League Two Betting Review – 23 April 2006

May I have the power

This is the first of a two part article.

Introduction

Wouldn’t you like to hypnotize people into purchasing your auction items?

Or what about if you could indirectly influence, sway and control people’s decision-making process, without them even realizing it?

That’s what NLP is all about. NLP stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a form of hypnosis based on hidden, subliminally persuasive language patterns either spoken or written.

One famous example is Tony Robbins, a master in motivational success and personal growth training, talks using NLP naturally without him even thinking about it. If you listen to him talk in seminars, on television or cassette tapes, you can become quite inspired and NLP is at the heart of his courses and seminars. He uses NLP to help people change their lives by showing them how to use NLP for personal growth, life management, motivation, combat depression and much more.

There is nothing illegal or unethical about using NLP to sell your products, in fact it’s something many large companies do all the time. By using NLP, all you are doing, is simply presenting your products in the most convincing, compelling, and psychologically-effective, way possible. And, of course, that gives you an incredible advantage over your competitors on ebay.

Applying NLP in your auction titles

Using NLP in your auction titles can be a little difficult since you only have a small amount of space. However, it can still be done.

One way is to have an auction title that deals with a state of mind you want people to have. This technique is called Thought Binding. It simply means having your prospects recall what it’s like to be in the mood you want them to be in.

Thought Binding enables people to be much more receptive to any information about you and your products you want to throw at them because you’ve set up and bound the direction of their thinking and emotional processes. And the beauty of it is they will never catch it because they aren’t used to hearing or looking for it.

Let me give you an example. There are many sellers on ebay selling CD and software items that will supposedly make you X amount of dollars each month by reselling. Instead of having an auction title such as “My CD will make you RICH”, you could have a title like “Make ebay your career with my CD, 4K a month, I did”

Another way is to play on people’s curiosity. A title such as “Click here or my dog will die tonight” is meaningless yet I guarantee you will have a lot of people clicking on your ad which is the purpose of your auction title, to get people to click on your auction title and check out your offer.

Remember, your auction title is the doorway to your offer on ebay. It is the door people will choose to go through or not, based on your auction title. Creativity and ingenuity will help.

One Tip, if you run out of good ideas for your auction title, go flip some magazines and newspapers. Pay special attention to the classified ads, see which ones grab your eyeballs and model your auction title after it. You could do the same thing with television commercials or radio ads etc.

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia Airlines has dropped a proposed joint venture with Australia's Qantas Airways for aircraft maintenance and repair.

Managing Director Idris Jala said discussions were halted after a preliminary agreement for the Malaysian project inked in 2007 lapsed recently.

The news came amid new woes at Qantas, which on Tuesday slashed its annual profit forecast and said it would cut up to 5 percent of its work force as it grounds some aircraft due to a slump in business and first-class travel.

“It is very clear that all airlines have immediate problems (amid the economic crisis) … therefore, there are no active discussions between us,” Jala told reporters.

The Malaysian carrier had said in December it was in talks with a number of airlines including Qantas on possible partnerships. Jala did not say if the two are still in tie-up talks.

Airlines globally have been hit as the global economic malaise hurts demand for air travel.

Qantas on Tuesday cut its full year pretax profit outlook to between 100 million and 200 million Australian dollars ($73 million and $146 million), from its previous forecast of AU$500 million.

The carrier, which employs more than 34,000 people, also said it would ax up to 1,750 positions in the latest round of cost cutting.

Jala said Malaysia Airlines' long-haul business has also suffered a beating but travel within the domestic and Asian markets remained resilient.

The flag carrier Wednesday launched nine bargain deals under a “stimulus package” for travelers, offering cheaper fares, free tickets and extra privileges to spur sales.

“The idea of one size fits all doesn't apply in times of crisis … we have to tailor products based on the size of the wallet, that's the way to survive,” Jala said.

Malaysia Airlines remained in the black last year but net profit shrunk to 244 million ringgit ($67.8 million), down from a record 851 million ringgit ($263 million) in 2007. In the last quarter alone, profit plunged 81 percent as the economic slump hurt air travel.

The International Air Transport Association last month predicted Asia Pacific carriers will see losses surge from $500 million in 2008 to $1.7 billion this year. This was much worse than the $1.1 billion loss that it forecast earlier. – AP

From my personal experience, I understood that make money online is not an easy work. To be successful, we need to have certain knowledge, a bit of efforts is necessary. Staying focus and concentrating is important, otherwise, we’ll just wasting times and money. However, trial and failure are also part of being success, to be able to make money online.

When someone try to promote their products or programs and mention that you (the target) can quickly and easily make money online with this, I do not think this is the truth. Make money online is not a easy work. My conclusion based on my own personal experience.

From the past 5 years, I have tried so many times to setup a home base internet business but frustrated, I always failed. I lost lots of money on e-books, software, subscription fees, but I still could not make any money, not a single cent (actually, I made a few bucks with Google Ad sense). So what had I done wrong?

When I started out with my first home base internet business, I was taken up an offer of having my own website build within 24 hours which was ready to earn residential incomes and maximize profits with 5 others affiliate programs. To be honest, my first website was cool. However, my credit card started to feel pain. My first payment was to buy a domain name and a hosting account. Then, by following what we called step-by-step instructions, I began my quest by joining affiliate programs (I have to pay to become a member by some of them).

Then, I needed to join and opened an account to have an auto responder. Again, I have to pay an upgrading fee. Then, the next instruction was buying leads to generate an opt-in list. Next, I needed to advertise to Google ad words and several pay-per-click programs. Next, I needed to buy software to submit my e-zine and article.

Next, and next, there were so many things to pay for, and I still had not made any money yet. My credit card was burning with a big hole in it. Make money online was not easy as I thought anymore. The only thing I saw was the website which was built quickly, but I only made other webmasters money, not the other way around. It was a good experience though.

Here came my second attempt. I decided to build my own website. It took me more than a month to learn some basis HTML, and gathered enough resources and content for my website. Learning from the last experience, I tried to reduce the start-up cost as low as possible (it’s better if I do not have to pay anything). And I had my own website personally built published to the whole world. I felt proud of my self. I thought: “Now, I am ready to make big buck!”

Two weeks later, I still had not received any notice that I got payments yet. I wondered what was going on. I checked my website status and saw only a few people visited my website, about 20 or 30 a day. “What is happening? Why don’t people come to see my art of work? The website was beautiful. The content was deep, but still no one was coming. I went to a forum and posted a question. Then, I understood. I needed to build up traffic to my website. Even if I have a website, but if I do nothing, then no one will know about it.

There, I again learned a new thing. From here on, I will not going to continue with my tedious internet business history. However, from those experiences, I started to understand that make money online surely is not an easy work. There are so many new things to learn, many things you need to know before commencing any type of home based internet business. If you are not fully prepare, your chance of success will be very low. You are just wasting your times and money.

Nevertheless, the internet is a gold mine. I believe that if I keep trying, one day I will be success. But please believe me, even though you can quickly setup a home base internet business with any niche interest to you, however hardly there are any business opportunities which can really make you money online quickly. That is right, the process of making money may be simple to follow, but it may not be enough to make you money over the internet. Sometimes, you need to exercise your common sense, patience, stay focus, trying for yourself, learning from mistakes. The ultimate goal is to earn our shares with this gold mine – It’s now your turn to make money online, and better to watch your steps.

Arranging loans for small business requirements is not an easy task as it is quite risky for the lender. So usually they avoid giving loans for short term requirements. But, to sort out the cash problem of the small business owner a new financial scheme no hassle small business loans introduced. With assist of these loans people can access quick cash for any of their business purposes without getting anxious about wearisome application formalities. Mostly banks and the financial institutions avoid giving loans to the small business person as they are very much concerned about their repayment capability. Besides, there are some groups who are ready to provide you no hassle small business loanson better terms & conditions. With the availed amount people can fulfill their numerous requirements without facing constraint of the lender. Some of the common requirements are as follows: Purchase new tools & equipmentsExpansion of the business Pay off numerous taxes Pay off wages & salary of employees Buying new raw materialsBuy a new land for office premises, etc. To avail the funds with ease and comfort, online application facility will be the reliable way. With the expediency from your home you can complete the application form with basic details and submit it online. The lender will review your loan application and transfer your funds directly in your checking account within next 24 hours. The funds one can get with this loan scheme in the ranges of ?100 to ?1500 for the term period of 14 to 31 days. The interest rate can be slightly high here but it can be negotiable in nature. To avail no hassle loansfacility there is no need to follow lengthy and tedious faxing process. Plus, there is no credit check process held in this loan. Now, one can easily grab the instant funds despite of their worse credit history and records. Moreover, there is no requirement to pledge any collateral against the amount which opens the door for tenants and non-homeowners. Hence, one can simply avail funds through these loans without worrying about prolonged application procedure.

Kokopelli is a fertility deity, who is worshipped by many Native American Indian tribes in the Southwest. And like most fertility deities, Kokopelli presides over both childbirth and agriculture. He is also thought to be a trickster god, traveling trader, insect, musician, warrior and hunting magician.

Kokopelli likeness varies almost as much as his legends. He is usually illustrated as a humpbacked flute player often with a huge phallus and antenna-like protrusions on his head. The first identified images of him appear on Hohokam pottery dated to sometime between 750 A.D and 850 A.D.

According to the Hopi myth, Kokopelli carries unborn children on his back and distributes them to women. He often takes part in rituals relating to marriage, and Kokopelli himself is sometimes depicted with a consort, a woman called Kokopelli-mana by the Hohokam and Hopi. At San Idelfonso, a Pueblo Village, Kokopelli is thought to be a wandering minstrel with a sack of songs on his back who trades old songs for new. An according to Navajo legend, Kokopelli is a God of harvest and plenty. It is thought that his sack was made of clouds full of rainbows or seeds.

Kokopelli may have originally been a representation of ancient Aztec traders, known as pochtecas, who traveled to the Southwest from northern Mesoamerica. These traders brought their goods in sacks slung across their backs and this sack may have evolved into Kokopelli’s familiar hump. These traders also used their flutes to announce themselves as friendly as they approached a settlement. This origin is still in doubt, however, since the first known images of Kokopelli predate the major era of Aztec-Anasazi trade by several hundred years.

Another theory is that Kokopelli is actually an anthropomorphic insect. Many of the earliest depictions of Kokopelli make him very insect-like in appearance. The name “Kokopelli” may be a combination of “Koko”, another Hopi and Zuni deity, and “pelli”, the Hopi and Zuni word for the desert robber fly, an insect with a prominent proboscis and a rounded back, which is also noted for its zealous sexual proclivities. A more recent etymology is that Kokopelli means literally “kachina hump”. Because the Hopi were the tribe from whom the Spanish explorers first learned of the god, their name is the one most commonly used.

A similar humpbacked figure is found in artifacts of the Mississippian culture of the U.S. southeast. Approximately 1200 to 1400 AD, water vessels were crafted in the shape of a humpbacked woman. These forms may represent a cultural heroine or founding ancestor, and may also reflect concepts related to the life-giving blessings of water and fertility.

Kokopelli is one of the most widely recognized images today. His images can be found on anything such as T-shirts, ball caps, key chains and so many more things. A bicycle trail between Grand Junction, Colorado and Moab, Utah, is now known as the Kokopelli Trail.

Web conferencing makes business life easier. With the web conferencing technology, business cut their travel costs and other logistics expenditure by cutting down face-to-face meetings and replacing it with web-based conferences. Web conferencing enables people physically and geographically separated to conduct meetings, presentations, consultations and collaborations.
There are numerous web conferencing vendors in the market nowadays offering new features and services. Here are some of the common features of web conference programs:
* Web conferencing programs use common applications like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Adobe Flash Player to create graphic presentations with enhanced audio and video streaming. For PowerPoint presentation sharing, the presentation is compressed in the presenter’s computer and then sent to the server. The server then sends it to all the participants, caching it in the presenter’s computer. This allows the presenter to change the presentation slides.
* File sharing, document and application sharing allows the presenter to share a selected document with the participants. Documents or files created in Word, Excel, layouts in graphics program can be shared. File sharing is the same as the PowerPoint presentation sharing.
* Web page viewing allows the presenter and the participants to launch a browser and make it visible to everyone. Web page viewing is mainly used to check a competitor’s website, testing of the new website with technical and creative teams, and conducting software product tours.
* The moderator can also hand off the control of the flow of the discussion. One of the participants may run the meeting.
* Desktop sharing is also another great feature of web conferencing. Desktop or screen sharing allows the presenter to display everything that is on his computer screen to be seen by the participants in real time. The presenter can also allow his desktop to be controlled by any of the other participants.
* Whiteboard encourages brainstorming and other on-the-spot creative process. With this feature, web conferencing provides text and drawing capability. Participants can illustrate or outline projects or ideas in the whiteboard.
* Most web conferencing providers have a window dedicated in viewing the roster of attendees of the conference.
* There are also backup systems. In case the first server fails, the conference is seamlessly moved to a second server. All the meeting materials are stored so that the important data will not be lost.
* Recording allows online archiving of the actual meeting. This is a reliable source or point of reference. Only the moderator determines who are allowed to access the recording after the conference.
* Instant messaging is also an important communication feature offered by web conferencing vendors.
* Aside from text chat or instant messaging, audio communication is in the form of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). This allows users to make telephone calls over the World Wide Web.
* For the security of the conference, web conference providers are using Secure Sockets Layer for full meeting security. Meeting attendees require a conference security code to access both live conferences and recorded meetings.
Web conference service providers are promoting different kinds of feature for their conference products. Knowing the right web conferencing program to use would rely on the objective for using this kind of program. Once the need and the ability are drawn, then the solution will be easier to find.

If you have ever experienced hypoglycemia, you know that it feels like fatigue and usually hits mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Hypoglycemia can make you feel sluggish and is the leading cause of depression in the United States. It can be mild or severe and depending on your diet through out the day. Many doctors debate whether diet has anything to do with it. Most Americans do not even know they suffer from the effects.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia

Anxiety attacks
Confusion
Depression
Disorientation
Dizziness
Fatigue
Forgetfulness
Headaches
Heavy perspiration
Hunger
Mental confusion
Mood fluctuations
Muscle pain, cramps
Nausea
Nervousness
Pale ash color skin
Rapid heartbeat
Trembling
Tingling in hands and feet
Unconsciousness
Weakness

Hypoglycemia is also known as low blood sugar, a term often used when discussing diabetes. Just about anyone can be at risk for low blood sugar, frequent attacks can cause serious health problems. Thankfully with a few changes in diet one can avoid low blood sugar attacks completely.

You might be wondering what hypoglycemia does and how it happens? The body circulates sugar in the blood called glucose. Every cell in your body uses glucose for energy, when your blood glucose falls below its required levels for operation; you start to experience hypoglycemic symptoms. These symptoms come from the body pulling energy from your skeletal muscles and fat, your body has to work harder to convert protein and fat to energy than it does with sugar. Drops in glucose can occur when one does not eat enough food through out the day or when one exercise to much. If insulin in the blood is too high a hypoglycemic attack can occur. Diabetics experience hypoglycemia everyday because they inject insulin to help level out their blood sugar. When a diabetic injects more insulin then needed, their blood sugar will drop to far and they will experience a hypoglycemic attack. Insulin helps circulating glucose enter your body’s cells so that those cells can use the sugar for energy. A normal person after a meal releases just enough insulin to keep glucose at a constant level in the blood, but those suffering from hypoglycemic attacks release more insulin than needed, which drops blood sugar very fast. This causes excess stress on many of the body’s systems including the brain.

At this time there are no solid facts as to why one over produces insulin. Experts disagree about dietary causes of low blood sugar, but many believe that diets filled with simple sugars and simple carbohydrates can be part of the problem. Simple Carbs are converted to sugar quickly and transferred to the bloodstream; this quick rise in blood sugar makes the pancreas release excess amounts of insulin. Some believe that this surge of insulin from the pancreas, if left go, could lead to diabetes.

The simplest way to combat hypoglycemia is to change your diet. Break up your meals into smaller sizes and eat more often five to six times each day instead of three bigger meals per day. Consume less sugary foods, reduce alcohol consumption and caffeine, and limit the amount of fatty and processed foods. Eat more complex carbohydrates and fiber; add whole grains and vegetables with each meal, nuts and seeds are good sources of complex carbohydrates. Small amounts of protein in the form of fish, soybeans, eggs, and white meat can help suppress insulin production. Try eating eggs along with your carbohydrates in the morning for longer lasting energy.

Hypoglycemia can be a frustrating disease; if you experience severe attacks you should seek immediate medical help. For more mild cases drink a small glass of fruit juice, the juice will give you a small boost in blood sugar and help you through those periods of sluggishness through out the day. For those who love to put sugar in their coffee or tea, there are alternatives to sugar. Xylitol and Stevia are good sugar substitutes that do not elevate blood sugar but have a very sweet taste to them. If you suspect you have blood sugar issues, always consult your health care professional before taking matters into your own hands. Great sweeteners like xylitol and Stevia can be found at your local health food store or online.

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An article about the fashion trends in the hip hop industry

From baggy jeans and bling blings to classic gangster-inspired suits and bowler hats, a distinct and evolving fashion style has always been an indispensable element of the hip hop industry. Hip hop fashion traces its roots to the clothing style of African-American youths. Since then it has drawn its influences from hip hop scenes in different parts of the United States, from California to New York, as well as from various elements of underground and popular culture.

One of the earlier clothing styles in hip hop was the sportswear coupled with conspicuous jewelry which became the signature look for old school rap. Tracksuits, bomber jackets, berets, Doc Martens, and sneakers were some of the common apparel then. Men sported gold chains while women wore large gold earrings. The sports apparel of Adidas, Nike, and Le Coq Sportif were some of the commonly patronized brands in the 1980s. The 1990s saw the growing popularity of more sportswear from Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, Polo, Calvin Klein, and Nautica. This particular fashion style became known as the urban streetwear and was further supplied by such brands as FUBU, Ecko Unlimited, Walker Wear, and Boss Jeans.

The emergence of gangsta rap as a sub-genre of hip hop fueled another fashion statement, this time inspired by the clothing styles of street thugs and prison inmates. Gangsta rappers started wearing baggy pants, bandannas, and tattoos. Not a few conservatives reacted negatively to the sagging pants and low-hanging waistlines. A religious group tried to combat the fashion style by giving out belts while others sought to make it illegal.

Other hip hop personalities opted for the classy gangster look and wore double-breasted suits, bowler hats, silk shirts, and alligator-skin shoes. This Mafioso-inspired image was popularized by the Notorious B.I.G. and Sean Combs a.k.a. Diddy, with the latter becoming known as the Shiny Suit Man.

Recent trends in hip hop apparel show the influence of hipster and preppy styles. Oversized shirts were replaced with tighter-fitting short-sleeved shirts, tracksuits were traded for sports coats, and tighter denims were favored over sagging jeans. Some of the popular accessories are large belt buckles and skull and skeleton ornaments. Decorated hoodies, fitted caps, and trucker hats are also commonly worn.

Heavy jewelry has also become an enduring mark of hip hop fashion, symbolizing an ostentatious display of fame and wealth. Known in hip hop slang as bling bling, these flashy accessories became ubiquitous fashion icons and common semiotic elements in a lot of music videos. Gold jewelry was the craze in the 80s but it was eventually edged out by silver and platinum. Grills or removable metal teeth coverings also became popular among celebrities.

With the development of hip hop fashion, rap artists eventually ventured into the clothing business and started producing their own labels. The rap group Wu-Tang Clan has its Wu-Wear, Damon Dash and Jay-Z have Rocawear, and Diddy has Sean John. Diddy also bagged the 2003 Menswear Designer of the Year Award given by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Other hip hop personalities with their own clothing lines are Eminem, 50 Cent, Russell Simmons, Kimora Lee Simmons, and OutKast.

Kristien Wilkinson is an online writer and contributor to http://www.hiphop.net

All lasik eye surgery starts the same; a corneal flap is created, damaged tissue is removed and your cornea is reshaped. The invention of Intralase replacing the handheld laser with one that is completely computer-generated, offers four times the success rate for 20/20 vision after laser eye surgery. 1% of laser eye patients using Intralase have a complication called photophobia an intense sensitivity to light. Most of the time photophobia is a temporary situation and is treated with steroid eye drops.

Although Intralase can be more expensive than the old-fashioned handheld laser, a possible cost of $300, the accuracy and safety of Intralase is well worth it. Three bubbles like laser incisions are made into your cornea with minimal complications and higher success. Many, who would avoid laser eye surgery due to inaccuracies and risk, now flock to surgeries because of computer laser accuracy.

Before making decisions concerning your Lasik eye surgery, it’s important that not only can you communicate your fears and concerns with your doctor, but also that you are thoroughly knowledgeable concerning the lasers used as well as the techniques. Not only should you be concerned with the cost of your Lasik surgery, but you also need to be concerned with your doctor’s reputation, the machinery used, the results, and postoperative procedures and complications.

You should not only check with your doctor concerning surgery procedures, but you also want to be thoroughly informed concerning after surgery procedures. Most postoperative laser surgery patients recover quickly and have minimal discomfort. There is usually no pain associated with any type of laser eye surgery, but dryness of the eyes, a bit of blurred vision, and possible redness or swelling can occur. Most of these postoperative symptoms disappear within six months, but can take up to two years to thoroughly heal your eyes after laser surgery.

There’s a wealth of information on laser eye surgery in medical journals, and at your doctor’s office. It’s important that when you research that you research the reputation of your doctor as well as the cost. Many insurance companies consider Lasik surgery an elective and do not cover it, look to your doctor’s office for discounts. Follow through on any patient recommendations given to you by your laser eye doctor, express your concerns and ask questions of those who have already had eye surgery. Thoroughly check out your doctor’s educational documentation, state or national licensing, and check with the Better Business Bureau concerning any complaints against your laser eye specialist.

In today’s world, there are many who offer discount laser eye surgery, many of those may be inexperienced doctors. If you thoroughly research the doctor and the cost and machinery, you may be able to find a good deal on Lasik eye surgery using Intralase. With the advent of the Internet, you’ll be amazed at the wealth of information, recommendations, and even the complaints that may have been issued against doctors. Your Internet connection is your source to find a competent, inexpensive, and thoroughly educated Lasik eye specialist.

The great Abraham Lincoln is known to have said 揑f I had 8 hours to chop down a tree, I抎 spend the first six sharpening my axe?

World-renowned fitness expert Alwyn Cosgrove refers to what I am about to tell you as 慼acking your workouts?

Whichever way you look at it, and whatever name you want to give your new-found approach to 憈raining time management? one common factor remains.

A large proportion of your training is likely to be a waste of time.

Often, people continue to bang their heads on the same brick wall in the vain hope that eventually it will work.

Unfortunately, one of the many legacies passed down from the traditional obsession with bodybuilding as the beast that spawned weight training for the masses, is the belief that high volume equals better results.

Surely if you just exercise more and do more cardio you will burn more calories and lose weight?

Surely if you just lift a sufficient amount of weights every day you抮e going to see more muscle?

Surely if you run more miles each week, you抣l perform better in a half marathon?

Surely if you do as many reps as possible of as many abs exercises as you can think of, you抣l get a rippling six pack?

Judging by the complete lack of progress in people who do nothing but run with their spare time and the amount of desperate young lads who go to the gym everyday and do more straight-legged sit ups than a hyperactive zombie, but still don抰 have a six pack, something抯 not right here.

The fact is that at times, usually as part of a well-planned periodized training schedule, high volume has it抯 place. However, eventually this will catch up on you either in the form of insufficient recovery leading to decreased performance levels, overuse injuries or just a complete lack of motivation to go and whittle away another two hours of your life.

What is needed most of the time is to take a step back, analyse the weak links in your armour and correct them. It may not be exciting or pretty at times but that one step back will usually results in plateau shattering, sound-barrier breaking acceleration in the right direction.

What our friend Abraham was trying to say was that when you have a task at hand, it is rarely the optimal decision to launch head long in to it with no plan or idea of how you will build along the way.

Here are some simple ways to sharpen your axe to get a lean, athletic body that PERFORMS like a lean athlete, finally allowing you to chop down those trees!

Fat Loss:

We抳e all heard it ?you can抰 out-train a bad diet!

If you trained for one less session per week and spent it perfecting your nutrition, the body fat would literally fall off.

Choose to do this once per month at least to refocus your diet as slips are always going to happen.

Similarly, take time to seek out the best help in getting a clear program which you can stick to without deviating just because another nice, new shiny one comes out.

Take time out to do this instead of launching in then give it 100%. Again the time invested getting the right program will bring much faster results once your axe is sharpened!

Strength and power:

1) If you want to bench more, first figure out what抯 stopping you. If your shoulders feel unable to stabilize the bar, start working with kettlebells to strengthen your rotator cuff muscles and learn how to stabilize your scapulae (shoulder blades). Spend time in overhead lockout positions with the kettlebells and watch your bench press, military press, jerks and snatches improve. If the problem is a certain sticking point, use board presses to work the concentric and eccentric contractions in that range and soon eradicate the sticking point.

2) Stop just trying to run faster by sprinting more and more and adding more weight to the squat bar. Spend time releasing your hip flexors to allow better function of your glutes. Failure to dip into the power potential of your glutes is like trying to race a monster truck with the hand brake on.

3) Want to squat more? Try reducing the amount of sets you do and adding in 5 minutes of x-walks with a resistance band to strengthen the glute medius muscles which help stabilize your knees and pelvis. Once your body senses a stronger foundation on which to load your legs, it will allow you to push harder during working sets.

4) You may be troubled by back squats but can抰 front squat due to poor ankle or hip mobility or a lack of flexibility in your shoulders or wrists. Again stop trying to force it, and take a few weeks to improve these areas. Once you give your body the 憆oom to move?the strength will take care of itself.

5) If you lack strength, sometimes it is not your maximal strength levels that are poor but your ability to recruit the muscles on demand.

Often we see glutes which are strong when the contraction can be achieved but getting that contraction to occur in the first place takes a real effort.

If it抯 an effort to do it when you抮e consciously thinking about it lying on a therapy couch, it is highly unlikely that the muscle will work properly, if at all, in a situation when it is called upon to fire in a matter of seconds or even less.

Take steps to address the neurological firing patterns and tap into the strength that lies within.

Endurance:

The cardinal sin committed by many endurance athletes is complete disregard of strength training for fear of slowing them down by adding muscle.

They want to complete a race faster so they run more and more and more in the hope of forcing the body to run faster.

Faulkner (1968) as cited by Siff (2004) describes how in comparisons between middle distance runners of the modern day and the 1940抯 showed little or no change in VO2 max, the amount of oxygen the body is capable of processing at any given time. Yet, performances have proved dramatically over the years. How is this possible if their aerobic capacities are no different?

The improvements come down to the use of interval running and strength training. The truth is that if you find yourself unable to beat your running times because you lack the ability to maintain speed, more and more running will do little to solve the problem, if anything at all! Runners usually lose speed in the latter stages of a race due to decreased stride length. This occurs because of a lack of strength endurance in the working muscles not because their heart and lungs can抰 cope.

Often you see people completing races able to talk quite freely but complaining of 憂othing in the legs? If this was due to lack of oxygen and due to poor aerobic conditioning then the lungs would be heaving much harder.

Reduce your running schedule by a third and replace that training time with focused strength, strength endurance and plyometric work.

揚aavolainen et al. (1999) found that substituting 33% of endurance training time with explosive activity (i.e., sprints, plyometrics, light resistance [0?0% of 1RM] exercises performed quickly) in elite male cross-country runners?(orienteers? programs?. for 9 weeks enhanced 5-km run time and RE without a change in V˙O2max. These findings indicate that explosive resistance training can improve RE and performance as a consequence of enhanced neuromuscular functioning.?br />
Include lots of 憇tretch-shortening?exercises to train your body to decelerate your bodyweight and accelerate it again as you require on every stride of a run.

This includes:

-Depth jumps from varying heights. Focus on slowing the downward force of your bodyweight by absorbing the landing through your knees and hips before accelerating straight up in the air.

- Single leg hops over a hurdle. Do this forwards, backwards and sideways.

- Weighted partial jump squats. If barbells don抰 sit well with you, use two kettlebells held in the rack position.

Work explosively for 4-6 weeks then move to reduced acceleration for longer sets of 20-40 reps.

These principles can be applied to any endurance event.

Where sportsmen and women have previously been warned off any form of resistance training, it is now clear that hacking away some of the slow, steady work in favour of explosive resistance training at certain times of the year will reap rewards.

There are many, many ways to sharpen your axe, and as always it is important to first workout what kind of tree you抮e trying to chop down! Once you know this, you can then choose the right axe and get sharpening it. The immediate gains may appear slow but the long-term outlook will be much brighter!