exQUIZZme !

For many parts of the country, it’s getting to be that time of year again. Time to start thinking about getting your fish and plants ready for old man winter…

Every year, as the weather gets colder and we start heading into winter, many of our customers ask us how to prepare their ponds for winter. Pond owners should be aware of several simple things to do in preparing their ponds for colder months.

Fish and plants need very different things in the winter, but can be kept in top condition for the following season if the appropriate steps are taken (see related articles).

Fish should be fed less, floating annuals should be thrown out, potted hardy plants should be cut down and moved to the bottom of the pond, filters should be cleaned & drained, and pumps shut off.

Another good practice that we recommend is to do a partial pond cleaning and water change. It’s not necessary to drain the pond completely, but we recommend draining 25% - 50% of the water and net out or remove as much organic debris as possible (IE: leaves, plants, etc.)

The reason for this is because rotting leaves, dead plant material, and other organic wastes will give off toxic gasses as they decay during the winter. This can be especially dangerous if the pond is allowed to freeze over.

A thick layer of ice can easily form over the pond in sub-freezing temperatures, which can prevent these gasses from escaping from the pond. If allowed to build up, your fish will suffer. The most likely result will be a weakened immune system, and a more vulnerable fish you will have come spring time.

Anything you can do to reduce stress on your fish prior to and during winter, will pay off handsomely in the Spring. Your fish will be much more vibrant and healthy.

Another important reason not to let your pond ice-over is because the oxygen levels in the pond water can drop to dangerous levels. By keeping the pond surface from freezing over, or by at least keeping a 2′ - 3′ hole in the ice, you can eliminate or greatly reduce these dangers.

Oxygen levels should be maintained during winter if at all possible. If you have a standard aquarium air pump - plug it in outside and let it run all winter.

We also recommend maintaining your salt levels during winter. This keeps your fish’s slime coat strong, and immune systems strong all winter long!

Probably the most popular type of all underwear on the market for men is the boxer-brief. I think it’s fair to say that this style of underwear has become the underwear of choice. Why? Well because it’s a combination of the best of both. It has the loose feel and comfort of the boxer, but it still gives some support.

Whatever a man chooses as his favorite underwear style, from boxers to briefs, a man will feel more comfortable and confident if his underwear is comfortable and fits rights. Cotton is the number one material when it comes to underwear because of its durability. It wears great and lasts a long time.

Centuries ago, underwear was only worn by wealthy nobles. With the introduction of linen in the 1700’s even a humble peasant could afford to cover his nakedness under his clothes. It’s only recently however, that men have begun to make fashion statements with their underwear; Muscular men in stylish underwear are now everywhere to be seen.

If your interests in quality underwear are more practical, then you’ll find some great underwear selections on this page. We’ve looked all over the web and have found some great merchants who offer only quality, style and comfort when your ready to select your underwear.

As with all clothing that you wear, thoughtful consideration will go a long ways towards making you feel more confident and poised. Yes, even when choosing your underwear.

So whether you’re looking for sexy women’s underwear or appealing underwear for men, you’ll find all you need through the power of the internet.

90% of all sickness and disease begins inside an unclean colon.

Toxins and waste build up in your colon just like they do in the pipes of your home. Both demand immediate attention or the results can be disastrous.

Colon cancer is second only to lung cancer in terms of cancer deaths in the U.S., claiming the lives of nearly 50,000 men and women annually.

Have you ever said to yourself, “I’m not constipated or backed-up. I go to bathroom everyday.

I don’t need a colon cleansing” …or do you? Keep reading to find out if you’re toxic!

The benefits of colon hydrotherapy

The colon plays a remarkable role in our body’s health. The condition of our colon has very significant effects on every organ in the human body and on our sense of well being in general. (more…)

This may seem contradictory, but you want to leave a little bit of debris in the pond when preparing it for winter.

Some water gardeners net out the fish, completely drain the water and scrub out the pond, refilling it with fresh water. Frogs, tadpoles, snails and microscopic pond life need to burrow down into mud and leaves to survive the winter.

Fish also hibernate on the bottom, settling in around a bed of leaves and mud. I remove about 90% of the leaves and silt that have accumulated over the summer.

Leave the rest as “bedding material.” You’ll be amazed at the diversity of pond life that emerges in spring. Keep in mind that tree leaves will continually blow into the pond as long as the water isn’t frozen. I recommend covering the pond with bird netting.

This black plastic netting is almost invisible and prevents tree leaves and debris from getting into the pond.

Two years ago, when I had been working online about a year, an online colleague approached me about writing an article for a special edition of his newsletter which was to feature successful women online. Naturally, I agreed.

As I was researching for the article, I read a statistic that revealed that women over 50 were one of the fastest growing groups of internet users. That didn’t surprise me, as at the time I was approaching that “golden age” and had contact with others online who were also in that age group.

All these women were using the vehicle of the internet to earn an income online - and the numbers were growing every day.

So I wrote the article, and it was published not only in my colleague’s newsletter but many others as well.

Now, two years later, I realize that the things I discussed in that article are as relevant today as they were two years ago when the article was first published - and we all know that for anything to stay current online for two years it must be significant!

For that reason, I feel that they bear repeating again. After all, there are an untold number of women - in this age group as well as younger - who have entered the world of internet business since that first article was published two years ago.

So what did I reveal in that article? Consider this…

Women of ALL ages have made a conscious decision to tackle the complexities of technology in order to achieve their own goals and aspirations, whatever they may be.

What is it about the internet that is so appealing to women? It’s quite obvious, actually. The internet is a massively large vehicle for what? Communication. And what do women generally do better than men? You got it…communicate!

Look around, and you see women everywhere online. And what else do you see? Sites created by women - providing every type of information, service, or opportunity you can imagine.

Who are these women? People you know -

Young mothers working from home in order to be there with their children

Former corporate executives using skills learned on the job to create their own successful businesses online

Empty nesters who find themselves embracing the technology of their children’s generation

Young women just out of school who have chosen the career path of entrepreneur and are using the internet to achieve those dreams

Each is different - but you can be sure that all these women have certain characteristics in common. They have the determination to tackle the often confusing technology of the internet, and they have the passion it takes to accomplish their goals.

And succeed they do - in large numbers!