encased in a solid-wood cabinet. Also from sonic Gear come the tiny but powerful 1-200 3RIO Micro Speakers. These are compatible with all portable music players, and cost between 14.99 - 19.99. These offer 10 watts of power, and can be powered by usb or AAA batteries. www.ods-distribution.com

AudioStation Express

Logitechs well-featured, portable iPod all-in-one speakers are powered by AA batteries or AC power. A protective case and a wireless remote are included. They integrate an iPod dock, have a line-in jack, and cost 79.99. www.logitech.com

MicroSound

Miglias MicroSound is a set of tiny speakers for iPod nanos and iPod shuffles. It offers 12 hours of play from one AAA battery. It costs 19.99. www.miglia.com

Eliminating excuses is the first step on the path to physical fitness. This may be easier said than done...oops, that is also an excuse! We all have the same 24 hours in a day, and the body we were born with. Yet, people vary greatly in terms of fitness level. Why is that? Because the physically fit don't let lame excuses interfere with their commitment to their health.

Don't let the usual excuses keep you from starting, and sticking with, a reasonable exercise regimen:

1. "The gym is too far away/there isn't gas in the car/my cute workout clothes are dirty...{blah, blah, blah}"

Having your own exercise equipment, in your own domain, removes this line of reasoning. Forget commuting and work out at home. Not being willing or able to go somewhere doesn't have to get in your way.

2. "I don't have time to work out."

working out will increase your energy, which will actually give you more time in your day, not less. And if you choose your exercises to give the most efficient workout, then 30 minutes, 3 times a week should be quite beneficial. That is possible by choosing fitness equipment that offers a variety of exercises, like the Bowflex Treadclimber, or a home gym that has multiple stations.

If you can't spare 30 minutes, 3 times a week for your own health, what on earth do you have time for?

3. "It hurts."

Exercise should never hurt -- ever. Instead of giving up on exercise altogether, do low-impact activities. One way to ease stress on your knees and feet, for example, is to work out in water. Also, some exercise machines provide a similar effect. The Bowflex climber has "dual-treadles" that come up to meet your feet, which some say feels like walking in water.

It is important to always consult with a health care professional before starting any exercise routine, to ensure the activities you choose are appropriate. After all, the point is to get healthier, not injure yourself.

4. "working out is boring."

No one said you had to do the same exercise over and over, until you're bored. Change it up a bit. Vary your routine to include your exercise machine three times a week, a brisk walk or jog twice a week, and swimming or yoga another once or twice a week. Your exercise equipment can also keep you from getting bored by enabling numerous different exercises (see #2).

5. "I'm too old to get in shape."

This might be the conclusion you draw if your exercise equipment doesn't offer you adjustable settings, to match the intensity to your current fitness level. That can lead to feelings of discouragement and keep you from wanting to continue. The Bowflex Treadclimber has adjustable settings and speeds, to customize your workout. After about six weeks, you'll probably feel younger, not older!

6. "It's not possible to look that good {as in before/after pictures or the bodies featured in commercials}."

No one can guarantee how you will look, at a higher level of fitness. But if you're getting healthier and have a good chance of looking a lot better, isn't it worth doing it anyway? Optimum health is the goal, better looks are a pleasant side effect. Think of it that way, and you won't feel so down when a six-pack doesn't appear in a week.

7. "But I don't need to lose any weight."

weight loss is only one element to getting in better shape. There's also: getting stronger, increasing energy and stamina, better posture, staving off "old age", and reducing your risk of certain illnesses. Also, your weight may be redistributed in a more attractive way. Then there's the best reason to work out: fun! If you enjoy your workout, you'll do it more often, and will get more and more fit.

Excuses can be a way of postponing things you know you need to do. So eliminate them, one at a time!

kathy Hildebrand is a professional writer who is easily bored with her "day job" assignments. So, she researches anything and everything of interest and starts writing. Writing about an extremely wide variety of subjects keeps her skills sharp, and gives her food for thought on future paid writing assignments.

More of her research and articles can be found at www.lasertargeted.com/bowflex and other sites around the internet.

Southend United returned to the top of league One with a 2-0 win at Yeovil. Available at 13/8 before kick off, a first half goal from Mark Bentley and one from veteran Shaun Goater extended the Shrimpers unbeaten run to 12 games. steve Tilsons side are 7/2 to win the division outright.

Colchester set a new club record of nine consecutive wins as they came from behind to beat Bradford City. Colchester, 8/11 before kick off, fell behind after 37 minutes but hit back through Richard Garcia (2) and Chris Iwelumo. second placed Colchester are two points behind leaders Southend with two games in hand and are 11/4 favourites to win outright.

Friday night saw Swansea City edge back into third with their first win in five games against Bournemouth. The 4/5 Swans scored the winning goal through midfielder Andy Robinson on the stroke of half time.

Barnsley, at 10/11, kept up the pressure with a win against Bristol City. A goal in each half from Marc Richards secured the third successive 2-0 victory for the Tykes.

Brentford adapted quickly to life without striker DJ Campbell, a 500,000 signing for Birmingham City, by crushing Walsall 5-0 at Griffin Park. The 8/11 odds looked the safest bet of the day as goals for Isaiah Rankin, Ricky newman, Paul Brooker, Sam Sodje and a penalty for Kevin O'Connor eased the Bees to victory.

Huddersfield lost ground in the promotion hunt going down 2-1 at Tranmere on Friday night. David Graham cancelled out an early Carl Tremarco goal but the home side stunned the Terriers when former striker Delroy Facey netted the winner with six minutes to go for 7/5 Rovers.

Veteran striker Paul Hall's 100th league goal denied Gillingham an unlikely 7/2 victory and extended Chesterfield's unbeaten run to 15 matches. The Gills took the lead through Tommy black but hall ensured the Spireites a share of the points with a last minute strike.

Neither Rotherham nor Hartlepool did their relegation battle any good with a goalless draw. Both sides occupy a position in the bottom three and shrewd punters will have got on at 23/10.

While Rotherham and Hartlepool were cancelling each other out, Swindon edged out of relegation for the first time this season with a 2-1 victory over Doncaster. The Robins, 7/5 before kick off scored through Ricky Shakes and Charlie Comyn-Platt to earn Iffy Onouras side their third win in a row.

There is a new heavyweight force in European football, they are being bankrolled seemingly by the Russian economy, they mean business, and their name is Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club have always been a decent club in the second strata of English clubs. In London alone arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have invariably been ahead of the Chelsea Blues, even West Ham have often put Chelsea in the shade. But no longer, for in the season 2004-2005, Chelsea won the English Premier League title for the first time in fifty years, their only previous winning season.

But they havent stopped there, in the new season 2005-2006 they are already well clear in the title race leaving all their rivals gasping, and now they have set their sights on the pinnacle of all the club trophys, the European Champions League. Chelsea have never won the Champions League, indeed no London club ever has. And it is clear that their charismatic manager Jose Mourinho is intent on winning the Champions League again, he did so with his previous club Porto, of Portugal.

So what of the traditional English giants? Manchester United, often described as the worlds richest football club, have fallen into the hands of the Glazer family of Tampa Bay fame, but they reportedly needed to borrow half a billion pounds to buy United, a debt the club now shoulders. Spending on new players has so far been thin on the ground and Uniteds brusque Glaswegian manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has admitted that United, for so long Englands most successful club, cannot compete with Chelsea when it comes to buying players. The hordes of United fans are not amused, the natives are growing restless.

arsenal, Londons biggest and most successful club, lost their skipper and driving force Patrick Vieira last summer, he moved to Juventus in italy for 12 million pounds and with their star striker Thierry Henry suffering fitness problems, they picked up some uncharacteristic defeats at unfashionable clubs like West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough. This is their last season at their famous old Highbury Stadium before they move to their new purpose built Emirates stadium almost next door. The increased capacity of 60,000 will undoubtedly give their french manager Arsene Wenger more money to spend next year, but of course they have to pay for that new ground too. Far from challenging Chelsea again, it would seem that arsenal are more likely to fall further behind.

That leaves liverpool and Newcastle. News comes through just today that the American Kraft Company and family are interested in investing in liverpool F.C., perhaps even buying the club outright just like Manchester United fifty miles up the road, but that is some way down the line. And they too are seeking to build a brand new stadium on Stanley Park and of course that all costs big money. Despite last years freakish win in the Champions League, Liverpools league form this season has again been patchy, and that included a 4-1 walloping by Chelsea on their own Anfield pitch. The idea that liverpool might challenge Chelsea for the title remains a far-fetched one. Newcastle, Englands second best supported club are gradually improving, and they have signed Englands centre forward Michael Owen, but they still remain unconvincing at the top level. They havent won the title since Noah was seen building his ark, or so it seems, and they arent going to do so this season either.

So though it is very popular for foreign investors to snap up the leading English (and Scottish) football clubs, it appears that only Roman Abramovich at Chelsea has the financial muscle to buy the best players around. He is the only one to put unlimited funds on the table. Top class players now command a transfer fee of 40 million each and whereas Manchester United might afford one of them a season, Chelseas purse seems bottomless. They have already spent 220+ million and are still in the market to buy again when the transfer window re-opens in January.

They have already achieved success by winning at home, now the European Champions League is the Holy Grail for them, a trophy they are now the outright favourites to win with the odds layers. And astonishingly they have achieved their success to date with an array of strikers who havent really cut the mustard. Mutu the Romanian, was promptly sacked for drug taking, Crespo the Argentinian, was sent out to Milan on loan last season, and though he is back now he is hardly setting the world afire,or even playing that often, Gudjohnson an Icelander, plays more often than not, the muscular Drogba from the Ivory Coast, seems to have finally claimed the number nine shirt as his own, yet many blues followers still remain unconvinced about him, so it would seem likely that Chelsea may yet be looking for another proven goal scorer come January, especially after a recent rare defeat at Manchester United.

It would take a brave man to back against Chelsea in any competition at the moment. But if youd like to, you can still have a free $30 dollar bet at Betfair.com by entering the code 6CHE3VPWJ when prompted. But one thing is for sure; no one would be surprised if this time next year the Premier League trophy AND the Champions League trophy were both on display in the Chelsea boardroom. It seems that only the italian giants Milan and Juventus, and the spanish top two, Real Madrid, and most especially Barcelona with their Brazilian superstar, surely soon to be the world player of the year, Ronaldinho, might stop the London blues. It really does seem as if we have entered a new era in European and world football, or if you prefer the ridiculous name that no one ever uses, Soccer. Chelsea fans have never had it so good while everyone else is left gasping in their wake, for it is a fact that Chelsea Football Club have raised the bar for everyone else to follow. time will tell if anyone can.

The purpose of a golf swing is to make the golf club hit the ball to a desired position. The full golf swing is an unnatural, highly complex motion and notoriously difficult to learn. In fact the basic golf swing is much more physics that strength. The golf swing is an awkward movement that puts a tremendous amount of stress on the body. For nearly every weekend golfer, the golf swing is the number one problem out on the course.

The Swing
You will have already noted that each club has a different job to do and part of the basic golf swing is selecting the right club for the right job in the right conditions.The perfect golf swing is a personal thing, and is one that works, time and time again, to send the ball in exactly the same direction and for exactly the same distance, commensurate with club selection, time after time, weather conditions permitting.

Break the swing down into manageable parts - Using Swing Drills
If you've been on a golf course and have tried to use all your strength in the basic golf swing so that you hit the ball as far as possible, then you will have already understood that this does not quite work. A full swing is a complex rotation of the body aimed at accelerating the club head to a great speed. The idea behind the one plane golf swing is to have the club in the downswing follow the exact path as the backswing, enabling the golfer to hit the ball in the position it was in before beginning the backswing.

The backswing is a rotation to the right, consisting of a shifting of the player's body weight to the right side, a turning of the pelvis and shoulders, lifting of the arms and flexing of the elbows and wrists. At the end of the swing, the weight has shifted almost entirely to the left foot, the body is fully turned to the left and the hands are above the left shoulder with the club hanging down over the players' back.

It is usually very difficult to acquire a stable and successful swing without professional instruction and even highly skilled golfers may continue to take golf lessons for many years.

The causes of common injuries
The common causes of golf injuries include the following:
1.Overuse - caused by hours of practice
2.Miss-hits or duffs - hitting the ground during a swing
3.Poor swing mechanics
4.Over swinging
5.Not doing warm-up exercises
6.Wrong grip.

It is also important to keep the spine vertical during the follow-through.
Shoulder injuries may be prevented with proper swing techniques which include:
1.Shortening the backswing
2.Strengthening of shoulder muscles
3.Strengthening of chest and back muscles
4.Improvement of swing techniques.

Summary
It has been said that the perfect golf swing is the one that allows a golfer to hit the ball long and straight. The golf swing is probably the single most important aspect of achieving a good game of golf. Having the proper golf swing is going to take a lot of time and practice. The perfect golf swing is the one that is effortless through good technique.

To learn more golf Swings and other aspects of golf please visit: Golfing guides

I would like to invite you to some of our other sites which I'm sure you will find interesting:

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Catering for your Gardening Needs

Bluetooth headsets make up one of the fastest wireless markets here in the US and around the world. Headsets with Bluetooth wireless technology are capable of working with a variety of other Bluetooth enabled devices such as cell phones, PDAs, and digital music devices (like the iPod). Unlike conventional headsets, Bluetooth headsets do not require wires of any sort, but rather receive information from your portable device through 2.4GHz radio waves. The range of communication for most headsets is somewhere around 10 feet, which is usually plenty long.

Not surprisingly, there are a wide variety of Bluetooth headsets out there, and it really comes down to tastes in styles and preferred features as to which one is right for you. You'll want to make sure, for instance, that your Bluetooth device - whether it be an iPod, laptop, or PDA - will work with your chosen headphones. Here we list below some of the most popular Bluetooth headsets and their relevent features.

logitech mobile Bluetooth Headset

Logitech's Bluetooth headset is a real competitor in the market. It is a solid product with a dependable brand name, fully capable of providing sound connection between your cell phone and the headset. The device is entirely compatible with most major Bluetooth phones, but you may have to look into its compatibility with other devices. Like most headsets, the device can clip easily to either ear. It comes with an adjustable, swing-out boom that includes a noise-blocking microphone. The battery unit is rechargeable and is capable of giving you about 7 hours of talk time.

motorola Bluetooth Headsets

motorola currently has two stylish Bluetooth headsets on the market: the HS810 and HS820, and one soon to be released: the HS850. The HS810 and HS820 are very similar in style and shape.

Both devices are, of course, Bluetooth enabled and can thereby communicate with Bluetooth 1.1 compliant devices, including handsets, PDAs and computers. The device is compatible with the motorola v600 and V710 phones. The HS810 and HS820 both weigh about 20 grams, and the HS820 has a slightly longer talk time range of 6 hours, compared with the HS810's 5 hours max. They both can run on standby for 100 hours. The HS820 has the ability to communicate with your phone up to 33 feet away, and is equipped with a couple nice features: conference call and voice dialing. The HS810 sells for $99.00 and the HS820 for $79.00.

information concerning the newest headset by motorola, the HS850, has just recently been released. Those lucky enough to have tested and reviewed this device have, so far, given it high marks. Like it predecessors, the HS850 has a simple yet attractive design. The main casing is black, with silver around the control area (image below). One of the more innovative features of this device is the flip-on connection system that enables the headset to connect with your phone as soon as you flip it open.

Jabra FreeSpeak Bluetooth Headsets

Jabra, a leading provider of hands-free communication devices is optimistic about its newest headset the Jabra FreeSpeak FS258 released recently in Malaysia. Weighing only 23 grams, the FS258 is the lightest behind-the-ear device produced by Jabra. The company is encouraged by a new trend in the US towards banning the use of cell phones while driving is some states, such as New jersey.

Bradley James is a senior editor at SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful consumer electronics review articles. For more information on Bluetooth wireless technology, please visit our Bluetooth headset webpage.

The fifa world Cup is very important in the world of international football, also known as soccer. The world Cup is contested by the mens national football teams of fifa member nations and is awarded every 4 years. There have been 17 tournaments held to date, but only 7 nations have won the world Cup Finals. The nation of Brazil holds the cup currently and have won the cup a total of 5 times making them the leading team. The next world Cup Finals will be held in Germany where Germany holds 3 titles.

In 1872 the first international football match was played between England and Scotland. In the beginning of the sport there were never medals awarded. It was called a demonstration sport and was played at the Olympics.

In 1909 the game was finally played for a trophy and was organized by Sir Thomas Lipton. That game is often referred to a the first world Cup. The title was won by West Auckland. They won again in 1911.

In 1914 fifa recognized the tournament as world football for amateurs. This how things led to the first intercontinental football competition in 1924 at the summer Olympics. Uruguay won the tournament. In 1928 fifa came up with their own international tournament.

Because football was not very popular in the united states it was not part of the program for the 1932 Olympics held in Los Angeles.