Jody Victor: Thanksgiving - a day to be with family and appreciate what you have. But our idea of Thanksgiving has evolved over a long period of time. It all started way back in the day. The Pilgrims did not hold a true Thanksgiving until 1623, when it followed a drought, prayers for rain, and a subsequent rain shower. Irregular Thandsgivings continued after favorable events and days of fasting after unfavorable ones. In the Plymouth tradition, a thanksgiving day was a church observance, rather than a feast day.

Gradually, an annual Thanksgiving after the harvest developed in the mid-17th century. This did not occur on any set day or necessarily on the same day in different colonies in America.

The Massachusetts Bay Colony (consisting mainly of Puritan Christians) celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time in 1630, and frequently thereafter until about 1680, when it became an annual festival in that colony; and Connecticut as early as 1639 and annually after 1647, except in 1675. The Dutch in New Netherland appointed a day for giving thanks in 1644 and occasionally thereafter.

Charlestown, Massachusetts held the first recorded Thanksgiving observance June 29, 1671 by proclamation of the town's governing council.

During the 18th century individual colonies commonly observed days of thansgiving throughout the year. We might not recognize a traditional Thanksgiving Day from that period, as it was not a day marked by plentiful food and drink as is today's custom, but rather a day set aside for prayer and fasting.

Later in the 1700s individual colonies would periodically designate a day of thanksgiving in honor of a military victory, an adoption of a state constitution or an exceptionally bountiful crop. Such a Thanksgiving Day celebration was held in December 1777 by the colonies nationwide, commemorating the surrender of British General Burgoyne at Saratoga.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : American football is a major part of Thanksgiving in our home - how about yours? Professional games are traditionally played on Thanksgiving Day; until recently, these were the only games played during the week apart from Sunday or Monday night. The National Football League has played games on Thanksgiving every year since its creation; the tradition is referred to as the Thanksgiving Classic. The Detroit Lions have hosted a game every Thanksgiving Day since 1934, with the exception of 1939-1944 (due to World War II). The Dallas Cowboys have hosted every Thanksgiving Day since 1966, with the exception of 1975 and 1977 when the then-St. Louis Cardinals hosted (the Cowboys and Cardinals faced each other, in Dallas, in 1976). Since 2006 three games are played on Thanksgiving Day, with the third not having a set host team. The American Football League also had a Thanksgiving Classic since its founding in 1960, with its 8 founding teams rotating one game each year (two games after the AFL-NFL merger).

For many college football teams, the regular season ends on Thanksgiving weekend, and a team's final game is often against a regional or historic rival. Most of these college games are played either on Friday or Saturday immediately after Thanksgiving, but usually a single college game is played on Thanksgiving itself. The most well known Thanksgiving holiday weekend games include:

* Ole Miss Rebels vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs (the Egg Bowl)

* BYU Cougars vs. Utah Utes (the Holy War)

* LSU Tigers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (the Battle for the Golden Boot)

* Georgia Bulldogs vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate)

* Colorado Buffaloes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers

* Texas Longhorns vs. Texas A&M Aggies (the Lone Star Showdown)

* Florida Gators vs. Florida State Seminoles (the Sunshine Showdown)

* Pittsburgh Panthers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (the Backyard Brawl)

* Grambling State University Tigers vs. Southern University Jaguars (the Bayou Classic)

* Alabama State University vs. Tuskegee University (the Turkey Day Classic)

* Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. USC Trojans (The Notre Dame-USC rivalry game has taken place in almost every season since 1926, with the home team alternating from year to year. When USC hosts, the game takes place on Thanksgiving weekend: when Notre Dame hosts, the game typically occurs sometime in October.)

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : November seems to be a month of celebrations and historical events. But while many of them have a specific date, there are those that occur on a specific day during the month. Here's a few of interest.

First Tuesday - In Australia, the Melbourne Cup horse race is held annually on the first Tuesday in November.

Tuesday After the First Monday - In the United States, elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November. They therefore fall between November 2 and November 8. In even numbered years, members of the House of Representatives are elected to two-year terms, and about one third of the U.S. Senate are elected to six-year terms. The President of the United States is elected in years divisible by four. Most U.S. states, counties, and municipalities have some part of their election cycle coincident with this date.

Third Wednesday - GIS Day is held the 3rd Wednesday of November during Geography Awareness Week.

Third Thursday - The Great American Smokeout sponsored by the American Cance Society occurs on the third Thursday of November, one week before Thanksgiving. Smokers are encouraged to quit smoking for these 24 hours, in hopes that they will quit forever.

Fourth Thursday in the USA - Americans celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.

The Day After Thanksgiving in the USA - A famous day for shopping known as "Black Friday."

Monday Immediately Following Thanksgiving Day in the USA - Cyber Monday - the beginning of the online Christmas shopping season.

Note : We are very excited about our upcoming release of our new Sports Nutrition product XS Gold. We anticipate the same great success we have experienced with our other XS  products.

Jody Victor

Jody Victor: Here are some special dates in November for social, historial and religious events.

* All Saints' Day (formerly All Hallows Day) , a Christian holy day, is celebrated on November 1, the day after Halloween. In Sweden the All Saints' official holiday takes place on the first Saturday of November.

* In Ireland, November 1 is regarded as the first day of Winter.

* November 1 is called November Day (La Samhna) in Celtic tradition and is thus named in the Irish Calendar, where the month is called Mi na Samhna.

* In the pagan wheel of the year, November begins at or near Samhain in the northern hemisphere and Beltaine in the southern hemisphere.

* In the Roman Catholic calendar, November 2 is All Souls Day. It is known in Mexico as el Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and the whole month of November is especially dedicated to praying for the dead.

* Britain and New Zealand celebrate Guy Fawkes Night, the anniversary of the failed Gunpowder Plot, on November 5.

* In Indonesia, November 10 is known as National Heroes Day.

* St. Martin's feast day (Martinmas) on November 11 was formerly considered the start of winter in some places in Europe.

* Remembrance Day is celebrated on November 11 in the Commonwealth of Nations and various European countries (including France and Belgium) to commemorate World War I and other wars. It is known as Veterans' Day in the United States.

* In India, Children's Day is celebrated on November 14, the birthdate of first Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

* The Leonids meteor shower reaches its peak around November 17.

* Discovery of Puerto Rico by Christopher Columbus on November 19, 1493.

* Dia de la Revolucion, or Revolution Day, is celebrated in Mexico on November 20.

* On November 24th each year, Lachit Divas is celebrated statewide in Assam, India, to commemorate the heroism of the great general Lachit Borphukan and the victory of the Assamese army over the Mughal army at the battle of Saraighat in 1671.

* The United States and Peurto Rico observe Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November.

* For Western Christians, Advent usually begins on a Sunday during the last week of November.

* Scotland celebrates St. Andrews Day, its official national day, on November 30th. Since 2006 it has been an official bank holiday.

We are very excited about the upcoming relaese of our new Sports Nutrition Product XS Gold. We anticipate the same great success we have experienced with our other XS products.

Jody Victor

Jody Victor: Hard to believe the month of October is coming to a close. Here are some fun facts about one of my favorite snacks.

* Americans consume some 16 billion quarts of this whole grain, good-for-you treat every year. That's 54 quarts of popcorn per man, woman, and child.

* Compared to most snack foods, popcorn is low in calories. Air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories per cup. Oil-popped is only 55 per cup.

* Popcorn is a type of maize (or corn), a member of the grass family, and is scientifically known as Zea mays everta.

* Of the 6 types of maize/corn - pod, sweet, flour, dent, flint, and popcorn - only popcorn pops.

* Popcorn is a whole grain. It is made up of three components: the germ, endosperm, and pericarp (also known as the hull).

* Popcorn needs between 13.5-14% moisture to pop.

* Popcorn differs from other types of maize/corn in that it has a thicker pericarp/hull. The hull allows pressure from the heated water to build and eventually bursts open. The inside starch becomes gelatinous while being heated. When the hull bursts, the gelatinized starch spills out and cools, giving it its familiar popcorn shape.

* Most U.S. popcorn is grown in the Midwest, primarily in Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri.

* Many people believe the acres of corn they see in the Midwest during growing season could be picked and eaten for dinner, or dried and popped. In fact, those acres are typically field corn, which is used largely for livestock feed, and differs from both sweet corn and popcorn.

* The peak priod for popcorn sales for home consumption is in the fall.

* Most popcorn comes in two basic shapes when it's popped - snowflake and mushroom. Snowflake is used in movie theaters and ballparks because it looks and pops bigger. Mushroom is used for candy confections because it doesn't crumble.

* Popping popcorn is one of the number one uses for microwave ovens. Most microwave ovens have a "popcorn" setting.

* "Popability" is popcorn lingo that refers to the percentage of kernels that actually pop.

* There is no such thing as "hull-less" popcorn. All popcorn needs a hull in order to pop. Some varieties of popcorn have been bred so the hull shatters upon popping, making it appear to be hull-less.

* How high can popcorn kernels pop? Up to 3 feet in the air.

* On September 29, 2006 a new record was set for the World's Largest Popcorn Ball, as measured by the Guinness Book of World Records. Eight feet in diameter and nearly 24.5 feet in circumference, this gargantuan confectionary creation weighed in at a whopping 3,423 pounds. It took two days for employees of The Popcorn Factory to create the ball.

* If you made a trail of popcorn from New York City to Los Angeles, you would need more than 352,028,160 popped kernels!

We are really excited about the upcoming release of our new Sports Nutrition product, XS Gold! We anticipate the same great success we have experienced with XS.

Have a fun and safe Halloween!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor: Here are some fun historical facts about popcorn.

* Popcorn is one of the oldest American foods and has had a significant role in our history. Some of the oldest ears of popcorn were found in 1948 by archaeologists exploring the Bat Cave in west central New Mexico. These ears were proven to be about 4,000 years old.

* In South America, kernels of popcorn found in burial grounds in the coastal deserts of North Chile were so well preserved they would still pop even though they were 1,000 years old!

* Popcorn was used by the Native Americans as a staple in their diet and for decoration. Sixteenth century Aztec Indians used popcorn in their ceremonies - young women danced a "popcorn dance" and wore garlands of popcorn in their hair.

* Popcorn was probably NOT served at the first Thanksgiving. There is no indication that popcorn had made its way East at the time of the earliest settlers.

* Early Native Americans threw kernels directly into the fire or into heated sand. Once popped, the corn was sifted and then pounded into a fine, powdery meal and later mixed with water for eating. This was especially handy when traveling, making it a true American "to go" meal.

* By the 1840s popping corn had become a popular recreational activity.

* Colonists mixed ground popcorn with milk and ate it as a breakfast food. Popcorn pudding - made from ground popcorn - was lauded by the likes of Ella Kellogg, Fannie Merritt Farmer and Mary Hamilton talbott. And shortly after the end of World War II, a shortage of baking flours forced bread makers to substitute up to 25% of wheat flour with ground popped popcorn.

* By the 1870s popcorn was a common item sold in grocery stores, and at concession stands at circuses, carnivals, and street fairs.

* Charles Cretors, founder of C. Cretors and Company, Chicago, introduced the world's first mobile popcorn machine at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

* During the Depression, popcorn sold for 5 or 10 cents a bag and was considered an affordable luxury for struggling families.

* During World War II, sugar was sent overseas for U.S. troops, which meant there wasn't much sugar left in the states to make candy. Thanks to this unusual situation, Americans ate three times as much popcorn as usual.

* In 1945, an engineer named Percy Spencer accidentally discovered that microwave radio signals could be used to cook foods. His experiments with popcorn led, in part, to the development of the microwave oven.

Also, we are really excited about the upcoming release of our new Sports Nutrition product - XS Gold. We anticipate the same great success we have experienced with our other XS sports drinks.

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : Popcorn - one of my favorite treats for as long as I can remember! For more than 25 years, October has been celebrated as National Popcorn Poppin' Month. However, it did not become "official" until 1999, when then Secretary of Agriculture Dan Blickman proclaimed October as National Popcorn Poppin' Month.

While every day is a great day for eating and celebrating popcorn, the month of October was chosen because of the popcorn harvest which takes place each fall in the Midwest. Each year when the new crop is harvested, it reminds us that popcorn will always be a naturally fun snack for the entire family.

One of my favorite places to eat popcorn is at the movies. But popcorn was not always a movie treat. The "talking picture" solidified the presence of movie theaters in the U.S. in the late 1920s. But many theater owners refused to sell popcorn in their theaters because they felt it was too messy. Industrious vendors set up popcorn poppers or rented storefront space next to theaters and sold popcorn to patrons on their way into the theater. Eventually, theater owners began installing popcorn poppers inside their theaters - those who refused to sell popcorn quickly went out of business. During the Depression, 5 and 10 cent bags of popcorn were one of the few luxuries families could afford. Unlike other confections, popcorn sales increased throughout the Depression. A major reason for this increase was the introduction of popcorn into movie theaters. One businessman actually lowered the price of his theater tickets and added a popcorn machine. And, yes, you guessed it - he soon saw huge profits.

My own popcorn machine, given to me by some very good friends, is one of my favorite things. It makes popcorn that smells and tastes just like movie theater popcorn - nothing else like it!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : We all learned that Christopher Columbus discovered America - probably in first or second grade. But what about the man himself? Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451 to Domenico Columbo, a wool weaver. He worked for his father until he was 22 then set out to follow his own dream to become a sea captain. Many of his fellow Genoese had prospered in Lisbon under the Portuguese flag as Captains of sailing ships and he longed to join their ranks.

It was to this end that Columbus began to educate himself - learning to read and speak Portuguese, Castilian and Latin. He read many geopraphy books, and sutdied the bible and the writings of Marco Polo, gathering all the information he could about the world. He particularly studied, Pierre d' Ailly's "Imago Mundi," or picture of the world. He became a chart maker himself and because of these studies became convinced that the world was spherical, round instead of flat. This belief later became the basis for his quest of finding a shorter route to Asia.

Asia offered many goods Europeans craved but traveling East to get them was difficult and dangerous. However, it was with these countries of the East - India, China, Japan, and the East Indies - that Europeans longed to trade in greater volume. It was for this reason that a sea route around the tip of Africa to the East Indies and Asia was sought. Columbus was just one of many explorers and tradesmen trying to find such a route.

Portugal deemed, "the greatest seafaring nation in the world," due in large part to the discoveries, exploits and sponsorship of it's prince, nicknamed "Henry the Navigator," seemed the most likely nation to support Columbus' dream of finding that shorter route to the East. So, it was no surprise that later, he would choose to approach Portugal's King John II for support of his expedition.

In 1479 Columbus married Dona Felipa Perestrello, whose father had been one of Prince Henry The Navigator's captains. His wife's social rank opened doors for Columbus. And using his father-in-law's collection of charts and documents he gained more knowledge of Portuguese discoveries and plans. In 1481 he entered the service of King John II of Portugal and voyaged to the Gold Coast of Africa.

Columbus wanted to discover the much sought for route to the East that would open up a lucrative trade. He believed there was abetter way to find it than traveling around the tip of Africa. He believed by sailing west 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean that he would come full circle and end up in Asia without having to go south and east. He thought he would sail right into these countries never dreaming he would land on a whole new continent and lay claim to a whole new world.

In 1484 Columbus applied for ships and men from King John II of Portugal. He was refused and then his proposal was reconsidered. However, the final rejection of his proposal came when Bartholomew Diaz discovered the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. He had found an eastern sea route to India. The Portuguese were no longer interested in an unproven western route. Columbus was denied once again and returned to Spain.

He finally convinced the King and Queen of Spain to finance him under the Spanish flag. He set sail from Palos Harbor in Spain with three ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria at dawn on August 3, 1492. However, problems with the Nina and the Pinta necessitated a one month delay in the Canary Islands. He then set sail again on September 3, 1492 and thirty-three days later at 2:00 a.m. on October 12, 1492, Rodrigo de Triana, a seaman aboard the Pinta, spotted land.

Columbus actually landed among the Bahama Islands on an island then called Guanahani Island by the inhabitants, known today as Watling Island. Columbus named this land San Salvador, claiming it in the name of Spain. Discovery of this New World would lead to the settlement by Europeans of the continents of North and South America.

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : Did you know that each full moon has a name? Every month or season the full moon has been named by different peoples. Here are some of them.

January - Old Moon (English), Wolf Moon (Native American) Moon After Yule, Ice Moon (Others)

February - Wolf Moon (English), Snow Moon (Native American), Hunger Moon, Storm Moon

March - Lenten (English), Worm Moon (Native American), Crow Moon, Crust Moon, Sugar Moon, Sap Moon

April - Egg Moon (English), Pink Moon (Native American), Sprouting Grass Moon, Fish Moon, Seed Moon

May - Milk Moon (English), Flower Moon (Native American), Corn Planting Moon, Corn Moon, Hare's Moon

June - Flower Moon (English), Strawberry Moon (Native American), Honey Moon, Rose Moon, Hot Moon, Planting Moon

July - Hay Moon (English), Buck Moon (Native American), Thunder Moon, Mead Moon

August - Grain Moon (Englsih), Sturgeon Moon (Native American), Red Moon, Green Corn Moon, Lightning Moon, Dog Moon

September - Fruit Moon (Englsih), Harvest Moon (Native American), Corn Moon, Barley Moon

October - Harvest Moon (English), Hunter's Moon (Natvie American), Travel Moon, dying Grass Moon, Blood Moon

November - Hunter's Moon (English), Beaver Moon (Native American), Frost Moon, Snow Moon

December - Oak Moon (English), Cold Moon (Native American), Frost Moon, Long Night's Moon, Moon Before Yule

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : Full Moons are traditionally associated with temporal insomnia, insanity (hence the terms lunacy and lunatic) and various "magical phenomena" such as lycanthropy. Psychologists, however, have found that there is no strong evidence for effects on human behavior around the time of a full moon. They find that studies are generally not consistent, with some showing a positive effect and others showing a negative effect. In one instance, the December 23 , 2000 issue of the British Medical Journal published two studies on dog bite admissions to hospitals in England and Australia. The study of the Bradford Royal Infirmary found that dog bites were twice as common during a full moon, whereas the study conducted by the public hospitals in Australia found that they were less likely.

The term "blue moon" traditionally referred to an "extra" moon in a season: if a season had four full moons (rather than the more common three), then the third of the four moons was known as a blue moon.

A simpler definition, that the second full moon in a calendar month is known as a blue moon, became common in the second half of the twentieth century due to a misinterpretation of the Maine Farmer's Almanac in the March 1946 Sky & Telescope magazine - this was corrected in 1999.

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : When you look up at a beautiful full moon, do you ever wonder about it? The full moon for September occured this past Monday the 15th. Full moon is a lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. More precisely, a full moon occurs when the geocentric apparent longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180 degrees - the Moon is then in opposition with the Sun. At this time, as seen by viewers on earth, the hemisphere of the Moon that is facing the earth (the near side) is fully illuminated by the Sun and appears round. Only during a full moon is the opposite hemisphere of the Moon, which is not visible from Earth (the far side), completely unilluminated.

As a lunar month is about 29.531 days long, the full moon falls on either the 14th or 15th of the lunar month in those calendars that start the month on the new moon. In any event, the period between full moons can be either 29 or 30 days.

Although it takes only 27.322 days on average for the Moon to complete one orbit around the Earth (the sidereal month), as a result of the Earth's orbital motion around the Sun it requires about two additional days for the Earth, Moon, and Sun to acquire the same relative geometry. So on average the number of days between two similar phases (e.g., between one full moon and the next full moon) is about 29.531 days. This period is referred to as a lunation, lunar month, or synodic month. The actual number of days in a lunation can vary from about 29.272 to 29.833 because the velocities of the Moon and of the Earth are not constant in their elliptic orbits, and because of gravitational interactions with other bodies in the solar system.

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : If you will be traveling to a warm area such as Hawaii or the Caribbean soon, snorkeling is a fun activity in these areas. Because of the clear water and beautiful coral reefs, there is lots to see. Be sure to follow these safety tips and have a great time!

* Practice in shallow water.

* Check the equipment carefully and know how it functions.

* Learn how to clear water from the snorkel.

* Learn how to put your mask back on when you tread water.

* Be careful not to swim or be carried by a current too far from shore or the boat.

* Never snorkel alone.

* Learn to swim. the best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. This includes anyone participating in any water sport. The American Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability.

* Know local weather conditions. Make sure the water and weather conditions are safe. Because water conducts electricity, it is wise to stop swimming, boating or any activities on the water as soon as you see or hear a storm. Also, heavy rains can make certain areas dangerous.

Have fun - be safe!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : With all the tropical storms and hurricanes lately, it is appropriate to talk about ocean safety. If you live near the coast you probably know this already, but for those of us who only see a beach on vacation it is important. And since there is plenty of time for a vacation before cold weather sets in, the time is right. Read on for your safety.

* Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim - this includes adults and children. The American Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability.

* Stay within the designated swimming area, ideally within the visibility of a lifeguard.

* Never swim alone.

* Check the surf conditions before you enter the water. Check to see if a warning flag is up or check with a lifeguard for water conditions, beach conditions, or any potential hazards. Pay attention to posted danger signs.

* Stay away from piers, pilings, and diving platforms when in the water.

* Keep a lookout for aquatic life. Water plants and animals may be dangerous. Avoid patches of plants. Leave animals alone.

* Make sure you always have enough energy to swim back to shore.

* Don't try to swim against a current if caught in one. Swim gradually out of the current, by swimming across it.

Have fun - be safe!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : Many of you will be celebrating Labor Day weekend with a fun trip to a lake or river with your family. Here are some safety tips before you head out. We'll be at the Bay!

* Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim - this includes adults and children. The American Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability.

* Select a supervised area. A trained lifeguard who can help in an emergency is the best safety factor. Even good swimmers can have an unexpected medical emergency in the water. Never swim alone.

* Select and area that is clean and well maintained. A clean bathhouse, clean restrooms, and a litter-free environment show the management's concern for your health and safety.

* Select an area that has good water quality and safe natural conditions. Murky water, hidden underwater objects, unexpected drop-offs, and aquatic plant life are hazards. Water pollution can cause health problems for swimmers. Strong tides, big waves, and currents can turn an event that began as fun into a tragedy.

* Make sure the water is deep enough before entering headfirst. Too many swimmers are seriously injured every year by entering headfirst into water that is too shallow. A feetfirst entry is much safer than diving.

* Be sure rafts and docks are in good condition. A well-run open-water facility maintains its rafts and docks with no loose boards or exposed nails. Never swim under a raft or dock. Always look before jumping off a dock or raft to be sure no one is in the way.

* Avoid drainage ditches and arroyos. Drainage ditches and arroyos for water run-off are not good places for swimming or playing in the water. After heavy rains, they canquickly change into raging rivers that can easily take a human life. Even the strongest swimmers are no match for the power of the water. Fast water and debris in the current make ditches and arroyos very dangerous.

Have fun - be safe!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : If you are planning a trip where you would like to try Skin or SCUBA diving, read these safety tips. There are tourist/vacation destinations that offer beginner SCUBA diving but for a lengthier dive read below.

* Receive instructions/take lessons from qualified divers before participating.

* Get a medical examination and take a swim test before learning SCUBA diving.

* Once certified, do not dive in rough or dangerous waters or in environments for which you are not trained. Ice, cave, and shipwreck diving require special training. One can easily get lost or trapped and run out of air.

* Never dive by yourself.

* Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim.

* Know local weather conditions. Make sure the water and weather conditions are safe. Because water conducts electricity, it is wise to stop swimming, boating or any activities on the water as soon as you see or hear a storm. Also, heavy rains can make certain areas dangerous.

Have fun and be safe!

Jody Victor