Commentary: Fourth Reading: Flying in the face of reason

When I was a little kid, I used to stay up late on Saturday nights so I could watch Monty Python's Flying Circus on OETA. My love affair with the Pythons and, subsequently, the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, began at about the age of 12.

At first blush, Jolley's idea sounded terrific. Expanding OETA's role and providing the public more access to what is happening in the Legislature seems like a great idea."If it's open to the public, broadcast it," Jolley told the Tulsa World.Thankfully, the Oklahoma House of Representatives killed Jolley's proposal on an 82-to-15 vote. But that doesn't mean the esteemed senator from Edmond won't try to slip the idea into some other piece of legislation.Editor's note: The Journal Record and OETA sometimes share resources.Of course, he doesn't mention that his unfunded mandate is a little exercise in senator ego against the state's public television authority.Since that time, I've watched a billion hours of OETA's programming, news and PBS documentaries. I worked side-by-side with OETA's reporters and news anchors and witnessed firsthand the important role the authority plays in informing the public.Instead, he wanted to set OETA up to fail. His bill didn't provide any additional funds to OETA for its round-the-clock mission. It would have just added new requirements for a station struggling with limited resources. Without funds to pay for additional staff and equipment, Jolley was trying to box OETA into a corner, forcing the station to expand its news operation without the resources to fund the expansion.But Jolley wasn't really trying to provide Oklahomans with more information.State Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, wanted to expand OETA's mission. To do that, Jolley authored Senate Bill 89, which would have required OETA to broadcast both houses of the Legislature, committee meetings, Oklahoma Corporation Commission hearings and state Board of Education meetings.From my corner of the world, OETA has done its job and done it well.What was ironic about the idea was the fact that Jolley is one of the first ones to wave his fist and complain about unfunded mandates. He stomps around the rotunda and issues press release after press release about how horrible unfunded mandates are on the state and then preaches to the voters about how bureaucrats are out of touch with rest of us.So it only stands to reason that the Oklahoma Legislature would try to screw things up. Framed against calls on the national level to gut funding for public broadcasting, spank all the journalists at National Public Radio and save the country's information gathering system from the mythical liberal bias, this week Oklahoma lawmakers tried to change OETA's role and reduce its funding yet again.Because given the choice, I'll settle for Monty Python over Senator Jolley any time.

Editor's note: The Journal Record and OETA sometimes share resources.

A Guide To Plasma Television Stands

For their home entertainment rooms, people are buying new plasma television which is becoming more common and common. The purchase price for plasma television stands is one thing that has as often and also equally dropped. For anyone buying a new television, these are a must have in many ways, because with your TV, you are going to have to buy some kind of stand to go. It is almost mandatory. It would make sense to buy something to put your big screen plasma TV on before you buy it. It could get short out after all if you just set it on the floor if someone were to tip over a mop bucket. It is ultimately going to be based on your budget and tastes when you choose the type of plasma TV furniture. From black glass which is very contemporary and classy to oak wooden and everything in between, the color and styles choice for LCD plasma television stands range. What your d�cor and your personal preference currently asks, it is really matter for in your living room.

You should know that the look of your plasma television is enhanced by plasma television stands furniture and will add to the overall look of your living room on whatever style you decide to go with. Which style best matches your room and personality better than you can, no one can answer it, only you can.For minimalist style wall mount, a lot of people go, because it opens up a lot of space in your living room and rarely needs to be moved as a benefit of a wall mounted plasma television. But, as disadvantages, there is no place to put them with a wall mounted stand, you will have to store your DVDs in a separate location. Wit the glass topped metal stand, of course you could go. To put your DVDs, DVD player and VCR, you will be given by this a place. On that goes well with modern homes, it�s very sleek looking design. But if you aren�t careful with it the glass can break and can chip. That is a disadvantage of belonging glass topped plasma TV stand furniture.Bush is one of the most popular names in television stands as there are many brand names out there. Corner television stands are hugely also popular for many people. If you room is odd shaped, using Corner TV stands for plasma TV�s are the only to get your television viewing just right particularly. Be sure you do read and research plenty of consumer reviews on whatever you choose for plasma television stands. There are many online discount stores and there are always great prices such on eBay. Cheap knockoffs are the one thing to watch out for. High reliability and quality are always being gone to get by brand names and you get what you pay for.

You should know that the look of your plasma television is enhanced by plasma television stands furniture and will add to the overall look of your living room on whatever style you decide to go with. Which style best matches your room and personality better than you can, no one can answer it, only you can.

Neighbors try to save Monkey-puzzle tree in Portland

If you're going to tear down a tree in a Portland neighborhood, you know there's going to be a fight, even if you plan on planting more trees in the future.

The good thing is the tree is on the edge of the lot, and there is a chance that the developer could still build the homes without tearing down the tree. Only time will tell, though.In order to comply with the city tree ordinance, the developer has planned to plant four two-inch diameter trees on the site to mitigate the loss of the 19.5-inch Monkey-puzzle tree. But the move isn't enough to ease the concerns of neighbors who say they'll will be losing a tree that's almost as old as the city itself.In the meantime, the Bureau of Development Services is still accepting comments on the subdivision of the land until the end of the day today. Contact Katy Harnden at 503-823-3581, if you would like to comment on the issue.That's what Portland developer Kevin Partain is finding out with his proposal to subdivide a vacant lot in North Portland and construct three new homes on it. While the usual land-use and zoning hurdles stand in his way, the biggest obstacle seems to be tearing down a 106-year-old Monkey-puzzle tree at the corner of North Simpson Street and Albina Street.Neighbors who don't want the tree torn down have chained a sign to it letting passersby know that the developer is going to remove the tree. The issue even caught the attention of television news station KGW, which did a story full of monkey puns and tilt shots of the tree

In the meantime, the Bureau of Development Services is still accepting comments on the subdivision of the land until the end of the day today. Contact Katy Harnden at 503-823-3581, if you would like to comment on the issue.

How to Prepare For a Golf Tournament

Your club's Match Play or Club Championship is coming up, so how do you get your game in shape? Your tournament will not have grand stands and TV cameras but do not think you will not feel the pressure. With a little thought and preparation, you can give yourself the needed confidence to beat your archrival, win the Club Championship or Match Play tournament.

Spend most of your time on the practice putting green working on short putts,very short putts. Hit as many two to three foot putts as you can. This does a couple of things for you. First it gives you confidence to see the ball go in the hole over and over again. Second, you will be able to see if you are starting the golf ball on the correct line.Do not forget to take a look at your golf equipment. Are your grips in good shape? Do they need replaced? If your grips do not need to be replaced, scrub them vigorously with a stiff brush. Use a solution of warm water and dishwashing soap with a degreaser to clean your grips. The degreaser will help remove the oil and dirt buildup that accumulates from your hands over a period of time. Rinse your grips well and pat dry with a towel.Most of these types of tournaments are flighted. This means players with similar handicaps are pitted against each other. What you can do is check your basics. Review your posture, grip, alignment, and ball position and insure they are in the best shape they can be for your game. Hitting balls is fine but do not go overboard on making changes. The most effective thing you can work on is your swing tempo and insuring that your golf swing is in balance. You can do this by simply counting to three once you finish your golf swing.Granted with your tournament nerves, you are probably not going to be swinging as smooth as Ernie Els when the big day arrives. Now is NOT the time to start messing with your golf swing. I repeat. It is NOT the time to make any major golf swing changes. First of all this is supposed to be fun. You know, better than anyone, your own tendencies. Depending on how much time you have before your golf tournament, chances are you are going to have to find a way to play with what you got. This is fine.Tournament day is here! Go through your normal warm up. Hit a few pitches, and make sure before you leave the practice green you make about five or ten two footers in a row. Seeing and hearing the ball go in the hole will give you great confidence as you head to the golf course.

Tournament day is here! Go through your normal warm up. Hit a few pitches, and make sure before you leave the practice green you make about five or ten two footers in a row. Seeing and hearing the ball go in the hole will give you great confidence as you head to the golf course.

Author: Max Johnson

Don�t Over-Negotiate With Your Child

If you are a parent who negotiates constantly with your child, you probably feel like you�re living with a little lawyer who �objects� to every rule and request and wears you down with endless questions and challenges. With some kids, everything becomes a negotiation, and it starts from the time they get up in the morning until the time they put off going to bed.

And the parent says �No, I�m sorry, you need to go to bed. Now I�m going to shut off the TV and you need to get going.� You know, that parent has set a limit and followed it and has given a reason why. This child also tries to negotiate her way down, but the parent sticks with the limit. I see that as a good, solid parenting style.Hear this: kids are going to test limits, that�s their job. What parents forget sometimes is that it�s their job to stand firm. In some ways, parents confuse negotiating with somehow empowering their child. Believe me when I tell you, allowing your child to negotiate for things does not empower them. Instead, what empowers them is understanding the limits.There�s something called �medication rejection syndrome�. That�s when a patient is taking medication that helps them, but once they�re feeling better, they decide to stop. In a short amount of time they become sick again because they�re not taking their meds. Similarly, people do certain things to be successful, like getting enough sleep to be energetic and alert at school, and then when they are successful, they think they don�t have to do those things anymore. Predictably, you�ll see over time that they become unsuccessful again.And the child says, �Oh Mom please, this show�s really important, can I just stay up until 8:30 tonight, I just want to watch the end,�Now contrast this with another parent in the same situation, who responds to their child�s pleas with, �No, it�s time to go to bed. You know the program around here. On weeknights you have to go to bed because it�s important to get enough rest for school.�The mother relents: �OK, if you promise not to give me a hard time.�For instance, if your child wants to stay up later at night, if it�s a school night, the message should be quite clear that they have to go to bed and get a good amount of sleep. But you can say to your child, �If you go to bed all week without giving me a hard time, I�ll let you stay up a half-an-hour later on Friday and Saturday." That way kids learn to develop the fundamentals of negotiating so each person faces a win-win situation. Learning how to negotiate is an important problem solving skill in life. But don�t confuse that with bickering or wearing down people who are in authority.And the child says, �Oh please, please mom, let me stay up. I�ll get up for school in the morning, it�s OK.�The mom says, �No, you have to go to bed now.�Realize that a lot of the time, there�s nothing to negotiate. Be clear about the structure of how you handle business in your home. �We go to bed at 9 p.m. so we can be ready for school. School means everything to us, much more than TV. If you�re doing well in school, that doesn�t mean you should be able to stay up.� And that is something parents need to realize: if your child�s doing well at school, don�t stop doing the things that promote their good performance, like getting a good night�s sleep. And don�t let them negotiate with you based upon their success.Here�s another way of looking at it: I know people who go to casinos and play slot machines, and they inevitably lose. You know why? Because the machines are fixed to make sure they lose, but they keep playing because they think, �This might be my lucky day!� Here�s the reality: if the machine took their money in an hour, they�d never go back. But what happens is, the machine takes a little of their money, then gives some back, then takes more and gives a little back. Every now and then someone hits the jackpot, which keeps the excitement in the air. So at the end of the day, the person has lost all their money, but they�ve been trained by the machine to sit there and keep playing because they can�t tell if the pay-off is coming.And the child says, �Thanks, Mom. You�re the best.�The parent goes back and forth with the child, when really, there�s nothing to negotiate here. Let me be clear: the more you give in to negotiating with your child, the more you�re training your child not to accept your limits.It�s the same way with kids. Once you let them over-negotiate or wear you down, then your child never knows if this time he�s going to get lucky. He�s like a gambler. He doesn�t know if he�ll get his way this time or not. And since he has very little to lose, he thinks, �Why not take a shot?� The truth is, we are the ones who train our kids to do that.And by the way, if your child asks you for something, let�s say a later bedtime, and you think they have a point, tell them what they have to do to earn it. So if you think your child can handle staying up a half-an-hour later at night, don�t let them back you into a corner by negotiating with you and complaining to you about their situation all the time. Tell them what they have to do to earn that half hour, and tell them for how long. So you can say, �If you do this for a week, I�ll be happy to talk with you about staying up later.� What you�re doing is taking control back by rewarding your child for their good performance, instead of letting them push you into a corner.When Kids Test the LimitsMany parents who over-negotiate with their kids mistakenly think it�s somehow improving their child�s sense of self worth. They think they�re letting their child be a little adult and that they�re recognizing them for who they are. Now, all those things are important, but the way for your child to achieve a sense of self worth is not by negotiating limits with you. And by the way, instead of �negotiate� I�d like you to consider the word �bicker,� because that�s what parents are really doing�letting their kids bicker and bicker with them.The child continues to argue: �Oh please, please, you never let me do anything. Just ten more minutes.�With all these questions parents have about kids who push the limits, don�t forget, it�s the adults who have the power to change the limit. If you find your child is pushing the limits a lot, that usually means you�ve given them the power to change limits too many times, and now they�re looking to do it whenever they can. And your child doesn�t know the difference. Parents say things like, �Why are you doing this to me? I try to be nice to you and look what happens.� They say those things out of frustration, but the bottom line is that once you start changing the limits, as far as your child is concerned, there are no limits. Remember, kids are very black and white. Once you give them any gray area, don�t blame them for trying to get more. That is their nature; that is their developmental level.

For instance, if your child wants to stay up later at night, if it�s a school night, the message should be quite clear that they have to go to bed and get a good amount of sleep. But you can say to your child, �If you go to bed all week without giving me a hard time, I�ll let you stay up a half-an-hour later on Friday and Saturday." That way kids learn to develop the fundamentals of negotiating so each person faces a win-win situation. Learning how to negotiate is an important problem solving skill in life. But don�t confuse that with bickering or wearing down people who are in authority.

Author: James Lehman, MSW

Whatever You Do, Don't Exercise!

You can't turn left, right, go forward, backwards, or even just stand still these days without someone telling you that you have to exercise.

Stay up really late eating ice cream and washing it down with root beer. While your body turns every one of those calories into bodyfat, you can catch an infommercial that is sure to be selling "The Metabolism Master Blaster"!� Lowers Your Risk for Heart Disease: Heart Disease?!? Yeah right - this sounds like too many doctors weren't making enough money, so they came up with a general term that would cover everything from indigestion to breathing hard.Don't do it people! Just try to make it through your long and boring lives with barely enough pep to get from point A to point B, and then drag yourself home every night and plop down on the couch for another brain-draining evening in front of the TV.Besides, overweight people must already have great self-esteem, because they are able to hide in their homes dying of bad health instead of feeling the need to go "be healthy" with the rest of the world.Hey - pass the chocolate cake covered in caramel and whip cream! I want a third piece of that while my french fries deep-fry for another five minutes and I catch the end of some completely unrealistic reality show!Whatever happens, DON'T do it!� Increases Energy: I can't imagine why anyone would want to increase their energy level. As if the world isn't already too full of caffeinated coffee and energy drink junkies, now we're being told to try to get MORE energy from exercise.The rest of us are smart and we will boycott this thing called "Exercise". As our stomachs grow larger, our backsides get bigger, and our clothes get smaller, we can take solace in the fact that we didn't get swept up by that whole "Health Craze"!The fact that it kills more people in the United States than any other disease or condition combined is irrelevant. Your heart is in great shape! Keep eating potato chips, hamburgers, and fried shrimp. You'll be just fine.So, in conclusion, I think we have demonstrated that there is a perfectly acceptable way to use logic to convince ourselves that we don't need to exercise. Let the members of the Health and Fitness industry keep selling their wares, putting together new products and facilities, and generally wasting their lives away.� Increases Self-Esteem: This must be why anti-depressant drugs are so rampant in our society today. Half of our teenagers are on Valium, and the other half have ADD. Marriages are breaking up left and right over emotional conflicts, and psychologists get paid big dollars to assure people that they are "OK".People talk about the many benefits of exercise, and indeed, the list seems very long, and it seems to touch pretty much every aspect of our lives. Let's examine this:� Cranks up Your Metabolism: What IS metabolism anyway? Everyone is talking about it, but I don't see it around anywhere. If it's so important to have a fast metabolism in order to burn off bodyfat, wouldn't someone have come up with a magic pill or special sauce that took care of this issue?Seriously, being fat HAS to be healthy, or else everyone wouldn't be doing it! Go ask the owner of any fast food restaurant if they think that people are truly concerned about losing weight.

Hey - pass the chocolate cake covered in caramel and whip cream! I want a third piece of that while my french fries deep-fry for another five minutes and I catch the end of some completely unrealistic reality show!

Author: Aaron Potts

BB couple's post-show plans

Big Brother couple Michelle and Stuart are planning an action-packed holiday in the sun for when the reality TV show has ended.

She's not sure why this kitchen reminds her of the other one. Maybe it is something about the decor, the way the place looks institutional yet homey. The kitchen in the South Temple House features long stretches of plain Formica -- but it also has handcrafted centerpieces on the tables and cartoons blasting away from a television set in the corner.The house has been turned into the Big Brother Primary School, complete with bike sheds and school uniforms, and the pupils are not allowed to kiss during school hours.This fall, all these years later and living back in her home state of Utah, Sheets decided she'd like to do something for other families. So she became a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, working the Friday afternoon shift.Nineteen years ago, Ronald McDonald Houses were a new type of charity. They sprang up in big cities around the country, open to parents who must travel more than 50 miles to bring their child to a hospital.Compere for the evening is Ben Schofield, probably the only comedian in the world to have written a joke about galvanising dustbins!Besides being a fast-witted stage performer, Mike has also written for many TV programmes, as well as featuring in Viz Comic's live shows at Newcastle City Hall.

Michelle stomped off to the bedroom but soon forgave him after he muttered an apology.

A home for the holidays

Sometimes, in the middle of her shift, when the phone's not ringing and there is no one in the lobby, Karen Sheets will wander back into the kitchen. Of all the rooms in the Ronald McDonald House, the kitchen seems most familiar.

One afternoon in early December, a reporter called Sheets and woke her up. "Alex is in the hospital," Sheets said, sounding sleepy and sad. "It happens pretty often to a young man who has these intestinal problems." He'd been in the hospital for four days. Sheets thought he'd come home in three or four more days. Her husband, Alexander's stepfather, was with him and Sheets was home, napping. She'd been up all night with Alex. "He's pulling his IVs out," she said, wearily. She said she wouldn't be going in to volunteer that Friday.Yesterday evening was nearly ruined by a lovers' tiff between Stuart and Michelle, who had spent hours getting dressed up for the girls' rendition of a Moulin Rouge number.Nineteen years ago, Sheets and her two preschoolers spent eight months at the Ronald McDonald House in Gainesville. Her baby, who was born with a number of problems, was at a nearby hospital.Another phone call a week later found Sheets more like her cheerful self, but still not sure when she'd go back to volunteering. Alex was home and she was worried about him. When he was born, she said, she was not given a prognosis on how long he might live. All she knows is that he does not bounce back from an illness, not like he did when he was a little boy. "The older he gets, the more scared I get," she said.One Friday, when she went to volunteer, Sheets met a mom who hadn't been to see her baby in two days. The dad went to the hospital, but the mom stayed in her room at the Ronald McDonald House. She was heartbroken and overwhelmed. She said her little girl had so many problems that there was nothing a mother could do for her.Sheets told the woman that she had a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old when her newborn, Alexander, was life-flighted to a hospital far from their home. Sheets' husband couldn't quit his job because they desperately needed the insurance. So she brought her kids with her to a Ronald McDonald House and she called a church in Gainesville and she found someone to baby-sit her healthy kids.Also on the bill are two fresh up-and-coming acts ( Juliet Myers from London and James Christopher from York.When she sees people in the kitchen, Sheets will pitch in. She'll get out the bread and hand them some mustard and start a conversation.Danny is confident, charismatic and charming. He has the ability to hold any audience in the palm of his hand.Later, Sheets reflected on her own baby's first few months of life. She said that if they told you you were going to have a child with a feeding tube in his stomach, and a colostomy bag a few inches away from that, a child who is neurologically impaired and deaf, and on and on . . . you would say "I can't do it."When Sheets stands in the kitchen of this house on South Temple, she feels like it is 19 years ago, and she is back in the kitchen of the Ronald McDonald House in Gainesville, Fla.Soon a little boy came scooting into the kitchen. Two-year-old Joshua Reynolds had just been discharged from the hospital. His mom was finishing a load of laundry and then they were going home. Sheets hugged him goodbye.The headmaster decided that Stuart should stand in the corner facing the wall and wear a dunce's cap, while Michelle was forced to write 100 lines."She can't hear. She can't see," the mom told Sheets. "She can smell you," Sheets said. "You can touch her. She can feel that." And then, Sheets said, with conviction, "You can do this." And the next Friday, when Sheets came into the House, she saw the mom leaving for the hospital and she asked how it was going, and the mom said, "I'm doing it."Sheets is glad to be spending one afternoon a week at the Ronald McDonald House on South Temple. For years she's wanted to repay some of the gift she was given.But you start in only knowing about a few of his problems and you do it for one day, Sheets says. You sit with your child in the hospital and you listen to the doctors and ask questions and remind people of what your child needs. Then you do it the next day.The first day she worked on the desk, she was surprised by the very first family she saw entering the lobby. She looked at their faces and could tell they had been crying. Suddenly she remembered what it was like when the pain was new and she was intensely grateful that the newness, for her, was 19 years in the past.Headliner for the evening will be Mike Milligan, an ever-popular funnyman who is in great demand at the prestigious Jongleurs chain of comedy clubs and has won much critical acclaim from audiences around the country for his inventive wit and razor sharp comic skills.Sheets and her older kids came to the house in the early fall and didn't leave until after Easter. Every autumn since then, Sheets finds herself thinking of Florida, remembering the year her family spent every major holiday at the Ronald McDonald House.When she came to the House, she expected she would be able to empathize with the families she met. She looked forward to sharing their burden. But their grief was to take her unawares.Next, Sheets talked to a young woman whose newborn was in University Hospital. The young woman told Sheets that her husband said she wasn't doing herself any good by spending every minute at the hospital. She has another child who needs her, too, the husband said. As the young mother talked, she seemed to want advice from Sheets. All Sheets could say is, "I know how you feel."One Friday in November she met the mom, a grandmother and the10- year-old sister of a girl who was in Shriners having spinal surgery. They'd come from Wyoming and Iowa for the girl's hospital stay. Sheets was able to get a few smiles from the sister, as they spread mayonnaise together.The average family can't afford to rent a motel for weeks or months. Ronald McDonald Houses give parents of sick children a place to stay for a few dollars a night, a place with a well-stocked kitchen and a playroom for their other kids.Main support comes from precocious Manchester talent Danny Deegan, who has a knack of weaving hilarious stories around the ridiculous escapades from his wayward youth.Sheets said she felt guilty leaving the older children with strangers all day. But she also felt guilty if she wasn't with her sick baby every second. "You are the only one who can decide where you should be," she told the mom.For more information visit www.funnybonescomedy.co.uk

When Alex was in the hospital this last time, at Primary Children's, Sheets ran into some of the parents who were staying at the Ronald McDonald House. She explained why she looked familiar. She talked to them. She asked them to tell her, quite frankly, if there was anything that could be improved about the House.

Author: Susan Whitney Deseret Morning News

Mike's at the mike

Top live stand-up once again comes to Newcastle's Corner House comedy club tonight.

Doors to the Corner House (Tel 0191 265 9602) function room open at 8pm, with the show starting at 8.30pm. Admission is pounds 6 (pounds 4 NUS).On a typical Friday, when Sheets arrives for her shift, there might be a half dozen people in the kitchen of the Ronald McDonald House. These are parents who have a child in LDS Hospital, or Shriners, or University or Primary Children's Medical Center. The parents often leave the hospital for an hour or so to come back to the house to make themselves a sandwich.Stuart told Michelle, an aspiring glamour model, that she bore more than a passing resemblance to Maureen, the figure the housemates made based on each other's body parts.But the two have been punished by Big Brother for their most recent passionate encounter.Or maybe this place feels familiar just because it is a kitchen, Sheets says. "Because the kitchen is the heart of any house." The kitchen is the place where, when your own heart is raw, you can go for comfort.When Alex was in the hospital this last time, at Primary Children's, Sheets ran into some of the parents who were staying at the Ronald McDonald House. She explained why she looked familiar. She talked to them. She asked them to tell her, quite frankly, if there was anything that could be improved about the House.Michelle stomped off to the bedroom but soon forgave him after he muttered an apology.As the pair lay canoodling in the garden, Michelle, 23, of Dinnington, pointed up at a passing plane and suggested they jet off somewhere exotic.

For more information visit www.funnybonescomedy.co.uk

IN THE NAME OF THE WEE MAN, KEEP THE NOISE DOWN WORLD CUP DIARY

I FELT pretty pleased with myself when I picked out Diego Maradona from a distant part of the stand at the ArgentinaHolland game the other night, but then spotting the wee man at this tournament isn't much of an achievement. Certainly the television cameras never fail to notice him. No Argentina game would be complete without countless shots of Maradona pumped up and either shouting and bawling or in a state of tearful euphoria.

Last month's Comic-Con International, the annual convention of the comic books/graphic novel industry, drew 100,000 attendees to San Diego, and it's a safe bet there were more than a few movie producers and agents trolling for business.He's living it up in Germany. He partied in Frankfurt's Pizzeria Machiavelli until the police arrived and warned them to keep the noise down at 4.18am. Under the headline "Party night with Maradona" in the Bild newspaper there were pictures of him with a cigar, a glass of champagne and his arm around their reporter Kitti Pohl. As luck would have it, she is an attractive blonde.Movie producers, on the other hand, see graphic novels as a starting place for a film. Not only do many novels or comic series have built-in, loyal fan bases, but they also have their stories laid out visually, much like the storyboards that directors create to outline their films.Graphic novels serve as rich source material for film producers looking for ready-to-visualize stories, and they're viewed as product extensions of comic book publishers, video game makers and television series.Eventually the players themselves get fed up of the mindless footballers' chatter about their agents, weekly wage or next car, and there are some big issues you just can't talk about with the lads. That's where the WAGs step in.Trains are central to a hack's World Cup beat. Every day involves a relentless criss-crossing of the country for press conferences or matches.Roughly two-thirds of the graphic novels sold by the bookstore are Japanese manga, with ones on superheroes, such as Batman, accounting for much of the remainder, he said.It was Tuesday, and we wouldn't be experts on Ecuadorian football for another three or four days, so the best we could figure out about England's opponents at the time was that Ulises de la Cruz used to play for Hibs and Gordon Strachan once signed one of the others.Frankly there are so many possible punchlines for this one that it hardly seems worth bothering . . .Marvel Comics has compiled the back stories of the company's superheroes and reprinted them as black-and-white books in its "Essentials" series, which boasts more than 30 titles--a handy reference for those introduced to those heroes in their movie manifestations.Graham Taylor has always struck me as a thoroughly fine chap.In an area of the stadium otherwise populated by blazered dignitaries he's there in an Argentina shirt looking like he's wandered in from the cheap seats.So, back to sleep Tom English of Scotland on Sunday. Your secret is safe with me.While superheroes and the supernatural still drive many of the stories told in graphic novels, some real-world tales are using the format.Historians of the form point to Will Eisner's 1978 "A Contract With God," a collection of four urban tales, as the forerunner of today's graphic novel. But two 1986 works proved landmarks in the genre.Will the graphic novel boom or bust in the years ahead? No one's crystal ball can tell whether flat sales or broader audiences will dominate, but Bankston notes one encouraging sign: young people interested in taking up the pen themselves."Two to three years ago, we wouldn't have the amount of trades (trade paperbacks) that we do now," he said.Imagine a beautiful stained glass transom window above your front door. Or a delightful stained glass sun catcher hanging in front of your kitchen window. Now, imagine the stained glass design on a wooden table top, such as an end table, sofa table, or entry table. That's the true uniqueness I'm talking about. Imagine your foyer or vestibule with its stylish hardwood floor, intricate baseboard and crown molding, and a gorgeous mirror centered on the wall with an antique coat stand in the corner. The image looks wonderful, but it's missing something. You can't quite put your finger on it, but you know it needs more. Aha! Something must act as a transition from the floor to the mirror on the wall. That's it! An entry table. But not just any ordinary entry table. An elegant stained glass mosaic entry table done in a rich, full stain color that perfectly complements the hardwood flooring. Imagine another room in the home with similarly wonderful mosaic furniture, such as end tables, curio tables, and sofa tables.Then we remembered it was Taylor who had taken the bold Useless from Easter Road to Aston Villa not long after the last World Cup. So we asked Taylor to talk us through this managerial highlight. And we didn't expect this: "Nobody at Hibs knows I personally went to see him play because I paid my own way in - I think it was against one of the Dundee teams - and I went disguised. I can't tell you what the disguise was because I might be recognised if I want to pull the same trick again some time. But if anybody at the game that day was stood next to an uglylooking sod who looked so bad you'd think he had a mask on his face it might just have been a former England manager."There should be only sympathy and understanding, then, when one of our number catches 40 winks when he gets the chance."The question in the industry is how fast is too fast to go into book form," Bankston said.

So, back to sleep Tom English of Scotland on Sunday. Your secret is safe with me.

Author: Michael Grant

Graphic novels serving as inspiration for movies

WACO, Texas--Those hoping to get a jump on what's coming soon to movie theaters may want to swap watching movie trailers for a visit to the local comic book shop or bookstore to scope out the latest graphic novels.

There's a Halo graphic novel, for instance, based on the hugely popular, futuristic Xbox game. Such other games as "Street Fighter II," "Metal Gear" and "Bloodrayne" also have graphic-novel counterparts.Frank Miller's reimagining of Batman as a haunted and violent vigilante in "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" led to a renaissance of that superhero, with director Tim Burton drawing heavily on Miller's interpretation for his films "Batman" (1989) and "Batman Returns" (1992).Video games provide more stories for graphic novels, too, with books and plotlines built around gaming characters and their environments.Local book and comics sellers agree that interest in graphic novels tends to follow the release of films or television shows adapted from those works.The critical and commercial success of "Maus" led publishers, such as Random House, Houghton Mifflin and Hyperion, to add graphic novels to their catalogs.Harvey Pekar ("American Splendor") tells of his struggle with cancer in "Our Cancer Year," while Marjane Satrapi examines the life of a girl growing up in 1979 Iran in her 2003 "Persepolis."Like film, graphic novels and comics are often collaborative processes, with writers teaming with artists and inkers. More than ever, those teams look at book-form novels as an end product to their efforts.While long-established comic book superheroes such as "Superman," "Batman," "Spider-Man" and the "X-Men" have translated into lucrative film franchises, such graphic novels as "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," "From Hell," "Daniel Clowes' Ghost World," "American Splendor," "Frank Miller's Sin City" and "V For Vendetta" have also found their way to the silver screen.Far be it from me to make capital out of the misfortune of a colleague who took a nap on a train to England's training camp, missed his stop at Baden-Baden, and ended up hurtling 50 miles on towards Poland while the rest of us were sitting down with Joe Cole.Book publisher Hill & Wang plans to release several history titles and biographies in graphic form beginning this fall, including graphic biographies of Malcolm X and Ronald Reagan .Ironically, the increase in titles may be diluting sales for individual books. Donna Carroll, owner of Golden's Book Exchange, stocks the titles that her regular customers are interested in, but says the comparatively high cost of graphic novels makes it too expensive to maintain an extensive selection for general browsing.Horror master Sam Raimi, for instance, is currently filming an adaptation of Steve Nile's graphic novel "30 Days Of Night"--a story of an Alaskan town besieged by vampires--as his next feature.The graphic novel, a slick, artistic and upscale cousin of the comic book, has emerged as a new player in printed media.You probably think, "Mosaic tables are nothing new or unique, so what's this guy talking about?" You're right! Search the Internet for "mosaic table" and you'll find that most websites offer round bistro or kitchen tables with wrought iron stands done with mosaic designs using standard tessera shapes (i.e., squares and triangles) in standard checkerboard, circular, or sunburst patterns. You're right, those kinds of tables are a dime a dozen. That's not what I'm talking about.At full-time he leaves the way a boxer enters a fight, in the middle of a linear entourage with everyone placing their hands on the shoulders of the person in front and snaking their way through the crowd. Fifa even seem to have a couple of heavies who appear to make sure he makes it through the throng of autographhunters and back-slappers on the way to the VIP lounges. It's quite a spectacle.To prevent any reader's cornflakes splattering across the breakfast table in disbelief it might be sensible if everyone pauses for a second and has a deep breath before taking in the next sentence.There isn't a lot of time for meals, and still less for sleep.I know, I know. "Do I not like that?" and all the rest of it. But there always seem to be decency and warmth about Taylor which marks him out as a man of greater character than those who had him up on the coconut shy and pelted him into a turnipy mess of an England manager.Outside of individual titles from the Rurouni Kenshin ("Wandering Samurai") and Naruto series, though, customer interest is "spread across the board," said department manager Scott Smith.How dare anyone question why England's WAGs (wives and girlfriends) are being holed up in a Baden-Baden hotel.Doing so has broadened their fan base, as adult men, soccer moms and fans of the artwork found graphic novels a better fit for their time-pressed lifestyles, Bankston said.With a stained glass mosaic table, not only do you get the perfect piece of furniture, you get a beautiful work of art. You also get a conversation piece that will likely draw your guests' curiosity and awe. You may even find that your stained glass mosaic furniture becomes the focal point of the room. When thinking of "mosaic," don't limit your imagination to the common square or triangle pieces laid in common mosaic patterns. Instead, go beyond the common and imagine the extraordinary. Imagine the beauty and uniqueness of stained glass designs artfully integrated with wood furniture. Your home will love you for it.Add to that the number of lesser-known comic book series with cultish followings, such as "Hellboy" and "Constantine"--both owing much in their look and style to graphic novels--and you see why Hollywood is shopping bookshelves.Forget the ga-zillions of round mosaic bistro tables on metal stands that look like they were mass produced in a third-world country. Those are okay (sometimes) for kitchens and patios, but they just don't fit the style and look of the other rooms in your home. You want real wood furniture stained to match the d�cor in your living room. You want a table painted white to blend perfectly with the bright, beachy feel of your sitting room. Stained glass mosaic tables made of real wood provide exactly what you want--and more.Longtime aficionados of the graphical storytelling found in Japanese comics, or manga, whose American fan base is rapidly expanding, and French and Belgian comics also are drifting over to English-language graphic novels."It is good to get a break and time with the family to talk about things you can't talk to the lads about, " said Joe Cole. "Things like who's looking after the dogs."Barnes & Noble Booksellers recently expanded its Japanese manga section and has found a diverse audience spanning gender and generations snapping up those titles.Brent Bankston, owner of Bankston's, says comic book giants DC Comics and Marvel Comics have roared into graphic novel territory in recent years, finding new customers willing to shell out $15 to $20 for stories told visually in book form, printed on higher-quality paper.Television, too, is returning the favor of comic book inspiration ("Smallville's" imagining of a young Clark Kent in rural Kansas, for instance, borrows from "Superman for All Seasons") by supplying storylines for graphic novels. The sci-fi series "Stargate" and "Battlestar Galactica" have extra adventures found in graphic novel form.It was beginning to look as though we'd end up on one of those two-man hand-driven pulleys you used to see in silent movies. Just how remote did the Ecuadorians need to be?There was only amusement rather than ridicule from this quarter, then, when he let slip a gem to us in Cologne the other day.Where comic book publishers once feared the dwindling numbers of their core audience, young men who bought comics on a weekly basis, they're finding new life in compiling those weekly releases into book form, often called trade paperbacks.

Will the graphic novel boom or bust in the years ahead? No one's crystal ball can tell whether flat sales or broader audiences will dominate, but Bankston notes one encouraging sign: young people interested in taking up the pen themselves.

Author: Carl Hoover Cox News Service

Glass Mosaic Tile Art: Stunning Mosaic Tables

Want something different for your home? Something truly unique? Maybe a stunning art masterpiece that everyone is irresistibly drawn to admire as soon as they walk through your door. Maybe you want something a bit more functional, such as a distinctive piece of furniture. What if you found something that combines the two? Lovely stained glass mosaic tables add color and warmth to your home or office. They serve not only as beautiful works of art, but they also serve a useful function as furniture.

Also in 1986, Art Spiegelman retold the stories of his family's Holocaust survivors, with humans recast as mice, cats and pigs, in "Maus, A Survivor's Tale," which not only became the best-selling graphic novel in history but also won a Pulitzer Prize.It was never necessary to care for the style of play he imposed at Watford, Aston Villa or England to nevertheless appreciate the depth of his knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, football.DC Comics has a "52 Weeks" series that combines a year's worth of comic book releases into a stand-alone volume.

With a stained glass mosaic table, not only do you get the perfect piece of furniture, you get a beautiful work of art. You also get a conversation piece that will likely draw your guests' curiosity and awe. You may even find that your stained glass mosaic furniture becomes the focal point of the room. When thinking of "mosaic," don't limit your imagination to the common square or triangle pieces laid in common mosaic patterns. Instead, go beyond the common and imagine the extraordinary. Imagine the beauty and uniqueness of stained glass designs artfully integrated with wood furniture. Your home will love you for it.

Author: Bill Enslen

Gardening - Natural Science NOT Rocket Science..

Don't force yourself out of the most profitable hobby in the universe because you think it's too hard to learn ...It isn't!

Dumbells make great children�s toys. They are, of course, heavier and more dangerous than a barbie doll or Play-Doh (tm) and are not really as exciting as a video game but they certainly are cheap and hard to break.helping hands availableTurbo boost your creative spiritThen you will need a shed to store your tools. Where would that be best placed in your garden? Don't waste a sunny position with a garden structure. Sheds don't need to be in full sun to survive!

Baby toy hanger - nothing good on tv? Hook some old christmas tree ornaments from the top crossbar and set your baby underneath. You�ll both be amused for hours! And if that isn't enough to be going on with, learn about plant-kind in all it's glory. From trees through to fungi, there are millions of plants to research, grow and eat- no chance of getting bored!He rarely forages this far south, but is looking forward to taking to the stage at the Corner House function room.Also on the bill is up-and-coming Liverpudlian Stephanie Davies who reached the finals of the 2003 Babycham Funny Women stand-up competition and is gaining plenty of critical acclaim as she works her way up the comedy ladder.

Pretending you�re Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise - set phasers on "useless." Learn about edible flowers and teach the children what can and can't be eaten - and why.time slots and energy levels!Closing the show will be Scottish star, the inimitable Raymond Mearns. Larger than life and twice as much fun, Raymond has been on the Scottish scene for what he calls forever and is rightly recognised as a comic heavyweight.Last year he acted in Ken Loach's critically acclaimed film Ae Fond Kiss.Start all the patches and work on them as and when you can, or start one patch and get it finished before moving on to the next. How you work in your garden depends on a number of things...

The Ab-Doer (tm) - This is the chair-like ab training device that resembles a chair with no back.

The Corner House Comedy Club is at the Corner House Hotel on Friday. Doors open 8pm and the show starts 8.45pm, with admission pounds 6 (pounds 4 NUS). More information on www.funnybonescomedy.co.ukFirst you have to take your first step.If you don't have cash up front, don't worry. The things you need will come to you. For now, prepare the space as if you DID have the shed, or bench or whatever, and work around these areas.a vegetable plotBut not for too long! Don't let the ideas wither into another was-gonna-do-one-day file.
• Tenderizing meat - of course, to accomplish this you�ll have to throw the meat at it really hard.
• Tenderizing meat - remove one of the bows and slap the meat silly with it.North West comedian of the year 2004 award winner John Warburton will be doing the main support honours.
• And last but not least, every piece of equipment that has handles, bars, hooks, stacks, pins, corners, rails, seats, clips, stands or attachments and does or does not come in a box...It is performed monthly at the Comedy Store Manchester and is now being developed for Radio Four.
• The Bowflex (tm) - This is a popular home exercise machine that utilizes the incredible power of bending things to sculpt your body.
  But how many people continue to use it consistently? Here are some uses (that you should never, ever actually take seriously, of course!) you may not have thought of for your forgotten purchases.
  1. Tenderizing meat - bash the meat with the dumbell repeatedly. Great shoulder and arm exercise too! May increase the iron content of your food significantly.a herb gardenDon't hold back. Let your creative thoughts flow. How much can you do with your space? Don't imagine for one minute that a simple lawn will let you off the hook here. A lawn needs maintaining, and mowing regularly - for EVER..and it can get kind of boring to look at as well! How about creating

     Don't let the grass grow under your feet. Get in on the action now. Turn off the TV, put your wellies on and leap into nature!

     
     
     
     Author: Linda Gray
     
     
     

Tenderizing Meat and Other Uses For Home Exercise Equipment

Almost everyone has bought home exercise equipment at some point in their life, be it a few rusty dumbells at a garage sale all the way to a complicated new home gym.

Memorabilia - write the words "Golden Gloves" on it and set it on the mantle right next to your "Big Mouth Billy Bass (tm)" singing plastic fish!

Bowling - set them on end and use them as pins. You will need a really heavy ball for this. Fast-witted, Warburton also often performs wild songs with his trusty guitar, not one to miss.The Corner House Comedy Club, in Heaton, Newcastle, will feature yet another diverse collection of stand-up comedians on Friday.size of land and budget

Electric Ab Training Belts - Electrocute your way to a flatter stomach!

Keep it organic!- be nice to the planet, and your body.
• Roll cage for a toboggan - for the safety-minded parent. Protect your child from the heartbreak of a rollover accident on the sled hill by having him or her carry this while going down. Nevermind that they won�t be able steer because they�re holding onto the thing...
• Thighmaster (tm) - popularized by Suzanne Somers, no closet is complete without this device. You simply set it between your legs and squeeze!
  • Conversation piece - the classic display of this machine in the corner of your living room is sure to spur discussion. "You have how many payments left on this thing?"When you think you have a reasonable idea of all you want from your garden, take some notes and think about it for a while. Don't leap in too soon-more often than not you'll land up doing the same job twice. Browse through garden catalogs, take a little time and do a little planning.
  • Driving safety gear - your spouse have a tendency to get sleepy at the wheel? That�s a thing of the past when they�ve got the belt on and you�ve got the controls in your hand...
• Dumbells - The original dark basement booby trap.
  seasons and the weatherMearns is a regular on TV and radio in Scotland and has also performed many one man shows at the Edinburgh fringe festival.A regular member of the prestigious Comedy Store's MEN At Work topical comedy team, Warburton is also a writer and performer on the media satire sketch show The Unbroadcastable Radio Show.
  • Unfortunately, they aren�t very good for keeping your pants up, so that�s out of the question.If you have enough of a budget to buy your garden structures and furniture, do this first, and position them in your garden. Then create your flower beds, vegetable plots and wildlife patches around these structures.Is there enough space to place garden furniture? Rather than going for the table-and-four-chairs-on-patio style, can you place benches and small tables in semi-shady spots near the honeysuckle or round the herbs?
  • Ab Rollers - These are the abdominal training devices that feature a head rest attached to a frame that you set your arms on so you can rock, rock, rock your way to six-pack abs.
    Get the kids involved with quick-germinating seeds, and fast-growing plants. Many retailers offer special seed mixtures for kids. Pumpkins are great for getting the kids interested in gardening.Stay fit and healthy with exercise and fresh air.Start gardening, be a gardener, enjoy your garden.Don't let the grass grow under your feet. Get in on the action now. Turn off the TV, put your wellies on and leap into nature!
    • Place mat/food warmer - somebody running late for dinner? Set their plate on it and turn up the juice!a water feature
    • Burglar deterrant - set the machine in front of a ground floor window with all of the bows rigged up to the latch. Be sure the thief signs a waiver before attempting to open the window, however, as he�s going to get up to 410 pounds of resistance right where it counts.

    CLOTHES HANGER!

    
    
    
    Author: Nick Nilsson
    
    
    

The laird of Jock-ularity

A host of top comics are heading for the Toon this week.

Compere for the evening is Damion Larkin, an ex-stockbroker who is proving to be a comedy natural with his laidback banter and keen eye for the ridiculous.CLOTHES HANGER! Produce your own fruit and veg - cut the shopping trips.He has worked for many national newspapers and magazines and in 1999 went on tour with the Happy Mondays at the behest of his friend Shaun Ryder, to write the hilarious and acclaimed rock biog Hallelujah.

Tenderizing meat - set the meat on the counter, place the belt on top of it, turn it to the highest level, then lean down on it with all your weight as it tenderizes and sears at the same time!

Tenderizing meat - set the meat on the counter, squeeze the Thighmaster shut with your hands then release the spring on top of the meat like a bear trap. Treat gardening as an ongoing hobby rather than a project to be started and finished. Plants are growing life forms and will always be changing the shape and feel of your garden. Go with it where you can, and prune heavily where you have to!Spend quality family time in the outdoors.Gardening is fast becoming the world's number one hobby, and with all the latest 'alternative' information we have to hand, gardening as a natural science is fun to learn about and rewarding in the extreme...a butterfly patch

Playing practical jokes on drunk friends - sit them in the machine then tell them to watch you as you run around it a few times and you�ll see what I mean.Starting from scratch? Let your imagination run wild. Stand in the centre (-ish) of your garden and imagine..close your eyes if you like.

The Corner House Comedy Club is at the Corner House Hotel on Friday. Doors open 8pm and the show starts 8.45pm, with admission pounds 6 (pounds 4 NUS). More information on www.funnybonescomedy.co.uk

Go Carts - A Thrilling Experience For All Ages

The thrill of sharply skidding around a blind corner in your go cart is an experience that is hard to surpass. Racing down the track in one of your speedy go carts, maneuvering around curves and slower gocart drivers, is fun at its best. Pressing down hard on the accelerator as you pass by slower drivers is about as thrilling as it gets. Now that's recreation! It�s just too bad not everyone can experience the fun and excitement of go carting.

BJ's Restaurants, Inc. currently owns and operates 63 casual dining restaurants under the BJ's Restaurant & Brewery, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse or BJ's Pizza & Grill brand names. BJ's restaurants offer an innovative and broad menu featuring award winning, signature deep-dish pizza complemented with generously portioned salads, sandwiches, soups, pastas, entrees and desserts. Quality, flavor, value, moderate prices and sincere service and hospitality remain distinct attributes of the BJ's experience. The Company operates several microbreweries which produce and distribute BJ's critically acclaimed, handcrafted beers throughout the chain. The Company's restaurants are located in California (36), Texas (9), Arizona (4), Colorado (3), Oregon (3), Nevada (2), Florida (3), Ohio (1) and Oklahoma (2). The Company also has a licensing interest in a BJ's restaurant in Lahaina, Maui. Visit BJ's Restaurants, Inc. on the web at www.bjsrestaurants.com.Follow up and hang out. The more time you spend with someone, the quicker you build a relationship with them.Go carts are how you can experience the thrill of Formula One racing without the danger. At least with the beginner go carts. And if you�re really serious, it�s a good way to get started toward a career in professional racing. Once you master driving go carts it�s time to take the next step into the arena of professional racing. But if you�re not quite so brave remaining in a go cart can still be exciting."We are very excited to open our newest BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley in McAllen," commented Jerry Deitchle, President and CEO. "Our McAllen restaurant opened with solid sales for its first day of operations. The McAllen restaurant represents our ninth restaurant in the state of Texas and our eighth restaurant opening to date during 2007. We remain on track to open as many as 13 new restaurants this year and thereby achieve our stated goal to increase our total restaurant operating weeks by 20% to 25% this year."3. Get contact information

But the bottom line is this: speed is where the excitement comes in. And these go carts can reach speeds up to 90 MPH or more. That�s fast. But once again, there is no need to start getting nervous just yet. There are opportunities for thrills at every level. You don�t need to go 80 MPH to experience a thrilling ride. So if you�ve ever thought about getting involved with go carts it�s never too late and you�re never too old. Go out and experience the thrill of go carting now.

Author: Sally Johnson

Getting Rid Of Your Loneliness

Let's face it - being lonely sucks!

The smell of the dirt track and the distinct aroma of the gas and oil burning in the gocart engine is enough to excite any enthusiast, even when watching from the stands. If you�ve ever watched an Indy Car or Formula One race in person or on TV you know how exciting it can be. But imagine climbing into one of those off road or racing gocarts yourself. Starting out slow, taking out to the track, the anticipation is almost unbearable. But then, once on the track, you press the accelerator on your gocart to the floor, feeling an immediate thrust forward, and your adrenaline pumping just as fast. What a thrill. Go carts can�t be beat.Because of this, our ability to socialize can become greatly impaired. We suddenly don't want to go out in the world. We don't know how to meet new people. Even in a large city of millions of people, no one really knows how to meet each other.Talk to both guys and girls, just to get warmed up. The more people you talk to, the easier it becomes.Once you meet people, it's important to get their phone number or email address - it doesn't matter what as long as you get some way to communicate with them in the future!After you meet someone, don't just move on and forget about them. Contact them again! Talk on the phone. Find some time to hang out. Go to a movie. Go to a bar. Go out to eat.If you want to meet new people, you have to TALK to them! There is no way around this.You can get out of the house, easily enough. But getting out and mingling with others, well, that's completely different!But the bottom line is this: speed is where the excitement comes in. And these go carts can reach speeds up to 90 MPH or more. That�s fast. But once again, there is no need to start getting nervous just yet. There are opportunities for thrills at every level. You don�t need to go 80 MPH to experience a thrilling ride. So if you�ve ever thought about getting involved with go carts it�s never too late and you�re never too old. Go out and experience the thrill of go carting now.Once you get addicted to go carting there is no limit as to what you can do. You can purchase a brand new gocart ready for racing, or you can buy inexpensive kits and build your own gocarts. Installing rack and pinion steering to changing tires will become easy over time. Or how about the installation of a brand new engine designed for improving the speed of go carts? Maybe you�ll be after a brand new frame that will be the envy of all around. Perhaps you�ll want to get into electric go carts instead of gas powered go carts. The way gas prices are climbing these days that might be a good idea.Go carts are geared toward beginners in either off road or paved track racing. Beginner go carts are easy to drive and control. And if you do lose control there are usually not serious consequences to deal with afterward. No, it�s just plain fun racing go carts. Go carting is a simplified version of Indy Car or Formula One racing. But like anything else there are different levels that you can become involved in.4. Follow upBut the fact of the matter is we are NOT helpless! Being lonely is not something that is forced on us, it's something we choose to experience because we do not make the effort necessary to escape it.From total beginners at amusement parks and fun centers to professional go cart racing. From the least experienced drivers to ones that are training to become professional drivers. You can choose your own competition. No need to get involved over your head. The main objective is to have fun. And once you get into your own go cart, no matter what level you are competing in, the fun just never ends.The key to eliminate loneliness is by having a lot of relationships. The more relationships, the less lonely you'll be.Make it a point to meet new people and work on new relationships. And have fun! When you get to know someone new, you'll do just that, and over time, you'll build enough friendships that you can leave your loneliness behind.Few out there truly like being alone. Human beings show an aversion to this state, and for the most part we are social creatures who crave love.When you meet someone you like and want to be friends with or want to date, do not be afraid to get their contact information so you can talk with them again!However, thanks to the advent of television and the internet, more and more of us are lacking any real human contact because we no longer have to leave the house to get our information, entertainment, or even our "social" fixes.1. Get out of the house!For further information, please contact Greg Levin of BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (714) 500-2400.Failure to interact with others is no more productive than staying home and reading a book. If you go out to a club and stand in the corner by yourself the whole night, that is exactly what you are doing.Here are a few things you can do right away to stop being lonely and start filling your life with new and interesting people.

Make it a point to meet new people and work on new relationships. And have fun! When you get to know someone new, you'll do just that, and over time, you'll build enough friendships that you can leave your loneliness behind.

Author: Joseph Matthews

BJ's Restaurants, Inc. Opens in McAllen, Texas

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -- BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ:BJRI) today announced the opening of its 63rd restaurant in McAllen, Texas, on August 13, 2007. The new BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse is located on a free standing pad at the corner of Highway 83 and Ware Road in the front of the new Palms Crossing Shopping Center. The restaurant is approximately 8,500 square feet, contains seating for 270 guests and features BJ's extensive menu that includes BJ's signature deep-dish pizza, award winning handcrafted beer and our famous Pizookie[R] dessert. BJ's highly detailed, contemporary decor and unique video statement, including several high definition flat panel televisions, creates a high energy, fun and family-friendly dining environment for everyone to enjoy. Hours of operation are from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

So we go on being lonely, and feeling helpless about our situations.All too often, people are lonely because they spend too much time ALONE. They are content to whittle away the hours of the day by watching TV or reading a book, or doing laundry. That's not to say you shouldn't do these things, but staying inside your home all day will do nothing to help you meet people.Talking to people will only get you so far. You'll have met them for the night. But you want to build up a social circle around you so that you always have great people in your life.

For further information, please contact Greg Levin of BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (714) 500-2400.