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Every little league baseball, high school baseball, and college baseball team in america now uses the composite baseball bat. These bats have a reputation for extreme durability in warm conditions, incredible pop, a larger sweet spot, extended break-in time, limited warranty coverage, poor cold weather durability, and noticeable handle flex. These bats are also known for having a lot of forgiveness for a poor quality swing. Many people feel that a good composite bat can make the average hitter more productive and powerful at the plate.

What are the benefits of using these bats? What are the disadvantages? This article outlines 10 facts about these bats that every baseball coach, baseball player and baseball parent should know.

10 Composite Baseball Bats Facts that you should know:

1. These bats have a much longer break-in period than aluminum bats.

2.The best way to break one in is to hit real baseballs is in batting practice by taking 100 to 200 hits.

3.When breaking the bat in, the balls should be thrown 40 to 50 mph. The barrel should be rotated 1/8 of a turn each time a good contact so as to break the barrel in evenly.

4. These bats are not as durable as metal bats. Never use your composite bat when hitting off a pitching machine or with while hitting pitching machine balls. Hitting pitching machine balls or rubber balls can do serious damage to composite bats.

5. A Composite bat should not be used in cold weather. When used in temperatures less than 65 degrees they can easily crack. The warmer the weather, the bigger the sweet spot is.

6. Composite bats are more expensive than metal or hybrid bats with most composite bats costing from $ 330 to $ 400.

7. If broken in correctly and used under proper conditions, a composite bat will outlast and perform the metal and hybrid bat.

8. Never leave a composite bat in cold weather for an extended period of time. Always take your bat inside your home at night. It is a risk to leave it in your car or truck over night.

9. Composite bats have flex in the handle so a good impact blow on the handle can cause them to break. Most breaks occur in the handle area.

10. Only hit leather cover solid baseballs. Make sure to not hit water logged baseballs with your composite bat. Heavy baseballs could damage the bat especially in colder conditions.

Buyers Tip: Different bat manufacturers have their own terms and conditions as to the warranties on their bats. Read the bat warranty policy for your bat before using it. Most bat warranties cover manufacturing defects from normal field use only. Use in commercial batting cages is not covered. If you alter your bat or mistreat it is any way, your warranty will be voided. Make sure to keep your purchase receipt. The bat company will ask for proof or purchase date and place when you ask to return a defective bat.

I hope that you found this article informative. I appreciate you taking the time to read it. Look for more articles like it at the Baseball Coaching Digest, Youth Baseball Digest, Baseball Parent Guide, and the Little League Digest. Good luck to you and your team! Have a great day, Nick.

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Source by Nick Dixon

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As I began my research of this very important topic "what's the significance of a varsity letterman jacket." I was amazed at how many people knew nothing about this prestigious part of our American culture. I will be covering various tidbits of information today dealing with the varsity letterman jacket. I will examine the birth of the letterman jacket as well as the appearance, style, decorations, history, & the traditions of the letterman jacket. The birth of the letterman jacket came with the advent of organized sports which created a need for uniforms. There was an additional need for identifications which was satisfied by the use of emblems or letters. In 1865, the Harvard baseball team added Olde English 'H' as their first varsity letter. The 'H' was embroidered on the gray flannel shirt. The football team started to use the 'H' in 1875. It is interesting to note that for 25 years following the introduction in 1865 of the letter, it was the practice for the team captain to allow certain players who played in the most important games (Yale or Princeton) to keep the 'H' jerseys as an award. If a player did not play in an important game, the player had to return the jersey at the end of the season. Awarding the 'H' jersey may have been the birth of the varsity letter as an award.

A letterman, in US sports, performing arts or academics, is a high school or college student who has met a specified level of participation and / or performance on a varsity athletic team, marching band, or in other performance school-sponsored activities. The term comes from the practice of awarding each such participant a cloth "letter", which is usually the school's initial or initials, for placement on a "letter sweater" or "letter jacket" intended for the display of such an award. In some instances, the sweater or jacket itself may also be awarded, especially for the initial award to a given individual.

Traditionally the athletic letter is associated with elite athletes, though in the last few decades there has been movement to make the letter award more accessible to all students by removing performance requirements. In the case of a marching band, drumline, or colorguard member, usually a letterman is awarded to an upperclassmen or section leader. Today, in order to distinguish "lettermen" from other team participants, schools often establish a minimum level of participation in a team's events and / or a minimum level of performance in order for a letter to be awarded. A common threshold in American football and basketball is participation in a set level, often half, of all quarters in a season. (To meet this standard in a ten game season, one would have to have participated in at least twenty of the forty quarters played.)

In individual sports such as tennis and golf, the threshold for lettering is generally participation in one half or sometimes two-thirds of all matches contested. Frequently, other members of the team who fail to meet requirements for a letter are awarded a certificate of participation or other award considered to be of lesser value than a letter. Some schools continue to base the awarding of letters according to performance, in team sports requiring a certain number of scores, steals, baskets or tackles, according to position and sport. In individual sports letters are often determined according to qualification for state meets or tournaments. In the performing arts letters are awarded according to performance. Students who are selected for state choir or receive high scores at major instrumental competition may receive letters, or musicians who achieve first or second seat in their instrumental section. Students participating in academic clubs can also be given this award if the requirements are met, which academic clubs this award can be given to is at the discretion of the school. In some schools general "academic letters" are awarded on the basis of GPA, usually students with a GPA at or above 3.8.This term is not gender-specific; a qualifying participant in women's basketball or other women's sports is properly referred to as a letterman, as would be a qualifying female participant on a co-educational sports team.

A letterman jacket is a jacket traditionally worn by high school and college students in the United States to represent school and team pride as well as to display personal awards earned in athletics, academics or activities. Letterman jackets are also known as "Varsity Jackets" in some places. The body (ie, torso) is usually of boiled wool and the sleeves of leather with banded wrists and waistband. Letter jackets are usually produced in the school colors with the body of the jacket in the school's primary color and sleeves in the secondary color. They usually feature a banded collar for men or a hood for women. The letter jacket derives its name from the varsity letter chenille patch on its left breast, which is almost always the first letter or initials of the high school or college the jacket came from. Because the jacket is meant as a display for the letter award the jacket's colors match those of the letter, rather than the other way around. The name of the owner usually appears either in chenille (matching the letter) or is embroidered on the jacket itself. The owner's graduation year usually appears in matching chenille, Placement of the name and year of graduation depends on school tradition. The year is most often sewn on the right sleeve or just above the right pocket. Lettermen who play on a championship team often receive a large patch commemorating their championship that is worn on the back of the jacket.

The letterman sweater was first regularly used by the 1891 "Nine" (baseball) and was black with a small Crimson 'H' on the left breast. Letter sweaters were a predecessor to letter jackets. The letter was usually quite large and centered (if the sweater was a pullover); stripes on one sleeve designated the number of letters won, with a star indicating a team captain. Letterman jackets are almost never purchased before a student has earned a letter. In schools where only varsity letters are awarded this is usually in a students' junior or senior year. In schools where junior varsity letters are awarded, the jacket may also be purchased by junior varsity letter recipients, though the letter is placed just above the left pocket, leaving space for a (hopefully) future varsity letter.

Some schools may award letterman jackets to letter winners at the award ceremony, but more often the school only provides the letter.

In America and Canada a male athlete might give his girlfriend the letter as a token of his love, this is considered a sign of a truly intimate relationship as the Jacket is an honor. In the event of a breakup it is customary for the girl to return the jacket as a sign of rejection.

Works Cited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterman

http://mountolympusawards.com/publications/varsityletter.htm

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Source by Tyrone Norman-El

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With the news that Metis are considered by the Canadian government in the same way as First Nations and Inuit people, everyone wants to know what benefits the Metis get. People who suspect they are "part Indian" want to find out for sure and get their Metis Status card, but there is so much conflicting information, it's hard to find the right answers.

Pride

Getting Metis Status is a way of showing pride for your ancestors and their hard work in the beginning of the first economy of North America, that of the fur trade. Considering that it's the Native women who did most of the work, it's time we all honor our great grandmothers and the sacrifices they made for all our benefit.

Community

Metis Status gives access and fellowship to our extended kinship community. Because Metis groups can only apply for government funding based on the membership of their registry, getting a Metis Status card helps our communities in so many ways. Without membership, Metis communities will not get funds. Every person who stands up and gets their Metis Status card helps to build what was lost during generations of hiding our identity.

Because most of the fur traders were French, their unions with Native women represent a majority of Metis in North America. Most people who grew up in a French Canadian town or village do not even realize how much of their culture is actually Metis, nor that they have fur traders in their ancestry, nor how many people in their community descend from Native Americans. Getting a card with the organization that represents your type of ancestry is not like being in a club, it's about being part of a family and community.

Getting a Metis Status card means your genealogy has been verified to be true and accurate. It is proof that you actually are "part Indian". Which card you have describes the cultural community you belong to.

Programs

Social programs are varied and can include health programs, health studies for particular hereditary diseases, cultural learning programs, assistance programs, cultural and heritage workshops, improvement incentives, work programs, help with housing, family programs (baby wellness, family counselling, etc) preservation of heritage and culture, etc. Funding for programs depends on agreements with Canadian government and the numbers of registered members of an organization.

Representation and Rights

Some groups would like harvesting rights, hunting or fishing rights, or even the access to harvest plant material. Rights to any of these are determined by agreements signed between the government and the individual organization. There are many different organizations that represent many different groups of Metis. Being Metis or having a card does not entitle you to automatic rights. Standing up and being counted by getting a Status card better helps these groups negotiate rights on your behalf. So right now, you can not go hunting or fishing just because you have a Metis card, unless your group tells you there are agreements to do so, and the way in which the activity must be carried out.

We do not know what the future holds for anyone. In our communities today, there are some areas where people are not allowed to harvest certain plant materials. Having Metis Status with a particular organization might mean your community has a voice for negotiation of rights – for now, and for the future.

Education

Considering Native Americans have traditionally had a lower number of high school, college and university graduates than the average population, and Native Americans have traditionally been under-represented in the labor force, and Native Americans are the fastest growing group of people, the government now understands that they will need training as they will be a major pool for the labor force in the future. For all these reasons, the government is encouraging educational institutions to make accommodation for aboriginal persons, whether they be First Nations, Inuit, or Metis.

Having a Metis Status card can help secure a place in a particular educational program, for example at college or university. Considering that Metis families 'ancestors helped to build the economy of this continent, and then had to hide their identity for generations or have rights taken away, and considering that these Native ancestors' hard work has never been properly recorded nor recognized, it's time the Metis take their places in programs if having a Status card helps to do this.

There are also scholarships and bursaries that Metis can apply for. Application for such funding should really be based on genuine need, as there are so many Metis families with lack of resources for education.

Workplace

Major corporations usually have policy in place that encourages hiring from the 4 groups of people most under-represented in the workplace in Canada – visible minorities, handicapped persons, aboriginal persons and women. Aboriginal persons under the Canadian Constitution Act include First Nations, Inuit and Metis. Whether this helps or not with workplace is debatable and depends on the circumstances.

We Pay Taxes

All Metis persons pay taxes, just like everyone else in the country. Will there ever be change to that? Who knows.

Describing themselves as "French Canadian" has been the PC way of saying French and Native. Although their culture is Metis, there is still so much misunderstanding and old hollywood stereotyping of what it means to be aboriginal. And so many Metis feel unworthy to claim it because they think they need to learn and become culturally First Nations, but that is not true. Metis culture is no more like First Nations culture than being Filipino would make someone Chinese. And there are as many types of Metis culture as there are communities where the Metis have lived.

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Source by Anne L Anderson

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The University of Virginia Cavaliers share a nickname with the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA franchise but that is where the similarities end. The explanation for the University of Virginia Cavaliers nickname actually involves a story of historical significance to the region.

Located in Charlottesville, Virginia the school with a total student population of close to 20,000 is often referred to simply as UVA for short (based on the post office state abbreviation VA for Virginia). The orange and navy blue now worn by the Cavaliers first went into effect in 1888 when athletic teams representing the college used to square off with local YMCA teams for lack of more formal competition. Many people are interested to learn that in the earliest days of collegiate athletics playing games against local YMCA groups was the norm all over the country. In fact, the University of Kentucky basketball program that currently has the most wins of any college team in history began their success with a single victory in the 1903 season against a YMCA squad (the UK team finished a disappointing 1-2 in that first season ).

The origin of the Cavaliers nickname comes from what was going on in this region of the world during the seventeenth century when England was involved in a civil war that pitted supporters of the Parliamentary system of government against King Charles I who asserted absolute power in terms of rule. The use of the word Cavalier predates the formation of the United States of America with a very similarly spelled version of the word being used by William Shakespeare in his famed Henry IV play. Shakespeare chose the word to describe a swashbuckler who was not unlike the current University of Virginia mascot that is a sword wielding fellow on horseback. Before being penned by Shakespeare in the final years of the sixteenth century the historic nature of the word Cavaliers dates back to the Spanish word caballeros (translation: horseman) which is actually a derivation of the Latin term caballarius -which has a similar meaning as the spanish term.

With a solid foundation of the etymology behind the term Cavaliers it is important to understand how it relates to the Virginia program in Charlottesville. Before the days of the American Revolutionary War the modern day state of Virginia was known as the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia had a reputation of being home to a great many loyalists that were very supportive of the British Crown. When the University of Virginia officially took on the name the Virginia Cavaliers in 1923 it was to pay homage to a bygone era when during the tumultuous seventeenth century British Civil War the good people of the Commonwealth of Virginia aligned themselves with the Royalist supporters who were often referred to as Cavaliers.

The next time you are watching the University of Virginia Cavaliers square off against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels (the oldest rivalry in the South – dating back to 1892) feel free lean over to a buddy and impress him with your thorough knowledge of the seventeenth century British Civil War and the subsequent role that era played in the eventual selection of the UVA Cavaliers nickname.

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Source by Sam Noffs

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Time – do you ever feel you do not have enough time to fit everything into your day? Do you ever wonder how others manage to fit everything into their day – school, work, family, and friends? Maybe you're not alone … Life is hard and becomes even harder as people develop into adults. This is why excellent time management skills are a must – especially for the adult learner!

The adult learner has many challenges they face every day from schooling, to work, to making sure they have enough time available in their day for friends and most importantly their family. Often times, the adult learner will give up and drop out of college because they can not keep up with working long hours as well as the massive amount of school work from day to day – the average worker in America is working more hours than ever before. They often feel in order to support their family they have to let college go. A college degree is extremely important in this day and age; however, while attending college many adults realize that it does not pay the bills. This is unfortunate as many adults will fail to excel in their careers without the degree behind them. Life is hard – especially for the adult learner.

For those that push through and continue to work and attend school, they often find it is a daily struggle to keep their grades up so they can make the required satisfaction of progress. The adult learner in most cases does not have the advantage of staying at home as the younger learner may have so they can focus only on their education. This makes learning even more complicated for the adult learner.

It is especially hard when they have a family to care for and household responsibilities too. Many adult learners will feel they are neglecting their family and other obligations so they may choose to put their education on hold while their children are growing up. Their friends may not understand why they are unable to do the things they did before and their social life may struggle because of their schooling as well. All of these situations make it incredibly difficult for the adult learner. It becomes a balancing act to make sure they do not become overstressed, overworked, or overloaded – so how do they manage it all?

There are many things that contribute to the success of an adult learner. These ideas also help any person currently in any learning environment. Many adults find mastering these skills tremendously improve academic success. If the adult learner feels they have no time available as it is – time management skills are a must. It is critical that adults who are in a learning environment focus on every minute in their day and find ways to improve the free time they have available even if the time is limited.

Most people now would be thinking to themselves, "There is nothing in my life I can cut – I'm maxed out!" How many adults spend hours sitting in front of the television – people are surprised when they truly evaluate the time spent mindlessly watching movies, ESPN, etc. It is important to have time to unwind and relax; but when the adult learner is trying to fit an education in with an already busy lifestyle, they must evaluate which areas they can adjust. If they do not find a lot of time is wasted watching television, perhaps they spend a lot of time playing video games or doing other activities – if their education is important they may want to cut these things for the time being.

The question is – is the adult learner willing to make these sacrifices? If so, they will need to sit back and decide what is important in their life and which activities they can let go – for now. It helps if they can make a list of how much time they spend doing these different activities and then figure out where they can manage their time more efficiently. No two adult learners are exactly alike. Only they will know the schedule they are currently keeping and which areas they are willing to adjust so they will be able to finish their degree. If an education is truly important to them – the adult learner will find a way.

While getting rid of events in their life that are hoarding precious time, there are other things the adult learner can do in order to get the most out of the time they have available. The adult learner must improve their study skills. By improving study skills they can spend more time with their family and friends. Most would prefer reading a book one time while increasing their comprehension of the content instead of reading it several times because they do not remember what it is they read. Most people would like to read it only once or maybe a few times -in order to do that you have to maximize your study skills. By doing this, they will improve the time they have available to enjoy other things in their lives.

One of the most important ways the adult learner can improve their skills is to make sure they always take exceptional notes of the material studied; it often helps to use different colors while highlighting to separate key points, make index cards with questions on the front and answers placed on the back. This way the adult learner can practice them while on the go. They can then study while at a baseball game, waiting in line to see the doctor, etc. This will take full advantage of the time they have available in a day. It is little things like this that will have a huge impact on time management.

It is also critical the adult learner always engages in their learning environment whether online or not. They may view the discussions pointless or forum posts as only taking away more time from their already busy schedule, but this will increase their comprehension on the topic they are studying. So it is important they take full advantage of them! They are there and available for a reason.

When the adult learner is feeling overloaded, stressed and wanting to just throw in the towel – it is imperative they stop and take a break. It is very important to take time to reenergize your mind and body while seeking an education. When taking a break it often helps to enhance memory because you can concentrate more effectively. This will also allow you to spend less time studying. If people study when they are exhausted their mind will not function appropriately in order to retain the information – having to read it again is not helping the adult learner manage their time more efficiently. So, they must make the most out of every study session scheduled. It is also essential to only study when alert and there are no distractions around so they can fully focus on the information in front of them.

Schooling can be incredibly taxing for the adult learner – but is the end result worth it? The adult learner must always keep their mind set on the goal. They must stay positive and believe that anything is possible if they set their mind to it. Adults graduate all the time – so it is conceivable and if they believe they can finish, they will. Many attending college these days are older adults; it helps to remember that you're not alone.

A support chain is particularly important. The adult learner should seek the help and support of their husband / wife, family members, and even their employer. They need to ask for help when necessary. Perhaps their husband / wife can help with chores around the house, run errands, or help with the kids so the college student can spend a set amount of time each week studying. Maybe a family member could even pick up their kids from practice / school a few times a week.

The adult learners who are employed while attending school could communicate with their superior the desire to work out a more appealing schedule that works for the business as well as for the student. This way they could focus their schooling more appropriately around the new schedule – this may help them manage their time more efficiently as well. Many employers will even help pay for an employee's academic studies, so they need to make sure to utilize all the help available. Employers want educated employees and in most cases will work with the student so all involved are happy.

The truth is every day people adjust their time in order to do things they love. When somebody really wants something – they make it work. If they do not – they will probably give up. When the adult learner wants it bad enough, they will find ways to make the most out of every situation. It is obvious the adult learner struggles to balance everything in their life; this is why time management for the adult learner is a critical skill to have. It is extremely important the adult learner utilizes ways to enhance their learning strategies – so they can maximize the time they spend on their education, and also have a strong support chain that will encourage them continuously. In doing this, they will have more time available for the things they love to do the most and be a lot happier in the process while achieving academic success.

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Source by Victoria Douglas

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Definition: Native Speaker

A person whose primary language (or acquired language) is at a level of communication and comprehension so that it is indistinguishable from that of the standards of communication and comprehension of the community of speakers of that language.

In other words, if no-one call tell that a speaker of a language has acquired it as a foreign language later in life – they too could be considered native speakers.

Finding a Native Speaker

Congratulations on the decision to increase your level of communication of a foreign language. Your options will vary depending on location – whether if you are an expat living abroad, a student in a college town or working at home in a large city.

Let's Begin:

1. Classified Ads

Native Speakers will often advertise their teaching and tutoring services on-line through the most popular classified ad services – depending on their region. Craigslist might have a virtual monopoly (pun intended) in the United States, however outside of North America, other classified ads sites prevail. These include Kijiji – especially in Canada; Gumtree in the UK, Poland, Central Europe; Farpost.ru in Russia – especially Eastern Russia, former states of the Soviet Union, as well as Beijing China.

For those living abroad sites such as expatriates.com and expat-blog.com might be of particular interest.

These sites will often have a subcategory, usually under 'jobs' or 'services' which target the language learning and education category. Why not check them out?

The Pro: easy access to multiple ads .

The Con: these sites usually target the largest cities in of a country. Learners in other towns and cities might not find too many Native Speakers listed near them. Also – the fact that the person posting the ad can be anyone – are you getting quality?

2. Educational Institutions: The Local College, Public and Language Schools

Every reputable liberal arts college will have multiple foreign languages ​​departments (also known as Modern Languages). It is a rich community of language learners and potential Native Speaker language instructors – they are not only limited to foreign exchange students, Ph.D. candidates lecturing the undergrads. From my personal experience as an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, every foreign language class I took had at least one (more often multiple) Native Speaker students.

If you are learning a more popular language to your area, eg Spanish or French in North America, you can try contacting educators at public schools. They will often have on staff one or more language specialists who are often interested in earning some extra cash on the side teaching languages ​​outside the classroom.

Similarly, educational centers that offer to teach English are crowded with language learners and native speakers of other languages. While they're trying to improve their language skills – they might be keen on helping others learn their mother-tongue.

Other websites:

You might also consider searching the social network websites for a particular group on sites such as meetup.com, or facebook.com

The Pro: You can usually count on quality as most educators of years of teaching experience, pedagogical training, and a college education.

The Con: The research needed to get in touch with these individuals – calling or e-mailing the schools, and then the individuals. Try searching for the schools' site with your favourite search engine. The limited language diversity in public schools.

4. Community Centers, National, Cultural and Heritage Organizations

Many immigrants as well as second-, third- and more generation nationals try to keep their mother-tongue alive and share the histories and culture of their heritage through participation in various organizations. Capitals and larger cities will also have their national consulates, embassies and commercial trade organizations.

The above-mentioned strategies are among the pot popular, but nowhere is it an exhausted list of ways of meeting a native speaker.

Feel free to let me know how you found your native speaker by e-mailing me at:

nativespeaker.org@gmail.com

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Source by Rob Fantini

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College sports bring in big dollars every year on the major college level. These programs bring $ 30 and sometimes $ 40 million dollars per year to the universities and colleges and the players get nothing. These are the same players who are breaking their backs for the university day in and day out and can not get a share of that money and, to me, that does not seem fair. I know what you may be thinking: that these student athletes are getting a free education or have gotten a scholarship to play ball at that university. To me, that's the least they could be doing.

When I look at college football on Saturdays and see packed stadiums with cheering fans paying big money for a ticket I say, what business out there could run a company and not pay its workers? You would think I was talking about some Third World country! Pay the players now, please!

Think about this one: most of the college coaches get six figure salaries– big college programs and small ones. Some of these college coaches get shoe contracts, some get TV and radio contracts and many other perks along the way. Also, if they are a good coach and win games they will be offered another coaching job somewhere else with bigger money and larger perks! The student athletes get nothing and, to me, something should be done about that. Please pay the players now!

They will keep telling you that the athletes are getting the free education, free books, free room and board and the chance at a good college education that will last a lifetime. So what! Pay the players! I see this whole college thing as slave-labor! Coaches make big money on the backs of these players. You hear stories about college athletes taking money or getting paid under the table. You hear these stories of players getting cars and lots of cash, you hear stories of players getting all of this and more on the side. You hear about the player's families getting cars and houses to attend that college program. This goes on all the time in secret!

Why do the players take this money and cars and houses for their families and much more? Well one reason is recruiting; some college programs feel that in order to get a major college recruit they have to offer these things. Some college programs (not all) have to give something to get these kids. Some of these players come from poor backgrounds, so for these kids to get some money is a big deal especially if the players and their families do not have money anyway.

Being a college athlete is very hard. In the first placed the amount of hours that these players put in is a lot – every day of every week. They are in class all day then there's practice after practice, they go eat dinner if they can and then go study. Now all of this may sound simple to you but the amount of time these student athletes are putting in is huge. Then the coaches want more. There could be film to study and there could be times when they are being seen by the athletic trainer. As a student athlete, you have to focus on your studies and your athletic performance or they will try to get rid of you.

College athletics is hard. Sometimes at the end of the day you are exhausted and do not feel like studying or if they have some kind of study table for the players you may not be able to totally focus and, oftentimes, your attention is elsewhere. Just think about the millions of people who go to work every day. They work long hours and may have long commutes to and from home. I'm sure the last thing working people want to do is spend extra hours doing more work. Most working people want to relax, maybe have a beer and watch some TV then call it a day. The big difference is they are getting paid for the service and time and college ball players are not.

Most of the college student athletes do not get their college degrees and one reason is the workouts and the games that they play. There is so much pressure to do well that something will fall off and that something is their education. College coaches have been known to look the other way as it relates to student athletes and their academics as long as that player can help win games.

For most college athletes, when their eligibility is used up the college programs have no more need for their services. Why would they? For 4 years these college programs have worked these young men and women to death every day. The college programs have gotten all that they could get out of these players and then some. At the college level or at any level it's only about winning games and bringing in big money.

Take a look at baseball; if a high school baseball player is really good, he can be offered a contract to sign with a major league baseball team. Sometimes the offer is $ 200,000 and, I've heard, as much as $ 2 million dollars. Now if that high school baseball player takes that money then they forfeit their college eligibility. Some high school baseball players pass on the money to attend college where they can get better, sharpen their baseball skills and be drafted again by a major league team. Many high school baseball players take the money and take the chance to try and make it in the major leagues. A great many players never make it to the majors. Some playing in the minor leagues for years until they realize that their dream of playing in the majors is not going to happen and they move on to something else.

Once you take that money you can not go back and try to play college baseball. The same is true for all the other sports. You'll have high school basketball players trying to make it to the NBA; you have young men try out for the NFL. Many of these athletes never gave education a chance and many who are in college never got their degree.

College athletes struggle with their academics. Many do not graduate and some just quit altogether. College athletics is not for everyone and many student athletes can not cut it so pay the players! Pay them something for all their time and their efforts!

When these college programs are playing in bowl games and making millions on the backs of the players and the players get nothing still, that's wrong. When its "March Madness" time for college basketball and millions are glued to the TV every day for hours and the players are giving their all – they still get nothing!

Why would it be a problem to pay players? The schools are making millions of dollars any way. This is not Mexico or China where the workers are getting $ paid 1.00 per hour to make billions for some corporation – you know slave labor!

Why do you think players take money from many outside sources? Why do players get suspended from the team for breaking team rules? Why are college programs put on probation? It's all because of money. You have many players coming from disadvantaged backgrounds where there is no money in their families. If these disadvantaged young student athletes had to pay for college out of their own pockets, most would not be in a college at all.

Some student athletes come from backgrounds where the educational system is not that good. Their school districts are under-funded and mismanaged. For many student athletes, their way out is an education with the full athletic scholarships. Playing a sport is their future. Many student athletes only focus on athletics thinking that one day they will be good enough to play in the pros. So when money is dangled in front of the faces of some student athletes, the temptation has to be overwhelming!

For a great many years we have heard stories of players and coaches getting in trouble because of money. We've heard of situations of entire college programs being killed off by the NCAA because of money being given to players. Why do they do it? Why is money a problem? One reason is because it's easy to get certain types of players from certain kinds of backgrounds. Big-time college programs can only survive with big-time major college players so they pay them. We all know that paying college athletes is wrong (set by the guidelines of the NCAA). But this rule needs to change now.

If college athletes are getting scholarships then they can be paid. If players are getting paid, then I believe you would have more college athletes graduate from college because there would be a stronger incentive to work hard in the classroom. Larger universities pay college coaches more based on their performance and the players should get paid as well.

If the players are getting paid then this corruption would stop. No more booster paying players, no more college players selling their shoes, no more college players taking jobs that pay them big money just to work a few hours. It's hard out there for a student athlete! Did you know that a non-student athlete can get a job to earn extra money and can work around their schedules but a student athlete can not have a job until the school year is over and there are restrictions as to the type of job they can have.

In the game of college athletics, the rules are not fair for the college student athletes! The playing field is not equal. Pay the players!

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Source by Al Woods

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Did you have a nickname in school or college, or even one that has stayed with you to the present day?

In Peru people are very fond of using nicknames which will often follow them throughout life, not just at school or college. Known as 'apodos' or 'motes', nicknames may be based on where someone is from, a physical characteristic, a play on their name, a term of affection or any other number of sources.

Oy, Fatty!

Some nicknames based on physical characteristics may be seen as derogatory or even offensive in the west, but in Latin America it is often just a case of "say what you see".

Therefore nicknames such as "gordo" (fatty or chubby), "flaco" (skinny), "negro" (black), "chino" (Chinese), "Chancho" (piggy) and "peludo" (hairy), are fairly commonplace, and do not have the same negative connotations as elsewhere. Another common example is that someone with green eyes will often be known as "El gato" meaning "The cat" due to the fact that green eyes are unusual in Latin America.

These nicknames are also often softened by using the diminutive which is done by adding "ito" or "ita" depending on whether the target is male or female, so gordo becomes gordito, flaco becomes flaquito, and so on.

Eeey, Gringo!

There are a number of nicknames based on where someone comes from in wide use in Latin America, and these can be derogatory or not. Some of these relate to people from a certain country, others for people from a certain city. Probably the best known of these is the term originally used by Mexicans for North Americans, but now widely used throughout Latin America for almost anyone from both North America and Europe which is of course "Gringo", or the feminine version "Gringa".

What do Latinos call other Latinos?

Others widely used in Latin America are "Porteño" for someone who hails from Buenos Aires, "Chilango" for residents of Mexico City used mainly by people from Northern Mexico. "Carioca" is for those born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, whilst "Chapin" refers to someone from Guatemala. Boricua is a term for Puerto Ricans (also called Puerto-Riqueños), whilst in Costa Rica they call each other "Ticos" and "Ticas" for men and women respectively.

On a side note, people in the United States refer to themselves as Americans but in Latin America that term can be used for anyone in the New World as of course it is all "the Americas" in both the northern and southern parts of the continent . A little care needs to be excercised with the term as well, given that it is really the indigenous peoples who were the original "Americans".

A particularly famous nickname is that of "Che" given to the Argentine revolutionary icon Ernesto Guevara by his Cuban counterparts. This comes from an expression commonly used by Argentines in their speech. You too can be a revolutionary if you hang out in Buenos Aires for long enough …

Other commonly used terms amongst Peruvians for girls include: chulita, mamita, mamisonga, mami, bebota, nenita and nena. For boys common terms are: papito, bebo, chulito, nene, nenito and machito.

Finally there is the wonderfully inventive art form of nicknaming soccer players. Try "La pulga" (the flea), "Buitre" (vulture), "Polilla" (moth), "El Brujo" (the wizard) and "Tulipano Negro" (black tulip).

What did you just call me?

Whilst on a vacation to Latin America you may well be referred to by one or more of the nicknames described above. Whilst some are less flattering than others, the best solution is not to take offence but just go with it, as these are commonplace and most likely not meant to offend.

Have you heard any other nicknames on a Peru vacation? What would your Peruvian nickname be?

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Source by Gary Sargent

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We have noticed a rise of unintentionally misinformed beliefs about Baja Hoodies on the internet. Unfortunately, not everything you read on the internet is true, and some of the sources for information are disputable. That is why we have decided to put to rest some of these beliefs. We have taken it upon ourselves to bust the myths about the Baja Hoodie.

Myth # 1) Only hippies wear Baja Hoodies?

This is untrue. Hippies, a US subculture that arose in the 1960s and 1970s in a counter-cultural movement, were some of the first to make the hoodie known to mainstream American fashion. However, it did not stop there. Almost simultaneously, the surfer subgroup also began wearing the it. What does this tell you? Were these two groups on a mission to be the first to characterize this article clothing? Absolutely not. The credit to the hoodie's popularity goes to the hoodie. People began wearing it because of its comfort, unique fashion design, color variations, and versatility. Anyone from the sunny coasts to the Woodstock attendee found it the perfect thing to wear no matter what the climate or event. That is why it is still fashionable and stylish and popular among many groups today from high schoolers to college students.

Myth # 2) The Baja Hoodie originated from Baja, Mexico.

False again. The word baja describes the material used to make the hoodie. The fabric derives from Central and South America where camel hair was finely twined and woven to make artistic designs and fabrics. Later, with the introduction of sheep by european colony settlers, wool was introduced and became a mainstream material for clothing and textiles. So, next time someone comments on their Baja Hoodie that was made in Baja, Mexico you can bust the myth.

Myth # 3) Baja Hoodies are too old fashioned and will not match well with anything in my closet.

False. There has never been a better time to own and wear one. You can make your own little collection because the variety is endless. There are so many color combinations to choose from. We're in a trend right now where color is cool again. Earth tones and solid colors will always be around, but they're losing popularity. Retro 80's colors have come back in full force. The Baja Hoodie in all its variety fits right in and can match well with any pair of pants or shorts. It can go well with sandals or shoes. And, it can be worn for a night out, lounging around the house, when it's cold and rainy, or when it's warm. The article of clothing is the perfect fit.

Myth # 4) They are too expensive.

Busted. They have never been more affordable. Brands like Senor Lopez and Earth Ragz make economically affordable hoodies while maintaining the good quality material and fabrication. Handmade hoodies from Mexico are also extremely durable and garner an authentic look and feel.

Myth # 5) Baja Hoodies are cheaply made.

Are you kiddin '? As explained above the quality is superb. We're talking about an origin to the indigenous natives of South America. Clothing that transcends centuries and cultures does not do so by being a cheaply made product. Quite the contrary. Hoodies will last as long as you do and because of the preshrunk material in many of the manufacturers the wear will be limited and will maintain its form.

So there you have it. The myths about the Baja Hoodie have been busted. Come to our website frequently for updated information about your favorite fashion top.

Truth. Baja Hoodies are cool!

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Source by Brodie Hollinger

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Boise, Idaho has a long lived, storied history of perceived racism from United States citizens throughout our great country. I personally, am originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan the home of our late President Gerald R. Ford. I grew up in a place where my mother was pitcher for our neighborhood softball team referred to as the ghetto all-stars. I am African-American and graduated from Mountain Home High School in Idaho where I played for former Olympic Basketball great Ed Palubinskas.

Boise, Idaho … well, let's start by saying its definitely a territory of very few African-Americans, but oh man, are there a lot of Hispanics, well just speaking with regards to any other race besides Caucasians throughout the state of Idaho . Cheering abruptly for the Boise State University Broncos, these days, is what it 'all about, as far as the Boiseans are concerned. Revenue, revenue, revenue!

Lots of dollars are generated for the community of Boise and the "White Collar" guys of Boise's corporate world, of which I get "stares and glares" from at the local Boise Family YMCA on a daily basis. Go figure, I look like the very same kids at the skilled positions of Boise State Football and Boise State University Basketball, that they (whites) cheer for on a weekly basis. Oh, forbid the cheering is due to money being wagered or won after victories, or influenced by the alcoholic stimulation of a few cans of Coors Light!

Regardless, it goes without saying, I spend my fair share of time at Boise State University and I personally, do not see congratulatory hand shakes or appreciative gestures being given by community citizens to African-American players ever. I can not remember the last time I heard former Boise State University and NBA players, Chris Child's name on the radio or news, and he's a multi-millionaire! I guess no one in Boise, has ever gotten a hand-out from him … even just a little … say, $ 500,000 to $ 1,000,000!

The fact that community melting pots of visitors and local traffic like the Boise Public Library, Boise's Main Post Office, and even get this … the local media, including television (KTVB Channel 7, KIVI Channel 6, and KBCI Channel 2), radio and print, do not employ African-Americans on a consistent basis, worries me to some extent. The reason being, one would conclude, that African-Americans are either turning down job offers from these organizations (a means of earning a living) or simply not being offered the positions in the first place (that's so 1960-ish)! I would be willing to bet $ 11,000,000 that job offers made to African American kids in college during their internships or after, would be received with welcome arms as a way to provide for themselves and their families, regardless of whether the position is located in predominantly " white "Boise, Idaho. In other words, the jobs are not being offered and definitely not interviews. The last time I saw an African-American reporting the news in Boise, I think Milli Vanilli was still perceived as REAL!

Either way Racism stems from the dinner tables of ignorance. By generations of ignorant people who have simply not seen enough Martin Luther King Jr.s, Harriet Tubmans, Jackie Robinsons, and oh yeah … Barack Obama our Nation's First Black President. Please, just one time, give me the opportunity to see an African-American news reporter or journalist. Please, just one time, give me the chance to see a former black Boise State Athlete featured on the radio (instead of some 'half-way' from Fruitland, Idaho that I've seen at a local sporting events puttin down 8 beers and then driving his wife and kids home), please, just one time, give me the chance to give my postal order to an African-American at the Boise Local Post Office.

Get this … I have not sat in the Boise YMCA's Local Hot Tub with over 5 different African-Americans (the catch is, I've been a member for nearly a decade, and I'm in the hot-tub 3- 4 days / wk)! In other words, we (African-Americans), are still foreign to Boiseans, still less to Boiseans, still un-President-like to Boiseans, still … is Boise still racist?

I can not help but imagine if Boise State senior, "Bush" Hamdan who's real name is something like Jibran (Arabic), were not benched in favor of the Freshman Quarterback Kellen Moore, if ticket sales or the number of wins would have dropped . In other words, with Boise State's Football schedule … my grandmother could have played quarterback and led them to the Rose Bowl! Why not give an ethical endorsement of sorts to a senior (even though his name is from the roots of Islam). I thought, when he changed his name to "BUSH" they'd surely give him the nod … NOT !!!

How bout 'when African-American quarterback Nate Sparks of Boise State (also during his senior year) was benched in favor of a sophomore who led the team to what anyone could have done based on their schedule. In other words, it always seems to be a rally cry for "whites" of Boise in terms of who gets cold shouldered for the position of quarterback at Boise State University. You can not tell me that the ethical responsibility to justly treat our communities beloved athletes is being adhered to at Boise State University. Listening to conversations throughout Boise; my take is that so many Boiseans are forgetting that, these are kids! Some of the comments I here at local venues showing the games on television are absurd!

Let's not forget the turn-out when Barack Obama came to Boise's Taco Bell Arena. Oh man, I was there, on that cold, cold, cold morning. Husbands of wives who'd gotten them out of warm beds during the early AM hours of the morning were "Ticked Off" to say the least. None-the-less, they stood there, in line for a very lengthy time. In fact by the time I got to the doors, my fingers felt like a frozen snicker bar when it's the only thing in the freezer with no company!

Everyone hip-hop-hoorayin, takin pictures, smilin, laughin, shakin hands like crazy. Oh yeah … Obama lost the State of Idaho by the 2nd largest margin of any State in America (the fron-runner was Utah and trust me, Boiseans almost seem envious of that)!

Is Boise still racist? Ask African-Americans with college degrees who've applied for bank teller positions in Boise, only to find white kids or even Hispanic (anything but African-American) with GED's received the position; ask African-Americans with college degrees who've applied for basic production jobs at Micron Technology or Hewlett Packard, only to find white kids or even Hispanics (anything but African-American) with GED's received the position (that's so 1960-ish); ask African-Americans with college degrees who've applied for basic entry level jobs at even temporary services, only to find white kids or even Hispanics (anything but African-American) with GED's (and in some cases not even a 'green-card ! ') received the position (that's so 1960-ish); ask African-Americans with college degrees who've applied for basic entry level telemarketing jobs at local Boise Telephone companies etc., only to find white kids or even Hispanics (anything but African-American) with GED's received the position (that's so 1960- ish); well … it's a good thing Idaho only represents 4 electorals during presidential elections, or Barack would not be in! And that brings me to this … why was there such a huge turnout for a man who no one in Idaho seemingly voted for? Is he that attractive (that's so 1960-ish)? Is he that creative (that's so 1960-ish)? Is he that assertive (that's so 1960-ish)? Is he our nation's 1st Black President married to our nations very, very, very first AFRICAN-AMERICAN FIRST LADY (that's so … 2009)?

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Source by Jamaal Al-Din