Posts Tagged ‘leisure’

Dave Reutimann

by Denise I Smithson

The son of legendary racer (and DIRT Motorsports Hall of Famer) Emil “Buzzy” Reuitman, David Reutimann is the third generation in his family to take up the sport, sometimes racing with his father at Florida’s East Bay Raceway Park (known as the Clay by the Bay by fans).

He started as a dirt track racer and moved his way up into the ranks of NASCAR racers, being the 1997 Rookie of the Year in the Slim Jim All Pro Series as well as 2004′s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Rookie of the Year. With many top ten finishes, although few wins, Reutimann is a racer to watch.

In 2005, he won the Toyota Tundra 200 in Nashville and in 2007, he moved to the Nextel Cup Series where he won the 2007 Sam’s Town 250 in Memphis for his first win in the Busch Series car. He ran the full Busch Series schedule in 2007 and finished second in the standings.

Since joining the NASCAR Southeast Series in 1997, Reutimann has been the winner of several awards. He spent a long time preparing on Florida’s many short tracks, where he was an avid modified racer.

For the last few years, he has been racing in the Nationwide Series as well as the Sprint Cup series for Michael Waltrip Racing. He hasn’t achieved the level of success of some NASCAR stars, but he has been a consistently high performing racer with top finishes in a lot of the sport’s most important races.

In 2009, David Reutimann has named one of his old racing peers as his crew chief for his No. 00 Toyota car, Rodney Childers, who first met him back during the 1999 Slim Jim All Pro race. Childers sites David Reutimann’s sense of humor and personality as a reason he searched out the position, when it became available.

NASCAR fans would be well advised to watch Reutimann this year; he has built up a lot of momentum and his crew and some racing experts predict that he will bring in some top ten and top five finishes this year, perhaps even some wins.

With this being Rodney Childers fifth season as a crew chief on the Sprint Cup level, it may be the advantage that Michael Waltrip Racing and David Reutimann need. The relationship with Toyota and NASCAR is a promising future because of their commitment to the racing world and faith in the team.

David Reutimann may not be the first racer who comes to mind when thinking of NASCAR, but this year may change things. Reutimann will be sharing driving duties on Number 00, Aaron’s Dream Machine. Fans are eager to see the return of Waltrip to racing as well as interested in how well Reutimann will perform.

With top 10 finishes in the Nationwide Series and ever better performance in the Sprint Cup, Waltrip racing is excited about David Reutimann’s prospects in the upcoming season.

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How To Get a Mp3 Radio Player?

by Anne Ahira

Do you miss the excellent ole times while the music beating in your ears was moving toward from your confined radio station? A lot of persons make, especially those who recall the period when that was cutting edge technology, or who are just not PC savvy and desire to listen to music on the go.

mp3 radio player is here to save the time! For about $20 on Amazon, you can take a small simple mp3 radio player that does not take the rocket scientist to make out. One such player is the Coby 1 GB mp3 radio player.

Features High contrast LCD screen with backlight so you be able to opt your radio station or music in the dark. 1 GB of storage Holds mp3 and WMA format Saves 16- 32 hours of music depending on format

Pros

This is a simple mp3 radio player that people of all ages could enjoy. If your young teenager has been yammering on for a portable mp3 player you be able to spoil them at this price.

No special software to download onto your computer, with operating systems such as XP it is a subject of plug and play, then haul and let fall. Simple to operate keys and a consumer friendly interface creates this mp3 radio player ideal for the technically challenged, or those easily annoyed by complicated directions.

Cons

Battery life is a common complaint among mp3 radio players, the nice feature on this one is the battery is an AAA and is very replaceable. Do yourself a favor and invest in a good set of ear buds or headphones. Buttons can be easily broken so the user needs to use some care not to squash them.

Customer Ratings

Customers report that the unit is so easy to use that it is a dream in the mp3 radio player world. Even with the issues listed above more than half, the customers that rated the unit were happy with it, and the value.

Overall

This is a perfect starter mp3 radio player. Small size and easy to use interface make it a cinch for anyone to use.

You might need to research my other guidebook on Samsung MP3 Player and Sansa MP3.

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Larry Bird

by Denise I Smithson

Raised in French Lick, Florida after being born in West Baden Springs, Larry Joe Bird had a talent for basketball which was apparent from an early age. At Springs Valley High School, he was the school’s all-time scoring leader; an achievement which secured him a scholarship to the University of Indiana.

Larry Bird felt out of place on the large campus and dropped out, taking a year off before returning to college and the game of basketball at Indiana State. Bird led the team to the NCAA championships in 1979 against Magic Johnson’s Michigan State Spartans. Although the Spartans were victorious this time, the team finished with a 33-1 record and cemented Bird’s 30.3 points per game average as a college player.

In 1979, the Boston Celtics called on Larry Bird as their number one draft pick and he signed with them for a record $650,000 a year. With the Celtics, he averaged 21.3 points per game and earned the title NBA Rookie of the Year. He also dealt up 10.4 rebounds per game, 143 steals and led his team in minutes played at 2,955. He also led the Celtics to a playoff qualifier with 61 wins and 21 losses. Losing to Philadelphia’s 76ers, the fans of Boston loved their number thirty-tree as they had seen some sad times in the early 1970′s-the fans hoped for the return of greatness to Boston and with Bird, they could see their vision coming true.

By 1980, the Celtics moved their playing court into the Robert Parrish Center and drafted Kevin McHale. These two men would become what have been dubbed the “best frontline in NBA history.” The 1980-81 seasons saw the Celtics go to the NBA finals where they took down the Houston Rockets in six games-this would be Larry’s first NBA Championship-but not his last. Larry was a leader and this was seen by general manager Red Auerbach, who happily watched his team become one of the two most exciting and winning teams in the NBA during the 1980′s. In fact, almost every NBA final would feature either the Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers, or both.

Bill Fitch, the Celtics’ coach nicknamed Bird “Kodak”, since as Fitch said: “it’s for his ability to picture how a play would unfold. He can turn a play into points.”. Bird was also a formidable defensive player and his statistics are truly amazing – his tallies in the 1981-1982 season reached the double digits. The Celtics became even more of a force to be reckoned with in 1983, when guard Dennis Johnson signed on and new coach KC Jones came on board.

The Celtics took the NBA championship in the 1983-1984 season in a seven game series against the Lakers, with an 111-102 score in the final game. In this series, Bird averaged 14 rebounds and 27 points per game, also taking the MVP awards for the series and for the season. Bird also won the MVP award the next season, even after a loss to the Lakers. Bird and Magic Johnson had a friendly rivalry which fans still talk about.

The Celtics returned to finals once again in the 1985-1986 season; they defeated the Houston Rockets in six games and finished with a 76-15 record for the year. Bird again won the series MVP in this, his third NBA championship victory with an average of 24 points per game, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. This year also saw him winning the league MVP award, the third player to do so. Bird’s Celtics would also come out on top in the finals the next year, beating the Lakers in six games. Bird, like his rival Magic Johnson was becoming synonymous with the game of basketball.

Bird’s biggest season in terms of numbers was 1987-1988 with an average of 29.9 points per game in 30 minutes per game. His field goal percentage was .527 and his free throws .916. He had to sit out the 1988-1989 season due to a bone spur, but came back for the following season; however, he knew it was getting close to time to retire. His status as legend was cemented in 1992, when he joined Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson on the US Olympic “Dream Team”, winning the gold medal. With his career average of 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists per game, his 49.6% field goal average and a stunning 88.6% average on free throws, as well as a 37.6% three-pointer average and twelve All-Star games, Bird is a legend and his name is a synonym for basketball with fans all over the world.

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Type of Samsung DLP

by Anne Ahira

The commercials for TVs nowadays look more like a mixed up alphabet than genuine information. some customers are still struggling with a selection between plasma and LCD or DLP. For the purposes here, we will discuss the samsung dlp 70 inch.

Price

The Samsung DLP 70 inch comes in with a price tag of just over $2,000. That is a monstrous television for the price, in fact price per inch wise it is cheaper than either a LCD or a plasma screen.

Specifications Resolution 1920x1080p Blue tooth headset work with certain models HDMI connectivity Cinema smooth light engine Clear crisp HD quality picture

As you can see, it shares many of the same features of the smaller LCD or plasma units, but so much bigger!

Review

Big screen television connoisseurs are a fussy lot. After finally making the plunge and upgrading to a high definition set this big screen fan said that the picture quality of the Samsung DLP was more than he could have ever dreamed!

The technology of the Samsung DLP is still rear projection and that puts many buyers off. With so many desire to hang their TV on the wall, people will explore the benefits the Samsung DLP has over LCD or Plasma.

Each brand of television has its own issues and commonly accepted | usual | standard | conventional problems. The difference with DLP over the other is the major issue they have is a replaceable bulb that is prone to burning out.

LCD’s on the other hand have problems with dead or stuck pixels which can only be fixed by a trip back to the manufacturer and ghosting or a blurring of the image in harsh action which is not repairable.

Plasma probably has the best picture of any television however they have the very bad habit of burning in images. This means if you leave your television on overnight on accident, you could very well have your cable or satellite logo as a permanent feature of your television. Again an issue that is only fixable by a shop or the manufacturer and is usually not covered by warranty.

Save yourself some time money and frustration and get a Samsung DLP the then you are in the store for a brand new TV.

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Mike Tyson Boxing

by Denise I Smithson

Mike Tyson: Triumph and Tragedy

There have been few figures in the world of boxing – or sports in general for that matter who have taken a larger place in popular culture than has Mike Tyson. Tyson is one of the most fearsome opponents ever to step into the boxing ring; in fact, he often won matches before they had begun, so intimidated were other boxers of this man. He has done prison time, fought drug addiction and generally become infamous both in and out of the ring.

Mike Tyson’s Rise to Stardom and the Heavyweight Championship

By the time he reached adulthood, Mike Tyson already had racked up a string of arrests, having had dozens of run-ins with the law. However, it was boxing that began to turn his life around, giving him structure and an outlet for his energy. His trainer and in many ways, surrogate father Cus D’Amato ingrained focus and a competitive drive to win in the young Tyson. Following the death of this father figure, Tyson rapidly began to unravel and quickly fell from grace with the sports world.

Tyson made a huge splash in the sport, becoming known almost overnight as a champion in waiting. In his first 19 bouts, he won by knockout, often before the first round was finished! Even after winning the title, Tyson continued to defend the title and won other belts soon after. It seemed that he was at least for the time being, unbeatable.

The Beginning of the End

It was the upset victory of James Buster Douglas (with 1-42 odds against him) in the tenth round of a brutal match which cost Tyson both his title belt and the impression that he simply could not be beaten. Before long, Tyson would be in prison, serving a sentence for a rape.

Once released, Tyson returned to boxing; something which boxing enthusiasts and gawkers alike had looked forward to. Tyson regained a title belt soon – but then he faced Evander Holyfield and was stopped in his tracks in the 11th round. In a rematch of the bout, Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear, a now infamous event. Tyson was disqualified, naturally. Since then there have been some comebacks and some crushing defeats, such as his loss to Lennox Lewis and Tyson is widely viewed as an athlete who has lost his drive and is merely desperate for money.

Mike Tyson Today

Tyson is more famous now for his facial tattoos and his many arrests and stints in rehab clinics. There is still talk now and again of a Tyson comeback and the boxer has expressed remorse for his actions both publicly and privately. He seems to still be finding his way in the world – it is still far too early to say what may lie in Tyson’s future.

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Select The Right Waterproof Camera Housing For Your Needs

by Randy Rushmore

If you like taking impressive pictures and also going to the beach or to the pool, or even if you are a photography pro, you will find that waterproof camera housing are a fantastic way to take your camera to a whole new and magic undersea world.

In moist cases both single lens reflex cameras, or SLR cameras, and compact cameras can be fitted with waterproof camera housing. Some models are made specifically for certain cameras, while others are more generic and can be fitted to several different kinds of cameras to make them waterproof.

If you buy waterproof camera housing for a compact camera it assuredly won’t break your bank, and once you have the housing you will probably find that it has a great extra gadget – an outside-mounted lens that allows you to take wider angle pictures underwater.

As most compact cameras have a relatively powerful in-built zoom, this allows you to increase the versatility of your picture-taking when at the sea or in a pool. The refractor built into the waterproof camera lens can be removed in a pinch without exposing the camera to water, so you can do this while submerged.

Most compact camera waterproof housings are made of specially moulded hard plastic. SLR underwater camera housings on the other hand are usually built for greater depths, and the most common material is anodized aluminium, with special sealing.

Essential features that you should look for in SLR is waterproof camera housing are a good quality non-distorting lens cover, and well-wired electronics that allow you to access all your camera features when it’s inside the case. With some housings, you can get very useful extra lens covers that allow you to change lenses while underwater.

Regardless of your camera, when you buy waterproof camera housing you should check that the maximum depth that it’s made for is right for the use that you will make of the housing. Some housings are good for only 6 feet, while more advanced ones got to 120 feet and more.

Outdoor and underwater photographers needing waterproof camera housing experience rigorous environments for their picture-taking, and it’s important to be sure that your digital camera will be protected in these demanding situations.

Do also bear in mind that not all camera makes enjoy the same availability of underwater housing. There is a lot of availability for Canon and Nikon models, but for other manufacturers, this is not guaranteed and you’ll have to shop around for the right waterproof camera housing.

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Palmer

by Denise I Smithson

One of the greatest players ever to step up to the green, Arnold Palmer was born in Latrobe, PA – a city which is justifiably proud of its most famous native son. Ever since his first major tournament win all the way back in 1955, Palmer has been one of the biggest names in golf – many fans refer to him as “The King”. Along with Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, Palmer is one of the Big Three names in the golf world. Palmer’s playing was in large part responsible for the increased interest in golf as a spectator sport once games began to be televised in the 1950s.

Arnold began early, having learned his love for the game from his father, Deacon; a greens keeper at the Latrobe Country Club. At the tender age of seven, Palmer scored a 70 at the nearby Bent Creek Country Club, an impressive achievement, especially considering his age. Palmer cut his teeth in the game on the then only nine hole Latrobe Country Club course, on which he was allowed to play early in the morning and late in the afternoon when members did not have tee times scheduled.

He attended the popular Wake Forest University appropriately on a golf scholarship and served for three years in the Coast Guard. During this time, while continuing to develop his golf skills, he married Winifred Walker who he met while playing in a Pennsylvania golf tourney. During his rookie season, he won the Canadian Open and surged ahead with personality and business ideas that made golf a sport people became interested in and wanted to watch-many people give Palmer the credit for the sport becoming so popular.

He won his first major championship at the 1958 Masters and by 1960, he claimed his title as one of golf’s leading stars. Signing with sports agent Mark McCormack, in 1960, McCormack was asked in later years what made Arnold so special. He replied, “his good looks, his modest background, the way he played golf, his risk taking and wearing his heart on his sleeve, and his involvement in so many exciting early televised finishes.” Palmer was one the first US player to win The Open Championship in England-Ben Hogan won it in 1953; making Arnold an international star in the eyes of golf fans everywhere. Arnold won seven major championships including The Masters in 1958, 1960, 1962, and 1964; the US Open in 1960; and, The Open Championship in 1961 and 1962. His best years were perhaps 1960-1963 where he championed 29 PGA Tour events in just four seasons.

In 1960, Arnold was named Sports Illustrated top pro athlete of the year and he won the Sportsman of the Year award. His fans, known as “Arnie’s Army,” cheered when their Arnie became the first man to reach one million dollars in career earnings in 1967. Even with pros like Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player playing alongside him, Arnold managed to win a PGA Tour every year all the way up to 1970 and in 1971 he enjoyed a rejuvenation of his career winning four events.

Arnold won the Vardon Trophy for low score average four different times and played on six Ryder Cup teams. By 1980, the acclaimed golfer was eligible for the Senior PGA Tour and with his name alone, helped make the tour successful. The tourney would eventually be renamed as the Champions Tour. On the Senior Tour he won ten events on the tour and with the help of his agent McCormack, Palmer became tops in pay for endorsements, sponsorships, and charity events. He has also won the revered Presidential Medal of Freedom Award presented to him by George W. Bush.

In 2004, Arnold played in The Masters for the last time-his 50th consecutive appearance and when he missed the cut at the 2005 US Senior Open, he then announced he would not play any further senior majors, retiring from golf in 2006. To the delight of Arnie’s Army, one of his most memorable events was during the 2004 Bay Hill Invitational where standing over 200 yards from the 18th green, he lashed his second shot onto the green with a driver. Even Arnold smiled and celebrated the moment along with his grandson/caddie, Sam Saunders.

Arnold Palmer remains active in the golf world, being involved in the Bay Hill Club and Lodge (which is where the Arnolf Palmer Invitational is held), being one of the driving forces behind the Golf Channel and assisting in the building of one of China’s first golf courses. Palmer also started the Arnold Palmer Design Company and since 1971, he has been owner of the Latrobe Country Club where he got his first taste of the game. Golf Digest ranked Palmer as one of the top ten players of all time and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and a winner of the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award (which he won in 1988). Palmer lives in Orlando, Florida where he still enjoys getting in a round of golf – and being an ambassador for the game of golf to the world.

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Tasting Wine 3

by Ian Kleine

The taste you might get from the wines depend on four basic components found in all wines: the taste from the juice, the tannin from the skin, seeds and the barrel used for aging the wine, alcohol from fermentation, and the acidity of aging. Good wine requires the presence of all four and the delicate balance between them to be of equal and unopposed proportion. Aging usually softens the impact of tannin. Acidity tames down with age, as acids break down over time. Alcohol levels stay the same throughout the whole life of the wine. Knowledge on how these factors affect one another will help you determine the grade, quality and real taste of the wine. Some lesser known taste descriptions wine tasters use are minerality, asparagus and earthiness.

Here are some of the common tastes that most of the wine tasters report with each type of wine. The growing region, harvesting time, and production all have impact on the tastes and feeling of the wine.

Cabernet wine has a memorable taste composed usually of green spices, cherry, black fruits, and black currant. Merlot has a floral sense to it, with green spices, red and black fruits (or a combination therein) and plum for flavor. Zinfandel wines often has black fruits and spices (called briaries in other dialects).

Syrah/Shiraz uses black fruits and spices too, most often the peppers. Pinot Noir, a good variety, has red fruits, flowers and herbs as a bouquet. Chardonnay in the cooler climates, are aged with tropical fruits. Citrus and melon are used for those in the warmer regions. Malolactic fermentation makes Chardonnay lose its green apple flavor and takes on a feeling something akin to ‘creme’.

Note that malolactic fermentation causes white wines to adopt a creamy and sometimes buttery taste. Oak barrels used for aging some wines give the wine a nutty and vanilla-ish flavor.

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Mansfield Village Cornbread Festival

by Ian Kleine

The village of Mansfield has been known to celebrate some of the good things of life, like the earlier festival of mushrooms during the last few weeks of the month of April. But this time, during the fall months of September, they celebrate another food classic in a simple festival dedicated to its no-nonsense approach, versatility and timelessness; the simple cornbread. Welcome to the Mansfield Village Cornbread Festival.

The air is very fragrant during the time of the festival’s peak. Autumn leaves add a sweet, earthy scent, the aroma of kettles full of ham and beans, chili, stews and freshly baked cornbread all mix and amble together to create a buffet of scents to the air.

A small parade that will go through downtown that will start and kick off the corn bread festival. The 2006 festival has included the chili cook off and the cornbread bake off, so this means a whole lot more of opportunities for you to show your family recipes. There are lots of cornbread, pumpkins, squash and all other fall goodies to go by.

We also have the Annual Mansfield Village Roller RV Rally for those who enjoy the sight of an RV rally (was being redundant there). Camping and lawn seats included for those who reserve early. The Roller Run will give away hundreds of dollars and cash for prizes and trophies. Dana Auction Company also holds a country auction at Hilltop Farm for those interested to take a look.

There are also other things to keep one’s self busy. Village shops open for visitors who like to go shopping. For those who are more in-tuned to nature, you can visit through the village for a scenic route, see a creek, stroll through a bridge, or just peruse all the ruins in the area. It’s a unique experience that only comes at least a few times in your life.

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21: The Movie

by Mercie Hallow

Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a haven for gamblers and Nevada’s capital city. It is considered to be the gambling capital of the world where gamblers, enthusiasts, spectators and hopefuls all gather for a night of fast cash and good luck. Las Vegas is a major tourist destination for someone who is eyeing for a total night of entertainment and good luck. Las Vegas houses numerous hotels, casinos and casino resorts for the enjoyment of many.

21 is a movie released in 2008 that features the life and glamour at Vegas. The movie started with a young and poor college student named Campbell played by Jim Sturgess who applies for the renowned Robinson Scholarship in Harvard Medicine School which will pay for his 300,000 USD tuition fee. The story started with Campbell (Sturgess) in an interview with the Robinson Scholarship head asking him to dazzle the latter and prove as to why he is viable to get the much coveted scholarship. Campbell then relates his life as a card counter in a Las Vegas casino hotel.

He was discovered by his Math professor played by Kevin Spacey when he gave the student a problem based on the Monty Hall problem of probability in which Campbell, successfully solved. He was then invited by Spacey to be part of his exclusive blackjack team of card counters, taking them every weekend to Vegas. Campbell proved to be a bright addition to the team as he began earning a lot of money for Spacey.

The movie had a sudden twist when Campbell lost in a game that made him lose a large sum which resulted to Spacey to kick him out of the club and stole all his earnings from his home in an attempt to pay him back what he lost. He later found out that all his savings were stolen by his professor. He revenged by seeking his teammates efforts as he double-crossed Spacey in a shadowy deal. Well, he got the scholarship apparently.

Las Vegas is indeed a world of lights, wine and money and- oh yes, quick marriages!

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