An internet gambling glossary - part two

This is the second installment of my internet gambling glossary.

FOLD: In poker, to opt out of a round. The player loses all moneys bet prior to folding.

HIGH-LOW BET: In roulette, to bet either numbers 1-18 or 19-36. High-Low bets pay even money.

HIT: In blackjack, to request another card from the dealer.

INSURANCE: In blackjack, insurance is a side bet that pays two to one if the dealer has a natural, ( twenty-one on the first two cards dealt ).

LINE BET: In craps, an even-money bet that pays back 98.6%.

MAIDEN RACE: Features horses that have not yet won a race.

MIDDLING: To take both sides of a bet at different point spreads.

NATURAL: As in blackjack, when the player or dealer gets twenty-one on the first two cards dealt.

OVER/UNDER: A sports wager in which a bet is made that the end score will be higher or lower than the wager.

PAYLINE: The line on a slot machine window on which the symbols on each reel must align in order to win.

PICK THREE: To pick the winners of three consecutive horse races.

PLACE: A wager that a horse will win or place second.

POINT SPREAD: The amount of points by which the favorite is expected to win.

PROGRESSIVE: Any game in which the jackpot increases as the game is played by all players.

PUSH: A blackjack term meaning the player and the dealer have equal hands totaling the same amounts, resulting in a tie, (push).

QUINELLA: In horse racing, to select the first two horses to finish first and second, in any order.

RAISE: In poker, to increase the previous bet made in a round.

RAKE: A casino charge that takes a portion of each poker pot as a fee for housing, supervising and dealing the games.

RANDOM NUBER GENERATOR: Slot machine and video poker machine manufacturers are required by law to incorporate a computerized application within each machine that guarantees that numbers generated by each play are randomly selected in no particular order so that patrons can be assured that the results of each play are not “rigged”.

RIGHT BETTOR: In craps, to bet on the pass line, wagering that the shooter will win craps.

SEVENING OUT: In craps, to lose if a seven is rolled after the point has been established.

SHOW: In horse racing, a horse that finishes second or third.

SIMULCAST: Real-time TV coverage of a sporting event, such as a horse race or ball game, to other tracks and betting venues.

SPLIT-BET: In roulette, to bet on two side-by-side numbers.

SPLITTING: In blackjack, to split two same-value cards – the first two dealt – and play them as separate hands.

STAKES RACE: A horse race that offers the largest purses and is participated in by the best horses.

STAND: In blackjack, to not take any more cards, also known as “stay”.

STRAIGHT BET: In craps, this is a single-number bet.

TRIFECTA: A wager that three horses will finish a race in the exact order as predicted by the bettor.

WRONG BETTOR: To wager that a craps shooter will crap out on the come-out roll, or crap out after establishing a point.

The politics behind olympics games

Among the Greeks, fitness competitions and games were nationalistic in spirit; states were said to have been prouder of Olympic victories than of battles won. Women, foreigners, slaves, and dishonored persons were forbidden to compete. Contestants were required to train faithfully for 10 months before the games and had to take an oath that they had fulfilled the training requirements before participating. At first, the Olympic Games were confined to running, but over time new events were added. The winners of the Olympics were crowned with chaplets of wild olive, and in their home city-states male champions were also awarded valuable gifts and privileges.

As a visible focus of world energies, the Olympic Games have been prey to many factors that have thwarted their ideals of world co-operation and athletic excellence. Like in ancient Greece, nationalistic fervour has fostered intense rivalries that have at times threatened the survival of the games. Although officially only individuals are able to win Olympic medals, nations routinely assign political significance to the feats of their citizens and teams. For example, between 1952 and 1988 rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, rooted in mutual political antagonism, resulted in each boycotting games hosted by the other (Moscow, 1980; Los Angeles, 1984).

Politics has influenced the Olympic Games in other ways, from the propaganda of the Nazis in Berlin (1936) to pressures leading to the exclusion of white-ruled Rhodesia from the Munich games (1972). At Munich, nine Israeli athletes were kidnapped and murdered by Palestinian terrorists.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which sets and enforces Olympic policy, has struggled with the licensing and commercialisation of the games, the need to schedule events to accommodate television networks, and the monitoring of athletes who seek illegal competitive advantage, often through the use of performance-enhancing drugs. In 1998 a scandal erupted with revelations that bribery and favouritism had played a role in the awarding of the 2002 Winter Games to Salt Lake City, Utah, and in the selection of some earlier venues.

But, regardless of the Olympic Games tensions, it is historically proven that sports have acted as a liaison between nations and have greatly contributed to their evolution. Beginning with the sociological, psychological and physiological aspects of the human nature, sports have gained the praise of people worldwide, as they have contributed to their well being. Group-oriented, since in order to be a winner one has to compete, sport brings people closer together and generates team-spirit along with mind and physical awareness. But, whether or not the contemporary Olympic Games act as an opportunity for nations to learn from one another and cooperate or are just another opportunity for people to engage in competitive and hostile rivalries, only historians of the future will be able to judge with some certainty.

Baseball products shopping trips

Fans put their very best efforts in to finding the greatest assortment of baseball products that they can add to their collections. Some of the searching techniques for these baseball products might take them and several of their friends on baseball products shopping trips to every baseball team location throughout the United States.

Some of these fans might go a little overboard in their baseball memorabilia collecting efforts. They start by buying the small things like baseball caps, and baseball gloves, and before you know it they want to try to collect every bumper sticker from every baseball team that they can put their hands on.

Their need to show their team spirit might get a little out of hand at times, but when they go on these baseball products shopping trips they all get a little excited. They are inspired by the baseball products that they see on websites throughout the Internet, that promote what they say is the largest collection of baseball products memorabilia in the entire United States.

Some of the baseball products that they find through these web portals are meant to help new players with their pitching speeds, and fans get truly inspired by this, because they at least want to get their speed to 103. Some of these dedicated fans will really enjoy the opportunity to own digital imagine binoculars that would bring all game they see up close, and very personal.

Other fans go on baseball products shopping trips to help improve their swing, and end up buying quality baseball products that bounce, spin, and zing across the playing fields. These consistent and very durable products are made of full grain cow leather hide, and nobody is really ever sure about what the baseball manufacturers put inside of them.

By the time these fans return back home from their baseball products shopping trips, their automobiles will be heavy weighted with all sorts of baseball memorabilia products that they noticed on all sides of the street. The shops with the colorful banners and watches, kept their attentions for quite a while as they talked to their respected manufacturers in lengthy detail.

There were fans that took advantage of the time on the road, to spend the downtime reading about skill tips, and strategy ideas that major league baseball coaches followed throughout the season. The time on the baseball shopping trips was never wasted because all of the baseball gear that was collected was bought to help players and kids learn all about baseball.

These baseball fans are devoted to spreading the word about baseball. While on their baseball products shopping trips, they make it a point to stop by every retail location they can, to search the aisles carefully for baseball products that can motivate the future players of their favorite sport. There are many things out there for them to choose from too, so they know that the kids in their fair cities will be running the bases and hitting homeruns every Summer starting in June.

Pool hot tub water sanitizers

We all enjoy soaking or swimming in a warm crystal clear pool or hot tub yet at times keeping that sparkle can be a trying experience. Keeping your pools chemicals in the proper range is not only necessary to maintain that sparkle but also to keep your pool or hot tub safe for swimmers.

There are three basic ways to keep your pool clean and safe for swimming the traditional chlorine system, biguanide and mineral systems each are safe and effective for use in outdoor pools and hot tubs. Each system needs to be used independently of the other so which ever system you start using you must continue to use that system. You will also need to purchase the proper testing equipment for your system.

The old standard chlorine is available almost every place from your local pool supply store to Wal-Mart it is relatively cheap and easy to monitor and use. The big drawbacks of chlorine are it is harsh on your skin and can cause bathing suits and hair color to fade. Stabilized chlorine should be used in a pool or hot tub that is exposed to sunlight if your spa is inside or is not in direct sunlight non stabilized chlorine can be used.

The next type of pool sanitizers are the mineral systems these release minerals such as copper, zinc and silver into the water to keep the pool or hot tub algae and bacteria free. Generally the mineral system does use a small amount of chlorine to make sure the system is efficacious.

The third type of pool sanitizer is the "Bio" type of sanitizers such as Bioguard and BioDex. These all liquid sanitizers are very easy to use but they do require a specific testing unit and can not be used with chlorine. These sanitizers do not have the same harsh effects of chlorine and do not bleach out hair and swim suits.

Every type of pool sanitizers requires an oxidizer, the oxidizer or shock treatment removes the oils, lotions and other unwanted contaminations form the pool. Not all shock treatments are the same although monopersulfate which is an oxygen based oxidizer. Chlorine based shock treatments are also oxygen based. Chlorine shock should never be used with the Biguanide sanitizing system uses hydrogen peroxide as the main oxidizer.

No matter what type of sanitizer you use in your pool or hot tub you need to start with the basics. Make sure your Ph is between 7.4 and 7.6 this prevents corrosion and scale build up and reduces the irritation to swimmers skin and eyes.

Refining a golf swing

One of the most important aspects of playing golf is refining the golf swing. The golf swing is a vital tool that is used to deliver the golf ball down a fairway and it can be used by a golfer to find a way out of a sand trap or two. The golf swing should be practiced more than putting because there are certain places on a golf course that can not be attempted with a good golf swing to clear it.

Most golfers will practice golf at a driving range because the golf swing is what drives the golf ball down a fairway. The golfer has many choices in irons and woods that they can use throughout the course of a game of golf and must perfect the use of each of these instruments to ensure that the best score is achieved during any golf game. Some days at the driving range might be used to perfect the use of a putter too.

Some of the areas that a golfer must work on to perfect the perfect golf swing are the placement of the arms and legs when holding an iron and the posture of the entire body when making many types of golf shots. The golfer will mainly be concerned about the direction of the body when it is over the ball when it is sitting on a golf tee ready to tee off.

Some golfing enthusiasts will feel the need to dress for the occasion and will spend a considerable amount of time selecting golf clothes at the pro shop before practice. They might get some forms of instruction from the golf pro about the correct method to hold a golf club and which methods of teeing off work best.

The golf pro is likely going to pay particular attention to the way the golfer folds the fingers around an iron and the particular position the elbow is end at various stages of the golf swing. The golf swing can be hindered dramatically if the golfer is not following through on the delivery and the pro can tell them how to correct any type of problem they have in a matter of minutes.

Simple corrections in posture and the amount of force used to hit a ball during various phases of a golf swing can make a dramatic difference on improving a golf swing and in most cases the position of the hips have a lot to do with why the ball is not going as far as the golfer intended it to. A golfer always has to practice and consider a lot of things when perfecting a golf swing whether they are on a golf course or at a driving range.

St. louis rams tickets - is the team coming back to earth

St. Louis Rams tickets have been selling like hotcakes during the first part of the 2006 season as the Rams got off to a fast start. It looked like they were a team that was instantly going to get better under a bright new coach, and most thought it would be the Rams who posed the biggest challenge to Seattle’s division supremacy.

However, as we move into the second half of the season, the Rams have fallen off a bit. They’re currently in third place in their division behind the improving San Francisco 49ers, and they’re running out of time if they want to make a run at the playoffs. They still have a bright new coach, so what’s happening with the Rams? We’ll explore a few possible reasons for their struggles below.

Run Defense

The Rams have been known to have an average-at-best defense in recent years, as their offense has for a long time been the core of the team’s identity. That was supposed to change under new defensive coordinator Jim Fassell, late of the New Orleans Saints, who has long been known for his stout, physical defensive teams and schemes.

The Rams’ defense was strong for the first month-or-so of the season, but since their free-fall began, they’ve been getting gashed, particularly on the ground. In yesterday’s 15-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Rams surrendered 242 rushing yards, and that will get you beat almost every time. You can’t win in the NFL if you can’t stop the run, and Fassell and the Rams need to get that fixed right away.

Coaching Learning Curve

Scott Linehan came to the Rams known as an up-and-coming coaching star who had built successful offenses in both Minnesota and Miami. His knowledge and teaching ability made players such as Daunte Culpepper better, and his offenses always scored a lot of points, regardless of whether the talent he had at his disposal was run or pass-oriented. Linehan could put together a system that fit his players.

However, the difference between serving as a coordinator and a head coach couldn’t be more stark, and Linehan is finding that out. After the Carolina game, most thought that the Rams simply looked flat and uninspired. When asked about it after the game, several players all-but called out their coach after he admitted that the team was flat.

St. Louis Rams tickets have provided an all-but guaranteed fireworks show in recent years, but Linehan’s team isn’t putting the same attitude into offense, and his defense is getting trampled. Linehan will figure things out and continue to grow into a top-flight coach, but like any other “rookie,” he’s still learning the nuances of leading a team. If he doesn’t figure that out, he’ll risk losing his veterans, but it’s not too late to rectify the situation.

Offensive Line

The Rams have a good offensive line when it’s at full-strength, but it won’t be firing on all cylinders for the rest of the season, as star LT Orlando Pace is out for the year. No unit can simply move on at the same level when it loses its best player, and yesterday was the first tangible evidence that the Rams will miss Pace in a big way. QB Marc Bulger was sacked seven times and RB Steven Jackson carried the ball only seven times. The Rams mustered all of 111 yards of offense, which is never good enough to win.

Overall, the Rams still have time to right the ship. They need to find their spark, and perhaps a string of home games coming up on their schedule will help them get back on track. One thing is sure - St. Louis Rams tickets will provide fans with a highly-entertaining show for the rest of the season as the Rams attempt to keep up with the rest of the division.

Tennis for newbies

Tennis for beginners can be a pleasant voyage or of frustration. This depends partly on the trainer and the environment, and partly on the player.

The majority of the beginners in tennis do not have any idea in the way in which tennis is learned. They don't know how many repetitions are necessary before the movement becomes automatic. They don't know that the hardest part of tennis is not technical but perception of the flight and to move of ball to the right spot in less than 2 seconds.

Tennis looks at very simple when you observe a good player. But the road with the control is long and him it matter of doesn't which the sector you work - with tennis, with the piano or to dance.

In order to relieve your tennis at the beginning there be some important ends which will help you to become more realistic, improve your rate of study and groove your races with a calm mentality.

Point out you - the brain stores all not simply, mechanical of race. It stores emotions, thoughts and consequently the belief as well as mechanics! Thus the beginning of the let with some realistic sights on tennis for beginners:

Why so much of balls?

The beginners do not realize really of the number of balls in the basket when they write the court. If they would begin their practice as regards volley ball, of football or basketball, they would see 10-20 balls. But here they could see from 40 to 200 balls or even more in one basket.

The reason is simple - the trainer knows that the repetition is the mother of competence and a beginner of tennis will have to make much repetitions before he'll be able to control the race. And more thing - the race is not only the movement of arm, but includes/understands the movement with the ball, stopping, balancing and striking the ball. A complex action of It which takes time to become our second nature.

To answer the question thus - there are so many balls because the driving training (learning how to strike and movement) take many repetitions and the trainer is ready for that. He also knows that you will probably miss much time before you obtained the good to feel. A question not of the life or death of It , the study right of the it to move in a new manner.

Errors?

The errors are a part of the training. A beginner of tennis does not realize really of how much and the way in which LARGE its errors will be. There are two types of errors while learning how to play tennis:

a) Errors where you can influence the results When a trainer recalls you to play gently and you forget with or decide that the survey of the it to the play gently, then you most probably blow of surplus. You can correct this error while striking more gently. It is in your order. Unless naturally you're late on the projectile and you're dispatching the race which produces a blow of surplus.

b) Errors which are out of your order (for now) You cannot have a perfect technique after 45 repetitions. It nonpossible to make the correct movement and liquid with so small repetitions. Your brain needs much more to store and coordinate your body fluidly. You cannot have a good to feel for the level of face of racquet or also to balance the speed after 20 minutes of practice.

You will make errors and you cannot accelerate the process. That takes time. Thus it is out of your order.

You don't must obtain the inversion with yourself, because there is not only you can make on this subject in this moment. Remain calms it and give your brain and body much more information so that they can learn and to adapt.

If all is well you now have a better arrangement in the way in which the process to learn tennis functions for beginners. To accept errors as an element of the voyage and to be patient will return the lessons commenзantes of tennis much more pleasant and the recreation.

And later when you control this interesting play you will really have fun on the court. Advance thus and find a trainer of tennis to show you which tennis is all approximately.

The lcd hdtv viewing experience

Imagine how an LCD television could introduce you to an exciting new world of digital entertainment and revolutionize your home viewing experience with the style, quality and flexibility that only LCD HDTV can offer. With a wide range of sizes and sleek designs, LCD HD television is a perfect fit for any room.

LCD HDTV refers to the size and image screen of the television. LCD HDTVs are much like plasma TVs as both feature a very thin television screen, but LCD HDTVs are up to an inch thinner than a plasma TV screen. This thin configuration allows them to be mounted almost anywhere imaginable. LCD screens are essentially larger versions of your flat-panel laptop computer screen.

LCD, or Liquid Crystal Display, is used for a variety of electronic gadgets. In general, cellular phones use this screen technology because of its ability to produce images even in a small size.

The cool thing about the LCD HDTVs is that they are usually about only 2 inches thick and can be put in places that a lot of ordinary televisions cannot be placed. The LCD screens are also tremendously dependable and last for many years before showing any detectable picture degradation. You also get bonus trend points for owning one. The disadvantages are that they are expensive and are limited in screen size to around 40 inches maximum due to the internal technology.

Both LCD televisions and plasma televisions are as thin as currently possible. In screen size, plasmas usually run larger. However, plasmas don't usually come in smaller sizes, which is sometimes desirable. Plasma has a wider viewing angle, but they both have good lifespan. Plasma will occasionally suffer from "burn in" effect. LCD TVs are at times susceptible to a delay that causes the outline of figures or objects to appear jagged.

LCD TVs are renowned for a sharp picture and vibrant color. Plasma TVs are noted for a wide range of colors and accurate color reproduction. LCD TVs are said to perform slightly better in bright-light conditions. Plasma TVs generally produce very black blacks while an LCD TV will usually display a very dark charcoal gray. Technically, plasma TVs are said to have greater contrast levels. Prices for both types of televisions are decreasing quickly.

You also hear much talk about plasma and LCD screens currently. The screens that were the standard for decades are called CRTs, and they have worked just fine. If you use that kind of screen, bear in mind that plasma and LCD screens are still quite expensive. However, they do provide crisp and clearness that the old CRT screens could never hope to provide.

The best part is, because they are so in demand, many name brands have started producing their own LCD HD television sets. This influx of competition in the market has caused the prices to drop.

As each manufacturer attempts to lead the record sales, more features are being offered and prices are continually dropping. Soon, all homes should include an LCD HD television set.

To compare the dominant prices on the market today, one only has to go on the Internet and browse the plethora of LCD HDTV being offered.

Bass fishing tackle-tips to help you pick the best tackle for your trip

Finding good bass fishing tackle can be rather difficult challenge today. Many people are taking to the lakes and streams today to start fishing, as people of all ages and physical conditions can fish. Fishing, along with golf, is one of the few sports available that just about anybody can take part in no matter there age or overall physical condition.

Therefore, fishing is becoming more and more popular every single day, and bass fishing is certainly one of the most popular kinds of fishing there is.

Therefore, with the rising amount of people using bass fishing tackle, this is also leading to an increase in the amount of competition among manufacturers making this can tackle. Here some important tips to help you find the right fishing tackle the help you.

Here are some quick tips to help you organize your best fishing tackle for maximum effectiveness on your next bass fishing trip. First of all, it is extremely important that you change up your bait when they are not giving you the results you want. For instance, if you are trying either crash or a spinner bait, and it is simply not producing fish, you might want to try switching.

There’s nothing worse than spending a whole day out in the pond and catching no fish, simply because you’re using the wrong bait. After you tried a certain candidate for a little while, if it doesn’t work, than simply switch to the next.

Unfortunately, you can never know which they will work, because different bait works in different situations in different locations. That’s why you’ll need to bring an assortment of bait, because you never know which one will work with a particular situation.

Also, when you’re organizing your bass fishing tackle storage system, first ask yourself how much tackle do you want to have? For instance, having a large storage system is certainly not a good choice if you don’t plan to do a lot of fishing during your outing. This simply causes you to waste a lot of tackle that could otherwise be put to good use.

Also, how easily accessible is the bass tackle? Can you get to it quickly and easily count without having to waste a lot of time while you could be out catching fish? Very simply, speed is very important to catching fish, and if you don’t have the right tackle on hand when the fish are coming, you will not catch any bass.

Probably the most important part is to plan your bass fishing for beforehand. For instance, if you’re planning to go to a particular location, you want to make sure that you the tackles organized in a particular way, so that you have to waste time trying to find the right equipment when you need it. For instance, if a certain type of fishing tackle is now working in attracting the fish, having a proven system in place is extremely important to submit be able to get the day you want as quickly as possible.

So where can you find the best bass fishing tackle for your next fishing tackle? There are many places you can find this, from the Internet to Bass Pro shops, etc. Also, it is probably sold in many general sporting good stores, even if they are not fishing specific. Of course, you can never find the right bass fishing tackle for you unless you know where you want to fish and what kind of bait they generally like to go after.

You have to know this information beforehand before beginning to look for your bass fishing tackle, as it is obviously different they will work in different situations. Therefore, plan this out beforehand, follow these tips, and you’ll find the right bass fishing tackle for your next fishing trip quickly and easily.

Learning good golf swing mechanics

We all want to have more power in our golf swing. Want to see that ball go sailing off the tee straight down the fairway a couple of hundred yards. Now of course we've all also seen someone consistently do that at a course on Sunday afternoon, so effortlessly, just like the club was slicing through butter. What do these people with the perfect golf swing and a perfect drive every time have that we don't have. Is it speed, strength, or a better driver? Chances are none of the above, what they have mastered is their golf swing mechanics.

Of course a better driver made of the latest and greatest material will help add a few yards to your drive, also having strength in the right muscles will help out. How ever all of these things aren't worth a dime if you're not using them correctly. And to use them correctly you need to have the right swing mechanics down. Until you understand exactly what happens when you swing a golf club, how the weight is transferred and how mechanics come into play rather then brute force and strength you'll continue to either duff the ball or be plagued by that evil hook or slice.

So is this to say that you should just purchase an inexpensive club, and any out of shape bum can learn to drive a winning ball? No not at all, your equipment and physical fitness level are very important, how ever you need to learn to use it right. A bad swing will only produce one thing, bad results. Whether it's a good club or a bad club, or your strong or weak.

If you're over the top with your golf swing, or to far on the inside it will come out in the direction of the ball. Being able to correct this error through your swing mechanics is when you've really learned to master the controllable par of this crazy game.

Working consistently to tweak your swing through mechanics is how you'll slowly but surely shave those strokes off of your handicap. The key is know the right way to do it in the first place so you have a base to work from. It is a lot more difficult for us to unlearn bad habits in our swing sequence then it is to take the time to learn the correct movements and technique the first time around. Remember bad habits are difficult to break, and this is no different in golf then it is in any other area of life.

Take advantage of Golf Instruction

One big let down with amateur golfers is that they get discouraged when they don't see improvement after practicing and practicing at the driving range. All they're learning to do is slice that ball further and further rather then discovering how to correct it and drive it straighter and straighter. This can all be corrected by introducing the correct instruction to your practicing regime. Whether it's a quality instructional video or book, or you register for lessons from the local pro you need a solid foundation to understand why a golf ball will tend to slice or hook. Or where the correction can be made in your swing to stop topping the ball. Without proper instruction you can't fully understand correct golf swing mechanics, and will continue to be frustrated.

Cycling for the good of you and the environment

Cycling Gains New Popularity

Cycling is gaining popularity in many parts of the country for good reason. Gas prices are going up and many people now bike short distances instead of driving to get around. They do this either to save money or to save the environment. Many people already find cycling to be a fun way to get exercise. As gas prices go up, more and more people will realize that they can help themselves and help the earth at the same time if they switch to bicycling.

Cycling, far from being a past time of the poor, has mostly been a past time of the well paid. One estimate of commuter cyclist’s income showed an average of $60,000 a year. Many cities across the country are now planning ahead for a potential future energy crisis and are making themselves more cycle friendly. They are adding bike lanes, bike racks, bike garages, and even bike dedicated streets. These cities with foresight will be more ready in the event that gas prices suddenly shoot up to the point where many people can not afford to commute to work in a car.

In heavy commuter traffic, cyclists actually find themselves getting to their destinations faster than their car commuter brethren. In some areas it is not legal for a bike to pass on the right, so check the local bike laws before you take this speedy shortcut through commuter traffic.

Cycling and Exercise

Not only is it a great choice for transportation, but cycling also has other benefits. One of the best ways to exercise, and among the most popular, cycling allows you the option of enjoying your surroundings while you exercise. Good for cardiovascular health as well as helping with balance and coordination, cycling helps maintain a healthy weight. Thirty minutes of cycling per day cuts the risk of heart disease in half. In addition, cycling increases strength and improves strength. As with any exercise, cycling promotes good mental health as well by its effect of giving you an overall sense of well-being.

Important Things to Know

Setting your bike up for commuting or shopping is different than setting it up for traveling or racing. You need sturdy tires that can handle all kinds of weather, especially if you live in any area other than the desert. You need some good bags to hold things or a bike trailer. You need lights in case you stay out too late and it gets dark. Although many cities do not require helmets for adult bike riders, it is a good idea to protect yourself with one.

Some say that cycling is more dangerous than driving, citing this as a reason that they choose to drive rather than cycle. But actually, as millions of Americans have been discovering, cycling is a great alternative to driving. In fact, figures suggest that cycling is only fifty-five percent as dangerous per hour as traveling in a car. Of course, wearing the right gear while cycling, as discussed above, is important.

Saint vincent and the grenadines casinos

The Caribbean conjures up images of beautiful islands, with perfect white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and the deep blue ocean glittering under an endlessly sunny sky. And Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a former British colony that since 1979 has enjoyed its independence, does not disappoint. Yet when the sun finally sets, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Casinos offer the gambling visitor a way of continuing the party into the small hours of the morning.

There are two Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Casinos, one in the capital Kingstown, which is found on the largest island, Saint Vincent, and the other at Carenage Bay, which is located on a small island called Canouan, which is part of the group of islands known as the Grenadines.

First let's pay a visit to the capital Kingstown, the chief port and largest city, albeit a capital city with just 15,000 inhabitants. Here gamblers will find the country's largest casino, the Emerald Valley Resort and Casino, located in Penniston Valley. The casino offers 50 slot machines and eight table games, including three tables of Blackjack, two tables of Carribean Stud Poker (and if you can't play Carribean Stud Poker in the Carribean, where you can you play it?), three tables of Roulette, and finally the dice-based game, Craps. To spend their winnings (or help forget the losses) visitors will find the resort has an American restaurant, a DJ Bar, and a whole range of sports facilities including a nine hole golf course, swimming, tennis, horse riding facilities and a 24 room hotel.

The second casino on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is in Carenage Bay, on the island of Canouan, and is part of the Raffles Resort hotel. This luxurious establishment enjoys 300 acres of private grounds and its own white sandy beaches, with accommodation consisting of 156 villas for the guests. The casino is located in the Villa Monte Carlo, which in addition offers a gourmet restaurant and a ballroom. US entrepreneur Donald Trump manages the casino, based in the Trump Club Privee, and it offers six tables playing Blackjack, Roulette and Craps, all in European-style gaming experience.

So whether in Kingstown or Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Casinos offer a great choice for those who like to try to beat the odds in luxurious and beautiful surroundings.

Western saddles 10 most common replacement parts

With proper care, quality western saddles will last a lifetime. There are, however, a number of saddle parts that will have a shorter lifespan than the base saddle, or that may be replaced for personal preference reasons. The following are the ten most common western saddle replacement parts.

1. Cinches (Front and Flank). In addition to being cleaned regularly, cinches need to be inspected for wear and replaced when necessary. The front cinch, especially, is a crucial part that's failure could cause a serious wreck.

2. Latigos (aka cinch straps). These straps take a lot of wear and can get worn relatively quickly with heavy use. You DO NOT want to be on a ride when your latigo breaks. Inspect and replace these relatively inexpensive straps regularly. A good way to test a leather strap is to try to tear it. If it tears, the leather is spent and should be tossed out.

3. Off billet. The off billet attaches the cinch to the saddle on the off (right) side. Like the latigo, it receives a lot of wear and needs to be inspected and replaced regularly for safety reasons.

4. Cinch Connecting Strap. This strap connects the front and flank cinches, holding the flank cinch in place. While it doesn't receive a lot of wear, failure can cause the flank cinch to slip back and spook the horse. It's a cheap part. Inspect it regularly and replace it when necessary. If you ride with a flank cinch, DO NOT ride without a cinch connecting strap in place.

5. Stirrup Leathers. Leathers receive a lot of wear and can wear out before the base saddle. Look for wear around the holes or where the hardware rubs against the leathers. Also try the "tear test" mentioned earlier.

6. Stirrup Hobbles. These straps hold together the fender extensions and the stirrup leathers so that the rider doesn’t catch his foot in between and get hung up. They are much more important than most riders realize. DO NOT ride without hobbles in place. Since hobbles are small and often removed to adjust stirrup length (although this isn't necessary), they tend to "disappear" more than they wear out. Hobbles are another cheap part. Buy extras and have them on hand.

7. Saddle Strings. Additional saddle strings can be added to any saddle dees or rings. You can never have too many saddle strings to tie your gear on with.

8. Horn Wrap. If you're a regular roper, you'll need to replace your horn wrap often. Non-ropers will find that one will last the life of their saddle. Horn wraps come in a variety of leather and rubber materials and choice depends on personal preference.

9. Rope Strap. Like Horn Wraps, replacement of the rope strap will depend on use.

10. Stirrups. Stirrups don't tend to wear out. Most will last as long as the saddle. However, most riders have very specific preferences about their stirrups, so they are a very common replacement part. There are a wide variety of stirrups available in prices ranging from cheap to very pricey.

Whether due to wear or personal preference, there are a number of parts on a western saddle that you'll probably replace at some point during its life. Most of these parts are relatively cheap and easy to replace. Make sure the key parts are inspected and replaced when necessary.

How to develop a brilliant golf swing

For a good golf swing we have not only to bring the club head down through the same line time after time; we must bring it down so that the club face is square with the ball at the instant of impact—and because the path of the club head is a curve, this means that impact must be timed correctly to an infinitesimal fraction of a second in the sweep of the swing. Also the club head must be accelerating at the moment of impact.

So we have not only to set up the mechanism to make a good swing, which we can all soon do if we only swing at the daisies, but we have to time this swing to the fraction of a second. Now I think that most of us overrate the value of good mechanics in golf and underrate the value of accurate timing. I was once watching, with a pupil of mine who had a most perfect swing, a fellow whose action was not pretty—to put it kindly.

But he kept hitting nice long shots down the middle. "Not much to look at," I remarked to my pupil. "I would not care a damn what I looked like if I could repeat like that chap!" he replied.

The awkward one could repeat his best shots time after time. His mechanics were ungainly but his timing was near perfect.

Well, you may say, if that is so, why should you go to so much trouble to give us a good mechanical swing? The answer is that good timing plus a good swing is better than good timing plus an awkward swing.

The best swing, mechanically, is the one that pulls the ball a little and then makes it turn a bit to the left at the end of its flight, but if you get your maximum golf happiness out of a swing which slices the ball all around the course, there is no reason to alter your mechanics!

If you do want to make an alteration, it may not be an extensive one. I remember one day at St. Cloud an someone came and begged me to give him even fifteen minutes—which I did out of my lunch time as he seemed so insistent.

His trouble was that every now and then his iron shots to the green would finish in the bunker to the left of the green. For three years he had failed to find a permanent cure. So on the advice of a friend he came to me. It did not take me long to see what was wrong and to explain to him that now and again his foot-and-leg work was sluggish, and in consequence the club head came in too soon—to put his ball a little to the left.

After that brief lesson I never saw him again, as he was on his way back to the States from Paris. But he left me a note of thanks and a handsome present, and when I inquired of the caddy who had been out with him in the afternoon learned he had broken 70. Some time later I saw his photograph in the American Golfer with the news that he had won the West Coast championship.

Too much thought about the mechanics is a bad thing for anyone's game. Now the reason why golf is so difficult is that you have to learn it and play it through your senses. You must be mindful but not thoughtful as you swing. You must not think or reflect; you must feel what you have to do. Part of the difficulty arises because, apart from simple things like riding a bicycle, we have never learned to do things in this way.

The beginning of the swing movement is in the feet; the movement passes progressively up through the body, through the arms, and out at the club head.

What we try to do is to make the club head come down in the same path time and time again—in such a way that the face of the club comes squarely into the back of the ball every time.

We have one fixed point (the feet) and one moving point (the club head) which we desire to move along the same line time after time. So the golf swing might be compared to the drawing of arcs with a pair of compasses. The reasons why we cannot be so precise in our stroking as the compass can, are that we are supported on two legs instead of one and we are full of flections and joints!

Top 3 - soccer players salaries

The question as to whether or not athletes in general and soccer players in particular, should be earning the kind of money they’re earning is more vibrant then ever these days, with clubs paying their players incredible amounts of money each year.

The comparison to other sports is also very relative. A gymnast will train all his life, miss out on a lot of his younger years only to be able to handle a world class performance, but he will still not win as much in his lifetime as one of the highest earning soccer players makes in a year. But that’s the market’s call and there’s no “fair” in sales share.

Getting back to our topic, it’s somewhat difficult to judge exactly how much a player makes simply from his club salary, because many wage details are private, due to obvious reasons. As a club manager, you want to create complete harmony in your team and with all of them knowing that player gets paid twice as much as the rest, won’t help you out with that.

The highest earning soccer players can also be affected by having their salaries publicly available, because at every less than bright performance, they’ll be confronted with a “My God! He really should have played better for the kind of money he’s making” type of exclamation from fans, media and fellow players.

A soccer player’s income also comes from several other sources than simply his wage. For example, the best ever soccer players always made more money from endorsements and ads than their wages; take a look at David Beckham if you don’t believe me.

Other contractual bonuses will also earn them a fair amount. For example, many strikers that are confident in their ability to play regularly and score will have contract bonuses for each goal, assist or for a total number of goals at the end of the season, while agreeing for a lower wage cutout.

However, considering all of the above, it would be logical to say that the highest earning soccer players are also the ones with the highest wages. A club will want to keep a player that brings in incredible amounts of money through endorsements and merchandise sale, so they will offer him a high salary. According to Forbes Magazine, here are the top 3 earners:

Ronaldinho ($29.5 million, salary + endorsement deals) - one of the most famous and nonconformist personas in soccer, Ronaldinho has become the trademark of playing soccer as a game, not as a business. His constant smile while playing and his tricks made him one of the most popular figures today, despite the fact that he’s not as handsome and clean-cut as Beckham or Kaka. Ronaldinho is also widely considered one of the best ever soccer players, despite the fact that he still has many years to play for FC Barcelona, or his future clubs.

David Beckham ($29.1 million, salary + endorsement deals) – no presentation required, Beckham is more than just a soccer players for close to a decade now. His recent move to LA Galaxy from Real Madrid for an impressive transfer fee was well worth it, since American finance analysts agreed that the transfer would soon turn to profit, as Beckham shirt sales and other endorsements would soon earn the club their money back.

Ronaldo ($23.4 million, salary + endorsement deals) – the ex-phenomenon, the chunky Brazilian who impressed the World with his speed and goal-hungry attitude is not at the peak of his game anymore, although his move to Milan seems to have revived him somewhat. Despite his declining form, Ronaldo remains one of the central figures in today’s soccer, as he has an established name and image for over a decade.

Reading trajectory in river rapids

Understanding the basic trajectory of your kayak when you get into the water is an incredibly important part of enjoying your kayaking experience. Without that basic understanding you'll be nothing more than yet another random piece of flotsam being tossed around by the river.

Trajectory itself is a vital term as well as a necessary sort of math in the sport. Your trajectory is a combination of the angle at which you're facing, the speed of the kayak, and the speed or direction of the current. Y need to know where you're going and by paying close attention to these factors you'll be ready for whatever the river might throw at you.

The basics of angling and speed for maneuvering are instilled in kayakers at a very early stage. Most beginners know the basics. Getting out there into the midst of a heavy rapid can often cause you to forget or stop paying attention to the details you're trained to look for. You're going to have a trajectory no matter where you're headed in the river. What's most important is that you understand what that trajectory is and how you can affect and change it to suit your needs.

If you've ever seen a particularly threatening obstacle and merely paddled harder, you've experienced first hand the need for understanding trajectories. Instead of angling your boat properly and applying the proper amount of speed, you attempt to brute force your way away from a rock and this is not only dangerous but much less efficient. In extreme cases you might need to traverse the entire width of a rapid between rocks. The only way to accomplish this is to properly angle your boat, apply the proper speed and hope to cut off the downstream trajectory a bit.

But, keep in mind that simply changing your angle does not change the direction in which you are going. Facing past that rock does not mean you are going to go around the rock. Trajectory is a combination of all three factors and they must be combined properly to ensure they work. Imagine for example that you face your kayak upstream and start paddling. You have the angle right and you have the necessary speed (your paddling), but the current is going the opposite direction. It's negating your trajectory and forcing you back downstream.

So, the question arises then of how to establish the right trajectories while kayaking to make certain that you go in the direction you want. It's a long process of learning how to read the water and assess all of the necessary variables, plus the nature of your specific kayak. It's a matter of practice and timing. When you've practiced enough you'll soon be able to feel the difference in pull and paddling speed and the resulting trajectory you can derive from your direction.

Imagine driving your car at 60 miles an hour and trying to take a 90 degree turn without braking. It's the same basic concept. To successfully make that kind of turn you would need to start very wide and use a lot of space, utilizing the forward momentum of the car and the careful turn of the angle in the wheel. Anything more sudden will only result in a crash.

Understanding the trajectory of your kayak is a skill that comes with time, but when you finally grasp the importance of the process, you'll find that you can enjoy your outings much more because you'll spend less time trying to overcome the river and more time just enjoying the rapids.

Encouragement to the new bowhunter

Do you ever find yourself reading a magazine about some large game animal taken by a seasoned hunter and receive a feeling of frustration or anxiety. This is because you think that you will never be able to achieve such a goal.

This article is firmly directed toward such people and hopefully, through my experience you will be able to discover that the hunter in the magazine could soon be you.

I first shot a bow in February 2006 and completely missed the butt sending a 2117 Easton through the fence and into the neighbour’s chook yard. Luckily there was no need to purchase a replacement bird for the opposing property.

From that moment to June 2007 I have successfully hunted and taken five Billy Goats and two Rabbits with my ‘Golden Eagle Obsession’ and ‘2117 Easton’ combination. Some may think this is not possible due to my apparent lack of inexperience, however, with solid training and a few good mentors, dreams become reality very quickly. The rest of this article will explore how you can take your Bowhunting to the extreme no matter what your level of ability or experience.

The theory of this sport is simple; however, to get every ingredient to combine perfectly at the critical moment is difficult. Basically you take a bow, fix a broad head to your shaft find an animal and take it down with a well placed critical shot. However, did you know that animals are so sensitive they can see the small fragments of washing powder in your clothing, they can pick up your scent from a thermal wind gust and bolt in seconds and they can hear the release of your arrow and evade it before the impact?

Every mission needs a goal and subsequent resources and training to be effectively completed. Therefore, I recommend starting with a solid grounding in developing and mastering a technique that suits you. Shortly after visiting the range and hiring out a different bow every time you will find it hard to develop consistency with non consistent equipment. I thoroughly recommend purchasing a decent bow and the correct arrows to accompany. Then it is time to train hard and shoot until you can put three out of five arrows in or very close to the bullseye. Bowhunting requires a precision shot that destroys the vital arrangement in the animal, consequently disabling it. Therefore, you must become so consistent in your technique and focused on your target that every shot is released at, not just a piece of cardboard, but your future kills.

Bowhunting requires a mastery of two important skills. The first of these is mastering your equipment and the second is mastering your animal. Have you ever been walking through a bush and wondered why you don’t see any wild life. Well, this is because everything has disappeared well before you even arrived on the scene. Getting within 15 yards of a wild animal is going to take a whole bunch of patient, planning and training. The first animal I ever tried to hunt was a Rabbit. These small creatures are a perfect place to start as they are abundant and just as sensitive to human activities as anything else. My mentor always says, “Dave if you can hunt a Rabbit you can take a deer”. In my nine Rabbit hunts I have taken two bucks and my three Goat hunts I have taken five billies. This is a perfect example of how using Rabbits to hone your skills is a great start.

Bowhunting is about being consistent in your technique, having a well setup instrument and using the skills and techniques you have developed to finally take down that animal. Your first hunt will probably be frustrating as you tend to scare everything before getting in range. To avoid this I strongly recommend going with an experienced Bowhunter who can show you how to successfully approach that wild animal.

Concluding, I suggest that the new Bowhunter needs to be patient well disciplined and focused on achieving their goals no matter what hurdles present themselves.

‘From Cardboard to dead’

The abc s of boating equipment

Boating is a great sport that can be enjoyed all year round in most parts of the country. Taking the boat out on the lake, a river or into the ocean is one of America's favorite pastimes, full of fun and adventure. However, boating is serious business and any boater will tell you that you need adequate boating equipment to make sure that your outings are as safe as possible, for you and your passengers.

Everyone knows that there are a few essentials of boating equipment, like life preservers and other personal flotation devices. But did you know that there's so much more that should be stowed on every boat? Let's start with the basics.

The law requires that any passenger under the age of 12 must wear a personal flotation device while on an open boat deck of any kind. When it comes to purchasing personal flotation devices of any kind for your boat, there are several things to consider.

First, everyone on board must have a flotation device, child or adult, and those devices must be within easy reach. These flotation devices must be approved by the Coast Guard and bear their seal of approval. Lastly, these flotation devices must be in good condition.

Other kinds of essential boating equipment consist of a throw-able flotation device such as a floating donut or some buoyant item that can be used to keep a person afloat for an unlimited amount of time. Every boat longer than sixteen feet in length must have one of these on board or face fines. Ski belts don't count.

Some flotation devices are designed to turn an unconscious person around in the water so that they are face up instead of face down, and are also effective for all types of water. Some flotation devices protect the wearer from hypothermia, while others are meant for sporting activities like skiing, sailing and fishing.

Another valuable piece of boating equipment is a fire extinguisher. While many don't think such would be necessary, with so much water around, engine fires require a certain type of extinguisher while cushions or interior cabin materials might require another. Boats more than twenty-six feet long are required to have at least one fire extinguisher on board.

There are additional requirements for the installation of fire extinguishers on board, so check with state boating regulations to determine what those are before taking your boat out on the water. Another boating equipment must for boats with inboard mounted gasoline engines is a flame arrester that is fitted onto the carburetor for backfire flame control.

Again, check your state boating laws to determine whether your boat needs such an adjustment if it doesn't already come with one. Also keep in mind that boats with gasoline engine compartments must also be properly ventilated.

A sound device is also a necessary piece of boating equipment, most especially for boats that are over thirty-nine feet in length. Some sort of distress signal flare gun is also a good piece of boating equipment to have on hand, as is a first aid box and extra bedding and blankets in case of emergency. Boating is great fun, but can be dangerous if you don't plan properly and carry the right kind of boating equipment that ensures the safety of both yourself and your crew or passengers.