Holiday Season Sporting Events

Did you know that football was a very important part of thanksgiving since 1934? No? Many people don't. Most of the professional games are held on thanksgiving and the only games played on this day until recently. There are many football games played around the time of thanksgiving weekend. These games include the Border Showdown, Egg Bowl, Holy War, Lone Star Showdown, Sunshine Showdown, Backyard Brawl, Iron Bowl, and more.

Another sport people might enjoy watching over thanksgiving holidays would be college basketball which is shown on television takes place on thanksgiving and during thanksgiving weekend. These tournaments have only been around since 2006 but have held tradition since then. Golf and auto racing are not sports that normally take place during thanksgiving but there are some games that take place during this time.

In NYC, they have what is called a "Turkey Trot Race" which doesn't get a whole lot of publicity but it has become an important sport to the park and residents there. It takes place every year around 9 in the morning. The race starts off as being five miles but for those who still feel the need to run afterwards can participate in the ten mile race if they like, giving them a chance to work off that good ole turkey before demolishing it.

There are many activities and sports that take place during our feasting day we like to call thanksgiving. Some sports are national sports while others are just active ways to have fun and enjoy you with family and friends during such a lovely holiday. Many people use this time to draw closer to their families and loved ones and if you think about it, what better way to do this than through a couple of fun filled sports?

Features of Jumping Saddles for Horse Riding

To enable horse riders to jump in the correct jumping position both for comfort of the horse and for efficient transfer of momentum, jumpers should use the correct kind of saddle: jumping saddles. Jumping saddles are designed specifically for activities that involve the horse jumping over obstacles. This includes show jumping, hunt seat equitation, foxhunting, and the stadium and cross-country phases of eventing.

• Jumping saddles have a forward-cut flap that allows for a shorter stirrup length. This makes it easier for the rider to rise up and over the saddles to the correct jumping position, allowing the horse freedom of movement during the jump. Sometimes, the knee flaps are padded for additional comfort ad support.
• The jumping seat is balanced further back and is comparatively flat, allowing the rider to move forward easily and providing a sufficient level of counterbalance.
• The position of the cantle and pommel are low down so that they do not interfere with the rider's jumping position.
• The jumping saddle normally has three short billets. Some of the newer styles, like monoflap jumping saddles, have billets that are longer, mirroring the dressage saddle. This means that riders do not then have to ride with any extra bulk under their legs.

It is important that the rider's leg fit appropriately into the flap of the jumping saddle when the stirrups are shortened. If the knee is too far forward or back, the rider's balance will be incorrect and the saddle becomes a hindrance rather than an advantage while jumping obstacles.

Rafael Nadal's Great Accomplishment

Rafael Nadal, world's top ranking professional, has climbed a new summit by becoming the second tennis professional player in the new era to have completed the career Grand Slam.

In professional tennis circuit, four major tournaments held in a year assume prime importance. They are the Australian Open tournament, the French Open tournament, the Wimbledon and the US Open tournament. Each tournament has its own special features. The Australian Open and the US Open tournaments are played in hard courts, the French Open tournament is played in clay court and the Wimbledon tournament is played on a grass surface.

A player winning all the four titles will be called as a Grand Slam winner. Career Grand Slam is a step further than Grand Slam. In addition to winning these four tournaments, player should have won the Gold Medal in Olympic Games featuring Tennis.

After winning the US Open tournament on September 12, 2010, Rafael Nadal achieved this rare feat of Career Grand Slam, having won all the four major tournaments in addition to the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics tournament. The only other player to have achieved this coveted feat is Andre Agassi of the US.

Rafael Nadal, a Spanish professional player, has achieved many laurels in the young age of 24 years. He has won French Open Titles for five successive years and is rightly called as the King of Clay among the tennis professionals.

He has won French Open tournaments five times in the last six years, Australian Open tournament once in 2009, Wimbledon twice and the US Open tournament in this year, thus making nine Grand Slam singles titles, in addition to the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

With age on his side, Rafael Nadal is sure to set new milestones and rule the World of Professional Tennis for a long period of time, experts believe.

ICC Cricket World Cup - Magic of Bats and Balls not far from you!!!

The 2011 cricket world cup will be starting from 19th February 2011 to 2nd April 2011 and will jointly host by three countries those are India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Here are details of groups, fixtures, and venues and cricket world cup dates 2011.

India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will together hosting the 2011 Cricket World Cup. All the required information like the
1. Dates
2. Groups
3. Fixtures
4. Venues
All the above has already been confirmed for the tournament which will be one of the biggest highlights of the 2011 icc world cup matches calendar.
Two Groups have been made for the 2011 Cricket World Cup
Group A:
1. Australia
2. Pakistan
3. New Zealand
4. Sri Lanka
5. Zimbabwe
6. Canada
7. Kenya
And
Group B:
1. India
2. South Africa
3. England
4. West Indies
5. Bangladesh
6. Ireland
7. Netherlands


Venues for the 2011 Cricket World Cup
India:
1. Mumbai
2. Mohali
3. Ahmedabad
4. Nagpur
5. Kolkata
6. Bangalore
7. Chennai
8. New Delhi
Sri Lanka:
1. Colombo
2. Hambantota
3. Pallekele
Bangladesh:
1. Dhaka
2. Chittagong
Dates for the 2011 Cricket World Cup
February:

19: India v Bangladesh, Dhaka
20: New Zealand v Kenya, Chennai and Sri Lanka v Canada, Hambantota
21: Australia v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad
22: England v Netherlands, Nagpur
23: Pakistan v Kenya, Hambantota
24: South Africa v West Indies, New Delhi
25: Australia v New Zealand, Nagpur and Bangladesh v Ireland, Dhaka
26: Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Colombo
27: West Indies v Netherlands, New Delhi and Zimbabwe v Canada, Nagpur
March:
1: Sri Lanka v Kenya, Colombo
2: England v Ireland, Bangalore
3: South Africa v Netherlands, Mohali and Pakistan v Canada, Colombo
4: New Zealand v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad and Bangladesh v West Indies, Dhaka
5: Sri Lanka v Australia, Colombo
6: India v Ireland, Bangalore and England v South Africa, Chennai
7: Kenya v Canada, New Delhi
8: Pakistan v New Zealand, Pallekele
9: India v Netherlands, New Delhi
10: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Pallekele
11: West Indies v Ireland, Mohali and Bangladesh v England, Chittagong
12: India v South Africa, Nagpur
13: New Zealand v Canada, Mumbai and Australia v Kenya, Bangalore
14: Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Pallekele and Bangladesh v Netherlands, Chittagong
15: South Africa v Ireland, Kolkata
16: Australia v Canada, Bangalore
17: England v West Indies, Chennai
18: Sri Lanka v New Zealand, Mumbai and Ireland v Netherlands, Kolkata
19: Australia v Pakistan, Colombo and Bangladesh v South Africa, Dhaka
20: Zimbabwe v Kenya, Kolkata and India v West Indies, Chennai
Knockout Stages for the 2011 World Cup matches
23: First Quarter Final, Dhaka
24: Second Quarter Final, Colombo
25: Third Quarter Final, Dhaka
26: Fourth Quarter Final, Ahmedabad
29: First Semi Final, Colombo
30: Second Semi Final, Mohali
The Final day for the 2011 Cricket World Cup
2 April: Mumbai


2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 World Cup guaranteed to be an exciting, atmospheric and very competitive tournament. Australia will be seeking the fourth successive crown but will no doubt face stern competition for their title, particularly from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.


The International Cricket Council has unveiled the logo for the World Cup 2011, which is pictured soon in front of people, at a ceremony in Mumbai.
The logo has been beautifully designed by Australian creative firm Witekite.
The unveiling was attended by the honorable ICC Vice-President and the Chairman of the tournament's Central Organizing Committee Mr. Shared Pawar, ICC Chief Executive Mr.Haroon Lorgat and the much known Tournament Director Professor Ratnakar Shetty.



Cricket lovers are eagerly waiting for cricket world cup 2011. It is going to take place in the Indian subcontinent. 123newyears is a right place to collect compleate information about the icc cricket world cup. In 2011 cricket world cup, 49 matches will be held and it is a 43 days mega events, we get more information about cricket world cup schedule, cricket world cup dates, icc cricket world cup groups, cricket world cup 2011 time table and more...

Shop at Country Village Shoppe for Great Country Décor Gift Ideas

Do you have a friend or family member who adores country décor? If so, one of the best places to shop for gifts is at CountryVillageShoppe.com. It is here that you will find the absolute best gift ideas ranging from decorative flags to country shower curtains. Shopping for country décor used to be rather difficult. If you were lucky perhaps one of the large department stores offered a small amount of products suited for the home featuring country-inspired décor. However, today it is much easier to find the exact type of gift you need to delight your friend or family member as Country Village Shoppe has every category covered, and then some.

The ultimate country décor gift has to be a charming quilt. Because the bed is the focal point of any bedroom, it is important to have bedding that showcases the entire room and pulls the entire look together. Country Village Shoppe has a wide selection of beautiful and charming quilts ranging from those with a stars and stripes motif to a luxury quilt featuring falling leaves which is of course perfect for the cooler fall weather.

Battery operated candles are never a bad idea as there are no flames to concern yourself with. These candles would surely delight your friend as they are pretty, simple to use and very safe. The gorgeous Grubby battery operated candles are perfect for any area in the home as the warm colors match any décor wonderfully.

Many people find it rather difficult to find country décor for their bathrooms but at Country Village Shoppe there is plenty to choose from. The stunning Black Bear Lodge shower curtain would be ideal for the person who has a home deep in the woods. Or perhaps one of the other country shower curtains for sale here would add that perfect finishing touch to the bath. There is a wide variety of other bathroom coordinates available which would also brighten up the bathroom ranging from lotion pumps to tissue box covers, toothbrush holders and wastebaskets.

When you are ready to go beyond the bath and find a lovely gift for the kitchen, the offering is wide and diverse. There are old-world breadboxes to choose from, dishes, kitchen scents, linens and even specialty foods to consider. A forged, five piece set of silverware may be the perfect gift for the gourmet in your life. Or maybe an old-world inspired napkin holder would offer the right finishing touch to an antique kitchen table.

If your friend enjoys gardening, there are many decorative flags to choose from which would look great in the yard or on the porch or patio. Or maybe you would be interested in giving your friend or family member one of the many charming board signs that have sayings such as 'home sweet home', 'scatter kindness' or 'grow old with me' printed on them. These are perfect for hanging on garden sheds, porches or anywhere inside a home.

When you shop at Country Village Shoppe, buying country-inspired gifts is easy. Not only is it easy it is downright fun. The selection is wide, unique and simply wonderful. The staff at this store pride themselves on the wide selection. Many of the products are regularly featured in Country Sampler magazine which is quite impressive indeed. Regardless of who it is you are buying for, if they love country décor you are all but guaranteed to find the perfect gift idea when you shop at Country Village Shoppe.

Monday Night Football - Green Bay at Chicago

The Packers started the season with a decisive win in Philadelphia and backed it up with a proper throttling of Buffalo in Week 2 at Lambeau Field. Last season Green Bay had made a habit of beating up on lesser foes (by an average of more than 25 points per game) and last week's 34-7 final was right in line.

Sportsbook have the line in this one posted as the Packers -3, with a Total of 46.

Chicago barely avoided an opening week upset at the hands of the Detroit Lions, while they were big underdogs Week 2 in Dallas, a game they won straight up.

Now Chicago is 2-0 SU on the season and looking for its first 3-0 start since a memorable 2006 campaign that ended with Super Bowl loss to the Colts.

In 2009, the Bears did start the year with a 3-1 SU/ATS record but the loss was suffered in Week 1 against these same Packers.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

Chicago won only seven games last season so it's not surprising they were 0-2 SU/ATS against the 11-win Packers. Green Bay also swept the Bears in 2008 against the number. In fact Chicago bettors have not had a winning season backing the Bears against the division since 2005 (4-1-1 ATS)

BACK IT UP

Green Bay was 5-1 SU/ATS against low-tier opponents last year, all five wins coming by a margin of 19 points or more (26.6 ppg avg). In the contest that immediately followed the five blowout victories Green Bay was 3-2 SU/ATS with 2 overs and 3 unders.

Worth noting is that both losses were against divisional foes and both of those game went "Over" the total.

GAMEPLAN

Green Bay was No. 1 against the rush last year and has to be expecting Chicago to go airborne in an attempt to free up lanes for Matt Forte. The Packer have to be on the lookout for swing passes, though, as all three of Forte's TDs this year have come via the pass.

The Packers run game is still a bit of a mystery since Ryan Grant went down, as Green Bay split carries between Brandon Jackson (11, 29 yards) and John Kuhn (9, 36 yards). Expect Jackson to get a slightly heavier workload but for Green Bay's offense to focus mainly on the passing game.

Monday Night Pick

Chicago is 6-14-2 ATS after its past 22 wins and has covered the spread back-to-back times just twice in the past two years. Their early season performance has forced online books to post a modest line for this game but getting at least three, we like the home underdog in this primetime matchup.

Take the Bears

You can check the props and NFL odds for the Monday nighter at Sportsbetting.com

Athletic training to improve in sports

Sports Fitness Advisor sells a range of fitness and work out routines covering topics such as fat loss, muscle building and fitness for various sports, athletic training programs. You will be provided with the program and all you have to do is follow the workouts. Each exercise has a video example for you to easily follow.
These two things, will help in preventing injuries, and prevent lactic acid build up. You not only do leg extension for the quads, do hamstring curls as well for the hamstrings.
Diet and nutrition are important to keep your body in shape. You need to have proper food intake which plays a great deal in the susceptibility of injury. If you have a poor diet it can lead to less muscle strength, endurance, and health of your body structures. Proper nutrition will keep your body working at its optimum level and strengthen your muscles.

Sports training progra ms In order for your body to recover you need to rest. This will help your body recuperate from sports activity. By not getting enough rest it can lead to overuse of muscles, which will lead to injuries and burnout. If you are in pain, you are not gaining anything except more pain. you need to stop and evaluate your situation. Pain is our bodies way of telling us something is not right. You need to practice rest and recovery to prevent the most common athletic injuries. Cooling down after sports or exercise gets the body back down to its normal state.

Running: Frequently Asked Questions about Warm up Exercises

Most often, people neglect the importance of warming up before running. Warming up and stretching is a vital part in every person's running regimen. It should be done appropriately to achieve its maximum benefits. If you want to know more, then here are the answers to runner's frequently asked questions about warming up:

1. What is a warm up exercise?

Warming up is the preparatory phase in every running session or any strenuous physical activity. It usually consists of mild forms of physical exercises that increase in intensity to prepare the body from demanding activities ahead. It involves activities that increase the heart rate, joint mobility activities, stretching and other sport-related activities.

2. What are the two types of warming up?

Ballistic stretches, also called dynamic stretch and static stretches are the two types of warming up. Ballistic stretching involves bouncing or jerking activities. It involves light increase in a joint's range of motion to make it more flexible and agile. Static stretching, on the other hand, flexes the muscles to loosen it up. However, some precautions should be made when performing this because researchers believe that injury is more prone when static warm up is done in a cold muscle.

3. What is difference between warming up and stretching?

Warming up usually consists of stretching exercises. However, stretching activities should be done on the later part of warm up exercises. At first, runners can do little walking for a few minutes before starting to a jog. This is considered as the first part of warm up exercises. Then, runners can proceed to stretching exercises where they stretch their muscles for a few minutes and not for too long when they already feel pain. Some people consider the static stretches, which is a particular type of warming up, as part of the stretching exercises.

4. What are the benefits of warming up before running?

Warming up can prevent runners from experiencing body aches and fatigue after thorough running exercises. It helps increase blood flow to deliver sufficient oxygen in the muscles and other parts of the body. Not only that, it reduces friction between joints, which allows better joint mobility. It improves a runner's overall performance. Also, it helps a person get ready physically and mentally for a rigorous activity ahead.

5. What are some examples of warm up exercises?

Brisk walking, slow jogging and cycling on a stationary bike are considered warm up exercises. For some, swimming and yoga are part of this regimen. Shrugging the shoulders, gentle swinging of the hands, twisting the hips around, and circling the wrists are also included. Others include stretching the legs, bending down the waist while reaching the toes and pushing on a wall or stationary object.

Tips For Catching Snook From Shore

A lot of people think that you have to have a boat to fish, especially to fish for snook. This is just not true. I have spent the last 5 to 6 years fishing for snook on shore. I have also fished for them in a boat, but I have found out that I am more successful when fishing for snook from shore.

The trick is to know where they will be; I have found over the years to look in the places that other people just go right by. In the summer months, for instance, when the water temperature is in the 80's, you will find a lot of snook cruising the beaches. I have watched people fishing from the beaches in hopes of catching a big snook, but they fail to realize that the snook are right in front of them. They are so focused on casting their bait as far out as they can, and the snook are only feet off the beach. I also have seen where someone is fishing on one side of a sandbar and the fish are just sitting on the other side. The truth is, these people did not do their homework. They heard somewhere that they can catch snook off the beach so they went and got some fishing gear and some bait and think that's all there is to it. If you have tried to fish for snook, you know that there is a bit more to it than that. Not to say that you won't catch one, just not on a regular basis.

In this article I hope to open your eyes some, to look a little differently at the waters around you. You may find that you have been passing up some really great fishing spots.

I'd like to show you that you can save a lot of money by fishing on shore. No more money spent on fuel, wasted time trying to find a boat launch that still has parking, or getting back tired after a long day on the water and still having to rinse the boat down and clean it.

Looking for spots

When I drive down the road I am always looking for a spot to fish. If I am driving down the beach, I'll look for vacant lots and dead end roads that have access t o the water. I will look for parks that are on the water. Sometimes I'll find a place, and while I am fishing there, I'll see another good spot across the water.

Snook love structure. Bridges are a great place to fish for snook. Try to get down on the shore of a bridge, so that you can cast underneath it. Don't just cast under it either. Often, snook will be moving along the shore there also. If you can get around docks, for instance in canals, you will usually find snook.

Another place that I often search for snook is around causeways. There are mangroves along many of Florida's causeways and in between them is access to the water. These are great places to fish. Often you will find shallow water there, and guess what! Snook like shallow water. If there is a channel there also, well that's a plus. If there are mangrove islands and/or oyster beds there also, that's another plus - There is your structure.

In the wintertime move inland; again look for parks o n the water, like on main rivers that dump into the gulf or ocean. Snook cannot tolerate cold water. If the temperature drops down into the low 60's they can die, so they tend to move where they know the warmer water will be. Power plants are a great place to fish; OK, since 9/11 we cannot even get close to power plants anymore, but if you look around you can find places that are close to warm water runoffs. In the winter you will find both snook and tarpon in warm water runoffs. There is a place near me called the manatee park. This is where many manatees come for the winter and yes, it has a warm water runoff. Now you cannot fish in the manatee zone, but they do have a fishing pier where you can fish and cast into the runoff just outside the park. This is also a great kayaking spot.

There are also locks on many rivers; these are also great fishing spots in the winter.

Another good thing to look for is running water. Snook like to sit and wait in a good current and let the food come to them. I have noticed that on small bridges, people just drive by thinking that there is not much water there, so there must not be any fish. But I have learned that if mullet are there, then snook have no problem being there either. Remember mullet are a primary part of their food base.

The key to all of this is to open your eyes and look at the environment. You may find a property that you know would be a great fishing spot. Try to find out who owns the property, and then call them for permission. You may even offer to help keep the lot or property clean for them, which is a small price to pay for a great fishing spot.

I have many spots I fish and tend to not stay at any one of them for very long. For one reason, I use lures and cover a lot of area in a short time. Another reason is that I don't want people to see me catching fish. They're my spots. Every spot that I like to fish is a little different than the next; this gives me a wide variety to choose from, and depending on the weather I can usually find fish.

My best day so far is over 40 snook in one day. Actually, I stopped counting at 40. All of them were caught on shore. I catch at least 2 or 3 good-sized snook every time I go out, but those are on bad days!

So to recap, there are a few things that snook prefer. Look for areas with structure (bridges, mangrove islands, oyster beds, docks, & locks), a current (even in shallow water), and schools of mullet. These will be great fishing spots. Don't limit yourself to the places that have a sign saying 'fishing allowed.'

The trick is to keep your eyes peeled for the right signs - They're out there. Just remember to respect the signs that say 'no trespassing'.

Tackle

The farther you can cast, the more coverage you will have when fishing on shore, so your setup needs to be focused on being able to make long casts. I personally use a 6 ½ - 7' rod ( Shimano Compre), with medium-heavy to heavy action. Always use a good spinning reel (I use the Shimano Symetre 4000FJ), with 15 to 20 pound Power Pro line and 30 lbs fluorocarbon leader tied directly to the braided line. You do not want your leader to be over 2 feet long because it will drag the front of your plug down. Shorten the leader until your plug remains buoyant when retrieving it.

Whether your preference is lures or bait, you have many options to choose from that work well when fishing for snook.

If you're going to fish with live bait, pinfish, greenbacks, finger mullet and large shrimp are snook favorites. I have even had success on the beach using chunks of ladyfish. Keep in mind that snook have great eyesight and the littlest thing will spook them, so try not to use floats or weights.

Personally, I like to use lures, especially top water plugs like Hedden Super Spooks. These lures make a lot of noise, and seem to make the snook want to destroy i t. Another good choice is the DOA shrimp, but color will be a factor. The current water temperature and types of bottom where you are fishing will determine the color that the shrimp should be.

I recently started using a new lure from Strike King called the 3X ZTOO. It is a soft bait that has salt embedded into it. I tried this bait on a cold morning when the snook were stacked up, but not touching anything that I threw at them. I tossed one of these out, not expecting much, but to my surprise I pulled 5 snook out of this one hole in less than 30 minutes. Then the tide stopped and the snook moved on, but it made a poor fishing day turn out to be good.

Always try to use a lip grip when you catch snook. The less you have to touch them (or any larger fish for that matter) the better their odds are for survival. When they are not in season, pinch the barbs on your hooks. You may lose a fish now and then, but the damage you cause them will be greatly decreased by doin g this. This will help ensure that the big ones are out there for years to come, healthy and hungry!

I hope that this article helps open your eyes to new fishing opportunities. There are a lot of fantastic untouched fishing areas that are only accessible by land. So get out and go fishing, and don't forget to teach our next generation this great sport!

Basic Fishing Rules and Etiquette 101

Going out on a boat with a friend

Thank them for taking you out. Boats are very expensive to run, so be willing to chip in on gas, food, drinks, boat ramp fees and anything else needed for the trip. Honestly, the more you chip in on the trip, the more likely that they will ask you to go out again.

• The number one rule on the boat is that the Captain makes the rules on their boat, not you. If you want to make the rules, go buy your own boat.
• Ask where the owner/Captain of the boat wants you to fish. For instance, in the case of flats boats and bass boats, the Captain has the right to the front.
• Don't tell the Captain where to fish, or it may be a long swim back to shore! If they ask you for your advice, and you actually have some knowledge of the fishing area, then go ahead and give it; but do it in a nice way, and educate them on what you know. On the other hand, if you don't know the area, then keep your mouth shut. Let them be the Captain - For the good of all the fishermen on board!
• Never take control of the boat unless you are asked to. Remember the store adage that if you break it, you buy it!

Charter Boats

• The Captain makes the rules, but you don't buy the gas and pay the ramp fees. It is still a good idea to b ring some drinks and food, unless the boat supplies these things included with the fee you pay.
• Always tip at the end of the trip. These guys work their butts off to try and get their customers on some fish every day, and have spent countless hours getting their boats ready for your fishing trip.

Going out on your own boat

• Wait your turn when putting your boat into the water at a boat ramp, and don't crowd the people in front of you. When you do get into the water, get your boat out of the way, so that others can also get their boats in.
• I f someone is in your fishing spot, look at how they are fishing - Are they anchored, or are they working along a sand bar or structure like mangroves or rocks? If they are anchored, just give them space to fish. If they are moving, do not put yourself in front of them. Go behind them and work the same area. There can still be fish there; you never know.
• If you're fishing in an area and someone is fishing behind you, do not crank up your engine and go out of there like you're the lord of the water. You just blew out that fishing area for that guy. You know you would not like it to be done to you.
• If you see someone fishing, do not come up on him or her wide open, and then at the last minute, kill your engine. Come in slowly. Look at what they are doing. If you see them catching fish, idle in, but do not cross their fishing area.
• If you see people kayak fishing along the mangroves, do not drive your boat in between them and the mangroves.

Onshore Fishing

• The number one rule is do not ever walk up to someone and just start fishing right next to them - ever. If there is a limited fishing area, then ask nicely if it would be ok to fish nearby.
• Observe how the people around you are fishing. If they are using lures, they are going to be fishing over a larger area than someone with bait, so give them their space. Even if it means that you have to find another place to fish - they were there first. If they are fishing with live bait, they do not need as much room - still ask permission to fish nearby.
• On fishing piers or rock jetty's, it is kind of rude to fish with lures unless the fish are right in front of you and you are not casting in a clockwise manner. Fishing piers and rock jetty's are very limited on room, so you don't have much choice on where you can fish. However, that does not mean that you shouldn't still ask before you start to fish if you have to fish next to someone. It is just courteous to do so. If you're already there, and someone wants to fish next to you, try to be nice. If there is room, then great; if not, explain why, but be nice about it. This also goes for f ishing off bridges.

Nets

• Do not ever, I mean ever, throw a cast net where someone is fishing. The only time that this is ok is if you asked permission and received it. When you do this, you kill that fishing spot, because any fish that were anywhere near that spot are now spooked away from it.
• If you're after bait, try to find a spot away from other people, and also away from where you're going to be fishing. In the case of a bridge or fishing pier, you have limited space. However, most of the time, people are fishing away from the pier or bridge and casting a net straight down is no big deal. If possible though, find an area where no one is fishing.
• Look where you are throwing your cast net! Don't throw it onto an oyster bed or rocks where the net is going to get all tangled up and destroyed. I can't tell you how many times that I have seen dead animals tangled in cast nets that were left in the water because the fisherman didn't look before they threw. If you do end up doing this, take the time to remove it for the safety of the fish and other wildlife.

What this all really comes down to is that you shouldn't do something that you know you would not like done to you. We are all out there to have fun and enjoy the great sport of fishing. So respect the other fishermen around you. Share your knowledge with others so that people learn how to be better fishing advocates, and more respectful people. Fishing is a great sport and needs to be treated that way. It's up to all of us to teach others the proper fis hing etiquette.

The Hearing Protection of the Future

EEPlugs, the Hearing Protection of the Future

I love outdoor sounds and one of my favorite sounds is the night sound of summer. The sound of crickets and cicadas in the distant woods soothes me like the sound of surf. It reminds me of pleasant evenings and mornings in the places I love the most. God is very good to me in that has blessed me with a permanent background sound track that will last me the rest of my life.

If that sounds confusing to you, I can understand. I have tinnitus, a constant sound in my ears that comes from loss of hearing and damage to my ears. Fortunately, mine sounds like something I love. For many people, its an unpleasant ringing or buzzing.

When I think of my hearing loss, I always think of a summer afternoon not much different than yesterdays. I had just purchased my first handgun. A 6" barreled Ruger Blackhawk in .357 Magnum. I walked out behind my Mom and Dads house into the edge of the woods impatient to try out the gun. I placed a couple of Coke cans on the base of a tree and stepped back several paces. As I cocked the hammer, I remembered I should have brought my ear muffs but I didn't want to walk back to the house. I fired off six rounds and my ears rang for a couple of days.

Since that time, I've been exposed to hundreds of thousands of firearm reports. There are 1,500 centerfire rifle shots fired in one sixty second period alone at Camp Perry during the National Matches. With seven relays in the National Trophy Individual Match, there are 52,500 shots fired on Viale range not counting alibis and refires. This is only one day of shooting. I attended Camp Perry 18 years and sometimes shot for two weeks. This doesn't include hundreds of days of practice on lesser ranges.

During that time, I wore various forms of ear protection. As a pistol shooter, I normally wore muffs, but when I started shooting rifle, the muffs contacted the stock and were in the way. I switched to ear plugs and probably used up a bushel basket of the disposable foam kind.

At the NRA Annual Meetings this year in Charlotte, I ran into Tim Sparks. Tim owns Tactical Hearing and he sells in the ear hearing protection that also enhances normal hearing. (I'm going to call them EEPlugs since they enhance electronically). The units I have look like hearing aids. They insert in my ears like hearing aids but they have little rubber tips that seal off the space between my ear canal and the EEPlugs.

The EEPlugs enhance my hearing like a hearing aid. They have multiple bands that can be adjusted to correct my hearing loss by amplifying the frequencies I can no longer hear. They give me the same result as hearing aids in daily wear. With them in, I can hear conversations I couldn't hear before, I can hear high pitched sounds, and my hearing is enhanced to the point I can now hear a squirrels toenails on bark like I could at age sixteen.

But theres more to what the EEPlugs do than that. When I experience loud noise thats above the 90db level that can damage hearing, the EEPlugs shut that noise down in microseconds so I experience the loud sound as if it were distant enough to do no damage. I hear it, but its not loud. This means I can shoot on the range and hear background conversations better than I could without the EEPlugs. If Im hunting, I can hear what other hunters are saying without worrying about further damaging my hearing when I, or others, shoot. When I give shooting instruction, I can clearly hear and understand what my student has to say. If I was still shooting team matches at Camp Perry, I could hear my coaches voice and my shooters voice when I was coaching, over the din of hundreds or rifle reports per minute.

The really wonderful part of this is that electronic hearing protection that enhances hearing is cheaper than hearing aids which don't protect the wearer from high pressure sound in spite of the fact that many of the EEPlugs are often made by hearing aid companies. Electronic hearing protection is not regulated by the FDA like hearing aids.

My Tactical Hearing Ultimas sell for $1,499 a pair. This sounds like a lot of money for ear plugs but remember that this is something I can use every day. They are comfortable, they increase my understanding of conversations, and they protect my ears when I shoot. I could spend $4,000 on a set of hearing aids that would cover the first two requirements but Id still have to take them out and wear plugs or leave them in and wear muffs when I shoot. I'm getting more function for less money than hearing aids.

The Tactical Hearing units I have arent the only electronic enhanced hearing protection on the market; there are several companies in this growing field. Many of the systems simply increase the sound without the ability to tune the sound to match the deficiency of the owners hearing and a few other companies make tunable units. To be able to hear as well as I could before I unwisely tried out my Blackhawk 40 years ago is like a miracle. Aint technology grand?

To see more about Tactical Hearing, go to: www.tacticalhearing.com

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Road Running

Among the different types of running events, it is road-running that is commonly done by many people worldwide. This is usually done on a half or full marathon, with distances usually ranging from 5 kilometers or more. But, just like any other running events, road running has its own advantages and disadvantages.

One of the advantages of road running is that it can take place on any established roads or concrete pavement. It does not require special tracks or terrains for the event to be successfully accomplished. Also, it can be organized by any groups or clubs as long as they have the permit from the local government to do so. There are actually several road-running competitions organized around the world by different running clubs or beneficiary organizations. Even the management from a small-scale business can organize a road running competition for their loyal costumers.

If you are a beginner in running, the best running event that you can participate with is road running. Unlike the other running events, road running can be participated by first-time runners, amateurs, as well as professional runners. It is not limited to members of the organization or running club. Aside from that, a large number of people can join this event at once. So, it is a great place to make new friends, meet with long-time friends, and interact with several other people.

Also, both young and old can participate in road running competitions. Usually, there are specific races for the children and adult with different running distances based on their age bracket. Not only that, a special road running event is organized for wheelchair entrants by charitable institutions whose aim is to raise contributions from donors.

However, since road running is accomplished on concrete roads or pavements, the impact when running on it is a lot heavy that can put more stress on the feet, knee and other areas of the body. This is the main disadvantage of road running. That is why, it is also important to wear the appropriate footwear for road running. Today, there are many road running shoes produced in the market. These shoes are usually designed with ample cushioning to cater the needs and demands of the road runner.

Thus, whenever participating in a road running event, runners should use the appropriate running shoe, as well as other running gears and accessories. Road runners should wear the right clothes for running that will keep them comfortable throughout the race. The utilization of proper running posture and proper running techniques such as warm-up and stretching should be strictly observed for both beginner and professional runners. By following this protocol, road runners are guaranteed to have a safe and fine running experience.

The Famous Scout Tent

There are various types of scout tent available, and they can be used in a number of different camping situations. Shop around and you will find anything from the traditional bell tent to modern bell tents. By far, the most famous is the outstanding German Scout Tent.

The Black German Scout Tent is famous across the world and is chosen for their versatility. Loved by many different users and outdoor lovers, the German scout tent is extremely flexible and can be erected in almost any size and shape.

German scout tents are also popular because you can have an open fire inside the tent, allowing a true camping experience within the safe confines of a tent.

A scout tent is extremely versatile and suitable for:
· Family camping trips
· Scouts and cadets

· Large groups

Scout tents are used in general camping activities and outdoor events. Because they are available in l arge sizes, they are often used by scout groups as a communal space.

NFL Betting: Season Win Totals Still Offered

In the weeks leading up to the kickoff of the new NFL season, sportsbook offered lines on win totals for each team. These "Season Win Total" plays are always popular with the sports betting public.

Sportsbetting.com - However, with the advent of free agency and so much movement and parity interjected into the league these days, there is a sense it has become more difficult for bettors to handicap individual teams on a year-to-year basis.

With one week in the books we've now had a chance to see the first teamers respond to different playbooks, new teammates and coaching changes. Its knowledge we can use for betting sides and totals on the Week 2 card, but there is another option available that could offer even more value.

One sportsbook, Sportsbetting.com, is giving bettors a chance to make plays on Adjusted 'Season Win Totals' with revised pricing based on Week 1 results.

So now you can apply some of the things you learned opening week to handicapping these bets, something that hasn't been an option in the past.

Favorites came out of Week 1 with a 10-6 straight-up (SU) record and for the six teams that were upset, this could be a viewed as a good buying opportunity as the loss gets swept under the carpet and these teams prepare for Round 2.

One play you might want to look at is the San Diego Chargers (Over 10 -120). The defending AFC West champs were rained on, beat up and bowled over by a feisty Kansas City team celebrating the grand re-opening of Arrowhead Stadium. San Diego was using a new O-line, featured a rookie running back and played its first game without last year's top receiver (V. Jackson). The team was got caught off guard by a "live" divisional home dog.

The reward for bettors that waited is a half-point advantage over the Chargers preseason win total and the insurance of a 'Push' option on 10 wins. Remember, this team is notorious for starting slow but they did finish 2009 with 11-straight wins.

Or how about teams that mildly shocked the sports betting community with Week 1 performances that weren't even on the radar screen for handicappers? Seattle, Washington and Houston are all 1-0 SU right now and it created a spike in their projected win total for the season. Will the winning ways continue?

The Redskins host the Texans in Week 2, guaranteeing (almost certainly) that one of these teams will be 1-1. If you think Arian Foster is the new Chris Johnson, the value for betting Houston "Over" may be gone. If Donovan McNabb's first win was a hoax, however, and there's no way the Redskins will survive such an obvious lack of chemistry for an entire season, then playing the inflated win total "Under" 8 wins offers immediate value.

A good strategy while setting up for Week 2 is to check the lines for all 32 teams in the football betting section your sportsbook. Compare your preseason thoughts with impressions from Week 1 and then look at this week's matchups. If a team that lost in Week 1 has a good chance at winning straight-up in Week 2, reference the odds for their adjusted win total.

Spotting line value means more than just looking at the current matchups. If there is a good 'Futures' pick available, it could be your best bet.

You can check all the updated NFL Odds @ sportsbetting.com

The Different Types of Foot Strike

There are several issues arising regarding the three different types of foot strike. Every runner has their own perspective regarding which foot strike yields the best running performance and which one does not. To clear out some confusion, let us try to determine what a foot strike is, as well as its three different types.

A foot strike is one of the most important considerations that a runner should mull over before entering different running events and competitions. When choosing the right running shoes, a runner's foot strike is also taken into consideration.

A foot strike is a term referring to a person's running technique. This is identified by observing which part of the foot first hits the ground during touchdown. The human foot has three parts. These are the heel, the toes and the ball part, and all three has possible chances to hit the ground first. Thus, these parts determine the three types of foot strike:

HEEL STRIKE

A person has a heel strike if the part of the foot that first touches the ground upon landing is the heel. They say that this is the most common foot strike among several runners. This has good shock absorption because of the greater land surface area where the force can innervate from the ground. However, the debate begins from this foot strike since non-heel strike runners believe this foot strike is not an efficient running technique. This strike is producing slower running speed, thus making it an incompetent technique for many running competitions.

FOREFOOT STRIKE

The forefoot strike occurs when runner's land on the ground with their toes first. As opposed to the first foot strike, the forefoot strike is the lease common foot strike around the world. However, this can be observed in people who do the sport, sprinting, since this foot strike is believed to produce exceptionally high-speed when running. Thus, for faster running, some people recommend this running technique. But, some people are at risk for some running injuries particularly on the lower part of the leg, even though it does not cause as much stress on the knees and ankles.

MIDFOOT STRIKE or NEUTRAL FOOT STRIKE

Lastly, whenever a runner hits the ground first at the middle of their foot, that particular runner has the most advisable and efficient foot strike called midfoot strike or neutral foot strike. The feet lands at the center of the body's gravity. Thus, this is the most effective running technique since it produces less running injuries. It has better shock-absorbing capacity, which reduces harmful impact and stress on the feet and legs. However, in comparison to heel foot strike, this particular foot strike produces faster speed when running. But, it is relatively slower than forefoot foot strike.

Champions League T20: Preview

With less than 3 days left for Champions league T20, a lot is at stake in the world of cricket. We have the top teams from India, Australia, South Africa, West Indies and New Zealand go head to head in arguably the most exciting form of cricket. It is just the second edition of this tournament and a audience world over has great expectations from this cricket tournament. The cricket league will be played from the 10th to the 26th of September. This years event will take place in South Africa and will involve 23 matches in all. The A irtel Champions League will hopefully shift the worlds focus from spot fixing controversy on to normal cricket.

With maximum teams participating from the IPL, there are great expectations attached from these teams. Last year all the IPL teams were knocked out in the very first round of the tournament. Plus, since most of the audience for the Champions League T20 are fans of the IPL teams, a lot of expectations are attached with the three teams. The participants this year are Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore. The IPL teams also have the greatest cricketing stars attached with them, like, Sachin Tendulkar, Muttaiah Muralitharan, Kevin Peitersen and MS Dhoni.

The Spot Fixing scandal has hit cricket bad, and has come to a point where cricketing fans have almost lost hope from the game itself. The Champions League is the first cricket tournament after the spot fixing scandal. Also, since the Champions League involves players from all over the world, the league offers cricket a comeback to its fans. Again, since the league takes place when the cricketing economy is on an all time low, the success of this league is a success for cricket..

The hype created by the first edition of the Champions League, was not matched by the tournament. The second edition is another survival test for the League. Sponsors of the first edition of the league did not get the returns they expected. So, the sponsorships for the second edition went low. Champions league has to prove its mettle this season.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni said about the Champions League T20 tournament "I think every side has a good chance, especially in this format. It's just about that particular day and who knows which one of the players has his brilliant day. It can be a bowler, it can be a batsman... I feel it's a very day oriented game. That three and a half hour matter and if you act your best on that particular day, then you can beat any si de, maybe even the strongest side in the world".

Will the Champions League live up to its expectations, and save not just itself but also the game of cricket, are questions that will soon be answered. Tune in for the first match between the Mumbai Indians and the Highveld Lions on the 10th of September, when Sachin Tendulkar's men take on Alviro Petersen's young brigade.

Three Items of Heated Clothing to Keep you Cosy this Winter

The last traces of summer are sadly disappearing and the bitter chill of winter is just around the corner. This can cause people dismay and distress at the thought of months of suffering from the bite of winter. However, there is a solution to the incessant cold of the British winter and that is heated clothing. There are a few items of clothing available that actually actively heat you so could be just what you need to stay cosy in winter, wherever you are.

1) Heated Socks

Everyone knows how nice it feels to put on a pair of socks fresh from the radiator or the tumble dryer. Well, heated socks give you that feeling for an extended period. They use heat elements and battery power to keep your feet cosy and warm whether you're padding around your home or you're trudging through snow in wellies. Heated socks are washable as you'd no doubt hope and batteries can be recharged so that whenever you step out in winter your toes w ill be snug and warm.

2) Heated Vests

Heated clothing can keep more than just your feet warm and a heated vest could be ideal to keep your body warm this winter when temperatures drop dramatically. Heated vests are popular with people who take part in outdoor pursuits such as skiing and snowboarding but can be used by absolutely anyone who wants to keep the cold at bay.

3) Heated Gloves

Again, outdoor sports fans often use heated gloves for skiing and snowboarding and they are also popular with motorcyclists whose hands are constantly exposed to cold winds. As with the above items of heated clothing these gloves are powered by rechargeable batteries and they are completely windproof and waterproof.

If you want to forget about the cold this winter and concentrate on the fun parts of winter like Christmas and cosy nights in, invest in some heated clothing and wave goodbye to Jack Frost.