Kilty Larkin’s

Indoor volleyball has been a respected sport for a long time and then the new kid on the block came along. Beach volleyball is an old pastime but only became popular as a professional sport from the late 1990s. Until then, it was mostly played for fun in California, with some local tournaments taking place. It began in Santa Monica during the 1920s and gradually spread elsewhere. People mainly viewed it as a fun thing to do on vacation but then the media started to take an interest. Today, it is a highly competitive business with sponsors competing for a piece of the action.

It took a while for people to take this new sport on their TV screens seriously. Controversy still reigns, especially with regard to the rather skimpy sportswear worn by female players. The women’s events are more popular in fact and most of the well-known competitors are female. Sometimes, the clothing worn has offended in some Islamic countries. All this attention has no doubt boosted the sport but it’s fair to say that both men and women train hard and approach tournaments in a professional manner. Beach volleyball is an exciting spectator sport with lots of skill and quick thinking required.

There are slight variations to the rules as played in indoor volleyball, the most obvious being that indoor teams have six players and beach volleyball teams have just two. Beach volleyball players are allowed to play barefoot. The sport has proved most successful for the US and Brazil, with Australia catching up. The sport was included in the 1996 Olympic Games for the first time, for men and women. It’s popular in lots of other countries too, including landlocked countries. Professional beach volleyball is played in China, Greece and Germany. There are also Youth Tournaments to help the development of the game.

The sport of beach volleyball has produced quite a few celebrities now and is gaining in credibility. People who shunned it at first have been drawn in by the hard fought contests and abilities of the teams. There has been an attitude that beach volleyball is something that anyone can do. In fact, anyone can play baseball but it doesn’t mean that you could do it well. Playing a friendly game with your friends is very different from representing your country and trying to get a Gold Medal. There is always an argument about what sports should be included in the Olympics. Beach volleyball is definitely here to stay.

We all have heard about the damaging effects of the sun and why it is so important that we protect ourselves with sun screens. Let the sun shine in but not too much, right? Ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are invisible, and can be very damaging to the skin if it is not protected. This type of light causes skin cancers, altered pigmentation, dilated blood vessels, and changes in the texture of the skin. All these factors contribute to aging of the skin, which is accelerated by over exposure to the sun. Every time skin is sunburned damage has occurred, and getting multiple sunburns or being constantly exposed to the sun without sun screen protection, puts an individual at a higher risk of getting skin cancer. This applies to tanning. Even if the skin is not sunburned, damage is occurring. There is no safe tan.

Many different types of sun screens have been developed to minimize our exposure to the damaging rays of the sun. Sun screens worn on our skin provide the most protection if applied properly and consistently. Staying out of the sun during certain hours of the day is also a good way to avoid overexposure, or cover up with sun screen, a hat, and protective clothing. Sun screens are not just limited to the type applied directly to the skin.

Sun screens, such as window tinting, sun shades, and other types sun filtering devices are available for homes and vehicles to screen or block out sunlight and heat. For many homeowners in warmer parts of the country, it is important to have various sun screens because the sun is so intense. Window tinting on vehicles is a must have, as well as blinds, light filtering curtains or shades, and patio shades or screened enclosures. There are many businesses that specialize in making your home more pleasant and protecting you and your family from the sun.

Sun screens are important for everyone, even if you love the sun, always tan, and donít think you will ever get skin cancer. There are many people that thought the same thing and now have skin cancer or have already died from it. Sun screen applied to your skin is probably the easiest and least expensive way to protect yourself and your family from the sun. Sun screens are easy to apply and are now included in many facial, lip, and body moisturizing products. You really have no excuses not to protect yourself from the damaging rays of the sun. Once it’s done it’s over - you can’t go back! Protect your skin and save your life. Use sun screens!

I’ve been riding off-road motorcycles for many years now. In fact, there’s nothing I like more than trail riding with my friends on the weekends. It’s a great way to stay fit, enjoy the great outdoors, and forget about all the pressure and stress from my job, family, and other responsibilities. When I first started riding, I didn’t modify my motorcycle at all. But over the years, I’ve discovered that purchasing a few dirt bike accessories can really enhance my riding experience for the better.

There are lots of different categories of dirt bike accessories, so I’m always able to choose something that suits both my machine and my specific needs. Since 90 percent of my riding takes place on trails, there are several dirt bike accessories that I need to have before I’ll even think about going out. For example, like almost every other off-roader out there, I believe hand guards are a must. No matter how well groomed I think the trails are going to be, I inevitably find myself brushing up against tall grass, bushes, and even tree branches. A simple motorcycle accessory like a plastic guard helps protect against scrapes, cuts, and more serious injuries to my hands.

Tool kits and first-aid kits are more dirt bike accessories that I wouldn’t dream of leaving home without. For these, I can either purchase kits ready-made from a store, or just put them together on my own. Either way will work; the important thing is simply having the tools available when they’re needed. A ready-made kit features basic tools that will help you perform basic maintenance on your motorcycle when you’re away from civilization. These tools come in a soft pouch that can be mounted to your rear fender. If I wanted to put together my own tool kit, I would simply buy a pouch, fill it with what I need, and then mount it.

First-aid kits are dirt bike accessories that often get overlooked. But I always make sure I have one because my riding usually takes me ten to twenty (or even more) miles away from where I parked my truck. That’s a long way to go back before treating a minor injury. Having a first-aid kit mounted to my motorcycle helps ensure that minor injuries don’t develop into major problems out on the trail.

If you’ve got a an off-road motorcycle, then I suggest you check into these or other dirt bike accessories at your local dealer or on your favorite supplier websites. Having the right equipment can make the difference between a great ride and a forgettable afternoon.

A bad poison ivy rash can take weeks to go away and can drive you crazy with itchiness. As an avid backpacker and camper, I’ve had my share of poison ivy rashes, and I’ve tried a lot of different poison ivy cures. Some of them don’t do anything at all, yet others are actually very effective.

The best poison ivy cure is of course avoiding it in the first place. You could always tiptoe through the tulips instead - for once you get a poison ivy rash, it is very hard to cure completely. So don’t get one! OK?

Wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants is always recommended if you suspect you may be around poison ivy. This can be difficult, as backpacking often causes you to work up quite a sweat, but its worth it. Long clothes are also a good way to prevent ticks, so its more than just poison ivy you’re protecting yourself from.

Learn how to identify the plant. There are pictures of poison ivy all over the web, and once you’ve seen poison ivy enough times in real life it becomes easy to spot. If you think you’ve come in contact with poison ivy, wash off with soap and water as soon as possible. Also, thoroughly wash your clothes. Washing the oil within half an hour after contact off is effectively a poison ivy cure. There are also some preventative poison ivy lotions available that can boost your resistance.

Once you’ve got that rash, it’s going to be hard to remove, but there are some poison ivy cures that will hasten its departure. One thing that works great for me is hot water; I just run the effected area under some hot water for ten or more minutes several times a day, and within five days the rash is gone, whereas it would otherwise stick around for much longer.

Five days is still a while, but there are other things you can do to speed this up even more. There is a lotion called ‘Tecnu’ that is just shy of being a magic poison ivy cure in itself. Using the lotion regularly will greatly speed up the rate that your poison ivy rash leaves. Additionally, if you rub this lotion on within a day after exposure, it often prevents the poison ivy rash from occurring in the first place.

So the best poison ivy cure I’ve found to treat the rash is hot water plus Tecnu. Used together (but not at the same time!) I’ve gotten rid of rashes in less than three days. In the meantime, I find that some lotions, such as calamine lotion, can reduce the itchiness. (You’re gonna need an ocean, of calamine lotion!)