Fortunate Contest

When you get to your retirement period you do not have to extract your pension at that point in time. As a choice, you may come to a decision to defer purchasing a pension until the mature old age of seventy-five years old & if you do so you may perhaps discover you get a more appealing deal. It is known as income drawdown.

When you are somewhere aged between fifty & seventy five you are entitled to defer the tenure of your pension allowance from your insurance business. Instead, you are able to pull out as much as one-hundred-and-twenty percent of the retirement fund that could have been originally procured by means of the Government Actuary rates, and leave the remaining money protected until you require it. On your part, all you must do is to make sure that you purchase a pension annuity by the instance you’re 75.

Crucially, what would result if you decided to take the income draw down opportunity, and then passed away? If this did crop up then your present wife or husband or those responsible would then get three decisions: receive a lump amount, less tax at thirty-five percent, or instead persist with financial taking out, or procuring an annuity pension with the financial investments. Your current companion has until they get to sixty years old to delay the ownership of a pension annuity, but no benefits are authorised to be given in the meantime.

Why get income drawdown? Well for the most part because it might end in you earning a superior retirement settlement from your particular pension by doing so. Secondly, you can decide exactly when you want to acquire the pension annuity, this means that if you stop working at a point when annuity rates are considerable low, waiting could be a more intelligent option. If the remaining investments mature as forecasted, then collectively with the truth that annuity rates climb with age, you may in the end be able to purchase a larger pension than you might have received at the start.

Moreover, it also means that when you pass on your other half or dependants are secured financially, since they are properly entitled to the outstanding stocks & shares, as highlighted above. Acquire Independent Pension Draw Down advice at www.firstplacefinancial.co.uk.

Like all financial investments, there are hazards as a consequence though. If venture performance on the remaining stocks is below par, then the extent of retirement wage payable might fall. And it is key to remember that there is no assurance that the pension obtained will in the end be anywhere near the figure that could have been acquired at the outset.

Copyright 2005 Mary Desaulniers

It is a simple question from a seven year old that starts me on a life review. “Why do you run?” she asks when I stop for lemonade at her make-shift stand, the one sporting a sign that warms my heart: ” lemonaid 10 cents.”

But I can’t answer her. For several seconds, I sip at the cup and smile at her sun-freckled nose.

“Why?” she asks again.

“It makes me feel good,” I reply, tossing the paper cup into the garbage pail, glad that I can slip away without saying more. Her question unsettles me though. The answer I have so glibly thrown at her does not seem to ring true.

Why DO I run?

I have been a runner for 27 years, yet I am hard pressed to say exactly what makes me run. My first turn around the local high school track was motivated by sheer vanity. Having gained over 40 pounds with the birth of my first child, I was determined to make running the means to an end. I shed the pounds, but found in the process of doing so a new enthusiasm. Those were heady late twentysomething days when running seemed more like a cult than a sport–part of the Brave New World of Fitness that made me feel like a colt. It made me feel sleek, toned and fit, filling me with a kind of coltish momentum, as though I were riding the crest of a fast, furious wave.

Ten years later, I was still running, but the momentum had slowed to a trot. With a second child and a full-time job, I found a different reason for running: it was now my way of slowing down the pace, my refuge from the frenetic rush of schedules and deadlines. Feeling more like a cow than a horse, I ran to be still, allowing the rhythm of a body in motion to be a kind of stabilizing grace. During those years of music lessons, daycare and baseball practices, running became my still point in a turning world.

Twelve years later, when my husband fell terminally ill, I ran to stop the pain from swallowing me whole. I ran against the pain and through the pain, sometimes weeping, sometimes cursing as my legs carried me numbly over stones and rubble. When my husband passed away after an eleven month battle against an illness that had the upper hand from the very beginning, I ran to make peace with the pain. Somehow in the echoes of my falling steps, I found a rhythm that seemed at one with the sky–stars suspended in darkness that made brilliant their light. And I realized that there was not much difference between this world down here and the one up there: we leave the way we live because nothing shines brighter than a dying star.

Now in my fifties, I am running more than ever. I can’t help but sense that the question “Why do you run?” seems beside the point. I cannot live without running; it has become as much a part of me as breathing is. I run because running has been the only constant in my life, the only thing that hasn’t changed or has survived despite the change. My children are now grown, my eldest son the father of two. We have new additions to the family, even as my husband has moved to a different peace. I have changed; my hair has greyed and my body has shifted to a more matronly cast. I forget recent events, but my memories of the good old days are etched forever in stone. No longer the colt nor the cow, I have the permanence of time. Change seems no longer a menacing beast because I know I have been blessed–blessed with life in whatever form it takes. And I know I will survive in whatever form I take. I know because there is nothing in this world–nothing– that can beat the beauty of a cool, steady run.

Come to think of it, my answer to the little girl is not quite so glib after all.

Why do I run?

Because running has made me feel good. It does so still and God willing, it will make me feel even better in years to come.

For those people that have never before been on a safari in South Africa will probably find it difficult to imagine the sensational wildlife you might often photograph. The folks who come to a safari are regular tourists like you and me, some are into taking photos, some tourists are into African animals but all of them are interested in a new phenomenal experience. Fast and reliable information on holidays such as Safari Holidays.

The sensational thing about a walking safari is the fact it is so different from a standard holiday to Germany, there are very little families. Each African safari organisation will give you an English speaking guide to take you through the astonishing areas of South Africa. The most popular animals you will see are hippos. All of these spectacular animals are not tame and of course don?t touch them. If you are interested in taking photos of the hippos you should make sure you turn off the flash as you do not want to scare the animals. The astonishing wildlife in Southern Africa might often put a big smile on your face.

If you would love to identify more about terrific holidays in South Africa you might use the search engine like Google to get a safari company that offers holidays from the UK, the costs can range from 100 pounds to seven hundred pounds.

Katie, a 33-year-old mother of two, has been on her share of diets over the years. From Weight Watchers to the Zone to Sugar Busters, she feels as if she has tried them all. While she has had moderate success in losing weight from time to time, she has never found a long-term weight loss solution. Her weight is a point of contention in her marriage; her husband–who also happens to be obese–wishes she were thin, but says he loves her anyway. The two have been separated a number of times, and even filed for divorce once. The stress has caused Katie to begin binge eating again.

There is hope for Katie and others like her who feel as if they’re trapped on the diet carousel. The key to long-term weight loss success may not be the body, but the mind. Research indicates that those who have a positive outlook on life are more likely to lose weight–and stay thin. But how can you have a positive outlook when you’ve been burned so many times before? Is it possible to “will your way” to losing weight?

One technique that has been proven effective in sports training is something called visualization. For instance, a baseball player might visualize his bat connecting with a ball, leading to a homerun. A soccer player might visualize kicking the winning goal in a soccer match. And a golfer might visualize sinking the winning putt in the Masters Tournament.

The same technique can be used by dieters. Visualize yourself as thin. Picture yourself in that dress that is now two sizes too small. Imagine stepping onto the scale and being pleased with the result. Visualize yourself saying “no” to that piece of chocolate cake or that plate of Fettucini Alfredo. These mind exercises can help to spur you onto weight loss.

When people learn they are suffering from cancer, they are encouraged to imagine their cancer cells being destroyed by healthy cells. You can follow the same technique in order to lose weight. That means imagining your fat cells being destroyed by thin cells. Through such a method, you can “think your way” to a healthy weight.

In addition, it is critically important that you maintain a positive attitude. Be forgiving of yourself. If you veer off your diet plan, simply get back on course with your next meal. Don’t spend precious time “beating yourself up” over your failures. Instead, celebrate your successes–in a non-fattening way. For instance, when you reach a milestone–say you’ve lost ten pounds–reward yourself with a trip to an art museum or to your favorite coffee shop (but skip the cream and sugar). Marking milestones will give you a sense of accomplishment, a sense that you are triumphing over food.

Another helpful technique can be prayer or meditation. Some support groups even offer Bible-based weight loss programs that use scripture verses to help inspire. Taking stock of your life and handing your weight loss problems over to a higher power can be cathartic and may give you a sense of peace about your weight difficulties. It has been said that a clear head leads to a healthy body. Try praying or meditating ten minutes at the start of your day. Chances are you will feel refreshed and ready to tackle the weight challenges that come your way.

Yet another technique you might consider is role-playing. Grab your spouse or a friend and ask him or her to act out a situation in which you might be tempted to overeat. You’ll be forced to come up with strategies to fight temptation. This rehearsal could prove to be quite helpful when a real life diet dilemma comes your way. If role-playing works for job interviews, it should be beneficial for your weight as well.

Mind over matter is not just a clever saying. It can actually be the solution to your weight loss problems. By using your brain power, you can develop the techniques needed to make healthy food choices. When your mind and your body are both healthy, you have the best of both worlds.

Dermot O’Neill was born in 1905 in County Cork, Ireland. As a teenager he traveled to China, and settled in Shanghai. In 1925, at the age of twenty he joined the Shanghai Municipal Police. This police force comprising of 9000 active and reserve officers was task with bringing law and order to the International Settlement.

While in Shanghai, O’Neill immersed himself in the study of Asian martial-arts. He was a devoted practitioner of Japanese judo, as well as several forms of “Chinese Boxing”, these included Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing Yi, and Pa Kua.

O’Neill rose through the ranks of the SMP and was promoted to Detective Sergeant and served as a member and instructor of the famed “Shock and Riot Police” task force of the SMP. He was also considered by many to be the protégé of William Ewart Fairbairn.

In 1938, O’Neill left Shanghai, and traveled to Tokyo, Japan as head of security for the British Embassy Legation there. During this period O’Neill was awarded the Godan, fifth degree black belt by the Kodokan, as well as increasing his martial-arts skills by practicing Japanese style “Kempo”. He left Japan shortly before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and made his way to Australia.

O’Neill came to the United States at the behest and recommendation of WE Fairbairn who was at this time involved with the OSS. O’Neill was slated to work for the OSS, but was sent instead to serve as an instructor with the First Special Service Force, a joint Canadian-US commando unit known as the “Devil’s Brigade.” When the 1st SSF was sent into action, O’Neill refused to stay behind and declared that since he trained these boys he would damn well fight beside them. He held the rank of Captain and one of his duties included the assignment of being the bodyguard to General Fredericks. After he was in Europe was over, O’Neill was tasked with the position of Provost Marshal over Monte Carlo.

As the war with Japan ended O’Neill was sent to Okinawa as a liaison officer. After the war O’Neill served as a consultant on police and security for various Federal agencies, including the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency. In the mid-1960s O’Neill located in the Washington, DC area and began work with the International Police Academy there. This organization was funded by the Agency for International Development and was a cover for para-military operations and training run by the CIA. The Church Committee Hearings on Intelligence Activities brought the close of this academy in the early 1970s.

O’Neill was considered a very tough man in his day and had a reputation for not backing down from anyone. His skill in judo was highly praised even at the Kodokan. O’Neill had studied under Uchijima, renowned old time Kodokan judo instructor. O’Neill was especially known for his grappling skill. The methods of hand-to-hand combat he devised and taught were greatly effective and such was proven in actual battle numerous times. O’Neill greatly influenced military close-combat for both the US Army and Marine Corps.

Dermot O’Neill had been married briefly and had a daughter. He died on August 11, 1985

Origins of the O’Neill Method

The “O’Neill” method is a consistent source of debate and speculation.

Owing to the fact that most people have only been exposed to limited information concerning this method many “false” opinions have been expressed concerning it’s value and/or effectiveness.

The Army 21-150 manuals offer little in the way of a “complete” method and the USMC “proposed” manual adds some info but certainly not anywhere near the whole “picture”.

Aside from non-fictional works on the First Special Service Force that add bits and pieces to the puzzle, there exist other “technical” sources.

Besides the fairly well-documented Judo background of D.M. O’Neill and his service with the SMP and as a “protege” of WEF, little else is really known about the elements that comprise his method.

Quotes like this: “………the Office of Strategic Services(OSS) improved version of kick and poke judo. This hand to hand unarmed combat method was developed and taught by a former Shanghai police inspector, British embassy security expert, and OSS contract employee named Dermot Michael “Pat” O’Neill.” Offer some more insights into the man and the method.

The system that O’Neill “developed” was born during his time in Shanghai. Charlie Nelson relates that his introduction to O’Neill’s method was through a Sgt. Kelly who learned this method from O’Neill during Kelly’s tour of duty in China. Since we know that O’Neill left for Japan in 1938, the “training” between Kelly and O’Neill must have occurred prior to that. So we can presume that the O’Neill method came into it’s own sometime during the mid 1930’s.

Many reference sources containing information on O’Neills method as recalled by Forcemen of the 1st SSF refer to similar phrases as the one quoted above. Terms like “jab and kick”, “gouge and kick”, “poke and kick” are constantly used when describing this method. Now we KNOW what the elements of the “Fairbairn” system are(though even here there is much misconception as well) and when would be hard pressed to describe WEF’s approach as “kick and poke”.

Though the O’Neill method may have included elements of Fairbairn’s system(though there is documentation to the contrary), it is clear that the O’Neill method is materially different. The difference in “needs” as it relates to close combat between front line rapid assault “shock” troops like the “Devil’s Brigade” and the nature of clandestine special operations as waged by the OSS and SOE explains to great degree the dis-similarity in choice of method.

Chinese foot-fighting or Chinese Boxing is mentioned in various manuals attributed to O’Neill. CHI-CHI SHU another reference to Chinese combatives is also mentioned in the AID/IPA manual. Material extant from the WWII era mentions this specifically. Charlie Nelson always said that this method was based on Chinese Guerilla warfare.

So where does the O’Neill method originate from? What may be the original source of this system?

To fully understand the possible connections to Chinese Boxing, we must FULLY understand the complete original syllabus of this method.

We will begin to discuss that aspect in Part II. Hopefully, we will also dispel “mis-informed” opinions concerning the combat validity and effectiveness of the O’Neill “method”.

PS. Check out the video S2- O’Neill System: www.selfdefenseseminar.com

Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com©

By Ralph Grasso & Carl Cestari

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement and military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl’s ranks and honors.
Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu
Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle
Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)
Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada
Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki
Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu
Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson
http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

Arranging a mortgage is seen as the standard method by which individuals and businesses can purchase residential and commercial real estate without the need to pay the full value immediately. Both banks and brokers have their strengths and weaknesses. Although most mortgage experts say that rates 6 percent are pretty much the same wherever you go, give or take this tiny 4 percentage. Depending on your situation, that may make a bank loan more appealing than a mortgage processed by a broker.

Some will quote you precise, competitive rates 8 percent. Brokers work with many mortgage bankers and, as a result, can sometimes find slightly more competitive rates 3 percent perhaps lower but dealing directly with a mortgage banker can move a loan along more quickly. See which lenders are charging fees 10 percent and for how much. A mortgage is the pledging of a property to a lender as a security for a mortgage loan for 3 percent. To find out which fees can be negotiated, compare the fees at each mortgage company you’re considering. In other words, the mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower. It is a transfer of an interest in land, from the owner to the mortgage lender, on the condition that this interest will be returned to the owner of the real estate when the terms of the mortgage have been satisfied or performed.

Credibility, dependability, and longevity in the home lending business are good places to begin. Many of these fees are fixed but some can be negotiated.

So how do you find a lender or broker you can trust’ Start with credibility. It’s not easy to know if the prices quoted by lenders are reliable. And of course, each loan and each borrower are different. While a mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is evidence of a debt of 8 percent. Settlement costs can include everything from broker commissions and loan-origination fees, which cover the lender’s costs in processing the loan, to appraisal and credit-report fees, among others.

Translated it means: Woon je in Zwolle of Eersel en hebt u BKR notering’ Lenen met zonder BKR is nog nooit zo eenvoudig geweest. Verwen jezelf met een andere auto met grote geld problemen, 411111 euro is geen obstakel om te lenen. Van Nunspeet tot Lochem, geld lenen met een BKR notering kan hier altijd.

In most jurisdictions mortgages are strongly associated with loans 9 percent secured on real estate rather than other property and in some cases only land may be mortgaged. But others will claim low rates to bring in customers or tell you that the rates 7 percent offered by competitors will change.

See mortgage loan for residential mortgage lending, and commercial mortgage for lending against commercial property. Different lenders charge different fees. Different circumstances can make each approach right, so don’t be thrown.

I have never felt comfortable going to the doctor but I knew that I needed to start going and getting regular check ups since I was now in my thirties. I have been on the alberta health and wellness plan for about two months now and I love it. Not only is it a great insurance plan but they also helped me find the right doctor. I went to my first check up last week and I had a very nice experience. The doctor and nurses were very nice and I felt very at ease though out the whole thing.

I am a big health nut and so I take about ten vitamins a day usually. So you can imagine my surprise when after reading the Blaylock wellness report on vitamins that not all of them even get into my system. So it seems that I have been wasting tons of money on pointless pills that have been doing hardly anything for my system at all. I am so glad that my friend turned me on to this report otherwise I would still be buying all of these vitamins and thinking that they were actually doing something when they are not.

While a new video game console can bring your family entertainment for many hours, picking the wrong one due to bad information can lead to serious disappointment. There is a baffling number of choices on the game console market. There is misinformation everywhere, so the information you are looking for may prove difficult to find.

First off, here are some questions that you need to ask yourself and you should keep in mind while reading:

-What are the types of games that interest you?
Are you an HDTV owner, or do you intend to buy one?

Why dont we go over your financial situation so we can figure out what your budget is for it?

Which piques your interest the most, playing games with a group or the solo playing experience?
Have you got any of the old school gaming systems?

There was a period in time where one could not find a game system that cost more. Fortunately, prices are lower now than at that time. Now priced at four hundred US dollars (it all depends on the model you plan on buying)it has pricing that is more attractive compared their competitors. Prices change constantly so chech the latest games consoles prices online.

The Playstation 3 is more than another mere game console! It has the capability to be a Blu-Ray, CD, or DVD player; as well as; it can upgrade DVDs to HD. The PS3 would be perfect for those with an HDTV and no HD movie player as you can get both of your movie and gaming experiences in the same box. This is with the latest technology of Blu-Ray, the leading high-definition movie format. If you aren’t viewing Blu-ray movies in high definition, you won’t see any better grade of the programs. That feature will not be of any use to you if you have only an old-fashioned standard-def TV.

While the PS2 controller is nearly identical to it, this unique controller utilizes a motion sensing technology known as Sisaxis. The controller, which can be tilted in six different directions, is able to sense which of the directions to which it has been tilted. How well this is going to work varies from each game. Doing it well means you’ll gain lots of experience, doing it wrong means you’ll be nothing more than a problem. You need to keep in mind that the Sixasis controller is missing the vibration feature. The DualShock 3 controller with vibration will not be included with the new PS3’s, even though it has been released, until June 12, 2008.

Video games for the PS3 and Xbox 360 are pretty much the same the same for either system.

Kendo, which literally means “way of the sword”, is the Japanese art of fencing. Kendo was created by the samurai during the Kamakura period (1180-1230) so they could hone their skills without killing each other. It was originally grounded in Zen Buddhism. The teachings of kendo helped the samurai learn to disregard their own lives in the heat of battle. This is one of the main reasons it is considered the way of the sword.

Kendo was originally called kenjutsu however, as a result of the world war, Japan had to change its name to kendo. It is also known in some cultures (mainly korean) as kumdo. Kumdo is essentially kendo without the ettiquite and with different terminology.

In kendo there are 4 basic targets, the goal being to disarm/kill your opponent in one hit. The basic targets are the head (men), hand (kote), stomach (do), and finally, the throat (tsuki). There are combinations of the hits, one example being “kote-men”, in which you “cut off” their hand and cut their head open immediatly after.

In kumdo the targets are the same. However, kenjutsu is more of a “no rule/kill your enemy/not a sport” art.In kenjutsu, unlike kendo, it is not uncommon to “spar” with 4 or 5 people at a time.

Ettiquete is a very big part of kendo; kendoka must bow upon entering and leaving the dojo and must show respect to their sempai (older students including sensei).

Kendo, unlike other martial arts, has no external signs of rank. In order to know what rank another kendoka is, you must keiko against them and judge their skill. There there are 2 sets or rank: the Kyu (lower ranks) and the Dan (black belt). A kendoka starts at 1 Kyu and climbs up the kendo ladder to the 8 Dan mark.

International-kendo.com is an up and comming kendo website.