Southampton Stag Weekends

Southampton: A Brief Idea

Southampton is the city located on the South Coast of England. The city has a population of around 225,000 out of which more than 40,000 are students. Southampton inhales an energetic and vibrant night life and zeal due to the high student population. The city has a lot to offer when it comes to seeking entertainment. As a tourist, you can get to enjoy at numerous pubs, clubs, cinemas, restaurants and casinos to choose from. However, one should remember that smoking in public areas is restricted in England.

Night Life at Southampton

Southampton is the perfect place to enjoy a quality night out activity in England. People from far away places come to the city to spend some of the entertaining and memorable moments of their lives. Foodies can find a number of cuisine options in Southampton. Visit the restaurants to get the best look of the menu cards and satisfy your curiosity. Get everything from a formal three course meal to a simple pub meal with friends.

Stag Weekends in Southampton

Celebrating the final single days of a man is a great feeling. With this celebration, a man completes a journey of careless fun and pleasure. If you are looking for the finest venue of enjoying a great time with your friends and family, it is better to choose a different venue to break the glasses. Enjoying the stag night at different venues of Southampton could be a rocking idea. The city offers most comfortable and elaborate arrangements for enjoying the most entertaining stag weekends. With its vibrant night life, you along with your friends can have fun for entire night. In addition, you can combine the traditional history of the city with your fun activities. Plan out an enjoying Southampton Stag Night for its great clubs. So, why wait? Visit the city and experience the difference.

Olympus Digital Cameras

There are many other fantastic cameras put out by Olympus, of course. Take the SP-570 Ultra Zoom with its focal range of 20x optical zoom, or the Olympus Stylus 1030SW. This is a point and click youll be glad to own. Built with the outdoor adventurer in mind, it is shockproof, dustproof, waterproof, freeze proof and even crushproof. It has a 3.6x wide-angle optical zoom lens and an LCD screen of 2.7 inches. With a battery that charges quickly and digital image stabilization, what more could you want? Memory? How does 14.7 megabytes sound?

If you have trouble with the flash making your subjects look washed out, you might be interested in the Olympus mju 700 with its Bright Capture technology.

Types of Digital Cameras

For instance you can get a radio-controlled camera plane with which to take aerial photos. This can add a whole new aspect to your photography whether you snap the rooftops of London or grandpa's bald head. Then you can get a digital camera in binoculars for those photos that are just too far away to see properly. It has up to 8x magnification with a 2 megapixel camera and an LCD screen that flips up.

Or for the kid who has everything - as most seem to these days - how about a digital camera microscope. Top macro shots can be sent straight from the microscope. A digital camera telescope is for all those budding astronomers to capture the wonders of our starry sky. Or if you are into hot action, then get the ATC 1000 Extreme camera that can be mounted on your arm, bike or helmet.

Advantages of Digital Cameras

You can take heaps of photos with your digital and not run out of space. If you do, simply download them to your computer to free up your memory card, erase them, or keep another memory card to pop in. So much easier than taking film out and putting another roll in. You don't even need to purchase a digital camera to have one. They can be incorporated into your mobile phone, PDA, vehicle and many other applications.

While the first digital cameras were quite big, they are now quite tiny. In fact since one will fit into a small mobile phone, they are tinier than that. In 1991, Kodak marketed a digital that retailed at $13,000. Today you can get one for less than $100.

Top Five Must Activities Before the Wedding

Wedding is a lifetime celebration. Both the man and the woman have to make a series of arrangements to ensure its success. As the old saying goes, a strong foundation can make the most beautiful building; marriage symbolizes the sanctity of the relationship of two adults who have committed to each other for the rest of their lives. In this article, we'll talk about the top five activities that must be done so as to make a memorable wedding celebration.

1. Arrange for the Dress:

Every girl shares the dream of dressing up in a white virginal gown for her wedding. Men rather go for classic tuxedos for their big fat day. If you are getting married in couples of days, it is best to get your wedding dress steamed and pressed. Make arrangements for a beautiful flawless dress.

2. Completes the Details of the Ceremony:

It is always advised to contact the venue and church to cross check the last minute scheduling. You can hire a wedding planner to get the things rights at the pre-planned schedules.

3. Select Your Hairstyle:

To avoid the last minute hassle, you can make prior appointment with your stylist. Choosing the best hair styling can help you to achieve the most desired look.

4. Decide the Poses:

By coordinating well with your photographer, you can choose your pose, you want on your wedding attire. It will help you to save your time and energy at the d-day and chances are that you don't miss out on any photograph you want for the album.

5. Arrange for the Hen Party:

It is a common fashion to arrange for the hen party with your bridesmaids and maid of honor to chat your heart out. Make proper arrangement and fix up a time and place to be so you can all get ready together.

By following above mentioned activities, you'll be able to enjoy your wedding day to the fullest and cherish the memories for long.

Quad Bike Trekking

As the world of personal transportation is getting improved, the popularity of quad biking is increasing day-by-day. Quads refer to four wheeled motorcycles and scooters that help you to move to one place to another shortly. Usually, quads provide you one of the most enjoyable and comfortable rides of motorbike and they are suitable for people in a wide range of ages and ability levels. Their stability makes them ideal for use by younger riders and for off road karting.

Occasionally, parents and family members gift their young children quad motorcycles on their birthdays or on any other occasion. The four-wheeled design motorcycles provide greater balance and helps in having easier ride to handle for younger riders or for small adults who might otherwise have problems with motorcycles too large for their body size.

These bikes are suitable for activity weekends of variant nature. Such quad bikes are popular among young riders as they often incorporate semi-automatic to fully automatic transmissions in their design. These bikes usually carry no clutches so as to make riding easier and help riders to concentrate on the trail instead of shifting gears. Many also have electric ignition rather than difficult kick starters.

Quads for Off Road Karting

Quads are mainly used for off road use. Many families own one for their camping excursions and in many cases, each family member has their own four wheel bike for outdoor fun. Quad biking gives a reason for enjoying out in nature and feel the freedom that comes from letting go of the casual activities.

Are you staying in UK? There are lots of locations that can offer you the perfect activity weekends to enjoy. Choose your location and invite your friends & family to get the thrill and excitement of ultimate quad biking adventure. Play hard and enjoy to the fullest.

Ground Fighting vs Stand-up: Setting the Record Straight

I'm sure you've all heard the statistic that 95% of all fights go to the ground, right?

This has been an ongoing hot topic of debate since the ground game became popularized by the UFC, or specifically the Gracie Brazilian Jujitsu family. So where did this statistic come from and does it hold water?

According to Chris Leblanc, a law enforcement officer and use of force instructor, the "95% of fights go to the ground" statistic is a misinterpreted police survey statistic of physical altercations between civilians and law enforcement officers. Leblanc states that, "it is better put that the LAPD data says when officers physically fought with suspects (versus simply encountering minor resistance or non-compliance which required a minor use of force, but did not escalate into an altercation), 95% of the time those fights took one of five patterns, and 62% of those five types of altercations ended up with the officer and subject on the ground with the officer locking and handcuffing the suspect."

In other words, when a perpetrator resists arrest by a law enforcement officer, it is about 60% likely that the struggle will end up on the ground with the officer handcuffing the perpetrator.

This data certainly sheds some light on the 95% statistic, but it does not adequately address the issue of whether street fights between civilians end up on the ground, given that a law enforcement officer will generally act with the intention of restraining, controlling, and arresting (as opposed to knocking the opponent unconscious).

I took this question to an experienced street fighter (now 58 years old and living peacefully as a personal trainer and drug counselor) who grew up on the streets of Pittsburgh.

The answer?

Essentially two untrained fighters will swing wildly, struggle with stand-up grappling, fall, then continue on the ground. Two experienced/trained fighters will stay on their feet unless one or both combatants prefers grappling, in which case the fight could move in either direction.

Not having much personal experience observing live street fights myself, the above assessment sounds solid and also holds true for sport MMA fights.

So what does this all mean in terms of self defense training and preparation? Should you train in the grappling arts?

Ultimately it would be wise to know how to deal with a ground fighting situation. Keep in mind, however, that although most civilian fights do seem to go to the ground, this is due to the fact the most civilians are not trained in the fistic arts. Most "scrappers" will simply swing wildly with the hope of connecting. Therefore, using ground fighting as a primary tool is a backwards approach to self defense that assumes your attacker has already compromised your first line of defense which is . . . distance.

Staying on your feet keeps your options open and allows for greater awareness and utilization of your environment.

The take home lesson?

For self defense situations, work on your diplomatic skills and your stand-up fighting skills but be prepared to defend against and deal with a take down/ground fighting situation.

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Urban Self Defense & Functional Fitness
http://www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

For more articles on Jeet Kune Do, Fitness, and other related topics visit:
http://www.nkhuong.com/blog

Team Building with a Corporate focus

In this fast growing technological & structural world, the need for the rapid globalization and other substantial factors put a heavy impact on the goals of the multinational corporations. The situation has further increased the necessity to develop unique approaches to many development issues; resultantly the importance of team work has been affected greatly.

Team building acts as the specific approach and methodology that best suits a company's aspirations comfortably and conveniently. It has to be unique and practical so as to match the demands with the outcome. Today's team building exercises demands diversity and greater flexibility in the development of tailor made programs for matching the different desires.

Importantly, it is critical to identify the difference between conferences or incentive based corporate event and those that are longer term developmental initiatives. You can infuse various elements usually at the end of the corporate event spectrum, but make sure it has to be realistic and give you focused objectives.

Theme Based Team Building Events

Theme based team building events are simply exciting and very tempting. The idea can infuse a great amount of effective energy for teamwork, performance and accomplishment. Besides this, you can include many other different elements in it. By incorporating a variety of elements together, a powerful success formula can be achieved in the end. You along with your team can choose exciting concepts and locations, interesting exercises, and invites people to join this informal war to build a strong team work.

The finest way to enjoy a successful team event is to indulge each and every individual to planning and making other arrangement for the best team building exercise. Indulging people in team exercises helps in making a comfortable understanding with the team.

Choose the right activity and experience the most exciting feel for this flexible approach, combined with professional delivery, will ensure enjoyment, relevance and memorability to virtually any audience.

Whitetail Deer Hunting For Beginners

Whitetail deer hunting is one of the most popular hunting genres in the entire world with more and more enthusiasts every year. For a first time whitetail deer hunter it can be a rather difficult thing to do that is why a few tips and tricks about this type of activity are needed in order to start out with decent results.

Experienced hunters recommend checking the hunting equipment when going into the stand, not later when a buck will eventually walk out. Check if your scope is clear, the shells in the chamber or if you use a bow, check if your bow will draw back properly. There are many issues to take into consideration that is why we strongly advise to prepare well ahead.

If you plan on hunting whitetail deer in a food plot or a large field it is recommended to do it during the late hours of the day. Remember that deer like heavy cover so it is advisable to try and clear a path through the cover that you consider these animals might be using. The whitetail deer usually prefers using the easiest routes possible. Once you have set up a path, hunt over the built path in a hunting tree stand.

If using deer calls isn't your cup of tea ( mainly because you are afraid of scaring these animals ), it is advisable to use it only after you see a deer that you are not willing to shoot. Once you have done so, you will notice that it doesn't scare them and you will observe their reactions. Be sure to use the most suitable calls, otherwise the animals will get suspicious.

The best advice possible is to hunt whenever you have the possibility. Experience is crucial, only by going out there in the wilderness you will learn more about their habitat, feeding habits and other characteristics that you will eventually use in your advantage. We strongly suggest that you follow our advice and the next time you have the possibility to hunt, don't hesitate, you know what they say: practice makes perfect and this is statement is entirely applicable for hunting not only whitetail deer but other animals as well.

When you are about to hunt in a new area, it is advisable to hunt at a new stand each day for a short period of time as this is the most efficient way to learn about the deer movement routes. If you spot a deer and shoot it and afterwards you jump it up a very short distance from the position you have made the shot, it is advisable to stand back and give it time to take its last breath, if you shot it during the late hours of the day it is recommended to wait overnight.

If you plan on hunting whitetail deer with a bow, experienced hunters recommend doing it from a tree stand because it is way more efficient in comparison with hunting from ground level. Another advice, use only one pin because it is easier to aim high or low on the whitetail deer than attempt to remember to use a specific one when the large one walks out.

We hope that our suggestions will come in hand and on your first attempts on hunting these animals you will get at least decent results. Remember; practice every time you have the chance.

Summary: This article debates the issue of first time whitetail deer hunting and offers advice and information regarding the basics of this hunting genre.

ID Cards in Youth Sports

When it comes to competitive play in any youth sport, everyone wants to be sure that the competition is playing by the rules. This is especially true when it comes to the eligibility of a player on another team whether it's the player's size, age, or jurisdiction. This is where photo ID cards come in as an excellent way to assist in regulating these factors.

Through an online tracking system and photo id cards for coaches and players a process can be created requiring documentation to only be checked once. In many cases, governing organizations are required to check the player's eligibility documents several times during the year. And in most cases for several years as the player continues in the sport. People want to be sure the opposing coach is playing by the rules so every time a team plays in any type of event, documentation has to be reviewed. And still the question remains; was the right documentation shown for the player that is on the field?

By implementing a registration solution, an organization can eliminate most of the paperwork review when it comes to eligibility. A good registration system tracks the player from the day they first enter the program until the day the participant graduates from the organization. Upon the participant's initial registration, the paperwork can be provided and recorded and then tracked by the system from that point forward. But couldn't a coach bring the wrong documentation to the first registration? Of course he can, but someone will catch the player sooner or later and then the system can be corrected. Our company has produced millions of ID cards and it's a rare case that someone has provided the wrong documentation intentionally. Face it; the manager is the one being tracked on the system at the time of registration!

Team Registration VS Individual Registration

There are some sports that are handling registrations by the team and others by the players. One of the initials reasons that team registrations were created was in the ease of only tracking one name instead of every name on the team. I mean even an 11 man football team commonly has 25 players. So do the math: if an organization has 500 teams, it's a lot easier to track the 500 teams than the 12,500 players.

But now with the systems that exist today and others that will be developed, there are advantages to registering the individuals instead of the teams alone. The benefits span on individual registration from tracking player movements from year to year and team to team through getting better rates on accidental and liability insurance.

Incorporating background checks is another great thing that can be included in a good photo identification program. We are all aware that in today's society, there are bad people in the wrong places. As our children play in organized sports, it's critical to be sure that everyone on the playing field has been properly screened. We have watched several organizations begin to require their coaches and managers to wear photo identification badges whenever they are on the field. An effective registration system will only allow photo identification cards to be produced after individual has been through a background check.

There are many other things that can be integrated into a photo id program such as team and league management features. If all of the participant's information is captured in an online system, these records can be used to assist the coaches, tournament directors and league directors in better managing their programs. Printing rosters, building brackets, and scheduling league play can all be easier to manage if tools are developed to use those registration records. These tools can also be utilized to track the movement of the players from year to year, game to game and team to team.

Another good reason to add a photo identification program to your sport is because of the marketing and branding opportunity it offers. We always suggest creating two cards for every player; this way the coach has one to check the players into events while the player has a badge of honor that carries their picture and your organizations name and logo.

Ultimately, there are many reasons that you should consider doing photo ID cards for your organized sport if you presently are not, but the largest is probably the paperwork that will be saved and the mistakes that get caught early.

Stag Weekend Activities in Nottingham

Nottingham is a fast growing stag night destination in the UK. Popularity known as a stag weekend spot, Nottingham offers you a beautiful tourist place which is famous for many kinds of activities especially for stag weekend stopovers.

If you are willing to organize your stag night celebration in Nottingham, find the most appropriate organizer that fulfills all your desires. You can find many popular venues that can give you the perfect time to host your own Nottingham stag weekend.

The Concept of Stag

The fashion of stag weekends is not new. The groom's party has been hosting the event for a long period of time. On such weekends, the groom to be, also known as the stag is honored by his friends. The concept of stag weekend is based on a tradition followed in the past. To give it a new form, Nottingham stag weekends are organized with new enthusiasm and excitement so as to offer the best time for the stag. Here, the stag can relax and have a good time with his friends and close ones.

Nottingham stag weekends are major all male get-togethers fun, where the boys gather up and do their stuff. It simply means that males don't involve in mischief here, but can spend some time sitting together with his friends and can indulge into chatting and discussing about his wedding and associated talks.

This particular occasion offers you the warmest wishes of your friends. It provides a golden opportunity for you and your friends to let you know that they are by your side and wish the very best for you. Nottingham stag weekends are meant to let you unwind and are a perfect gift for the groom to be. Start your plans now and send off your stag in style, loads of blessing and happiness.

Activity Days Are Fantastic Team Building Events

Basically, the idea of activity days is to offer golden opportunities for you or your guests to indulge in interesting activities that cannot be enjoyed on daily basis and are uncommon in nature. It gives an excellent opportunity to invite close friends and colleagues to enjoy a quality time together with a group.

You can gather a group to take part for a birthday celebration or simply to have an entertaining day out with your loved ones. It boasts team building events perfect for an incentive event in which you can form a team and compete with each other just to try and become the victorious team at the end of the event.

Activities:
There are numerous stress bursting and entertaining activities that can be enjoyed on a days out. Besides the traditional activities such as a birthday celebration, company day out, stag or hen party, you can gather up with friends for many daring activities such as sailing, power boating, clay shooting, quad biking or treasure hunting, visiting a spa to get the best feel. Choose your fun activity carefully so that you can have the last laugh.

Team Building:

Team building activities and days out can be organized in different formats at different locations. The purpose of any team activity is to establish a common understanding, comfortable interaction and utmost trust on each other in order to face the challenges while working on attaining common goals or target. In this system, a large group is further segregated into small teams who combat against each other to win the game. Outdoor team building is a perfect way to encourage and develop inter-team co-operation in a fun and enjoyable way.

Corporate Events:

To survive and compete in today's growing corporate world, corporate events are really necessary. Fruitful activities can empower a fatigued team into an enthused workforce. These activities can infuse organizational inspirations within its employees so that desired results can be achieved very conveniently.

Nike Dunks Hits Top of Charts in a Strange Way

Probably the reason for popularity of one of the most diverse footwear ranges presented by Nike, Nike dunks that are available in a variety of designs and colors is due to an unintended reason. Let us put it this way, the brand was planned to lead what Nike termed as 'College Colors' program where they signed up a few typical college basketball teams and made Nike Dunks match their uniforms. This is perhaps most unlikely of Nike to have started much lower in the ladder than they would do in any normal situation.

Today, as it stands, it is one of the high kick fad sneakers any youngster would like in his wardrobe not withstanding his or her allegiance to a particular sport. Looking at this, it appears that the low key launch was definitely not an unintentional one going by the hype it created in the minds of young things from the day one. Check the success recipe for yourself. Nike Dunks are very rarely made with only a couple of colors. They are also a hit for their low profile outer soles and lightweight, tailor made to serve specific basketball moves like blocking and pivoting.

It is nothing new that Nike Dunks are really selling pretty hot right now; and ever since it was reintroduced ten years ago, both Nike Dunk and Nike Dunk Sb have gone on to change the face of the rustic notion of basketball shoes into sorts of cultural icons, certainly nothing short of creating inspiration for fashion. Like Nike Dunks, Nike Dunk Sb also has a lower outer sole profile compared with all other shoes of its genre.

In fact, Nike Dunk SB was specially created for skateboarders with their specific requirements in mind. Again, as if to create hoopla, Nike Dunk SB was produced in semi-limited quantities and viola, they have had a great appeal with 'trendy' teens. All in all, the crux of the matter that remains is that the Nike Dunks' mesmerizing color ways, breathtaking designs, technological exuberance and historical significance within sneaker culture have led it to the hearts and heads among sneaker lovers.

Nike Dunks' second run from 1998 to 2000 was the most critical stretch for both itself and Nike Dunk SB in terms of proving their ability in regaining market positions. Their different versions released in two reversed colors of their original selves. This was in addition to the revolutionary nylon tongue and arch supports, distinctive from today's releases. This often led to hardships to the manufacturer that found it extremely difficult to meet production targets, thanks to the ever increasing demand.

Success for anything, Nike Dunks and Nike Dunk SBs in the case, comes from many corners when they come. Nike Dunks, the basketball line became a rage in the skateboarding circuit given its technicalities; and no one needs an introduction to their famed style preferences.

A long way for Nike Dunks that weigh just three ounces of leather plus six ounces of rubber! Way to go!

NASCAR's J.J. Yeley - From boy to Superstar

The second-generation racer, J. J Yeley is the son of "Cactus" Jack Yeley, says that the first race he went to was when he was three weeks old and was constantly on the road with his father, going from one track to another on the West Coast and Midwest. Born on October 5^th, 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona, the proud father of Fatih Anne and husband of Kristen was born and bred for the sport. He was always sitting in the grandstands by the time he was seven to cheer his father on as his car zoomed by. Once Yeley was old enough to help out in his father's race team, Yeley picked up many beneficial experiences and watched how his father conducted himself on and off the pit. Yeley was able to work the insides and the outsides of the car early on which is a valuable asset to any young aspiring racer.

Yeley began racing when he was 10 where he took part in the Arizona Quarter Midget Racing Association. Because of a forged birth certificate, Yeley started racing midgets at age 14 and became the youngest driver to apply and receive a United States Auto Club (USAC) license. At age 19, he became the youngest driver in Sprint Car Racing Association to win a non-wing sprint car race at the Silver Dollar Speedway in California. He went on winning in the SCRA in 1996 and his golden ticket arrived when he was 21 in the IRL Indy Car Series. His debut at the Phoenix International Raceway paved the way for him to run the Indianapolis 500 where he started at 13^th and ended in the ninth place. Even though he was participating in more IRL events that year, he decided to shift his attention to building a career in USAC as he was not receiving any funds from racing in the IRL.

Yeley won his first USAC Sprint Car Series Championship in 2001 but that was nothing compared to what was in store for him 2003. He pulled off 24 USAC wins in a single season which broke the legend A.J. Foyt's record in 1961 with 19 races. Yeley also went on to become the second driver in USAC to win the Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown Championship in one season. 2002 is Yeley's fondest year as the wins that he had successfully captured would propel him to the great year that 2003 was. In 2004, Yeley was approached to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Yeley's biggest opportunity happened in 2005 when he had to replace his teammate, Tony Stewart, in the Chicagoland Speedway. His performance gained the recognition of his peers and everyone could see that he was ready to rev it up with the big guns in the big leagues. He was then selected to run the 2006 NEXTEL Cup full time. Although Yeley had a good season in 2006, it was nothing compared to the previous seasons. Yeley, however, is taking all this in his stride and plans to make an impact in the next season. He is optimistic that he will be able to learn from his previous mistakes and better himself. There are times that Yeley is amazed how much he has achieved. The 16 year old Yeley was happy racing sprint Cars and never dreamt that he would be racing in NASCAR or race in the Indianapolis 500.

Besides racing, Yeley volunteers regularly with several fundraisers such as events for the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the St Jude Children's Research Hospital. He realizes the importance of children in our future with the presence of his young daughter, Faith. The Yeley family resides in North Carolina to be close to the tracks.

The World’s Oldest Zoo

Located on the grounds of the famous Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria, is Tiergarten Schönbrunn (German for Schönbrunn Zoo) the oldest zoo in the world. It was founded as an imperial menagerie in 1752 and when first opened to the public in 1779, there were no entrance fees.

It was the Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph II, who first organized expeditions to Africa and the Amercias to capture specimens for the zoo and the first giraffe arrived in 1828. On July 14, 1906, the zoo shocked the world with the birth of the first elephant in captivity; until then, zoologists had held the opinion that elephants could only reproduce in the wild.

At the onset of the first world war, the zoo was home to 712 species and 3500 specimens, but due to diminishing food supplies during the conflict, the number of specimens rapidly sank down to 900. Bombing raids in February 1945 during World War II had an even greater impact on the zoo; many buildings were destroyed and many animals were killed, leaving just 400 samples alive.

After the war, the new zoo director Dr. Julius Brachetka eventually managed to restore the zoo, but in the 1980s, it experienced a financial crisis due to lack of visitors and increasing costs, however, closure was prevented by privatization in 1992. Recently, under the guidance of manager Helmut Pechlaner, also president of the Austrian wing of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the zoo has been able to renovate and extend many of the enclosures thanks to significantly increased entrance fees, but also through private and corporate sponsorship, and hotels in Vienna are once again being patronised by visitors who have come from afar to visit the famous animal establishment.

Tiergarten Schönbrunn is one of the few zoos worldwide to house giant pandas and on the 23rd August 2007 the first non-artificial insemination panda baby in Europe was born there. Other attractions include a rainforest house, in which the spectator is led through a simulation of the Amazon Rainforest, and an aquarium which enables spectators to walk underneath a simulation of the Amazon in flood. The new polarium for animals of the Arctic region was opened in early 2004 and the zoo is now also a center for Zoological research.

The zoo's long life has not been without hardship and a number of tragic accidents have plagued the organisation. In 2002 a jaguar attacked a caretaker during feeding, killing her in front of visitors and the director sustained heavy arm injuries whilst trying to intervene. In February 2005 a young elephant lethally crushed his caretaker and in the following press storm, director Helmut Pechlaner offered to resign over the issue.

However, despite all this, Tiergarten Schönbrunn is among the most modern zoos in the world and their motto "Schönbrunn should be a zoo of happy animals", is clearly visible everywhere, which is what has allowed it to survive to become the world's oldest zoo.

NASCAR's Greg Biffle - From boy to Superstar

Gregory Jack Biffle, originally from Vancouver, Washington was born on December 23^rd, 1969. This avid bungee jumper has always been involved with cars and fondly calls his father a "real gearhead". The two Biffle's used to stay up late tinkering on their cars. In fact, the first car that Greg Biffle owned was a 1976 Firebird that he and his father bought when he was 15. He built up the first motor on his own car and remembers that it was a 427 big block engine. Biffle used a 1972 Ford Torino when he was 17 on the tracks at Washington.

Biffle became a familiar name when he raced in the NASCAR Winter Heat in 1995. His talent caught the eye of former NASCAR champion Benny Parsons who then made Jack Roush take notice of the upcoming racer. Biffle then went on to win the 1998 Rookie of the Year Award in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. After that he continued his golden streak and brought home the truck series championship two years later. In 2001, he bagged the Busch Series Rookie of the Year and in the following season Biffle became the first driver to win both the major league NASCAR events in a single season, the Craftsman Truck and Busch Series Championships. In 2002, Biffle ran his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series at the California Speedway for Roush Fenway Racing. He was in 7 races with 3 top-5 starts and finished at 13. He then proceeded to compete in NASCAR's top circuit, the NEXTEL cup, full time in 2003 which he finished in 20^th place. He went on to get his first win at the Daytona International Speedway and then to finish up second for Raybestos Rookie of the Year. His stardom rising with a cool steady hand as he continued to tear the tracks in 2004.

In 2005, he was tied with his teammate Carl Edwards for second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship although after that he won the tie-breaker for second because of his previous winnings. The next following years were a bit of a rollercoaster for Biffle after he won at Darlington Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway but he didn't excel as well at the Pocono Raceway, the Brickyard and the Watkins Glen International.

Off the track, Biffle also enjoys doing other outdoor activities. He has bungee jumped on four different continents, he likes fishing particularly deep sea fishing in Mexico. He also recently married his girlfriend Nicole Lunders on October 17th, 2007. Biffle has also made several television appearances which include "Yes, Dear" and "On Your Marks, Get Set, Mow".

More important to the Biffle's are the foundation they started. The Greg Biffle Foundation was founded in 2005 and is currently managed by both Greg and Nicole Biffle. The foundation seeks to bring a culture of humane awareness and wants to improve the living conditions of animals. They do this by channeling the motor sports industry. Both Greg and Nicole Biffle are very active participants in many of the foundation's programs.

Nicole is currently holding the position of the Iredell Friends of the Animals while Greg is the board vice President. The objective behind Iredell Friends of the Animals is help minimize the amount of animal euthanized and encourages the adoption of unwanted animals. They plan to build a no-kill facility and adoption education center. They are both major philanthropists and volunteer whenever possible. Both the Biffle's helped raised money after Hurricane Katrina to help the animals that were unfortunate enough to suffer through the hurricane. The Greg Biffle foundation raised more than $10 000 during a NASCAR Day Telethon where pledges were called in during the whole day event.

EOTech 552.A65 Weapon Sight Review

This holographic sight works by projecting a red sighting reticle on its optical glass. It's been said that the act of proper target acquisition is much faster and effective with a good holographic sight system.

One of the first things I was drawn to was the metal cover around the optical section of the sight. It's thick and made of what looks to be a very robust metal. The PR folks aren't lying when they say this sight is designed to survive in battlefield conditions.

The control buttons on the rear of the unit are rubberized and easy to operate. I was able to fully access the controls with relative ease even while wearing my favorite pair of shooting gloves. To prevent fogging, the optics are filled with nitrogen.

The electronics section is encased with epoxy. This gives the unit some excellent shock protection. While I've haven't dropped this unit, I know people have used these units in less than ideal conditions and they can attest to the build quality of these EOTechs.

The unit I tested uses AA batteries. This a nice change from the weird batteries sight manufacturers in the past have forced us to use. According to the specs of the manufacturer, the AA units should provide up to 500 hours of use.

Now for the meat of the article, how's the sight picture? In a word, great! I've never had a chance to use a sight that was so bright and wide open. I hate iron sights. The act of constantly focusing on the target, as well as the front and rear sight with both eyes for an extended period always gave me a headache.

Using the 552.A65 at a local outdoor range with my AR, it made target acquisition very easy. After making the proper adjustments with a bore sighter, I was hitting the metal targets with ease. Even in the bright sunlight of midday, I was able to clearly see the sighting reticle against light brown dirt that surrounded the range. The day went like this: I placed the red sighting reticle on the metal target, squeezed the trigger...bing!

Most testing was at ranges from 25 yards, all the way out to about 100 yards. Several hundred rounds later, I was able to pack my gear and head on home with no headache.

Other than the price, I don't have any complaints in regards to the EOTech 552.A65. And I'm really stretching when I'm complaining about the price. As with almost anything in life, if you want quality, you have to pay for it. In the interest of keeping this review fair, I tried to look for anything bad about this EOTech. But in the end, I can't really find anything bad to say.

If you're tired of iron sights or want a good alternative to an Aimpoint or ACOG, I strongly recommend checking out the EOTech units. They're well-built and their design gives the user a noticeable advantage over regular iron sights.

Keep on Running: Last Minute Marathon Tips

The road to readiness for a marathon is a long one and anyone who has taken on the challenge of running one will know that the preparation takes months. If you've been in training and are set to run a marathon anytime soon, then here are some top tips to help you get the most from your day.

The night before, eat a big meal of carbohydrates, such as pasta, which should provide you with the energy needed to fuel your body throughout the race. When it comes to the race morning, you should definitely eat something, although don't eat to excess, otherwise you might find yourself forced into an unscheduled pit-stop to answer the call of nature! With regards to nature's calls, make sure you visit the toilet right before you start the race to minimise the chance of having to make any trips to the WC once you've started.

Although once the race gets started you'll soon work up quite a sweat, remember to take something along to keep you warm whilst you're hanging around at the start. A lot of race events begin early when the air temperature is still cool, so don't get caught out without a warm hoodie or jacket. And on the subject of warmth - make sure you warm up for a good 15-20 minutes before the start of the race with a mixture of muscle stretching and gentle running exercises to help stave off the threat of injuries. But remember, don't overdo it; save your energy for the actual race as you don't want to be tired at the start line because you overdid the warming up session.

Fluids are a very important consideration to take on board; sufficient hydration prevents overheating injures and will improve your performance. A couple of days before the race, it's a good idea to drink enough water so that you're producing clear, pale urine. On race day, drink 1-2 cups of a fluid an hour or so before the start of the race, which should work out so that you're wanting to relieve yourself just before the gun goes. During the race remember to consume several ounces of water or a sports re-hydration drink every 20-30 minutes and make sure the liquid goes down the hatch rather than down your shirt - walk whilst you're drinking if you have to! Remember that you should drink before you get thirsty, as by the time you feel thirsty, you're already behind on fluids.

marathon training tips, would be complete without a mention of footwear; when it comes to running gear your shoes are the most important weapon in your arsenal. Ensure that any new shoes have been broken in at least two weeks prior to the race, wear socks which fit your feet well, and apply a thin layer of Vaseline to the toes and other spots which tend to chafe, such as the heel and ball of the foot, which should help to prevent blistering.

As long as you train hard and take onboard these last minute tips, you should be able to get the most from your marathon - so good luck, and don't stop running!

Joe Rocket 101 Metallic - The Best Motorcycle Helmet

Safety is the number one concern of many motorcycle riders. Even when you are a very safe driver, the roads can be dangerous, and it's important to protect yourself. Any helmet will protect your head from injury, but is the best motorcycle helmet?

Full face helmets are a great for those who are very safety conscious. They cover your face to protect it from road kick up. And they provide shielding for your chin and surrounding your head.

Full face helmets are not right for everyone. If you like feeling the wind in your face, and are staying at slower speeds, an open face helmet might be right for you. It will also protect the back and sides of your head.

There are many different reasons to buy a helmet, but you can't forget style. Finding the best motorcycle helmet to match your personality is easy. There are so many different graphics, colors, and finishes to decide on.

When you're finding the right helmet for you, the finishes are key. If you're trying not to be too flashy, a matte finish is best. If you want to stand out in a crowd, try a metallic finish like the Joe Rocket 101 Metallic. And there are many awesome graphic print helmets.

Of course, in addition to safety and flair, cost is always a concern. A lot of your price depends on what special features you're looking for. A helmet can range from less than a hundred dollars to several hundred, depending on these extras.

It is fun to find the best motorcycle helmet for you. Once you know what type of features you are looking for, from safety to price, you can start your online research with a leg up on finding the best motorcycle helmet.

How to do Internet Sports Betting Successfully

Apart from strong luck, Internet sports betting also involves presence of mind, intensive research and analytical capabilities. To be a winning online sports bettor, it is essential to know the fundamentals of sports betting and its pros and cons. To win, you need to be a little strategic and think from practical view point. You must learn the tactics and skills of wagering to achieve success in sports betting. Here are a few pointers that will help you in successful online sports betting.

• Make Intelligent Wagers: Accept the fact that your favorite team cannot win all the time. Betting on your favorite team every time is not an intelligent Internet sport betting decision. Choose a team that has strong chances of winning. Selecting a team just because you like it or you don't want to see it lose is not a wise thing to do. Sports betting is a game of mind and not heart. Never let your emotions rule you.

• Manage your money well: Ideally, you should keep some money aside for betting and this bankroll should be the one that you can afford to lose. Never use complete or a large portion of your bankroll on a single bet as the risk of losing your entire bankroll is very high. It is good if you evaluate your budget and divide your bankroll over various smaller bets as it increases the chances of winning. Most importantly, don't chase your losing bets as it can mismanage your bankroll.

• Gather required information before placing the bet: Gather as much statistical information as you can. Follow a scientific methodology and analyze statistics after extensive research. This will surely help you while handicapping. Also, read about Internet sports betting rules and regulations. Try to spot out trends in sports betting.

• Take help from professional sports handicappers: Get professional handicapper picks to be more successful in online sports betting. Sports betting picks provided by experts are based on thorough analysis of daily cards, sports betting lines, betting trends, and sports statistics. Advice from reliable and expert handicappers can increase your chances of winning especially if you are new to betting.

• Choose reliable company with good reputation: Today, theWorldWide Web is loaded with free sports picks, handicappers' advice, Internet sport betting discounts and so much more. There are many online wagering companies that provide exciting bonuses and assure 100% success, but always remember the risk factor before registering with any online sports betting company. It is advisable to choose a reliable online sports betting website with a good track record.

Vegas Experts provide you the opportunity for online sports betting and gives guaranteed picks. Get advice from topmost handicappers with years of experience in sports betting. For free sports betting picks, useful handicapping information, and helpful sports betting articles; visit www.vegasexperts.com.

Multi Activity Country Pursuits Days Out

Adventure days out are those particular events that give you and your invitees the chance to become a part of activities, typically they do not have access to. Organizing an adventure days out is a marvelous idea if you want to indulge a group of friends to enjoy an event with friends and family. In today's context, the idea of adventure days out has been extended to multi activity days so as to have a great time with a preferred group of people. There are many activities that can be organized in an adventure days out. Let us know a brief about each of them:

Clay Shooting

Whether you are an ordinary person or an expert goose hunter, you all aim to be able to shoot at the right place while your target is flying in the air. The sport is better known as trap shooting and gives the chance for hunters to practice in order to be good. Over the past few years, the passion of trap shooting has been increased a lot. Tournaments are held in order to encourage people to compete with each other. People from all the ages can participate and try their hands in shooting. Buy your own targets and traps to practice your shooting skills.

Off Road Karting

Are you a racing buff? Do you enjoy like any other racing game aficionado who find great thrill and pleasure in racing in the challenging setup. The rough structure, the unexpected twists and turns between mud and gravel as well as the support of attractive cars and natural scenario provide you the ultimate fun to the player. There are lots of off road karting games that will surely lure your heart.

Hover Craft Flying

Hovercraft flying is one of the interesting days out activities that can offer you a great fun. However, it is not very easy to ride as you might have been thinking. You need to be covered with all the necessary safety gear. Ride it safety and take the full pleasure.

However, besides above mentioned activities, you can organize many other fun games and other techniques just to refresh your senses and enjoy to the fullest.

Jugar En Casinos En Línea A Veces Surge Por La Soledad Y El Aburrimiento

Algunas las personas juegan en casinos en línea debido al aburrimiento que les causa su trabajo o también debido a la soledad que al igual se presenta en las personas mayores. En fin hay varias razones por las cuales las personas juegan en casinos en línea.

Si ud es uno de esos que se sienta al frente del computador por mas de nueve horas al día y solo trabaja al frente de la pantalla, lo mas probable es que haya jugado en casinos en línea o juegos en la Internet o revisado su email. Es absolutamente comprensible. Al igual que se necesita levantar de la silla 5 minutos cada hora, y tomar agua también se necesita de vez en cuando recrear la mente. Este es uno de los ejemplos de aquellas personas que encuentran diversión en la Internet y también apostando en casinos en línea.

Y no solo los que se sientan en frente del computador necesitan recrearse, también aquellas personas mayores y las que pasan los 60 años de edad que estan pensionados. Estas personas por lo general, al no tener una ocupación, al estar solos en su hogar sufrir de aburrimiento, aislamiento o depresión también tienen la necesidad de distraerse y jugar en casinos en línea para poder distraerse. Esta es una forma de salir de la rutina y es una forma divertida y sana de hacerlo. De todas maneras no sobra decir que el juego también se puede convertir en una adicción y la idea no es esa, la idea es divertirse sanamente y jugar mesuradamente en el casino en línea escogido.

Para poder pasar un rato agradable lo que se debe hacer es entrar a la Internet y buscar los juegos preferidos y tener en cuenta que el casino en línea en el que van a jugar tenga lo que necesitan y además que sea seguro, además tienes la comodidad de jugar desde tu casa o trabajo.

Ahora se preguntaran muchas personas que tiene de divertido jugar en un casino en línea... pues todo, ya que los juegos son casi reales, da la sensación de estar jugando en un casino real sin salir del trabajo o de la casa, además cada juego trae variedad, como por ejemplo, las maquinas tragamonedas vienen con diferentes diseños para cada gusto. Los casinos en línea no solo son para las personas que tienen dinero sino que para todos, también hay casinos en línea en los que se puede jugar gratis y que ofrecen diferentes clases de juegos tales como blackjack, ruleta, maquinas tragamonedas, keno, poquer, video poquer, dados bacara, bingo y muchos mas, todo depende de los gustos de cada jugador.

Ahora, lo que buscan estos casinos en línea es que las personas se distraigan y se diviertan jugando estos juegos de casino en línea y que a la vez logren también ganar dinero y no que los jugadores se vuelvan adictos al juego, es por eso que cada persona debe ser conciente de sus actos y saber cuando hay que parar. Muchas personas, ya sean amigos, familiares u otros lo único que hacen es criticar al momento de ver que una persona juega en casinos en línea y no piensan en cual puede ser el motivo por el cual lo hace, puede ser porque la persona se siente sola, esta aburrida, tiene problemas o simplemente se quiere divertir y pasar un rato ameno.

Entonces piense en las cosas buenas de la vida, diviértase de la mejor manera, sin dañar su cuerpo o mente y entreténgase jugando en un casino en línea, tenga en cuenta que para toda hay límites pero disfrute al máximo de su experiencia.

Stag Night in Bristol

Getting married signifies many kinds of new responsibilities and commitment to a partner, you have chosen to stay with the rest of your life. The duty of a husband is not as easy as many have thought of. In order to get good advices from people friends and family or having a good time with your group, modern grooms are opting the idea of stag night or stag weekend whichever is suitable. However, the concept of stag party is present for a long period but in recent times, it has seen many new changes. It gives an opportunity to spend a quality time with the family and friends.

There are lots of destinations for celebrating the real time of stag. However, the pleasure of Bristol stag weekends is just stand out among all particularly in UK. The place offers you so many ways to pamper yourself, and make a beautiful memory to cherish.

Generally, friends of groom usually organize stag weekend and invite groom to enjoy the best time before taking over the responsibilities as a dutiful husband. To enjoy the best time of your weekend, you have to do a careful planning so as to get the best deal proposed to you.

At first, you can prepare a list of all the people who would be attending. Secondly, you can get your tickets booked on time in case this involves overseas travel. Make sure you have the conversation with each member of your group so as to look after the check in with everyone.

It is very true that you will want to have a great time for yourself and for your friends. To provide the greatest fun, you can arrange for many different types of activities into your schedule that mean fun to you. You can organize a theme-based party so as to give a chance to dress up to your imagination.

Five Levels of Decision Making

Decision making is not an easy process. It requires well-planning, strategic understanding, and thorough insights to complete a process and to yield the desired results. In this article, we'll talk about top five levels of leadership involvement when taking a worthy decision to accomplish a desired goal:

Level One: Leader Makes the Soul Decision:

The best thing about being a leader is that they possess the ability to take individual decisions in case of any emergency situation where immediate action is required. These people do not require additional support, others input, and immediate compliance to get the things gets done.

Level Two: Leader Count Opinions of Key Stakeholders:

In a team building activity, often a leaders needs to have inputs just to cover blind spots and increase the productivity of the work along with the insight understanding of the issue to be tackled. A good leader always seeks important information and detail from key stakeholders just to make a solid decision.

Level Three: Leader Initiates Consensus Formation:

In a corporate event, a leader needs to establish consensus in a team just to ensure a fruitful decision to be carried out for the accomplishment of the final goal. He possesses skills and ability just to convince others to get the benefits by approaching a particular process.

Level Four: Leader Delegates the Right Decision to Others:

In a team building activity, a leader carefully delegate the responsibility and authority of decision to others. He needs to act as a bridge between the whole team just to produce the desired results.

Level Five: Clear Understanding:

The duty of a leader is to judge the pros and cons of a situation, he then informs other team members about the prospective situation. He usually delegates the decision to a group.

Decision making is a intellectual process and requires thorough understanding, excellent communication skills, and other abilities just to make the working of a team truly profitable.

Choosing a Tent

When choosing a tent there are several factors to keep in mind. First of all, you will need to know how many people will be sleeping in it. Tent manufacturers will usually list how many people it can sleep. Usually it's best to go a little larger than what the manufacturer claims. For instance, if you buy a 2 person tent, then you might want to consider buying a 3 or 4 person tent instead because unless you like to be packed like sardines, you might want the extra elbow room. You need to keep in mind that you will need room for sleeping bags, sleeping pads, any extra clothing, headlamps or flashlights, and basic essentials.

You will also need to check the weight of the tent. While it may be nice to have the extra space in a 4 person tent while on a backpacking trip, you might want to consider carrying a lighter tent when travelling solo. The extra pound or two might not seem like a lot, but when you're carrying everything on your back, every ounce counts. Also keep in mind the number of poles that the tent has.

Another factor when deciding on a tent is the weather during which you'll be using your tent. Do you need a 4 season tent, or just a summer tent. A 4 season tent is usually heavier and sturdier than most. Most tents also come with a rain shelter. Rain covers are important because you don't want to wake up in the morning in a puddle of water. If you'll be backpacking in a variety of climates and seasons, then a convertible tent may be a viable option. A convertible tent usually has an optional vestibule and poles, which can be left at home or in your vehicle if you'll be sleeping in milder climates.

You will usually find backpacking tents for sale at specialty stores. Tents found in department stores, and common variety stores are usually made for family camping, meaning that they usually are not carried for long distances. They are also quite heavy, and the rain fly's usually are not sufficient to withstand the rigors of the backcountry and being exposed to the elements.

Ventilation is also something to keep in mind. While it may seem unnecessary to have extra windows and doors on a tent, you will find the extra ventilation worthwhile. Especially during trips when you're spending more time in the tent due to weather conditions, etc.

Doing your research before buying a tent can be time-consuming, but buying wisely will be satisfying once your in the outdoors.