Often many men do not realize how they create the circumstances of experiencing low semen volume through wearing tight underpants, taking a bath in very hot water, being overweight, or just sitting for extended periods of time. In addition, frequent semen ejaculation will cause lowered sperm volume.

Here are smart and effective ways to boost your semen volume:

1. Nutritious Food. Eat a nutritious diet that is low in fat, high in protein, vegetables, and complete grains; these are very good for your overall health and for increasing your semen volume.

2. Less Sex. If you can manage, have sex and masturbate less frequently; the more often you ejaculate, the less dense will be your semen. Try to keep an interval of at least three days after 2 consecutive ejaculations.

3. Hot Testicles. Avoid the heating of your testicles. How? Avoid taking hot baths and saunas.

4. Exercise. Make it a point to exercise on a regular basis. Join a gym club and stick to a workout schedule of at least 3-4 times during the week.

5. Massage Oil. Consider using a herbal oil to improve blood circulation.

6. Lose Weight. Lose any extra weight; excess weight is often the cause of testosterone imbalance.

7. Stress. Do whatever you can to decrease stress levels. You can use relaxing methods such as Yoga and meditation.

8. Supplements. Only use a Medically Endorsed Supplement There are a number of effective supplements that will help increase sperm production. You can learn about an effective, natural, and safe supplement with no side effects at http://www.maleenhancement.ws

Author runs the following sites:
http://www.weight-loss-pill.name
http://www.weightlossprogram.vg

If you like crafting, then you know one of the very best tools you can ever have is a paintbrush. Actually, if you are an avid crafter, then you’ll probably need a set or two or paintbrushes for all of your different painting needs. Paintbrushes come in all shapes and sizes, and you may feel overwhelmed when you go to the craft store to buy a new brush or two. That’s not everything-paintbrushes are also very expensive. In order to get the most out of your craft supplies, learn how to pick the correct brush for your needs and then take care of it so that you’ll be able to keep it for a long time.

First, inspect the materials used to make the paintbrushes you see in stores. If you’re going to be doing quick projects with the kids or need to cover a lot of area with a thick coat of paint, consider purchasing foam brushes. At less than a dollar apiece, you can use these big brushes when your work doesn’t have to be tiny or neat-and best of all, you can throw them away when the craft project is finished.

However, most of your crafting needs require a brush that is of better quality. Check out the artist’s paintbrushes, which are usually made from animal hair or a synthetic blend. Stiffer bristles work well for painting on canvas, but most crafters use softer brushes to do detailing work. Pick a variety of sizes so that you’ll have a brush for every project.

After you bring your new brushes home, take them out of the package and clean them with soap and cool or lukewarm water. Never leave you brush standing in water-the bristle glue will loosen and your paintbrush will become misshapen. Instead, rinse thoroughly, blot dry, and rest horizontally to continue drying. Store your brushes horizontally if possible.

When you are painting, keep the paint on the upper half of the bristles. When paint reaches the metal part, it is hard to remove and causes the brush to stick together or lose its shape. Clean your brush often when painting, even if you’re using the shape color. Before storing, clean your brush with soap and water. By following these tips, you can keep your brushes looking as new as possible for as long as possible, and they will help you paint more beautiful projects.

Visit TheGreatBigCraftShop.com
for all your craft supplies and accessories. Both US and UK stores are available.

Jewelry is a multi-million dollar industry, with a number of companies selling diamond necklaces and engagement rings in every mall in America. You can join this industry-maybe not with precious metals and jewels-but certainly by making high-fashion pieces that you can wear with pride. Jewelry making is a great craft project for any crafter, but you need the right tools and supplies to get started.

The best investment you can make if you want to begin making your own jewelry is a kit. Kits will include the tools you need to get started, like a needle-nosed pliers and clasps. It is important to realize that beads are just part of what you need in the order of supplies. You’ll also need chains for necklaces and bracelets, backings for earrings, posts to create anything that dangles, and supplies to link it all together. This can be quite pricey, so watch when your craft store has a sale on jewelry supplies and stock up with the necessities. You should also be able to buy kits that include all of these supplies.

Beads are, of course, most fun to buy when it comes to making jewelry. Beads are made from a variety of things, such as metal, glass, clay, plastic, and even wood. You can make your own beads too, if you enjoy working with polymer clay. When shopping for beads, look for a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors so that you can make a number of different designs with your jewelry.

Putting the jewelry together can be difficult without another tool-a magnifier. Using a magnifying glass probably won’t work well, since you’ll need both hands to work on the jewelry, but you can by magnifiers on headsets that you can move in and out of your line of vision as you need it, or you can use standing magnifiers to work on your projects. These magnifying tools will help your eyes stay strong and keep you from becoming too frustrated.

When you’re working with jewelry, use a flat surface so that your beads don’t roll around. You can cover anything that is too smooth with felt to prevent rolling beads as well. Jewelry ideas can come from a number of sources, and you may be surprised to find how easily you can mimic some of the top designers. You can make pieces to match every outfit you own and nobody will ever guess that you did this craft yourself!

Visit TheGreatBigCraftShop.com
for all your craft supplies and accessories. Both US and UK stores are available.

If you are an experienced photographer you will probably already know about taking infrared pictures using your digital camera and this article will not be of that much value to you, but if you are new to both infrared photography and maybe even to digital photography then read on to learn more.

Not too many years ago there were no such thing as digital photography and you would run around with a camera will film that might take fantastic pictures but if had all the disadvantages of a camera using films. To take IR (Infrared) pictures you would need to purchase special films that would cost you an arm and a leg. Secondly you would have the trouble of the black and white processing of the films once you had taken the pictures.

And to finish off you would not be able to evaluate the pictures that you took before the whole roll of film was used and the pictures had been processed and printed. All in all this would take you a lot more time and cost you a substantial amount compared to the digital solutions that are available today.

Today you will need to have a digital camera but as we are soon entering the second decade in the second millennium there are not many people left that doesn’t own at least one digital camera. Now it is not enough to just have a simple cheap digital camera bought in the grocery shop around the corner but you will not need to re-finance your house either.

By investing in a fairly prices $500-$1000 digital camera you can easily get high quality and be able to take the infrared pictures that you want. Not only will you save the time and hassle of processing the pictures as they will be instantly available but you are also able to evaluate them as soon as your finger has left the trigger by looking at the little LCD screen on the camera. If you are not pleased with the result you can just deleted it, adjust the settings and shoot another one.

The quality of your infrared photographs will depend on how your camera’s sensor array reacts to the infrared and secondly it will depend on the filter you are using and how it reacts to the far end of the visible spectrum. I suggest that you start by consulting with the guy in the photo shop about what camera he will recommend for the use you are planning and then you should search the internet for reviews and comments from people that have already tried and tested the digital cameras that he has recommended.

Infrared photos versus black/white photos.

At the first glance a monochrome picture taken with an infrared camera filter will mostly look identical to every other black and white picture. However if you have a closer look you will see the differences. The objects which are bright in the visible light will appear dark while some of the objects that are normally dark will have a fair glowing light.

The biggest difference between the infrared spectrum and the visible spectrum is in the case of foliage. Foliage becomes very bright in infrared as you will be able to see if you have ever taken infrared pictures before.

Next time you are out shooting infrared pictures try to do a few black and white ones as well and you will quickly be able to see the differences that I have just mentioned.

I am glad that the digital cameras have come to ease our infrared photography and I hope that you are too. It is a time saver as well as a money saver.

Mikael’s infrared photography digital cameras site holds substantial information about digital photography and every aspect related to photography and digital cameras.

Tie dying is one of the most fun craft projects you and your children can do together. The results are beautiful and the process is easy enough for even beginners to try. Because tie dying is so popular, a variety of kits and products are available to help you learn more about this technique. Give tie dying a try-this craft of the 1960s is still popular today because it is so simple.

First, you will need something to tie dye. This can really be any cloth item, but most people like to begin learning this technique by using T-shirts. You can also try pillow cases, handkerchiefs, sheets, socks, curtains, and just about any other cloth product out there. Make sure the fabric is mostly cotton, or the dye may not work. Also, light colors usually work best.

Next, you need dye. A variety of brands are available at your local craft supply store, with some costing as little as a dollar or two for every color. You can also try other techniques by finding recipes for dyes using food color, coffee, and tea. Along with the dye, you’ll need rubber gloves, a large pot that you no longer need for cooking, and stirring utensils. Read your dye’s directions. Some dyes require you to pre-treat your cloth item with soda ash or add salt to the mixture. You may also need to let your project soak up the dye in a plastic bag for a specified amount of time. As with most craft projects, keep newspapers and paper towels on hand for quick clean up of spills and messes.

The only other supply you need to tie dye is the “tie” part. Rubber bands are the easiest to use, especially with children, but you can also use string. Depending on how you tie it, you will get varied results. Start with a traditional circle/starburst design by laying your shirt flat on the table. Grab a bunch in the middle and wrap your first rubber band. Simply continue to wrap rubber bands down the length of the shirt as it falls naturally. You can create a striped design easily as well-just roll up your shirt into a long snake and tie off every few inches. The fun part of this process is revealing the results after you wash out your shirt. No two projects will ever be the same, but the results are usually beautiful and whimsical, even if they are not what you expected.

Visit TheGreatBigCraftShop.com
for all your craft supplies and accessories. Both US and UK stores are available.

One of the most beautiful craft supplies you can use is available to you in your own back yard. That’s right-you don’t have to look any farther than your garden for pretty flowers that can be pressed or dried to use in a variety of fun craft projects. Flowers are inexpensive and give your crafts that special earthy touch for little cost to you. Drying and pressing flowers is not difficult, so you can begin the process today.

The easiest way to preserve your flowers is by hanging them to dry. This works well for bouquets from your garden, as well as for arrangements you may give as a gift. First, remove any parts of the flower you don’t wish to keep, such as excess leaves. Divied the flowers into small bunches so there is ample room for them to dry, and then tie the miniature bouquets together with ribbon or band them together with rubber bands. Hang them upside down somewhere that is dry so that your flowers don’t rot, and make sure the place is also dark, since light can fade your flowers. Check on your flowers every few days and they should be ready to use in your craft projects after just two weeks!

If you want to use the flowers for a different use, however, such as decoupage, you can press them. This is not a good way to keep densely-petaled flowers, like marigolds, but it works well for rose petals, violets, leaves, and other flowers that are already semi-flat. To do this project, you’ll need cardboard, newspaper, and tissue paper. Lay a piece of each down, in that order, and then arrange your flowers to be pressed. Make sure that they are not touching one another. Cover with another piece of tissue paper, another piece of newspaper, and another piece of cardboard. You can repeat the process again now if you have more flowers to press than would fit on one layer. Once you finish with the last piece of cardboard, set a heavy book, like an encyclopedia book or large dictionary on top of the whole thing, and bricks or heavy rocks on top of that. After about 4 weeks, your flowers will be pressed and ready to use in craft projects.

How you use your dried and pressed flowers is up to you. They’re great for making everything from gifts to greeting cards! Don’t overlook this great craft supply when you’re designing new projects.

Visit TheGreatBigCraftShop.com
for all your craft supplies and accessories. Both US and UK stores are available.

Have you ever been to a restaurant with lousy service? Even though the
food is good, you won’t go back because you refuse to be treated poorly.
Have you ever stopped frequenting a retail establishment because you
became tired of lousy service by a workforce that has no work ethic and
perhaps give off those signals that they’re doing you a favor? Think
about an establishment that no longer has your business because the way
they do business is just plain terrible.

Let me ask you this….Did your doctor’s office come to mind? Probably
not. Why is it that if a restaurant or a retail establishment gives us
poor service we walk away, inform management, or fill out customer
comment cards? When our doctor’s office gives us poor service we go
back for more; over and over again?

Over the last couple of months I have listened to several people
verbalize some negative things about their doctor and the inefficiencies
at the office. They all have the same doctor. I’ve heard comments like
you can’t get an appointment, they pawn you off on a physician’s
assistant or a different doctor, or the staff is just rude and will let
you sit and wait and wait and wait and not tell you what is going on.
Now the first thing that comes to my mind is ‘why the heck do you keep
going back for more’. New physicians are graduating medical school every
year; new physicians who are perhaps more current with technology and
protocols.

Oh coincidentally, the doctor receiving the complaints is mine as well.

So I asked all three of these people what they have done about changing
the situation. Have they said anything? Have they talked to the doctor
about what they are experiencing? Don’t they think it is important that
the physician know what is going on? Or were they just going to whine
about the waiting, the shuffling, and the poor service, only to be
frustrated again next time they pick up the phone or enter the office? I
shared my thoughts on how things will not change unless someone says or
does something. The response from all three was along the lines of it
won’t matter; nothing will change, why bother, and I don’t go to the
doctor that often. Which is amazing; most businesses really do want to
hear from their customers. Many actually implement changes when they
hear from customers. A doctor’s office is a business, isn’t it? Sorry to ruin your day if you thought otherwise.

Well last week was my turn. I needed to see the doctor. He was not
available. I was referred to his associate who had lots of openings. Of
course she did, she’s clueless. When I needed shots for my trip to
Africa last year I accepted an appointment with her. I figured it
wouldn’t matter; it was just shots. When I arrived she wanted me to tell
her what shots I needed; what protocols I needed. I informed her that
she was the doc and that the office staff knew why they were scheduling
me. She said she would have to research it and she would get back to me.
Hooray! I got to pay a $25 co-pay for someone to tell me they will do
research. I digress.

So when the receptionist offered me an appointment with Dr. Clueless, I
declined. I was given an appointment with Dr.
I-Could-Care-Less-How-Long-You-Wait-For-Me. I arrived and waited forty
minutes watching everyone else being called through the Doorway to
Better Health. I finally asked if I was forgotten. I was informed that
he was running late and that it would be another hour. I informed them
that it would not be another hour and perhaps I should bill them for
wasting my time. Dead, uncomfortable silence. Hey, like I said, you
gotta have a little fun. They offered me Dr. Clueless. I chuckled and
told them my two ten month old puppies could do a better job diagnosing
my problem. They told me they would note my file that I am not to ever
see her. Those words came out of the receptionist’s mouth so fast, as if
this was not the first time this has happened. I walked out. That
evening I also faxed them an invoice for an immediate refund of my
co-pay; with a “threat” of a collection agency. Just having my sadistic
fun.

Let me tell you why I originally selected this doctor. I do not do
medication - it is the last alternative. It is that simple. This doctor
doesn’t just prescribe medication. It was a match made in heaven. As a
matter of fact several years back he sent me for Reiki when I was having
a little period of anxiety. He was young when I found him. His practice
was new. I am relatively healthy. I do not need to see him regularly; I
was even told that is why I couldn’t be slotted in on an emergency basis
last week; because I have not seen him in over a year. Boy, it sucks to
be healthy

Now when I walked out I started thinking about those three other
patients. I made a decision right then and there. I was going to let the
doctor know that I walked out of his office and most likely for the last
time. I thought about the feedback I receive at the end of most
presentations or workshops that I give. That feedback makes be better.
(It also makes me feel good too!) I decided the doctor needed a
confidential evaluation of his office. I thought about the number of
times an audience member or a reader of my newsletter challenged
something I said or did. It got me thinking. Perhaps it gets me to
change something. But most importantly, I usually know I struck a nerve
- which is what I enjoy doing. When I strike a nerve I know I am getting
people to think, stand up for themselves, or begin to make some great
change in their life. I decided it was time to strike a nerve with the
doc and this was on behalf of all people here in the United States who
have experienced “managed care!”

So I wrote Dr. Phil a letter, yes his first name is Phil. I reminded him
why I originally came to him. I also shared my frustration with his
office. I let him know that people in the community are not saying nice
things about him. I told him I understand that might feel that he is at
the mercy of the insurance agencies, HMO’s, and malpractice issues. I
told him I understand his predicament. I also reminded him of the people
who were there when he started his practice. I apologized for not being
sick enough to visit him on a regular basis and told him I would
probably not see him again; but am available to talk to him about my
letter if he so chooses.

Will my letter make a difference? I don’t know. I have nothing to lose.
I can’t get in to see him anyway, even if I make an appointment. But
maybe, just maybe he might stop for a moment and do some thinking.
Maybe, just maybe, I am the first to let him know what is going on; and
why he is losing a patient. Maybe he has been losing many patients and
not knowing it? Maybe he wants to know? Somebody has to be first.

But here is your take-away…There are businesses that you choose
for reasons that are important to you. Likewise, people are choosing you
and your business for particular reasons as well. Do you know what they
are? Is it worth revisiting your core values and beliefs every so often,
as an employee, employer, business owner or staff member? Have you ever
played customer for one day at your business? Where do you need to speak
up? Don’t think it will make a difference? Will it make a difference to
you?

Remember to have some fun today!

Rich DiGirolamo is a professional speaker from Wolcott, CT. He calls himself The Big Kid and enjoys “making painful processes fun.”

To learn more about Rich please visit http://www.richdigirolamo.com or http://www.recessatworkday.com

So you’ve just started a new job, you are all excited about this fresh opportunity, and you are sitting down to sort through the giant stack of paperwork the girl in Human Resources gave you to read through and complete.

As you go through your new hire package you read about company policies, fill out the direct deposit form, and complete your tax withholding elections so the government can carve a slice out of your paycheck.

You pick up the folder that explains your company’s benefits and you read something about a “401k plan”. You stop and think to yourself, “What is a 401k plan?”

In simple terms, a 401k plan lets you put money away for your retirement. Think of it as the modern day version of a pension. The old-school pension plans of our fathers and grandfathers are all but extinct, but in there place we have the 401k.

You should treat your 401k as if your future hopes of retirement depend on it. Because they do. Traditional pensions are going the way of the dinosaurs, and you can’t expect to get much (if anything) from Social Security. The responsibility for your retirement savings falls squarely on your shoulders, so you’d better know what you are doing.

Let’s talk about some of the basic concepts and terms you need to understand about your 401k:

• When you enroll in your 401k plan, you elect to have a percentage of your salary deducted from each paycheck and deposited into a special account. You are then able to invest that money in a number of mutual funds, and both your contributions and earnings grow on a tax-deferred basis. That means that you won’t be taxed on anything until you withdraw the money from your 401k account.

• Speaking of withdrawals, you should know that borrowing from a 401k can be difficult and costly. You can take your money out, but it will cost you. You can borrow money from your 401k by taking out a loan, then paying it back plus interest. Or you may be able to make a withdrawal which does not have to be paid back. Withdrawals are considered taxable income. Plus, if you are under age 59 1/2 you’ll have to pay an additional 10% penalty.

• If you are lucky you work for a company that matches part of your contributions. That’s a very valuable benefit because it will help your balance grow a lot faster. For example, say your company matches 50% of the first 6% you contribute. If you contribute $100, they’ll kick in another $50 which means your account grows by $150. If your company offers a match, take advantage of it.

• 401k plans are portable, which means if you leave the company you can take it with you. You can roll your account into a 401k with your new employer, or you can transfer it into an IRA. Either way, you won’t have to pay any taxes if you roll your balance over.

Now you should be able to answer the question “what is a 401k plan?” But there are many pitfalls on the road to retirement.

Discover the 5 biggest mistakes you can make with your 401k and how to avoid them at http://www.mikesmoneytips.com/401k-mistakes.php

African Grey Parrots thrive on activity. In the wild they are very social amongst their own species and forage the forest in groups to search for food. They need to run around, climb, chew and play for most of their day. Their large size makes their need rather difficult to cater in captivity but one must nevertheless try their best to provide the best environment possible.

Choosing the Cage: Before you buy your bird you need to buy its cage. Choosing the cage should take the same consideration it takes selecting a bird. This will be your Greys home- its safe place. It seems incomprehensible that someone would buy a tame Grey and not provide it with a cage. There are very important reasons why every parrot should have a cage. It needs to literally know its place in the house, and know its cage is a refuge from danger to which it can return if it feels insecure. And, of course, its cage is a secure place in which to roost every night and a place to rest quietly every afternoon where it will not be disturbed. Without a cage, the likelihood of the parrot escaping is also greatly increased. The purchaser of a young Grey Parrot may be too excited to notice the important aspects of how their bird has been kept and fed.

Because Grey Parrots have a sensitive nature, they can be more stressed by a transfer to a new location than, for example, an Amazon. The Purchaser should therefore note the size of its present cage and the location and type of food containers used. If the young Grey has been feeding from a low perch with food containers at the same level, and he is placed in a larger cage, he will probably climb to the higher perch but may be very reluctant to climb down to feed. Therefore, it is advisable to buy some hook-on feeders in case it needs to be fed at the perch level to start with. In a large cage perches can be placed at a low level and their height (except one) gradually increased as the Grey feels more at home in the cage.

Remove the grate at the bottom of the cage. African Grey Parrots like to walk on the cage floor and perhaps scratch in a corner. Older hens will probably want to tear up newspaper. There activities are good outlets for their energy.

Features of a Good Cage: When choosing a cage these features are most important:

• Buy the largest size cage you can afford. It should be longer than it is high as this design offers more opportunity for exercise and play. Cylindrical cages should be avoided; they are unsuitable for birds of any species.

• It should have at least some sides with horizontal bars, for ease of climbing.

• It should have a fairly large cage door. This makes it easier to move the parrot in and out of the cage and to clean the inside of the cage.

• It should have food and water containers that can be replenished from the outside. This is standard in all but the cheapest cages.

• It should have castors so that the cage can be moved to other rooms of the house. Greys are curious animals and nothing can be more boring than having the same view everyday.

• Take a careful look at the door catch on your Grey’s cage. These parrots are strong enough and clever enough to undo some cage doors. If this is likely, put a dog clip or a padlock on the cage.

• Newspaper is a good material to cover the cage floor. It is entirely safe (newsprint no longer contains lead) and easily obtainable. As a rule of thumb use the paper without any colored printing- just black and white is safe. It is also a quick change; several layers of paper can be used to line the bottom of the cage and several sheets can be removed twice daily. Do not use cat litter (possibly toxic) or sand (a Grey can scratch it all over the room in a matter of minutes).

Article continues at African Grey Parrot

Find more articles and information more about the African Grey Parrot and Africa Grey Parrot supplies

This article may be used as long as all links are kept in place

Jamie Turner

So you want to build a website but you know nothing of HTML?

Well, that is not really a problem, but first of all; have you actually considered learning some HTML? It really isn’t very difficult and a little knowledge now could save you a big headache later on, so it might be a good idea to spend a couple of hours learning the basics of HTML even if you don’t intend to become completely fluent in the language.

Probably the easiest way to learn anything, including HTML, is by following step-by-step examples and I would heartily recommend the free online tutorials at http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp or for alternatives you could always use your favourite search engine to find the thousands of others.

If you prefer to learn from the pages of a book then a couple of recommendations you might like to check out are: “Learn HTML in a weekend” by S. Callihan, or “HTML in Easy Steps” by Mike McGrath. There are of course many many more (have a look on Amazon or eBay to see just how many!).

On the other hand, if you are content to stay HTML illiterate and simply want to build a web page using a WYSIWYG editor then there are some excellent Web building applications available including the obvious choices such as Dreamweaver and Frontpage. However, it can be quite expensive to invest in high end software such as this, so if you are on a budget or you just want to dip a toe in the water, then check out NVU (pronounced N-VIEW) - it is open source software and therefore completely free to download and use. You can find it at http://www.nvu.com/index.php

Finally, for the easiest way of creating a web page with no knowledge of HTML and without any further software you may find Google’s Page Creator useful. It’s not a professional solution, but it may just suit your needs perfectly. You can find it at http://pages.google.com

Of course, once you have built your Website you then need to learn how to get traffic to it. But that’s a whole different story.

Good luck!

Tony Williams is the author of Web Traffic in Black & White, the guide that unlocks the secrets of Web traffic. Check it out at http://webtraffic.tdlwebs.com