What is an iPod? Who are you, my mother? Well, it`s a reasonable enough question. Chances are that you are probably aware that it`s an iPod is a little gadget that your grandson wants for his birthday and that its costs a lot of money and what wrong with this transistor radio anyway? What`s wrong? Everything.

You want to know what is an iPod? It`s a product created by Apple. Depending on which version you have its possibilities for functionality are seeming to approach limitless. Lets assume that you`re going to pick up the new 5th generation for the grandkid, because if he`s like most kids nowadays, he`s probably rude, disrespectful and ungratefulÅunless he gets exactly what he wants; which is a 5th generation iPod.

When he opens it up and starts it up he`ll be looking at the possibility of storing up to 15,000 songs, and oddly enough he will too. He`ll be able to load his iPod up with 25,000 crystal clear color photos. His new best friend has the capacity to store up to 150 hours videos or movies that all have the same quality as the photos. And he can roam the mean streets of your quiet town for 20 hours before this thing runs out of batteries.

So aside from everything that should have tempted you to buy the kid one long ago, excellent quality, great capacity, podcast possibilities, etc; you`ve got every reason in the world to push aside your concerns. The new iPods are smaller, lighter, and have more options than one could reasonably want. The new 5th generation iPod does so many things that you won`t be asking what is an iPod, but what isn`t an iPod.

Making plans for the future brings mixed feelings. It is right to concentrate on the good things, but sometimes there are things you would rather not think about. A funeral is one of those things. You may not have considered planning a funeral in
advance, but there are several reasons why it can bring great peace of mind.

Bereavement usually brings with it emotional and financial burdens. However, you can spare your loved ones much of the burden of having to make difficult decisions at an upsetting time.

The cost of many funerals has more than doubled in the last 10 years, and prices are set to continue to increase in the future.

If you have savings set aside for your funeral, you can never be sure that there will be enough - or you may be setting aside more than you really need to. It makes good sense to guard against unknown price rises.

A prepaid funeral plan is the way to be absolutely certain that the services of the funeral director will be provided and there will be nothing more to pay for these services.

Bereaved relatives usually arrange a funeral and may be unsure what was actually wanted. It helps to do something at times of sadness, but it is not a good time to make important decisions - which, if wrong, cannot be put right later. Planning ahead for your funeral can be a great help in alleviating the emotional and financial burdens that naturally accompany bereavement and those who remain will remember your thoughtfulness.

There is also some quiet satisfaction to be gained from putting your affairs in order and reflecting on the most appropriate arrangements. People worry that their wishes will not be carried out. It is important to realise that any funeral wishes set out in your Will or other letters or documents are only requests. Your executors are under no obligation to carry out your wishes. However, if you own a prepaid funeral plan, your guarantee is with a funeral director and your wishes are set out in your guarantee certificate.

When you pre-arrange your funeral with your pre-paid funeral plan you can:
Decide on your funeral service and select a suitable arrangement
Settle on a method of payment to match your circumstances
Select who benefits under the plan
Have comfort, reassurance and freedom from worry and stress
Ensure no hidden extras are charged

Why not give it some thought?

How to meditate? Breath, and watch your breath.

Among the documented benefits of meditation are less anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in irritability and moodiness, better learning ability and memory and greater creativity. That's just for starters. Then there is slower aging (possibly due to higher DHEA levels), feelings of vitality and rejuvenation, less stress (actual lowering of cortisol and lactate levels), rest (lower metabolic and heart rate), lower blood pressure, and higher blood oxygen levels

How to Meditate Right Now

Here's a simple technique that will give you results in minutes. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and tense up your whole body. Sigh deeply, then breath deeply through your nose and release the tension from every muscle. Just feel each part relaxing, watching for parts that may hold onto tension, like a tight jaw.

If you still have tension somewhere, tense up that part again, then let it relax. It may also help to repeat silently "relax" as the tension drains. This will train your body and mind to recognize relaxation. Later you may be able to relax more easily just by repeating "relax" a few times.

Breath through your nose. This is important because it brings in more oxygen by involving your diaphragm more. You can test this. Breath with your mouth and you'll notice that your breathing is shallower. Then breath through your nose and you'll notice that your abdomen extends more. Air is being drawn deeper into your lungs.

Allow your breathing to fall into a comfortable pattern, and pay attention to it. Pay attention to your breath as it passes in and out of your nose. Your mind may wander endlessly, but all you have to do is continually bring attention back to your breath.

If your mind is still too busy, try naming the distractions as a way of setting them aside. For example, say in your mind, "itchy leg," "worried about work," or "anger," and then immediately return attention to your breathing. Use any way you can to identify and set aside distractions.

That's it. Continue for five or ten minutes, or for 100 breaths. Afterwards, open your eyes and sit there for a few seconds. You'll feel relaxed, and your mind will feel refreshed. And you'll be better prepared for any mental challenges. That's how to meditate.