Author: Unknown
•3:25 PM
By Martin Walter

Corporate photography is an offshoot of commercial photography. Nevertheless, it is a highly skilled art with its own subtleties.

The difference between corporate photography and other forms of commercial photography are many. It is a one-click business with no scope for retakes that enable a photographer to correct his work if he doesn't get it right the first time. Hence it is important to engage the services of a competent corporate photographer.

The photographer, who you are planning to engage, must also have the ability to think quickly as at corporate events everything takes place fast and without prior notice. Someone who is conscious and shows urgency besides having an overall sense of what is going on around him can perform remarkably as a corporate photographer.

An important task included in a corporate photographer's job profile is taking headshots of the high-ranking business executives at an event. These headshots might be stored in the company's archives or be printed on the pages of business publications. The photographer must therefore be proficient in this job.

While engaging a corporate photographer, it should be kept in mind that a famous and qualified photographer may not always be a good corporate photographer. Clicking a corporate event demands an entirely different set of skills that a gifted wedding photographer, for example, is not expected to have. Weddings normally have a well defined series of customary rites, so a photographer can relax and keep a tab on the ceremonies by following the sequence. But in corporate events, unexpected incidents are very common and this demands complete awareness from the photographer. Thus, only an experienced corporate photographer should be engaged to photograph such events

Corporate photography plays a crucial role in maintaining good public relations for an organization and to hire a good photographer for the purpose, you must adhere to the above mentioned advice. But prior to hiring a corporate photographer, you must never forget to have a look at his portfolio to confirm his claims.

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Author: Unknown
•3:25 PM
By Tanik Nertt

Belly dancing could be a term employed in the West to describe traditional Arab dance. Belly dancing is very an inadequate term, since all elements of the body are utilized in traditional Arab dance or raqs sharqi, which is the correct terminology for the most poular vogue within the West. Raqs sharqi really places additional emphasis on the hips rather than belly dancing.

Belly dancing comes in several sorts of vogue, relying on the region and country of origin. Some styles are totally Western interpretations.

Raqs sharqi, that means that Oriental dance in translation, is that the type performed in restaurants and clubs within the West. This dance is usually performed by women, although sometimes by men as well. It is an improvisational dance that's most often performed solo.

Raqs baladi, that means dance of country, is the folks vogue of belly dancing performed at social events by men and girls in Middle Jap countries.

The origins of belly dancing are unknown and usually fiercely debated. One theory is that it absolutely was developed by ladies to help alternative women in childbirth or to demonstrate childbirth. There's no real evidence of this, however, and whereas this would possibly explain part of the dance, it definitely wouldn't justify all that's involved in belly dancing.

Another theory explains that the belly dance began in Northern Africa and spread through the Caravans to different Middle Japanese countries. There is also a theory that belly dancing saw its origin in Ancient Babylon. This theory follows that previous to Islam, the girls danced and the lads played drums at social events. After Islamic times the ladies were no longer permitted to dance, and therefore the ritual fell to slave girls.

The first recorded encounter with belly dancing was when Napoleon invaded Egypt and his troops came upon Gypsy dancers. It gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries when, throughout the Romantic Movement, artists used it to depict romanticized version of harem living in the Ottoman Empire. It was concerning now when oriental dancers began working at exhibits and also the World's Truthful, causing a lot of of a stir than many of the technical demonstrations.

Belly dancing very gained national attention at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. It is here that entertainment director Sol Bloom is credited with having concocted the phrase. There is, but, no proof that he ever used the term and newspapers of the day were using the French terminology, danse de ventre, to explain the Oriental dancing. Nonetheless, the fact that uncorseted women were gyrating their hips at several exhibitions of the World's Honest brought shock to some Victorian sensibilities and set the term belly dancing into the ordinary lexicon.

Such popularity spawned tons, if not thousands, of dancers around the country to assert their acts as authentic, when most of them were improvised solos routines. The dancing became so well-liked that it had been the subject of many early films by Thomas Edison. A very little later, Hollywood sought to capitalize on the Western intrigue with the orient in films like The Sheik, Cleopatra, and Salome.

Nowadays, belly dancing could be a terribly excepted and appreciated type of entertainment worldwide, although we have a tendency to will never know who is doing the authentic dance and who is not.

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Author: Unknown
•3:24 PM
By Jude Smith

An event photographer is someone who you want to photograph your wedding. You will want them to possess a few qualities such as style, motivation, experience and good communication. Event photographers will only possess these qualities if they are well trained, so make sure they have experience so they can focus on what you want.

There are different styles for every event photographer. The photographers style should coincide with your idea of the type of wedding pictures you want. Otherwise a horrible experience might be the end result. Depending on the style that your event photographer will use will vary. Traditional and wild are two extreme styles of photographers. Traditional pictures will consist of those of the bride herself, the groom himself, the bride and groom together, the wedding party, and everyone all together. Making funny faces and having completely serious faces might be considered a wild style.

An event photographer should be highly motivated, try to find one who is. You do not want to have someone who is inactive and sitting around missing all the good pictures they could be capturing. Motivation isn't just about doing the job, but enjoying it and communicating are also involved.

Over time is the only way an event photographer will gain experience. In some cases you should ask questions such as where they were previously employed and for how long. This should help you when making a clear decision on an event photographer. If they are now employed by themselves you can find out what kind of work they produced when they were employed by asking their previous employer. Its better to find out now even if it is kind of a sneaky way of getting the information.

Being relaxed around your event photographer will make things go smoother. And they should try to make you feel comfortable and relaxed when around them. This will help them in capturing the precious photos later on at your wedding. If you are nervous around your event photographer you will see that emotion in your wedding pictures.

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Author: Unknown
•3:19 PM
By Felicia Webb

We all want our cars to look clean and attractive, but none of us has the time or the talent to handle car grooming. This is the only reason behind the growth and success of the car grooming industry.

Car grooming companies have their teams of qualified experts who have all the knowledge of cars at their fingertips, and can use their skill to radically improve the looks of your vehicle. But with most of us racing against time, taking the car to the grooming company has become a luxury that few people can afford, and hence mobile car grooming businesses have sprouted everywhere.

Mobile car grooming comes with a number of benefits. The biggest benefit is that you don't have to take the pains of taking your vehicle to a grooming firm, leaving it there for a while, and then driving it back. Mobile car grooming service is provided right at your place, which gives you an opportunity to enjoy your weekend as you want without worrying about your vehicle.

There is also some proof that mobile car grooming is a safer option for your car. A recently conducted study reveals that a car left by its owner with a grooming firm is neglected by mechanics who display a glaring lack of care in handling it. But professionals from the mobile car grooming business execute their jobs right before your house, so they know that you can oversee their work if you want and even assess their abilities, which makes them alert.

A mobile car grooming service may seem a little costly to avail, but in reality it is not so when you take into account all the benefits related with it. They in fact save you money, as in this case you don't have to bear the costs of having to take your car all the way to the grooming firm and then driving it back home, not to speak of the amount of time that you will end up wasting in doing so.

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Author: Unknown
•3:13 PM
By Don Wong

If you focus on event photography you can make quite a bit of money. It is a varied and widely sought after field of photography.

How to do it

You must be careful what events to cover if you want to make money. Only where people want to retain memories will it be worth your while.

One idea is to go to kids sports events. Get permission from the coach to click pics for the parents watching and then start clicking away. If you turn up with a massive telephoto lens like the ones used for pro coverage of events, you will be taken seriously. Make sure you get all the children doing great action shots and then hand out flyers to all the kids' parents watching with your web address. If you can grab the parents email address so you can email them the URL of you site then upload the pics to your web site that day and email everyone. If you have a simple shopping cart set up you can make money in a few hours as people pop in to see the pics and buy them for $20 or more a pop.

You can do a similar thing with weddings. Take all the regular pictures as part of the wedding coverage but then get your URL printed on the wedding invites and all the other wedding materials and also get an email list of all the wedding guests, offer the couple a nice 20% discount for doing this and then take lots of extra pics at the wedding of the guests doing all the things they do. Upload all the pics to your site and send the emails. You will then make a lot more money than the 20% discount it cost you because then 20 or 30 people will be also buying your pics at $20 or more a shot straight from your site. Also charging them more for higher resolution shots is a great bonus income as well.

The key is to just find a corner of the market where you can take the pics and then sell them easily online.

Dog shows, fashion shows, horse shows, car shows, livestock competitions, rock shows, - the list goes on. Keep your eye out in the events section of your local paper to see what is happening. Always ask for permission to shoot pics and if you need to offer the people 10% of the income if feel you need to so you can get easy access.

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Author: Unknown
•5:47 PM
By Veronica Carrillo

There are over 100 well known dead baby jokes out there. Every single one is disgusting, violent, tasteless, offensive and (for some people) utterly hilarious. Those who don't find dead baby jokes funny are often disgusted and perplexed as to why anyone would find them funny.

It has been a long couple of days trying to get to the bottom of Santa's so called "cookie addiction". Last week at 2:00 in the morning Santa Claus was spirited out of the North Pole by helicopter complaining of chest pains and problems breathing. A secret society made up of Santa's closest elfs are responsible for this. They are called the SCEP, Secret Cookie Elfin Project. They were devised by Santa to hide and supply a "cookie Problem" he has.

Though there are critics of Freud's ideas on humor, I personally think he was onto something. Basically, in his mind, society represses ideas and we tuck them away in our subconscious. Then, jokes allow all that gooey, forbidden goodness into our conscious minds and tickles our noodles. We laugh and feel happy because we really pulled one over on society.

While that theory may explain why racist jokes, perverted jokes, dead baby jokes, etc. are funny, it isn't a perfect theory. It doesn't really explain how in the world "Why did the chicken cross the road?" became so famous. Perhaps crossing roads for the sake of getting to the other side was taboo at some point.

It is also thought that the president may have been getting ready to send federal agents into the Christmas compound to arrest Santa Claus. The SCEP, also thought to be Santa Claus's Elfin Police, on a tip got Santa out in the nick of time. It is believed that Santa is safe in a rehabilitation clinic in the Cayman Islands. The elfs say the North Pole is it's separate country and if the US government wants to arrest Santa they should go through NATO or UN channels.

It is now known that Santa is getting help for his "cookie Problem" and his health is improving. What is not known is if Santa can come up with the funds to pay back his bailout package or if President Obama will forgive his debt. Something must happen quick in order for Santa to deliver the presents on time.

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Author: Unknown
•5:05 PM
By Simon M Skinner

There is nothing like playing online casino games when you know what you're doing. When you get a chance to play them, they may be so much fun you'll end up staying away from the casinos in your area. What it comes down to is they're more convenient, you don't spend money on gas, and the only price you pay to get in is your initial deposit.

Playing on the Tables

There are several different games to choose from, but if you like the table games then you're looking for something that has more chance then anything else. Even though you can have the best strategies around, there aren't any guarantees. No matter what happens you can't win all the time.

If you need some help with tactical skills, we have to start out with roulette. If there is something you can do in both real and online casinos its look at the odds of winning. For instance, the red and black bets have a 50% chance of winning. Well, most people think so, but because of the green zeros on the board, it's only 33%. However, it's a great way to have more chances of winning, even if the payout is less.

Online casino games like craps have many different betting possibilities, so you will always want to look at which bets have the highest chances of winning with the highest payouts. Your best option is to place the best that give the house the lowest edge.

Card Games

If you're more of the card playing type, you'll want to sit at the blackjack and poker tables. Both of these games are more based on strategy, which gives you better opportunities to win consistently.

While you need to have all kinds of patience when playing card games, there are certain advantages you have to playing online. Even though you won't be able to see your opponent, their playing habits will tell the whole story. Maybe they try to bluff too much, or show their cards all the time. Whatever the case may be, you can take advantage of their arrogance.

Slot Machines

Slot machines, much like table games, are random and left to chance. However, there are techniques that have proven to increase your chances of winning, because slot machines have a puzzle or mathematical element involved.

A great tactic to use for online casino slots is to place the maximum bet allowed by your budget. Online casino gamblers swear by this, and it has shown effective since that is the only way you can win the highest payout.

Another great technique for playing online casino games like slots is to play the high payout slots that cost from $1 and up. Although penny slots are nice, you will not get the maximum return for your money.

In the end, all casino games have different tactics and chance involved. If you can spend the time to study the odds and figure out the usual winning percentages, you'll have more of a chance to win. However, you need to understand that online gambling is extremely addictive, and if you don't make wise decisions you could lose your money fast.

Online casino games are great fun. You can play for fun or play for money. Give them a try!

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Author: Unknown
•4:47 PM
By Kelly Blomquist

There are millions of artists in the world today, but only a small handful truly stands out for excellence and beauty. Zinour is a Canadian fine artist who does just that. Zinour was named one of Canada's best fine artists at the Kingston Prize competition recently. This Calgary fine artist competition was held this year and was a highly competitive competition.

Zinour was one of the top 30 artists that were chosen and was up against tough competition in the portrait category. Canada has an amazingly large number of gifted painters and portrait artists. The strikingly real appearance of these paintings is only second to the artistic design that makes these portraits truly stunning.

Zinour stands out from other fine artists because of his use of various mediums that are quite different from one another. Zinour has created excellent traditional portraits along with sculptures and wood-carvings. Zinour captures the heart of his subject in a way that communicates to the viewer.

Zinour has also done pieces that praise the accomplishments of those he admires. For example, the painting, Christos Hatzis: Juno award-winning, Canadian composer; professor of composition at the University of Toronto is an excellent example of an individual admired by the author for his own contributions to art. This masterpiece portrait captures the composer in a natural way. It is amazing.

People do not often know about the rich artistic contribution that Canada has to offer, but with just a little research it becomes quite obvious. Some of the most moving artwork I have seen in my life has been by Canadian artists.

Zinour is a Calgary fine artist who carries on the tradition of excellence that has grown in Canada over the years. If you have an interest in fine art, look into Canadian artists. You will be quite happy that you took the time to find out more about Canadian artists.

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Author: Unknown
•3:46 PM
By Andy Acmond

If you have a photography business or any kind of business you would always want to get more customers.It would be ideal if all your customers are from other customers' referrals. But when you are just getting started sometimes that isn't reasonable. So with this article we are going to look at some things you can do to get more customers.

First of all you have to network and get your name out there. Everybody knows someone getting married or about to get married. By getting your name out there you increase your chances of landing a job.This is mainly for getting a wedding gig but it can also be used to land other gigs. In my San Diego wedding photographer business that is how I was able to generate my first clients.

The next thing you can do is try to establish more of an internet presence. This will be good for all kinds of clients but it will really look good for commercial type of work.You will be trusted more if you are already established in the internet. That is how I am able to land good commercial jobs for my San Diego commercial photographer service.

Last tip to bring in more customers is by knowing all the big events that will happen ib your place.All these big events would have the need for a photographer that would cover the events itself.The earlier you get to know the schedule will be an advantage to your competitors.

This has helped me do a lot of different events for my San Diego event photography service. By letting people know you are available these events will help you get business.

There goes some of the ways in bringing in more customers to your photography business.Just like in any kind of business you have to spread the word to get more customers.If you can just follow these tips then you are on the right track.

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Author: Unknown
•3:22 PM
By Saisha Jones

Have you been a G.I JOE fan all along? Were you anticipating yet another G.I JOE movie with all the action & the adventure?



You will be happy to know that the biggest adventure film of the year is back with a bang. Directed by Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, Van Helsing), G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra stars a hot young cast including Channing Tatum (Public Enemies), Marlon Wayans (Dance Flick), Sienna Miller (Factory Girl), Joseph Gordon-Levitt ((500) Days of Summer), Rachel Nichols ("Alias") and Ray Park (X-Men), as well as veteran actors Dennis Quaid (Vantage Point) and Christopher Eccleston (Gone in Sixty Seconds).

G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra is a 2009 American live-action film adaptation of the G.I. Joe toy franchise, the story follows two American soldiers, Duke and Ripcord, who join the G.I. Joe Team after being attacked by MARS troops. Filming took place in Downey, California and Prague's Barrandov Studios, and six different companies handled the visual effects.

In the beginning of the plot of the movie the Scotsman Klan McCullen is accused of selling weaponry to both the Scots and French. Rather than being executed for treason, the jury brands his face with a white-hot mask in order to humiliate him. A nanotechnology-based weapon capable of destroying an entire city is created by weapons expert James McCullen (Christopher Eccleston) in the near future. His company MARS sells four warheads to NATO, and the U.S. Army is tasked with delivering the warheads. Duke (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans) are delivering the warheads when they are ambushed by the Baroness (Sienna Miller), who Duke recognized to be his ex-fiance Ana Lewis. Duke and Ripcord are rescued by Scarlett (Rachel Nichols), Snake Eyes (Ray Park) and Heavy Duty (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje). The warheads are taken to The Pit, G.I. Joe's command center in North Africa, and upon arriving rendezvous with General Hawk (Dennis Quaid), the head of the G.I. Joe Team. Hawk takes command of the war-heads and excuses Duke and Ripcord, only to be convinced to have them join his group after it is revealed that Duke & Baroness know each other.

Armed with the coolest hi-tech gadgets and weapons, including jaw-dropping accelerator and camouflage suits, G.I. JOE is the last line of defense against those intent on world domination. The G.I. Joe team travels the world from the Egyptian desert to the polar ice caps and the streets of Paris in a high stakes pursuit of COBRA, an evil international organization threatening to use a technology that could bring the world to its knees.

The filming of this movie began on February 11, 2008, in Los Angeles, California. The Downey sound-stage was chosen as Paramount needed a large stage to get production underway as soon as possible. The first two levels of the Pit were built there, to complement the rest of the building which would be done with special effects. Downey also housed Destro's MARS base in the Arctic, his legitimate weapons factory in an ex-Soviet state, as well as various submarines interiors, including a SHARC (Submersible High-speed Attack and Reconnaissance Craft) manned by two G.I. Joes.

Digital Domain which handled the Paris action, sequences and the opening convoy sequence was the most prominent of the six different visual effects companies who worked in The Rise of Cobra. For the Eiffel Tower destruction, a special code for depicting how the crumbling metal works was written. The technicians had access to the original building plans, and built a digital model so complex that could not fit in a single file to create the digital Eiffel Tower. The nanomites used two different proprietary software for their depiction, one by Digital Domain, and another by, which also created tools to generate 3D cloud and sky environments for the aerial scenes. The landing platform of the Pit, the Cobra ice caverns, and the final underwater battle were the scenarios which were almost fully developed by computer-generated imagery.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is a record-breaking movie with all the latest effects & adventures. G.I JOE was a mass enthralling movie which ruled the box office for years & its sequel is creating a widespread trend all over.

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Author: Unknown
•4:11 PM
By Ross Everett

With an offense that can strike as quickly as the New Orleans Saints', they're never out of a game. The Miami Dolphins found that out the hard way on Sunday as the Saints came roaring back from a 21 point deficit to win going away 46-34. Drew Brees threw for 298 yards and a touchdowns, though gave up three interceptions. Miami dropped to 2-4 on the year.

Adding insult to injury for NFL betting enthusiasts who backed Miami as +6 home underdogs, the Saints continued their rampage against the pointspread with a late game interception return for a touchdown to cover. New Orleans is 6-0 against the number this season, while Miami dropped to 2-4 against the spread. The 80 combined points sailed OVER the posted total of 47'.

After the game, Brees said that his team never lost confidence:

"There was no doubt on our sideline we would come back and win. They had given us their best shot, and we had played about as bad as we could play. All we had to do was string together a few drives and gain the momentum back. We knew it was going to happen, and it did."

Following a rushing touchdown that gave his team their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter, Brees dunked the football over the goal post crossbar:

"There are times in the game when a team just needs an emotional lift. I felt like I had to do something to get everybody hyped. The first thing that came to mind was to dunk it."

Saints' linebacker Scott Shanle suggested that the game could portent good things to come:

"It can be a season-defining win. This was a test we hadn't faced yet, and we couldn't be happier with the way we responded."

A dejected Ricky Williams explained how his team had lost:

"This was our game to win. We fought and we fought. They just fought harder at the end."

Dolphins' QB Vonte Davis said the defense was aware that with Brees in the game even a 21 point lead was tenuous at best:

"With Drew Brees, it's like the score is 0-0. We knew they would come back and that it would be a tough game."

The Saints will now host the Atlanta Falcons next Monday night. They'll then face two struggling teams, taking on the Carolina Panthers at home the following Sunday and playing against the Rams at St. Louis on November 15. The Dolphins will play on the road against the New York Jets this Sunday. They'll play at New England the following Sunday before returning home on November 15 to take on the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Author: Unknown
•3:58 PM
By Ross Everett

Gina Carano put womens MMA on the map, but Cris Cyborg Santos may have become the sports first dominant female champion by virtue of her overwhelming TKO victory in the main event of Saturdays STRIKEFORCE event. Cyborg simply was too physically strong and her punches too powerful for Carano.

Before a near capacity crowd at San Joses HP Pavilion, Carano and Cyborg made history as the first women to headline a major US mixed martial arts event. Cyborg entered the cage first to a mostly negative reaction, stopping along the way to shadow box and throw kicks on the entrance ramp. The crowd went nuts for Carano, who was accompanied into the arena by Randy Couture who trained her for the matchup.

Despite the fight being scheduled for five rounds of five minutes each, the women set a frantic pace from the opening horn. Cyborgs size and strength advantage was apparent from the outset, as she landed an immediate flurry of punches before taking Carano to the canvas. Carano landed in top position, but quickly found herself in trouble as Cyborg worked for a kneebar and then a heel hook. Carano was able to extricate herself, and get to her feet but Cyborg took her back and immediately took her down again.

Cyborg once again took her opponent to the mat and after an unsuccessful armbar attempt mounted Carano and began a brutal punching assault that eventually forced the stoppage at 4:59 of the first round.

Despite Cyborgs triumph the most dominating performance of the evening belonged to former DREAM middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi. In his first fight at 205, Mousasi destroyed STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight champion Renato Babalu Sobral via TKO at the 1:00 mark of the first round. Mousasis victory wasnt a shocking outcome, but the utter ease with which he handled a tough, experienced and well rounded opponent in Sobral was stunning and evoked comparisons to recently signed heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko.

Earlier in a card full of decisive finishes, Gilbert Melendez became STRIKEFORCE interim lightweight champion with a third round TKO victory over the double tough Mitsuhiro Ishida. Melendez will now face Josh Thompson to unify the belts once Thompson is medically cleared to resume fighting.

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Author: Unknown
•3:53 PM
By Ross Everett

The Oakland Raiders scored the only touchdown of the game in the first quarter and then prevailed in the kicking duel that followed en route to a--9 upset of the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. Much maligned quarterback Jamarcus Russell played his best game of the season despite two interceptions, throwing for 224 yards and a touchdown.

NFL betting enthusiasts who backed the Raiders as a whopping +14 home underdog were never in any trouble as Oakland took the lead late in the first quarter and never relinquished it. Oakland evened their mark against the NFL pointspread at 3-3, while the Eagles dropped to 3-2 against the number. The 22 points scored went well UNDER the posted total of 40'. It was the Raiders' fourth UNDER in six outings, while it was the Eagles' first UNDER of the season against four OVER verdicts.

After the game, Raiders' coach Tom Cable said for the first time all season his team focused their intensity in the right direction:

"We went out and threw a fight on somebody and said, 'Enough. Let's play. That's all you can say. There's no magic words or anything like that."

Last week's 44-7 loss to the New York Giants may have served a wakeup call to the Raiders. In particular, they were offended by comments made by Giants' linebacker Antonio Pierce that the game 'felt like playing a scrimmage'. Raiders' wide receiver Louis Murphy didn't dispute the comments but instead took them to heart:

"That gave me extra fuel. You have to look yourself in the mirror and man up. His comments were true. We played flat. We didn't play with any emotion. This game was totally different. We took those comments to heart."

The Raiders' defense received the bulk of the credit for the victory as they pressured Donovan McNabb all day, sacking him six times. The Eagles became the first team in three years to not score an offensive touchdown against the Raiders. Richard Seymour and Trevor Scott each had a pair of sacks, and Scott had the following observation:

"I'm sure they watched the Giants game and thought we were sorry. But all week coach Cable talked about persevering and forget the past and move forward so we can get to where we want to go."

After the game, McNabb had little to say:

"I'm embarrassed by the way we came out here and played. We're a much better football team."

The Raiders will try to put together an actual winning streak as they host the New York Jets next Sunday. Oakland is a +7 home underdog with the total set at 35. They'll play their hated rivals the San Diego Chargers on the road the following Sunday before a bye week. Philadelphia will play the Redskins at Washington next Monday night. The Eagles are a -6' road favorite with the total set at 38'.

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Author: Unknown
•3:52 PM
By Ross Everett

Although many of his offensive records have now been left in the dust by Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, former Boston Bruins/New York Rangers center Phil Esposito is still regarded by hockey experts as one of the greatest players in NHL history. He's forever enshrined in hockey's hall of fame along with brother, goaltender Tony Esposito.

A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Esposito was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a teenager. After some time in junior hockey, he was called up to the NHL in'64 quickly earning a spot on the teams top line between Bobby Hull and Marcel Dionne. In'67, Esposito was traded to the Boston Bruins along with Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield.

It wasnt long before Esposito started to destroy long standing NHL records. In'69, he became the first NHL player to top the 100 point mark (combined goals and assists) for the season"he obliterated the record with 126 points, which would be the first of six times that hed top the century mark. He topped 100 points in five straight seasons between'71 and'75, missing a sixth straight season by a single point with 99 in'70. Bruins fans were fond of displaying car bumper stickers that read Jesus Saves; Esposito scores on the rebound.

In the'70-71 season, Esposito scored 76 goals to smash the NHL's single season scoring record. That record stood for over a decade until Wayne Gretzky scored 79 for the Edmonton Oilers in'81-82. Gretzky also broke Espositos single season points record of 154. Perhaps the most amazing element of Espositos game was the frequency with which he put the puck on net"Espo had 550 shots on goal in'70-71. No one has since come close"in fact, just last Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals became the first player to come within 100 shots of Espositos mark.

In'75, Esposito was traded with Brad Park to the New York Rangers for Brad Park, Joe Zanussi and Jean Ratelle. By that point, he had been slowed considerably by knee injuries but his experience, intelligence for the game and nose for the puck made him a valuable component of the Broadway Blueshirts offense and he was named team captain. Until the very end of his career, he remained a dangerous scoring threat that all opposing teams were forced to reckon with.

After his retirement in'75, he remained active in hockey. He served as the GM of the Rangers before helping secure an expansion team for Tampa, Florida in'92. Esposito served as the President and GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning until'98. Esposito now hosts a daily hockey radio show on XM Radio, and has even done some acting appearing in a recurring role as a fire chief on the TV series Rescue Me.

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Author: Unknown
•3:10 PM
By Ross Everett

Decades before mixed martial arts became popular in the United States, events matching fighters of different fighting disciplines were very common in Japan. They weren't called "mixed martial arts" at the time, but that's essentially what they were.There's an entire history of pro wrestlers fighting specialists from other martial arts (particularly judo) that were leaving out, but during the'70's Antonio Inoki began to put the concept of "mixed martial arts" on the map with his matches against fighters from other disciplines.

Before and after his matchup against Muhammad Ali, Inoki would frequently compete against other martial artists in what are widely accepted to be "worked" (ie: having a predetermined outcome) matches. Inoki fought boxer Chuck Wepner, judo Gold Medalist Wilhelm Ruska and world karate champion Willie Williams among others. His most famous match internationally, however, was against Ali.

There's a great deal of uncertainty about many of the stories surrounding how the event came together and transpired, but a few facts are now known. Ali took the fight as it was a large and presumptively easy paycheck. The big money he was earning is what kept him from walking out when his camp started to disagree with Inoki's handlers over the rules and 'finish' fo the fight. Some suggest that it was supposed to be a fair fight going in, but Ali at the last minute insisted on rules more favorable to him. The more likely version of events is that Ali's handlers agreed to a predetermined finish, only to have Ali balk at the last moment.

By the time the fight began, Ali's handlers had obtained a ridiculously one sided set of rules that prohibited Inkoi from using a closed fist, striking Ali in the head at all, using any chokes or submissions or even trying to take the fight to the ground. Were it not for the huge amount of money he'd be leaving on the table, Inoki would have been justified in not fighting at all under these highly restrictive and one-sided conditions.

The painfully boring event that ensued was, despite many suggestions to the contrary, an actual fight. Inoki spent most of the match on the ground, unsuccessfully imploring Ali to join him and throwing kicks at his opponent's legs. Ali did even less throughout the match, throwing a few jabs and trying to protect his knees and legs. The fight was scored on a 5 point system, and ended up in a 74-74 draw. It's worth noting that Inoki had three points deducted for very dubious infractions: the first for throwing (and missing) with a drop kick, the second for throwing an elbow to Ali's head and the third for a swift kick to Ali's ribs. Had these deductions not occurred, Inoki would have won by decision. From a strict standpoint of scoring boxing, he probably deserved to win since he at least tried to execute a fight plan despite the restrictions he faced. For all practical purposes, however, a draw was the proper outcome. Both guys got paid and no one won, least of all the fans.

The fight was officiated by former pro wrestler "Judo" Gene Labell, a legendary tough guy considered at the time to be the 'baddest man on the planet'. He could have easily beaten up both men, possibly at the same time. That might have provided some much needed entertainment to liven up the tedious charade masquerading as a fight.

After the fight, Inoki's popularity in Japan was greater than ever. He became something of a hero for trying to fight despite having the rules so decidedly in his opponent's favor. He'd continue his fights against other martial artists and remain one of the country's most popular sports figures for years to come. His 'worked' martial arts matches can be credited with sparking later hybrid promotions showcasing pro wrestling and martial arts that evolved into PRIDE, RINGS and the major Japanese fight promotions of today.

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Author: Unknown
•4:31 PM
By Benedict Anderson

In a person's life, a nuptual is one of the most important events. Capturing the moment in pictures will make it even more grand. Photos can capture the place, the people who were there, and even the food served. Wedding photography and food photography usually go hand in hand, so choosing a person or company to ensure all of these memories are saved can get quite challenging.

Getting a fantastic wedding and/or food photographer is actually quite easy. There are many things to consider, but the basics would be finding out the person or company's experience level, photographic style, price range, and even their personality.

It's extremely simple to know how great your photos will turn out by checking the photographer's portfolio. Their studios usually showcase a wide range of samples, depending on their specialty. A person or company specializing in wedding photography will of course show a lot of pictures from various weddings, a food photography specialist will showcase a lot of different artistic food photos, and so on.

Experience and talent are the key, so check the portfolio. Aside from the displays on office walls, photographers usually have "online folios," an online portfolio. They are just websites that show some of their best work on whatever field they best at. For instance, a wedding photographer's website will display his or her best work from different weddings: the bride and groom, wedding ceremonies, receptions, churches and even the food.

Also put into mind how much you will need to spend. Saving your memories in photographs is very much worth it, but you should know how much is too much. Comparing prices online will give you an idea of the right amount you should be spending on a wedding photographer. But of course, quality should not be sacrificed. A package can be cheap, but that doesn't have to mean the pictures will look that way too.

Finally, make sure the photographer is someone trustworthy. The photographer should be someone you can easily get along with. You and your photographer should be able to get along well, else find another.

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Author: Unknown
•4:25 PM
By Vicki Porter

What is remote viewing? How do you know if you're doing it right? Remote viewing is the ability to see people, places and things with your mind's eye instead of with your five senses.

Remote viewing is not the same as astral traveling. With astral traveling, your ethereal body is able to leave your physical body and travel incorporeally to be able to view something. Instead, your mind is doing all the work using the power of your sub-conscious mind.

Can you develop the power yourself and actually learn remote viewing? Absolutely; every person on the planet can do so. Just how successful you are at it depends on how well do you can relax and go into a trance like state, something very similar to what you feel when you are hypnotized.

Experts have long said that we only use about 10% of our mental capacity, with the other 90% untouched because we simply haven't tapped into it and haven't trained it. As one example, if you've spoken several foreign languages from childhood, those neural pathways are firmly established and you think it's absolutely normal to speak those languages. The same is true of other more 'ordinary' skills, such as reading and writing. You're taught these skills when you're young, and they become simply part of your mind's abilities throughout your life.

However, what if you had been taught to access your subconscious mind and its powers from the beginning of your life, as a small child? You may not have this ability developed right now, but you can develop it. It just means you haven't used it, and you need to train your mind to both see and use this ability that has been hidden until now.

Before you start learning remote viewing, how well are you able to relax? Meditation is a good precursor to teaching your mind to reach the correct state of relaxation needed in order to access your subconscious mind. Self-hypnosis is also an excellent way to reach the same, if not deeper, trance state.

In addition to learning relaxation, though, you are also going to have to learn how to remain alert. It's very easy, of course, to fall asleep when you are that relaxed, but don't. Make sure you are well rested and calm, and let your mind stay alert as you fully relax physically.

Before you engage in remote viewing, how are you going to test the results you get? Set up a way to verify whether or not your remote viewing session was successful before you get started.

The easiest way to do this is to choose test views that you know are easily verifiable. This could be trying to view a friend's home from the comfort of your bedroom. Look carefully and see if you notice anything out of place. You might see a coffee cup left on a bench or a newspaper left on a table.

These are small things, to be sure, but they can tell you clearly whether or not what you're seeing is real. Once you've come out of your relaxed state, call the owner of the house you're trying to see and verify what you've seen.

When you've practiced remote viewing, how to relax properly will become easier each time you do it. Soon, you'll find that you're able to relax easily and the technique itself will become much more fluid as well.

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Author: Unknown
•4:22 PM
By Michelle Edward

A scale consists of eight tones that are spread equally between one key and the key that is exactly one octave above it. Scales can be in many different types. They are all considered to be either major or minor scales. The happier scales are considered to be the major scales. The dark or deep sounding scales are known as the minor scales.

If you spend a part of your practice time playing scales, you build muscle memory in your hands. This means that, after much time practicing, your hands go more easily to notes in the scale you are playing at any given time. You only have to see the printed music or think of the melody and your hands know what to do.

Anytime you mention scales you will most certainly also mention keys. When a pianist hears the word keys, they think of either the ivory or wood keys on the keyboard or quite possibly the keys that a melody or scale is being played in.

If you have ever spent any time in a lounge or piano bar and hear a singer take the stage and address the pianist with "let's go with the key of D", then you might have been confused by his or her statement. What they are telling the pianist is that they would like to start with chords that start with the D key. They then know exactly where they need to begin to play their music. If a chord in a wrong key is played it can drastically affect the overall sound of the song.

When you are learning scales, you can do it without learning all the key signatures. (Key signatures are the written notation of the keys, such as the key of C or the key of G.) You can begin by playing a C scale. A major C scale is all done on the white keys. Begin with your right hand in the Home Keys position. Remember that your fingers are numbered 1-5, with the thumb being 1.

Begin playing following the 1-2-3 pattern. Once you have completed this pattern you have keyed the notes C, D, and E on the piano. When you get to your ring finger in the count, place your thumb on the F key by sliding it under the other fingers. Once your thumb is there, reposition your other fingers in order and begin the sequence again. You will be playing 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5, or C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. You have done it. Your first scale has been played. Be sure to take some time to practice what you have learned.

To play a C scale with your left hand, put your little finger on the C below middle C. Position your fingers from 1-5 coming up the keyboard from each key to the next. Play 5-4-3-2-1. Then, reach over the top with your middle finger and place it on the next key. Play 3-2-1 from this position. Therefore, you are playing 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1, or C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C.

After you practice this for awhile, try to put the left hand and the right hand together. Play the C below middle C with your left pinkie at the same time as you play the middle C with your left thumb. Continue up the scale with both hands. It can be a little tricky at first because you are going over with your middle finger of your left hand and the under with the thumb of the right hand at different times. Practice awhile and it will come naturally.

Once you get the basic procedure down, it is easy to play other major scales. The only thing you have to remember is the sequence of steps and half steps in a major scale. The correct order up a major scale is: beginning note-step-step-half step-step-step-step-half step. You should be aware that, since there are no black keys between them, the intervals from B-C and from E-F are each half steps.

Your scale can be played from any point on the keyboard. You only need to select a starting point and you are ready to begin. You can begin on a black key or a white key, it doesn't matter as long as you are following the steps that were described above and are playing a scale that consists of eight notes. You may even want to begin the scale with the key on the furthest left and play the scale until you reach the last key on the piano. All you need is some practice and you will find that your fingers are flying down the keyboard playing major scales.

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Author: Unknown
•3:43 PM
By Reynan Shaw

Few brides would want to be frugal when it comes to wedding photos, as they provide everlasting memories. We, too, are hesitant about advising people to attempt saving money on wedding photos; however, with the rates rising dramatically on professional wedding photography, this service may be too expensive for some brides to handle.

There are some answers here for the budget minded bride on how to save cash on your wedding pictures:

1. Find a member of the family or acquaintance who is a photographer. You are almost sure to find somebody who enjoys photography and has pretty good camera gear. See if you can find a relative who is a pretty good photographer, and request their assistance. You will find that folks are happy to assist with weddings, and you can conserve on wedding expenses by employing their help. If you do find someone, be sure you get together with them prior to the event talk about any specific shots that you want.

(2) Check with your local college or university for a photography student. They will love to have an opportunity to work an event and have something to put in their portfolio. Sure they are amateurs, but that means they will have a different view and will bring new creative ideas to give you some unique photos.

3.) You Can Provide Disposable Cameras to the Guests As Well. Put the disposable cameras on every table to let your invitees take pictures. You can choose the photo that you like the best after looking at photos from various angles. Place one person in charge of the development of the photos and camera gathering.

4.) If having a professional photographer is important to you, take a look around and get in touch with a lot of photographers. See what they have to offer after letting them know about your budget. You could be amazed with their reply. Limiting the amount of photos will also assist with your photography budget.

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Author: Unknown
•3:43 PM
By John T Wong

Wedding photography includes pictures of the couple before the marriage, as well as coverage of the actual event and reception. The two approaches in wedding photography are traditional and photojournalistic. Traditional wedding photography consists of classically posed images. In this approach, there is much interaction with the photographer on the day of the wedding. In the photojournalistic approach, the images recorded are much more subtle with less photographer interaction. These two approaches are the two extremes of photographic styles. Today most photographers will side with one of the two styles.

There are certain things to keep in mind while hiring a photographer to cover your wedding. Every photographer possesses an individual style. There is some research you should do before you decide who you want photographing your wedding. To find the perfect photographer you should start looking well ahead of time. Look into your photographers creative side more then the business side when hiring a wedding photographer. One shouldn't be concerned about comparing various package details or the number of prints he is going to get. Take care of all the last minute details so your photographer isn't preoccupied with thoughts about payment on your wedding day.

Don't boss your photographer around all the time. The biggest pet peeve of wedding photographers is that they are given instructions by the brides, grooms, parents, relatives and everyone on the wedding party. No photographer likes to be directed as to what to shoot and how to do it. The photographer will become less creative if there is lots of third party interaction. Sometimes the relatives and friends are so preoccupied in instructing the photographer that they almost miss the entire wedding.

As always, trust is a major factor that affects your relationship with the photographer. You should accept the fact that you can not control everything on the wedding day. That's another reason why you hired a professional to capture all the beautiful moments of the wedding day.

Most importantly, do not starve your photographer. Your photographer will need to eat, no matter how professional and hardworking they are. He would be the last person you want to starve. And try not to give your photographer a very long list of things to do. He might not get what you actually hired him to do.

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Author: Unknown
•3:50 PM
By Ross Everett

Gracie family patriarch and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu pioneer Helio Gracie died in early 2009 in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 95. Its impossible to overestimate his influence on martial arts, and particularly his pathbreaking role in what is now the sport of mixed martial arts. The Gracie family name will forever be synonymous with Brazilian sports, jiu-jitsu, MMA and the UFC"not only due to Helios own accomplishments but the legacy he created both by training others and through his family.

Helio Gracie began training in judo early in life, and by the age of 16 had already begun to teach others in his native Brazil. He was bothered by judo's reliance on 'brute strength', however, and along with his brother Carlos began to adapt many of its forms to a new fighting system more reliant on leverage than strength. This prompted the creation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), frequently called Gracie Jiu Jitsu in his honor.

Gracie also had a professional fighting career of his own, taking on champions from other fighting disciplines in an early version of modern MMA. These bouts were grueling, unregulated affairs with rules that were often made up as they went along and time limits that seem barbaric by todays standards. By his own recollection, he had 15 fights against the top fighters of his day. These included pro wrestlers, boxers and other martial arts specialists.

His most famous battle was against Japanese judo legend Masahiko Kimura, resulting in a rare loss for Gracie. Despite the setback, he fought bravely and may have actually enhanced his legend after refusing to submit to a reverse arm bar (the same move that now bears Kimuras name). Only after his arm was broken did his brother Carlos throw in the towel.

Gracie's greatest impact, however, may have been through his progeny which is an important part of Brazilian sports and mixed martial arts even today. Royce Gracie is well known as the first UFC superstar, while sons Rickson Royler, Renzo have also achieved considerable fame in professional MMA. At the time of his death, Helio Gracie was a 6th Dan Judo black belt and the only living 10th degree master of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The cause of Gracies death was officially given as natural causes. His last words will go down as a fitting envoi to a man who gave so much of himself to fighting:

Gracie's last words are as follows:"I created a flag from the sports dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection and nerves of blood.

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Author: Unknown
•3:50 PM
By Ross Everett

Carolina Panthers' quarterback Jake Delhomme struggled on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was fortunate that his running backs bailed him out. Delhomme threw for only 65 yards with two interceptions, but D'Angelo Williams (152 yards) and Jonathan Stewart (110 yards) kept the chains moving as the Panthers won their second straight game defeating the Bucs 28-21. Tampa Bay has now lost ten straight dating back to last season and are 0-6 for the first time since'85. The fact that they ended up starting that year 0-9 on their way to a 1-15 record doesn't bode well for the rest of the season. Carolina improved to 2-3 with the victory.

NFL sports bettors were faced with a choice between two teams with dismal ATS records in this game, and those who had the guts to take a 1-3 team as a -3 road favorite were rewarded with the cover. It was Carolina's first NFL pointspread cover of the season and left them with a 1-4 record against the number. Tampa Bay has covered one of their six games this year. The 49 points scored went OVER the total of 40'.

Delhomme attempted only seven passes in the second half, but the way Williams and Stewart were running there was no reason to put the ball in the air. Williams said that even though Tampa Bay knew what was coming they couldn't stop the Panthers' running game:

"I'm sure everybody in the stadium knew what we were going to do. There were times they had nine in the box and we were still getting 7 or 8 yards."

There's been little impatience locally with Bucs' rookie head coach Raheem Morris, but his weekly habit of explaining the obvious to rationalize yet another loss is starting to wear thin:

"We got overpowered at the end, and really throughout the game."

Carolina safety Dante Wesley was ejected after clobbering Bucs' return man Clifton Smith after a fair catch call. After the game, Wesley gave this defense for his actions:

"I was just trying to make a play. You can check my record. I've never really tried to hurt anybody. I've never tried to take a cheap shot on anybody."

Wesley could face a possible fine or suspension from the NFL but, in all fairness, it did appear to be a momentary mental lapse as he was trying to make a big play and not a deliberate attempt to injure Smith.

Tampa's schedule has the look of them going from 'the frying pan into the fire' as they host the New England Patriots next Sunday-fresh off of their 57 point drubbing of Tennessee. The Bucs are +14 home underdogs to the Patriots with the total set at 45. They'll get a week off after that contest and return to action on November 8 as they host the Green Bay Packers. Carolina has an easier draw, hosting the Buffalo Bills next Sunday.

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Author: Unknown
•3:49 PM
By Ross Everett

Carolina Panthers' quarterback Jake Delhomme is having a season he'd like to forget, and things got even worse on Sunday at home against the Buffalo Bills. Despite dominating the Bills on the stat sheet, Delhomme threw three interceptions that allowed Buffalo to take a 20-9 victory over the struggling Panthers. Delhomme threw for 325 yards, though without any touchdowns. His three picks pushed his total for the year to- which leads the NFL.

Buffalo rewarded NFL pointspread players with the outright victory as +7 road underdogs. The Bills have covered four of their seven games this season, while the Panthers have an awful record against the spread-they've only covered once this season for a 1-5 ATS mark.

The Bills' Terrell Owens was again a non-factor, but gave credit to the defense for earning the victory:

"You can't really complain about a win. Defensively, those guys are keeping us in ballgames."

Buffalo defensive end Chris Kelsay commended his team's confidence on the road:

"Never once on the sidelines was there any doubt that we were going to win the game. Regardless if it's an ugly win over not, it's hard to win in this league."

Ryan Fitzpatrick started at QB for Buffalo in place of the injured Trent Edwards and was solid, if not spectacular. Coach Dick Jauron observed:

"He made the plays when we had to make them."

Panthers' coach John Fox has said he's going to're-evaluate' whether the struggling Delhomme should continue to start, and even the quarterback himself couldn't make an emphatic case that he should keep his job:

"In my heart, yeah, but I mean let's be honest, I don't think I'm a dummy. When you're not playing well offensively, you always have to look at the quarterback."

The Panthers' schedule doesn't get easier this week as they head west for a game against the improving Arizona Cardinals. Carolina is a +9 road underdog with the total set at 43'. They'll head south the following week to face the red hot New Orleans Saints. Buffalo will host the Houston Texans this weekend, with the game currently off the board due to injuries on both teams.

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Author: Unknown
•3:38 PM
By Ross Everett

After a controversial no contest in their first matchup, there was no doubt as to the winner of the DREAM 2 rematch between Shina Aoki and JZ Calvan. Aoki controlled the fight from the opening bell and used a wide repertoire of submission attempts to keep his opponent off balance. Most impressive was Aokis dominance of the ground game, which many observers considered to be JZs edge in the contest.

Aoki scored early with a takedown and controlled Calvan on the ground, working a heel lock attempt before taking his opponents back and attempting a rear naked choke. In the second, Aoki put on a submission clinic and demonstrated his ungodly flexibility as he spun from an armbar to a triangle choke and back again. Calvan was able to counter or escape, but looked completely out of sync as he generated almost no offense whatsoever over the 15 minutes.

Aoki was very emotional in his postfight speech to the crowd, while JZC just looked disgusted with himself for losing such a one sided contest. JZC had grumbled about the no-contest in their DREAM 1 matchup, and the one sided decision made this an even more bitter pill to swallow.

With the victory Aoki advances to the semifinals of the lightweight GP tournament. Thats the plan at least, as Aoki made some statements in the Japanese press leading up to the fight that win or lose there would be no way hed be ready for the next round with only half the preparation time as the rest of the field.

The rest of the card was devoted to the opening round of the middleweight GP tournament. Taiei Kin defeated Minowa-man Ikuhisa Minowa in a very closely contested and entertaining fight. Minowa was clearly tired in the 2nd, and that likely sealed the deal for Kin.

Korean judoka Yoon Dong-Sik also advanced with a unanimous decision victory over Shungo Oyama. Most of the damage in this fight came from Yoons ground and pound from full mount, and he controlled the tempo from the outset. Two one sided contests followed, with Zeleg Galesic submitting Magomed Sultanakhmadov via arm bar in a minute and a half of the first round. That was followed by the MMA debut of former Pac 10 wrestling standout Ian Murphy, who had a worst case scenario draw against BJJ specialist Ronaldo Jacare.

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Author: Unknown
•3:04 PM
By Ross Everett

After canceling their 2009 season, the Arena Football League has shut down entirely and appears headed for bankruptcy. Earlier this week, the league office released a short statement indicated that it had ceased operations because owners were "unable to reach any consensus on restructuring the league over the past eight months." The league had reached a new agreement with players earlier this year, but was unable to convince enough owners that they had a viable plan to return to profitability.

Even before the decision was made to cancel the 2009 season this past December, it had been a tumultuous off-season for the Arena Football League. It began with the resignation of long time AFL commissioner David Baker just two days before the Arena Bowl championship game. Though Baker put a positive spin on his resignation saying that he felt it was time, it didn't exactly send a positive message about the future viability of the league.

In October, the owner of the New Orleans VooDoo announced that the team would cease operations"despite being one of the league leaders in attendance. In announcing that the team would fold, owner Tom Benson (who also owns the NFL Saints) cryptically explained that it was due to circumstances currently affecting the league and the team."

With a dispersal draft planned to reassign the VooDoo personnel, uncertainty began to reign over the leagues future. The dispersal draft was scheduled and postponed several times amid assurances from the AFL office that rumors of financial instability were unfounded. The most recent announcement finally put all of the speculation to rest.

The inability to get any consensus on a business model for the league reportedly served as the final nail in the AFLs coffin. A major problem was skyrocketing player salaries, and some sort of compensation system tied to team revenues was a necessity. That agreement was reached with the players, but a bigger conflict between the owners on a variety of business model related issues were never able to be resolved.

Despite the demise of the AFL, it wont be the end for "The 50 yard indoor war. The sport lives on the AF2 league which, ironically, was originally started as something of a developmental organization for the AFL. The league plays in smaller markets and has a more realistic salary structure. A number of current AFL players"and possibly a couple of AFL franchises"could end up in AF2.

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Author: Unknown
•5:11 PM
By Joey Kind

Bap auto parts have been helping automotive owners, auto mechanics, automotive enthusiasts and any other group concerned in car repair and maintenance in realizing their dreams of a well serviced and maintained automobile for straightforward, sleek and comfort journey and for quality use.

If you need to have genuine auto parts as well as low cost for your car repair and maintenance requirements, then check the information below about Bap auto parts, and find out how this great store can go a long way to actually help you realize your dreams.

See What Bap auto parts Has for You:

Long Years Of Good service: Bap auto parts has been in business long enough to work out the trend of car parts demand and supply and to grasp where and how to seek out the best and standard auto parts makers to display their products. Teaming with them will offer you an advantage of quality and expertise too as they only sell products that are of global standard. They have won many of international awards with recognitions for standard service and parts.

Standard Products:Bap auto parts stocks only standard and quality auto parts directly from the original equipment manufacturers(oem parts) carefully selected across the globe. This store value the security of their customers and as a result have ensured that solely quality and tested parts are stocked.

Low Priced Products: Because Bap auto parts is a direct representatives of auto parts manufacturers, they assist them to sell their products at very low costs thus alienating the greedy middlemen and passing their incomes over to you. So you gain twice over with Bap auto parts; quality products and cheap products.

Money back Policy: In view of the fact that it is unachievable to gratify all the customers repeatedly, there are times some customers call for refund of their cash after a sale because they change their mind or because they're not happy with what they got after receiving the product. This is unavoidable, but what you can trust Bap auto parts for is that they will promptly pay you all your money if you demand for a refund. They have been maintaining this reputation right from on set and it's continually make their customers to come back.

Skilled Employees: Wherever you come across a Bap auto parts staff you are certain of obtaining the correct customer care whether or not on-line or offline, because they have been trained just for that. Whether or not all you only want to make is inquiries you'll be able to still get their help because they're expecting you to return and buy, and they can not force on you what can not work together with your car simply because that's what they have in stock.

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Author: Unknown
•5:03 PM
By Veronica Carrillo

Bed liners of several kinds have become almost must-haves for pickups. Without some kind of protection, pickup beds soon turn to rust buckets. Simply using a pickup for casual hauling is bound to cause scratches, if not dents, and lead to corrosion in time.

Spray on bed liners have several advantages over other options. Now these are offered as options even on new trucks. Usually for a new truck the application will be done by a local franchise of one of the big name liner companies.

Spray liners are after all really a paint application over the existing bed paint. But it is special paint. Partly it is special because it dries and cures very rapidly. The paint usually is a two part product mixed right at the spray gun. Engineered to cure fast, that means the time to get the project done is very short. Usually that means the truck only has to be at the applicator just a day or so.

Another major feature of the coating is thickness. Up to one-fourth inch thick, the lining durability relates partly to the large volume of material applied. The thickness of the coat means much paint can be torn or scratched away and the metal of the bed still is not touched. It isn't that the liner is so hard to damage, it's that there is just so much of it there.

Consider value too. At only about half the cost of professional spray liners, plastic models offer great value. Plus easy removal makes these less than a permanent decision. So easy replacement means you can get a new liner if yours is damaged or if you just get tired of the way it looks.

One truck bed liner that offers the plastic advantage but also is easy to install and drains extra well too is the DualLiner model. The DualLiner comes in multiple pieces instead of just being in one piece. That way it's possible to get a better fit and assure proper drainage from the liner as well. It's worth a look.

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Author: Unknown
•4:59 PM
By Tom William

Do you have any idea what panic is HGH? Nowadays it is quite pretty obvious that humans growth hormone is a way to get into the surface. Although it has been around for centuries already, recognition is now becoming one of the issues that many folks are just so fond of dealing with. And if you reach the adult point of aging, then maybe you really could have heard about it or even have been reported previously.

HGH or human growth hormone has become one of the highly regarded ways to remedy the most annoying adults, aging, or aging people are so worried. As you are aware, the aging is something that many would love to, as much as possible, escape from. It is a condition that is still so we always find ways to either slow down or even reverse it. And where technology is here to make things happen, to fight the symptoms and effects of aging is no longer a painful thing to go through.

There are many reasons why you should go for a new hormone therapy. And though it is already given that we all go through when we have to face the signs and effects of aging, still need to decide first whether you are sure to fit candidate for such treatment. Results may vary from one person to another so that you can never trust the information given by other people who had gone through such treatment unless you get your first view.

Don't ever think that you can only go up under this kind of treatment without the proper analysis to professionals wouldn't even consider doing it. Synthetic growth hormone can provide you through an injection and as result you'll have more hormones that can help to improve your life for younger and longer days to live with.

Manufacturing growth hormones in our bodies gradually decrease with age and are on top at puberty. HGH was originally used to add height of children who have bad or stature hormonal defects. But later was found to produce more these hormones may, in fact, that they key to rejuvenation.

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Author: Unknown
•4:34 PM
By Girish Jaju

If you are an ardent lover of music and want to be at pace with the latest trends in the market, you have the opportunity to do so. Get your desired free music downloads through internet. Fulfill your desire of musical numbers. You do not have to make any investment to get the lovely tunes that you have been aspiring since a long time. If you want to collect the music in CDs or cassettes from the store, you have to cough out some cash. Here by the courtesy of internet, it is absolutely free.

There are several websites who offer free downloads of music from their competent database so that visitors find it greatly exciting and get satisfaction from the services of those websites. They are very much admired by the young generation particularly, because they are the ones who go intensely after a special blockbuster number of band or solo music piece.

When they are contented they speak very highly of the particular website, as a result the website draws many more visitors and enjoys high traffic. It is catching up since last few years and young visitors are crowding the website in thousands of numbers every day. The free aspect of the website is more interesting and it is the main reason of such enormous popularity.

You will find ample websites who are offering free downloads of different kinds of musical pieces. It is sure that you will find your choice from one of them easily. You must know that the original copy of the music is available only after a certain period, which the owner decides under the copyright provision and then he releases them for free circulation in any channel.

Usually latest introductions are barely available for free downloads from the original musical score, however, you may be lucky to get one otherwise. With such little exceptions, the websites with free downloads are enjoying massive popularity and it is growing day after day.

You should choose the superior quality websites for your free downloads. You should shop around for expert sites who offer reliable and authentic recordings of your choicest music. Listen to the music news to remain well-informed about the latest happenings in the world of music.

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Author: Unknown
•4:26 PM
By Alan Plastin

There is nothing quite as glamorous as the 1940's pin-up girls of old Hollywood. If you love retro-inspired images and want to glamorize your personal checks, then you should consider buying checks that contain gorgeous illustrations of the fabled pin-up girls. Not only are they beautiful images, but they are also memorable.

In the 1940's, WWII was raging, but Hollywood was alive and kicking. The pin-up girls of that era graced magazines, calendars, and even playing cards. They were beautiful, glamorous, and sexy. With perfect hair and makeup, gorgeous clothing, and secret smiles, they were more than just sex symbols-they were icons. Men wanted to be with them, and women wanted to be them.

It took something special to be a pin-up girl during that era. Being a successful and beautiful movie star didn't necessarily mean that you could also be a successful pin-up girl. Indeed, it took more than good looks and sex appeal to have your face plastered on playing cards and posters. A woman had to have an allure that set her apart from other women. She also had to appear to be accessible. One of the reasons that pin-up girls became so popular is due to the fact that their images had wide appeal and were mass-produced.

Betty Grable was one of the earliest pin-up girls. Her poster was "pinned up" in lockers during the War. The Gibson girl, who was actually an illustration, was another popular pin-up girl. Other popular pin-up girls of the 1940s include Carmen Miranda, Jane Russell, Veronica Lake, Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, and Ava Gardner. Betty Page, in the 1950s, was one of the most popular pin-up girls of all time. In fact, merchandise containing her image can still be purchased today, despite the fact that many of her present-day fans were not alive during her heyday.

Even though pin-up girls still exist today, an argument exists that they no longer contain the allure and style of the women of the past. Although posters can be obtained of most of the popular female movie and televisions stars and supermodels, the sexy sirens of the past are gone.

If you would like your personal bank checks to have a little something extra then the pin-up girls checks and their vintage ambiance might be the checks for you. They come in 4 rotating images so each beautiful girl will be different from the one before her. Not only are these checks good looking, but they can say loads about your individuality and style.

If you buy your checks online from a site you can save as much as 50% off what your bank might charge you. You will also have a wide range to select from. You can anticipate receiving your checks in about 5 days. Don't forget to have your routing number and checking account number available when you place your order.

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Author: Unknown
•3:29 PM
By LJ James

Ronky The Monster Of Lake Ronkonkoma New York



It was a Sunday in Summer of 2009 went I first saw Ronky with my own eyes. I had heard stories of Ronky here and there, They had come to me in Whispers really.The History of Ronky has been a well kept secret for Hundreds maybe Thousands of years. I had spent weeks watching this lake in Lake Ronkonkoma on Long Island in New York State. This day I was driving around going past one of the many Parks and Beaches around the lake. While I was going North on Lake Shore Road I saw something in the water out of the corner of my eye, but after weeks of watching this lake I thought it was just someone out on another blow up raft and didn't really think much of it !

As I was passing the Dinning Hall "Windows on the Lake" there is an opening where Guests can get a good look at the lake. I looked over and I saw what I had though to be a raft a few seconds before was the creature. I though to myself this could just be another hoax! After years of searches and hunts leading to nothing but dead ends I was not going to get my hopes up to fast. I slowed down and watched as the Creature swam around the lake enjoying itself! I was a little scared but at the same time I could not stop myself from smiling thinking this was really it!

I drove around the lake following along with "Ronky" at some point I pulled into a parking lot and walked onto one of the beaches. I slowly got my Camera out fearing as soon as I went to take the picture the creature would disappear. I snapped a shot, checked it in the review mode of the Camera and I could not believe I had captured a perfect shot of the Creature that no one could dispute the authenticity of ! When I looked back at the Lake Ronky was gone.

Over the next few days I carefully started asking the locals in the area if they had ever seen something weird in the Lake? It seems that to everyone in Lake Ronkonkoma Ronky is well known. He is not a myth or urban legend here. He is just another Member of the Village! I have been told there are two Differences between Nessie in Scotland's Loch ness and Ronky in New York's Lake Ronkonkoma. One Ronky is real and Two Ronky is protected by the Locals and his name is not defiled for tourist money.

There are many stories of Ronky that go back Hundreds of years. The one I found most interesting was a story that happened about 15 years ago. It seems there was an expedition sent to look into and map the depths and some underwater streams under Lake Ronkonkoma. This expedition never happened. The Official Story given was the expedition ran out of Money and was going to come back when they got more funds. I was told by an old time resident that wishes her Identity to remain a secret that the real story is a group called the "Keepers of the Lake" told the expiation in no uncertain terms it would be in their best interested for them to leave and not come back!!!

The people of Lake Ronkonkoma have kept this Monster Ronky loved and Protected for many years! I respect and sympathize with them,but I have spent my adult life and most of my families fortune searching for a creature like Ronky.This is my job and I must share this with the world. I have received many threats not to print this story! I have posted it here to go out to these newsgroups if I do not reset the settings at least once a week. If you are reading this there is a good chance something has happen to me. Please do not let what I have spent my life hunting for go unheard of ! Ronky is there in that Lake!



By Lawrence Jamison http://www.lakeronkonkomacivic.org

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