The Possum: George Jones

By James G. Pynn

If you know -- good. If you don't -- you should. George Jones was one of the hardest drinking, fastest living son of a guns in all of country music history. Admittedly living a life modeled after his hero, Hank Williams, George Jones blazed a trail of infamy and heartache across the wide-open plains of country music history. Known for his distinctive voice and loose phrasing style, the exploits of George Jones have passed from mere stories into legend.

It's true: according to Country Music Television, Jones is the "the greatest living country singer" today. In true George Jones style, I'm sure hed say something to the effect, "it's the living part that's tricky." His clever turn of phrases and unusual vocal style can best be sampled on such legendary hits as "Hello Walls" and "If the Drinkin' Don't Kill Me." Then again, all of his songs carry that signature sound.

Of course Jones was famously married to Tammy Wynette. This marriage made in madness was the stuff of legend, often requiring the services of the local sheriff to help them mediate. Of course that's a fancy word for "cool off." Between his drinking problem and her drug addiction, it was not the high point of marital bliss for either one of them, When it all came crashing down in 1975, no one was surprised.

What's age got to do with it? Despite being in to his seventies now, George Jones has not stopped recording or touring. Indeed, he is on tour this summer and is coming to a local gin joint near you. Though there might no be as much pep in his step, his voice is as rich and full as ever. No one can turn a song like The Possum. For those of you not in the know, that's his nickname.

Booking your George Jones tickets is as easy as pie. You just have to follow the links to the best little booking service around. Don't wait until the last minute and fall prey to the scalpers. Get a great ticket at a fair price and sleep well at night. But do it quick, because the Possum is not on tour for long.

About the Author:

Don't stop loving George today. Instead, reserve your George Jones tickets online now. The man and the myth is on tour, so be sure to book your tickets as soon as possible.

Sharpe Actor Sean Bean Announced For Lead In HBO Fantasy Pilot

By Jon Hunter

Well known Sharpe actor Sean Bean, the also stared as Boromir in Lord of the Rings has been announced for a major role the HBO planned series 'A Game of Thrones' which is an adaptation of George RR Martin popular 'Song of Fire and Ice' series of fantasy books.

No date has been set for screening the pilot as yet, and there is no commitment from HBO to a full series either, but with a Serious cast list headed up by Sean Bean, this project has got to be taken seriously.

Sean bean has been cast in lead role of Eddard Stark, who is a Lord who finds himself acting as advisor to the ruthless royal family. Other cast members already confirmed to feature in the Pilot include Kit Harrington, Jack Gleeson, Harry Lloyd, and Peter Dinklage, with more key roles still to be announced.

The show is been adapted and is being produced by David Benioff and Dan Weiss. David Benioff has suggested a 'crappy' tagline for the project could be, "The Sopranos in Middle-earth", which can only get you thinking. If true to the books plot elements that should contain a spot of conspiracy, incest, child murder, corruption, conspiracy, a rival claimant to the throne across the sea, the still-festering legacy of a civil war 20 years before, a growing threat in the North and did I say conspiracy? We should see a show which is much darker than previous fantasy adaptations Sean Bean has starred in.

Production is due to begin in Northern Ireland in October 2009, at Paint Hall Studios in Belfast. It is also rumoured that the BBC will have a financial involvement in the series in a similar way they did with HBO's Rome series.

Sean Bean sprung to fame as Major Richard Sharpe, the ITV series of Sharpe TV films in the early 90's, Was made world famous as Boromir in the Lord of the Rings films, but has also stared in numerous other Hollywood films such as Ronin, Patriot Games and Troy.

About the Author:

Sean Bean shot to fame playing Major Richard Sharpe in the TV adaptation of Bernard Cornwell Sharpe books, the first of which was Sharpe's Eagle.

UK Based Cisco Retraining Online Revealed

By Jason Kendall

If it's Cisco training you're after, but you're new to working with routers, the chances are your first course should be the Cisco CCNA qualification. This educates you in the knowledge you need to understand routers. The internet is constructed from huge numbers of routers, and large companies with multiple departments and sites also rely on them to allow their networks of computers to communicate.

Getting this certification will mean it's likely you'll end up working for large commercial ventures that are spread out geographically, but still want internal communication. Other usual roles could be with an internet service provider. Both types of jobs command good salaries.

The CCNA qualification is the right level to aim for; don't let some salesperson talk you into starting with the CCNP. With experience, you'll find out if this level is required. Should that be the case, you'll have the knowledge you need for the CCNP - which is quite a hard qualification to acquire - and mustn't be entered into casually.

Some training companies are still using a now out-dated method of training - classroom days. Usually touted as a major benefit, if you talk to a student who has had to attend a few, you'll find them listing some or all of these:

* A lot of driving back and forth from the training centre - sometimes quite a distance away.

* Workshop availability; typically weekdays only and sometimes two to three days together. It's not easy to get the days away from work.

* Let's not disregard lost holiday time. Often, we get 4 weeks annual leave. If half is given up to classes, then we aren't going to be doing much vacationing.

* Classes usually become quickly full, leaving us with the '2nd best' solution.

* Tension can run high inside the classroom where the right pace for one student is not the same as another.

* The growing costs associated with travel - driving or taking public transport to the training centre plus several days bed and breakfast can cost a lot each time you attend. With only an average of 5 to 10 workshops costing around 35 pounds for one over-night room, plus 40 pounds petrol and 15.00 for food, that becomes a minimum of four to nine hundred pounds of hidden costs that we now have to fund.

* Most students want their training to remain private thus avoiding all come-back in their work.

* Who amongst us hasn't avoided putting our hand's up, because we wanted to look smarter?

* Working and living away - a fair few attendees need to live or work somewhere else for certain parts of their study. Days in-centre are hard to get to, yet the monies have already been handed over with your initial fees.

The ultimate convenience is by viewing a pre-made workshop - enabling you to learn at any time of day. Consider... If you have a laptop then you're free to work wherever you happen to be at that time. And 24x7 support is only a web-browser click away in case of difficulty. Simply watch and re-watch the modules as many times as you want or need. And of course, you won't need to write any notes as you'll have direct access to the instruction whenever you want to go back to it. Essentially: Time and money is saved, you have reduced hassle and you avoid polluting the skies.

Frequently, your average person doesn't have a clue where to start with a computing career, let alone what market to focus their retraining program on. Consequently, if you've got no understanding of IT in the workplace, how are you equipped to know what someone in a particular field fills their day with? Let alone decide on which training route provides the best chances for a successful result. Contemplation on many factors is required if you need to get to a solution that suits you:

* What hobbies you have and enjoy - these often define what things will give you the most reward.

* Are you aiming to realise a specific aim - like working from home as quickly as possible?

* Where is the salary on a scale of importance - is it the most important thing, or is day-to-day enjoyment higher up on the scale of your priorities?

* Considering all that IT covers, it's a requirement that you can understand the differences.

* Our advice is to think deeply about the level of commitment that you will set aside for your education.

For most people, considering each of these concepts will require meeting with a professional that knows what they're talking about. And we don't just mean the qualifications - but the commercial expectations and needs also.

Many students assume that the school and FE college track is the way they should go. Why then are commercially accredited qualifications beginning to overtake it? As we require increasingly more effective technological know-how, industry has had to move to specialist courses that can only be obtained from the actual vendors - that is companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA. Often this saves time and money for the student. Clearly, a reasonable amount of associated detail must be learned, but precise specialisation in the areas needed gives a vendor trained person a huge edge.

As long as an employer is aware what work they need doing, then they simply need to advertise for someone with a specific qualification. Syllabuses all have to conform to the same requirements and can't change from one establishment to the next (as academic syllabuses often do).

About the Author:

(C) Jason Kendall. Look at LearningLolly.com for clear ideas on CCNA Certification and CCNA Training.

Craps-The Basics

By Simon Skinner

Playing craps can be very confusing for beginners. Craps can get into some very complicated betting strategies and players make or lose a lot of money in the process. Online casino gambling is no different, unless you are playing a free online casino that offers craps you can play with play money or on a freeroll game.

Even the basics of craps can be confusing, so we are only going to stick to the basic betting strategies. Some of the more complicated strategies should definitely be saved for when you have a better understanding of the game or can play for free versus real money online casino gambling.

In live casino games, it is very fast moving and takes four different dealers and a shooter to play. On the free online casino websites, the shooter may rotate around the table and the computer does much of the work on paying out winning bets and collecting losing ones.

The “pass line” bet is the basic online casino gambling bet. Some players use the “don’t pass”, which means the opposite of the winning bet. Each free online casino craps game starts with a “come out” roll, which establishes the point that the shooter has to re-roll before “crapping” out with a roll of seven. The come out roll is distinguished by a marker that says “off”. The only exception is if the 7 or 11 is the come out roll, then you win even money. After that, the 7 means you lose, if it is rolled before you hit the point.

On the come out roll, if you roll a 2, 3 or 12, which is called “craps”, you lose. If you roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that is your point that you have to roll again before the 7. So, the game starts with you using the “pass line” to place your bet, betting on hitting the point before hitting a 7. If you use the “don’t pass” line, it means you are betting that a 7 will hit before hitting the point number.

Example:

The dealer has the black “off” marker on the table, and everybody bets. The shooter rolls the “come out” dice and gets a 7, so everybody wins except for the “don’t pass” bettors, which means the opposite- they lose.

The process starts over, except this time the shooter rolls a 5. The dealer flips the black “off” marker over to the white “on” side and places it next to the 5 on the board. The shooter continues to roll and finally rolls a 5, without hitting a 7 first, so everybody wins, except for the “don’t pass” bettors.

This time, the process starts over and the shooter rolls a 6. The white “on” marker goes on the 6, but the shooter rolls several times and finally rolls a 7, with no 6 coming up first. Everybody loses except for the bettors on the “don’t pass” line and they win.

You can start betting different “odds” as you learn the basics, but online casino gambling at a free online casino is a good way to learn the game, before you get too complicated with your betting by learning “odds” betting.

Is It True Hockey Still A Major Sport?

By Denise I Smithson

Hockey was once one of the four major American sports. The big four were the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League. But yet, even as some in those group dominate the others (the NFL dominates all sports in terms of popularity), the NHL has not been able to really keep up with the others.

However, hockey as dropped off the list of major sports. Right now, NASCAR racing is likely more popular with the general public than NHL hockey. Once one of the most important sports in the US, hockey is now seemingly shut out of the top tier looking in.

Why did the NHL suffer this rapid decline? Was it the lockout which caused there to be no 2004-2005 season? The lockout was only a symptom of a deeper problem; sadly, it all has to do with money rather than the merits of hockey as a sport. NHL franchises began finding themselves in a sticky situation; salaries for players continued to climb even as revenues declined for many teams. Other than hugely popular franchises like the Rangers and the Red Wings, teams found themselves simply unable to pay the salaries commanded by many NHL players.

They weren't making enough revenue to pull it off. Revenue is brought in for sports teams through several areas, the most important of which are television rights and ticket sales. As the popularity of the sport waned, these sources of income did as well. Therefore the lockout was a result of the problem, not the cause of the problem.

While the lockout wasn't in itself the cause of the NHL's problems, it certainly didn't help. When hockey returned to television in the 2005-2006 season, ESPN passed on the broadcast rights for NHL games. OLN (now known as Versus) picked up the broadcast rights - this network has a much smaller reach than ESPN and correspondingly shallower pockets. As a result, the NHL continues to have financial difficulties and many hockey fans are unable to receive NHL games at all, something that does not bode well for the NHL's ability to recapture the attention of sports fans.

There is also the problem that many fans think that hockey is a sport which doesn't lend itself well to the medium of television. Fans prefer to watch hockey games in person; and NHL games are often sold out. However, hockey fans think that some of the speed and the finesse of the sport are lacking in televised games. Sadly, this has led to hockey being harder and harder to watch at all and there are a lot of people who may never know just what they're missing.

Therefore the answer to the question is that no, hockey is no longer one of the major sports in this country. It has lost it's place in that upper echelon, and is struggling for a strategy to get back. It needs to find a way to make its television games more exciting, while also getting those games aired in a spot where more people can view them. Until both of those happen it may be hard for the NHL to regain the spotlight it once had.

About the Author:

Sports quotes will motivate you to be your best in any walk of life. For interesting and inspiring sports quotations drop in to Nothing But Sports.

Love To Golf? Try A Golf Vacation Resort!,Looking For A Golf Vacation?,Have You Always Wanted To Golf While On Vacation?,Why Not Golf On A Luxurious Vacation Resort?

By Bella Holly

For those who have a real love for golf and a need to travel someplace to play it, golf vacation resorts as a real getaway really can't be beat. And the idea of golf combined with a vacation in a luxury resort can't be overemphasized. As far as trying to find any sort of fault to pick out, there really doesn't seem to be any when it comes to four-star resorts combined with four-star golf courses.

The attractive part of all this is that there are these kinds of resorts popping up all over the world. Even Scotland, the birthplace of golf as we know it, is getting in on the act. But for true high-class resorts and high-class golfing, there aren't many better places to find them combined than in North America. Some of the resorts are paradises of golf and resort living, for a fact.

For golf enthusiasts wanting to partake of a true PGA experience on courses that frequently host the U.S. open and other top tournaments, then the region around the Monterey Peninsula needs to be explored. Home to world-famous Pebble Beach, the seven Links courses are currently rated as the number one public array of courses in the United States.

Lodgings at any of these golf vacation resorts can be first-rate, also. For example, the golf resort at Pinehurst, in North Carolina, was the winner of the 2008 Best Golf Resort award from Travel and Leisure magazine. A resort like this will combine a magnificent course with one or several on-site luxury hotels that cater to every need. Truly, some of these resort hotels are four-star in every respect.

A dreamlike time at golf vacation resorts is well within the realm of possibility for many golfers, these days. And the resorts bring world-class golf courses together with the best in hotel lodgings in a way sure to please most any golf vacationer. What golf enthusiast would ever pass up a chance to play on a PGA-certified course and also stay at a top-level hotel, on the course grounds, at the same time?

About the Author:

If you want more information about golf vacation resorts, please visit us www.golfvacationresorts.net.

Just How To Increase Vertical Jump And Jump Just Like A Pro

By Zach Thomas

If you are an athlete then you probably are aware that increasing your vertical leap can be very important and thus exercises to increase vertical jump are also highly important.

Within the muscles of the legs are fibers that aid in producing the explosive ability of velocity and swiftness that then brings about the vertical lift. Its vital to develop these particular muscles in order to attain the ability to jump higher.

Which ever is your purpose for wishing to gain the ability to increase and improve upon your vertical leap, there are a amount of ways which you can use to help you reach your own natural capacity and boost your vertical jumping potential. The most obvious methods to attain extra vertical height is by way of exercise - but which ones?

There are a number of exercises that are counter productive when it comes to heightening your vert because they produce too much muscle bulk.

With the right combination of exercise programs you will find your vertical jumping ability is improved from a standing jump. Ideally though you need to focus on strengthening not only leg muscles but all muscles and on improving all round flexibility to smarten up your whole game.

With improved flexibility in the knees, ankles and hips, this will help to increase your vertical explosion thus increasing your vert.

An additional everyday exercise is jumping up and down. This form of exercise can indeed be very beneficial and it will provide you with you a high-quality cardio workout while conditioning your body.

This sort of exercise however can inflict an abrasive action so it is better in moderation along with other methods of exercise.

Wishing to be trained how to leap higher can be improved by simply practicing jumping higher!

The force of resistance can be used to help tone the muscle fibers and the skipping rope is still one of the best ways to get good results in improving your jumping ability.

Jogging too, helps to increase flexibility and for fortifying the hamstrings and super for all round cardio.

It is valuable that you comprehend that it is not only about training and improving your legs. If you are serious about exercises to increase your vertical jump you also need to be working on a combination of facets of your strength and conditioning.

About the Author:

You too are able to learn how to increase vertical jump. If you know how the pros do it, its not so difficult to increase vertical jump also.

Before You Buy The Dimage Minolta ... Please Read This Review!

By Jeff Jones

I have owned a Nikon Coolpix electronic camera for a little over two 1/2 years and in that duration of time I have taken over 3k photos. As I looked for cameras with longer zooms, there were two I liked the range of- both the Canon Pro1 and the Dimage Minolta. The Dimage Minolta 7X optical zoom provides me a great range between wide angle to telephoto. Due to this wide range, it is feasible to make many different pictures with this ample camera.

Another great feature that intrigued me to the Dimage Minolta was the anti-shake feature. A camera with a wonderful zoom isn't helpful if you cannot hold it steady enough to get a clear pic. Despite the length of the zoom, the Dimage Minolta camera is surprisingly compact and simply fits into my fanny pack which is precisely what I wanted.

Another feature that I just love about the Dimage Minolta is the adjustable LCD screen which is much sharper than the one on my Nikon. This allows you to shoot over head or at a low angle and still see what you are aiming at. You can fold the LCD to where it is facing the camera body to guard it and also take photographs by trying the EVF viewfinder. Which allows you to use less battery power.

The Dimage Minolta LCD will also turn absolutely forward so you can do a self portrait by using the remote control to trip the shutter. The remote may also be convenient for long exposures on a tripod like night shots. For low light shots, it has got noise cancellation to where it will take a second pic with the shutter closed to record any "hot spots" from the pixels and take away them from the final photo so it is more clear and does not have all those white dots on it. I did this and it takes great low light pictures - in fact the Dimage Minolta took the best dim lighting photographs I have gotten with any camera I have owned.

The time between shots it pretty fast. Quicker than my Nikon actually. It has manual or auto focus I used manual with it at infinity for my dim light photos since this like many auto focus cameras can have trouble focusing in low light scenarios. The macro can be employed at either the wide angle or telephoto ends of the zoom. I have not really tried that yet. Nor have I tried the flick format which is alleged to be fantastic. There are two resolutions you may use for that.

I thought my little Nikon 4mp camera took nice pictures, but the Dimage Minolta blows that away. It is easy enough for a beginner to use it on "Auto" but has enough features to delight most professionals too. I already have taken several pictures with this camera. They are extremely crisp - from the wide angle thru telephoto. This camera fit my desires and then some - with all the options possible this camera offers. If you're serious about photography and yet need to make it simple, the Dimage Minolta is a marvelous camera!

See I did not talked about the 8 mega-pixels the Dimage Minolta has. The reason behind that is because it was not a factor for my purchase and delight for this camera. Four mega-pixels is a lot for most uses especially since most users won't be making prints larger than 8 x ten. But this camera definitely gives you that probability.

I like this camera! The photo is what the eye sees, and the Dimage Minolta will certainly help you to catch what you see with simplicity. I very highly recommend it!

-----------------------------------------------------------

About the Author:

Save 20 - 47% on all Dimage Minolta digital camera models. And Click Here if you would like to read more customer reviews on the Dimage Minolta Digital Camera.

Mountain Bikes - Adventure On Pedals

By Gregory Paul

Biking holidays and tours is a new trend arising today. People have fallen for this craze for different reasons. Besides the fabulous workout one gets from pushing pedals, you have an unadulterated view of the world right in front of you. The naked feel of nature descending on you can make you forget about the craziness of the modern world we all live in. And for some, they make it a step higher - they come for the crazy hilly adventure.

If you are in search for the same kind of adventure, you'll be glad to know that a lot of travel agents and tour companies offer biking trips and holidays. A lot of mountain bike companies arrange holiday tours as well. Check out their websites, or you can ask for tour information from biking clubs.

Of course there is always the question of what would be the perfect bike for you. For getting ideas about bikes, you can ask riders for tips on what particular bike would suit you. You can also read customer reviews so youd get a picture of what kind of bike will you need. Better yet, you can test one yourself.

Mountain Bikes come in different looks, sizes, and power. Many bikes come in the most basic of forms and performance. If you are just out for scenery watching on a not so demanding terrain, power and performance details might not be as important as its condition. If you plan to scale some mountains and rough terrain, then a fair amount of research would do you some good.

For demanding terrains, you might consider a giant mountain bike. These machines are built for challenging treks. It always comes as a surprise that these giants are a lot lighter than most of their smaller relatives. It is engineered to keep a low center of gravity and less pedal feedback. These machines come with full suspension and it makes climbs and descent easier. Although these toys are really sturdy, it is a bit more expensive than your regular bike.

For special bikers, we have the appropriately called specialized bikes. These machines as its name implies are customized for a particular reason. A lot of times they are customized for better performance, but in some cases just for individuality and personal style. In general, pimping the ride is done to make it more powerful and efficient. Specialized bikes can be ordered from bike companies, but many customize their rigs themselves.

It could be a tricky thing customizing your bike yourself. It is highly advised that one needs to be sure the parts and accessories you are adding on is compatible with your existing rig. To suit the type of driving you want to do, you might consider changing handle bars, transmissions, pedals, gears or add on other accessories. The goal is always to make it a better ride. You can solicit ideas and experiences by joining forum discussions on biking websites.

There are so many options that one can probe for the perfect holiday and the excellent ride to go with it. One can explore the websites for inexhaustible ideas in search for the adventure of a lifetime.

About the Author:

You might wanna undertake the adventure of a lifetime on Cheap Mountain Bikes. view the passing scenery or be thrilled on a wild run downhill, or be challenged with a heart pounding climb on the mountains. For the perfect mountain bike to suit your appetite for exciting thrills choose among these Giant Mountain Bikes For Sale.

Surprise Your Friends Just Back From Rome With 10 Roman Stories!

By Cristiano Rubbi

* You are walking through Rome and all of a sudden you hear a bang. What is it? What's happening? Nobody seems to show any concern and people go about their business as usual, except that they look at their watches. It's midday! And the bang you heard is the 12 o' clock cannon shot fired every day from the Janiculum Hill. This is a tradition that started in 1847 to give people a time signal to set their clocks and watches by.

* Haven't you always taught children never to peep through a keyhole? You'll be surprised if instead we suggest you peep through a keyhole... and then maybe you will do the same with your children. We believe you will agree with us if you simply follow our instructions: just wait for the sunset, go up Aventine Hill in Rome, look for Giardino degli Aranci, or Orange Garden, and when it closes enjoy the glorious view of St. Peter's Dome through the keyhole of the gate.

* If you have toured around Rome, you are sure to have seen Bocca della Verita, or Mouth of the Truth and to have been told the story that in antiquity, if you put your hand in this mouth and you were lying, you would lose your hand. What you may not have been told is that in fact there were judges who would decide whether you were or not guilty... and your hand was safe or...gone! What's more, that piece of antiquity that is widely admired today, once used to be the top of a sewer manhole in the Roman Forum.

* Roman Aqueducts: is this an ancient history lesson? Not at all! It's modern-day Rome. Those glorious, huge structures you can admire along the Appian Way were in fact aqueducts bringing water to Rome. Below those arches the Romans also built other aqueducts and, strange as it may seem, these are still used to quench the thirst of today's Romans - the water is excellent: it's even bottled and exported - and to feed water to many Roman fountains.

* Can you imagine kicking a ball and see it come back towards you? It's not a boomerang or sheer fancy, it's absolutely true and it happens on a road - the 'bewitched' climbing slope - at Ariccia, a town near Rome. For some reason that scientists have so far been unable to discover, loose objects laid on the road will go uphill, defeating the force of gravity. Try it, if you come to Rome. It's an experience!

* Have you ever stopped to think how giant machinery allows man to carry out fantastic jobs almost without any effort? Only a few centuries ago this was unthinkable. In 16th century Rome, for instance, one day they were trying to lift the obelisk currently standing in the middle of St. Peter's Square. It was a strenuous job that required great concentration for the 800 workers involved. To ensure silence, the crowd had been told that anyone caught even simply talking would be condemned to death (the necessary scaffold had already been set up). Someone realized that the ropes were giving way and to help out the people on the job, cried out: WATER TO THE ROPES! The trick worked perfectly... and the man, far from being punished, was given a prize and a title!

* Piazza Navona is perhaps the square that Romans love most. According to one of the popular stories involving two famous Italian artists who worked there, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini were at loggerheads with each other and were anxious to show their feelings. So Bernini designed the fountains in the square in such a way that a statue representing the Nile seems to turn its back on the Church of St. Agnes built by Borromini and cover its eyes to avoid the sight of such a terrible-looking church.

* Conclaves are held in the Vatican City, Rome, for the election of each Pope. All cardinals attend the conclave because only the people actually there may be elected Pope. Cardinal Carol Wojtyla came to Rome after the death of Pope John Paul I and the morning of the opening of the conclave he was running late and risked being left out. In despair he thumbed a lift along the way. A bus driver returning to his depot noticed this strange priest looking for a lift and stopped to enquire. When Cardinal Wojtyla explained things to him, the bus driver simply said: ok, I'll take you there, you never know, we might miss a Pope! In fact Cardinal Wojtyla did become the new Pope!

* Do you think that highways are a modern invention? Think twice. Over 2000 years ago the Romans had their version of highways. They certainly didn't have vehicles hurtling along at breakneck speed or gas stations, but they did have a road network that even these days would be second to none in length (thousands of miles) or quality (many stretches of Roman roads are still partly in use or have been used as tracks for new highways). They were also fairly sophisticated: they had service areas where people could relax or rest during their trip, facilities to change horses and a sort of diners where you could have a full hot meal or take it away with you in hot stone containers to be left at the next service area.

* Would you ever have thought that a ship could actually reach the very heart of Rome? Well, these days it would be pretty difficult to manage, but the ancient Romans did sail their ships up the River Tiber right into the city. This was possible because the mouth of the Tiber was 11 kilometers closer to Rome than it is now and the river was deeper than it is at present. So the Romans had food and other supplies right at their doorstep from all the world known at the time. Incidentally, the current mayor has recently announced his intention to make the river navigable once again and to return the port to the people of Rome.

About the Author:

Cristiano Rubbi is a savvy traveller: he knows the ropes when it comes to travelling abroad. Why don't you surf on his website? You'll find a few handy tips on how to get around safely and really enjoy your vacation in Italy. Want to know some more? Simply send an email to info@niceandeasytravel.it or join his forum. Be part of his guestbook.

The Top Online Casino Special Offers

By Simon M Skinner

You may have seen some of the ads and come-ons for major casinos that provide perks and bonuses to their high rolling guests. These can be pretty tempting, and they may have you salivating as you consider what you could do with the free plays, bonus chips and other extras. The only trouble is that the casinos are far away and can involve a lot more financial outlay than you have available at the moment. Okay, maybe a trip to Atlantic City, Las Vegas or Monte Carlo isn?t in the stars for you just yet. Don't worry, because you can still enjoy online gambling and take advantage of some of the best casino bonuses in the world.

Online casino action is taking the gambling industry by storm, and the different establishments are all vying with each other for your business. To make you become a loyal patron there are plenty of great casino bonuses being offered and the best thing about them is that they are free perks to thank you for playing. Now, come on, just how cool is it that you literally get paid to throw down at some of the top virtual gambling sites throughout the world.

Just look through the list of some of the more popular casino bonuses:

The No Deposit Bonus: This is where new players are not required to put down a deposit. The online casino site gives you a little bit of funding to help get you started.

The Matching Bonus: Casinos offering this type of bonus is offering to match the amount of money that you open your account with. This is generally a dollar per dollar thing up to a certain dollars amount. There are even some casinos that run specials for doubling or tripling the amount.

Monthly Casino Bonus: After signing up you are promised a certain amount of free chips to play with each month for as long as you continue to play on their site. This is a popular offer among many online casinos as they attempt to keep your business.

The Percentage Bonuses: These bonuses are a calculation which is a percentage of your deposit. If the online casino is offering a 50% percent bonus then you would receive an additional $200 in free chips for depositing $400.

Cashback Bonuses: While these are not as commonly found, you may luck out. They are a cashback offer that is a repayment of your monetary loses during a certain period of time.

Refer A Friend Bonuses: By referring your friends or anyone else to their casino, the online casino will reward you with additional chips or money to play with. By referring a lot of people you could find yourself with a lot of chips to play with and the online casino site will grow in their customer base.

This online casino bonus article is brought to you courtesy of Inetbet.com

About the Author:

Inetbet is a successful and premier online casino, founded in 1999, offering the chance to play for money or to play for free to players worldwide (including bettors in the US). Whether you are an experienced casino player or a novice, Inetbet is simply the best of the online casinos that will provide you with all your casino needs.

Review - NCAA Football 10

By Carl Ferguson

With the sound of helmets crashing together and the roaring of the crowds, there's nothing quite like college football so it's hardly surprising that virtually everybody loves it. Even the sound of the band playing can often send chills down your spine. Admittedly, while there may not be anything capable of replacing the real thing, NCAA Football 10 certainly does come pretty. In fact, there are so many new features to explore; it would be fair to say that the franchise has never been better than it is now. Let's go ahead and take a look at a few reasons why you should consider getting the latest installment of NCAA Football 10.

Even though most things have stayed the same with regards to NCAA Football 10, there's still no doubt that you'll get to enjoy a the most realistic football simulation. In fact you've probably never even come across something as realistic as this, thanks to the amazing power of the next generation consoles. It cannot be denied that NCAA Football 10 simply gets better and better each year.

There are a lot of new features in this year's version of NCAA Football. Like previous years you can go online and play against other people. However, they now have a mode called Season Showdown. This is a very cool idea that involves playing for your favorite school. When you first get started, you're going to select one school that you'd like to play for. The more you play online and win, the more points you earn for your school. You can play trivia games and a lot of other interactive games to earn points. At the end of the year, the Season Showdown National Championship will be awarded to one school. This is a great way to interact with others playing the game and root for your school.

The dynasty mode is still one of the best features of the game. With this version, you can actually take it a step further and create your own school. Creating your own school is a great way to put your stamp on every single thing that has to do with your program. You're going to name the school, design the logo, pick the fight song, and create your team. You can even customize individual players to play on your team. It's a great feature and it just adds to the overall intrigue of dynasty mode.

For those people who have become accustomed to playing Madden, this type of football game will afford you a whole new opportunity and of course the game play is still unbeatable. There is simply so much in this game that you cannot get from an NFL game.

Another feature which is by all accounts very cool is the "game planning" which allows one to place emphasis on certain aspects of the game. For example, if you're experiencing difficulty at running the ball, you can simply choose to place more emphasis on opening up running lanes with this will of course result in more holding calls.

The strategic playcalling mode is a welcome addition to the game as well. This allows you to keep your opponents guessing and catch them off guard. You can run several different plays out of the same formation. Catch them sleeping with a play-action pass or a reverse.

Overall, there's just nothing out there quite like NCAA Football 10. It is unmatched in the gaming industry and it is the leader in the field for a reason. Check out the game today and immerse yourself in college football again.

About the Author:

Carl Ferguson is an expert in gaming consoles. He is now providing game console bundles at a surprising low cost that are reliable as well. Pass by his website to know more about Carl's favorite, the NCAA Football 10.

Salsa dancing and the body talking

By Jennifer Ramos

Introducing salsa, a dance of bodies in conversation.

Tap, sway and turn, just bring out whatever move you got and give-in to the rhythm that bridged tradition and modern dance moves - the darling of most Latin America's sexy sensual moves - Salsa. Dances such as mambo, cha-cha-cha, samba, rumba and many others influenced the breaking out of salsa during the 1950's. Eccentrically beautiful, salsa was born in the multicultural lands of Latin America, with the sexiness and sophistication of the beautiful Latin culture.

Salsa is a sexy flavor of hot chili and red sweet tomatoes on the dance floor. Its sensuality and sophistication entices every one to admire its way of dancing. Passion is the perfect word that defines the music and movement of this dance. It creates an undeniable pull in which people just have to dance and get into the beat. More than a dance, salsa is a lifestyle of passion and sophistication.

Salsa dancing is an expression of emotion and feelings. Every movement from each part of the body gives signals and meanings. Hip swings, foot tap, kick and head turns all creates an alluring message to the dancing partners. Its dancing is about intimate communication through action, in a heart beating rhythmic music. Moreover, intense conversation of body actions from dancing couples gives-off Latino flavor - Salsa - hot and sexy.

Salsa dancing could burn dance floors with flaming hot motions of romantic desire. It is as if scattered potions filled the air to indulge people in a mood for love. With passionate execution of movements, thumb-thumping heart beats, and a free flowing aesthetically beautiful dance moves, a dance can actually speak language of emotion and passion.

Aesthetically exceptional, the dance movement of salsa which came from the Latin culture is an eye catcher. It leaves a beautiful impression on the dancers doing the dance moves. A sexy, desirable and beautiful woman can suddenly become the most beautiful woman on the dance floor. The secret is to know how to move and sway perfectly with the beat, execute perfect sexy motions and accentuate the sensual interplay between partners.

Moreover, learning salsa is not impossible. Simple foot turns and hips swings can be acquired easily through tutorial dance videos or even just dance video clips over the internet. While advance techniques such as spins, dips, and styling can be acquired with in-person lessons. Learning how to dance salsa is now easy and affordable. From DVDs to online tutorials, to classes in your city or town, it has never been easier to learn this sexy latin dance.

Actually, learning how to dance salsa is not a backbreaking activity. There are already various means to learn its basic moves. Simple steps and hip swings and others can now be easily acquired from tutorial dance videos over the internet. In fact, it is so easy to download.

Salsa is not about the steps borrowed from rumba, or anywhere else. It is about making a free flowing movement expressing yourself to rhythm of the music. And the more eccentric and improvised it is, the more beautiful it gets. So don't forget to improvise and patent your own moves.

About the Author:

Revealing the secrets of Salsa dance only at Jennifer Ramos's www.SalsaCrazy.com. Walk-in today and dance your way out!!!

Achievement Tests In Math Games

By Sheryl Hope

These math games help in understanding the fundamental mathematical operations in most simple manner. Problem solving that deals with numbers and mathematical equations is like a breeze for the learners. Current educational technology introduces math games software to make learning numbers more easy and fun for little children.

This material offers great family time while doing problem solving. The math games can also help parents follow up their children who are having a hard time with Algebra for instance. The lessons will not be boring but fascinating instead. This educational tool is arranged by grade level and by age group. Parents having these aids will always be guided on problem solving with their children.

The software provides for a step-by-step explanation which is very easy to understand. Take for instance Algebra which is the most basic among the mathematical courses. At the start Algebraic terms and concepts may seem mysterious and really confusing. However, with the math games your child can become proficient in the subject in a matter of days. The achievement tests incorporated in the tool will help your child succeed.

As the grade of your child goes higher, a corresponding program is likewise designed to fit his or her learning capability. This is the versatile software that adapts to the student as well as the parents needs. It can empower learners to control the pace that best fits their learning style. What is more is you can always return to any point in the program and make a review over and over as often as needed until you master the whole program. Do not forget that there are different levels of these math games.

If you want to know more of the Algebraic Terms and Operations, you can browse for web sites that deal on this type of learning. You can also find online a clear and comprehensive review of these complex equations if you visit certain sites specializing on this field. You may also inquire for the appropriate software you need concerning math games.

About the Author:

You may want to have your child learn things in school the fun and easy way. You can always provide him with Math Games. It is like teaching your child to study and learn from his lessons. Sooner or later, you will never realize that your child is well versed with Math. Simply visit this site at http://www.alleducationalsoftware.com to know more about it.

ABC Lost-The Excitement Still Prevails

By Kunal Wadhwani

The ABC lost is such an extraordinary show that even after the completion of its fifth season the viewers are still in awe of it. The creators of the show have made it so fascinating and exciting that the viewers are still glued to their seats and waiting anxiously for the start of The ABC lost season6.

The ABC lost includes several mysteries, some of them being so irrational like the presence of the polar bear in the tropical region where there is absolutely no chance of their survival. But then these minor irregularities are often overlooked and the show goes on. So let's get talking again about the Lost Show.

Another most intriguing aspect of the ABC Lost series is apparent relationship between the characters on the island which they are unaware of. They have been connected to each other through certain incidents or people in the life before the crash and are now here as destiny wants them. The characters are a mixed bag of emotions each resembling someone in the real world.

Some of the mysteries that aroused curiosity on the show is when Michael betrayed Jack, Kate and several other members of the troop in return of his son, but isn't this fatherly nature that can overpowers these charges on him. Also people went berseck when Charlie and his baby were saved during labor by the drug addict.

Normally it takes addicts years to get free of their habits. But this is ABC Lost and we love it despite its apparent loopholes, after all the island is full of supernatural elements which also don't have any rational to back them. This should silent the critics of Lost, provided there are any.

If you wish yourself updated and want to catch up on some of the previous ongoings on the show or know about certain intriguing facts about the show and the characters involved, then the best stop for you would be www.lost-tv-show.com which includes all the scoops related to The ABC Lost show.

About the Author:

Catch all the action of ABC LOST by clicking here.

Poker Table: Adds A New Zeal to The Game

By Anand Maheshwari

Poker table adds a distinct kind of excitement to the poker play. Some of the poker tables are absolutely luxurious while others are to meet the basic standards. However, if you are keen on playing several kinds of games, the best poker table that will meet your requirements will be octagon-shaped poker table. If you are seeking out a table that can be easily modified into a dining table apart from being a game table for your friends as well as family then you need to pick a poker table that has premium quality suggesting simplicity as well as taste. It is also essential to keep you budget in consideration and accordingly buy a table that will enhance your zeal for the game.

The top of the table is made up of plywood sheets. Some of the tables have rails while others have cup holders. The poker tables are either roofed with the cloth of poker or billiard felt while many others employ faux suede. The designs of the table comprise in beer cases. The fanatics of poker, nowadays, have their table made of exclusive leather as well as premium wood.

The poker tables are generally of three kinds including round poker, octagonal poker table along with oval-shaped poker table. The table that have folding legs referred to as foldable table can also be availed in the market. The example of such a poker table is Texas Hold'em table. The tops which can be folded and also include trays can also be available in the range of Texas Hold'em. A standard Texas Hold'em poker table, which is ideal for eight players has dimensions measuring 91"" x 46"".

Various poker game online sites render table backdrop that are vibrant. The player who reaches the concluding stage of the poker game will realize that the color of the table changes in the course of the game in actuality. If in case the players play in a WSOP satellite then the player has a chance to play on the WSOP tables. In the near future it is anticipated that the players will have the ability to design their own table settings. These customized tables can be easily employed in the personalized tournaments. With this the monotonous ordinary poker tables which always look similar can be transformed into a personalized table that very much reflects the individuality of the player.

If you are seeking out for a poker table then you will easily find many suppliers of poker. Pokercats offer supplies of poker. Apart from that it also builds tables as per the color as well as graphic requirement of the client. A maker along with the supplier from US, Royal Gaming Products, makes wholly personalized poker tables of premium quality. A supplier named Wood-N-Treasures supplier personalized poker tables along with a whole range of expedient poker tables made by several manufacturers. BumperNets is a supplier of table covers along with tables for the casino game as well as poker.

About the Author:

Anand is a webmaster for Online Poker US & Poker Players Online visit: playingpokerusa.com

Take Note Of These Before Buying Electric Boats

By Ferdinand Emy

When you can't really get out on the water in a full size boat, electric boats can be a great 2nd choice. Radio electric boats are boats that are radio controlled using a receiver and a transmitter. In most cases, the control utilizes a sort of stick that's hand controlled. The receiver will more often than not be mounted inside the boat and will receive and then process the signal from the transmitter that's held by the operator. The transmitter makes it possible for the utiliser to accelerate, slow down and rotate the electric boat. Plus, the utiliser may likewise utilize the transmitter so as to turn the boat left or right.

You may find electric boats in a diversity of different sizes. In most cases, electric boats are powered utilizing batteries. They may operate utilizing a moderately small battery or a large battery. The run time of electric boats will by and large depend upon the size of the boat and the battery, but most electric boats will operate anywhere from five to ten minutes. Electric boats will likewise usually operate from about two0 to 25 miles per hour. So as to enjoy more operational time with electric boats it is a good idea to keep a second battery charged that you may change out quickly.

Compared to gas operated radio controlled boats, electric boats more often than not operate much quieter, but it should be placed in mind that these types of boats are not as powerful and maynot obtain top end speeds.

Before you buy an electric boat it is a good idea to consult the bylaws in your local area to uncover where you'll be permited to operate your boat. You surelydo not wish to buy an electric boat only to find out that there's nowhere to operate your novel boat.

You should also consider whether you want a ready to run electric boat or a boat kit that you may build yourself. While building an electric boat does present some trials, its surelynothing that you maynot accomplish with some time and patience. Of course, if you do not feel that you're up to the challenge of building an electric boat from a kit then you can Always purchase a ready to run boat that will be ready to go the minute you take it out of the box so that you don't have to waste any time.

About the Author:

Before even buying any boat there the Boating Basics you need to get conversant with. Head over today and learn more

Zimmer Durom Hip Replacements Have High Failure Rate

By Maxwell Schmickman

As American's life expectancies grow longer, more and more of our body parts are wearing out before we do. One of the first and most common to go are our joints, especially those located at our hips. Because of years of activity, these joints can become worn down as we age, and must be replaced medically. It's become a very common procedure, and it's likely that you or an older loved one has had a hip replaced. If so, read on please, because there is important information you need to know about hip replacement that have been recalled as faulty, made by the manufacturer Zimmer Durom.

There are many reasons that you or a loved one may have received a Zimmer Durom hip replacement, leading to danger for yourself of your loved ones. Hip replacement, also known as hip arthroplasty, is a common procedure in which the hip joint is removed and replaced by a prosthetic implant. This can be done for a variety of reasons, which include the pain of arthritis which was affecting the joint, damage to the joint over a long life, or the treatment of a hip fracture, an injury common to the elderly.

The modern hip replacement operation has been taking place since the 1970's, which is why the idea may seem so commonplace to you. A hip replacement, such as those from Zimmer Durom, most commonly involves three separate pieces, designed to mimic how a natural knee joint would. They include a metal replacement for part of the femur. A component which allows for movement like the joint naturally would, and either bone cement or screws to hold the contraption in place.

If you have had hip replacement surgery, than you know that one of the biggest problems is the need for revision, or further surgery to solve problems with the prosthesis. This can cause serious damage to a patient's ability to walk, and is painful, time consuming, and expensive. The Zimmer Durom device was marketed exactly for its ability to avoid this problem, and to last longer than most prosthetics, so that younger patients could wear the device for the rest of their lives. However, in one study, 12 percent of patients needed revision in under two years, causing a medical community outcry.

Though Zimmer Durom has stated that this high failure rate is a caused by surgon error, they stopped selling their hip replacement device in July 2008. In a study funded by the company, fully 8 percent of patients needed a revision within two years. This has led many in the medical and legal communities to believe that the issue is with the replacement device and not with the surgeons.

If you or a loved one received a Zimmer Durom hip replacement, something your doctor will know, you may have the right to join a class action law suit, even if your replacement has not yet failed.. Be wary of signing anything by Zimmer Durom, as that may be a release taking away this right.

About the Author:

Grab the details about zimmer hip pain at this website about: zimmer durom. As well as zimmer hip sales stopped info.

LED Lights And Tiffany Lamps

By Pamela Smith

The majestic tiffany lamps are excellent as ambient lighting fixtures in any part of your home. They are also excellent accents for your home. The style of these lighting fixtures is one of the most sophisticated types you can ever find. No light has yet surpassed the elegance of tiffany lamps.

Most tiffany lamps are great accent lights and can always complement any spot where you place them. You can use these majestic illuminators to dress up our home and accentuate that area which you wish to be given focus. They are one good way to add beauty to your home. You will be amazed to know that there are numerous of designs and styles you can have for your beautification at home.

These lighting fixtures are good for this type of tasks. You can use tiffany lamps on your study table to cast light for reading purposes. They can be good brightness aids during writing and reading periods. You should need enough illumination while doing these activities to minimize stress or fatigue on your eyes.

These tiffany lamps are superb decors too and can enhance the pre-existing decorations you have in your room. You can use LED lights for your floor lights if you want to give emphasis on the designs of your floor. These LED lights are the best type of lights you can use for highlighting and spotlighting any portion which needs focus. As floor lights they can accentuate that portion of your room where you need brightness. They can coordinate with any piece of furniture you have in your bedroom.

You can check online for more colorful designs of these delightful lighting fixtures to address you lighting needs. You can find on the internet certain web sites that can provide you with much needed information. If you are looking for very decorative lights which excellent for highlighting you can always make a choice from a wonderful selection of tiffany lamps.

About the Author:

Whenever you want something that could enhance the location of your home or office, certainly Tiffany Lamps will suit its purpose. With its very intricate and stylish designs, these will provide a touch of style and elegance as well as the needed illumination to brighten up your home or office. For selections of these lamps, simply visit http://www.simplytablelamps.com.

USA Online Casinos: Offer Higher Stakes of Winning

By Rich Vial

One can find endless USA Online Casinos offering good chances to win. But along with these, there are also many casinos that are hoax and hence caution should be exercised while selecting the best online casino. The increasing use of the Internet in the U.S. has also resulted in a rapid increase in various entertainment and gaming options. These also include USA Online Casinos which have gained huge popularity on the World Wide Web. Some of the major reasons for the success of these games include the easy and any time accessibility to casinos, trouble-free price options, lesser risks and the feeling of being in a casino, while sitting at home or office.

These days, even people who were fond of going to casinos access USA Online Casino since they live at distances from the same. Hence they can access these online casino benefits along with many other online casino games available today. Some of the most popular USA Online Casino game include black jack, poker, slots, Texas holdem and countless others.

While selecting USA Casino games, you may come across endless options. However, it should be kept in mind that not all of these options are safe. One can find various sites that are using unfair methods of playing so that the players can loose. In these casinos the odds of the house winning are always higher. So, you should select your USA Online Casinos with caution and after comparison and research.

Reviews and information about USA Casinos are available through plenty of options like forums and blogs, which provide the experiences of players. This way you can understand which sites are authentic and avoid those, which are not. There are also many hoax USA Online Casinos and there are simple tricks through which the same can be avoided. For example, research and comparison of the sites before playing them and avoiding those, which have payment memberships, unless you are confident about them, can help you to stay from hoax sites.

The hoaxes USA Online Casinos use various tricks which are applied by the online casinos to deceive the players. Software to manipulate card games or fiddling with slot games and holdem are some of them. There are also plenty of credit card scams and misuse of the social security numbers of players here and hence you should be careful with such sites. Try to compare and find USA Online Casinos, which are certified and they are safe to play. Remember that a wrong site could lead to heavy losses for you along with spoiling the game. Try to look for sites, which provide a free gaming experience so that you can get to know about the authenticity and legality of the site without wasting your hard earned money.

About the Author:

Anand is a webmaster for US Casinos & USA Online Casinos visit: playingcasinosusa.com

The Mapes Hotel: Reno's Lost Art Deco Jewel

By Ross Everett

On a cold, gray morning in late January 2000, the historic Mapes Hotel in Reno was imploded by 75 pounds of explosives tucked into the art-deco structures support columns. The controlled demolition came despite years of effort by a number of groups within the community and nationally to preserve the building with lawsuits, redevelopment proposals, and grass roots lobbying efforts.

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 opening of the Mapes in 1947 ushered in a new era in casino gambling, and changed the economy and way of life in Nevada forever. The Mapes was actually the first property in the country to combine a hotel, casino and live entertainment under the same roof. It also became the hotel of choice for celebrities staying in Northern Nevada. Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe stayed at The Mapes during the filming of 'The Misfits'. Joseph McCarthy, America's famed anti-Communist crusader, admitted to a reporter over cocktails in the Mapes Lounge that he really didn't have a list of Communists in the US despite his frequent and vitriolic insistence to the contrary.

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 1960's and 70's but the Mapes continued to prosper. The hotel finally closed in 1982, 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 behavior of the City Redevelopment Authority throughout the process has come into question. Overlooking the Truckee River, the hotel was perfectly placed between the downtown casino area and the riverfront district. In 1996, the city purchased the htoel and began accepting proposals for redevelopment. Despite receiving a number of proposals that made sense both in terms of their financial workability and positive impact on the downtown area, the City Redevelopment Authority nixed all of them and insisted that the hotel be razed.

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.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a Las Vegas and hospitality industry historian as well as an expert on sports betting. He has served as a customer relations consultant for many restaurants, casinos and other hospitality firms. In addition, he's a noted fight sport journalist, and writes extensively on strategies to successfully bet on UFC, MMA and boxing.

A Review Of The OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player

By Thomas Sneed

Technology marches on, and it you want to keep up to date, then you need to look sharp. I guess we have all seen and admired the superb HDDVD (high definition DVD) technology that hit the marketplace quite recently. Like most of us I am sure that you applauded just how clear and bright the pictures were and thought that we had reached the pinnacle of perfection. Well, I am pleased to be able to shatter that illusion. Now we have the Blu-ray player, and it's taking things to yet another level.

The OPPOBDP-83 Blu-ray Player is a multi-function player that combines several different technologies into one, playing videos but with a CD/DVD audio capability too, all in the one player. This machine is the business. It will play most types of commercial media including Blu-ray, DVD, Audio DVD, SCAD, and CDs too of course. The BDP-83 has the complete function range and is fully automatic, so it doesn't matter what sort of disk you put in, it will automatically recognize it, select the appropriate program and play it. You don't have to do anything; it's all done for you.

This player rules all players. Use this player to enjoy any CD or DVD in your home. What more, you can even burn home videos, jpegs and music to disc or transfer them to a USB drive and enjoy them on this player. The days of collecting a device for a specific task is over.

The technology behind this player is cutting edge, with an award winning chip at its center. The chip governs the entire system and as well as giving you the total versatility of this incredible machine, it is responsible for delivering best ever high definition pictures up to 1080p with other settings for 480p, 480i, 1080i, and 720p. Not only that, but if you have any Blu-ray movies recorded at 24fps, it will play those too.

Gone are the days of having to worry about PAL and NTSC compatibility, the BDP-83 handles both with equal aplomb. So you can play video recorded on PAL technology on an NTSC television or vice versa; how cool is that? The only thing you should watch out for is whatever BD or DVD restrictions are prevalent in your district.

The BDP-83 really delivers, and you will be able to enjoy home cinema with all of the picture and sound quality that you would expect; in fact, this little beauty will exceed your expectations.

DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD are also supported by the BDP-83 giving you studio quality sound reproduction. Whatever sound components are part of the original recording will be reproduced in astonishing clarity; you will miss nothing; every little thing will be there for your full enjoyment. This super machine also supports SCAD and DVD-audio, ensuring that the sound reproduction will top anything you have ever heard before. If you are a true connoisseur of music, whatever the category, you'll truly appreciate how the BDP-83 brings your music files to full and vibrant life.

The remote control is backlit, and it provides clear labeling that makes playing back video discs and audio easy. With the backlight, you will have no trouble operating the BDP-83 in the dark.

About the Author:

Thomas Sneed is an expert in electronics. Today, he is supplying the largest collection of cheap DVD players currently available anywhere at very reasonable prices. Visit his site today to see his new toy, the OPPO BDP-83.

Guidelines To Maintain Your Skateboard With Proper Grip Tape.

By Todd Martin

In order to care for your skateboard like you should, you will need to replace the grip tape as needed. The more you use the skateboard the more often you will need to do so. The more aggressively you perform on it the faster it will wear out. When you have worn out grip tape your skateboard isn't going to perform like it should for you. It also isn't going to be as safe as it could be for you to be on it.

There is a certain way that you need to apply grip tape to your skateboard. It isn't doing you any good to do the process if you don't do it properly. Always make sure you have a good quality grip tape to use. This can be purchased from sport goods stores or online. You may have to try a few different brands before you find one you are very happy with. You can read reviews about them online too if you aren't sure which one to try out.

You must cautiously clean your deck previous to you apply the brand new grip tape, for the best results. If you don't, it possibly will end up being uneven due to fragments below it. Utilize a clean cloth to smoothly clean the deck down. You wouldn't like to make use of something harsh that might end up abrading it. The manner in which you apply the grip tape for your design is going to have an effect on how long it will last.

A lot of skaters get into a hurry at this point and subsequently they need to use further time doing from scratch afterward. You must apply it gradually so that you don't have any air bubbles beneath it. To keep it looking excellent, utilize a sharp blade to trim the leftover from the design. Beware not to go excessively deep though or you might end up scratching your deck. Take care you apply pressure to the borders of the grip tape so it won't be loosen in those areas. If you apply the grip tape from the center out to the borders you will discover it is a lot easier to correctly apply.

Applying grip tape properly to your skateboard is going to keep you safe on it. You will be able to perform at your very best. The fact that it is affordable means you have no excuse not to keep up with this part of maintaining your skateboard. There are plenty of fun designs and colors of grip tape to select as well. This can make fixing up your skateboard fun. Some people go with the same thing each time while others like to give it a new look. It is up to you how you will take care of your skateboard, but make use, the use of grip tape as needed is part of the routine.

It may well take time to become expert at applying grip tape like GRIP GUM 4inch STICK to your skateboard. Be patient and take all the time you want, to finish the procedure. You will notice that the more you do it the quicker you turn out to be at it. You will as well learn that the look of it turns into more specialized with time. If you want help inquire a friend with experience or look at a few online videos to acquire a better idea of the procedure.

About the Author:

For all your skateboard needs, do visit Todd Martins site for affordable line of skateboards and Skateboard Decks.

Stock Indexes (Part I)

By Ahmad Hassam

There are 100s of ETFs and HOLDRS covering key industry benchmarks such as the various Standard & Poor Indexes, Russell Indexes or the Dow Jones Averages. There are ETFs that cover the other less well known narrow based sectors.

For example, SPY tracks the Standard & Poors S&P 500 Composite Index. It is the largest of the ETFs. You should know the major indexes as an investor that are either key benchmarks or have ETFs tied to them.

Standard & Poor: Standard & Poor (S&P) is the financial services segment of the McGraw Hill companies. It has been providing independent and objective financial information, analysis and research for nearly 140 years.

It is also the provider of equity indexes. These indexes are also used as the basis for wide variety of financial instruments such as Index Funds, Futures, Options and ETFs. Investors around the globe use S&P Indexes for investment performance measurement.

S&P 500 Composite is one of the most popular indexes in the global financial markets. Hundreds of companies around the world have licenses with the Standards & Poors for their index products and the influence and name recognition of S&P 500 is unparalleled. S&P 500 is also used as a key benchmark for money manager performance.

S&P 500 represents more than 75% of the capitalization of the entire US Stock Market. The S&P 500 is a capitalization weighted index that tracks the performance of 500 large capitalization issues. Each year thousands of money managers have the single minded goal of outperforming the S&P 500.

The stocks in the S&P 500 are determined by a nine member committee in accordance with the general guidelines. 30 years back most of the stocks in S&P 500 were from the Industrial Sector. Over the years, the complexion of S&P 500 has changed. By 1970s, six of the top companies were from the Oil Sector. In 2000s, technology composed about one third of the capitalization of the index.

The other Standard & Poors indexes are the S&P Midcap 400 Index and it is based on 400 chosen domestic stocks. It is also capitalization based and measures the performance of the midsize companies of the US economy.

S&P SmallCap 600 is also capitalization weighted index and is of interest to institutional and retail investors. The S&P SmallCap 600 Index consists of 600 smallcap domestic stocks and these stocks are chosen for market size and liquidity. There are also sub-indexes based on these S&P Indexes.

NASDAQ: You will often hear in the media that the Nasdaq market being up or down on a given day. NASDAQ Composite Index contains more than 4500+ companies. It represents a market capitalization of trillions of dollars in the US economy.

There is another Nasdaq Index called the Nasdaq-100 and it is composed of the top 100 nonfinancial companies in the Nasdaq Stock Market. NASDAQ-100 is a modified capitalization weighted index. The QQQ is based on the Nasdaq-100 Index.

About the Author:

Mr. Ahmad Hassam is a Harvard University Graduate. He is interested in day trading stocks and forex. Know Candlestick Charting. Learn Forex Trading!

Hockey's Golden Jet: Bobby Hull

By Ross Everett

'The Golden Jet' Bobby Hull was the most feared goal scorer of the 1960's and 1970's and arguably the greatest left wing to ever play professional hockey. Along with teammate Stan Mikita, Hull made the Chicago Blackhawks one of the NHLs true offensive powerhouses. He and Mikita were the first NHL players to use curved stick blades, which made his already wicked slapshot even more difficult to stop. This was a very significant development in pro hockey, and now its rare to find a player that plays with the flat stick blade that was once commonplace before Hull and Mikita's revolutionary modification.

Hull was born and raised on a dairy farm near Belleville, Ontario. As a teenager it was obvious that he was on a fast track to NHL stardom, and he joined the Chicago Blackhawks not long after his 18th birthday. He would finish second in the leagues rookie of the year balloting in his first season and within a couple of years would become one of the NHLs marquee superstars. In 1961, he played an important role in the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup championship victory.

In 1966, Hull broke a hallowed NHL scoring mark by becoming the first player to net more than 50 goals in a season. His 51st goal broke the record of 50 goals held by Montreal Canadien greats Bernie Boom Boom Geoffrion and Maurice Rocket Richard. Hull would go on to score 54 goals in the 1966 and would surpass that mark by scoring 58 in 1968.

In 1972, Hull signed a then unprecedented deal to jump to the upstart World Hockey Association (WHA). His compensation included a $1 million US signing bonus which all of the league's owners contributed to realizing the significance of landing Hull in terms of publicity and credibility.

Hull would quickly resume his offensive onslaught in the upstart league for his new team, the Winnipeg Jets. He would lead the Jets to two league championship AVCO Cup victories and in 1977 set a new professional hockey record with 77 goals in a season.

Hull suffered from knee trouble throughout his career and was off the ice more than on it during the WHAs final season of 1979-80. After appearing in a handful of games for the Jets, he was shipped to the Hartford Whalers for future considerations. He would play in a few games for the Whalers before calling it a career. With the exception of an abortive comeback attempt with the New York Rangers in 1981 that was the end of his professional hockey career.

Modern fans may be more familiar with Hulls third son, Brett Hull, who earned NHL superstar status in his own right. Like his dad, Hull was a prolific goal scorer with a scary slapshot and will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.

Now 70 years old, Hull is still in good health and splits his time between Ontario and Chicago. He currently serves as a PR ambassador for the Blackhawks organization. He is expected to formally induct his son into the Hall of Fame at the ceremonies later this summer.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance writer specialing in hockey, sports betting and fight sports including boxing and mixed martial arts. He is a well known expert on how to successfully bet on UFC fights, as well as a statistical consultant for a number of casinos, sports books and other clients. He will be hosting a hockey themed radio show starting in late 2009.

Your CV As A Sales Brochure

By Glenn Hughes

Most people see their CV as a bit of a boring document designed to give the recruiter some useful information to talk about at an interview. This is simply untrue. A CV (or curriculum vitae) is one of the biggest tools in your armoury when it comes to selling yourself. It is a high end magazine, not a cheap leaflet

I have no idea why, but people in the UK (and other English speaking countries as well) tend to hide their light under a bushel. The CV is not the place for shrinking violets, it is a place to sell, to brag and boast and most of all to show a potential employer just how valuable an asset that you will be to their business

Coming over like a pushy double glazing salesman in a CV will no help you. Not unless you're looking for a job selling double glazing anyway! Quiet confidence in factual achievements leap out of the page as they are honest and have the recruiter wanting to know more. Achievements in the past show a track record that is likely to be repeated (at least in the recruiters eyes)

Most mothers taught us to be honest. So where did we learn to lie? Your CV is one place where lies genuinely have no place. No half truths either please. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. There is nothing, however that says you have to put anything in your CV about your mistakes. Focus on the good things that you have done. Mistakes? Leave them out

Simple, old fashioned attention to detail goes a long way on a CV. For example, taking time to get the exact dates that you were employed between shows honesty and attention to the smallest detail, particularly important in some job roles. Pay particular attention to grammar, spelling and punctuation. This will also pay great dividends as there are so many people who just don't

Your educational and professional qualifications should be listed separately. Educational qualifications are gained through institutions like colleges, schools, etc. Professional qualifications are gained through companies, training providers and the like, They are different and should be listed separately

Passing a driving test of any sort shows people that you have a degree of persistence, independence and stickability that many people simply don't have. It is a common assumption that everyone drives. They don't. Make sure that anyone reading your CV knows that you can drive (if you can), and specifically, which classes of vehicle that you are licensed to take out on the road

Age is a sensitive subject. Too old or too young can be a problem. Our advice, leave your age out of the document- it's for you to know and for the recruiter to find out. In any case, never include your full date of birth as your identity needs to be kept safe- this is useful information for anyone trying to steal that identity

About the Author:

About this writer: Glenn Hughes is the International Consultant and owner of CV That Works, a cv writing service that has provided cv services for over 1250 customers

Improving At Poker

By Simon M Skinner

Poker is by far the most popular online casino game, and it's still quite popular in person as well. It's one of the first games that people learn how to play, and it's a great game to play with a group of friends. Not everyone takes the time however to really learn the ins and outs of how to play.

The first and most important thing you need to do is play fewer hands. Online poker plays tend to throw chips into every pot, but this just means you are playing bad hands. Try to only play around 20% of your hands to maximize your chances for success.

Knowing when to fold is an important skill in poker and will let you hold onto your money longer. Concentrate on starting hands that have higher value and know when to bow out. Betting more or betting no matter what your opponents do is a big mistake, and it won't help you win.

Deciding how much money to play with is also important. For one thing it determines the amount of risk and reward there is to your bankroll. Another factor however is that higher limit tables will generally have better players, which increases the competition you're facing.

There's no reason to sit down with seasoned players just to lose all of your money and not even be able to enjoy yourself in the process.

Get information through poker betting. This one might sound strange, but you might not always bet just because you have a good hand.

If you do this carefully you'll be able to draw out the way your opponents move. You can also bet in different ways to help raise your chances of winning. Making a large opening bet will take people chasing cards or bluffing out of a hand. Meanwhile, re-raising somebody will help you judge whether a person has good cards or not.

You also have to master the art of bluffing. If you bluff too much however people won't take you seriously so only use the tactic sparingly to ensure its success.

Figure out when your risk is lowest, and bluff then. You should also understand player position - strong hands can be influenced by the position in which you play them.

The great thing about poker is that you can always improve, and there are many ways to do this. There are hundreds of books and websites on the subject, and all offer different words of wisdom. Put some of their playing ways into practice and see for yourself what works and what is enjoyable. You can even use automatic software that keeps track of your hand history for you.

When you know how to play poker, not only will you have more fun, but you'll also be able to win more money.

About the Author:

Inetbet is a successful and premier internet casino, founded in 1999, offering the chance to play for cash or to play for free to customers worldwide (including bettors in the US). Whether you are an seasoned casino player or a novice, Inetbet is an internet casino that will provide you with all your gambling needs.

Commodity Prices as Leading Indicators

By Ahmad Hassam

Commodities, namely gold and oil, have a strong correlation with currency markets. By understanding the relationship between gold, oil and currency pairs, forex traders can gauge risk, forecast price changes as well as understand exposure.

Gold and oil prices essentially tend to move based on almost similar fundamental forces that affect a few currency pairs. Four major currencies, the New Zealand Dollar, the Australian Dollar, the Canadian Dollar and the Swiss Franc are considered to be commodity currencies.

The NZD, CAD, AUD, and CHF all have strong connection with gold prices. Natural gold reserves and currency laws in these countries result in almost mirror like movements. The CAD also tends to move with the oil prices.

However, the correlation is not that strong. Each one of these currencies has a correlation with gold and oil and the fundamental reasons of doing so.

Knowledge of the fundamental factors behind these movements, their direction and strength could be a good method to discover trends in both the markets. There is a strong correlation between gold prices and US Dollar as well.

During unstable geopolitical times as well as when fears of global recession become strong like that presently, investors tend to shy away from Dollar and instead turn to gold as a safe haven for their investments.

Therefore, as Dollar depreciates, gold prices tend to appreciate as wary investors become afraid of losing their wealth. AUD/USD, NZD/USD and USD/CHF currency pairs tend to mirror gold movements.

Global energy needs are wholly dependent on oil supplies. Oil prices usually tend to have a huge impact on the global economy. Dont forget, the early part of 2008 when oil and commodity prices jumped skyward taking the global economy to the brink of recession. Oil prices did come down due to the stock market crash but it is being forecasted that it will rise again when the global economy comes out of recession and the demand for oil rises again. USD/CAD currency pair tends to show an oil relationship. The major reason for this relationship is the heavy dependence of US and Canadian economies on foreign oil.

Generally speaking, commodity prices are usually considered to be a leading indicator of currency prices. As such, commodity block traders monitor gold and oil prices to forecast movements in currency pairs. The knowledge of this relationship between gold, oil and currencies can help forex traders to diversity their risk exposure using different products. The combination of gold and forex trading can be very profitable.

About the Author:

Mr. Ahmad Hassam is a Harvard University Graduate. He is interested in day trading and swing trading stocks and currencies. Know These Forex Broker Tricks. Learn Currency Trading!