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Trampolines are fun and exciting additions to your yard for the young and the old (er). Not only are they fun to play on, perform stunts and tricks that you never thought possible, but they are also great for getting exercise on a daily basis. However, even though trampolines are fun and exciting, you need to make sure they are safe for everyone to use. Trampoline safety consists of many different things. You want to make sure you provide supervision at all times for youngsters that are playing on the trampoline. You also want to make sure you provide strict rules on the usage. However, there is more to trampoline safety than just rules and supervision, you should also be checking the condition of the equipment as well. You are probably saying, what equipment? It is nothing more than a piece of large fabric shaped in a circle.

Well, that is true, it is a piece of large fabric shaped like a circle, but there is so much more to a trampoline that just that. What should you be checking? Every little thing on the trampoline. In order to create a safe and reliable environment for anyone using the trampoline you have to make sure all parts are in excellent condition, safe to use, and replaced if necessary.

Parts of a Trampoline

Fabric

This is a generally durable piece of synthetic material. There are a variety of sizes, thickness, and quality when it comes to the trampoline fabric. However, over time they can become damaged by normal use or even ripped or torn if a sharp object is exposed to the fabric. The fabric can be easily replaced by contacting a dealer.

Springs

The trampoline springs are an important part of the trampoline. These springs hold the fabric to the frame, as well as provides the bounce of that so many people enjoy. Inspecting these springs is an important part of any trampoline safety inspection. You want to ensure that they keep their shape and resume their normal state after removing the fabric. If the springs become too stretched, have damaged hooks, or are too loose, you will need to replace them.

Pads

Pads are essential to trampoline safety. These provide protection to those playing on the trampoline from hitting the hard areas of hooks, springs, or the frame itself, which could lead to head injuries, broken bones, or cuts.

The author strongly suggests you check your trampoline over for damage. If you find that your trampoline is not safe for use then head over to http://trampsprings.com for assistance getting the best deal on Trampoline Springs

The Honda Ridgeline is Hondas new pickup truck on the market. It uses Honda's unibody large vehicle platform, shared with the Acura MDX and Honda Odyssey. It is powered by an all aluminum 255 hp 3.5 L V6 coupled to a 5-speed automatic transmission with all wheel drive capable of towing 5000 lbs. The Ridgeline will be the first pickup truck with a fully-independent suspension.

Some of the more innovative features of the Ridgeline are its tailgate, which can fold down or hinge to the side, and an 8.5 cubic foot In-Bed Trunk" below the truck bed. The bed is integrated with the body, similar to the Chevrolet Avalanche. The Ridgeline comes with anti-lock brakes and side-curtain airbags as standard equipment.

The bed is 49.5 x 60 with the tailgate up. With the tailgate down, you get 49.5 x 79. And remember, the tailgate also swings to the side so you can easily access the in-bed trunk. The tailgate is designed to support 300 lbs. While driving. The steel reinforced composite bed resists dents and corrosion. Another neat feature were ample tie downs in the beds and several cargo lights.

Standard towing features include prewiring 4 pin and 7 pin, along with a brake controller. Heavy duty radiator, power steering cooler, and transmission cooler keep things cool when the work begins. Huge 4 wheel disk brakes help stop quicker with the aid of the Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). All the dealer has to do is install the hitch and harness.

The 8 ground clearance works well with the 4 wheel independent suspension. Yes, all 4 wheels. Unheard of in a truck, but this is a Honda. They wanted their truck to instill confidence in the corners and a stable, responsive feel while maintaining ride quality. The closed box frame and unit body construction means this truck is tough and ready to work.

Traction control is standard along with a locking rear differential for extremely low traction conditions. It can stay locked with a push of a button up to 18 mph. Along with traction control, you get stability control called Vehicle Stability Assist. This corrects your cornering problems before they even become a problem.

The tires come with tire pressure monitoring systems which will be standard in all vehicles very soon (government mandate). Air bags are all around in front, side, and side curtain. It will only deploy what is necessary depending on the type of accident. These safety features along with ABS braking make this one of the safest trucks on the road.

There are three trim levels starting with the RT, RTS and the luxury RTL. You can get heated leather seats and a moonroof. These amenities were only thought to be available in cars. This truck also has available navigation system, homelink, and a hidden in dash cd changer.

The 22 gallon tank is ample for the 16 MPG city and 21 MPG highway EPA mileage estimates. The six color combinations come with 3 interior choices. Options include a bed extender, tail light garnish, chrome bumper trim, 17 wheels, body side protectors, roof rack, fender flares, running boards and a towing package mentioned above. Ive also seen hard tonneau cover-locking for the bed, and in-bed trunk dividers. Theres a larger brush guard for the front bumper available for you off roaders.

All in all, looks to be a pretty good and well thought out truck from Honda. Check out my pictures of the Honda Ridgeline at the car show on my website.

Stuart Simpson
http://www.hondalinks.com

It was Memorial Day week-end, and something I've enjoyed for many years, is to watch the Indianapolis 500 race! I'm not, necessarily, a racing fan, but I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it is home to the famous Unser racing family. Between them, they have NINE Indy 500 wins...four victories for Al Unser, Sr who is tied with A.J. Foyt and Rick Mears for most Indy wins; three wins for his brother Bobby Unser; and two wins for Al's son...Little Al. Because of this, I watched the race, to pull for the Unser family of racers!

There has always been a woman in the race for the past several years, and that's the way it should be. If a woman and her team can qualify, give her the wheel. But, this year was different! All 33 drivers in this field were women...that's right, women! Scary, eh?

I watched on television, as so many other racing fans did across the country...and I couldn't believe my eyes. I must have looked like a "tree full of owls," watching television! Not only the 33 drivers were women, but all the pit crews were women, too! The 300,000 fans in the stands were all women; the broadcasters were women; the reporters were women; there was a peanut girl; a popcorn girl; a soft drink girl...NOT A MAN IN SIGHT! "What's going on here?" I thought to myself! There were no men anywhere to be seen!

My eyes were glued to the television set, as I could not imagine 33 "women drivers," racing at the Indy 500...all doing over 200 miles per hour! I DIDN'T WANT TO WATCH...but I had to!

Nothing like this had ever happened before, so I went to the newspaper the day of the race, to read more about it, and to get the starting line-up. One of the headlines in the sports page read, "Record speed set at Indianapolis 500 of 287.5 miles per hour!" "WOW!" We've got some lead-foots out there! There was not even e man in the stands...nowhere to be seen! "Could women be taking over the world"...I thought to myself! As I read the newspaper, the Indy field of the 33 drivers went like this:

Row 1; (Pole) Robyn Hood; Kitty Litter; Penny Arcade

Row 2; Honey Bunns; Candice Piper; Ginger Snapps

Row 3; April Showers; Tiffiny Holbrooke; Savannah Georgia

Row 4; Kandy Barr; Heidi Smith; Madison Avenue

Row 5; Crystal Bahl; Carmen Sanchez; Rose Budde

Row 6; Sparkle Plenty; Jane Doe; Sara Jones

Row 7; Misty Moonlight; Gloria Campos; Carole Carroll;

Row 8; Bunny Hoppe; Susan SuranWrap; Candy Cane

Row 9; Heather Stratton; Mia Culpa; Georgia Onmymind

Row 10; Kelli Kelly; Tootsie Rolle; Betty Krocker

Row 11; Brooke Trout; Pinkie Luzinsky; Billie Goat

LADIES...START YOUR ENGINES!

Laying rubber and smoke everywhere...these women meant business, as the race got started! And, I must have looked like a "tree full of owls," as I watched the race on television! Thirty three women race car drivers...all in one place, doing over 200 miles! I was scared to death that something awful would happen! After all, this had never happened before! I had to look away at the start! But, as the race progressed...the women were doing pretty good! They didn't drive like the "men drivers," and there were no accidents...and everything ran smoothly for the entire race!

I think this was as much a fashion show as a race! Only one black car in the race, the incredible "Black Widow" car...and the driver dressed in purple from head to toe! WOW! The "Silver Bullet" car, trimmed in pink: the "Diamonds Are Forever" car; the most colorful car in the race...the "Born To Shop" car! And, my favorite car, was the one with biscuits and melted butter painted all over it...good enough to eat...the Pillsbury DoughGirl car...yum...yum!

There was no advertising on these cars for oil companies; car parts; gasoline companies, etc. Advertisers and sponsors included: shopping malls; diamond/jewelry companies; cosmetic companies; pickle/ice cream companies; hair coloring companies; flower shops; candy companies; shopping catalog/Internet companies, etc. And get this...over half the cars were sponsored by credit card companies...AMAZING!

A look down Powder Puff Alley (formerly Gasolene Alley), was the tremendous amount of color at the race...all the colorful flowers...the balloons...pink, lavender and aqua blue everywhere! All the teams were dressed in their own colorful uniforms! WOW...what a sight!

Smoke and tire marks all over the race track, as the race went on, and on for over three hours, and finally, the last lap...and it boiled down to a race between Kandy Barr and Susan Suranwrap. This was a fight to the finish...they were neck and neck turning the fourth corner! One driver would take the lead...and then the other...back and forth they went...the crowd was going wild! Down the stretch they came, as they were now side by side, almost touching wheels...as they both screamed past the finish line in a cloud of blue smoke! The crowd was loving it!

Three hundred thousand women, were on their feet rooting them on...and by a few tenths of a second...the 87th running of the Indianapolis 500 race was won by ...Susan SuranWrap...who took the pink and white checkered flag! People in the stands were jumping up and down; screaming and yelling...going crazy! What a day...what a race!

A drive to the winner's circle, was unusual because the traditional black and white winners flag/markings were gone, and replaced with a pink and white flag...splashed with a touch of lavender! Gone, too, was the traditional drink of milk for the winner, as it would now it would be replaced with champagne! On her win, Susan SuranWrap popped the cork...and sprayed everyone around her...high fives for everyone...as she accepted the trophy! Finishing at a distant third was Kitty Litter...and Robyn Hood, and Sparkle Plenty rounded out the top five!

Sleepy-eyed, and looking through glassy and tired eyes, the clock read 2:30 in the morning...the room was spinning around...I'm at a race someplace...women are taking over the world ...tossing and turning all night long...I couldn't get to sleep...why am I at the Indy 500...my head was spinning! Unsure of where I was, and with a little sweat on my brow...I sat up in bed...looked around in a daze! Happily...I was at home...and I sure was relieved that it was only a BAD DREAM!

ARTICLES PUBLISHED: (70+ websites including links); Direct link: http://humordoctormd.homestead.com/articlespublished.html Website name: humordoctormd - Over 150 colorful pages; over 300 graphics http://humordoctormd.homestead.com email; humordoctormd@yahoo.com Copyright; Jerry L. Aragon (The Humor Doctor); 2006