Sumo Nova

Living in the United States almost my whole life, I forget just how different our culture is from the cultures in the Orient. After watching Memoirs of a Geisha, I started thinking about femininity and modesty. These things are thoroughly embraced in the east, but in the west, they have been replaced by overt sexuality,…

Nearly everyone has been through it, or at the very least they’ve known someone who has. Whether on the giving or receiving end, the result is always the same. When people cheat, other people get hurt. The pain of an unfaithful mate is worse only because it seems to always come as a surprise. Can…

They’re getting bigger. Trends in cosmetic surgery, that is. Susie*, 34, moved to Orange County, California last year and along with her change of address came a change in bra size. The number of women getting breast enlargements and lifts has sextupled in the past decade. Susie, also a mother of four, is one of…

Raleigh is an easy place to find hardware being offered by a wide range of enterprises. Department stores, pharmacies, gift stores and dollar stores all offer some hardware. The larger box stores often offer the hardware only in larger units. (50 or 100) The smaller stores offer limited selections of smaller units primarily for small…

We have all seen directions for making those great homemade snow globes for Christmas out of left over jars. Sometimes the jars can leave a little bit to be desired. I made some Christmas snow globes out of spaghetti jars one year and was sorely disappointed at how unfinished the bottom of the jars looked….

Texas is, of course, big and is home to countless of interesting and entertaining sites for the visitor. And nearly all of these sites have been admirably covered in tourist guidebooks and travel websites. But there is even more to Texas. Much more, but for now, we’ll have to settle on this list of ten…

What is the Pasta Express? Past Express is a unique cooking tool that allows you to cook things that you would normally boil without having to use continuous heat from your stove. To use this product you simply put your food into the plastic tubes, pour in boiling water, snap on the strainer and lid…

Some kids grow up spending more time with TV moms than with their own moms. We all have our favorite TV moms, for different reasons. Is your favorite TV mom on this list? Top 10 Best TV Moms Ever #10: Mrs. Patridge was one of the first single mothers on TV. Not only did she…

Ballroom dancing is more popular now than it has been in years, and it really is not that hard to learn. Los Angeles and many places for you to choose from once you decide you want to take ballroom dancing lessons. Yes, you can learn enough to feel comfortable taking the floor at the next…

Tips for Promoting Associated Content Articles We all know, clout means more page views, and more page views and clout mean more money. My first paid article was submitted and posted in June, 2006, and since June, I have increased to a Clout Level 6, and feel I’m pretty close to moving on to the…

DEEP RIVER – Goals ranging from creating an historic district, allowing mixed use to occupy older buildings, encouraging new development to be compatible with the town, and facilitating the use of alternative energy sources were all highlighted in a recent draft of the Plan of Conservation and Development. About 10 residents came to a recent…

For years on New Years Eve I would head over to a friends house and go with them to church. It was kind of boring most of the time. Oh sure they had games and stuff. But it wasn’t a real “party” event – I wanted more. A New Years party is either the last…

Generally, when we think of the setting of a play or movie, we tend to focus on the physical location in which the story is taking place. If you think of it in this way, setting may not seem like a very important part of acting, but when you think about it another way you…

I can’t live without our Maltese dog, Spike. Spike is AKC registered and we paid $500 for him. Our family and friends sent humorous emails joking about our senior citizen status since we now own a “foo-foo” lap dog. I teased my Dad when he replaced his bassett hound with a poodle. There is some…

Piano is technically a stringed instrument, and most will agree that it is a wonderful first instrument. A great many music teachers who teach other instruments also agree that piano is a great instrument to start with. It is not required that your child learn piano before anything else, but it does make a great…

Traditional hip hop may be dead, but spoken word poetry is on the rise. Are we moving into a new era of the hip hop movement? You can catch a glimpse of spoken word poets just about anywhere, from the Broadway stage to your local night club venues. Spoken word takes on many forms of…

Installing laminate flooring is a typical home improvement project that requires very little advanced skill. As long as you have a good sub floor, installation requires very little preparation and can be completed in a short time. If you do not regularly use tools or are concerned about the quality of your sub floor, call…

Connecticut has some beautiful communities for senior citizens. They all offer different types of services, some of them offering in home services for senior citizens who wish to remain in their current homes. All of these communities have a waiting list and the option for home assistance might be a good choice for the interim…

Adam Smith’s market theory-the bible of free enterprise and every conservative politician who has fought tooth and nail against regulation of industry-presupposes a whale of an idea: that narrow self interest will eventually provide the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Under the theory of Smith’s, the private and selfish goal of every…

Even if you haven’t been using writing prompts in your adult writing life, you still probably remember them from your grade school days. Your teacher would put a sentence or two on the blackboard as a way for you to start your journal or notebook entry for the day, and you would have to come…

Summer is the biggest season for weddings. Brides are clamoring to find the perfect wedding dress, while grooms are looking for the perfect honeymoon spot. However, not all weddings come to fruition. Recent news stories about runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks, the 32 year old from Georgia who fled lavish wedding plans to fiancé John Mason…

Diamond is the April birthstone. Known as one of the hardest substances on earth, diamonds are thought to be billions of years old (http://encarta.msn.com). The word diamond derives from an ancient Greek word, “adamas”, meaning invincible. Arguably the most prized of all crystals, diamonds come in a range of colors: clear, pink, purple, red, orange,…

The benefits of massage are many. I am a chronic pain sufferer. I was born with scoliosis.. It didn’t bother me much when I was younger, but as I got older I have suffered much pain from it. One doctor told me that I needed to have Harrington Rods put in my spine or I…

Microcephaly is a congenital abnormality or birth defect in which both the brain and the skull are extremely small at birth and both grow rather slowly. Microcephaly may be caused by a severe lack of oxygen during the delivery or it may be due to poor development of the fetus’ brain during pregnancy. Children with…

I can still remember the first time I fell for a speed trap. It was a dark country road and the speed limit changed from 55 to 55 at the apex of a curve. The flashing lights of a police cruiser illuminated the interior of my car before I even had a chance to switch…

The first time I heard my daughter refer to jibbitz, I thought that they were talking about kibitz. Kibitz I knew as a Yiddish word which meant something along the lines of offering advice as an outsider. (Though as a non-Yiddish speaking person, I wasn’t exactly sure of its definition.) It took two or three…

Have you had nothing but problems with your new vehicle? Does it spend more time in the shop than on the road? If you think that you may have purchased a lemon from a Wisconsin auto dealer, there are consumer protections available. Whether you bought a Kia Rio that’s gone kerplunk or a Ford Focus…

Use affordable Flannel Shirt to make this striking rustic country cabin headboard! To Make a Woven Flannel Shirt Country Bed Head Board You Will need: Flannel Shirt 2X4’s Power Drill Screws (At least 4″ long and up to 6″) Staple Gun Scissors or pinking sheers Push Pins The first step to this project is to…

Last night I watched a news program so horrifying, I couldn’t sleep. Glenn Beck reported on the most ridiculous and frightening event of our time. Last February, Border Patrol agent Ignacio Ramos protected his country by shooting an immigrant drug dealer trying to enter the United States. For his actions, Ramos, 37, received 11 years…

Chances are that you have been told that you should drink water, since it does so many healthy things for your body. However, chances also are that you have only probably heard that it was healthy, but never heard what types of things it can do for you. If you have no idea what types…

Before I had the nerve to purchase a pot of M.A.C. eye shadow, I kept my cosmetic shopping at Wal-Mart. Why? Well, everyone knows why. The great prices, of course! Since I was always on the look-out for good quality eye shadow that wouldn’t cost me an arm and a leg, I decided to try…

Even though soon-to-be married couples enjoy planning their wedding and reception, many will agree that planning the honeymoon location tends to more fun. For starters, honeymoons are a time to rest and soak in the moment. Also, a week or two of relaxation is well needed after months of coordinating a wedding. When choosing a…

It’s common knowledge that tiny vegetable and grain sprouts are packed with vitamins and nutrition, as well as a crunchy, nutty taste that goes great in salads and on sandwiches. About ¼ cup of grain or bean seed like alfalfa, peas, green beans, soy beans or radishes, expands to about a about a pint of…

We’ve all seen those commercials where the lady of the house is about to sit down and pay her bills online, but first she puts a bag of microwave popcorn in the microwave and sets it on automatic. (You’ll notice they don’t show you exactly how much time that popcorn is popping.) The point of…

This article is in reponse to the following article: Jump-Starting the Electric Car, Marianne Lavelle, Nov. 29, U.S. News The Prius, like all hybrids that cannot plug in, is not an Electric car. It gets all its energy, ultimately, from the gasoline pump, unlike a plug-in EV, which can run on electric power from the…

The real face of the military is not just the one on the news. The real face of the military is not the one on the front page of the paper, or on the TV. The real face of the military is not always the one who receives the ticker tape parade or the Medal…

Shrek the Third is the latest in the Shrek series of movies. A cute, fluff, 3D cartoon, Shrek the Third is a good find for five year olds. When King Harold (John Cleese) of Far Far Away is on his death bed, he asks Shrek (Mike Myers) if he will take over as ruler of…

Eating disorders sound like they are made up or that they are easy to get rid of. But, eating disorders are very real and are not easy to get rid of. In fact, having an eating disorder can be a life long struggle and sometimes people hid the fact that they have an eating disorder…

Before and during pregnancy it is important for a woman to follow proper diet and nutrition in an effort to provide the best possible fetal development during pregnancy. Of these nutrition recommendations, women of child bearing age should focus on increasing certain vitamins and elements in the first trimester of pregnancy, as soon as the…

The majority of the world’s countries were at war. Virtually all countries that participated in World War I were involved in World War II. This global conflict incorporated new social realities in America. Headlines appeared: “16,000,000 Women; What Will Happen After?” asked the New York Times Magazine in 1943; “Watch Out for the Women,” cautioned…

Like most of America I have been enthralled with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie since I was about ten years old. Like most others I believed it was true and spent many a dark night trying to convince friends of this. We all ended up with nightmares and hearts that felt like they would beat…

On the afternoon of October 22nd, football fans saw something that’s been missing from NFL action for a long time. It was a phantom of sorts, a shadow of years gone by. It was a fully-functioning Green Bay Packers football team. But can the 34-24 road victory against the Miami Dolphins give the Pack some…

Every Mexican food restaurant you see claims to be authentic, but very few even come somewhat close to meeting that claim. What you usually get is a very Americanized version of Mexican food. La Milpa in Richmond, Virginia steps up and delivers on the promise. This is a fairly small restaurant on Hull Street just…

Whether you’re out on a hike, finishing up a workout, or dealing with an afternoon hunger pang, energy bars provides a quick boost. Just browsing the nearest grocery store, drug store, or even hardware store reveals a rapidly growing population of energy bars. PowerBar, Clif, Balance, Odwalla, and countless others give buyers plenty of options….

If you are looking to get out and enjoy the winter weather skiing is always an exhilarating way to do so. New York State boasts a great number of ski resorts that have something for every member of the family. It’s not just about skiing anymore either; you can slide down the hill on a…

We all know them, or perhaps are them, the type of person who walks into a bar and knows exactly they want to drink. In fact, it is pretty much the same thing they drink every time they are out, and the same item they stock their liquor cabinet with. Although this may be an…

This year’s summer movie season kicks off Friday, May 4th with “Spiderman 3”. Other movies opening that day are “Lucky You” starring Eric Bana as a poker addict who puts his family second in an attempt to win a Las Vegas poker championship, the movie also stars Drew Barrymore and Robert Duvall. “Away From Her”…

St. Simons and Jekyll Island are my idea of perfect vacation spots, and since they are right next to each other, they make perfect destinations for one vacation. But you should only visit these spots on Georgia’s Gold Coast if: 1. You love the ocean. If you love stretches of deep blue water as far…

I will be thirty seven years old soon. Every month before I get my hair colored, I notice a few more gray hairs. I have some crows feet and am just beginning to see some laugh lines. I do not fret over any of these things. I enjoy seeing how my face changes just a…

Who would ever have thought that a vegetarian vampire duck would be the stuff of great comedy? The makers of Count Duckula, that’s who! Once upon a time, Nickelodeon used to feature cartoons for adults as well as children. Then, characters like Arnold and Zim were given the bum’s rush to make room for such…

Adolf Hitler was born in 1889 in Austria. The son of an Austrian customs official, he was a high school drop out.He served in Bavarian army during World War I , where he was wounded and received the medal cross of bravery. In 1921 the Nazi party, named Hitler as it’s chairman. Before his rise…

Like most girls, I am a shoe addict. My obsession puts Carrie Bradshaw to shame. While most rational people buy shoes to go with an outfit, I buy clothes to go with whatever fabulous new shoes catch my eye on an impulse buy. Wherever I go – nightclubs, work, even elevators and grocery stores –…

Europe has a long and fine tradition of encouraging youthful travel. Today, many college students compliment their educations by a trip to Europe. They take trains, walk, and bike ride. And when it is time to crash for the night, they do it in youth hostels. Youth hostels are inexpensive and they cater to the…

The Burning Man Festival was born from the mind of Larry Harvey in honor of the Summer Solstice in 1986. He and Jerry James constructed an eight foot wooden man out on Baker Beach in San Francisco and burned it. Roughly 20 people gathered to observe. Today, The Burning Man Festival draws over 25,000 people…

My youngest sibling is two years old, but he’s going on three in just over a month. I’d say that puts me in as an expert in what these terrible twos are interested in nowadays. A few rules to begin will help you to decide which toys your child will play with and which ones…

Two hackers known online as, “Mondo Armando,” and, “Mustascio,” have announced that April is MySpace bug month. They have decided to take it upon themselves to expose a new security vulnerability each day during the month. After getting word of the news from the duos LiveJournal site, MySpace was obviously nervous. MySpace has been the…

Arlington, TX resident Dameon Beechem is getting ready to strut his stuff on the runway, says writer Angie Summers. Beechem, 13, is being treated for pancreatic cancer at Children’s Medical Center and is a contributing artist to the center’s annual calendar, according to Summers. He won’t walk alone at the 18th Annual “Beyond the Rainbow”…

This article is a follow-up to the column Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline Digs Deep, by content producer Odalis Bitterroot. Mr. Bitterroot’s column is right on the mark when he talks about the desperate lengths candidates seeking office will go to in order to increase the likelihood that they will be elected by the populace….

For years, during the height of the low fat diet craze, we were told to avoid nuts. Now it seems as if “they” are encouraging us to eat nuts once again. We never gave them up in the first place-we love nuts! We used to buy nuts every so often, but my husband has changed…

Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Adaptation and War Running Time: 1 hr. 56 min. Release Date: March 9th, 2007 (wide) MPAA Rating: R for graphic battle sequences throughout, some sexuality and nudity. Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution Directed by: Zack Snyder JJ Rating: A- King Leonidas (what strong and cool name that is) lead 300 Spartans (hence…

It has often been observed that hell is different for each person. Although the central concept of the underworld may have a basic template based upon one’s cultural background or religious belief, the actual view and purpose of a site of everlasting damnation tends to vary. For the French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre, hell was…

Gardeners love annual gardens for their reliable profusion of colorful blooms. Annuals can make up an entire summer garden, or they can fill in the area around perennials. Annuals are terrific for their ability to bloom profusely, with color from spring until the first frost. Many annuals can be planted from seed. For instant gratification,…

EKS – Waiting to create!I have just then completed my Diploma in Advance Management in Energo Cybernetic Strategy (EKS).Though I was much convinced about the success principles of EKS, I wanted to conduct some business experiments. I applied the EKS knowledge to my products and services one by one and understood that it could create…

“I knew I should have listened. Something told me not to do that.” Does this sound familiar. How many more times do we have to do it to get it right? We are provided with rules to the game of life, but we want a shortcut. So we try to do it our way. Maybe,…

Even the best of background checks can not protect you from a bad tenant. There have been so many new laws created to protect tenants against no good landlords that it can make it close to impossible sometimes to evict a tenant. If you are a new landlord or are thinking about becoming one, you…

The Outer Banks of North Carolina are barrier islands with 125 miles of shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean. The strong current and winds have caused many shipwrecks along the years. A trip to the Outer Banks is really worthwhile. The area is rich in history and has a unique culture. Clapboard buildings on stilts that…

Weddings are a common occurrence, especially during the spring and summer months. Each year thousands of men and women will make the decision to become one couple. On their wedding day these couples are most likely looking forward to the future and happy times together. Even though the divorce rate is on the rise, there…

You don’t have to have a lot of money to make your mom something fabulous for Mother’s Day. There are many nice gifts that you can make out of normally discarded items, small trinkets and craft supplies, and a little time and effort. If your mom loves books, make her a beautiful book thong, which…

The countdown to Halloween night is getting shorter and shorter. Do you know where trick-or-treating is being held in Okaloosa County, Florida? Well, I’ll tell you. Santa Rosa Mall in Mary Esther Tuesday, October 31 From 5 to 7pm Call (850) 244-2172 for more information Niceville/Valparaiso Tuesday, October 31 From 5:30 to 8pm Destin Commons…

The problem of apnea, the temporary cessation of breathing, is not one that is confined to any race or gender. It is true that those who are overweight are more likely to experience symptoms, but no one, old or young, rich or poor, male or female, is exempt from the problem. And apnea (a word…

The popularity of sniping, or waiting until seconds before an auction closes to place a bid, has been under debate for quite some time. With some potential buyers claiming that it’s not fair, and sellers complaining that it keeps their winning bid price low by not allowing competitive bidding, you would think that it would…

You don’t have to look too hard to find investment advice anymore. Pick any medium you want – you’re sure to find someone telling you precisely how to turn your one dime into two. Most are free sources, while some are for pay. None are perfect, and all of them are sometimes wrong. No, there’s…

One of the hardest parts about moving to a new city, or a new school is discovering the popular local hangouts. Here is a list of a few of the most popular bars for college students at NC State, Meredith, and Peace College in Raleigh, NC. All of these bars are located pretty close to…

If you’re driving down Highway One north of San Francisco don’t look for the road sign to Bolinas, California, because this quirky coastal hamlet is the only California municipality without a road sign to lead you to from the highway to the city limits. There used to be a sign that said “Bolinas, 2 miles;”…

1) What is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura? Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) is a rare bleeding disorder. It affects both men and women, both children and adults; it can be mild or severe; acute and short-term or subtle and chronic (long-lasting). Other names for ITP are: Immune (or: Immunological) Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Idiopathic Thrombopenic Purpura, Essential Thrombocytopenia, Primary…

Celebrate Christmas the old-fashioned way in the Ozark Mountains at theme park Silver Dollar City near Branson, Missouri. Each year, the park turns to a holiday mode in early November for An Old Time Christmas. This celebration draws folks from around the country and even a few from out in the wide world. It has…

Your wedding day is one of the most important and memorable days of your life. If something goes wrong, you will most likely never forget it. Here are a few tips to plan your special day easily. Don’t procrastinate Start planning your wedding months ahead of the actual date. Scout your favorite ceremony and reception…

How many times have you arrived at your vacation destination only to find it rains, rains and rains some more? I know it’s happened to me more than once. What can you do for vacation fun in the rain? Well, if you are vacationing in or near the Wisconsin Dells area, you can do quite…

Have you ever applied for a promotion on your job only to find out someone else who did not even deserve the position got the job? Well if this ever happens to you there are several things that you can do, and several things that you should not do. The first thing that you do…

Ebbetts Pass has seen the whole of California history, from the days when it was an Indian trail up through the mid 1800’s when it was an important route to the silver mining country and the trail the immigrants to the gold fields took in search of their fortune. The Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway…

One of the biggest financial drains on any budget is typically housing expenses. However, there is no reason to lose hope and resign to having an empty wallet. With some planning, research and investigation you can save thousands of dollars on your overall housing expenses including the expenses related to mortgages, equity loans, purchasing a…

Water Intoxication, which is also known as “Water Poisoning”, can be defined as “a potentially fatal disturbance in brain function that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside of safe limits by a very rapid intake of water.” (Wikipedia.com) What that simply means is, if you drink too much…

A long time ago, I thought I wanted to be a record producer. I didn’t think it would be all that hard. Back in the 80’s I would do that extremely low-rent version of laying tracks: take one cassette tape player, press play, and sing along while another cassette tape player recorded it. Nowadays I…

Crystal City is a little self-contained area of Arlington, VA just right next door to the Reagan National Airport which services the greater DC area. Before we rented our apartment up in that area, We stayed mainly in Crystal City during the week due to a work contract up there. So for 5 months I…

Young people all over the globe enjoy an eyeful of mummies, curses, magic and excitement with theatrical releases like ‘The Mummy’ and ‘The Mummy Returns’ in 1999 and 2001. And while handsome actor Arnold Vosloo certainly made a dashing and exciting character in the movies, how many people know there actually was an Imhotep? In…

Are you sure Myspace.com is so bad? Should the site be shut down because of the number of ill incidents being linked to it? Many concerned parents and individuals are trying to shut down the popular Myspace.com website. Myspace.com was created a few years ago in California by a young man named Tom. His mission…

I know, you are in perfect health, vibrant and active and eagar to go on vacation to a US consulate approved country; so why would you need to buy travel insurance?� For that matter if its just a little� jaunt across three states in a rental car why worry about trip insurance for such a…

What’s a sell sheet? And what’s the difference between a sell sheet and a press kit? A sell sheet is generally a one to two page flyer or brochure that includes information about your upcoming book that you can mail to bookstores, book conferences or conventions, or include with a press kit. Do you need…

Daily conversations can be shocked full of surprises. You are talking to your girlfriend and she happens to mention something she discovered that worked for her and made her life easier. These little tidbits of information just come and go. Well I’ve decided to write them down for myself and for you. Life, after all…

One of the trickiest subjects to photograph is older people. This is because there are sensitive issues at stake when we take pictures of people that show some age. Issues like lines and wrinkles, or age spots, or bodies that aren’t what they once were. The reason it’s tricky is because we as a society…