Posts Tagged ‘hobbies’
1977 Triple Crown Winner Seattle Slew
Seattle Slew, horse racing’s lone remaining living Triple Crown winner, passed away on May 7, 2002 at the age of 28. Already ranked among the all time greats by virtue of this accomplishment alone, Slew is even more notable as the only Triple Crown winner to go undefeated as a three year hold. He came from humble beginnings, bought at public auction–the only Triple Crown winner to be acquired in this manner. After retiring to stud in’78 he remained a very profitable horse based on a stud fee of $300,000. His offspring earned over $76 million dollars at the race track and include over 100 stakes race winners including’84 Kentucky Derby champion Swale.
The Seattle Slew story began very modestly at a public auction in Lexington, Kentucky. The Keeneland Summer Yearling sale wasn’t supposed to be the marketplace of champions, and the idea that this particular horse would ever amount to anything other than a farmhand was downright laughable. He was somewhat clumsy looking due to a front right forefoot splay and had a shuffling gait at trot. Slew wasn’t a beautifully majestic creature like his Triple Crown winning predecessor, Secretariat. Slew was borderline ugly. So ungainly a creature was he that he was given the less than inspiring nickname “Baby Huey” by the Keeneland staff. He was purchased by two couples (Karen and Mickey Taylor and Jim and Sally Hill) for $17,500. What wasn’t apparent at the yearling sale was the intangibles that make up a championship thoroughbred–poise under pressure, love of competition, toughness, heart and desire. His owners had unwittingly stumbled onto an equine Muhammad Ali, and his competitive fire quickly became apparent to his trainers and jockeys. His first race came at Belmont Park in’76, and he entered–and won–three races as a two year old giving a glimpse as to what like ahead.
Slew quickly became a horse to watch as a three year old as he won three Derby prep races including the Wood Memorial. In the Derby, Slew got off to a terrible start as he stumbled out of the gate. He recovered from the miscue and essentially bulled his way through a pack of horses to lead at the 1/4 mile pole. Slew would win the Derby by a length and 3 quarters. He took another tough victory at the Preakness before clinching the Triple Crown with a 4 length victory in the Belmont Stakes.
Slew continued to campaign as a four year old, but in the days before the Breeder’s Cup there weren’t many opportunities for an older horse. He retired to stud in’78, where he sired champions such as the aforementioned Swale and’92 Belmont Champ AP Indy. Slew stood at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky from’85 until early 2002 when he was moved to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, KY following a spinal operation.
Slew may not have earned the appreciation he deserved in his prime, coming so closely on the heels of the charismatic’73 Triple Crown winner Secretariat–arguably the greatest thoroughbred race horse in history. The jockeys that rode him, however, understood fully what a special animal they were dealing with. Jockey Angel Cordero gave Seattle Slew this lofty praise: “If I had a chance to take any horse in the world, if someone said your life is depending on riding one horse to win, I would take (Slew). I rode 44,000 horses, but he was special, he was different. He was muscled, like a wrestler. He ran different than any other horse. It was like he came from another planet.”
Following his death in 2002, Slew was laid to rest at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Kentucky under a statue memorializing his legacy.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Tags: animals, enteratinment, hobbies, horse racing, horses, leisure, Recreation, Sports, thoroughbred racing, Travel
Saints Shock Colts To Win Superbowl
The New Orleans Saints used a 14 point fourth quarter to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 on Sunday to win their first Superbowl in franchise history. Drew Brees broke open a tight game midway through the final quarter with his touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey, and Tracy Porter scored on a 74 yard interception return as the Colts were driving on the next series to secure the victory. Brees completed 32 passes in the game, tying New England’s Tom Brady for the all time record in that category.
After enthusiasts had come in early on the favored Colts, a good deal of buyback on the Saints had pushed the line to -4′ and the New Orleans backers were enriched by their team’s outright victory. The underdog has now covered three straight Superbowls and taken the money in five of the last seven games. The 48 points scored stayed well under the posted total of 57.
In his postgame interview, a jubilant Brees gave much of the credit to the city of New Orleans:
“We play for so much more than ourselves. We played for our city. We played for the entire Gulf Coast region. We played for the entire Who Dat nation that has been behind us every step of the way. It means everything. We’re here because of their strength and everything they fought through here the last few years. They’ve given us so much support, so we owe it all to our fans.”
“Just to think of the road we’ve all traveled, the adversity we’ve all faced. It’s unbelievable. I mean, are you kidding me? Four years ago, whoever thought this would be happening? Eighty-five percent of the city was under water. Most people left not knowing if New Orleans would ever come back, or if the organization would ever come back. We just all looked at one another and said, ‘We’re going to rebuild together. We are going to lean on each other.’ That’s what we’ve done the last four years and this is the culmination in all that belief.”
Peyton Manning had little to say after the game particularly about the interception return that sealed the victory for New Orleans:
“Made a great play. Made a great play. Corner made a heck of a play. Certainly disappointing, very disappointing. Disappointing.”
Saints’ coach Sean Payton made a bold call at the beginning of the second half when he called for an onside kick. New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Casalis suggested it was a game changing play:
“We were really excited when he made the call. That changed everything.”
Payton explained the unusual decision:
“We’re going to be aggressive. We’d seen the onside kick all week and guys executed it well. It turned out to be a big change of possession.”
The city of New Orleans will celebrate their team’s victory with a parade. With Mardi Gras celebrations already scheduled to begin shortly thereafter, it could be quite some time before New Orleans returns to business as usual.
Ross Everett is a staff handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is in charge of providing daily free sports picks to Internet sites and broadcast media outlets. He is a widely published freelance writer specializing in sports handicapping, auto racing, wombat breeding and falconry. He lives in Las Vegas with three dogs and a herd of wombats.
Tags: Entertainment, football, hobbies, Marketing, NFL football, Recreation, Sports, Superbowl
Ever Thought About Astronomy
Astronomy and space is all about lust for learning. Did you also know that astronomy is also one of the oldest subject’s of study for man kind? In fact, astronomy is one of the earliest sciences that humanity has ever pursued. The study of our solar system and all the other stars is not a new science, but it is a science non the less. This is a science for everyone. Strangely, though everyone you talk to can tell you there zodiac sign, but they know very little about astronomy.
While astronomy is a science, it has become more of a hobby than anything else. International boundaries blur when it comes to the study of astronomy.. Astronomy is more of an exact science than any other science that people study. It is also an observational science that requires observations and precise calculations, particularly when recording the positions of the constellations. Astronomy is truly bigger than all of us.
The use of physics and astrophysics is extremely important when researching the stars. So is there a difference between astronomy and astrophysics? The study of astrophysics is more the study of how the stars and universe formed to begin with. Astronomy is more a matter of making observations.
The telescope is undoubtedly a very important investigative tool in astronomy. Galileo was the first person to use the telescope to aid him in the study of the stars. Purchasing a telescope is something that most people who get interested in astronomy need to do.
If you want to buy you a telescope, but it all looks confusing to you, be sure to do some analysis. Buying a telescope is almost the same as buying a car or clothing, no two people are looking for the same thing due to the fact that all people have different tastes. While you will want to get the best telescope you can find you must understand that they can cost anywhere from a hundred to a few thousand dollars so make an affordable choice for your needs.
Telescope parts and accessories can be a very useful addition to your astronomy experience. If you’re just starting out, look for a quality, affordable telescope for beginning astronomy students and casual observers.
You may want to search in your family and friends garage’s and attic’s, many people have a telescope packed away somewhere. Of course if you want the best telescope with all the latest features and technology, your not going to find them packed away anywhere, you will need to buy a new telescope. Once you get your new telescope you will find that you will use it often, as most people use there telescopes quite often for star parties or just for gazing at the stars.
Public curiosity in astronomy is unlimited. The study of the sky’s is the key to unlocking the secrets of the stars. As mentioned above, it may be a science, but it also is an outdoor nature hobby. And while it is a science, you don’t need to think about what other people think of you, because everyone thinks that it is really cool. Looking at the stars is also a great way to get the whole family together for some quality time, don’t forget that everyone is curious about astronomy and our universe.
Do you read your horoscope? Did you know that your horoscope is created by the stars.
If you would like to get your free daily horoscope, even for pisces, use one of these hyperlinks.
Tags: Arts, astronomy, Education, Entertainment, Family, hobbies, hobby, home & family, horoscope, learn, Metaphysical, reference, religion, Science
Should Parents Allow Their Children To Play With Airsoft Guns?
Many parents become alarmed when their children avidly ask for airsoft guns for special occasions. Airsoft guns are actually harmless as long as the proper safety protocols are followed.
People utilizing the airsoft guns are inadvertently using the safest guns on the market today. There are still people that would like nothing more but to have them banned regardless of the safety features that they instill. However, before you make a final decision on the guns and if they are good or not for your children, it would behoove you to learn a little bit more about them.
Airsoft guns are realistic looking toy guns that fire pellets at a speed of 25 to 45m. The guns are nothing like the old BB guns that many people consistently compare them to. They will not fire out any windows or cause any ailments as long as you follow the safety precautions that go along with the guns.
The guns have been around for a series of 30 years, so inadvertently they are not as new as many people avidly presume them to be. The guns are designed for a plethora of recreational activities which include paintball, target practice and even war simulation games.
The guns were created in Japan. During the time of their creation firearms in Japan were prohibited, however people still wanted a gun that would serve a recreational purpose. They decide to make a non-lethal pellet that would shoot from the gun instead of a bullet or BB that could cause ailments.
The guns began to grow in popularity all over Japan, and eventually the guns were put onto the main market. Guns started being produced in the Philippines, Hong Kong and finally made it big upon being introduced to the UK and the USA.
There are three main types of airsoft guns that you can obtain. The first gun is a spring operated gun, there is also the gas powered gun, as well as the battery powered gun. All of the guns serve the same purpose of being able to create a recreational experience for anyone that utilizes them.
The guns are fairly simply to use, and they are noted as being extremely safe as well. The guns launch plastic pellets which have been recorded to not cause any unnecessary ailments.
In order to assure that your children are safe when playing with the airsoft guns you need to ensure that they adhere to the safety precautions that come along with the guns. All children should consistently be clothed in a protective mask, goggles, and a pair of gloves when they are operating the guns.
All players who want to do anything with the airsoft guns should be equipped in the proper protective wear. It seems as if many kids are already used to different safety precautions that they must follow, therefore getting them to wear protective equipment while playing with their airsoft guns should not be a difficult task.
You should pay attention to the underlying laws of airsoft gun usage. Making sure that your children are following the proper gun safety protocols will make playing with airsoft guns enjoyable and take a little bit of stress off of you buying a gun for them as well.
Author: Anthoy Carter is very into the sport of airsoft and is very knowlegdeable about airsoft guns. Go to this website to find the best place to find airsoft guns.
Tags: airsoft guns, Entertainment, Extreme, Family, games, Gifts, guns, hobbies, Home, Recreation, safety, self-defense, Sports, toys
CFL Canadian Football For The American NFL Football Fan
Its that time of the year again–Americans are getting ready for football. In a few months NFL teams will be opening training camp and college football teams starting practice. Up north, however, the footballs are already flying as pro football is in full swing up in Canada with the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Most Americans dont realize that the CFL has a lengthy and storied history. The league itself has been around since’30, and the Canadian Football championship–known as the Grey Cup–has been contended since’09. More recently, American fans are aware that a number of NFL stars got their start in the CFL including Doug Flutie, Jim Kelly, and Jeff Garcia.
The CFL is very high level professional football, but there are some significant differences between it and the NFL game:
First of all, the football itself is bigger–the CFL ball is larger than its American counterpart. If you know anything about rugby, its roughly the same as a #3 rugby ball meaning it is somewhat longer and fatter than the NFL ball. The CFL field is also longer (110 yards) and wider (65 yards vs. the NFLs 53.5 yards), and the CFL end zones are 20 yards deep as opposed to 10 yards in the NFL. The CFL goal posts are on the goal line, while the NFLs are on the end line at the back of the endzone.
Teams have 12 players on the field at once as opposed to 11 in the NFL. On offense, the extra player is a receiver, on defense a defensive back. And unlike the American game, where teams have 4 downs to move the ball ten yards the CFL has only 3. Maybe the hardest thing to get used to when listening to CFL broadcasts is the frequently references to teams going two and out. There are a few other subtle differences as well”teams only have 1 time out per half, only 20 seconds between plays, and all backfield players can be in motion prior to the snap (as opposed to only one in the NFL).
There are also differences in the scoring of the game. The first time I saw a CFL score tied 1-1 at the end of the first quarter I thought I was hallucinating. A major rule difference between the CFL and NFL is the fact that teams can score a single point, which those clever Canadians call a single. Basically, a team is awarded a single point for a missed field goal or a punt that lands in the end zone.
Of all the rule differences between the NFL and CFL the one that has the most significance on the game isnt enforced on the field; its enforced in the GMs office. Canadians are big on laws and rules to protect their national identity–thats why their TV and radio stations are required to devote a certain percentage of their airplay to Canadian content. That has led to a number of Canadian-only media stars both good (The Tragically Hip, Sloan) and bad (Avril Lavigne, early 90s white rapper Snow). The CFL has a similar rule which requires that’ of the 40 players on a roster must be Canadian born. This keeps the CFL from becoming a de facto NFL developmental league, and helps maintain its unique identity.
Many US football fans look at the rules that include more players, a wider field, and fewer downs meant to encourage more passing and expect to see a wide open high scoring style of play similar to Arena Football. That’s not really how it works out–most games end up with final score totals in the 40’s, but the game itself really isn’t much more offensively oriented than its American counterpart. The rules may be different, but as in the NFL you need a solid rushing game and a stout defense to win games and championships.
There’s also more parity in the CFL than even the NFL, which is famous for the competitive equality of their teams. The reason is fairly simple–football at the high school and college level in Canada simply isn’t as competitive as in the US. That means the mandated ratio of native players also serves to facilitate parity within the CFL.
Considering the 21 non- Canadians on the team, its also important to remember that the CFL doesnt get the pick of the litter of American football talent. Certainly those who have the ability are in the NFL, or on an NFL practice or developmental squad. While some players are uniquely suited for the CFL game–former Clemson University QB Nealon Greene, for example, who couldnt make the NFL but has had a lengthy career in Canada–most of the Americans in the CFL are players whose ability just isnt up to NFL levels. Remember Vince McMahon’s failed XFL experiment? That gives a good indication of the type of American player that ends up in Canada.
Despite the differences between the CFL and American football, at the end of the day its still high level, professional football. Once you understand the unique aspects of the CFL, it’ll become second nature much as NFL viewers quickly assimilate rule changes there.
You wont see CFL news on ESPN, since theyre more interested in featuring spelling bees and lumberjack competitions and letting their personalities like Stuart Scott show how clever they are than covering sports. The good news is that the CFL receives extensive coverage in the Canadian press and all you need to do is visit a couple of websites to stay up to date. Each CFL city has their own sports media, and most have pretty good websites. The best one stop shopping can be found at the leagues own and Slam! Sports, which is roughly the Canadian equivalent of ESPNs website and has extensive CFL news, opinions and statistics.
Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.
Tags: Canadian Football League, Entertainment, football, hobbies, Marketing, Recreation, Sports, Travel
NY Jets Rip Hapless Raiders
The New York Jets and rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez found a sure fire cure to their recent struggles-a game against the lowly Oakland Raiders. Sanchez passed for–3 yards and a touchdown, plus added a rushing touchdown as New York thumped Oakland 38-0 in the largest regular season shutout win in franchise history. Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell continued to struggle, and he passed for just 61 yards with three interceptions before he was benched in favor of Bruce Gradowski. The Jets improved their record to 4-3 while the Raiders dropped to 2-5.
NFL football betting enthusiasts who took the Jets as -6 road favorites had smooth sailing throughout the game for an easy pointspread cover. The Jets improved to 4-3 against the spread while the Raiders fell to 3-5 against the number. The 38 points scored went OVER the posted total of 34. Oakland failed to score a touchdown for the 15th game in the past four seasons.
It was such an effortless game that the only thing that Sanchez had to apologize for was surreptitiously eating a hot dog near the end of the contest:
“I want to apologize for that. I wasn’t feeling very good and didn’t eat much before the game, so I was feeling a little queasy. Toward the end of the game, I probably should have eaten one of those bars or something, but someone offered a hot dog, so I grabbed it and tried to be discreet about it, but obviously not discreet enough. So I shouldn’t have done that, and it won’t happen again.”
Sanchez praised the defense for making his job easy:
“It makes it so easy on the offense when your defense is playing like that. Hats off to them, they had a heck of a game to shut that team out. I don’t care who we’re playing, that’s a big-time accomplishment for our team.”
Jets’ coach Rex Ryan was very pleased with Sanchez’s performance:
“Sanchez was great. He was just smart with the football. I think sometimes he could have put the ball on a receiver, but he was making sure the ball wasn’t intercepted. It was great to see him respond.”
Raiders’ defensive lineman Richard Seymour, who boldly predicted the team would make the playoffs despite their slow start, was singing a different tune after the rout:
“I don’t think we could have beaten an Oakland high school team today.”
Despite Russell’s struggles, Oakland coach Tom Cable remains committed to him as the team’s starter:
“I thought he was really out of sorts early in the game. I just did not feel like at that point he gave us the best chance to have the success we needed to have offensively and made the move. JaMarcus will continue to be our starter. There is no issue there.”
The Raiders will try to bounce back this weekend in a big rivalry game on the road against the San Diego Chargers. Oakland is +16′ road underdogs with the total set at 42′. They’ll then enjoy a bye week before back to back home games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals. The Jets host Miami this Sunday, with New York a -3′ home favorite and the total set at 40′.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Tags: football, hobbies, NFL football, Recreation, Sports
Future Book Betting Traps And How To Avoid Them
Sports betting futures wagers can be an entertaining and profitable investment, but there are a number of pitfalls. These are some things to avoid:
You gotta shop around: More specifically, you have to ’shop points’ just as you would with a straight bet. This is crucial in all forms of sports betting but particularly key with futures wagers. There are often greater variances in the prices from book to book on future plays than any other type of wagering proposition. The reason for this is simple–most books are less concern with what the ‘other guys’ are doing as they are with keeping their own position ‘in balance’. All in all, the sports betting marketplace just doesn’t react as quickly to changing futures prices as it does to individual game lines.
Don’t try to pick the winner in a competitive marketplace: This may sound sort of counter intuitive since the general idea of betting on futures is to determine the actual winner but it’s really not. Like everything else, its essential to always be mindful of the value you’re getting. In a futures market with several legitimate contenders at the top the price offered is seldom high enough to properly compensate for the risk you’re assuming. Here’s an example: in a hypothetical NCAA hoops tournament Duke is +200 to win the national championship. They’ve certainly got a shot, but at a payback of only 2/1 its hard to justify a wager at this point with the potential for so many interceding events that can make a championship more problematic. Such events as injuries, a tough tournament draw or even just going into a slump at the wrong time can happen to any team but when you bet a higher priced team–a ‘dark horse mid major at 15/1 for example–you’re getting “compensation” for assuming the “risks” of betting on a proposition with so many unknown variables.
In more theoretical terms, the ‘true odds’ of a Duke or similar top team winning the tournament are almost always higher than the price offered. Think of it this way–say we’re betting Duke to win the national title at 2/1. This means that the Blue Devils would have to win more than 33% of the time to break even. So lets say, for the sake of argument, that we could play the tournament over 100 times. Would Duke come out on top more than 33 of these times? If not, they represent a poor value. Let’s say that they win 30 of 100 times. This means that any price under +333 or thereabouts is a poor wagering value.
Note that the more competitive the market, the more difficult it is to find good value on a favorite. In a smaller field, or in a field with one dominant competitor it can be easier. For example, say the UFC were to have a tournament involving heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and three male figure skaters. Even if Lesnar was slightly injured, or not at the top of his game he’d essentially have a 100% chance of beating the smaller, effeminate men who are untrained to fight. If a book installed Lesnar as a -1000 favorite in this spot, it could still be considered a good value. It’s never easy to risk a lot to win a little, but from strictly a mathematical standpoint it makes sense.
Don’t go for the big killing: Sports wagering is not a good arena in which to make a ‘big killing’. It may happen from time to time, but it is extremely rare. A perennial doormat can come out of nowhere to win a championship at a big price, but the fact that it happens from time to time doesn’t make it a good value. If you’re a recreational player and want to throw a few dollars at a big long shot, no real harm. If you aspire to any degree of seriousness as a sports better, however, you need to maintain your discipline and commitment to value at all times. If you want to hit a big jackpot play the lottery or the slot machines, but don’t try to do it in a sports betting paradigm.
Wagering value is just as important at the bottom of the barrel as it is at the top. Just because you’re getting a huge potential payback on a big dog doesn’t make it a good value. Make sure that the payback you’re getting presents an overlay situation–even on a huge underdog.
Don’t waste your money on ridiculous prop bets: Occasionally sports books offer ridiculous bets to get press or to be funny. For example, a book once offered odds on Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Bruce Willis all hopping into bed together and releasing a video tape of the proceedings. You’d no doubt get a huge payback were this to happen, but the ‘true odds’ of such an event transpiring far exceeded even a big potential payback.
Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Tags: Entertainment, Finance, gambling, hobbies, Marketing, Recreation, reference, Sports, sports betting, Travel
Cris Cyborg Mauls Gina Carano In Strikeforce Main Event
Gina Carano put womens MMA on the map, but Cris Cyborg Santos may have become the sports first dominant female champion by virtue of her overwhelming TKO victory in the main event of Saturdays STRIKEFORCE event. Cyborg simply was too physically strong and her punches too powerful for Carano, who fought valiantly before succumbing to a barrage of ground and pound punches at the end of the first round.
Before a near capacity crowd at San Joses HP Pavilion, Carano and Cyborg made history as the first women to headline a major US mixed martial arts event. The crowd went nuts for Carano, who was accompanied into the arena by Randy Couture who trained her for the matchup.
Despite the fight being scheduled for five rounds of five minutes each, the women set a frantic pace from the opening horn. Cyborgs size and strength advantage was apparent from the outset, as she landed an immediate flurry of punches before taking Carano to the canvas. Carano landed in top position, but quickly found herself in trouble as Cyborg worked for a kneebar and then a heel hook.
Carano was able to land a couple of effective jabs on the ensuing standup exchange, but Cyborg caught a body kick attempt and quickly closed the distance again. Cyborg once again took her opponent to the mat and after an unsuccessful armbar attempt mounted Carano and began a brutal punching assault that eventually forced the stoppage at 4:59 of the first round.
Despite Cyborgs triumph the most dominating performance of the evening belonged to former DREAM middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi. In his first fight at 205, Mousasi destroyed STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight champion Renato Babalu Sobral via TKO at the 1:00 mark of the first round.
Earlier in a card full of decisive finishes, Gilbert Melendez became STRIKEFORCE interim lightweight champion with a third round TKO victory over the double tough Mitsuhiro Ishida. Melendez will now face Josh Thompson to unify the belts once Thompson is medically cleared to resume fighting.
Ross Everett is a freelance writer and highly respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Tags: Entertainment, hobbies, mixed martial arts, MMA, Recreation, Sports
Sculpting Engraving And Cutting
Have you ever noticed a magnificent sculpture and marveled at its spatial features? Do you ever notice a tombstone with many words on it and wonder how they were placed there? These two share commonly share the same form of technology namely, laser cutting technology.
Throughout the nineteenth century, the ubiquitous form of sculpting, engraving, and crafting of many objects was the traditional welding method. This method was a process in which the raw materials would be heated until they were entirely melted into liquid and then would fill up vessels that would become their final shapes.
Engraving also shared a similar process in which the raw stone or metal would have letters carved out of it with a chain saw like machine manipulated skillfully by a welder. Thus, the letters would be imprinted on the stones and metals forever. This was one of the most common forms of engraving.
However, an even earlier process of engraving existed, and that was none other than the classic chiseling method. One would take a metal or wooden pick (chisel) and would chip away at a stone or larger rock little by little.
The chiseling method was used commonly for engraving tombstones as well as cornerstones of new foundations of buildings built in the early nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Today, however, a new form of cutting and engraving exists because of technological advances, the laser cutter. As laser technology developed into one of the leading industries in the US with, for example, laser eye and cosmetic surgeries, laser technology has also been applied to the engraving and shaping of metals and stones.
This laser technology has made its way to the world of sculpting, crafting, and engraving as well, creating one of the most easy to use forms of art creation available today.
Many famous sculptors around the world choose to sculpt their creations with laser cutters because laser cutting is far superior to other methods previously mentioned with regards to precision and angles. Even tombstone and plaque engravings are fashioned with laser cutters in order to create a sharp, clean look.
Whitaker Perrets is a laser cutting technology expert and laser cutting professional. To find out more details concerning the benefits of engraving with laser cutters view the Jamieson website online. Whitaker is an SEO specialist based with SEO services company ClickResponse.
Tags: crafting, design, Family, hobbies, imprinting, laser cutter, laser cutters, laser engraving machine, shaping, stone and metal imprints
College Football Flashback: 2008 SEC Championship Game
The Florida Gators rampage through the SEC reached its culmination with a 31-20 victory over #1 ranked Alabama in the conference championship game. This victory set the stage for the Gators’ appearance in the National Championship Game.
The Gators struck first, taking a 7-0 lead on a three yard Tim Tebow TD pass to Carl Moore. The Crimson Tide quickly counterpunched, tying the score on an eighteen yard run by Glen Coffee and taking their first lead of the game at 10-7 several minutes later on a 30 yard FG by Leigh Tiffin. Florida responded in the second quarter, tying the game on a Jonathan Phillips’ yard FG and taking a 17-10 lead into the halftime break on another Tebow TD pass, this one to David Nelson from five yards out. Alabama regained the momentum in the third quarter, tying the score on a 2 yard Mark Ingram touchdown run and then regaining the lead at 20-17 in the final seconds of the period on another Tiffin field goal. Florida put them down for the count in the fourth, however, on a 1 yard Jeffrey Demps TD run followed by Tebows third touchdown strike of the day.
As was the case so often during 2008, Tim Tebow was the big star for the Gators. The junior QB had 216 yards passing with 3 TDs and no interceptions plus fifty seven yards on the ground. Florida head coach Urban Meyer praised Tebow effusively in his post game comments:
“I’ve had some great players, and I’ve got some great players on this team. But I’ve never had one like this. Tim’s got something special inside him. I’m not talking about throwing. I’m not talking about running. I’m talking about making everyone around him better. That fourth quarter was vintage Tim Tebow.
Alabama coach Nick Saban agreed:
“He’s a great competitor. He takes his teammates on his shoulders a lot. They have a lot of confidence he’s going to make plays, and they play that way. They scored two touchdowns where we had them covered about as well as we could cover them.”
The conventional wisdom is that the Gators are a speed and finesse team, but according to cornerback Joe Haden make no mistake that they’re tough:
“Our team is a tough team. The only reason they look past our toughness is our speed. They said we were a speed team and they were a tough team. We’re just as tough. We can still be pretty and fast and tough at the same time.”
Even in defeat, it was impossible to overlook the remarkable resurgance of Alabama football. In only two years at the helm, Nick Saban has amassed a’-7 record at Alabama with no signs of slowing down.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.
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Singapore Actual Day Photography
On a wedding day the two most important people are the wedding couple. An excellent idea would be to isolate the couple from the ongoing celebrations so that the photographer can capture the beautiful intimate moments between them and create some everlasting portraits This helps the couple to get away from the delight of their wedding as well.
Ideally, the photographer would be required to spend a casual amount of quality time with the bride and the groom during the portrait session. On the wedding day it doesn’t always happen because it is rare to have time on the actual day of the wedding. The time taken for pictures can well vary from an hour to no time at all. It can take up to an hour for the photographer to take the pictures.
When is the best time to take aside the bride and groom for some quality time with the photographer?
Most photographers tend to believe that the window before the reception is very suitable for portrait photography, since the couple would still look fresh at that time.
Sometimes the bride and groom would want to start the portrait shoot even before the ceremony says Bradley Hanson, award winning photographer. When the bride is getting ready is when he usually starts photographing.
Other photo journalists believe that the right time for a portrait session is just after the couple has exchanged their vows, and are still are evidently feeling the emotions of being newly-wed.
For the perfect actual day session to begin, the newly-weds should set aside some time to spend with the photographer. Finding a polite way to lose the relatives and guests is sometimes hard but is worth the beautiful moments they will cherish for a lifetime.
A good portrait session on the actual day can be ruined by too many people trying to photograph the newly-weds. As a result of this, most photographers choose to have the couple alone for the shoot so that it is not disturbed by anyone.
Most newly-weds start feeling uncomfortable before the camera when the portrait shoot is going to take place, says Shawna Herring, award winning photographer. To help the couple forget the camera is there, the experienced photographer will try talking to the couple about things other then the portrait shoot.
It is also recommended to choose a day before or after the wedding for the photo shoot and go with the photographer to a different location. To have a good relationship with the photographer this really seems to help loosen them up. In a short time, the couple may even forget the existence of the camera.
It is at times impossible to achieve the perfect alone time with the photographer due to a variety of reasons. The bride and the groom should work together with the photographer to find some alone time so that a really creative portrait session is achieved.
Find out more about the best Food Photographers who are also top in their field for Bridal Photography.
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The Historical Roots Of MMA: Muhammad Ali Vs. Antonio Inoki
Decades before mixed martial arts became popular in the United States, events matching fighters of different fighting disciplines were very common in Japan. They weren’t called “mixed martial arts” at the time, but that’s essentially what they were.There’s an entire history of pro wrestlers fighting specialists from other martial arts (particularly judo) that were leaving out, but during the’70’s Antonio Inoki began to put the concept of “mixed martial arts” on the map with his matches against fighters from other disciplines.
Inoki billed himself as ‘World Martial Arts Champion’ and would frequently face other high profile fighters in contests that are generally believed to have had a pre-determined outcome similar to professional wrestling. Inoki faced a ‘who’s who’ of the martial arts world, but none were more famous than heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
There’s a great deal of uncertainty about many of the stories surrounding how the event came together and transpired, but a few facts are now known. Ali took the fight as it was a large and presumptively easy paycheck. The big money he was earning is what kept him from walking out when his camp started to disagree with Inoki’s handlers over the rules and ‘finish’ fo the fight. Some suggest that it was supposed to be a fair fight going in, but Ali at the last minute insisted on rules more favorable to him. The more likely version of events is that Ali’s handlers agreed to a predetermined finish, only to have Ali balk at the last moment.
The rules that were in place on fight night were so ridiculously one sided in favor of Ali that it almost defies belief. Inoki wasn’t allowed to hit Ali with a closed fist, nor strike him in the head at all. He was also prohibited from using any sort of choke or submission maneuver. Most problematically, he was prohibited from trying to take Ali to the ground. In other words, Inoki was basically not permitted to do anything that would threaten Ali with any sort of physical harm.
Despite the repeated howls from the media that the fight was ‘fixed’, it was anything but–it was a real fight and painfully boring. Ali did next to nothing, Inoki did whatever he could within the one sided rules. Eventually, Inoki spent most of the fight on the ground trying to throw kicks at Ali’s legs. The event ended up as a 74-74 draw. Both fighters got paid, and the fans got to watch a fight albeit a really, really bad one.
An interesting postscript to the fight is that the referee was former pro wrestler “Judo” Gene Labell, a legit tough guy whom some have suggested could have beaten up both Ali and Inoki at the same time despite his advanced age. Had he chosen to do so, it would certainly have been welcomed by those watching the fight live and on closed circuit.
The fiasco didn’t hurt Inoki’s popularity in Japan whatsoever. Oddly, he became something of a hero for trying to take the fight to Ali despite the one sided rules. He would remain one of Japan’s most popular pro wrestlers and later serve in the country’s parliament. Inoki’s fights against other martial artists remained wildly popular, and are often credited as being the forerunner of PRIDE, RINGS and the major MMA organizations in Japan today.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer specializing in casino gambling, entertainment and sports betting. He has appeared on a number of TV and radio programs offering strategies for successful NFL football betting. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pet llama. He is currently writing a biography of former NFL quarterback Jim Plunkett.
Tags: boxing, Celebrities, Entertainment, history, hobbies, leisure, mixed martial arts, MMA, Recreation, Sports, Travel, UFC
The Mapes Hotel: Lost Landmark Of Northern Nevada History
The Mapes Hotel in Reno, Nevada met its demise on Superbowl Sunday of 2000 when 75 pounds of explosives packed inside the structure’s support columns brought it to the ground. The controlled demolition came despite years of effort by a number of groups within the community to preserve the building with lawsuits, redevelopment proposals, and grass roots lobbying efforts. The National Turst for Historic Preservation even took up the cause, challenging the destruction in a lawsuit that eventually reached the Nevada Supreme Court.
While the logic and necessity of demolishing the Mapes is very questionable, one thing that is certain is that the hotel was an important part of Northern Nevada history. The Mapes opened in’47 and with it ushered in a new era for casino gambling and the state of Nevada. Despite some historical revisionism that suggests that the modern era began in Las Vegas with Bugsy Siegel’s famed Flamingo, the Mapes was actually the first building in America to have a hotel, casino and live entertainment under the same roof. The Mapes attracted countless celebrities who’d make it their home when business brought them to Northern Nevada–this included movie stars like Clark Gable, TV stars like the cast of ‘Bonanza’ and political power brokers like infamous anti-Communist crusader Joseph McCarthy.
During the ‘Rat Pack’ era of the 50’s and 60’s it became along with the Cal-Neva Lodge in Lake Tahoe the place to be seen in Northern Nevada. The 11th floor, window walled Sky Room Lounge hosted performances by a roster of entertainment legends including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Milton Berle and Mae West. Downtown Reno struggled during the’60’s and 70’s but the Mapes continued to prosper. The hotel finally closed in’82, due to financial problems experienced by the Mapes Family brought about by their other Northern Nevada casino holdings.
Reno has yet to experience the sort of growth that has been seen in Southern Nevada, and for that reason the destruction of the Mapes is more open to debate than the hotel demolitions to the south. Even the demolition of The Sands–perhaps the most historically significant casino in the state–is hard to argue against given the inability of such a small property to compete in the current Las Vegas marketplace and in light of the value of the mid-strip real estate.
This is not the case in Reno, where land and buildings for development in virtually every casino area are abundant. The official reason that the Mapes had to come down was that the city needed the land–which sits along the banks of the Truckee River–to expand its riverside district of art galleries, restaurants and shops. The revitalization of downtown Reno is definitely needed and a legitimate goal, but at the same time it is hard to think that the Mapes was a barrier to this. Indeed, a number of proposals for redevelopment including office space, artists lofts and upscale senior housing would have probably served to enhance the livability of the downtown area. For whatever reason, the City Redevelopment Authority wouldn’t approve any of the proposals and the fate of the Mapes was sealed.
The role of the City Redevelopment Authority was questioned throughout the process. Overlooking the Truckee River, the hotel was on a prime location between the downtown casino area and the riverfront district. A number of sound financial proposals were presented that would preserve the integrity of the structure including condominiums, office space, and perhaps most viable, upscale senior apartments. Oddly, all of these proposals were turned down by the citys Redevelopment Agency which continued to maintain that demolition was the only viable option despite copious evidence to the contrary.
Following the 2000 demolition, the lot remained vacant for over a year until a temporary ice skating rink was hastily constructed the following winter. The site now houses a permanent ice skating rink which, while not a bad use for the land, isn’t the sort of game changing improvement suggested by the City Redevelopment Agency and their adamant insistence that the building be demolished. To the contrary, it appears they had no specific plan or even general idea of what to do with the land but for some reason wanted to see the hotel come down. This has led to all manner of speculation, ranging from financial self interest to a rumor that the structure was ‘haunted’ and needed to be destroyed to forestall future paranormal activity in Washoe County. Whatever the reason, the city of Reno lost a valuable landmark that played a significant part in the economic growth of the entire state.
Ross Everett is a freelance writer and noted sports betting expert. He is also a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook and is in charge of setting NFL lines. He has written extensively on sports betting theory along with a wide range of other topics including fencing, boxing and falconry.
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Portrait Photography: Some Information
A portraiture, simply known as a portrait, is a picture that shows a person or small group’s facial expression while they are in a still position. The personality, moods and likeness of the person or persons come through. Aside from the face, portrait photography can also include the entire body & the background of the subject. The person or group is usually looking straight at the lens in a portrait picture.
Portrait photography, unlike other styles uses unskilled models. Graduations, special events and weddings are types of occasions where portrait photography is used, and later displayed in private homes. Some are done on studio with several backgrounds to choose from.
The History of Portrait Photography
Ever since the invention of the camera people have been using portrait photography. It was, and is more inexpensive way then having your portrait painted and it is a more available method. People would sit against a background and were lit with natural light from a window. Portrait photography can now be more creative with the way technology has evolve since they can adjust light and move around more.
Methods Of Light
A professional photographer has complete control over the lighting when taking portrait pictures in a studio. They can change the intensity & the direction. Fill lights, background lights, kicker lights & the main lights are a few of the several lighting terms.
The main light is the primary light source. The main light is generally positioned above or below the subject & at a 45 degree angle.The main light can create shadows so the fill light helps to eliminate them. The light that brightens up the hair of the subject is the kicker light. This will help to add depth & to show the separation from the subject & the background. To add effects to the backdrops the background light is used to brighten up the background.
Find out more about the best Food Photographers who are also top in their field for Bridal Photography.
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Left Handed Bow Hunting
Bow hunting is a form of hunting that is gaining a lot of popularity in the United States. There are no limits to the size of the prey. From wild pig and boar to deer, elk and moose hunters enjoy the primal nature of bow hunting every season. If you are interested in getting into bow hunting there are some things you should keep in mind.
Left hand bow hunting is no different from right hand hunting; the cardinal rule is for one to identify the right bow to use. The dominant eye determines if one is right handed or left handed in bow hunting. To be able to determine this is fairly simple; create a small diamond hole using the overlapping index fingers and thumbs, then one must focus on an object seen inside the hole while pulling the hands closer to the face.
What one needs to do is to focus on something inside the hole; while keeping their focus, one must make the hole smaller and gradually bring their hands to their face without losing focus inside the hole. The hands will be naturally drawn toward the dominant eye and will determine which one it is. If the hands are drawn towards the left eye, it means that the archer has a left dominant eye and will require a left hand bow. These left hand bows have become popular and quite easy to find and are easily identifiable as it is held by the right hand while the arrow rest is located at the left of the riser and the strings are drawn by the left hand with the left eye in focus to determine the aim.
In bow hunting, one must be able to remember a few factors to achieve successful hunting. First off is the location; one must be able to scout the area before the actual day of hunting. This will provide one the advantage of knowing the land and where the ideal and strategic post can be found; this will enable one to have a consistent advantage over the game. Doing this a few months earlier than the beginning of the season will enable the prey such as deer or rabbit to regain their confidence in their territory after it has been disturbed by those who have been exploring the area.
When venturing in to the new territory, particularly for the left hand hunters, it is important for them to be able to practice their line of sight and their drawing span; this will make sure that when they are in the actual hunt, no obstacles can hinder their hunting. On the actual day of the hunt, it is also vital for one to pack light and smart. Pack only what is necessary and make sure it will not become a hindrance nor will it create much noise when stalking the prey.
Patience will also play a key role in bow hunting; as without this, there is a big chance that one will only spook the game away from where the hunter strategically stands. The most important tip in hunting is to check the bow and all its components before proceeding with the sport; this will ensure that no mishaps will happen in the course of the hunt.
There are several types of Left hand bows available on the market today. If you are into hunting then the best choice should be to get Left Handed Bowtech Bows.
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