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9.28.2010

Rafael Nadal's Great Accomplishment

Rafael Nadal, world's top ranking professional, has climbed a new summit by becoming the second tennis professional player in the new era to have completed the career Grand Slam.

In professional tennis circuit, four major tournaments held in a year assume prime importance. They are the Australian Open tournament, the French Open tournament, the Wimbledon and the US Open tournament. Each tournament has its own special features. The Australian Open and the US Open tournaments are played in hard courts, the French Open tournament is played in clay court and the Wimbledon tournament is played on a grass surface.

A player winning all the four titles will be called as a Grand Slam winner. Career Grand Slam is a step further than Grand Slam. In addition to winning these four tournaments, player should have won the Gold Medal in Olympic Games featuring Tennis.

After winning the US Open tournament on September 12, 2010, Rafael Nadal achieved this rare feat of Career Grand Slam, having won all the four major tournaments in addition to the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics tournament. The only other player to have achieved this coveted feat is Andre Agassi of the US.

Rafael Nadal, a Spanish professional player, has achieved many laurels in the young age of 24 years. He has won French Open Titles for five successive years and is rightly called as the King of Clay among the tennis professionals.

He has won French Open tournaments five times in the last six years, Australian Open tournament once in 2009, Wimbledon twice and the US Open tournament in this year, thus making nine Grand Slam singles titles, in addition to the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

With age on his side, Rafael Nadal is sure to set new milestones and rule the World of Professional Tennis for a long period of time, experts believe.


Come on over and waste time with Seven Laws or read some more interesting articles at another site.

9.27.2010

Pet Rat Cages

Getting your pet rat a home doesn't have to be difficult at all. There are several different types of cages available and each have advantages and disadvantages of their own. You will, also, have to decide whether the cage you want will fit where you want it to be and make sure that it's not to bright or drafty for your pet.

The cage you choose needs to be larger than the small hamster cages you see readily available. Rats need some room to move around. A minimum of two square feet of surface area for the rat to move around is recommended. Of course, if you have more than one rat you may need a larger cage or more levels in the cage.

Aquariums are an attractive option for some. The bedding, droppings, and food cannot be kicked out of the aquarium. This saves a mess from accumulating around the cage. The problem with using aquariums for a pet rat cage is that there is no ventilation. The air will become odorous more quickly and you will have to clean it more often. There is also a danger of your pet overheating if it gets warm around the aquarium.

Plastic cages are inexpensive and easy to find. A plastic floor is a little easier on a rat's feet but this plastic can be chewed through easily. Rats must chew constantly. Once your friend figures out that he can chew on the cage you might be replacing an entire cage in a short amount of time.

Wire mesh cages solve the problem of chewing on the cage but they also will probably allow for a mess to be made around the cage. A daily sweep or vacuum around the cage can solve this problem though. Toys and water bottles can be attached to the sides of wire cages easily and they allow maximum ventilation. These are, also, the cages that commonly have more than one level inside of them.

Inside of your pet rat cage you will need to put some bedding. Make sure that the bedding you choose isn't too dusty. Too much dust is harmful to a rats respiratory system. Some oils on bedding can be harmful, as well. Do not use pine or cedar wood chips for your bedding. The bedding should be changed at least weekly.

Your rat would probably like some toys in his cage to keep him occupied when he can't be out with you. Things hanging in the cage are usually popular with rats. Ropes and ladders are common. Things to crawl through are also common rat toys. If you get several different toys, you can rotate them in and out of the cage every few days to keep them from getting boring. There is no replacement for time outside of the cage so don't expect toys to be a magic cure for your rat's boredom.

If you are getting a pet rat don't over think the cage. There are many cages available and each has it's advantages. Do your research and find a good value. Stock your pets cage with quality bedding and toys and your rat will thank you for it.

Rats as Pets

Rats have a reputation of being dirty and diseased animals that are only good for destroying property and belongings. While most reputations are based in fact, rats have been domesticated and can make wonderful pets for people. Pet rats love to play and interact with their owner. They are, also, very clean animals and show affection and emotions.

Unlike other small pets, rats can be trained to do basic tricks like sit and come. They are very intelligent and will respond to their name if you spend daily time with them. Rats can be trained to use a litter box
very easily, as well. A pet rat that has been socialized from birth will enjoy cuddling with you and very rarely bite.

Rats, being as social as they are, don't do overly well if left by themselves for long periods of time. Because of this, it is recommended that if you bring a rat home you have time to spend with it on a daily basis or you get a pair of rats so they can entertain each other. If you get more then one rat make sure they are of the same sex or get them spayed or neutered or you will end up with more rats than you planned on. Rat's teeth grow continuously so they need to chew on things to keep their teeth from getting too long. When your rat is out of his cage to play, keep an eye on him so he doesn't chew on something he shouldn't chew on.

Pet rats don't typically need to be bathed. They are very clean animals and spend a large amount of time grooming themselves. You can give them a bath occasionally but be prepared for some scratching as they aren't big fans of water.

These pets need a larger pets cage than other animals of similar size. They are more active than many pets and need room in their cage to move around and play. Keeping the cage clean is important. Removal of the waste on a daily basis is best practice. Your rat will be happier and easier to take care of if his cage is cleaned on a weekly basis.

Rats eat a variety of foods but a balanced diet is beneficial for them. A diet full of protein can be unhealthy for a rat but don't cut out all protein. Also, chocolate should be avoided because they lack the digestive system to break it down.

Despite their reputation, rats make great pets. They are easy to manage, social, and playful. If you are considering getting a small pet don't rule out the domesticated rat. Pet rat information

Picking the right sugar glider cage

Owning a sugar glider can be a rewarding experience. If you are considering bringing one (or more) into your home you will want a cage for your friend to live in. Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding on a glider cage. These tips will help provide safety to your sugar glider and peace of mind to yourself.

Pet cages are available in a variety of materials. Cages made from bare wire can irritate a glider's feet so it is best to look for a wire cage that is powder-coated or possible one made of vinyl. Powder-coated wire is easier to clean and more forgiving to your glider's feet. Plexi-glass cages look nice when they are new but scratch easily as sugar gliders like to climb.

Gliders enjoy climbing and jumping and, because of this, you need to consider the height of the cage. Vertical space is more important in sugar glider cages than horizontal space. A good rule of thumb is at least three feet of vertical space for a glider, although it is certainly alright to get a cage taller than three feet.

It is also important to make sure the bars on the cage are no more than 1 inch apart. Bars with ½ inch of space between them work well, also. A wire cage will allow your glider to climb on the cage instead of buying something to put inside the cage for him or her to climb on.

Sugar gliders are very intelligent animals and can learn to open their own cage. For their safety it is a good idea to find a cage that has a secure lock or latch that they can't get open themselves.

Gliders are great pets and can provide a lot of enjoyment. Choosing the right cage will eliminate a lot of hassle down the road and allow you too take more pleasure in your new family member.