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When it comes to renovating a house, the kitchen takes all the advantages. You spend a lot of time choosing the best kitchen countertop and everything else takes a backseat. When you have to make a decision regarding the bathroom counter, you are exhausted.

Remember that choosing a bathroom countertop may not be as popular as selecting a kitchen countertop, but it is just as important. Take a look at some popular bathroom countertop materials that are ideal for high-traffic bathrooms and prepare to make an informed decision:

· granite

When you want to install a countertop in your master bathroom, consider granite. He is the hero of countertop materials. It is durable, stain resistant, attractive and easy to maintain. Although expensive, it turns out to be an ideal long-term option. If you find that it is out of your budget, consider granite tiles because they are sold at affordable prices.

· Marble

Marble bathroom countertops are the epitome of elegance. Today, marble is not as expensive as it was a couple of years ago. It means that you can easily buy a marble countertop for the master bathroom. It is durable and does not dent easily. But, the material is porous in nature, which makes it susceptible to staining. Also, it requires frequent sealing like granite.

· manufactured quartz

When you want to replicate the look of granite or marble, manufactured quartz is the best choice. It is resistant to moisture and bacteria, making it ideal for bathroom countertops. It does not require sealing every two months and has better stain resistance than granite.

· solid surface materials

With solid surface materials, you can get the look of natural stone. Plus, you’ll be able to select from a wide range of colors and beautiful patterns to suit your bathroom theme. There are many leading brands like Corian, Staron, Avonite etc. offering durable solid surface countertops. It is easy to maintain and can be adapted to any bathroom area. Installing a solid surface bathroom countertop in a high-traffic bathroom is a good idea because it’s non-porous and easy to clean.

· roof tile

Porcelain or ceramic tiles work best for homeowners looking for bold patterns in the bathroom. Being affordable is one of the advantages of choosing tile. It means that if there is any damage to a couple of tiles, you can replace them without any financial burden. There are several other benefits, such as having a high resistance to heat and humidity. Of course, remember to choose large tiles to avoid the problem of grout.

· Concrete

When you want an inexpensive yet durable bathroom countertop material, concrete is the way to go! It can mimic the look of natural stone and you can customize it with the patterns you prefer. You can also choose the color and texture. But remember that concrete is naturally porous and you need to seal it regularly.

The list is endless!

There are plenty of other options, including wood, limestone, glass, stone, and more, to help you make your decision. But don’t rush to choose a popular bathroom countertop material. Understand the need of your family members and your budget before making a decision. Also, consider the theme of the bathroom. If you are installing a bathroom countertop in a beach house, tile would be a great option instead of granite. And, if you want an ideal option for your luxurious villa, granite and marble may be your best options. Therefore, consider several things and seek the help of an expert bathroom renovation contractor. He will help you make a practical decision.

The Internet provides users with many ways to access video files online. The traditional method is to download a video file as a user would download a normal document or image file. The user must wait for the download to finish, then open and view the video. However, streaming videos allows users to watch a video while it is being downloaded from the Internet.

Video streaming technology is useful for real-time and on-demand requests. A common use of streaming video is broadcasting news over the Internet. Some of the largest news networks even offer live news video streaming on their websites. Another common use for streaming video is to watch movie clips. Many movie studios offer previews or trailers of their upcoming feature films through streaming video clips. Also from the entertainment business, record companies use this technology to broadcast music videos for the public.

With the sudden appearance of portable webcams, one of the growing uses of video streaming is video conferencing. Computer chat programs often come with video conferencing features that allow users to see the person they are talking to. This feature not only allows Internet users to hear the voices of their friends or family, but also allows them to see each other in real time. Likewise, businessmen use this feature to conduct business meetings, conferences, or even corporate trainings over the Internet.

Video streaming is also used in the field of education. Live or pre-recorded lectures are available on many educational and university websites. This allows students to watch and listen to lectures over and over again.

There are many other uses for streaming videos. Some websites offer real-time views of major roads. This service is especially useful for motorists who want to avoid vehicular traffic.

In addition to all the advantages of video streaming, there are also limitations and disadvantages. For videos to be quickly delivered to a user’s desktop for viewing, two things must be considered: the size of the video and the Internet bandwidth available to the user. Video compression can often sacrifice video quality, and low bandwidth often results in choppy video playback. Another drawback of the availability of streaming videos is the increase in network or internet traffic.

Another year has passed, and as we enter April we know that the Easter holidays are fast approaching. This holiday is not celebrated as much as Christmas Day; but we still choose to buy large amounts of chocolate in the form of eggs or bunnies. There are still people who buy thoughtful gifts for their loved ones on this religious day, and we looked to name some great gift ideas for those who need some inspiration.

one. Jewelry– An old fashioned favorite and sure to impress family or loved ones as these accessories are likely to be around for many years to come. It is well documented that many women love to wear new jewelry, but in recent years the number of men buying and wearing jewelry has increased as it has become more socially acceptable. Some of the most popular designer jewelery of recent times includes Lovelinks, Sphere of Life and Nomination jewellery, which have a range of bracelets, charms and spacers on sale, which are also available in a variety of Easter themes. Lovelinks jewelry is only designed for girls, and has proven to be a popular gift choice during past holiday periods.

two. gift basket– The good thing about gift baskets is that the gifts they contain can always be different. Contents may include food, drink, chocolate, flowers, gift sets, or cosmetics. It’s really up to you what to include because there are no limits, and this is a great way to pamper your loved ones with a variety of great gifts. You could even go really festive and outfit it with Easter eggs, Easter bunnies, and Easter cards to really get into the holiday spirit.

3. home accessories– These don’t have to be specifically related to Easter, but we can leave that up to you. Things like flowers, candles, doormats, kitchen appliances are things that can be great gift ideas. If you want to stick to the Easter theme, look into decorating your home with Easter baskets, eggs, bunnies, banners, and plaques. These are all great ways to celebrate the day, and they’ll look even more impressive if you have family or friends to celebrate with you.

Four. wine and chocolate– Old fashioned and easy, but both are traditional gifts for this time of year, and it wouldn’t be Easter if there weren’t chocolate. Wine is a great way for older members of the household to relax during their 4-day weekend and enjoy a well-deserved break from the stress of work. Obviously, the chocolate will be a big hit with the kids who will be buzzing with excitement for the Christmas festivities.

5. Personalized gifts– they are always a nice and inexpensive way to put a smile on anyone’s face. There are a variety of personalized gifts you can play with, including Easter cards, personalized mugs, and calendars, which are just a few of the ideas you can come up with. Maybe you could even look into recording something for someone close to you.

The number of calories you burn swimming depends on your stroke, effort, speed, distance, duration, gender, weight and ability. Since most people swim with a combination of strokes at various intensities, it’s difficult to calculate the exact number of calories.

For example, a 150-pound athlete burns about 272 calories swimming 1,500 yards in 30 minutes; swimming butterfly for 30 minutes burns 38 percent more calories, breaststroke burns 25 percent more and breaststroke 12 percent less. Compare that to a 120-pound athlete burning just 218 calories swimming the same 1,500-yard workout (60 lengths in a 25-yard pool).

Generally, the faster an athlete swims, the more calories they burn in an hour. For example, if the 150-pound swimmer above swims one more length per minute, he burns 102 more calories in the same 30-minute period, but it works out to be almost half a calorie LESS per length. This anomaly occurs because it swims more efficiently.

The following table lists the approximate calories burned per hour for a person weighing 150 pounds:

Swim moderate effort 272 calories
Swimming ocean, river, lake 408 calories
Swim without lap, leisure 408 calories
Swim span, moderate to light effort 476 calories
Backstroke 476 calories
Swim crawl/freestyle, 50 yards per minute 544 calories
Side Stroke Swimming 544 Calories
Synchronized swimming 544 calories
Fast swim, vigorous effort 680 calories
Swimming breaststroke 680 calories
Swimming butterfly 748 calories
Front crawl/freestyle swim, vigorous effort, fast 748 calories

Your weight affects the number of calories burned, and heavier people spend more than lighter people doing the same exercise. For example, a 100-pound person burns 1/3 fewer calories, so multiply the numbers above by 0.7; a 200 pound person burns 1/3 more so multiply by 1.3.

Because most people can’t do the butterfly continuously, the front crawl or freestyle is the most effective swimming stroke, burning between 540 and 750 calories per hour.

Inexplicably, elite swimmers have an average of 5% more body fat than their running counterparts, even though they burn the same and sometimes even more calories with their high-intensity interval training than the more consistent pace of distance running.

It’s also interesting that women, regardless of their skill level and weight, typically use fewer calories per mile than men due to their higher body fat percentage. They stay afloat naturally without having to burn calories doing so.

Swimming non-stop for half an hour is realistic for a beginner, but push yourself for an hour. Vary your strokes. For example, warm up by doing 4 lengths of freestyle, 4 lengths of breaststroke, then get your heart rate up by swimming 4-6 lengths of freestyle at a faster pace. When you feel tired or out of breath, switch to breaststroke or backstroke or even skateboard, and when you catch your breath, go back to freestyle.

If you can, incorporate butterfly. Flip rotates too; they ensure continuous training without the need to pause between lengths.

If swimming appeals to you, but you’re not strong enough to swim for an hour, consider wearing fins along with the kickboard in front of you. Because your head is out of the water at all times, breathing is not a problem; while your legs and buttocks get a fabulous workout.

Despite being surrounded by water, you sweat when you swim. Be sure to prevent dehydration by drinking water before and after your session, even if you’re not thirsty.

Swimming is an excellent aerobic exercise, using a large number of muscle groups and burning as many calories per hour as running or cycling at the same intensity. Increase your heart rate throughout, you breathe harder and work your whole body.

Swimming strengthens the heart muscles, thus improving oxygen supply to all parts of the body, improves physique, flexibility, endurance and balance. If you do other exercise, swimming serves as an excellent cross trainer, lengthening and strengthening your muscles.

Mentally it relaxes you and frees you from tensions; socially you can enjoy it with friends and family to develop a spirit of competitive camaraderie.

Swimming doesn’t put stress on connective tissue or joints, so it’s safe for the overweight, the elderly, people with lower back and leg problems, and those whose joints can’t handle it. high impact sports. Since water supports the body, swimming is recommended as a rehabilitation exercise.

Ideal for pregnant women, swimming strengthens the abdominal and back muscles, allowing them to better carry their extra weight. High blood pressure, joint stiffness, and discomfort commonly associated with pregnancy can be relieved by gentle exercise in the water, although you may want to check with your doctor beforehand.

Whether you splash around burning 400 calories per hour, or spend 748 calories per hour perfecting your butterfly stroke for tough competition, swimming burns calories. In fact, whatever sport you enjoy is the one that will burn the most calories in the long run.

Facial exercises are becoming more prevalent for men and women in their quest to look younger, but there are many myths about facial exercise regimens. We separate fact from fiction.

For those who are not sure what yoga facial exercises are, they are generally techniques used on various parts of the face and neck to firm sagging skin on the face, eradicate pork jowls and jowls, revitalize the skin color, tighten the turkey neck and soften the face. and eye wrinkles. Some facial exercise programs involve isometric principles and some employ massage techniques that involve the use of the fingertips.

Here are some interesting things to note about facial exercises:

Myth: You can alter the facial structure of the face with plastic surgery, but not with a system of facial exercises.

Fact: To some extent, you can change the structure of your face using facelift exercises, just not as quickly or drastically as cosmetic surgery. If you focus on certain regions, such as cheek exercises, the cheeks will plump up. If you do it in the eye bags, they will diminish and the shape of your face will change towards a more youthful shape. However, facial yoga is not effective in correcting birth defects or damage caused by an accident.

Myth: Surgically cutting loose skin to firm turkey neck, lift sagging facial skin and sagging jowls, and resolve a jowl problem is better than thoroughly massaging these areas.

Fact: Surgical lifting of sagging skin is temporary. After a while, it will bulge again and you will have to repeat the surgery at a higher cost to you. The face and neck exercises will keep the skin firm and toned continuously, but not invasively.

Myth: Do-it-yourself non-surgical face lifts are not as effective as plastic surgery procedures.

Fact: Cosmetic surgery is radical and interferes with the body’s natural energy lines and nodal points. Facial exercises are gentle, non-invasive, and increase energy and blood flow, rather than restrict it.

Myth: You have to perform a system of facial exercises every day, and it is difficult to remember all the techniques and points, as well as taking a lot of time.

Fact: It is recommended to do facelift exercises daily for about twenty minutes. In general, there are about twenty points to massage on the face and neck, so one minute on each point will be enough; They are usually placed in the same positions on the face and neck that are used by acupuncturists to treat certain ailments.

Myth: Facelift exercises are painful or will damage the sinuses.

Fact: Facial exercises must be applied with the fingertips firmly on very specific pressure points. Firm, but not too firm as to cause pain or discomfort. At first, you may experience some nasal congestion for the first few days while massaging the sinus area, but that is perfectly natural and will dissipate quickly.

Myth: Yoga or facial exercises do not produce better results than creams, lotions, Botox, thermage, laser treatments as an anti-aging skincare routine to smooth eye wrinkles (crow’s feet), laughter and forehead lines.

Fact: Lotions and creams are great for long-term anti-aging skin care, and I advise people to use them when doing facial yoga exercises to work on the cream simultaneously. Botox and other artificial methods are quick fixes and can even be harmful to you. But face yoga can easily turn back the clock holistically, not just slowing down the effects of aging.

Before spending substantial amounts of money and risking your appearance with a surgeon, try a facial exercise program. They are very cost effective and a powerful tool to get your youthful appearance back in a couple of weeks!

Who doesn’t want to be better informed about the golden retriever breed? Known for their intelligence, kindness, friendliness, loyalty, and willingness to work, Goldens are a favorite breed of families. Their strong attributes make them excellent hunting dogs, guide and service dogs, and search and rescue dogs. Its distinctive golden coat gives the golden retriever a natural shine. This versatile breed is famous for its high energy and playfulness.

The golden retriever is a member of the sporting group. They are large, stocky dogs that stand between 20 and 24 inches tall at the withers and weigh between 55 and 75 pounds. The American Breed Standard calls for the coat to be any shade of gold, except for coats that are too dark or too light. British standards allow lighter shades of gold, known as cream colours. A red or mahogany ‘golden’ color is permitted under US standards, but not under British standards. American golds are typically taller and slimmer and have longer fur. British Hounds are stockier with shorter tails and legs.

Originally, the Labrador Retriever came from Newfoundland. Fishermen brought the breed to England around 1800. In the 1800s, golden retrievers were developed in Scotland on the highland estate of Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, later Baron Tweedmouth. Golden Retrievers were originally used as hunting dogs to retrieve game birds and waterfowl. They were bred to be excellent hunting dogs with waterproof coats, an excellent sense of smell, and soft mouths that do not harm game. The breed was first created by the golden retriever crossed with a now-extinct tweed water spaniel. The breed was later infused with black wavy-coated retrievers, Irish setters, bloodhounds, and the Newfoundland St. John’s Spaniel.

A legendary dog ​​for its gentle and friendly manners, the golden retriever does not make a good guard dog; they are known for their affection to both their owners and strangers. This breed thrives on human company. Goldens are energetic and active dogs. Exercising every day is important for your health. Bred to retrieve ducks and other waterfowl, dorados love to swim. Active and large, this breed is not the ideal apartment dog. Although they are adaptable, a prospective owner should live near a park and be willing to spend a lot of time with their dog. Otherwise, dorados need sizable backyards to stay healthy. Known for their intelligence, these dogs enjoy learning tricks, playing games, retrieving and catching balls, and exercising with their owners. It is not uncommon for golds to win obedience and agility competitions. Energetic and devoted, this breed also makes an excellent working and service dog. With an excellent sense of smell, Dorados have been employed in alpine search and rescue, and as police dogs for drug detection. Very active, this breed may not be the best choice of dog for the elderly. However, golden retrievers are great with children and other pets, and they make wonderful family pets.

Golden Retrievers can generally expect to live between 10 and 15 years. Unfortunately, poor parenting for profit has led to a number of common health problems. The most common of these conditions is hip dysplasia. Cataracts is another common ailment. Cancer represents the leading cause of death for golds. To help avoid these health problems for your golden retriever, it’s important to know a dog’s pedigree and purchase dogs from a reputable breeder. Each dog must be examined by OFA or PennHIP. These evaluations involve x-rays to assess a dog for hip dysplasia and disease. Grooming (brushing) twice a week is recommended. They may not be a good choice for people with allergies due to shedding.

Golden Retrievers are an energetic and enthusiastic breed that love and crave the company of humans. These qualities coupled with a gentle and friendly nature make this dog wonderful for families and active individuals looking for a companion.

Most will be in bad financial situations at some point in their lives. These are tough times and money is tight, jobs are insecure and mortgages are exorbitant for most in that situation. The answer to avoiding personal bankruptcy is not always obvious and many seek debt advice before taking that step. The bottom line, however, is why take it because once you’ve been bankrupt, things change substantially regarding your credibility.

The loss of everything one owns is only the beginning, as the bank and creditors will sell it. They do not care about sentimental attachments or family heritage, etc. He leaves and with him your whole life is wrapped in the remains that remain and your memories.

Why did that happen? You will ask yourself that question over and over again. You need to start over, but how? Where are you going to live? How do you live? Who wants to employ you?

Some kind relative or friend may offer you their garage or shed to live in and move the rest of your life into. He is cold, unfriendly and terribly inconvenient. The facilities are not connected, so you have to enter the house to use the bathroom, shower and even cook. That soon wears out the generosity of whoever has to live with it, and you.

It might be okay if it’s your father or brother, but even they feel the strain. Then there are the shared costs. How do you compensate them for their share of bills, like electricity?

In general, going into personal bankruptcy is not a good idea and action should be taken early when financial stress is brewing. That means getting a job in another city, putting a wall around you, and paying off all your long-distance debts. This is possible due to the transfer of money. Let companies know that you will pay them with deeds, not words. They will go backwards if you make regular payments of your salary.

If you have a business and this happens to you, it is not so easy to just walk away, but you can hire a partner, who will contribute financially, or liquidate it yourself. If it is a retail location, then sell the shares at a very low price. All you have to do is get back what you paid for it plus rent. Again, let creditors know you’re going to pay them every penny you owe and follow up.

That way one can keep the home and assets out of their hands and nothing much will change. It will take time to straighten out your life, but at least you won’t have the stigma of bankruptcy hanging over you and you won’t be dependent on others for help.

I hope you enjoyed my last article, which featured a couple of free ante systems to get you started thinking about creating your own. Have you had the opportunity to put them into play yet?

So let’s go back to those two systems that I shared with you in my last article.

Have you already tried them? Have you made money?

If you did, then you have already failed miserably in today’s lesson: DISCIPLINE.

I advised him not to “paper trade” them and to go ahead and start using them for profit.

If you did this then go and stand at the nearest corner!! I’ll take care of you later…

I’m sorry if I just reminded you of your old school principal and you just had horrible flashbacks. Of course, I’m just kidding, but I hope I’ve made a point. This is your first lesson… NEVER blindly trust a person who says his system cannot fail. This is a definite path to the poor house. Try…try…and try again! So if everything goes completely right, risk what you worked so hard to win. Anyway, if you won some money, then congratulations, naughty, and you can buy the teacher an apple or a Lamborghini, depending on LUCK.

Notice how I used the word LUCK there. Pro-investors don’t deal in LUCK, they deal in FACTS!

I ran a survey not too long ago, in fact, just out of interest, I’ve launched another survey today on the exact same topic, and one of the questions asked what people found their biggest challenge in making their bets pay off. Over and over again they told me that their biggest problem was DISCIPLINE. The biggest challenge wasn’t that they couldn’t find winners, although this was high on the list of answers, it wasn’t that they didn’t have time to bet, this was highly rated and it wasn’t finding a workable solution. betting plan to match the requirements of the betting system. It was that time immemorial human weakness – you guessed it DISCIPLINE and willpower (or lack thereof, as the case may be).

I apologize for being so biblical with you here, but if Adam had been able to bet on two horses running around a race track in the Garden of Eden during National Hunting season, he would have been the first bettor in the history of time to go to bankruptcy. , because he gave in to TEMPTATION. Well he gets over the apple story and blaming Eve isn’t!

It’s time for us to look at the next step in “My 7-Step Roadmap to Riches”:

Developing the Discipline of the Jedi Knight

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

We all know the Star Wars story, right? If not…

Anakin Skywalker was Obi Wan Kenobi’s ambitious young apprentice who desperately wanted to be a Jedi Master. But he was not focused and he lacked discipline. He was a nonconformist. He allowed himself to be distracted and fell in love with Princess Padme Amidala. He was eventually seduced by the mighty Emperor and consumed by the evil forces of the Dark Side, to become Darth Vader.

Each of us has followed a similar path with our gambling habits. We all KNOW that we must develop a plan and strictly stick to that plan. We all KNOW that we should seek to find value in our bets. We all KNOW that we need to adopt a sensible money management strategy.

But we all also KNOW to quit smoking, eat our five fruits and vegetables a day, and exercise regularly in a meaningful way…!

I know everyone has their little vices and bad habits, but developing better DISCIPLINE is nothing more than a matter of establishing solid new habits and empowering your mind over your heart.

How can I start doing this?

• Establishing new habits takes time: You can’t change things overnight, but according to proven empirical data, it will take 60 days for your brain to recognize a behavior change as a habit.
• Have a strong reason to make changes, and you’ll find yourself better motivated to hang on in those real moments of weakness. If you really, REALLY want to be a successful pro-investor, you won’t be so easily distracted.
• Have a PLAN and WRITE IT DOWN. Be as specific as you can and set ground rules. This is not psycho, if you write your plan, it will be easier for you to recognize when you are thinking of doing something that IS NOT IN THE PLAN.
• Whenever you place a bet, ask yourself this question. Is this part of your Plan? If the bet is not planned, do not make it! It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are.

Now, I know you may be saying that all of the above is very simplistic, that it’s easy for you to say and it’s just easier to put statements like these into words than to act on them consistently. Well, yes, but if you push yourself daily, harder and harder, and continue to resist the urge to have that “extra bet just for fun,” the pain will lessen over time.

Gambling without emotion is certainly not easy, but it is the heart and only heart of any pro-investor. We invest to make money and not to lose it. But I appreciate that for many the whole appeal of gambling is based on emotion, this is what sometimes leads to the addiction that many suffer from. How “emotional” do they look, the hundreds of punters holding the winning ticket as the favorite walks off the field on the final hill at Cheltenham? Good emotion, bad emotion? It doesn’t matter, no thrill is what you’re looking for.

I am not saying here that you should not enjoy your successes, we should all, from time to time, stop and smell the roses. But the next time you’re at the races, as the race nears the finish line, take your eyes off the horses and look at the bookmakers in the betting ring. How emotional do they look? Compare this now to punters and race goers? Pretty expressionless by comparison… right? That’s because betting is your business, and that’s how you should treat your betting activities, if you want to make a profit and keep your sanity intact.

Jumping sideways from the Star Wars theme, Spock from Star Trek would have been a pretty good bet. He could only think logically and had no emotions to speak of. For those of you who prefer The Next Generation, Commander Data, the android would make a good role model (and he’d also make a useful sidekick when he’s trying to calculate the benefits of a winning Super Heinz). Model your betting patterns on these types of people and you won’t go wrong.

In fact, if you really have a hard time keeping the excitement out of your bets, using an Android to place your bets would be a solution. Not quite as ‘sci-fi’, but just as effective are the now widely available ‘betting bots’. These clever pieces of specially developed software can be programmed to follow your betting parameters and instructions to the letter, identify your bets and automatically place them at specified prices. All while going about your daily business, out of harm’s way!

These betting bots are never tempted to follow dead certainty “advice” or chase losses, or make any of the “stupid” mistakes all humans are prone to.

I’ll be reviewing some of these “betting robots” soon.

At the end of the day, developing DISCIPLINE is a skill that only YOU can master. I don’t mind being your personal Yoda, but the answer is still yours.

Don’t be seduced by the Dark Side, go towards the light.

We’ll end it there for now. We’ll get to the topic of finding VALUE soon and that should be very interesting as it’s the most used, they say in racing, but I’ll open that can of worms in another article.

I guess we should be used to this by now.

For the third time in the past five years, Donovan McNabb will miss at least the final six games of the regular season after tearing his ACL in Sunday’s 31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans at Lincoln Financial Field.

The injury occurred on a seemingly innocuous play early in the second quarter, when McNabb rolled to his right and attempted to complete a pass while going out of bounds along the Tennessee sideline.

McNabb, unable to put any weight on his right knee, was taken off the field and is expected to miss 8-12 months, not only eliminating the remainder of the 2006 season, but also leaving his 2007 season in doubt.

In other words, Eagles fans’ worst nightmare has come true. Again. The one player the Eagles couldn’t afford to lose is missing for the rest of the season.

It’s a bit unpleasant of deja vu.

In 2002, McNabb missed the final six games of that season after breaking his foot against the Arizona Cardinals on a wet, rainy day at the Vet. In 2005, McNabb struggled all year with a hernia until he was finally forced to sit out the rest of the season after being injured to the point that he could no longer play against the Cowboys in Week 10.

Now this. Oh, and let’s not forget his injury against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of the Birds’ 2003 NFC Championship Game, which eliminated him from that contest.

What makes losing McNabb so difficult is that there is absolutely no backup plan. Donovan is being asked to do more for his team than any other quarterback in the NFL. He doesn’t have the talent that the Peyton Mannings and Carson Palmers of the world have and he doesn’t have a coaching staff that understands the importance of establishing a running game.

The Eagles expect Donovan McNabb to be their everything and everything. They put all their eggs in his basket, gave him marginally talented receivers and continually failed to establish an identity to run the ball. And that philosophy works, as long as Donovan is healthy and throws the ball around the Line like he’s capable of.

Unfortunately, that plan backfires terribly when everything for the year is lost.

Because the Eagles have refused to pay attention to the running game, have no Pro Bowlers at wide receiver and sport a defense that’s as reliant as an Anna Nicole Smith babysitter, they’ve screwed themselves.

The only way the Philadelphia Eagles can succeed is if Donovan McNabb is at the helm. And now, he won’t be. Maybe not for long.

The answer in backup QB? Jeff Garcia, who went 26-48 (48 pass attempts???) for 189 yards and a touchdown, but had serious trouble moving the Eagles anywhere on Sunday.

Did anyone else think Garcia hadn’t seen the practice field this entire season? He’s been practicing with the team all season, hasn’t he? Is it too much to ask your backup QB to step in and be at least marginally competent against a 2-7 defense?

As for the Birds and their prospects here in 2006, they can kiss the playoffs goodbye. He was asking a lot of the Birds to go 6-2 in the second half with his killer schedule and a healthy Donovan McNabb. But now they’ve lost to the Titans previously 2-7 at home, and are being asked to go 5-1 in their last six (@Indy, CAR, @Wash, @NY Giants, @Dal., ATL) with a back -Up QB, no running game, bad defense and horrible plays are just idiotic.

It can not be done. Not with Jeff Garcia or AJ Feely at QB. Not with a receiving body that releases passes as if the ball had cancer. Not with a defense that misses too many tackles and allows Travis Henry to rush for 143 yards. Not with a coaching staff that keeps asking for play-action passes at third and goal from the 1/2 yard. And not with a special teams unit that allows a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown to PacMan Jones.

It’s not happening, folks.

So, another season is wasted. The Birds’ 4-1 start, a distant memory. At 5-5, it would take a true miracle for the Eagles to go 5-1 in their last six, facing a killer schedule with a weak backup quarterback, players who seem to have given up and a coaching staff . who can’t seem to get out of his own way.

With McNabb, maybe it could have been done. Without it, no luck.

Perhaps the worst thing about McNabb’s injury is the label with which we must now put #5…

“Injury prone.”

You can’t miss that many games for that many years in a row without being labeled “injury-prone” or “brittle.” You just can’t count on Donovan McNabb to once again give you a full 16-game season.

He’s a fantastic player, perhaps the best quarterback in Philadelphia Eagles history. He is a man greatly underappreciated by the citizens of Philadelphia, but one must wonder how much longer he can hold out against his body.

Maybe it’s time to invest a second or third round pick in this year’s NFL Draft in a quarterback. Not someone to replace McNabb, because he should be the starter on this team until he retires or can no longer play, but someone who can be groomed to be a viable backup.

Because at the rate he’s going, who knows how many years Donnie Mac has left? A torn ACL is no joke. While Carson Palmer recovered from his torn ACL in about eight months, Daunte Culpepper still has knee pain and will likely be out of action for the rest of the year. It is unknown how long it will take #5 to heal from this.

We may not see a fully healthy Donovan McNabb again until the start of the 2008 season, if ever.

A terrifying thought in the midst of another lost season.

Puerto Rico is a great destination to visit in the Caribbean. It is like being in two worlds, the Caribbean and the United States. That means it has a level of wealth and stability that other Caribbean islands might not. And being part of the Hispanic Caribbean gives it that most exotic flavor.

So, in other words, you get the beautiful blue Caribbean sea and Caribbean beaches that the world loves to enjoy. But you also get American highways, shopping, currency, banks, businesses, etc. It’s a good combination.

Because Puerto Rico was a former sugar plantation colony, there are many African slaves there. This has led to a very different culture from its other Latin American countries that did not have strong contributions from the descendants of African peoples.

It is the Hispanic Caribbean that has given the world the samba, merengue, rumba, salsa and other famous Latin American music. (It is similar to the American South with its African-American population, which gave the world jazz, blues, rock and roll, soul, R&B, and much more.) That mix of Europe and Africa in the tropics has produced a lively and vibrant Creole culture wherever that occurs. It is truly something for visitors to explore and discover.

If you are going to explore Puerto Rico on your own, you may end up renting a car for sightseeing. Keep in mind that driving in Puerto Rico is a bit crazy. Make sure you’re always checking all of your mirrors, though, and you’ll be fine.

• As for places to stay, perhaps the best thing to do is to look for a hotel with a view of the beach. The Condado area, just south of San Juan on the north coast of the island, has great hotels like this one.
• A must see area is Old San Juan. You can easily spend a few hours walking around there. It’s a bit hilly, so maybe take the free trolley to El Morro (the fort) and work your way back through town.
• There are plenty of places to eat and drink, no matter what your budget. One suggestion I have is to try Breakfast at La Bombonera (one of the oldest establishments in the city).
• Another recommended place to visit is El Yunque (rain forest) on the east side of the island. Once you are there, you can also spend the afternoon at Luquillo Beach.
• If you want to see attractive Puerto Rican architecture, you must go to Ponce on the south coast.
• West of San Juan on the north coast is the Arecibo Observatory. The James Bond movie Golden Eye and also the Jodie Foster movie Contact were filmed there.
• Another place I would recommend is Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve on the northeastern tip of the island. You can take a guided tour of the reserve in an electric cart, but you must reserve in advance.
• There is a lot to do here. Once you are there, you should consider a further trip to the islets of Vieques or Culebra on the east coast. The beaches are incredible.
• On the other side of the island, I would definitely recommend Rincón. It’s a pretty quiet area – great beaches, good surf, good places to eat, lots to do nearby.
• Try the local food stalls and simply enjoy all that the island has to offer.

As for food, there is everything you can imagine. In the Condado area for seafood try Miro’s. In Old San Juan, try The Parrot Club for Caribbean flair or Tantra’s for Indian cuisine.

If you are single or traveling alone and in your 30s, 40s, 50s or 60s, you may want to consider taking a weekend getaway vacation with other singles in your age group. It really makes exploring Puerto Rico so much more fun.

If you’re interested in doing that, you can check out Vacations for Singles Over 50. We answer your questions about the best place to visit in Puerto Rico, tourist places and travel deals to Puerto Rico.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure to make the most of your trip to Puerto Rico.