VoIP46228

It surely has a nice ring to it and would be a dream come true for the plethora of England fans who have never yet witnessed the creator of the beautiful game bring home the goods.

Although England have a pretty favourable group, with Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, and the dreaded Sweden; they will come through the group stages to the finals and then, with a bit of luck, stomp all over the opposition with verve and tenacity; if Wayne Rooney keeps his head that is.

As well as being a serious contender for the coveted Golden Boot Award, if England do indeed progress, Wayne Rooney is the key to Englands success in World Cup 2006 and the rest of the team and world know it. The guy is a physiological freak in terms of the sheer power and depth of attack in his possession and will simply rip through the best defences that any of the worlds toughest may throw his way. He already proved this in Euro 2004, Portugal, where he was a constant worry for the opposition and, of course, does so every week at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney is simply one man, though, and cannot do the job alone; he will need pace man magician Michael Owen at his very best, Beckham curling em in sweetly from the right, Frank Lampard bulldozing through the middle and Mr Sven Goran Eriksson not doing his usual trick of messing with formations and pulling off players at the wrong moment. In fact, England hasnt had such a brilliant compilation of players in years; its whether they can gel at the right time and do what the England rugby lads did in 2003.

One thing is certain though and perhaps will never change; anyone and everyone faced with England, ups their game rate by a noticeable margin. It seems that everyone wants to beat the Auld Enemy; hardly surprising beings as the country with the once largest of empires has, at one time or another, trounced on or been instrumental in shaping the modern world as we know it. It seems logical that someone would want to get their own back by beating the national football team.

Many of the England naysayers believe that the England team lacks the personality and passion to bring home the cup. Although a personality is great for the cameras, the one ingredient that is surely more important is playing the game of football and scoring goals, and with the current England line up we have the best chance since 1966. Roll on World Cup 2006

// posted by voip40591 @ 11:22 PM 0 comments

One of the best inspirational sports stories ever concerns the U.S. Olympic Hockey teams triumph at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The tale has it all. There are young kids with dreams of glory, hard work, team spirit, a goal that far exceeds their grasp, and a Rocky-like finish.

The ultimate win of the Olympic Gold Medal over the Russian National Team has been written up in sports magazines and newspapers innumerable times in the past twenty-five years. The story is also told on video. For less than $10.00 on Amazon you can buy the DVD Do You Believe in Miracles? Watch the 60-minute program and youll cry and cheer. This video was produced by ABC sports. In 2004 Walt Disney Studios produced the excellent feature film, Miracle starring Kurt Russell as the U.S. Olympic hockey teams coach, and Patricia Clarkson as his wife. The film does a great job of showing all the planning and effort that went into the run for the gold.

But if you really want to motivate more than yourself, you should consider the classic training video, Do You Believe In Miracles? This shorter version of the ABC Sports presentation is designed for training. It comes with a public viewing license. This means it can legally be used at workshops and seminars for training and motivation. This version cannot be purchased on Amazon, however.

One of the great motivational videos of all time. The video documents the underdog U.S. Hockey team's 1980 Olympic Gold Medal win; culminating with the stunning upset of the top seeded Russians. This 24-minute documentary is about one of the greatest upsets in sports history: the United States' defeat of the vaunted Russian Olympic hockey team in Lake Placid, New York. It's David vs. Goliath: A bunch of college kids from Canada and the United States up against the Soviet Union professionals who had won four straight Olympic gold medals.
Program Description

Its almost impossible to view the final minutes of each of these videos without tears in your eyes, a lump in your throat, and a cheer on your lips. If you saw the game live, the videos bring back the joy you experienced then, and if youve never seen the story unfold at all, you will be amazed . . . and moved.

You owe it to yourself to check out a copy from your local library, or purchase on Amazon or buy the training version if you want to inspire teamwork in others. Share the feelings of triumph and pride. You will rejoice. You will believe in miracles. And whats more, youll find that motivation is contagious.

// posted by voip40591 @ 11:09 PM 0 comments

Projector screens are generally divided into two types base on their functionalities: reflection projector screen and transmission projector screen. It can be also divided into soft and hard screen base on the materials they are made from.

Home theater generally uses soft reflection screen. My brother-in-law originally wanted to buy a 1000 (~$150) so-called "import screen", but a friend of his who sells projector screens told him that it is hard nowadays (in China) to distinguish the genuineness of an import screen, it is hard even for himself. Some of them that are labeled with 'import' or 'joint capital' were actually manufactured somewhere in the south of China. He felt that he'd rather to buy a 300 domestically manufactured screen with good feelings than buy this kind of "import screen". What this friend said makes perfect sense. But after doing some research, my brother-in-law found that all screens on the local market are made from high gain Bolivian bead that is used for projecting newspaper clips, they are simply not suitable for video frequency.

Theoretically speaking, a white wall with one smooth side actually is the best "screen". Because its gain is 1, meaning that the light projected can be completely reflected out, which is an ideal state of being "no absorption, no gain". Unfortunately, for the purpose of absorbing and proliferating the sound wave, he already made the wall a background wall with sound-absorbing material and plywood installed. making it impossible to serve as a "projector screen', he had to find another solution.

You might be wondering at this point: why do people still bother purchasing expensive screens if we can all use white walls?

Well, there are always benefits and advantages of using a professional screen: convenient, artistically beautiful and dignified, good screen can also make up the insufficiency of a projector and improve visual effect. Among the expensive screens, one type is "gray screen" (cost about 15,000, roughly $2000). This kind of screen probably was originally designed for liquid crystal projectors. The biggest problem with liquid crystal projector is that the color appears dark and grey, insufficiently calm. This is its "congenital defect" that is caused by its liquid crystal board and path of rays.

Regarding gray screen, we all know that gray is merely a lighter black, and black absorbs all visible light. Gray can only partially absorb visible light, it is like brightness of the picture is reduced. If you have used any picture processing software's "brightness / contrast gradient" option, you should certainly have noticed such phenomenon that reducing brightness is equivalent to increasing contrast gradient? Same concept, since the brightness has been reduced, it in turn increased its contrast gradient. The black effect gets improved due to the bigger contrast. We can also experience the same effect when we look out through the sunshade glass of our car. In fact, there are many ways to just reduce the brightness, you don't have to use gray screen. There are magazines recommending putting the light gray filter of a photographic camera to the projection lens, the principle is the same. You can even use more simpler method, namely you need to adjust the projector's output brightness or increase the contrast gradient. No need to spend a cent, you may achieve the similar effect, but the premise is that showroom must be dark enough.

Back to the bottom line, if a gray projector screen cost you $2000, definitely it is not just because the screen color is changed from white to gray. Speaking from the optical principle, I'm afraid there's a lot more behind. I'm guessing probably certain chemical compositions have been added to the material of the screen that changed the reflection or absorption intensity of different wavelength of light, thus changed the luster and the contrast gradient of the entire image, that, makes up the inborn flaw of liquid crystal board after all. In addition to this, what other tricks do you think they can play? It doesn't seem to be possible with the meager knowledge of physics that I have.

It sounds more like it to throw in a 150,000 screen if your projector cost you 15,000. But adding a 15,000 screen to a 15,000 projector doesn't make much sense at all. If I have to buy a 15,000 screen, then it would simply work better if I put the money together and buy a 30,000 higher level projector to achieve better effect without any extra effort. A 15,000 screen is a crazy price to my brother-in-law (imagine his monthly income is merely 3000). Also if he buys a name brand Japanese gray screen, then he actually spend most of the money to pay for the labor which he personally doesn't feel comfortable.

The ideal screen for the DLP projector that my brother-in-law purchased should be like a white wall, just let the project light reflected completely without any "reservation". He figured that he really didn't need such costly screen. So he finally decided to make one on his own.

Exactly how did he do it? You may not believe how simple and inexpensive it really was! He spent a bit over 10 (about $1.50) in a home decorating store on a self-adhesive pure white matted formica PVC panel with dim grains, cut the right size, pasted to his original background wall, that is it, flat and smooth! With such PVC screen, he doesn't need to worry about the 'curl-up' phenomenon that may occur to a regular projector screen after around 12 years of use, he also doesn't need to worry that it would turn yellow one day due to natural oxidation. But remember it requires some pasting techniques to make it work perfectly for you. The result? Great!

Here are couple of self-made projector screen photos from my brother-in-law as 'evidence':
www.news-blogs.com/_images/entertainment/diy_screen.jpg
www.news-blogs.com/_images/entertainment/diy_screen2.jpg

Note: You may freely republish this recipe as long as author bio and active hyperlinks are kept intact. Thank you.

// posted by voip40591 @ 10:49 PM 0 comments

Its that time of the year again. The 2005 National Football League season has come to an end with the Pittsburgh Steelers capturing the Super Bowl title, the Major League Baseball Spring Training season is just readying to begin, the National Basketball Association is in a holding pattern for most fans until its playoffs, the NASCAR season is just getting started with the Daytona 500 just raced and the National Hockey League is on hiatus due to the 2006 Winter Olympics. And with the NCAAs March Madness still weeks away, what is a sports fan to do?

We force ourselves to tune in to the NBC television broadcast network in order to try to catch some of the real competition on tap in the XX Olympic Winter Games. Sports fans are not averse to watching Winter Olympics coverage, but trying to figure out NBCs television schedule has become a sport of Olympic proportions unto itself.

The supposed television Winter Olympics schedule is available in local newspapers, in various sports magazines and all over the internet. But the schedule times are useless in pinpointing when any particular sport is broadcasted. And depending on what time zone one lives in, it is virtually impossible not to hear the results on television, radio, or view online prior to seeing the broadcast as NBC has its coverage tape delayed in five different U.S. time zones.

The excuse to not broadcast real time coverage during these Olympic Games is viable this year in that Italy is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time. But on weekends it is feasible for live coverage at least on the east coast. It is worth noting that almost 40 years ago, U.S. television viewers were able to enjoy primarily live coverage of the 1968 Winter Olympics from Grenoble, France and later with the 1972 Olympic Summer Games from Munich, Germany, via television satellite. But what was the excuse in not broadcasting the 1996 Summer Olympics live when they were in Atlanta, GA and then when the 2002 Winter Olympics were in Salt Lake City, UT? Both were instead tape delayed, again in five different time zones.

The reason for NBCs incoherent TV scheduling is because of its monopolized ability to edit and package the coverage any which way it wishes in order to appease sponsors while placing advertising spots wherever and whenever it chooses. Unfortunately, for the viewer, it denies the spontaneity of competition as well as deprives viewers from selectively choosing which sports they wish to watch.

NBC has bragged about providing 416 hours of broadcast coverage on NBC including its three cable television stations. But since these Winter Olympics first started airing its events on February 11, 2006 to date, viewers have been treated to little more than glorified highlights between 8:00 PM 11:30 PM in whichever time zone one happens to be. During that time period, bits and pieces of coverage from any one of 15 sport disciplines are shown, with scant coverage of any athletes other than American Olympians or only winners of an event should they not be American.

We lose the continuity of viewing any one event such as alpine skiing, speed skating, ski jumping, or even bobsledding for that matter. Essentially, races necessitate competitors being seen in sequence or at least the contenders, rather than a cut and paste version of them. And while figure skating viewing requires less of a need for the immediacy of viewing other competitors in the event, one would be hard pressed as to when to plan on tuning in. Although more time is devoted to the figure skating events than most others, its coverage is peppered with teasers and unexpected commercial breaks in the action, making it sometimes painful to get through, even for its avid fans.

Since television coverage of the Olympics is all about ratings, as is all television fare, NBC for years now has shot itself in the proverbial foot when whining that not enough of the American public is tuning in to Olympics coverage, no longer just applicable to the Winter Olympics, either. While the Summer Olympics attracts more viewers, its coverage too is close to beyond the pale.

What NBC has tried to do over the years is to please all demographics as well as its sponsors while losing sight of the intrinsic value of the actual event. But as viewership continues to erode for Olympics coverage, the NBC network is largely responsible. In its zeal to compel the American viewer to tune in, it has overproduced its coverage, thus turning off the very audience it is trying to attract and retain.

The Olympics tells its own story and most sports fans do not have the patience to sit through over three hours of teaser-filled coverage. Now we all know the reason it is done this way. The hope is that viewers will sit through enough coverage in order to be exposed to advertisers as well as to garner more consistent ratings. But in fact, NBC is accomplishing the opposite result, forcing many to either record the coverage and thus eliminate the ads, or tuning out completely.

So what you say? Who cares? Well, chances are if you are reading this, you are a sports fan. Although we all have our favorite sport, we crave watching competition, with few exceptions. For example, the idea of watching curling is comparable to watching paint dry and how it is considered an athletic event is beyond this writers comprehension.

But for now, we are stuck with what we have. When the numbers are crunched this time round for NBC, perhaps they will get the message that the sports fan drives the numbers and more and more of us are getting fed up. Maybe they need to go back to the drawing board and revisit the Jim McKay playbook on covering worldwide sporting events. It worked for ABC broadcasting way back when, when the athletes were the story, not the network; sadly a crucial element which NBC seems to have forgotten.

// posted by voip40591 @ 10:45 PM 0 comments

The Winter Olympics....

Once again the fishing world has been ignored.

As I sit watching a spine tingling, heart thumping, always tension packed Olympic Curling event competition, I can't help but wonder why a fishing event has never been represented in the Olympics.

What are they trying to say?

Are they saying that there is no athletic prowess involved when trying to flick a #12 Adams to a 20 inch ring created by the kiss of an 18 inch Rainbow trout!

Is the firing of a high powered rifle after skiing around on a pair of wooden planks any more demanding than fording a riffle packed stream and tossing a chunk of powerbait deftly into the "honeyhole" pocket containing an 8 inch stocker?

I see no difference.

But then I'm an idiot.

Or am I? Let's at least take a look at some future options for the winter Olympics, that can finally give the fisherman his due when it comes to skill and athleticism....

1) What event shows stamina and grit more than ice fishing? I propose a winter Olympic event that is comprised of ice fishing. In this event, contestants will be timed on their ability to saw a hole in 8 to 10 inches of a frozen lake surface, run in sneakers across the frozen ice to a designated staging area where they will grab up a rod, and stool, and sprint back across the ice to the open hole, bait up, and sit for hours in a fierce northern wind. The athlete then will hopefully, eventually catch a fish, pull his fish from the ice hole, drop it in a bucket, and sprint again across the ice, into a 1975 Ford pick- up truck, drive across the finish line to the cheers, flag waving,and cow bell jingling of his fellow countrymen.

More challenges? Perhaps a couple of fellas name Swen and Ole can sit across from the contestant and constantly be throwing a verbal barrage of "You Betcha's" and "Don't ya know's" at the athlete, as he or she agonizingly attempts to coax a fish out of the water.

Talk about grit!!

Of course the Norwegian contingent might not have a problem with this and be at a decided advantage.HOW do you say "you betcha" in Norwegian anyway?

We will all watch as the hole starts to skim over with ice,and the athlete frantically chips away at the hole to keep it ice free.All the while precious time clicks away as the fish only nibbles at the bait.

They can even hold this event indoors at the Olympic Hockey or Figure Skating venues. It might even make the hockey games more interesting with a few holes in the ice, and figure skating?PLEASE... a double axle into a gaping hole in the ice will add more excitement than Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan living in the same trailer park. Or they can leave a few frozen fish on the ice to help add to the Olympic ambiance.

The events could also easily be held as a "two man" competition with one athlete fishing, while the other builds an ice shack.

If the extreme thrill of the Downhill is your cup a tea, imagine if they hold the event on thin melting ice. The now famous runs of Franz Klammer and Hermann Maier will pale in comparison to the crackling of ice beneath the ice fisherman's stool as he scrambles for shore before disappearing into the frigid waters.

Talk about the agony of defeat....

2)Boat Slalom. Never mind the luge, bobsled, or skeleton(which at first glance appear to require the two major athletic skills of courage and alcohol), try standing up in a drift boat while running a classIV rapid with a 40 pound salmon stripping line off of your reel, hell bent for return to the ocean. Yes, athletes in ten layers of clothing including the mandatory flannel outer jacket, will try to stay afoot while "the driver" navigates the boulder choked channel of a stream. Not only are the contestants timed in this event, but style points are given for the degree of difficulty the athlete shows while doing "gunnel grabs", "spins", and the ever popular "aerials". Throw in a number of slalom gates, and you have the making of an event made for television. Fall in or lose your salmon, and it's sorry Charlie--see you in four years.

"OOOHHH, tough break Vern--Elwood has been training all his life for this moment, and to see it all go overboard in one instant is heartbreaking...."

3) No offense to our Canadian friends north of the border, but --CURLING!!! CURLING!! A combination of bowling on ice and a group of shop keepers trying to keep the storefront spiffy.

Gawd, the winters must be awful up there.

Outside of the obvious "sex appeal"of the Olympic Curlingevents, the only thing more thrilling would be to watch Dick Cheney go quail hunting.

But, given that there is a place on the podium for chiseled curling athletes, I'm sure we could find a spot for the skilled athleticism of the Winter Fly Tying Team !This event would obviously be dominated by the American squad, which has trained year round in a meat locker in Detroit. Size #28 midge after miserable size #28 midge, the Americans have relentlessly been training, by tying these little buggers to 8x tippet--in a meat locker kept at 14 degrees below zero.

That's minus 26 celsius for our European competitors.

There at the Olympic Fly Tying arena, in frigid weather, teams of fly tiers will take to the vice, and tie up various flys. We will watch pained expressions and complete intense concentration as athletes try to get their fingers to work in the icy cold. We will hold our breath as they try to get the hackle and dubbing just right. Precious time will tick away as they blow on their hands, and we watch split screen images of just where the Olympic hopefuls lost time along the way.

Of course,in this two day event, athletes will be judged on speed, style,difficulty, and the ability to catch and release fish.

So, here's to the athletes of the XX th Olympiad, and I will see you fishing rod in hand, in Vancouver in 2010.

// posted by voip40591 @ 10:36 PM 0 comments

Soccer is growing in popularity around the country. Many kids want a soccer themed party for their birthday. There are lots of fun ways to have everything at your event be soccer related!

Pick a list of kids to attend your party and send out soccer ball invitations. A party supply store will have all the accessories and motifs available for soccer. Have the kids wear their soccer cleats to the party if they have any or their favorite jersey.

The soccer party can be for a birthday, but it can also include a fun scrimmage soccer game. Set up two goals a short distance away and let them run around and score. If there is a parent coach nearby, have them set up cones and let the kids run through some drills. Make up a game for the two teams and have them be the sharks and the guppies and run! The exercise will do them good, not to mention wear them out so they sit better inside the house to eat.

Prizes to give away can be personalized trophies or ribbons. Attach a team picture for a great keepsake for everyone. Other treats can be candy, plastic trinkets or soccer related toys. A soccer ball piata is another great entertainment and prize piece all in one.

Soccer decorations can be found at any party supply store. Soccer balloons, black and white streamers and wall hangings make for a perfect sports party. Special soccer favor bags and treats can also be purchased to give away to each guest.

Party planning stores will also have all of the paper products needed to serve cake and lunch. Plates, napkins and tablecloths to match your soccer motif make clean up easy! Special ball shaped cake pans make round cakes which can be frosted to make soccer cakes!

// posted by voip40591 @ 10:33 PM 0 comments

Soccer players are not the only persons who wear soccer jerseys. These days more and more people are wearing jerseys of their favorite soccer team. Wearing authentic jerseys to promote their favorite teams and display their affiliations is not a new concept among sports lovers. However, off late wearing authentic jerseys of popular teams has acquired the status of passion. Even though you will find people of all ages wearing replica jerseys, young and college going crowd displays and added inclination towards soccer jersey.

Soccer Jersey- Reasons for Increasing Popularity

Soccer has always lagged behind as sports apparel-merchandising opportunity in America. Traditionally soccer uniforms were not as popular as football, basketball, hockey and baseball sports gear. However, the World Cup Soccer in 1994 has added a new dimension to the popularity of this sport. Thereafter sports apparel of soccer has gained extreme popularity and sports equipment manufacturers are overwhelmed by the continuous expansion in demand for authentic jerseys and replica jerseys.

Authentic jerseys of soccer are not only popular during the soccer season but people prefer to wear them even otherwise. This jersey is a short sleeve T-shirt type jersey and is very comfortable. Since the official gear of soccer teams has bright and vibrant colors, it is more of a fashion statement and display of style for the younger generation.

You can shop for a jersey of your favorite soccer team or player at the nearby sports apparel store, departmental store or online sports apparel stores. If you are on a lookout for authentic jerseys, you should contact the sports store or the team's store selling the official gear. It is better to buy sports apparel at least two months before the start of the soccer season. That time the stores have fresh stock of sports merchandise and you can pick a good jersey of your favorite soccer team.

// posted by voip40591 @ 8:18 PM 0 comments

Out of town shopping malls may well have started the decline of the traditional British high street over the last few years, and its easy to see why. However whilst London doesnt offer any of these it doesnt need to!

London literally has it all. From market stalls to the worlds biggest department stores, from inexpensive bric-a-brac to extortionately priced cutting edge fashion from the worlds top designers, everyone is catered for by Londons many and varied shopping areas.

As convenient as malls are, they dont even scratch the surface of what London is able to offer the shopper in terms of diversity and wherever you are in the city, its all just a short tube or bus ride away. With the chance of seeing some of the worlds most famous landmarks as well, the London shopping experience cannot be beaten.

Oxford Street

Britain's busiest high street and London's best known shopping area is chock-a-block full of the nation's most popular shops over 300 in fact. Many of the biggest high street names have their flagship stores here and the street also boasts the oldest record shop in the world (HMV at number 363). Also home to the world famous Selfridges department store, Oxford Street is 1 miles of shopping utopia for those that dont mind the experience being a little on the hectic side.
Nearest Tubes: Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road

Knightsbridge

Knightsbridge is the home of classy fashion boutiques and quality department stores - the jewels in the crown being the absolutely fabulous Harvey Nicholls and the worlds most famous corner shop, Harrods. Big name fashion designers can be found in Sloane Street and equally chic but smaller outlets at Beauchamp Place.
Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge

Kensington High Street

Kensington offers a bit of everything to those shopping in London. It features all of the well known chain stores, plenty of one-offs, department stores (the main one being Barkers), an array of antique shops (in nearby Kensington Church Street) and numerous restaurants. Its less busy than the West End and certainly a touch classier.
Nearest Tube: High Street Kensington

Regent Street

Regent Street, running the of a mile between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus, certainly provides the most visually elegant shopping experience in London as all the shops conform to the same ornate architectural style. It features department stores, fashion boutiques, restaurants and well known high street names and is also home to the worlds best known toy store, Hamleys.
Nearest Tubes: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus

Bond Street

If youre looking for a London shopping experience with a touch of class and you dont mind paying for it then Bond Street is for you. Full of the biggest designer names including Armani, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Cartier and Tiffany & Co, the street boasts more suppliers to the royal family than anywhere else in London. A world away from the every man for themselves experience of Oxford Street, many stores have their own doormen. The street is also home to the world famous Sothebys auction house.
Nearest Tube: Bond Street

Tottenham Court Road

If youre shopping in London for electrical items or home furnishings then Tottenham Court Road is well worth a visit. The backstreets of the area offer an array of interesting pubs and specialist shops and nearby Charlotte Street features a wide variety of restaurants.
Nearest Tubes: Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street, Warren Street

Soho & Chinatown

Soho has cleaned up its act over the years and no longer has the seedy reputation it was once known for. If its sex shops youre looking for in London, youll still be well catered for but its reputation nowadays is built just as much on the many cafes, bars and restaurants, all of which make the area an extremely popular attraction 24 hours a day. Its an incredibly diverse area racially and culturally, has a thriving gay community and has also become the media capital over recent years. Soho is busy and untidy but well worth the experience.
Nearest Tubes: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square

Carnaby Street

Londons fashion Mecca of the swinging 60s has today become almost as famous for souvenir shops cashing in on tourists who are drawn to the street by its iconic name, however it is now starting to regain something of a cutting edge reputation, particularly at the southern end of the street. Newburgh Street (which runs across Carnaby Street) features the shops of a number of top designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier and John Richmond and nearby Kingly Court has 3 floors of concept shops set around an open courtyard offering items not sold anywhere else in London.
Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus

Kings Road

The road gained a reputation for cutting edge fashion back in the 1960s and 70s which perhaps it doesnt quite have nowadays, however it still features many independent clothes and shoe shops. There are also a number of contemporary furnishing stores and a huge array of bars and restaurants. The large Peter Jones department store is at the Sloane Square end of the road and opposite is the new Duke Of York shopping precinct. The road has always had something of a glamorous reputation and as well as providing a great London shopping experience, is also a top place to go celeb spotting.
Nearest Tube: Sloane Square

Fulham Road

The Fulham Road runs parallel to the Kings Road and offers an altogether more laid back London shopping experience. If its antiques youre after or specialist interior furnishings then youll be more than ably catered for here.
Nearest Tube: South Kensington

Portobello Road

Notting Hill has become quite a fashionable area of late but long before the film and even the annual carnival in fact ever since the 18th century the Portobello Road market has drawn large numbers of visitors. Known predominantly for its antiques, bric-a-brac and collectables, theres also shops and stalls selling everything from fruit and veg to trendy clothing. And if all that shopping makes you thirsty, theres no shortage of pubs for you to choose from.
Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove

Islington

Another area of London that has become fashionable in recent years, Islington has a bit of everything to cater for both its inhabitants and visitors. Upper Street is the areas high street and features all of the familiar chain stores as well as lots of bars and restaurants. Chapel Market offers all of the usual market fare such as fruit and veg, clothes and homeware whilst Camden Passage has some nice antiques shops. Islington is not the obvious London shopping destination, but well worth a look.
Nearest Tube: Angel

Camden Town

If you're after a more bohemian London shopping experience than that offered by Knightsbridge or Bond Street, then get yourself up to Camden. One of the citys coolest areas has a seemingly endless array of shops and stalls selling such items as clothing (new, second hand and retro), customised Doc Martins and trainers, jewellery, bootleg CDs and DVDs and craft ware. Open daily (and very busy at weekends), it's a multi cultural experience with some great little food outlets dotted all over.
Nearest Tube: Camden Town

Covent Garden

Formerly a fruit and vegetable market, 'The Garden' is now a constant and varied hive of activity. It has a hugely diverse selection of shops, eateries, bars, a market selling art, crafts, antiques and souvenirs, historic buildings, theatres, the Royal Opera House and fantastic free entertainment provided by street entertainers and musicians. If you can't find something to capture your interest at Covent Garden then there really is no hope.
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden

// posted by voip40591 @ 8:06 PM 0 comments

The perfect vacation, La Jolla, Spanish for the jewel, will quickly become a precious gem of your heart. Boasting some of Californias most beautiful terrain and attractions, La Jolla (pronounced la hoya) is also the home of exquisite arts, restaurants, activities, and shopping. Just a short drive north of San Diego, you wont need a passport to visit this exotic paradise.

The average April temperature is in the high-60s. Even in December, temperatures stay around 65 degrees. The average temperature for August is a mild and breezy 75 degrees. Regardless of when you visit, youre almost guaranteed perfect vacation weather.

How do you pick the right vacation rental? Answer a few questions. How many people in your party? How long are you staying? What do you want to do during your stay? How much money do you want to spend?

You can choose to stay on the breathtaking beaches, especially if you want to surf, windsurf, or swim. Between January and March this area is great for whale watching. Of course, the sunset in La Jolla is the main attraction. Stay near The Childrens Pool area, close to amazing offshore reefs perfect for scuba diving and snorkeling. The area, also known as Casa, is just a short walk away from town. Catch a glimpse of wildlife on Seal Rock, just offshore, which is home to seals and sea lions.

Here, there is a fine line between a luxury vacation and a business trip in La Jolla. Even the fiercest workaholic can find leisure and entertainment. The golf courses have ocean views. Its easy to plan a fantastic family vacation around your business trip. Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, many aquariums, and Disneyland make great day trips to bring out the kid in all of us.

Endless entertainment awaits you at La Jolla. The area thrives with gourmet restaurants, music, and theater. Nightclubs, wine bars, and comedy clubs entertain all sorts of pleasures. The La Jolla Playhouse opens its doors to award winning performing arts.

Boutique shopping makes Beverly Hills jealous. Girard Avenue and Prospect Place boast dozens of unique shops. Shopaholics are sure to find the right gift and La Jolla visitors wont be able to leave without a souvenir from this dream vacation.

The tranquil coastline turns hiking into a spiritual journey. Windsurfing, surfing, and even skydiving are better with the picturesque Pacific Ocean backdrop. Not up for so much activity? Try a relaxing day of spa pampering or sunbathing. La Jolla boasts many exclusive luxury spa resorts. The dramatic panorama of scenery is an indulgent place for weddings, holidays, anniversaries, and private romantic getaways.

La Jolla satisfies many interests, including the more sporting activities. Yellowtail, shark, and rock cod and other invigorating sport fishing trips are available almost year-round. A short drive to San Diego wins big with professional baseball and football, and minor league hockey.

Whether youre traveling alone for business or taking the family on vacation, La Jolla will take your breath away. With so many attractions, youll have to come back again to do it all. And with La Jolla residents expressing such wonderful hospitality, youll always feel welcome.

Copyright (c) 2006

// posted by voip40591 @ 3:10 PM 0 comments

I like when people start to criticize and complain. It tells me that the fear of change is in the air and that is the way they are compelled to deal with it. It means to me that somebody is doing something right. Of course, there are those who get paid to deliver a disparaging word to keep any due hype in check, especially in sports where the business of hype often generates more revenue than the business of the sport itself. American football is the world's most popular sport, so hype is something it doesn't really need. But there is something happening now that the league didn't ask for: a major overhaul to the entire look and feel of the game.

Football is a team sport, much more than any other major sport. That in itself makes this phenomenon even more significant than it otherwise would be. In sports, there are few legendary talents. Athletes who possess intangibles that players of similar talent do not. Then there are those who elevate the status of their sport to heights never before seen or imagined. But there is one other level of athletic aptitude defined by players who possess so much athletic genius that the game can no longer contain them. They can't help it, it just happens. They don't just play the game. They change the game.

We saw it in basketball with Michael Jordan. We are witnessing it now in golf with Tiger Woods. Baseball had Babe Ruth. Wayne Gretzky did it in hockey. Football can thank Lawrence Taylor for changing the way defense is played. Now it can point to MVProdigy as the One who will lift up the standard for the future of pro football.

Mike Vick is the most exciting player in football, if not the most exciting athlete in sports. He has led a perennial loser to elite status in the National Football League. His team, the Atlanta Falcons, are a legitimate contender to win the Super Bowl. He is the most feared player in the league. Period. While in college at Virginia Tech he was touted as 'The Future'. His moves with the ball cause future hall of fame defensive backs look like they belong in Sunday School. It's appropriate that he's a Falcon because once he takes off, you're not catching him.

If you didn't know Mike Vick is a quarterback, you wouldn't guess it by this description of him.

Vick is not just a quarterback. He's a game breaker. An MVPlaymaker. He's the Experience. He makes it happen. Without him, the Falcons have little chance of even making the playoffs, much less contend for a Super Bowl. The Falcons have quality players who can win games, but without Vick they just might be able to beat USC.

Regardless, I don't like what I'm hearing about MVPeriod. People who think they know football say he is too one-dimensional. and he will have to learn to pass first if he is to lead his team to championships. Why does it matter if he can pick up 40 yards with his legs after line protection breaks down? Or if he is able to scramble for another 15 yards after he picks up the blitz on 3rd and 8? But wait. It isn't just running for positive yards that adds value to this player. His legs have the ability to avoid defensive pressure and knock out a quick 7 yard pass play on 1st or 2nd down. Those are yards created by instincts created by the situation. This is the way MVPlays it. Other QBs may lose 7 yards on that same play or throw an interception. Vick throws picks or gets sacked like every other QB, but more times than not he will create something out of nothing. That's the MVexPerience. The NFL doesn't realize it yet but the days of the 6'5" prototypical dropback QB being a commodity are quickly passing by. That player won't go away completely - look at Peyton Manning and Tom Brady - but over the next 10 years, as football produces more and more MVPretenders at QB, NFL teams will need to adjust their offensive philosophy to take advantage of these immensely talented players.

The strong winds of change are reshaping the landscape of American football. Some are having a difficult time accepting that superior players will rule the future, not just of football, but of all sports. It's not about 300 yard, 2TD afternoons anymore but about the inevitability of the MVPrototype becoming the future of the NFL QB. Eventually, the critics will have to sing MVPraises.

2005 warmCHiL/MJ Style

// posted by voip40591 @ 3:01 PM 0 comments