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The Atlanta Falcons didn’t so much win their Sunday Night NFL Football game against the Chicago Bears as much as the Bears lost it. A series of costly mistakes and turnovers in the red zone negated an otherwise solid road effort for the Bears, as Atlanta held on to win 21-14 at the Georgia Dome. Chicago held a decisive edge in most of the statistical categories, but was undone by untimely turnovers. Atlanta improved to 4-1 with the victory while Chicago slipped to 3-2.

Chicago also disappointed fans who bet on NFL football by failing to cover the pointspread as +4 road underdogs. Both teams’ ATS records match their straight up records with the Falcons moving to 4-1 against the number while the Bears slumped to 3-2. The 35 combined points went UNDER the posted total of 46.

Winning Falcons’ QB Matt Ryan chose to credit his defense rather than point to Chicago mistakes as the determining factor in the outcome:

“Our defense, give them some credit. Our guys stepped up and made some plays when we needed them to.”

The Bears did a good job shutting down Falcons’ star running back Michael Turner. He came through with the game on the line, however, rushing for the winning touchdown with just over three minutes remaining in the game. Ryan praised his running back’s effort:

“Our offensive line did a great job just giving me just enough time to get the ball off, and then Michael Turner did what he does. The offensive line provided a great push and just paved his way.”

The Falcons are now 4-1 for only the fifth time in team history, the last coming in 2004. Despite their solid start, they’re still trying to keep pace with the red hot New Orleans Saints who improved to 5-0 with their win over the New York Giants earlier in the day.

Atlanta can improve to 5-1 and break the mark for best start in franchise history with a win on the road at Dallas next Sunday. That’ll be followed by an even bigger road game, on Monday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints-a contest full of all sorts of implications for the eventual divisional championship in the NFC South. The Bears will be back on the road next weekend to take on the Cincinnati Bengals before returning home for games the following two Sundays against the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals.

Ross Everett is a respected 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, flower arranging and deep sea diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.

Technorati Tags: entertainment, football, gambling, hobbies, NFL, recreation, sports, travel

Despite dominating the winless St. Louis Ram on the stat sheet, the Jacksonville Jaguars needed overtime to eke out a 23-20 home field victory over arguably the worst team in the NFL. Based on their statistical superiority, the Jags should have made mincemeat out of the hapless Rams-they had 33 first downs to 13 for St. Louis, held a 492-262 overall yardage edge and had possession of the ball for 42:12 compared to 24:48 for the Rams. Jacksonville evened their record at 3-3 while the Rams dropped to 0-6.

Those who bet on NFL football would argue, however, that while Jacksonville may have ‘won the battle’ the Rams won the financial ‘war’ as St. Louis easily covered as +9′ road underdogs. It was only the Rams second NFL pointspread cover of the season (2-4 ATS) while Jacksonville evened their record against the money at 3-3. The 43 points put on the board just managed to go OVER the posted total of 42.

The catalyst behind the Jags offense was running back Marcus Jones-Drew who churned out 133 yards and three touchdowns. He’d gone public the week before saying that the Jags needed to run more and he explained the motives behind the comments after the game:

“I just wanted to show people my frustration of losing/ I feel we are on the verge of being great, but we just have to feel the same way about frustration. I lashed out a little bit. I think I went overboard, but the coaches understood after I talked to them and told them what it was about.”

Jags’ QB David Garrard said that the win was a confidence boost:

“This offense can battle even when the situation looks kind of bleak. To have that composure, that poise … that was huge for us. That was a good test for us to be able to move forward.”

There was immediate second guessing of Rams’ coach Steve Spagnuolo’s decision to go for the tie with the team had the ball on the nine yard line with seven seconds remaining. Some suggested that a team with a 0-6 mark should have gone for the win at this point. Spagnuolo responded all but saying that this team wasn’t playing to win but ‘playing not to lose’:

“It was too close. We never wanted something bad to happen and we just couldn’t take the chance. I think it was the right thing to do.”

The Rams won’t have an easy task earning their first victory next weekend as they host the Indianapolis Colts. They’ll play another one of the NFL’s bottom feeders on the road the next week, facing the Detroit Lions before a bye week. Jacksonville will now have a bye week before returning to action on the road against the Tennessee Titans on November 1st.

Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer specializing 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, falconry and scuba diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.

Technorati Tags: entertainment, hobbies, marketing, NFL football, recreation, sports, travel

Alexis Arguello, one of the greatest boxers to ever compete, was found dead in his Managua, Nicaragua home in early July of an apparent suicide. He was 57 years old. Arguello was the mayor of Nicaragua’s capital city at the time of his death.

Known for his class outside the ring as much for his tenacity inside the ring, hes best known to casual fight fans for his epic war in’82 with Aaron The Hawk Pryor when he moved up in weight after dominating at lighter weight classes. Ring Magazine not only named it Fight of the Year, but later would dub it Fight of the Decade. Promoter Bob Arum offered these thoughts on Pryor/Arguello:

“It was a brutal, brutal fight. That was something I will never, ever forget as long as I live. That was one of the most memorable fights I ever did.”

While the first Pryor fight may have brought him the most mainstream notoriety, boxing cognoscenti are aware that Arguello is arguably the best lightweight and junior lightweight in the history of the sport. Arguello would end his career with an astounding 82-8 record with 65 knockouts and championships in three different weight classes.

Ironically, Arguellos career didn’t get off to a good start and he lost his debut in’68 via first round TKO. He won his next three fights, before losing again via unanimous decision to another lower tier foe in his native country. After that, he seldom lost again and would go on to be respected as one of the best pound for pound fighters of his day. He was at his best against his toughest adversaries including Ray Mancini, Bobby Chacon and Ruben Olivares. Bob Arum remembered him not only as a great fighter, but as a great man:

“Not only was he one of the greatest fighters I’ve ever seen, he was the most intelligent fighter. He was a ring tactician. Every move was thought out. And he was a wonderful, wonderful person.”

The articulate, intelligent Arguello was also a quote machine on the fight game and how champions should conduct themselves. Here, he speaks of his attitude toward his opponents:

“Of course after the fight you want to make sure that you’re okay and so is the other guy, its a brotherhood in there, so you want to make sure everyone is okay after the war is over.”

Arguello didn’t fight for his first title until he’d had 58 fights, and would frequently admonish boxers who didn’t show the same respect for the sport or their status as champion:

“When you won that title you should know now that you are representing a whole country or nation with your actions and you are now in a glass house or under a microscope and you better be ready to make your people proud.”

Arguello loved boxing and fought to protect it from those who would undermine its greatness:

“I respect boxing because it has given me so much and thats why I will never allow anyone to mistreat the sport of boxing if I can help it.”

While the modest, dignified Arguello would never say it himself, that was for from a one sided debt–he also gave immeasurably to the sport of boxing with his grace, intelligence, talent and toughness.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Technorati Tags: boxing, celebrities, entertainment, History, hobbies, politics, recreation, sports, travel

Around the world, Yacht clubs have been able to attract people from almost all parts of the world with their graceful offers and mighty appearances of their yachts and sails. It is said every year, yacht sales and rental agencies remain busy as bee, for almost three hundred days or more per year. No other business opportunities have this much responses throughout the year.

All the countries with a coastline will be keen on setting up a sailing club and a yacht rental agency; because people of the western countries have quite a nose for smelling a new place to visit each year and mostly, they prefer a place where plenty of yacht and sailing facilities are available. Relaxing air, endless deep greenish sea, laundered light blue sky and the waves singing beautifully pitched notes are referred to be the best medicine and as a cure for stress and strain.

However, the responses obtained in Ireland are far more abundant as when compared with the other countries of the world. The hospitality that is found in Ireland will be enough to pull anyone’s attention towards it. The well mannered culture and kindness towards other people in Ireland and also towards the people from other countries as well is always the winning bet every time. This has prompted many to visit Ireland for their recreational opportunities of which the most important is to swim and sail on yachts.

Out of the huge list of clubs and rental agencies preferred by all in Ireland, the ones which are mostly booked all around the year are found in the coastline of Dun Laoghaire. Dn Laoghaire is a suburban seaside town and county and it has been under the Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown County of Ireland and the location of this port facility closer to the Dublin city center has proved itself to be quite valuable to improving the Irish government’s revenue stream.

Situated at a distance of only twelve kilometers from the Dublin city center in southerly direction, the port of Dn Laoghaire has been the busiest yachting area with abundant resources and help for getting the best from your sailing trip. Wide range of choices in yachts is available in the agencies located in Dn Laoghaire and the price tags are not very high here. It is the best place to go if we have a dream of sailing to fulfill. The port is an entrance to the people from the Great Britain where yachting is both famous and the most sought entertainment sport.

The port is famous for the international regatta, which is held in Ireland every year and the event will always bring in abundant crowds for participation and for taking up the challenge in sailing those beauties across the Irish coasts. The most famous Yacht clubs in Ireland are the Royal Alfred Yacht Club, The Malahide Yacht Club, Howth Yacht Club, Malahide Yacht Club, Broadmeadows, Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, GRPro-Clean Dublin Ltd and the National Yacht Club.

If you interested in Ireland and Irish news and events – please find out more about New events in Ireland and recent Irish cultural events and news in our blog posts.

Technorati Tags: Education, entertainment, hobby, leisure, sport, travel, Yacht sport

One of the most appealing qualities of heavy metal has always been its defiance of popular trends. While other genres of music groveled for ‘crossover appeal’ and mainstream acceptance, heavy metal has always been unapologetic about what it is. In the 1990’s, the plague of ‘nu metal’ struck. ‘Nu Metal’ fused watered down heavy metal riffs with mopey, introspective lyrics more commonly associated with bad ‘adult contemporary’ artists.

Fortunately, the cancerous tumor in the body of heavy metal is now in remission and the tide is turning back. Part of the cure has blown across the Norse sea like a cold winter monsoon and has now reached American shores. Amon Amarth is a band from Tumba, Sweden founded in 1992 who are the latest”and most commercially successful”proponent of a genre known as Viking metal. As the name implies, bands from the Viking metal genre sing about important topics such as sailing, lusting for adventure and conquest, furious winds and treacherous seas. Viking metal bands are too busy metaphorically conquering and pillaging to worry about such trivialities as their feelings, let alone grooming themselves.

Amon Amarth took their name from a location in J.R.R. Tolkiens Middle Earth, and their name means Mount Doom in the Elvish language of Sindarin. Mount Doom would have been a decent name in itself, but its roots in Tolkiens sword and sorcery classic makes it all the better. Their first demo release, The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter, set the thematic tone for their work to come. Drawing musical inspiration from bands such as Bolt Thrower and their Viking metal predecessors Bathory and Enslaved, who in turn took their cue from the great American band Manowar, Amon Amarth plays their own unique style of melodic death metal. While they are hesitant to claim the Viking metal mantle for their own, they take most of their lyrical content from Viking history and Norse mythology.

The band signed with Metal Blade Records in 1998 and their popularity has skyrocketed worldwide. 2006s With Oden On Our Side earned the band headliner status in North American and has made them one of the most popular metal acts in the US.

Amon Amarth recently extended their deal with Metal Blade records, and released their latest album ‘Twilight of the Thunder God’ in September 2008. The album quickly became the best selling release of their career, and was met with critical acclaim from the heavy metal media worldwide.

Heavy metal as a genre is making a worldwide resurgence, particularly the Amon Amarth style of ‘Viking Metal’ and other related acts with a similar thematic focus on epic adventure. The band tours constantly, and their powerful live show has earned them a reputation as one of the ‘must see’ concert acts.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Technorati Tags: entertainment, heavy metal, marketing, Music, pop culture, rock music, Swedish music, travel

Manchester United is in good shape to advance to the Champions League soccer quarterfinals following a 3-2 win over AC Milan at the San Siro. The competition itself was overshadowed by the fact that it was the first time that David Beckham had played against his old team since leaving Old Trafford in 2003, and Wayne Rooney squashed Milan’s early hopes with two goals to put the game on ice. Clarance Seedorf scored at the 85 minute mark to make the score respectable, but Man U controlled play after the halftime break. Now barring a complete collapse on their home field, Manchester United is well placed to advance.

AC Milan got on the board first just three minutes into the game as Beckham set up Ronaldinho’s goal that sent the San Siro into a frenzy. Paul Scholes evened the score at the 36 minute mark and the teams went into the halftime break tied at 1-1. Rooney would net his first goal at the 66 minute mark and would score again just 8 minutes later to give Man U a 3-1 lead.

The 24 year old Rooney is becoming recognized as one of the best strikers in soccer. He’s now got 25 goals on the year with 19 games left to play. He’s also received high marks from the soccer press for his playmaking, heady play and overall attitude. The consensus is that he’s already one of the best in the world and is only getting better. He’s expected to be a valuable contributor to England’s World Cup effort this summer.

After the game, Beckham complimented Rooney on his play and suggested that he receive consideration for the World Player of the Year award:

“I hope he is a contender for the World Player of the Year and the Ballon D’Or. I would love to see him win every title possible. I have seen Wayne from being a young lad. I played in his debut for England and I have watched him score goals week in and week out ever since. It is amazing to see.”

“He looks after himself and works hard. The way he plays is the way he trains. That is why he is so good and why Wayne is ready for any game. It doesn’t matter how many games he has played or how many he will be involved in to the end of the season, he will be ready for anything.”

There’s a good chance that Beckham and Rooney will be teammates on England’s World Cup team this summer. Beckham made note of that fact:

“I wouldn’t want to see him do it again against us in a few weeks but of course I’d like it in the World Cup.”

Rooney’s sizzling play and Beckham’s veteran leadership and dominant free kicks are a big reason why England is among the World Cup betting favorites before the team has even been made official. England will start World Cup play on June 12 against the United States. England is a +600 choice to win the World Cup, third favorite behind Spain and Brazil.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer specializing in sports handicapping, harness racing, soccer coaching handicapping and fencing. He is also a well known expert on NFL football betting and has made many broadcast appearances on TV and radio. He lives in Southern Nevada with three dogs and a retired racing wombat.

Technorati Tags: entertainment, hobbies, leisure, recreation, soccer, sports, travel

In the south of California, there is a territorial division of the country, a county known as the orange county. Santa Ana is the county seat of the orange county. On the basis of population, it ranks as the 2nd most populated county of California, running a little behind the Los Angeles County and on the basis of area, Orange County is the smallest county in the Southern California.

The orange county was initially called “the valley of Saint Anne” and was first inhabited by few groups of Native Americans. After some eventful decades, the California legislature decided to divide the Los Angeles County and form the orange county. Orange County was made as definite political entity. It is named as orange- the citrus fruit because it is considered as the most famous product of the area. On economical fundaments, the orange county makes the money transactions mainly by three ways namely tourism and business.

Tourism is the most prominent aspect of the economy of the orange county. The city of Anaheim in Orange County plays a vital role in boosting the tourism industry and is considered as the major tourist hub. Anaheim is the home of the world famous Disneyland resort and the Anaheim convention centre. As the county is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean in the south, the availability of beaches lead to the beach resorts which are the source of income due to the consistent incoming of tourists from all around the world. The beach cities also provide treats like golf, shopping, dining, biking paths and also hiking trails in mountains, thus boosting the adventure in the visits of tourists. Also, there are many shopping malls in Orange County. On a more commercial note, there are a number of companies established in the orange county such as fortune 500 companies, fortune 1000 companies and a large number of regional headquarters which are used for making business deals on an international scale.

Orange County is also known for its interest in literature, religion and the arts. There are a number of tourist destinations in the orange county which highlight the taste of arts of the county. Some instances are the tourist spots like Disneyland, Little Saigon, Ronald reagon federal and the Cart house in the Santa Ana are other prominent structures. On a religious pathway, Orange County is a home to many famous centers of religious worshiping. Some are the Crystal Cathedral, the Calvary Chapel, the Saddleback Church et cetera. There are a few Islamic societies, Buddhist monasteries also.

A number of novels, films and television shows have been set up in the Orange County. Novels like California girl and all the bells on earth are set in this county. The Orange County is also known for its indulgence in the field of sports. A number of sports are enjoyed in the county namely surfing, skate boarding, cycling, and hiking. Sailing and playing sand volley ball.

Orange County is also a host to a number of prominent teams of different sports. The Los Angeles angel of Anaheim is the major league baseball team who emerged out as the winner of the World Series in the year 2002. The county’s hockey team, titled the Anaheim Ducks were the winner of the Stanley Cup 2007.

Thus, Orange County proves to be a true attraction for tourists from all around the world.

Find out more information about orange county and banquet halls.

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Finding great location for your wedding can be quite a feat. So many places are way above budget and cost and arm and a leg to rent for a few hours. Below are a few unique ideas to help you find cheaper venues.

A Friend Or Family Members Home

Do you know of a friend or family member with a wedding worthy home? This can be one of the most affordable locations to have your wedding. You can have the ceremony inside and a late evening reception by candlelight. Affordable, easy, and your friend will feel honored by you selecting their home for your big day.

A Small Country Church

Don’t bother trying to book a big city church if you are on a budget. Many times these churches can be as expensive as the ritzy wedding halls. Instead search out a small, but well maintained church or chapel. These churches are only a fraction of the price, but just as beautiful.

A Local Museum

Did you know that many museums have certain areas that are available for weddings? These areas are marked off and rented by the hour. Since many couples do not know this is an option, the museum rates are usually quite a bit cheaper than a well known wedding venue.

The Forest

A small clearing in the forest is the perfect place for a ceremony for the adventurous couple. Tell everyone to bring their hiking boots and make an event out of it. Since the forest has beautiful scenery already you won’t have to spend too much on decorations.

On Top Of a Mountain

Why not gather your guests and your husband to be on a mountaintop. This is sure to make a lasting impression, it is unique, and will not be forgotten anytime soon. You can surround yourself with beautiful scenery and it is more affordable than you might think. Check with city hall if the land is owned by the city or with the land owner if it is privately owned property.

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If you are looking for a fresh way to celebrate your big day, a destination wedding could be right up your alley. Wedding destination packages are affordable and in some cases cheaper than a regular ceremony and reception. Here’s a list of the most popular locations to get you started on your dream wedding afar.

Tuscany, Italy

Tuscany is full of great wine, inviting locals, and deliciously scrumptious food. Get married in one of the many historical town halls or chapels. As a couple you can explore artistic galleries, vineyards, and ancient castles.

The Yucatan

If you want to put a real personal touch on your wedding day the Yucatan offers traditional Mayan wedding ceremonies as well as regular Christian ceremonies. After the wedding you can relax on the numerous beautiful beaches or go exploring at the nearby Mayan ruins.

Maui, Hawaii

If you are looking to relax on some of the best beaches of the world why not consider Maui, Hawaii for your big day. Maui is a great location for couples and their guests. The island is a true paradise with breathtaking beaches, clear waters, and top notch resorts.

Las Vegas

Roll the dice and take a chance on love in Vegas! With so many wedding chapels it is hard to not want to get married in Vegas. This magical place of bright lights and luck you and your guests will be fascinated by all the nightly shows, costumes, and grand marquis signs.

Jamaica

The lively culture in Jamaica is inviting and many couples love Jamaica for this reason alone. There are many other reasons to love it as well like the endless beaches, very friendly Jamaican people, and top notch world renowned resorts and spas.

Belize

Tucked beneath Mexico is Belize. Scuba diving, snorkeling, and warm water lovers in general love this spot. If that is not enough there is also the rainforests full of tropical birds, crocodiles, and underground streams. There are also many archaeological sites to explore. So much to do and so little time

Scotland

Scotland offers a vast history, melodic music, and galleries of art that will take your breath away. The beautiful country side is doused with old castles and cathedrals. While in Scotland, don’t forget to check out the Queens’ residence in Edinburgh, the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

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Though there’s been a lot of consolidation in the pinball industry in recent years, the quality of modern games keeps improving. This is due, in part, to improvements in technology–though not at the expense of first rate playfield design. Pinball went through a few lean years during the early years of the video boom, when designers tried to cram as much stuff onto the playfield as possible, perhaps feeling the clutter was needed to replicate the video game experience. In recent years, however, designers appear to have concluded–and rightly so–that pinball cannot be a video game, nor should it want to be.

A great game of recent vintage is the 1997 Bally release “Cirqus Voltaire”. The theme is sort of a ‘Cirque du Soleil” on acid, and the iconography of the circus that they cram into the design and play of the game is amazing. The ultimate object of the game is to “join the cirqus”, which, of course, is a classical American archetype of freedom and escape. Yet this “Cirqus” is not a Norman Rockwell vision of juvenile fun–there are a lot of sinister undertones as well, including evil ringmasters and an almost palpable feeling of sleaze. The clowns here have more in common with the Simpsons’ ‘Krusty the Clown’ than with Emmett Kelly.

The game play offers a lot of what we’ve come to expect from Williams/Bally, with sweeping ramp shots, clever uses of time-worn features (like the disappearing pop bumper, reincarnated here as a balloon. This feature dates back to the 1950’s and appeared on Williams “Gusher” among others), and multi-ball a-plenty. As is very common with pinball games today, the game’s ultimate object is to work your way through a variety of ‘modes’. Sometimes this is a confusing endeavor, but here is very easy to understand–yet still very challenging to the player.

At its nadir, pinball companies were cranking out games featuring themes and subjects that offered little, if any, synergy with game play. The low point might have been some of the celebrity tie-in games of the early eighties (which gave the world debacles like a Dolly Parton and Roy Clark tie-in). “Cirqus Voltaire” on the other hand is an almost perfect synergy of subject and gameplay experience.

The really great thing about the game is the multiple levels of contextual awareness it offers. It alternately provides a celebration and condemnation of the circus and, deeper still, of the popular culture that spawns embraces them. This is not a new notion for a pinball machine to offer different levels of interpretation of seemingly innocuous events (it dates back to the pioneering artist Roy Parker, if not before) but in recent years it may not have been done more deftly than in Cirqus Voltaire.

Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer experienced in travel, casino gambling 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, falconry and deep sea diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.

Technorati Tags: entertainment, games, hobbies, marketing, pinball, recreation, travel