Quast

Not much has been said of Cibara, but it is a planet near Moiromma, next to Earths solar system (I have written some about it when writing about the Cadaverous Planets, these past four years). It became inhabitant with Hells demonic forces (slowly but surely), dominating the little folks on the planet. This did not take place until after the death of Nirut for the most part (yet it was being penetrated slightly during his life time, and at the time of his victory), but during his 16-years of conquering what the Blue King did not conquer, he did. You see, Cibara was seen as a useless planetoid, to the Blue King, a waste of effort you could say, not worth his time. But to Nirut, it was a thorn in his side; it was just in his way, yet he did go quite a distance out of his way to get to it. And so he went after the king himself, King Cibara I, and the whole battle took place on the river, as Nirut chased Cibaras Army down the river with his merciless voice daunting him, and here is how it took place:

But once they reached the fork where the river ran wild,
the strong, whirling Yahoo sprung up to immortal Rue;
Nirut split the Lihterbion rout, driving one half
back toward the city, scattering up the plain
where the other Cibaranites themselves stampeded off in error
just as Niruh raged after them unchecked.
Now on their tracks the Cibaranites fled recklessly
while King Cibara I, spread dense smoke ahead to block their way.
Niruts army was crammed in boats on the Revlis River
into its spume rock bottom Nirut and Niruhs boats tumbled, flailing
and spun into the tumbling river rapids, boisterous with its roaring:
the men yelled, and bellowed, swimming madly, to and fro;
the boats revolving every which way in a vortex. Crazy like crickets
the soldiers of Nirut, swarming, trying to get out of the pot, climbing over one another,
flitting towards the banks of the rivertirelessly in a frenzy,
so at Niruts charged the Cibaranites swirling boats beyond the smoke;
choked with the spate of the rivers roar, water and smoke, he roared.
Yet King Cibara I had let him into this trap, this god-spun hero of Lihterb.
And Nirut could see him leap like a hyperactive deity, his heart racing
Slander from his mouth, his sword in hand, slashing, breaking the wind.
The boats were flushed with blood and water, escaping the tumbling.
Like dead fish, the banks of the river were littered with Lihterbion flesh.
Many terrified for their lives, no man on Lihterb had ever seen such rapids.
Now cowered under its bluffs, was King Cibara I, and his troops
they had hid from the onrush, waiting for the killing of Nirut, but
Nirut rounded up his men, blood dazed like flattened sponges,
their war armor half hanging on to them, on cut straps, half insane,
friends leading away friends, others weak and beckoning for help,
and back into the boats and the whirling tempest of the waters they went,
and drove to the cliffs where the Cibaranites went,escaping the rapids.

Nirut seized King Cibara I, on this twilight raid, and hauled him away,
resisting all the way, cutting his finger nails into the marauder Yahoo,
but he was to pay the price; his world would pay a princely ransom
and they did, struggling to bring King Nirut ten days of gold and silver,
then to cast him into the House of Death, swift there runners who came
with more gold to give, ran off and hid it in the nearby hills, for Nirut
had hung him for his pleasuredisarmed, his shield, helmet, spear
by his feet, underneath, as his soldiers clamored exhaustedlypleased!
The rest of his army were taken for slaves, some fled the fatal day

So the illustrious son of the Blue King won the battle, and planet,
and only one battle did it take, a merciless one at that, The fool,
should not have talked to me of ransom, I broke my word;
the son of a great man, he never was; I could have gotten more, but destiny was true, it warmed my soul to not spare his, gold or silver, naught. I took him alive, and watched his people flee his death, not one of their gods came to help, the devils from earth, saw my strong force of fate waiting.

King Nirut knew there would come a sunrise or sunset when Hell itself
would take this planet in a secret battle, not even flinging a spear perhaps,
or even shooting a deadly arrow from their shouldersInevitable, he said.
At that, he let go of such thoughts, his sharp sword by his side,
blood pouring from the mouth of the dead king, his neck broken,
sprawled and stretched face down on Cibaraion soil, drenched in a dead shadow, I hail form your rich soil, a far cry to you, King Cibara,
wherever you may be, I come form Lihterb, I am the son of the Blue King,
still lusting to sink my spears into your planets fleshbut I must move one.
(And so he did, the young king of Lihterb, Lord of the Black Galaxy.)

No: 1905 7-18-2007

See Dennis' web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

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Speed, competition and an enthusiasm for real cars on race tracks: This is what street car racing is all about. But when engines start to rev and the flag waver takes their marks, only one thing radiates from the street car racing enthusiast: pure exhilaration.

Street car racing is irrefutably gaining popularity as a sport; and while it takes its roots from a simpler mode of automobile racing which began in France during the late nineteenth century, it has evolved into a prevalent pastime in countries across the world. The United States, Australia, Brazil, Japan and much of Europe - among countless others - currently rank street car racing as a highly competitive sport.

Traditionally a domain of large, American cars with big block high capacity engines, street car racing on proper race tracks, now thrives with various types of vehicles contending. Recent trends have been towards cars of a lighter frame and hence, greater 'moveability'. That being said, the sport of street racing has taken many forms. Recent films like The Fast And The Furious and Initial D have publicised the thrill of drifting, while drag racing still remains the predominant form of street car racing.

In drag racing, participants start the race from either a 'dig' or a 'roll' - the first method involving a stationary bumper-to-bumper drag race line up, while the second involves an initial 'moving' lineup at about 50 mph. Either way, drag-racing vehicles range from everyday cars to custom 'dragsters' built specifically for the purpose of accelerating as fast as mechanically possible.

Different people take an interest in street car racing for many different reasons: some are fascinated by the looks or construction of the vehicles and the motors themselves, while others simply love the thrill of racing, either as a participant or a spectator. Whatever the motives, the street car racing community is a large one - and one which seems destined to grow.

While street racing is largely illegal in most parts of the world today, there are many legitimate motoring events around the world that provide modified street cars or standard road going production cars the opportunity to race against one another or against the clock in well organized events on specifically designed race tracks and which ensure all safety precautions are maintained and appropriate safe racing practices applied.

When it comes to accessing legitimate information on street car racing, todays motoring enthusiasts have countless resources to turn to. Dotted around the internet there are various online motoring forums which function solely to cater for the motoring and street car racing community by indulging and informing this growing group of petrol heads with a variety of interesting features, from blogs and photos to news and information on upcoming events and appropriate racing environments. Information is also easily available regarding all track legal racing and motor clubs in local areas. True motor aficionados can also find information on the technical specifications of cars such as drivability, fuel-economy, on-track performance, engineering or frame design by consulting with other online specialists. With so many different online motoring groups catering for general as well as specific niche subjects, current car enthusiasts are able to connect with other like minded fans that are just as passionate about lean, mean motor vehicles as themselves.

So anyone tempted to get an eyeful of remarkably built vehicles or to experience the sheer thrill of speed and competition by ripping down the drag strip, the street car racing scene is sure to deliver; after all, when the flag comes into sight and the engine begins to rev, there's no looking back; in fact, there is only one way to go; foot to the floor, full speed ahead.

Andrew Regan is an online journalist who enjoys socialising at his local rugby and cricket clubs.

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Your dogs health is important to you. You show her how important by keeping her well fed and groomed, making sure she gets plenty of exercise and providing a collection of fun, safe toys for her entertainment. You don't skimp on the quality of his food. And to reward good boys and girls, there are always lots of delicious treats in the cupboard.

But if he has bad breath, you could be overlooking a serious problem with your dogs health.

"Dog Breath" is such a common condition that we make jokes about it. Sometimes we even tease our human "friends" using "dog breath" in play-ground style name-calling ( although hopefully this is limited to teenage boys.) And I know many pet owners who comment that they love their dog or cat like a child, but just can't stand the smell of the animal's breath! Well, guess what? "Dog Breath" isn't normal.

It's estimated that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats over the age of three suffer from the periodontal disease a serious deterioration of the gums and supporting bones of the teeth. Yes, it's periodontal disease that's responsible for "dog breath". But the problem doesn't confine itself to your furry baby's mouth. It's an infection, and the tiny creatures responsible for it can break loose and enter the bloodstream. Once they do, they can infect vital organs such as the liver and kidneys, endangering your dogs health by causing a far more serious illness.

The best way to insure your dogs health, especially where periodontal disease is concerned, is with prevention. It can make all the difference.

Periodontal disease begins as gingivitis, which is virtually harmless and completely treatable. If allowed to move to the next stage--Periodontitis-- it can be stopped, but not cured. And the worse it gets, the faster it progresses. This applies to all animals, two legged and four legged alike. Think of a car parked at the top of a hill. The emergency break is released, and the car begins to roll downhill. Now, if you hit the breaks right away, no harm done. But the farther the car rolls the faster it goes, and the more momentum it builds. It gets harder and harder to stop it. By the time it's halfway down the hill, you could be headed for disaster!

You can maintain your dogs health nicely with proper home care. But, like the rolling car, if disease is already present, stopping and controlling it is a bigger job.

Prevention involves, above all, regular veterinary checkups and professional cleanings beginning early in your dog or cat's life. I'll show you how you can help maintain oral health at home, but it's impossible to do a thorough cleaning on an animal who's awake. Trust me on this. It's hard enough to do a thorough job with a cooperative human patient. When we're talking about animals who don't understand what we're doing or why, forget about it.

Most veterinarians recommend annual cleanings, but more frequent or involved treatment may be needed depending on your animal's condition. Please, no matter what you're doing at home, follow the vet's recommendations. As for your part, introduce your dog or cat to the idea of having his teeth brushed as early as possible. I know, it's not easy, and it takes time and daily conditioning to get your little guy or gal used to it. But your dogs health is worth it!

So how do you prevent the most common of threats to your dogs health? Brush her teeth, of course! Every day. Just like you would your own (twice a day for you, and floss too!!). This isn't easy, but it can become an expected part of your dog's routine if you do it right. Here are some suggestions:

1.Start when your dog is a puppy. The earlier the better.

2.At first, you just want her to get used to you handling her head and looking inside her mouth. Practice lifting up her lips and looking at her teeth and gums--front, back and both sides of her mouth.

3.Now begin gently touching the gum tissue with your finger and rub along her gums and teeth as if your finger were a toothbrush. Let her get used to the sensation. This is exactly the way you would introduce a human baby to brushing, beginning with just her gums. Even before there are teeth, there are harmful bacteria. So don't worry about a tiny puppy who doesn't have a full set of teeth yet--rub her gums, swab out her little mouth with your finger, and get her used the this kind of contact from her owner.

4.Your next step is to wrap gauze or a soft washcloth around your finger and rub the gums on both the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth.

5. Finally, introduce a tooth brush in one small area. As your dog gets used to the brush, you will be able to use it in place of the gauze or washcloth. Remember to brush the inside surfaces!

A little brushing a day, beginning with the first step and working your way up gradually, will eventually lead to a one to two minute session. Your dog will learn that it doesn't hurt and that she gets a couple of minutes of your undivided attention every day. It generally takes 8 to 16 weeks to get there, but in the end your dog will accept brushing as part of her daily routine.

If a little brushing is done every day at a set time, eventually your pet gets used to it, and some will even look forward to it. It will take most pet owners from 8-16 weeks until the pet accepts it readily. Now the pet realizes it doesn't hurt and that it will get 1-2 minutes of your undivided attention. Your pet enjoys your attention, and will eventually wait patiently for you to brush his teeth.

There's a toothbrush with three heads that will allow you to brush all three surface of the tooth at one time, which makes life a lot easier for both of you! It also has nice, soft bristles so you won't harm your pet's delicate gum tissue.There are also products that can be rubbed on the gums and added to the drinking water to help reduce bacteria in an animal's mouth and promote the dogs health and healing. Bad breath is actually a by-product of the bacteria that populate the mouth. They break down proteins and carbohydrates from your dog or cat's diet, and produce something called "volatile sulfur compounds", or VSC's. It's the sulfur that make the breath smell extra special!

Certain dental products have an agent that neutralizes the VSC's. Many owners have commented that their cat or dog seems to like the drinking water better when these products are added--even though they have no flavor! And there's a gel available that, although formulated for the gums, can be very soothing for skin conditions, cuts, and surgical wounds thanks to the Aloe Vera it contains.

The best oral care products work without the use of fragrances and flavors, which entice human consumers, but don't benefit your cat or dogs health in any way!

I was a practicing dentist for over 20 years, and I saw a lot of human patients who had terrible breath (and periodontal disease) and weren't even aware of it. People don't like to tell each other about bad breath. Even the dentist has to be delicate with this piece of bad news.

At least when dealing with a pet, you don't have to worry about social embarrassment in order to address your dogs health problem! Don't be shy, get in there and do something about it. Not only can your dog get rid of her breath odor, but she could even live 2 to 5 years longer as a result. And you'll be able to get close again, without holding your breath.

Copyright 2004 Carolyn Schweitzer DDS. Dr. Schweitzer was a family dentist for 20 years and is now owner and editor of several websites. You can learn more about specific dental care products by visiting her website at http://www.great-dog-gift.com/dogs_health.html#LocationOXY

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There are many obvious benefits to cycling that many people choose to ignore. Sure, it seems like it would be faster to drive to the store during dinner time rush hour, but is it really? Chances are it is not faster. In fact, you could probably get to your destination within a much shorter period of time if you took your bicycle than if you drove your vehicle. Many people who live in big cities are finding that taking their bicycle to work is actually faster than driving there.

Of course there is the obvious benefit of saving money. Finances are a big reason that many people ride their bicycle instead of driving. Riding a bicycle is much cheaper than driving your vehicle. Whenever you start your vehicle, it uses gas. Driving it costs money in gas and oil as well. One little trip to the store can cost you a few dollars in gas where if you rode your bike it would cost nothing at all.

The maintenance on your vehicle likely totals at least a few hundred dollars a year, while the maintenance on a bicycle is a few dollars. Your bicycle only needs a little oil on the chain, air in the tires and maybe a bolt tightened here or there.

Another notable benefit of cycling is health. With a bike ride you get resistance training, endurance training and a cardiovascular work out all in one. The health benefits of riding a bicycle are amazing going out three or four times a week for an hour-long bike ride can improve your physical health immensely.

It is important to remember that just as your vehicle needs fuel to run, so does your body if you are cycling. Its important to drink lots of fluids and eat properly or you could find yourself running out of energy. Cycling without eating right and maintaining your fluid intake can be dangerous to your health, so be sure to fuel up before heading out on a ride.

Having the proper cycling gear and apparel can also help with the benefits. Having comfortable clothing for your ride will help you ride longer and more efficiently. Proper cycling clothing is perfect for short or long cycling trips. Cycling apparel, especially pro issued apparel, is made to fit properly with padding in the right places for the best support and comfort. The material that bike clothing is made out of is breathable, which allows your body to expel its heat and allow air to flow through to your skin. The cycling clothing that is made today has also become more fashionable. Much of the custom cycling apparel available can be used as every day wear, which means you can get off your bike and pop into a store or the golf club and no one would be any the wiser.

Using your bicycle also aids the environment by lowering the vehicle emissions being released into the atmosphere. Even one day a week of bicycling would help make a difference in he community you live in. Riding greatly reduces the noise, congestion and fuel emission levels in your home town. You can be happy in knowing you are doing a small part to help the earth as well as your body when you choose to bike to work, school, or the store.

With all of the benefits of cycling, get out there, ride your bike and enjoy yourself!

~Ben Anton, 2007

Ben Anton is based in the Northwest and is a regular writer for TSC.
Learning more about pro-issue bike apparel and custom cycling clothing is easy.
Check out the Team Sales Cycling website to view the full line of custom pro cycling team jerseys and other cycling apparel.

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