Archive for February 2010
Atlanta Tops St. Louis In NFL Preseason Action
February 28, 2010
It may only be preseason in the NFL, but the Atlanta Falcons are making a statement that they’ll be a factor in the NFC. The Falcons starters behind QB Matt Ryan were almost flawless, and left the reserves with a 14-0 lead before eventually beating the St. Louis Rams 20-13 at the Edward Jones Dome on Friday night.
Running back Michael Turner was unstoppable in his limited playing time, churning out 65 yards in the Falcons opening drive. After the game, he confirmed that the Falcons offense had placed a priority on sound execution:
“We wanted to come out and execute. They were preaching that all week and we wanted to show that on game day. We’re way better than we were last year at this time.”
Tony Gonzalez caught QB Matt Ryans TD pass and after the game praised the young team leader:
“He’s a great quarterback. It’s obvious he’s figuring things out. He has a great arm, talent, and knows how to play with poise.”
It was a disappointing home debut for new Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, who tried to frame the loss as a learning experience:
“Just like I said to the team, we’d have liked to have started out a little better. You’ve got to come out and take it to them.”
Rams safety O.J. Atogwe sounded a similar tone:
“This was a fabulous game for us. That’s the reason you play the preseason. Going against a team like Atlanta, a top-caliber team, it allows us to reassess what we’ve been doing.”
Falcons coach Mike Smith, meanwhile, was more enthused about the improved play of his rushing defense than the offensive firepower:
“We were much improved against the run. It’s something we have to continue to get better at. We still had some missteps.”
Atlanta will get the NFL regular season underway on Sunday, September 13th as they host the Miami Dolphins while the Rams will head to the Pacific Northwest for a game against the Seahawks in Seattle.
Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer experienced in travel, poker and sports handicapping. He is a staff handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and deep sea diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.
UFC Flashback: Lauzon Vs. Stephens Headlines Ultimate Fight Night
February 28, 2010
Ever since he burst onto the MMA scene with a shocking first round KO upset of Jens Pulver at UFC 63, Joe Lauzon has been working to earn respect. Hes lost only once since then–to top contender Kenny Florian in a bout that earned fight of the night honors–but for some reason hes had trouble being taken seriously as a top contender in the UFCs lightweight division. He may not fit the classical profile of a fighter, looking more like a fresh faced kid and is often referred to as a geek due to his educational background in computer science. When the fight starts, however, hes all business. In the main event at the UFC Ultimate Fight Night in Tampa, Lauzon withstood a game challenge from late replacement Jeremy Stephens to earn a 2nd round submission victory.
Lauzon was in control of the fight throughout, but Stephens gave a good account of himself. Stephens wasnt able to match up with Lauzon’s ever improving BJJ skills, but he used good old fashioned tenacity and some powerful punching to keep the fight competitive throughout. Lauzon appeared to be on the verge of ending the fight midway through the second with a ground and pound assault that he attempted to transition into a rear naked choke. Stephens fought back with a vengeance despite his disadvantageous position and opened a nasty cut on Lauzon’s forehead with an elbow strike.
Lauzon gained a new sense of urgency not wanting to lose on a stoppage due to the cut. He regained control on the ground and from full mount twisted into a nasty arm bar. Stephens tried to extricate himself, but was eventually forced to tap giving the bloody Lauzon a hard fought triumph.
The semifinal matchup featured another impressive effort from Cain Velasquez, who many have pegged as the heavyweight superstar of the future. Velasquez is a formidable physical presence at 6’2″ 241 pounds, and has very well developed technical skills for a fighter with only five bouts under his belt.
Velasquez was never really threatened in the fight, but he did have difficulty finishing off tough UFC newcomer Dennis Stojnic. Stojnic displayed impressive toughness and a chin of granite, which is less surprising given his training home at Amsterdam’s Golden Glory gym where he works alongside such fighters as K-1s Semmy Schilt and DREAMs Alistair Overeem. Stojnic did become the first of Velasquez’s opponents to make it into the second round as he withstood a brutal beating near the end of the first to make it to the bell.
In the second round, Velasquez quickly caught his opponent and sent him to the canvas with a nice combination which he followed up with another ground and pound attack to earn the TKO verdict.
On the undercard, Josh The Dentist Neer earned a tapout victory over the sports best known (and perhaps only) vegan, Mac Danzig.
In the opening bout of the evening, up-and-coming welterweight Anthony Rumble Johnson used his significant height and reach advantage to dispatch tough Luigi Fioravanti. After the fight he was very critical of himself in his postfight interview calling his performance sloppy.
The live crowd in Tampa gave a very poor account of themselves, at times booing fighters mercilessly for no apparent reason whatsoever. Their behavior reached a nadir in Cain Velasquez’s post fight interview, where he was booed mercilessly despite an impressive victory and informing Joe Rogan that he was about to become a father for the first time.
Ross Everett is a respected freelance writer experienced in travel, poker and sports handicapping. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, flower arranging and scuba diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.
Indy Nips Jacksonville As NFL Season Gets Underway
February 28, 2010
The often maligned Indianapolis Colts defense matched the ferocity of their Jacksonville Jaguars counterparts play for play, and one touchdown pass from Peyton Manning proved to be enough to earn victory by a 14-12 margin in the NFL season opener for both teams. The victory was Manning’s 118th in a Colts uniform, tying the legendary Johnny Unitas for the franchise lead. Unitas, of course, was the personification of the franchise during their years in Baltimore.
NFL sports betting enthusiasts who took the Jaguars as +6 road underdogs were rewarded with the pointspread cover. Indianapolis dropped to 11-16 ATS over the past three years when favored. The 26 combined points went well UNDER the posted total of 45. Despite their reputation as an offensive juggernaut, the Colts have actually trended to the UNDER over the past three seasons, with 19 UNDERs in their past 35 lined games.
After the contest, Manning displayed his characteristic humility when asked about tying the franchise mark for wins and particularly comparisons to the iconic Unitas:
“I’ve never felt comfortable with comparisons with him. I think he’s kind of in his own category. But I am proud of those wins.”
Manning was more concerned about the welfare of receiver Anthony Gonzalez who left late in the first quarter with an injury:
“I asked Rashean Matthis what happened and he said, ‘I didn’t even touch him . He has worked so hard in the offseason, I just hope it’s not a season-ending injury.”
Colts coach Jim Caldwell won his first game at the helm of an NFL team, and gave credit to his defense:
“Obviously, the defense played well and came up big at the end. We thought it would be a grind, and it was. I think our team certainly played tough, played hard, played with a lot of energy.”
Jacksonville wasnt overly discouraged after the contest either. Maurice Jones-Drew gave props to the Indy defense after the game:
“They just did a great job in the red zone stifling our offense. My hat’s off to them. But we have to learn how to finish.”
Quarterback David Garrard also gave credit to the tenacity of the Indy pass rush:
“I thought, ‘Here we go again, we have a great chance. You love to be in that situation. We were trying to get the ball to Maurice, but you’ve got to slow those pass rushers down. We did what we could do.”
The Jaguars will open their 2009 NFL home slate on Sunday as they host the Arizona Cardinals. The Colts will head to south Florida for a game against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. Theyll return to Indy for a date with the Arizona Cardinals on the following Sunday.
Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer who covers travel, poker and college football handicapping. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, falconry and scuba diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.
Minnesota RB Peterson Should Play Despite Back Injury
February 28, 2010
Brett Favre may get all of the headlines for the Minnesota Vikings, but NFL insiders are well aware that running back Adrian Peterson is the key to the teams offensive success. Peterson’s threat alone is enough to open up options for the passing game. Hes definitely more than a decoy, however–after winning the NFL rushing title last year hes already off to a great start with 272 yards and four touchdowns in only two games. His threat on the ground has been a large part for Favre’s solid play with his new team.
There’s been a good deal of concern this week in the Twin Cities media about Peterson’s health. Specifically, there are questions about the severity of a back injury suffered last weekend. Peterson has been limited in his practice activities all week as a precaution, though both he and QB Favre as listed as probable on the NFLs official injury report. Favre is dealing with a minor finger sprain.
The NFLs leading rusher tried to downplay the significance of his injury in comments to reporters:
“God willing, I will be out there playing. Not a big deal at all.”
He launched into a comedy routine when asked for details on the injury. Asked when the injury occurred, Peterson quipped:
“It happened, like, a week back. But that’s all behind me now.”
Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell didnt sound too concerned, but he wasnt cracking jokes either:
“I’m comfortable with where he’s at. I know he’s been working hard to rehab. … Right now, I think he’s going to be OK, but we have to continue to go throughout the week with that.”
Peterson ran for 92 yards and a touchdown against the Detroit Lions last weekend. His presence alone makes things much easier for the Vikings passing attack”opposing teams often put 8 or 9 men along the line of scrimmage to try and stop him, giving QB Brett Favre a great opportunity to get the ball downfield to his receivers in single coverage. Without him in the lineup, defenses have an easier time rushing Favre and covering receivers downfield.
The Vikings host a team known for their own potent running game this weekend, as the San Francisco 49ers come to town. The Vikings are a 6 point home favorite with the total set at 39. The line for the first half is Vikings -3, with a total of 20. Theyll remain at home the following week as the Green Bay Packers pay a visit for a game on Monday Night Football. A road game will follow, as the Vikings will head to St. Louis to face the lowly Rams on October 11th.
Ross Everett is a well known freelance writer who covers travel, poker and NFL football handicapping. He is a staff handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and scuba diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.
Rams Foil Comeback Attempt To Beat Bengals In Preseason NFL Play
February 28, 2010
Kyle Boller filled in for an injured Mark Bulger, and the St. Louis Rams improved to 2-1 on the NFL preseason with a 24-21 victory over the host Cincinnati Bengals. The Rams led 24-14 heading into the fourth quarter, but a Bengals TD early in the frame made for some drama down the stretch. The Bengals couldn’t close the deal, however, and lost their second game in NFL preseason play.
Boller did withstand a hard hit from linebacker Keith Rivers that knocked his helmet off his head. Rather than leave the game, he calmly picked up his helmet and finished the drive. For the game, the Rams #2 QB was 14 of 20 for 96 yards. After the game, he talked about the play:
“I could have slid a little earlier. It is what it is. My chin strap hit just above my eyes. It was a good scramble, but maybe if I can get down a little sooner, the coaches would like that.”
Rivers insisted the hit wasnt intentional:
“I was just trying to get to the ball. It wasn’t anything intentional.”
Boller had struggled last week after starting QB Bulger was forced to leave the game with a broken pinkie finger but played well this week. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo gave him credit in his postgame media comments:
“He moved the team. He drove us down there after the bad start. When you score on a drive, the quarterback deserves the credit.”
Bengals second string QB J.T. O’Sullivan didnt have it quite so easy”he was sacked three times, lost a fumble and had two passes deflected by linemen. The lost fumble added to the Bengals NFL preseason turnover woes”theyve lost five fumbles and thrown three interceptions for eight turnovers in three games. O’Sullivan talked about the problem after the game:
“We’ve just got to find a way to eliminate it. It puts you in such a disadvantage any time you turn the ball over. That’s one of the things that has to change immediately.”
Head coach Marvin Lewis agreed:
“When you turn the football over, you have a difficult time winning, whether you’re playing in the regular season, the preseason, junior high, sixth grade, whatever it is.
The Bengals conclude their NFL preseason slate next Thursday as they host the Indianapolis Colts. The Rams play at home on the same night, welcoming the Kansas City Chiefs to the Edward Jones Dome. St. Louis will get the NFL regular season underway on Sunday, September 13th as they travel to the Pacific Northwest to face the Seattle Seahawks. The Bengals open the NFL regular season at home against the Denver Broncos.
Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer who covers travel, casino gambling and sports handicapping. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and scuba diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.
How can one travel to their point of origin from a divergent universe?
February 27, 2010
How can a person travel into the future of their original time line, what might be considered their "present", given that once in the past, a divergent time line is necessary to preserve continuity? Seems that once a person travels back in time, it may be impossible to go back "home".
Not possible, You will only be able to travel along your alternate timeline. Recent Theory suggests it’s possible by locating the exact sweet spot between a White hole and a Black hole, but most of us think that will only result in your being squished.
Pediatric Doctors Team-Up With Summer Camps
February 27, 2010
Millions of children go to Summer Youth Camps. Yet before you even commit to find that perfect place for your child experts suggest you make sure it is safe.
The new guideline, published in the June issue of the journal Pediatrics, was written by a team led by a University of Michigan Health System physician who specializes in camp health. Edward Walton, M.D., FAAP, FACEP, is lead author of the paper, which is an official policy statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics and was produced in conjunction with the American Camp Association.
the key to this policy is parents need to thoroughly determine whether a camp is right for their child’. Don’t just assume its great because your childs friends are going. One need to assess if it meets their childs mental, emotional and physical well-being, as well as their interests and skills.
That means, Walton says, that camps should provide parents with a complete picture of what their programs involve, whether it’s strenuous sports, rough wilderness camping, horseback riding — or intense music or computer practice. If an activity raises risk for kids with certain medical conditions, for instance scuba diving and asthma, camps should tell parents about those risks ahead of time.
Homesickness prevention, the authors write, should start weeks before a child goes off to camp, and can be led by parents with the help of the doctor or other health care provider who performs the child’s pre-camp health assessment.
Walton, suggests “Parents should also avoid making pre-arranged plans with their children about picking them up if they get homesick. If parents discuss camp positively, avoid expressing doubts about a child’s ability to avoid homesickness”.
With the new guideline, the AAP also recommends that its members — the pediatricians who treat many of America’s children — get involved with camps in their local area to make sure that health policies and standing orders are up-to-date. They can also act as medical backups to the nurses and paramedic-trained camp health officers on site at camps — instead of the local emergency room or urgent care center, which Walton’s study found was the case 75 percent of the time.
Asthma and allergies also bring new challenges for camps. Parents need to teach their children how to use rescue inhalers or EpiPens (allergy-calming epinephrine injection devices). With or with out the summer camp. Camps need to help children have them nearby at all times.
“The delay that can occur when another camper or counselor has to run to the camp nurse’s office to grab an inhaler for a child who is having an asthma attack or an EpiPen for a child who has been stung by a bee can have real health consequences,” says Walton.
The new guideline does not give detailed recommendations for camps that serve only children with special medical circumstances, such as cancer, physical disabilities, blindness, deafness or diabetes. But it recommends that camps work with local pediatricians and health professionals to assess children’s fitness to take part in such camps, and establish programs specific to them.
Selecting the best Summer Camp for your child is easier with a FREE resource Summer Camp Advice Find a Summer Camp
Swift Nature Camp is a Minnesota Summer Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional outdoors summer camp activities with that of a Science At Summer Camps that promotes an appreciation for nature.
The Umbrella’s Evolution
February 27, 2010
Starting form ancient times the umbrella or parasol has played a significant role in human history. Of course in those days the umbrella was more like a parasol, that is, it was not as versatile as modern day umbrellas and was only used for protection against the sun because it usually didn’t have water proof material. There is plenty of archeological evidence of kings and queens of yore using parasols.
Probably all of the ancient cultures, Greeks, Chinese, Romans, and Egyptians, to name a few used the parasol to protect themselves from the sun. The parasol became a symbol of royalty and only royal family members used them.
In later times that is the 17th century we see a more common use of the parasol but it still remained relatively expensive and usually the wealthy were the only ones who could afford them. This was not true in some Asian countries where poor farmers used a crude version of the umbrella that could be used in the rain also.
In the late 18th century, the use of umbrellas and parasols became more common although it was restricted mostly with women. But slowly society’s attitude changed and it became more and more acceptable for men to use them as well. Those early umbrellas were made from wood and silk which made them expensive.
But with the arrival of the industrial revolution there were a lot new ideas and products being born. It was in that climate that a wealthy business man by the name Samuel fox invented the modern day umbrella. It was very similar in design complete with steel ribs and a cotton cloth for the top. Nowadays there are so many different variations of that design and one of the interesting ones is the bubble umbrella, it is similar to other umbrellas but instead a nylon cover it has transparent plastic cover giving it a bubble like appearance..
Want to find out more about the Bubble Umbrella, then visit Alexander Stone’s site on how to choose the best Offset Umbrella for your needs.
Remember To Have Everything Booked Before You Take Off On Your UK Flights
February 27, 2010
Many times, people forget to book their travel extras when they get their UK flights. By doing these all one time, you can make sure that you have a comfortable trip with everything that you need to make your holiday go smoothly.
While many people book their hotel of the same time as the flight, it is important to remember to do so at hotels everywhere that you plan on traveling. This ensures that you have the availability of the room and you’re not going to have to scramble for place to stay. It will also allow you to lock in rates as well.
Car rentals are important. In today’s economy, many of the companies are having less cars on thew lot, and in some cases finding one for you to get will be difficult, and if found, will cost a lot more then reserving one before you leave. You can reserve these with flight and make sure you have one for your holiday and will have no troubles getting it.
Airport parking is also necessary to book early. This makes sure that you have the availability for a space. You also will have more option including parking at the airport, or even having a driver meet you at the gate and park your car so storage of it is much easier on you while you are gone, and can be delivered back to you easily and with no hassles.
Not only will doing this make sure that you are able to get what you want, but you will also be able to get better prices on them. This makes sure that you have enough money to have everything you want, and a little extra to take with you.
When you plan your trip, don’t forget to buy tickets online and make all your reservations to the attractions you want to see. Because many of them are harder to get when you are there, this will allow you an easy time of getting to them and enjoying what it is you wanted to see.
By planning your travel extras along with your UK flights, you will be able to save a lot of money and time before you leave. You’ll be able to take your holiday worry free as long as you plan these extras beforehand. You’ll be able to enjoy yourself more without having the added stress of trying to find these extras.
When you get your inexpensive uk flights, specifically Flights to Anchorage you need to remember to also get all the extras that make the holiday unforgettable. We’ve got the ultimate inside scoop!
Viajes Laos – My High Ten Favorite Places to Keep in Laos
February 27, 2010
With Burma around the corner, Laos is one of the most good-looking landlocked countries in Southeast Asia. Known as the Land of the Million Elephants, Laos is filled with forested landscapes, and rugged mountains all through. The environment here is tropical, and rains happen between May and November. It is part of the Golden triangle, since it is a country where Opium is grown here.
With economy on the upward slide, tourism is the major source of income in Laos. People come here to explore the hidden terrains, learn more about their culture, unique language, and style of dressing. Buddhism is the predominant religion here and so don’t be surprised to see all those temples strewn across. Keep in intelligence, these five things that you must see when holidaying in Laos.
A large spiritual cave dug into the limestone cliff that is facing the river is what makes Pak Ou caves so popular. The caves are filled with images of Buddha in various styles and shapes, but the most attractive is the Luang Prabang model of standing Buddha. There are tours conducted almost on a every day basis to this place, and the only means of transport is by ship from Ban Pak Ou.
Plain of Jars is another widespread goal with tourists staying in Viajes Laos. The only reason the place is called Plain of jars is because through the coastal region, there are huge jars strewn all over the place.
There are three places which are open to public, of which one of them has the most digit of jars. Most of these jars are virtually 2000 years old, and the mystery behind them is that they are all filled with bones, or food remains and has no other information on them. Some of the jars are as difficult as 6 tones, and made of stone, which was not very common in this area.
Known to be the largest waterfall in all of Asia, Khone Phapheng is lovely and exhale taking. It is placed in the south side of Si Phan Don. If you are lucky, you could get to see plenty of dolphins nearly this region.
A place that is very special to residents of Viajar Laos is the Pha That Laung. This is where one sees Buddhism and Lao independence go hand in hand. The monument looks like a projectile from afar, and when receiving close, one sees that it is a tall technique with small windows on the sides. A major festival happens here every year in November, which is the highlight of the place.
A small structure, which is very tiny when compared to the Angkor era sites, Wat Phu is a monument that is very unique. The ornate Shiva sanctuary and the crocodile marble are what make the place so mysterious and popular amidst visitors. A three day Buddhist celebration takes place here each year, when congregation make their way up the Wat Phu Champaks, and also go away offerings.
James Wrangle is an avid Viajes and has Viajes Laos everybody spherical the world. His special interest lies in Asia, especially Laos and different countries of South East Asia. Viajelaos.com.