Collecting Wrestling Action Figures

If you are a wrestling fan, then you probably enjoy collecting memorabilia that is associated with your favorite sport of superstar. Everything from t-shirts and books to trading cards are available, but perhaps the most popular is that of action figures. The reason is because these small collectibles bare the resemblance of a wrestling superstar and take up very little space in the display case. In addition, when they are first released, wrestling action figures are very inexpensive.

As the years progress, wrestling action figures can significantly increase in value. As a general rule, anything that is left in it's original packaging is more valuable because, you guessed it, most people take them out and play with them. Action figures are very popular among children, which is why it is so often difficult to find a specific wrestling action figure in it's original packaging. In addition, collectibles that are kept in mint/near mint condition inevitably increase in value much more than something that has visible scratches or other defects.

If you are a collector who is also purchasing wrestling action figures for investment, it's not a bad idea to buy two of each item. With this approach, you will have one wrestling action figure for the display and one that you can keep in it's original packaging for investment. If you are thinking like an investor, then you already know that any collectible that is produced in a limited edition will prove to be the most valuable in years to come. Additionally, those limited edition pieces are often higher in value if they have a low serial number. For instance, if there were to be 5,000 wrestling action figures produced of a certain superstar, the ones that may prove to gain in value the most could very well be those with the lowest number in that edition. An example would be 10/5,000 or 100/5,000. As a general rule, the closer you can get to the first collectible made, the more valuable your object becomes.

There is no shortage of ways to find wrestling action figures, with the newest releases being made widely available at most retail stores. The more rare collectibles will often be found in a sports collectibles store or at an annual memorabilia show. If you opt for the latter, be ready to shuck out some bucks if you plan to shop because show dealers are knowledgeable in the products that they sell and they aren't likely to be offering a bargain. It is significantly expensive to set up a booth at a memorabilia show, so dealers tend to bring their top dollar merchandise for just such an occasion.

The internet is a virtual haven for all things collectible, including wrestling action figures. If you are looking for a rarity or just browsing for a mini replica of your favorite wrestling superstar, you are more likely to find it online than anywhere else. With a world of retailers, there really is no other place to shop that offers a better selection. If you want to be the one to set the price, check out the online auction sites and see if you can snag a bargain.

Find where to shop for WWE wrestling figures and ASICS wrestling shoes [http://www.allwrestlingworld.com/ASICS-wrestling-shoes.html] and many other wrestling resources on http://www.allwrestlingworld.com

What Happened to "The Voice of the People?"

Are you shocked and dismayed by the way politicians in Washington have demonstrated a lack of common sense? Do you believe your representatives have a total disregard for fiscal responsibility? Who is looking out for the well-being of their constituents rather than following the will of a political party or following their own individual ambitions? Did you ever think this would happen in America?

A recent survey reports the favorability of Congress is at 18% -- the lowest since such polls have been conducted. Another study showed 66% of Americans would rather throw out their representative (it doesn't matter which party) than send them back to the nation's capital for another term. Many people believe that picking someone out of the phone book would produce better results than the politicians who are there now. State and municipal governments probably don't score much higher.

Is there any government program or reform bill that does result in some sort of tax increase? Health care, energy, education, infrastructure, subsidies, welfare, immigration? The list goes on and on. Needs like defense, homeland security and disaster response are not even part of this discussion, although they could be. And every form of government from local to national seems to find ways to spend more money than they take in. But with the tough financial times we've fallen into, the dollars aren't there.

The average citizen has cut back on spending and is afraid for the future. By the same token, the national government continues to spend because they can tax us or simply print more currency. So we have fewer dollars to spend or our money is worth less due to inflation, this affects the savings for pre-boomers and others on fixed incomes. Local and state governments can't print money, so they either raise taxes, cut services or both.

With the way Washington handled the health care situation (it can't be called a discussion, since it was a one-sided affair), it's hard to believe anyone is listening to the voters. This same problem exists for issues that are closer to home, such as water and power, schools, sales taxes and a whole host of other state and local services. However, the strength of the government unions keeps or severely delays the layoff of unessential, under-performing or costly workers, so necessary spending cuts can't be made in a timely manner. We're all concerned, but can anything be done about this distressing situation?

Unless we show our dissatisfaction with what's being done (or not being done), matters will get worse. This election year is critical at all levels of government. Therefore, it is the responsibility of each voter to study the record of incumbents and the resumes of the challengers. The same thing goes for propositions or measures on any ballots that are going to cost taxpayers either through loans (bonds) or taxes.

Pre-boomers have more time available than the most working families, so this group of New Seniors needs to be doing more than the average voter. It's time to be a local leader in the effort to get American on the path we know is right.

Don Potter, a Philadelphia native, was born in 1936 and is a 50 year veteran of the advertising agency business. Now living in Los Angeles, he has written two novels in retirement, frequently writes on marketing issues, and has a blog dedicated to pre-boomers (those born between 1930 and 1945). Read more articles for and about pre-boomers with thoughts, comments and opinions designed to spark thinking, foster discussion, and stimulate debate by logging on to http://www.pre-boomermusings.com.

Improving a Child's Bedroom

While the main focus of a child's bedroom has always been their bed, to improve the bedroom and make it into a space that your child will love, as well as provide a sense of function, there are things that can be added to the room to make it a pleasant little hideaway of their own. Not only do children sleep in their bedroom, but they may also do things like play in it, do homework there, and of course watch TV and play video games. Having the right furniture to make all of these activities more comfortable is a key to improving a child's bedroom.

Getting your child involved in the decorating of their bedroom can be a great start. Choosing furniture for a child's bedroom can now not only be done by taking your child to a showroom and perusing various choices, but can now be done from the comfort of your home online. Letting the child choose a theme for their bedroom is a good start. When looking for furniture, it is important to keep in mind the durability and quality of any choice you are considering, as you don't want to have to replace something every few months.

For comfort when watching TV and playing video games, as well as even making your child feel more grown up, you can choose from a variety of seating options that can enhance their bedroom. Bean bag chairs, small sofas for kids, kid's recliners, and kid's rocking chairs can all be great choices to improve a child's bedroom. When choosing from this type of furniture, it is important to find something that will not tip over easily and is something sturdy.

Adding a table can also be a great idea as it can give your child a place to color, eat, do some crafting, or play a game. For children who do homework in their room, a desk may be more appropriate as it will give them the extra room they need to do their work. For children who also may have a computer, there are many computer desks that can be found which will not only serve the purpose of providing a place for their computer, but can also be used for storage.

Light fixtures, dressers, and even functional toy boxes can also be of great value when trying to improve a child's bedroom. Having fun, being co-operative, and giving your child a room they can enjoy and be comfortable in will be something that can make the whole family happy for years to come.

Decorating a room should be a fun experience for everyone. Visit Room to Grow to browse a quality range of Childrens bedroom furniture

Sleeping Bags - Season Ratings and Temperature Ratings Guide

Season Ratings

Seasonal sleeping bag ratings are used to describe the time of year and their corresponding temperature, for which the sleeping bag is ideal for comfort in terms of warmness:

1. Season bags are ideally suited to the warmer summer months where night time temperatures average 10 degrees.

2. Season bags are most suited to the cooler months from late spring to early autumn where average night time temperatures are not much higher than 5 degree's.

3. Season bags are ideally suited to spring, summer and autumn while the average night time temperatures generally fall much below zero.

4. Season bags are best suited to the freezing winter months while temperatures average -5 degrees.

5. Season bags are ideally suited to extreme temperatures common on expeditions when night time temperatures may average -15 degrees.

These ratings are only meant to be a general guide and temperatures can change greatly according to the area, altitude, environment and each individual years weather conditions. The season rating is also there to propose the best sleeping bag for comfort but it's extreme capability. For a more exacting temperature guideline read our EN13537 Ratings guide below. Furthermore, the idea of what is comfortable may vary from person to person so this is also worth considering when choosing a sleeping bag.

EN13537 Ratings

The EN 13537 rating's intention is to outline standardised temperature ratings for all sleeping bags retailed and manufactured in the UK. The criterion was developed in 2002 and implemented in 2005 and has now been implemented by most European countries, although it is not compulsory that all producers adopt the EN13537 testing but it is strongly advised they do so.

The testing is completed using a thermal manikin within the sleeping bag which is subjected to varying outside temperatures. The ratings are given on the principle of an typical 25 year old male who weighs 80 kg and an typical 25 year old woman who weighs 50 Kilo's. There are four possible temperature ratings which a sleeping bag may have:

1. Upper Limit; the warmest temperature at which the average male or lady would be able to sleep comfortably without too much perspiration due to the temperature. This does include having the hood and zipper open with arms out of the bag in order to achieve a tolerable nights sleep.

2. Comfort; the right temperature at which the typical male or woman would be able to sleep in comfort.

3. Lower Limit; the lowest temperature at which the average male or female would be able to sleep comfortably.

4. Extreme; a rating based on the lowest temperature the average man or lady could be subjected to for survival, although at this cold temperature significant health risks could be posed.

It is advisable to use the comfort and lower limit rating as a guideline when purchasing a new bag. It is also worth noting that the ratings work on the presumption that in the summer months minimal clothing would be worn and in the winter extra garments including hat and socks should be worn. Subjective changeables such as the person's body composition, their sensitivity to cold conditions and their age are also to be thought of as well as objective changeables such as the wind chill factor, humidity levels and whether extra products such as sleeping mats are used. The ratings are only meant as a helpful guide and therefore it is up to each person's caution to choose a sleeping bag which is the ideally suited for them.

Summary

While seasonal ratings give a general idea of when a bag should be used, the EN13537 ratings guide gives a much clearer outline of when a specific sleeping bag is comfortable to use. Anyone thinking of using a sleeping bag outdoors should therefore take the time to compare their sleeping bags comfort and limit ratings against the forecasted weather conditions, this will help to provide a warm and comfortable nights sleep.

John Mullett has vast knowledge of outdoors activities and the sleeping bags available to us today. He works closely with outdoor brands as they continue to develop their sleeping bag offerings.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) Hero's Journey - Pulling the Hero in

The Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story. This is why stories such as Alien (1979), Gladiator (2000), Midnight Cowboy (1969), American Beauty (1999), The Graduate (1967) and many others (all deconstructed at the URL below) appear to be different but are all constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the same way.

and more...

*****Hero's Journey: Pulling the Hero in*****

The detective hero confronts the femme fatale client with the arrival of male client and the knowledge of the treasure. The hero's cynicism is further increased.
The female client attempts to persuade the hero to side with her.
A sexual relationship develops. It is made explicit that the hero is (or could be) overly infatuated with his client. In The Maltese Falcon (1939), Sam plays along with the O'Shaugnessey's game.

*****Shape Shifter Revealed and The Red Herring*****

The shape shifter's true nature becomes apparent [post the Rebirth through Death]. In The Incredibles (2004), Bomb Voyage assists the Incredibles to escape.

Red Herrings and misdirections are toyed with and implemented. In Star Wars (1977), Han considers "leaving this party." In Syriana (2005), we are led to believe that it is Whiting who will be sacrificed. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), we are led to believe that Severus Snape is a threat.

*****Night Sea Journey*****

The Night Sea Journey is that passage that leads into the Near Death Experience. Certain characteristics are common, including:

Descent. Often the Hero moves physically downward, underground, below or similar. Metaphorically, this is a spiritual descent. In Star Wars (1977), Luke follows Leia down the shoot into the garbage section of the detention level.

Night. The Night Sea Journey often occurs at night.

Stealth. The Night Sea Journey is stealthily engaged in.

Dark. The Night Sea Journey often lacks sunlight (underground, tunnels etc). In The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Andy is in the hole for an impossibly long time. It's grim down there.

Cold. The Night Sea Journey often occurs in the cold.

Rain. Water is symbolic of baptism and rebirth.

Unfavourable Conditions. The Night Sea Journey is generally unpleasant. In Dances with Wolves (1990), the journey to retrieve the guns occurs at night, in the hard rain, with only a child for help and under extreme time pressure.

Spiritual Descent. Often we are privy to a glimpse of the Hero at his lowest. In Scarface (1983), Tony Montana is snorting his own supply. It's grim.

Weakness. In the darkness of the descent, the Hero is weak. Magical gifts fail them. In Scarface (1983), Tony Montana knows they are header for trouble because they are "not hungry anymore."

Conflict with Allies. With all the danger, the Hero conflicts with Allies. In Scarface (1983), Tony and Manny argue.

Comedy. It is not unusual for this stage of the journey to be comedic on some level. Death, tragedy and comedy are very close. In Dances with Wolves (1990), Stone Calf uses the gun as a rod instead of shooting it.

*****Symbolism*****

Symbolism is an underrated aspect of storytelling. The degree of symbolism used in the most successful stories and screenplays is enormous. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), the passing of the train symbolises Journey. Similarly, the mirror that Jack twist looks into symbolises reflection and dissatisfaction of the Ordinary Self.

*****Sirens of the Coming of The One*****

Previous to the Seizure of the Sword, some communication will reveal that the Hero is imminently about to gain the Expansion of Consciousness, an Enlightenment. In Dances with Wolves (1990), the women know that the there is something between John and Stands with a Fist.

Antagonists attempt to prevent this. In Star Wars (1977), Tarkin explicitly states that they must not be allowed to get away.

The Antagonists realise that the Hero's Expansion of Consciousness will lead only to conflict between them. In Star Wars (1977), Vader feels a disturbance in the force. He knows Obi Wan is near.

Learn more…

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

The Managing Creativity and Innovation MBA dissertation, DIY creativity Audit, Powerpoint presentation and Good Idea generator software can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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Challenges of Being a Parent

There are endless challenges in being parent. The expense, lack of sleep and insecurity that it brings can make any parents worry. Fortunately, there are ways to save money on commonly used items that will help relieve some of the burden on parents and help them enjoy their new status as much as possible.

You can expect to buy a lot of diapers and formula if you're not breastfeeding. These are two items that you may be able to buy in bulk. You often save money if you buy the largest size of an item. If you find a product you love, try buying it in large quantities instead of individual bottles or boxes.

Sure, you will end up paying more for the product initially, but you will save over time since the cost per unit is usually reduced. There are savings to be had online, as well or you may want to join a warehouse club. They often offer significant discounts on items you may need.

If you're not set on one particular brand, consider using the store brands of some items, like diapers and formula. Store brands are usually of similar or the same quality as the name brands for much cheaper prices. It's worth it to give them a try.

Diapers will probably be one of your main expenses at first. You'll go through a lot. Try asking your pediatrician if they have samples they could give you. They may have them for formula, as well.

Coupons are a great way to save money when you're on a budget. They can be found in many places and are accepted just about everywhere. Look in local newspapers, store flyers and online. It's worth the effort.

Check advertisements for sales. When they come up stock up on items you use regularly, this when prices will be at their lowest. It pays to be a smart shopper.

If you're looking for other ways to save money, try using powdered formula instead of the liquid or better yet, breast feed your baby. If you're brave, you may want to try using cloth diapers.

I write about Forex Trend Scalper and Rocket Spanish randomly.

Let's Play Dominoes

Rules for playing dominoes

There are many ways of playing dominoes. The most popular of all has the following rules, place all the stones on the table face down and shuffle them, then the lead is determined by each player turning the domino containing the highest number of dots has the lead. After the first game, the lead passes to the player on the left. If only two players, they lead alternately. The stones must now be well shuffled and each player takes an equal number, previously agreed upon, leaving a certain number of dominoes face down a stock to draw from and stands them up in front of him. The faces of each player stones must not be seen by other players.

After the leader has placed the first stone, the player on the left tries to match either end of the stones, for instance. If failing a double he has played "five-three" the player on the left must play one stone with a five or a three but only one stone each turn. As illustrated, the leader has placed the "five-three", the second player the "three-four" and the third player, the "five-blank". The fourth player must now play one stone which has a three or a blank. When a player in his turn be unable to match either end, he is obligated to draw from stock until he gets a stone he requires or until the stock is exhausted, which is the case, when only 2 stones are left in the stock. If still unable to play, he passes and the next on the left continues to play and so on.

A player is not obligated to play even if he is able to do so, but may draw as many stones as he likes from the stock. When the stock is exhausted, he must play if he can. The game is finished, when one of the players has no more stones left, or if all players are unable to continue in which case the hand is won by the one who holds the lowest number of dots and he scores not alone the dots held by himself but may also add those of his adversaries. The game is won. Specially when a player has scored 100 points or more.

Name: ROCKY TORRES
Nickname: ROCK
Birthday: FEB. 22, 1973
Age: 36
Marital status: SINGLE
Hobbies: Computer and internet surfing.

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