Buying a medieval sword online

If you always wanted to own a medieval sword to hang on the wall, show to your friends, or bring with you to a Renaissance Festival this article will help you to make your sword buying much easier.

Sword buying can be a very confusing process. There are thousands of retailers, many different sword manufacturers, and a many different types of metals that swords are made from. If this is your first sword then you should make it a pleasurable experience by getting the sword that looks and feels right for you. If you stick with a reputable seller then the sword should be of a good quality that will give you many years of worry free enjoyment and maybe even start you on a sword collecting hobby.

The first decision you have to make is why you want a sword. This will greatly help you in choosing your first sword. There are two main reasons I will describe here. If you want a sword to hang on the wall as a display piece that you occasionally take down to show to friends then you should look for a sword that is made from stainless steel as it will require little or no maintenance. If your looking for a functional battle ready sword, make sure you realize these swords take care and maintanence as they are forged from high carbon steel that can rust over time when not taken care of properly.

If you want a sword to wear as part of a costume or as an accompaniment to Renaissance Festival and Role Playing events then you should get a sword that comes with a belt and scabbard. Again, because swords come in a tremendous variety of sizes, finding a scabbard can be a very difficult task.

Narrow your decision down to one of the three basic sword types.

Because there are thousands of different swords you should figure out which of the three main types of swords you want to get.

* Replicas of original swords – You may want to get a sword that is a replica of an authentic historical sword such as a Scottish claymore, medieval sword, or Spanish rapier.

* Movie Replicas: - You may want to get a sword that you have seen in a movie, such as the Lord of the Rings swords or Eragon movie swords that are very popular.

* Fantasy Swords – These swords can have a very different look, often times they have intricate handles and unique blade shapes and are primarily for display purposes.

So now you have narrowed you selection down to the use of the sword and the type of sword and you are ready to start looking at actually purchasing a sword. Here are some guidelines to help you make a good purchase.

It is recommended that you only purchase a new sword from a reputable retailer. Make sure they have at least a 14 day guarantee that if there are any problems with the sword you can just send it back and try another sword. When looking at online sword sites or weapons specialty sites there are a few things you should look for. Does the site have the hacker safe guaranteed logo? Does it have a clearly posted customer support telephone number you can call? And do the have a customer support section on there site or help section. These factors are important in feeling safe with your online purchase.

Swords have a two thousand year history and there are many manufacturers, sellers, collectors, and experts of swords. But when it comes down to buying a sword you should decide on the sword that is going to make you happy. Get a sword that looks and feels right for you and get it from an established and well-know retailer and you will have a sword that will bring you years of enjoyment and maybe even start you off on a new hobby.

This week in betting a to z

Each week Doc's Sports will take a look at the sports betting world in an A-Z format.

A - Anderson, Derek. Be honest - could you have named Cleveland's backup QB before last Sunday? Anderson may have been an anonymous player on an anonymous team, but he announced himself when he entered the game in relief of the injured Charlie Frye. His team was down by 14, so he led two touchdown drives in the last nine minutes, and then set up the winning field goal in overtime with an impressive scramble. Quarterback controversy?

B - BCS. As a diehard Michigan fan, this is not my favorite topic these days. We got screwed, and nothing you can say will change my mind. On the plus side, the national title game just became very easy to handicap. Ohio State is a bargain at anything less than two touchdowns.

C - Cowboys. Tony Romo looked mortal for the first time, the offense struggled at times, and the Giants looked better on offense than they have in a while, yet Dallas still managed to win, and to cover if you shopped hard enough for the right line. The way they are playing right now, there are few teams in the NFC, if any, that will present much of a challenge in the playoffs.

D - Dallas Mavericks. They started 0-4, and it looked like they had troubles. But then they won 12 games in a row, and covered in 10 of the 12. Every team wishes that they had those kinds of troubles. No team in sports is hotter.

E - Eastern Washington Eagles. Remember the name Rodney Stuckey. The guard is averaging almost 28 points a game for the Eagles, helping his team go over (way, way over) in every game they have played so far.

F - Fresno State. The Bulldogs failed to cover this weekend. What else is new? During the team's dismal 4-8 season, they managed to cover the spread just once. They failed to cover as favorites six times, including four outright losses. The low point was a loss to Utah State as 25-point favorites.

G - Grossman, Rex. Just when you thought a guy couldn't get any worse. 6-of-19 for 34 yards and three interceptions is so bad it's almost unbelievable. That's a quarterback rating of 1.3. I think I could get a rating of at least 2, and I've never been mistaken for an athlete.

H - Hype. It was only one game, but Greg Oden lived up to it. The freshman superstar played his first game for Ohio State on Saturday. His hand was still in a brace, and he was obviously rusty, but he was an absolute beast. He scored, rebounded, and blocked shots at will. When he gets healthy and in playing shape then Ohio State should cruise to a Big Ten title.

I - Insignificant. That's what home field advantage was this Sunday in the NFL. Eight of 14 home teams lost outright, including three favorites. Overall, it was another week for the underdogs, with eight covering in the first 15 games (one of which was a push).

J - Jokes. Some things this week were so bad they were funny - Georgia Tech's offense, Chris Leak as an option quarterback, Mathias Kiwanuka's ball handling skills, the new NFL referee cold weather uniforms, Fox's BCS show.

K - Kansas Jayhawks. How is it possible that the same team can beat Florida and then lose to both Oral Roberts and DePaul over a two-week period? It seems like they are just setting themselves up for their standard first round tournament loss.

L - Lackadaisical. The effort put forth by the St. Louis Rams. They looked quite good at the beginning of the year, but they have totally disappeared in recent weeks. It's hard to imagine that they'll be worth a bet for the rest of the season.

M - Manning. It was a bad weekend to be a member of football's royal family. Both of their teams lost, and neither QB looked particularly swell. The two players have only covered once in eight tries over the last four weeks.

N - Nevada. The Wolf Pack have been a trendy pick on tournament brackets for a few years, and they look like they will be again this year. They are led by forward Nick Fazekas, averaging 22.6 points and 12.7 rebounds, and they are 4-1 ATS.

O - Oakland. How bad are the Raiders? Houston managed only 161 yards of total offense, including just 32 in the air, and they beat Oakland by nine points.

P - Prime time. What Jay Cutler isn't quite ready for. His first game wasn't a disaster, but he looked much more like a raw rookie than the savior he was supposed to be. He passed for 143 yards, but half of that came on one pass, and receiver Brandon Marshall did most the work, breaking three tackles on the way to the end zone. Cutler will get there, but he won't be worth betting my money on for a while.

Q - Quarles, Shelton. The only active NFL player with a last name starting with Q. He missed Tampa's game this week with a knee injury. There's nothing noteworthy to say. It's just really hard to come up with things that start with Q.

R - Red Zone. The Dolphins should spend their entire practice time this week working on punching the ball into the end zone. They had first downs inside the ten twice and came away with nothing either time. Nick Saban will be doing a lot of screaming.

S - Suicide. That's what Trojans' players must be contemplating after laying a gigantic egg in what should have been a simple, and absolutely crucial, game against UCLA. If they do kill themselves, Florida will send the biggest bouquet to the funeral.

T - Turkey Hangover. Of the six NFL teams that played their last game on Thanksgiving day, only one, Detroit, covered this week, and only Dallas won straight up. Maybe the extra few days of rest isn't a good thing. Will Cincinnati and Baltimore have the same problem next week?

U - Upsets. They're the norm in college basketball this season. Florida lost to Florida State. Kansas loses to everyone not in the top 25. Marquette lost to North Dakota State. There is some serious money to be made betting the underdog morning lines if you pick the right ones.

V - Vick, Michael. He had a 'good' day, and his team won by 10. I still can't make myself believe in a quarterback whose good days are 50 percent passing, 122 yards, and two touchdowns. It's not a wonder that trade rumors are popping up. If he gave Raiders' fans the finger he wouldn't make it out of the stadium alive.

W - Withdrawal. What I am likely to suffer from with no college football for the next two weekends. I only have to make it until Dec. 19 and the Poinsettia Bowl. I'm counting the seconds.

X - eXplosion. Reggie Bush had one of the offensive variety this week. He had two touchdowns in his career until now, and he got four on Sunday. Most impressive was his receiving impact, with well over 100 yards and a touchdown. When Marques Colston returns to the lineup, the Saints could be even more dangerous offensively than they already are.

Y - Young, Vince. Two weeks ago I thought this guy should have stayed in college for another year. Oops. Twice in a row he has led his team back from big deficits, and he has looked like a seasoned veteran doing it. Tennessee is already a good bet, and they are going to be a good team next year.

Z - Zero. The number of things that Tampa Bay fans have to feel good about after their team's game against Pittsburgh. Bruce Gradkowski was terrible, they couldn't run, they couldn't contain the pass rush. The Bucs had the look of a team ready to mail in the rest of the season.

Us casino history

The casino in the United States has a long and often illustrious history. Gambling plays a part in American history from the beginning of the colonies, in the lore of the Wild West, in the history of the underground bars during prohibition, and more. Laws concerning gambling have changed over time, with growing prohibitions against gambling followed by a relaxing of laws.

Attitudes toward gambling varied in the early American colonies. Puritan-founded colonies, not surprisingly, disapproved most strongly of all forms of dice, cards and gaming. Colonies founded by the English were quite tolerant of gambling, and it was treated as an innocent pastime. By the early 1800’s, gambling, and even gaming houses, or casinos, had evolved in the newly founded United States. New Orleans, in particular, was a center for gambling, and casinos and saloons in New Orleans evolved games we still link with the old west, including poker and blackjack.

During the California gold rush, gambling was both legal and widespread, as government offices regulated and licensed the saloon and the casino. Faro, bluff, and dice games were popular. While New Orleans had been the gambling capital of America forty years earlier, San Francisco replaced it as the main site for gambling and casinos due to the free flowing gold of the California gold rush.

During the period between the late 1850's and early 1900's, California progressively criminalized gambling. It remained legal in Nevada until 1910; however, the casino never reached the glory in Nevada that it had in San Francisco. Gambling was also criminalized elsewhere in the country during this period. Needless to say, gambling did continue, but it was a phenomenon kept behind closed doors. During the era when gambling was widely illegal, casinos remained in operation in speakeasies, private clubs, and more.

Gambling once again began to be legalized in 1931, starting with Nevada. During the 1930's, some 21 states legalized racetrack gambling. Gambling continued in Nevada, and with low stakes bingo elsewhere. Casinos began to spring up in Atlantic City, NJ in the late 70's. In 1987, the Supreme Court made a fundamental decision allowing gambling on Native American reservations, and in the years since, casino gambling has spread throughout the country with modern and thriving casinos in many states. Riverboat casinos began to spring up on major rivers in many states during the same period, bringing gambling full circle to its early roots with riverboat gamblers on the mighty Mississippi in the early 1800's.

Soccer goalkeeping drills

The goalkeeper’s job is certainly the toughest of all soccer players, since whereas a defender, midfielder or attacker can get off with a couple of mistakes every now and then, a goalkeeper’s mistakes are a lot more visible. To complicate things even further, modern goalkeepers have even more attributions than before: they need to coordinate the defense, they sometimes need to act as sweepers and they can fire off lethal counter attacks after a clean save.

For all these to happen of course, a goalkeeper will have to be thoroughly trained using specific soccer goalkeeping drills. Most commonly, such drills focus on soccer goalkeeping training skills such as mobility, flexibility, agility and reflexes rather than physical training. Let’s take a look at some popular soccer goalkeeping drills you could try out with your team.

- Soccer Goalkeeping Drills – 1 Versus 1

This is a very common drill, but nevertheless, it’s very effective since goalkeepers are bound to be caught in a 1 versus 1 situation with an opposing attacker in almost every match. Even more so, at amateur or youth levels, where defenses are less strict than they are with the pros, 1-on-1s are very common for goalkeepers, so you’ll need to train them well.

This soccer goalkeeper drill is simple to execute. Get an attacker around 20-30 yards from the goal and tell him to charge full speed towards the goal, with the ball at his feet and try to score. Your goalie will have to counter him of course. To mix things up a bit, you could have another player passing the ball in front of the attacker, which allows the goalkeeper to take an extra decision as to whether or not it’s a good idea to charge out of the goal, or stay put and wait for the attacker.

- Soccer Goalkeeping Drills – Automatic Fire

Have 8-10 players stand at around 20-30 yards from the goal, each with his own ball. At your signal, the attackers should, one by one, run forward and shoot the ball from a distance you specified beforehand. Your goalkeeper should be under a constant rain of shots, jumping from one post to the other to save the ball. It’s not really that important if he saves them or not, it’s important that he learns how to react quickly and get up from the floor fast and be ready for another shot.

To speed things up a bit, you could have another team of 8-10 players behind the goal, returning the balls back to the firing squad.

- Soccer Goalkeeping Drills – Ab Volley

This is one of the toughest soccer goalkeeping drills, but if done correctly, it’s a very efficient one. Here’s how it goes: your goalie should stay on his bottom, in the same position he would do ab crunches in. You or a teammate will have to throw the ball towards him and while he’s doing ab crunches, he will pass it back to you.

Coordinate your move so that you throw the ball as your goalie is lifting up from the crunch and try not to give him too many breathers. It’s an intense exercise, but results will soon follow, so make sure you encourage him not to quit!

Golf - the short - short game

Without doubt we have all hear the expression in golfing “Drive for show and putt for dough. Nothing could be truer. In golf as in life - all shots in the end count the same. A lost putt counts the same as the long drive.

How many times have you made a good long drive off the tee, another second shot just short of the green , and then for some reason the pitch to the green is either too short or too long ?. In the end you may well have ended up taking three putts to put the ball unto the cup.

Four shots have been made from the pitch shot to putting the ball in the cup, which are twice as many as it took to get from the tee to the near edge of the green. For a par four hole this means a double bogey. Have too many of these and your golfing score is more than ruined.

Contrary to this, if you can learn to pitch and chip the ball reasonably close to the flag stick, you stand a good change of dropping the golf ball for a par score. On the shorter par four holes and most of the par five holes, a well placed pitch shot, close to the flag stick, affords the golfing player an opportunity to birdie the hole.

One of the most certain ways to improve pitching ability is to practice the shot from various distances to the target. From such practice it is soon possible to learn the range for each club used, and get the idea as to the length of the backswing necessary for the needed distance.

The best first step is to always learn from the Pros. Why waste much time and effort afterwards unlearning bad habits picked up along the way. Proper form and technique in putting is everything. Next practice the stroke in your own backyard or on the driving range putting area until you can place the ball within easy putting distance of your target most of the time.

Pitching for about an hour at a time, it should not take long before you should be able to place most of your practice shots to within a six foot circle. Even though the grass surface near the circle may not be exactly the same as a putting green, easy adjustments can be made in your stroke to compensate.

All in all for all of your efforts to practice your short game you will improve your pitch and run shots greatly. Chip shots can also be practiced in this manner. When you place your ball within a six foot circle you will have only a three foot putt or even less to the golf cup.

The full hit backspin or the cut shots are more difficult, and perhaps should be tried at the practice range of the golf course. You may well damage your own lawn. These are valuable shots in hitting over trees, out of heavy rough or sand, or to pitch over a trap where there is little room for the ball to run on the green to the cup.

Playing out of sand traps is a harrowing experience for most high handicap golfers, and is the place in the golfing game where more shots are wasted than any other place on the golf course, except perhaps the putting green. Even though these trap shots are more difficult for the average player than some others , they can be learn, when one develops the proper coordination of mind m muscles and nerves which control perfect timing.

Finally, all the excellence of good pitch shots, chips and sand play will all be of little consequence if one cannot putt the ball into the cup with reasonable regularity. With proper initial professional instruction and a little regular practice anyone can learn to put well.

Horse racing tips and your horse sense

Are you the type who looks at numbers instead of the horse? Betting on horse racing may require you to know more than just numbers. You've got to have a good horse sense if you want to have more than just your horse racing tips.

Your Numbers and Your Horse Sense

For a punter dreaming of a miracle win, your life's daily routine begin with a horse racing form. It is here that you get your free horse racing tips. You've hoarded quite a lot of tips, enough to start you on your own racing system. But being an amateur, you accept that you need more than just form and numbers to appreciate the horse racing scene.

You rely on numbers that tell you how the horses did fare in previous races. You look at the numbers and learn how some horses placed 2nd, 3rd, or 1st. Or you check out the "Cs", "D", and "CDs". All amateurs know this.

These are the basic horse racing tips available to all punters. Numbers may rule, but punters also need to know their horse sense. Of course, you are not required to think like a horse. You just need to understand why some horses make it and others don't – that is if you want to know what makes a good runner.

Practical Horse Sense

What makes a horse stand out above the rest? Is it his genetic make-up? The trainer? Or the jockey? All of the above contribute towards the making of a champion. But you're just a punter, you argue. Okay here's to a better selection of a horse at the paddocks. Knowing some of these horse racing tips will make you a pro punter. You can see through the numbers with some knowledge about the runners.

At the paddock, check out the horse's coat and mane. Naturally, you'd love a horse that has a glossy coat and strong muscles that ripple with every canter. But wait, before you are sold out on the horse, watch for tell-tale signs, like nervous sweating. A nervous horse and one that does not go along with the jockey won't do well. One of those horse racing tips will advice you to put your money in a horse that shows an easy canter.

Muscles Will Tell, So Do The Jockeys

For steeple racing, favor the horse that is a little bone-heavy. For a flat race, a horse must be lean but well-muscled. Look at the rump. It should look strong and firm and the belly must not have any excess fat. The muscles in the rib area should be well conditioned and defined. A little extra weight and the horse is doomed.

Watch the jockeys too. The top jockeys are given the better horses. A jockey must have that horsemanship to know how to handle a horse in a race. A slight pressure here and there and the horse knows what it is supposed to do. Seasoned jockeys have developed the riding skills as well understand their uses.

So your horse sense should help you make your decision, whether you're backing or laying a horse or going for the odds. Your numbers and those horse racing tips will have more logic when you have aced your horse sense.

Crocheting overview

Crocheting has been a favorite craft for generations, and with good reason. Mastering the art of crochet enables you to create wonderful and useable pieces of art, at a very reasonable cost.

Today's crochet patterns are more interesting and inspiring than ever, and incorporate vibrant colours and exciting new fibers. Using new patterns, you can crate fun, fashionable, functional and economical pieces to wear.

Over the years, people have taken up and enjoyed the art of crochet for many reasons:

1. Most people who enjoy crocheting find the hobby to be very calming and relaxing

2. Most crochet enthusiasts find it interesting and rewarding to work with a variety of colours and textures.

3. Creating items of clothing to proudly display, like hats, scarves and sweaters, is incredibly rewarding.

4. Getting together for a crochet party with friends and family can be a great social activity.

5. Crocheting is portable; you can take your project along, wherever you need to be.

6. People who crochet make the most of their idle time, for example, crocheting while watching television.

7. Completing a crochet project provides a sense of pride and achievement.

8. Crocheting is an inexpensive hobby, and a great way to create beautiful and practical homemade gifts.

9. Self expression is an important element of crochet, giving the opportunity to design new patterns.

To begin any crochet project, you need to purchase some yarn and a needle. Crochet hooks comes in different sizes and materials. Hook sizes G, H and I are recommended for beginners, as smaller hooks sizes are much more difficult to manage. Steel hooks for crochet are normally used with fine threads to create intricate patterns. These hooks are usually are available in sizes 00 up to 16, whereby higher numbers denote a smaller hook size. On the other hand, hooks for yarns are identified with letters starting at B and ranging up to Q, with B being the smallest and Q the largest.

You can start crocheting with any type of knitting yarn. Just be sure that the yarn and the size of the hook are well matched.

Purchase one dark colored and one lighter colored yarn, to be able to track your progress and see how you are doing with the stitches. Buy an ordinary yarn to get started. Specialty yarns like wool and chenille are more difficult to work with. When buying yarn, test its strength by rubbing several strands between your thumb and index finger. If the yarn unravels a lot, don't purchase it. Keep trying different yarns to feel the difference and find the best quality. It's a good idea to purchase a little more yarn than what your pattern calls for. If you happen to run out of yarn and need to return to the store, you may find that the colour batch is sold out, or the yarn is out of stock entirely.

A hat is a great beginner's crochet project. Here are simple instructions to crochet a hat:

Purchase your materials:

* Size "G" crochet hook

* Worsted weight yarn of any one color, or a combination of colors

* One yarn needle, with a big eye

* Small scissors

Follow the steps:

1. Hold the crochet hook in your right hand, with the hook pointed in, and then create a slipknot on the hook.

2. Carry the yarn over with the hook, starting from the back going to the front. Take the yarn with the hook.

3. Draw the hooked yarn through with a slipknot, and onto the hook. This makes one chain stitch.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 in sequence, 28 times. You'll need a total of 29 chain stitches with the loop staying on the hook.

5. Skip the first chain stitch.

6. Insert the hook to the center of the next chain stitch. Draw the yarn through the chain stitch, and then work up to the hook; this results in two 'loops on hook'.

7. Bring the yarn over the hook, starting from the back to the front, and pull it through both loops on hook. There should be one loop that stays on the hook. This is called a single crochet stitch.

8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for another 27 chains. Make sure that you work in the very last chain. You have now completed one line of single crochet.

9. Measure your piece. It should be about 7 inches wide. If your piece is overly wide, start over and try again using one less beginning chain. If it's too narrow, try again and add extra beginning chains.

10. Create a single chain stitch at the tip of the line or row, and turn your piece counter-clockwise. Be sure that you leave the yarn with the hook in the chain. Begin making another row, working through the stitches as you did in the previous row.

11. Make a single crochet stitch in the first stitch, and also in each remaining stitch of the preceding row. Make certain to work into the last stitch. "Chain 1, turn."

12. Repeat step 10 until you have created a block that measures 9" long.

13. Cut the yarn from the ball, leaving 6 inches at the end. Pull the hook directly upwards, inserting the yarn into the loop that remains on the hook, and then thread the yarn needle and interlace stitches back and forth to secure it.

The following is a sample of a basic hat pattern:

Chain 4: Join with a slipstitch in the first chain to form a ring.

R1: Chain 2 (this counts as "half double crochet")- 11 "half double crochet" in ring; join with a slipstitch in top of chain 2, twelve stitches.

R2: Chain 2- Half double crochet in the same chain as joining; two half double crochet in each half double crochet around; join in the top of chain 2, 24 stitches.

R3: Chain 2- Half double crochet in same chain as joining; half double crochet in the next half double crochet; two half double crochet in the next half double crochet; half double crochet in next half double crochet; repeat from * around; join, thirty-six stitches.

R4: Chain 2- Half double crochet in the same chain as joining; half double crochet in the next 2; half double crochet; 2 half double crochet in the next half double crochet; half double crochet in the next 2; half double crochet; repeat from * around; join, forty-eight stitches.

R5: Chain 2--Half double crochet in each half double crochet around; join.

R6: Chain 2--Half double crochet in same chain as joining; half double crochet in next 3 half double crochet; 2 half double crochet in the next half double crochet; half double crochet in the next 3; half double crochet; repeat from * around; join, sixty stitches.

R7: Chain 2--Half double crochet in back loops only of each half double crochet around; join.

Rs 8-14: Repeat round 5.

"Brim-Round" 15: Chain 2--Half double crochet in the same chain as joining; half double crochet in next 2; half double crochet;

* 2 half double crochet in the next half double crochet; half double crochet in the next 2 half double crochet; repeat from * around; join, eighty half double crochet.

Rounds 16-20: Repeat Round 5. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Abbreviations:

* = Repeat whatever follows* (asterisk)

R = row

Once you get to know the basic techniques, you'll find it very easy to follow a pattern and complete an easy project, such as a hat. After finishing your first project, you can find new patterns in specialty shops, magazines or on the Internet. Challenge yourself and improve your talents by taking on more complicated projects. Before you know it, you will be a seasoned crocheter and thoroughly enjoying your new hobby.

My golden rules of betting for national hunt horse racing

How do you avoid doing your money when betting on National Hunt horse racing? By definition jumps racing brings with it additional risk every time your horse leaves the ground. Making a profit from punting over the sticks is treacherous enough without falling for the bookmakers’ seductive bets which often leave the unwary punters pot-less.

So to help you swerve those rushes of blood to the head I have devised a set of National Hunt punting rules. Sticking to these rules may mean you miss a few winners throughout the season, and although you may not win a fortune by following them, they will probably stop you from losing one. We’ll leave that to the less-savvy punters shall we?

If you have a passion for horse racing, then for pure exhilaration there can be nothing quite as spectacular as seeing thirty or forty horses thunder off across the Melling Road at the start of the Grand National. Or perhaps you marvel at the athletic prowess of the winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup as they stretch clear of the field up the hill towards the finish line at Prestbury Park?

Traditionally the National Hunt jumps racing season would start around early November and carry on throughout the winter months. The climax of the season is still the Cheltenham Festival in March, with the Grand National in April at Aintree.

Today you will find national hunt meetings pretty much all year round, and although the summer meetings are thinner on the ground and lower key, there still exists the opportunity to profit from horses racing over obstacles.

Here are my Golden Rules for betting on National Hunt horse racing:

Rule #1

When the rains come in the deep mid-winter, and the going turns proper heavy, look out for horses who have already demonstrated form in these kind of conditions. In reality, not many horses actually enjoy galloping through mud. If you can uncover a horse which relishes testing ground – even if the price suggests they are something of an outsider, and with recent form figures reading like a row of duck eggs – you may well be sitting on a good value bet.

Rule #2

This rule is about horses who are taking a step up to race in a better class of race and at one of the more imposing tracks. Where you have a number of steeplechasers, who are already performing well in quality races at the top tracks, it is easy to over-estimate the chances of a ‘live’ outsider who jumps well and won last time out, albeit in a lower grade race at a provincial track. In these situations, it is often better to lump on the fancied horses along with everyone else. Admittedly this will often result in poor value prices at the top of the market, and the profitable move may well be to keep your money safe, and sit these races out.

Rule #3

As an addendum to the last Rule, this one is so simple, but none-the-less true. When you are trying to pick winners at Cheltenham, and especially at the festival in March, it pays dividends to give extra merit to those runners who have already shown winning form around this unique race-course. If a horse has managed to win here, they should be credited with a real chance to triumph again.

Rule #4

A long-standing myth that two-and-a-half-mile chasers possess the best characteristics to win the Grand National is utter rubbish. Why? Well, for starters the Grand National is staged over more than FOUR miles. Find a horse who can stay forever, and who jumps for fun, and you will have a horse capable of winning the greatest steeple-chase in the world.

Rule #5

Let’s imagine you have narrowed down your selections in a jumps race to just two horses. One is piloted by a top-20 jumps jockey, and the other is ridden by a less-able jockey who gets to claim a weight allowance over his rivals. In this situation my advice would be to choose the professional every time. In Flat races, a weight advantage of a few pounds can make all the difference, and trainers will often make clever use of talented apprentice riders to gain a competitive edge. Over the sticks however, it will often pay to side with the proven skills of the experienced horseman, even if it means sacrificing a little weight to your rivals. After all, they are a winning jockey for a reason.

Rule #6

A horse who turns in a fine performance at a flat, easy or ‘fast’ track may not necessarily produce the same performance at a more testing race-course. To me this seems one of the most obvious statements when studying National Hunt form, but it is one that punters ignore time and again, getting their fingers burnt in the process. If a horse has jotted up an impressive sequence of wins at easy tracks such as Musselburgh, Fakenham, Hereford, Taunton, Southwell, and Aintree’s Mildmay course, they should not necessarily be considered a ‘steering job’ when they contest a race at a course with a more testing profile. Of particular note should be courses with an uphill finish such as Cheltenham, Sandown Park, Hexham, Carlisle, and the daddy of finishes at Towcester.

Rule #7

There exists an old maxim which says “never bet odds-on in a novice chase”. This rule needs modifying slightly. If such a short price is based solely upon a horse’s hurdling form, then in the long-run you would be wise to steer clear. When a horse is tackling the bigger obstacles in public for the first time, it is not the time to lump on with all your ‘hard-earned’ without the prospect of at least doubling your money. However, if the horse has already shown some decent ability over fences (boasting a win or perhaps finishing close up in a previous novice chase) then its chances of winning as an odds-on shot are probably no better or worse than in any other kind of race.

Rule #8

One of the biggest betting minefields in jumps racing is when top-flight horses are on the comeback trail after injury. This is precisely when to treat horses with caution, but all too often punters will jump right in and throw this caution, and their money, to the wind. It is very difficult for a trainer to bring a top horse back into a high-grade contest at the same level of form as before the horse suffered an injury. Yet just because a horse is seen once again on a race-track, many punters will expect to see this kind of form repeated first time out. Bookmakers will take advantage of this high-expectation and keep prices short – based purely upon the animal’s reputation and historic form. But the low prices are not a true reflection of the horse’s actual chance of winning on the day. In these instances it may well be more prudent to watch and learn, to gauge the horse’s level of fitness. Alternatively, the shrewd punter will take advantage of punters plunging on the false favourite, and seek value in one of the other runners.

Rule #9

During the course of the jumps season there are several two mile handicap hurdles with bountiful pots of prize money. Finding the winner in these races is incredibly difficult, as they tend to be over-subscribed and doggedly competitive down to the money and prestige on offer. Similar to the big-field summer handicaps on the Flat, it seems horses often land these races in turn. Consequently, the cautious punter will reduce his stakes on these races to a minimum. A more fruitful avenue to take would be to concentrate upon the longer handicap hurdle races run over three miles plus. These stamina-sapping contests are more likely to be won by distance specialists who have already proved they can stay the longer trip. Winning stayers have a habit of cropping up in these distance handicaps time and again.

Rule #10

Finally, the clue is in the name, and this sport of kings is called jumps racing. If you can spot the true equine athletes who bend their back and jump seemingly for fun, tackling obstacles with relish, then you will unearth a plentiful seam of winners over time. Equally, beware of the self-styled ‘experts’ who declare “he may not be a fluent hurdler now, but he is shaping to be a fine chaser in the future”. In reality, the chances are he will be just as poor, if not worse, over the larger, less forgiving fences.

I hope that by following some or all of these rules, you can begin to think a little more outside the box, distance yourself from the madding crowd, and take some money back off those bookies during the otherwise gloomy winter months.

Outdoor playset a great way to keep your children healthy

Do your children love and enjoy playing outside? Especially during the sunny days, running bare foot in the lawn gives you unlimited pleasure. We all know about this since we also did the same during the days we were kids. You can have the television and video games but nothing can match the pleasure that one derives from outdoor games. Summer days meant outdoor game playing. Currently I enjoy playing outdoors with my seven year old daughter. Whenever she returns from school, her first question is “Can I go and play outside?” I simply love when she says so. These children a majority of children prefer to stay inside. This can cause weight problems in the future. We should make it a practice for our children to play outside, like our younger days. The only thing that has changed today is that my daughter has a outdoor playset to make her outdoor playing even more enjoyable.

Is there an outdoor playset in your backyard? Nothing bad not to have it. But some of the modern outdoor playsets can be really expensive. When I moved into my current residence I was bewildered by the new age outdoor playset prices. I wished to buy an outdoor playset for my youngest daughter, but soon discovered that I had to comply with some rules. Ever heard of woodent outdoor playsets? Since metal outdoor playsets were not allowed in our locality, I had to buy a wooden outdoor playset. These playsets, though expensive but are better. But it is surprising that our locality does not allow any other kinds of playsets? It sounds bizarre, but do check out the Homeowner’s association before making any purchase. But these outdorr playsets can give your children immense pleaure and fun. Its really satisfying to see my daughter climb, side, swing and play on hers daily. And when she is not playing, its great to see her sitting on it and chatting with her friends.

An outdoor playset is a great means to encourage your children to play out of the house. You do want them to be healthy and active. If you are looking to buy an outdoor playset, check out the internet. It does have a host of outdoor playset that will best fit your budget and requirements.

Online music stores

When the music industry targeted the internet as a way of bringing music to people in all parts of the world, they probably did not consider the impact that this decision would have on so many lives. People now have the opportunity to listen to music any place they want to because online music stores sell music that can be downloaded to many listening devices.

An online music store offers customers the chance to hear live performances of their favorite artist or learn about struggling artists that are trying to kick start a career with their own brand of music. The categories of music have not changed one bit over the years, but the people that make the music become historical markers of a moment in music that might be repeated by someone else but never the same as the person who sang it originally.

People have the chance to track the history of one music artist and see how long it takes them to reach stardom. These figures will no doubt be used many times in content over the World Wide Web and serve to inspire other artists with a talent for music to try their hand at making a successful career out of something that they like to do. The fans are responsible for making a music artist a star because they are the ones that come to the internet to buy an album or a particular song off an album.

An online music store allows people to listen to music before they buy it. This is the same service that is offered in any reputable music store but the internet provides music customers with search engines that can be used to find different versions of the same song that are sung by singers from many nationalities. This truly differentiates the simplicity of buying music online to the music choices offered in a land-based music store.

Some people want to collect every album that an artist creates over the span of many years. An online music store allows customers to search for their favorite artist and get a copy of the word to every song ever written. To do this in a land-based music store might require the customer to pay additional fees. An online music store allows people to use their home computer to store files and create their own music libraries without incurring any additional fees.

Golf swing tips learn simple ways to swing a golf club and lower your score

The golf swing can be one of the most challenging things to learn and master. It requires commitment and effort on your part to put in the practice necessary to learn how to swing a golf club effectively. There are a few basic things you need to keep in mind in order to learn the golf swing and it is recommended that you take it slow and learn one thing at a time.

Once you feel comfortable with a particular aspect of the golf swing then move on to the next step. The golf swing can be broken down into the grip, stance, backswing, downswing and follow through. Let us look at each of these elements of the swing more closely.

- The Grip

There are basically three kinds of ways to grip the golf club. It is important to spend the time necessary to master your grip as this is a critical aspect of the golf swing. If your grip is incorrect it will affect your performance negatively even if everything else is fine.

The first kind of grip is the interlocking grip, this is where the index finger of the left hand and the small finger of your right hand interlock or hook each other. If you have short hands or your hands are very thick then this kind of grip may be the best for you.

The next kind is the overlapping grip. With this grip the little finger of the right hand will sit on top of the index finger of the left hand. You need strong wrists and arms to use this grip. Test each grip method and decide on the one that feels most comfortable to you.

The baseball grip is commonly used by most beginners. The index finger of the left hand and the little finger of the right hand do not overlap or interlock but they do make contact. This is basically as the name suggests the way you would grip a baseball bat.

- The Stance

The important point to remember with the stance is to keep your weight balanced and your feet position getting wider up to shoulder width as the club you are using gets longer. So for the driver you will want the most stability thus a wider stance with your legs shoulder width apart is ideal. Also the ball position should start at the center of your stance for a wedge and move up to the heel of your left foot for the driver.

- The Backswing

One of the biggest mistakes that beginners make is that they rush their backswing. Make sure that you take a slow relaxed backswing. You are better off being too slow than too fast when it comes to the backswing. Also work on keeping your left arm as straight as possible throughout the backswing.

- The Downswing

An important key to the downswing is to keep your head in the same position or as close as possible to its original location throughout the downswing. Make sure that you do not try to use your right arm to try to generate power. Instead you should get the feeling that you are pulling the club with your left arm. The power will come from the leverage that is created between the angle between the club and you left arm. The longer you can hold this angle the more power you will create.

- The Follow Through

At impact make sure that your head is behind the ball and keep your head down and let it come up with your right shoulder. Keep in mind also that at no point in the golf swing should you feel like you need to add power or strain yourself. Stay relaxed and you will soon develop an effortless swing that is not only accurate but also generates a lot of power and distance.

Take some time to learn the fundamentals of the golf swing before you go out on the course. Spend a week or two practicing your grip, stance and basic swing movements. Once you are ready to trust your mechanics then you can head out on the course and focus on your targets. When you are on the course do your best to stay away from thinking about swing mechanics and just concentrate on your targets. Train your swing and then trust it, this is the best way to get lower golf scores.

Regulation table tennis accessories

Are you looking for table tennis clips? The internet is a great source of online stores where you could buy International Table Tennis Federation approved table tennis products and accessories. You can find in the internet a variety of clips like the Stiga Clipper Net and Post Set which packages quality table tennis nets and posts.

Another great set is the Dunlop Easyclip Table Tennis Net and Post Set. This set is an easy assembly set and can be quickly set up on the table. There are a lot of clippers, net and post sets that have easy to assemble features which makes them quite perfect for venues like in schools, sports centers, and table tennis clubs.

Other well known brands include the Donic clips, Tibhar, Joola, DHS, TMS and Andro. Most of these brand names offer other table tennis equipment aside from the nets, clips and posts. Joola for example have Anti-Topspin, Antispin Long Pips, Antispin Soft paddles.

Like what have been mentioned earlier, you can practically find everything online. Online sports stores offer great discounts and will give you a great choice of reputable brand names. Just browse the product catalogues of various online stores and chances are you'll get what you need.

Aside from table tennis clips and nets one needs tables that are regulation size. The ITTF sets that standard of a table to dimensions of 274 cm Ч 152.5 cm Ч 76 cm high. The playing area also set to an area 14m long by 7m wide and 5m high.

The ITTF finds it restrictive to allow players to play in an area less than that. The area would be too small and players will not be able to move freely. Tables are either painted green or dark blue, some tables are painted black.

The standard table tennis balls weigh only a mere 2.7 gram. The 40 mm diameter ball is basically hollow. Originally the size of the ball was 38 mm in diameter. The standard ball size was changed at the 2003 World Table Tennis Championship.

The regulation size table tennis ball is made of a high-bouncing hollow celluloid ball. The color of the balls is either white or orange depending on the color of the table.

Paddles or rackets are about 10 inches long. Paddles have a thin layer of rubber and a sort of sponge in between which allows players to give the ball ample speed and spin. Both sides of the paddle have the layer or rubber and sponge. Table tennis manufacturers have been creating various types of rubber material which will help maximize the athletes' playing capabilities.

The right combination of materials enhances playing performance. Aside from rubber, manufacturers are now using materials like kevlar, arylate, titanium, aluminum and aramid.

Another equally important aspect of the table tennis equipment and accessory is the grip of the shoe. Grip is important, if you slide too much the player is in danger of sliding all the way if the grip is too much the player's movement will be heavily restricted.

Sometimes, however, the floor is too slippery or too rough. That is why some athletes, the serious ones it seem, have several pairs of shoes to help them compensate varying floor conditions.

It would be best to get specific information on product reviews to ensure that what you will be buying is the thing that you really need.

How to hit lob shot today

All good golfers, especially those on the PGA or LPGA Tour, are very good ay hitting a lob shot or a flop shot. The lob shot we will discuss will be from about 30 yards and will be players with a 56 or 60 degree wedge. Many say the lob shot is a risky golf shot however, if pulled off correctly, it will help you to lower your scores.

Most scratch and low handicap golfers will agree that it is easier to judge the distance to if a golf ball while it is rolling on the ground as opposed to trying to fly the golf ball to the hole. With golf course design becoming more and more extreme, you now need to be able to hit the flop shot to maneuver over sand traps, water hazards or to a tight front hole location. The only way you can get your golf ball close to a hole location like this is to use this type of a shot. If you want to shoot really low scores, a lob shot must be in your bag of shots.

To properly set up for the flop shot, aim the clubface directly at the target. Take your full swing setup with your feet, hips and shoulders will be open or pointed to the left of your target for a right handed golfer. If you are a left handed golfer, your feet, hips and shoulders will be pointed to the right of the target.

To execute a proper lob shot, you should position the golf ball off of the heal of your front foot. It is imperative to keep the loft on the club face of your wedge. What does that mean? You want the ball to get up in the air very quickly which means the golf shaft can not lean towards the target as this de-lofts or takes loft off of the clubface of your wedge. To keep this from happening, keep the end of your grip pointing towards the center of your body at address. This avoids setting the hands ahead of the ball.

To execute a good lob shot, your core and torso will rotate just like your regular full swing. The difference is the rate of your turn is decreased. Your wrists will cock early in your swing. If you are right handed, your left arm and the shaft of the club should take the shape of the letter L. As your lower body remains still, your torso will turn as in your full swing. As you make your backswing, your arms will not swing back form the target but in-line with your feet, hips and shoulders. This would be known as starting your swing to the outside.

On your forward swing, turn back to your target and allow your arms to swing in-line with your feet, hips and shoulders. Keeping your clubface pointed at the target during the forward swing, the heel will return to the golf ball before the toe. Said another way, while the swing of your forward swing moves down your body line the clubface of your wedge will be open at impact.

The finish to the flop shot will resemble the look of your full swing. You will have rotated your torso to the point that you will have pulled up onto the toe of your back foot. As your wedge's shaft is parallel to the turf past impact, your right forearm should not cross over your left forearm to keep the clubface open. Hold this position until the golf ball has hit the putting green.

So the next time you are not able to run the ball up onto the green, with a little practice, this golf shot will help you lower your score. In addition, if on fast greens, the flop shot can help you get the ball close to the hole. Go the practice area at you country club or golf course and use this information to learn to hit the lob shot and watch your scores come down.

Waterski primer

Water skiing is great fun and a good exercise. It was long back in the year 1928 when an eighteen year old boy named Ralph Samuelson invented water skiing. Ralph Samuelson of Minnesota projected the thought that if you could ski on snow, then you can also ski on water. As for appropriate water skiing apparatus, for his first skis Ralph attempted barrel staves, then snow skis, and lastly Ralph shaped the first devoted water skis from lumber. Ralph made his bindings from leather strips and used a long window sash as a ski rope.

Water skiing is really a great fun – at times it seems just like you are flying and it is really a soothing experience. As you slither across the water at top speed, cool water splatters over and around you. It is an amusing and thrilling sport that people of all ages can take part in. All you need to be good at water skiing is a little practice and whole lot of confidence in your self. Oh, and a boat.

There are number of water skis that are available in the market. You will need to seek advice regarding the appropriate choice for you. The most common water ski used is the combination water ski. This has a wider tip, and are the best products available for beginners as well as experts. Another ski available for water skiing is the trick skis. The skiers who want to go for busting, spinning and jumping during water skiing use these skis. These skis are shorter and wider than other types of water skis, and need much more expertise. There are no fins on the base of trick skis, so it is easier to glide and revolve, but more difficult to make controlled moves while water skiing.

Another option available for those going for water skiing is the slalom skis. People who want to make sharp turns and want to reach a great speed while water skiing use these skis. Slalom skis have a wider end and a flatter base – this makes it easier to get up and ride straight, while superior skis have a more tapered tail with beveled edges and a channel bottom. These are more difficult to ski on, but will take the skier faster. You can also go for jump skis that are basically designed for those who plan to take lot of jumps while they water ski.

One must take special care of the rope that one uses during water skiing. Water skiing ropes should be flexible elastic so that the water skier is able to change speeds easily. One should use a plastic molded handle to hold the rope. It is always advisable to wear goggles while water skiing. Protective goggles will stop water and rubbish from going into your eyes, and will stop your glasses (if you wear one) from flying off and sinking if you fall into the water.

Equine health five tips for a healthy horse

If you own a horse, you are probably aware of the time and money needed to properly care for this amazing creature. Since horses have a longer life than do most animals, keeping them healthy can be somewhat of a challenge. Still, there are several things you can do to help ensure your horse stays healthy. Below are five tips that will help you get started down the right path.

Feeding your horse a well-balanced diet is one of the most important aspects of good equine health. If you are unsure of what this actually entails, consult with your veterinarian to find out what types of grains and other feeds may be appropriate for the type of horse you own. Age may also make a difference, so it is also important to keep this in mind when choosing the proper diet.

Keep your horse's digestive tract healthy by de-worming on a regular basis. Failure to do this can result in your horse having worms that can result in significant harm, or even sometimes in death. This is important with many animals, and should be tended to regularly.

Make sure your horse receives vaccinations on a regular schedule so as to ward off critical diseases and conditions that can prove fatal. This is just as important for animals as it is for people, so be sure to treat this with great care. Keep a log of such vaccinations so that you will know when the various vaccinations are due. This can also help if there is ever a situation where the vet needs to know of previous vaccinations. While your vet will probably keep records of this, it is a good idea for you to have them as well.

It is very important that you keep a close eye on your horse's feet. Poorly kept feet can lead to a variety of lameness problems, and can be very painful for your horse. You should also make sure your horse is shoed properly, and whenever necessary, as this will help as well.

Finally, make sure your veterinarian gives your horse a check up once a year. This is just as important for animals as it is for humans, and will alert you to any health problems so that they may be treated early on. It will also insure that your horse receives any necessary procedures and vaccinations on a regular basis, and will lead to overall good equine health.