How to Buy the Best Road Bike Backpack

As a starting point, it is important to understand why you need the backpack. For most people it is a question of convenience and practicality. This is because they will be carrying a few essentials on a road trip that might not have all the creature comforts that they are used to. This guide on how to buy the best road bike backpack lists the key criteria. It then recommends a possible product.

1.      Malleability, Adaptability and Portability

The backpack that you choose must easily come off the bike when you need to do so. This is particularly important during an emergency. For example it must not require additional equipment to disassemble. For this criteria we recommend the Alpkit Gourdon 25 drybag which can cost as little as $40 a piece.

2.      Usable Spaces and Practicability

You need a backpack which can easily carry all the things that you need for the trip. It should also leave a little room for unexpected extras. Avoid those bags that have too many pannier hooks or even an inordinate amount of faffing. They are distracting during the trip and could cause a hazard. In this case we recommend the spacious Osprey Talon 22 which costs about $100 a piece.

3.      Organization and Compartmentalization

A good quality rucksack does not require you to simply throw everything in at once. It has different compartments so that everything is organized. This helps you find stuff when you need it. Look out for a good range of hiding holes and pockets. The Deuter Bike One 20 Liter rucksack at $110 is a very good option in this case.

4.      Light Weight but Strong

The last thing you need is a rucksack that adds to the already significant weight that you carry. Often these are long treks in unfriendly climatic conditions. Therefore you need a rucksack that is light on its feet. However the product must also be strong enough to hold the items you need. The Proviz Reflect 360 at $130 fits the bill perfectly on this criteria.

5.      Water Resistance

You need a weather-proof product. This is because as a biker you are never quite sure how the weather is going to turn out. The best rucksacks are the ones made from seam-welded materials. If you must go for a conventional design, choose one with strong lining. Alternatively watch out for an in-built rain cover. The Timbuk2 Q at $160 is a great rucksack in this respect.

6.      Padding and Comfort

The ideal rucksack should have sufficient padding to make it comfortable for the wearer. Watch out for wide shoulder rungs that do not leave bruise marks. However expect to get very sweaty since the padding will restrict air movement. Therefore rucksacks that have cooling vents are better. We recommend the Deuter Giga Pro at about $180 in this respect.

Conclusion

Ultimately this criteria on how to buy the best road bike backpack recommends that you set aside a budget of about $200. You can then identify the rucksack that seems to be a good compromise. It must cover your most essential selection criteria. 

What is the Best Alternative for Carfax?

By far the best car fax alternative at the moment is lookupvin.com. This article compares and contrasts them on a range of key performance measures. Ultimately what you are looking for is accurate information that is delivered in a timely and efficient manner so that you can make the right car purchase decision. What is important is that you actually do the checks before buying.  Here some of the key areas of divergence, convergence and competition:

1.      Vehicle History Reports

Both websites provides some detailed information about the car’s history. This may include accidents, crime, emissions tests, exchanges and importation.  In this case lookupvin provides good enough information to rival that if Carfax.  This is an important consideration since buying a vehicle with a poor history will not only degrade its value but will put the safety of the new owner at risk.

2.      Website Accessibility and Usability

Both Carfax and lookupvin are readily available for most of the day. The design at Carfax is a lot more professional but lookupvin.com also provides a simple approach which is easy to navigate. Both websites are user-friendly and reliable. We tested them for a fortnight and there was virtually no downtime. This means that you can do quick checks at any moment of your choice.

3.      Statewide Coverage

Whereas Carfax takes on a much more global-federal approach, lookupvin is very good at focusing on local auctions and incident reports. This is particularly important when dealing with vintage cars whose maintenance costs can completely overrun the initial deposit. Nevertheless it must be said that both websites can serve anyone in the USA quite well.

4.      Number of Reports

We found that both websites are able to provide the user with very many reports on the same vehicle or different vehicles. Lookupvin.com in particular has a searchable database whose logarithm allows the user to do low-level and complex filtering. At the same time it must be noted that Carfax is no slouch when it comes to organizing data.

5.      Reputation and Rating

Although there are many websites like AutoCheck and DriveTime which provide similar services based on VIN numbers; the best car fax alternative is lookupvin.com. Its reputation for reliability and safety has improved over the long run. Some of the new improvements include better privacy for users as well as a streamlined credit card/payment process. The bottom line is that either one of these could do the job when you are purchasing a car.

An Introductory Preview of the “Hammer’s Slammers” by David Drake

Biography and Details

Hammer's Slammers is a military sci-fi book series that is part of the Hammerverse catalogue. It was written in English by David Drake with Paul Alexander as the cover artist.  Published by Ace Books in 1979, the series has been repackaged and modified over the last three decades. Hammer's Slammers was the first tile in the series and created characters that have continued to reappear in the entire catalog. The book is organized into a set of short stories which focus on the career of a futuristic mercenary group. The protagonist is Colonel Alois Hammer who leads the group. Together the tales came to be known as the “Hammer Stories” and inspired an imaginary Slammers Universe. This is commonly known as Hammerverse.

The Regiment and its Campaigns

Throughout the series, the reader follows the different members of the regiment including descriptions of their exploits and campaigns. It starts with a narrative of how the Friesland government raise the regiment to quell a colonial rebellion on the Melpomene planet. Colonel Hammer converts the group from a formal regiment into a mercenary pack. The tales introduce a diverse range of characters including the gay sociopath Joachim Steuben who has a particular affinity for shooting and is a super marksman. Steuben is completely devoted to the group’s leader as well as some other characters such as Rob Jenne; Danny Prichard; and Margritte DiManzio. The latter joins the regiment when her husband is killed by another group.

The narrator role is partly taken by Sergeant Scratchard who is able to link the regiment to their arsenal of hovertanks and combat vehicles. At the end of the book the author introduces the “Standing Down” tale in which some revolutionary forces in Friedland hire the regiment to overthrow the existing government. Eventually Colonel Hammer co-opts the revolution to become the nation’s President and the regiment becomes the principal fighting force within the defense force.

Technology and Weapons

Of particular interest to readers is the technology and weaponry that is used by the Hammer's Slammers. This theme recurs throughout the entire catalogue. For example there is a power gun which is able to project high energy copper plasma. This in turn creates an electrical field which ionizes atoms. The precision of the gun and its premium grade materials make it a very expensive piece of arsenal that can only be afforded by the best regiments. The book also talks about grenades which are readily used by the infantry troops to complete their quests. The Hammer's Slammers use self-propelling howitzers to directed shells to their adversaries. The rocket shells include cluster bombs, smokescreen rounds and high octane explosives. On some occasions the regiment uses poison gas to flush the enemy out of their bunkers.

Another aspect of the troops’ formidable arsenal are the advanced vehicles that they use for transport and combat. For example they deploy duct-fan motive systems as well as air-cushioning. Their main tanks are said to weigh up to 170 tons and carry a powergun. Each tank has a driver and a sergeant commander who also takes on the role of a gunner. Most of this military hardware is heavily armored to deal with the hostile conditions which the Hammer's Slammers encounter on their expeditions.

Inspiration and Background

The book and the principle characters were based on the author’s experience in the 11^th Armored Calvary Regiment which served in Cambodia and Vietnam in the early 1970s. The book also borrows heavily from other mythical situations, stories and characters. These include Jason of the Argonauts; Cross Stars and Red Harvest. It is claimed that the series was partly influenced by tales of the French Foreign Legion of the 1950s. That regiment was notable for taking on a number of former SS soldiers.

Books Featuring the Character

Hammer's Slammers is a recurring set of characters that dominate the Hammerverse catalog. Two of the earliest ones are “At Any Price” which was released in 1985 and “Counting the Cost” which came out two years later. The entire catalogue consists of 8 books and 3 Volume Collections, spanning the years from 1979 to 2006.

 “At Any Price”

This book which came out in 1985 focused on the dual themes of cultural conflict as well as authority. In their latest adventure, the Hammer's Slammers help a human community as it grapples with the threat of invading aliens who have the ability to teleport. The book was thought to be a satirical reference to the prevailing Cold War aggressions and features modern weaponry as well as references to political intrigue. The book emphasizes the limited capabilities of the local troops who have to hire the Hammer's Slammers in order to protect themselves.

“Counting the Cost”

In 1987 another book in the series titled “Counting the Cost” followed. In this instance the Hammer's Slammers are caught up in an internal dispute which centers on their employers. Once again the book was said to have relevance to contemporary events including the Nika Riots. The regiment had a captain called Tyl Koopman who took on the role of Belisarius. Here the regiment is required to win a war on two fronts while protecting its power structures from disintegrating under the pressure. The group is continuously attacked by religious fanatics. In hindsight those portrayals are particularly apt in light of recent wars with Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

Portrayal in Media and Television

Although the Hammer's Slammers have not been specifically portrayed in a movie or television program; the themes that they tackle are prevalent in many war movies including the 2014 drama titled “Fury” and starring Brad Pitt. Mayfair Games produced a board wargame named after the erstwhile regiment and covering many aspects of their story. Pireme Publishing then developed two miniature rules on the same theme. In June 2009, Mongoose Publishing produced “Hammer’s Anvils: Handbook 2 the Opponents”. This was a role-playing supplement which used the Hammer's Slammers as inspiration. Models from the vehicles that were described in the book have been used in the “Ground Zero Games”. John Treadaway has developed a set of miniatures wargames ruleset titled “The Crucible” which is similarly inspired.

Healthy Living: Going Beyond the Absence of Disease

Many of us make the mistake of thinking that health is merely the absence of disease. According to the World Health Organization; a person is considered to be healthy if they have complete and total wellbeing in a number of spheres. These spheres include physical, mental, social, psychological, economic, spiritual and political dimensions. Therefore even if you do not have a serious ailment like Tuberculosis or cancer; you will still not be healthy if you are traumatized by war and stressed by your family living conditions. It is from this generalized and comprehensive understanding of health that we propose the following healthy living tips:

a)    Prevent Diseases Before they happen

Healthy people are consciously aware of their bodies and their vulnerabilities. They know if their blood cholesterol of insulin levels are high. These are the people that schedule doctors’ appointments before they feel any symptoms. They will go out of their way to pursue a lifestyle that is least likely to increase their exposure to disease. Some of the things that they do to achieve this objective include reducing the amount of red meat in their diets; choosing to steam/boil instead of fry; checking the calorie content of all their meals; seeking a balanced diet that consists of natural foods without additives; exercising on a regular basis without breaking the body; and screening for genetic defects. This type of preventative healthy living can prolong your life and reduce the hospital bills that you have to pay throughout your lifetime.

b)     Moderate and Reduce Stress in Your Life

We live in a fast moving environment in which we are under constant pressure to perform for our spouses, peers, friends, family and even the general public at large. At the same time the human body is restricted in terms of its capacity to cope with repeated stress. The onus is on you the individual to ensure that you get out of stressful situations. That may mean not arguing with family members or engaging in negative workplace politics. It is also possible to complement your efforts by taking on healthful habits such as doing yoga, meditation and getting counselling when you need it.

c)      Build and Improve your Relationships

By nature human beings are social. The people that surround us contribute to our wellbeing because they give us a sense of belonging and companionship. Therefore in order to achieve health you need to expand your relationships to people that reciprocate your affection for them. That process may necessarily mean that you detach from those that do not connect with you or with whom you have destructive relationships. Try to be at peace with people who are within your immediate environment. Expand your social networks by joining clubs and other recreational groups which offer you a positive social life.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the general things that you can do in order to lead a healthful lifestyle. It is quite clear from this article that health is a holistic concept that touches on all aspects of human existence. Do not narrow it down to whether you have a disease or not. 

Impacts of Sustainable Community Developments Projects in Kenya

As a signatory to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Kenya remains committed to the sustainability agenda particularly for new projects. This is a developing country with very poor indicators on the Human Development Index (HDI). Over-dependence on tourism and foreign aid has meant that Kenya was in danger of over-exploiting its resources as late as 2014. It is from this background that the government and partner agencies agreed to engage in sustainable development as a means of achieving the dual objectives of improving the welfare of Kenyan citizens on one hand and ensuring that there was something left for the future generations on the other. From an executive policy point of view, sustainable community development is underpinned by a number of “Sessional Papers”; the government’s preferred consultative and policy development instrument. In particular Sessional Paper No. 1 of 1986 differed from its earlier counterpart Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1965; in as much as it emphasized the role of the community in achieving development and sustainability.

Beyond Five Year Plans and Budget Speeches

One of the criticism of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) like Kenya is that lofty sustainability ambitions are rarely operationalized through concrete projects and initiatives with measurable success. To some extent that has been the story in Kenya, however there are some notable successes that are pushing the country towards achieving many of its MDGs. For example in 1983 the District Focus for Rural Development Strategy established District Development Committees which were designed to increase the grassroots participation process in development initiatives. Of recent such committees have been criticized for not being truly representative of the communities that they serve. Moreover sustainability has been ignored at the expense of pure economic development. The Kenya Rural Development Strategy of 1998 sought to readdress the balance by focusing on the inclusion of rural communities in development programs. Since then the Kenya Community Development Trust has empowered different communities to engage in productive activities whilst simultaneously protecting the long term viability of the available natural and human resources. As recently as 2005, the Constituency Development Fund has been used to offer financial and technical support to those people that wish to implement innovative ideas for lifting themselves out of poverty. However political interference by MPs has limited the scope of these funds.

Active and Passive Participation

It is necessary to consider the successes and failures of specific sustainable development community projects in Kenya in order to properly assess the overall impact of these philosophical ambitions. One of the key issues that is peripatetic to almost all projects is the distinction between active and passive participation by members of the communities. In Kenya there is an effort to reconfigure the traditional perceptions of citizens as passive recipients of government policy and donor funds. Instead innovation and self-help are used to lift people out of poverty as well as allowing them to exploit the resources that are available to them in a responsible/efficient manner. A number of flagship projects have highlighted these challenges, opportunities and achievements:

1)      Soil and Water Conservation Projects: The Ministry of Agriculture has been very successful at mobilizing citizens on a community level to enhance their ability to store water during the rainy season in ways that are both safe and efficient. This has been directly linked with the productivity of semi-arid areas like the Laikipia Plateau so that communities have been able to achieve the dual objectives of a sustainable water supply and better agricultural output (Manyasa, 2009). In this case the functional ministry sends out professionals to sensitize and empower local communities so that they can design and implement specific strategies for surviving the long dry season. One of the additional benefits of the project is a greater level of diversity in terms of the developmental activities that rural communities engage in.

2)      Sustainable Development for All Kenya: The SDFA Program is an NGO initiative that focuses on the poorest members of communities who are normally excluded from community development programs within existing bureaucratic structures. It engages in a form of community action for the purpose of improving the welfare of the entire community whilst also protecting the resource base. Since 2006, SDFA has achieved a number of strategic and local objectives. For example the “Use Solar, Save Lives” campaign has speeded up the process of rural electrification in a way that is far more affordable and sustainable than anything that the Kenyan National Grid has ever achieved. Members of the community can also supplement their income through the selling energy efficient locally designed solar lanterns. Over 120,000 people have so far directly benefitted from SDFA programs with many more getting indirect benefits such as education.

3)      Maasai Community Development: This program has concentrated on the semi-nomadic people of the Maasai tribe. Its main achievements include the development of new farming methods that are both more productive and less harmful to the environment. The outreach projects that contribute to the overall program have been updated to incorporate education in areas such as personal hygiene, water conservation, sanitation, food security and value addition on agricultural output. The program is noted for its cultural sensitivity and contextual relevance to the people that it serves. In particular, this type of development activity has been critical for gender-mainstreaming and the inclusion of young people/children in the agenda-setting process. It is anticipated that in the future, the organic farming strand of the program will lead to exports to other countries in order to further enhance the livelihoods of the Maasai.  

In conclusion, these three projects demonstrate how the impact of sustainable community development in Kenya has been successful on many different fronts. Not only has it impacted on the lives of individuals but it has also shifted the focus of policy-making away from national objectives towards community-led development. Ultimately the combination of these initiatives will push Kenya towards Middle Income Country status without causing lasting damage to the natural resources of the nation.

References

Manyasa, E. O., 2009. Social Capital and Rural Economic Development in Western Province of Kenya: An Emperical Analysis, Nairobi: Kenyatta Universty.

3 Tips for Choosing Power Lifting Wrist Wraps

Athletes demand a lot of their bodies and the selection of the wrong tool/aid can cause serious damage. These tips and guidelines for selecting powerlifting wrist wraps are designed to ensure that you find a good product that is able to meet your needs and expectations. These are the things that you should consider before purchasing or using one:

(i)                Select the Ones the Fit

This may sound obvious but we often have a very warped view of our actual size and capabilities. When purchasing powerlifting wrist wraps make sure that you have a place where you can test them to see how they feel and fit. They should not hurt your wrist flexors or extensors even with repeated use. Do not place the wrap below the joint because it will no longer provide support. Instead it will become a bracelet for the forearm which really has no benefit for your exercise. Watch out for fraying and irritation when you use the product. If you are getting an allergic reaction then it is best to find an alternative.

(ii)             Get Two Types if You Can

The market offers two options which are useful in different ways. Therefore it is in your best interests to get both the powerlifting wrist wraps. The first category is made of cotton. It is a lot more flexible and thinner than its counterpart. The second one is made of Velcro and provides much more support. Obviously the intensity of the workout will determine what you use on any given day. If you have two of them then there is only a limited risk that you will become dependent on the wraps. This is because you tend to develop an instinctive feel of what wrap feels fine and when it does not feel right. Typically the thinner wraps work best for snatch and jerk sessions while the stronger ones are best for a bench/shoulder press.

(iii)           These are not accessories

It is rather saddening to see a professional gymnast putting on powerlifting wrist wraps for no other reason than the possibility that they make him or her look cool. Sometimes they can be used for the pommel house and vault, but mainly in competitions where you do not want anything to go wrong. They are not appropriate for ring dips, pull-ups, handstands and push-ups. Nevertheless it may be a good idea to use them if you have an injury that you need to favor during your session. Do not use these wraps if you are merely performing a clean squat. They are not to be used as a smokescreen for serious injuries. Deal with the injury first before competing. If you have to use wraps for every single session then there is something obviously wrong. Speak to your physio and coach to sort it out.

Conclusion

Unfortunately these powerlifting wrist wraps have become a go-to-piece for body builders and other amateurs who do not really understand its function. Ideally this product is meant to support the wrist joint during exercise. It is particularly important if you have an injury or if you are doing a very heavy load.

Finance, Investments, Wealth and Asset Management: How to Avoid Fraud

There is a plethora of investment opportunities that could potentially lead to wealth accumulation. However the same schemes could inadvertently make you a victim of fraud if you do not take the time to understand who is really looking after your money. Risk is the only way to earn profit from entrepreneurship but that risk must be carefully calculated and weighed against all the available information that you have. Here are two tips you might want to consider:

1.      The manager must never handle the cash

It is a simple but very effective principle which applies for every single investment opportunity. There are two distinct roles that must remain separate. The custodian is responsible for holding the securities, cash and accounting information for any transaction. The money manager provides advice and executes the investment transactions.

These must be two entirely separate entities so that there is an in-built protection against potential fraud. The custodian is required to send accounting statements directly to the client so that the investment manager cannot amend or tamper with the records. Madoff would not have occurred if this simple tip had been implemented by the hapless investors who were cheated out of millions of dollars.

2.      Do not get involved if there is no accreditation

Only hire and work with people who are not only qualified in the field; but also have accreditation from recognized professional bodies. This helps in two ways. First of all the accrediting body will have done background checks and ethical training for the companies or individuals involved. That means that even if you had a problem down the line, they could intervene and assist with the investigation. The other criteria is that people who are accredited normally fear losing that accreditation because it means that they are publicly outed and will never work again.

The best accreditation body is CFA but there are other alternatives including CIM, PFP, CFP and CSC. Do not just look at the application form of the glossy brochure that is presented before you. Make sure that you ask questions and verify the information with the awarding body.  The Jones fraud case would not have happened had the investors checked to see whether the person selling them a pipe dream was registered with the relevant authorities.

Conclusion

Finally remember that if it looks too good to be true then it probably is. That commonsense adage could probably save most fraud victims from the heartache of losing their money. Few people believe that they could actually fall prey to a pyramid scheme or the equally notorious “Ponzi” until it actually happens in reality.