French Open Tennis

By Angela Jones

It is highly unlikely that people will not have heard of the French Open tennis championship, because it is a competition which is a regular topic of conversation. In French the name of the competition is 'Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros' or 'Tournoi de Roland Garros'. This tournament, which lasts for about two weeks is held in Paris at the Roland Garros Stadium, from which it got its name.

It is one of the most advertised and broadcast sports events throughout the entire world and many VIPs attend it. The attendees are fanatics who wait with baited breath on every stroke, especially when there is a tight struggle between two players, doing|trying| their best to win. Even TV viewers actually get a feeling of being there live.

The French Open tennis championship comes in second on the annual round of the Grand Slam tournaments and its history goes back to the year of 1891 when it became an international competition. At that time it was named the 'International Championship of Tennis of France' or 'Championat de France International de Tennis' in French.

Initially, only players that were registered or licensed in France were permitted to participate in this competition, but things took a different turn in 1925, when the French open tennis tournament finally was accessible to foreign players. In 1912, the ground the players used was made of red brick dust. Actually the crushed brick was formed into red clay that covered the ground, which until then would have been a green lawn.

The public's enthusiasm for the French Open tennis tournament held at the Roland Garros stadium, goes back to a competition fought between the Philadelphia Four (Rene Lacoste, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet and Jacques Brugnon) who won the Davis Cup in 1927. It was the trigger of the desire in the French to defend their cup in future competitions. This new tournament was meant to bring back home the cup and was held at a stadium named after the World War I ace Roland Garros. The name has stuck since then.

The term 'open' became has been used since 1968, when the tournament allowed|was open to| both amateurs and professionals alike who wanted to test their skills at tennis. Since then the French Open tennis tournament has also brought in some novel prizes.

Apart from the regular winners' prizes, they also award a 'Prix Orange' for the most correct and press-friendly player, a 'Prix Citron' for the player with the strongest personality and a 'Prix Burgeon' for the one the best new-comer of the tennis year.

About the Author:

If you are a novice tennis player or are interested in tennis fundamentals, just visit our site called Tennis Tips for Novices You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.

Info on Air Jordan shoes and How to spot fake Jordan Bulls cards

By Cyndi Whittel

So I bet you have found a Jordan and you cannot wait to get it graded, right? It's so nice and you got it so cheap you can't even believe it's the real deal! Well, before you go spending your money to purchase this card, take a closer look especially before paying to have it graded.

Many of these same techniques and items to look for are similar to any fake card. Realizing that they are around is the first step to protecting yourself, finding out how to spot them is the next.

A loupe/magnifying glass and this tiny amount of knowledge can go a long way in protecting your dollars. Money spent foolishly is a hard lesson to learn.

Download and make sure to check out the included images that are close ups from several of the key reference points for you to look at.

FYI - You will find Information on the Gretzky and a couple of other dozen commonly counterfeited cards can be found at the bottom of the page under "REFERENCES".

On to Michael (MJ).

Of course not everyone has a real Jordan to compare to...but, if you can find yourself another Bulls card from 86/87 the color schemes and the card itself will match up to a real card quite well and give you a great reference. (this is true for an 79/80 OPC Oilers common, 84 Topps Dolphins card or any of the others...)

So how do you spot this?

The front of the card - 1. The Fleer Logo - The easiest thing to spot with the naked eye, though not a guarantee so look at other things as well.

A. The turn- You will see down on the banner a darker orange color than the yellow part that "Premier" is printed in. There are fakes with a darker orange so use other guidelines as well.

2. The red and blue color on the border should have a definite separation. Notice the fake card has a "blurry" effect. Also notice how deep the color is on the real card and how bold the colors are.

2. The red and blue color on the border should have a definite separation. Notice the fake card has a "blurry" effect. Also notice how deep the color is on the real card and how bold the colors are.

3. The "Chicago" on M.J.'s jersey - Notice how blurry 'Chicago' is, it's sometimes noticed on the fakes that the dot over the letter "i" looks touching the name as opposed to the real card where there is a noticeable separation of this dot. It also will appear that the loop in the letter "o" is closed off. As if that weren't enough, read on...

4. The Name plate - Notice the difference in the color blue here. almost a dark blue vs. a baby blue. You'll also notice that the name, team, position all is more "blurry" than a real card. The font is more "bubbly" on the fake than on the real and the corners of the letters aren't near as sharp on the fake. (similar to the "Fleer Crown in #1A)

5. The black borders - This same technique, will work on all but the most sophisticated fakes. If you have a loupe/magnifying glass, take a look at the black printed lines. In printing, ink is laid on a plate and then put onto the stock, it is not "printed with dots" like most consumer printers do it. (dot-matrix bubble-jet). What you will notice under the magnifying glass is that the black line is not a solid black line, but rather a bunch of small black dots put together to make line. If it's not solid, it's a print and therefore, it's a fake. A dead giveaway.

More on Michael Jordan shoes... Air Jordans are named after the American basketball legend 'His Heir-ness', Michael Jordan. It was the first in the series to hit the market and take the public sentiment by storm. To say Air Jordans was a runaway success is an understatement which You will see looking at the way people were prepared to pay steep penalties, ignoring NBA rules, rather than having to play matches without wearing them. It was the bright Color Ways in red, white and black that initially caused all the euphoria about Air Jordans, which was also the reason why the legendary player himself dared the NBA rules. When Air Jordans 1 was introduced again in 2001, it reinstated the sneakers back at No1. Given the penchant for innovation, the creators of Nike Air have done it again when the introduced Air x Air Force 1 Fusion. It was a hybrid shoe conceptualized by merging the craftsmanship and vibrancy of and basic designs of Air Force 1, and Rare Air Jordans on the latter's proven platform. For once, it is easy to tell why the makers of Nike Air have been trying hard to fuse two different sneakers into one if you see how fast they went disappearing from stands. By combining Air Jordans and Air Force 1, Nike has hit two birds in one stone. Air Force 1 Fusion is a definite boon for those who were caught between having to choose from Air Jordans or Air Force 1s. It might interest you to know why Nike Air was so popular since the late 1980's. It is the same philosophy that drives Nike which is playing behind Air Force 1 Fusion and Air Jordans fusions also. If you thought it was the hype alone that was responsible for the runway success of Nike Air and all its sequels that was to follow later, the true reason lies in their ability of making people think differently about cushioning. It is the encapsulated air, from which Nike Air Jordans take their name, which works great in combination with the ground breaking full length air unit and cup sole to cushion the foot impact in an extraordinary fashion. No one needs told how great an impact the color of the shoes can also have on their decision making.

About the Author:

About the Author: Cyndi Whittel can help you with the hottest gear urbanwear and accessories af1's, nike Fusions and Air Force One/Shocks/Dunks visit custom air force ones website or : fusion jordans 2009 site.

The Worst Celebrity Tie In Pinball Machines Ever

By Ross Everett

Although celebrity tie-ins with pinball machines have been a part of the industry since the outset (as evidenced by the 1930s Man-o-War in honor of the legendary race horse) the heyday of the genre was during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Until that time, celebrity references were either by inference (Bonanza from 1964) or somewhat tongue in cheek (1967s Beat Time featuring those lovable mop tops The Bootles). The release of the film version of The Whos rock opera Tommy launched the era of the licensed celebrity tie-in.

For the next twenty years, pinball machines offered a tangible proof of having arrived for the celebrities they featured. As the 20th century drew to a close, this measure was somewhat diluted by the purchase of pinball manufacturers by large entertainment conglomerates, most notably Columbia Pictures who owned D. Gottlieb and Company for a time. This resulted in pinball machines rushed to market featuring the current would-be box office hit, particularly in the sci-fi/adventure genres. Despite the decline of the pinball industry, the one remaining manufacturer (Stern Pinball) continues to focus on pop culture themed machines including The Sopranos and World Poker Tour that reflect whats popular with the games heavily male audience.

The many celebrity tie-in machines have resulted in some bad choices. Below, a list of the worst of the celebrity themed pinball genre. Note that this list is based on the celebrity tie in alone and not on the qualitative merits of the machine:

5) Phantom of the Opera by Data East (1990):

The Andrew Lloyd Weber Broadway adaptation of Phantom was red hot and what goes together better than Broadway shows and pinball? Just about anything, actually. Making this otherwise fun machine even more bizarre was the recurring sound effect of a whip hitting flesh followed by an anguished scream. Unless theres a pinball playing segment among the Broadway show fan and/or sadist demographic Im not aware of this is a real head scratcher.

4) Rescue: 911 by Premier Technology (1994):

Rescue: 911 was a big hit TV series at the time of the games release. Think a less exploitative version of Cops, but featuring real life footage of firemen and paramedics performing rescues. As a bonus, it was hosted by the venerable William Shatner. The game was fairly entertaining, but at the root of the theme was the creepy reality that they were equating a pinball game with real life disasters and human tragedy.

3) Mike Bossy, The Scoring Machine by Gameplan, Inc. (1982):

During the early 1980s there wasnt a more dominant hockey team than the New York Islanders, who won four straight Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1984. Despite having talent at every position, the Isles offensive weapon was undoubtedly Mike Bossy who scored 50 goals or more in 9 straight seasons. The backglass was little more than a big image of Bossys face with no other identifying characteristics like his name or team logo. Bossy was as solid of a scorer as has ever played in the NHL , but Id speculate that at least half of the teams season ticket holders during that era wouldnt have been able to identify it was him on the backglass.

2) Dolly Parton by Bally Manufacturing (1978):

A pinball machine themed around Dolly Parton is probably not what the teenage and 20ish males who played the game were looking for. At least this can be partially explained away due to Partons enormous popularity at the time. It also has the mitigating factor of being a pretty good game and was relatively popular for Bally, as it enjoyed a production run of nearly 7,500 units. It still begs the question Were they unable to reach an agreement to get Chers rights?

1) Roy Clark The Entertainer by Fascination, Inc (1977):

The only way to account for this machine is to understand the prevalence of drug use during the 1970s. The pitch meeting for this machine probably went like this:

Here we go gentlemen: a Roy Clark pinball machine. (sniff sniff) Do you smell what I smell? I dont know about you but Im smelling money.

Clark is held in very high esteem by his fellow musicians. But even in 1977, he wasnt anything of a draw to the pinball audience which skewed heavily toward males in their 20s. Making matters worse, The Entertainer was a small, cocktail table style machine which was another short lived industry trend.

Even Clarks long running TV series Hee Haw had its own machine, although it was an unlicensed 1973 game with some very poor likenesses of Grandpa Jones and Buck Owens on the backglass. Ive spent a lot of time researching the history of pinball and havent been able to uncover a country music subculture within the industry. From these machines, you'd think there was a big demographic of country music fans playing pinball in the 1970's.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is is a well known expert on amusement and gambling technology, including pinball, slot machines and sports betting. He has also written extensively on pinball and slot machine history, as well as strategies to successfully bet on NFL football. He is currently writing a multi-volume history of the pinball industry worldwide.

Thank You, Jeremy Roenick

By Abe Gromash

Jeremy Roenick has always been one of those polarizing hockey players. He has his lovers, and he has his haters. His haters may even outnumber his lovers. For this reason, Roenick's retirement announcement last year was heavily overlooked.

But focusing on the guy's theatrics and dismissing his contributions because you believe all hockey players ought to be brainless drones with zippers for mouth-holes is a convenient way to overlook the stunning array of on-ice achievements that should make Roenick a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame one day.

In his heyday with the Chicago Blackhawks, Roenick put up two 50-goal seasons and three 100-plus point campaigns. He played in nine all-star games, two Olympic tournaments, one Canada Cup and one World Cup. He retires as the league's third-best American-born scorer of both goals (513) and points (1,216) and is the NHL's 39th-best point-producer of all time.

Roenick's detractors will point to a lack of a Stanley Cup championship as an indictment of his 20-year NHL career, but we all know great players in every team sport who've suffered the same fate. Ascribing weakness to him, ostensibly because he liked to enjoy his life and wouldn't fully submit to the whims of overbearing coaches, is to forget exactly how very tough of a mother J.R. actually was on the ice.

Think back to some of the memories that come to mind. The Game 7 against the Coyotes despite his broken jaw, or his 2004 game against Toronto, played under similar circumstances. Roenick was always willing to play hurt.

Just two seasons ago, the hockey world had written Roenick off as a washed up player who should retire. The Sharks were adventurous enough to give him a chance, and Roenick came through for his team, leading the way with 10 game-winning goals that season.

While playing through all of these injuries was very impressive in and of itself, I was always most impressed with the voice that Roenick represented in pro hockey.

He was the voice of the NHL for quite some time, telling the league's top guns exactly what they didn't want to hear. As long as it meant good things for the players and the fans, Roenick was willing to say what needed to be said.

Congratulations on a wonderful career, Jeremy Roenick. Good luck to you in your retirement.

About the Author:

To read more hockey articles, converse at a sports forum, and answer over 55,000 trivia questions, be sure to visit rootzoo.com, the fan-powered sports community.

The Legacy Of Japan's Pro Wrestling Icon Mitsuharu Misawa

By Ross Everett

Mitsuharu Misawa died in Hiroshima, Japan earlier this year less than a week before his 47th birthday. Akitoshi Saito hit a back suplex on Misawa, which appeared to knock him unconscious. Medical staff attempted to revive him in the ring, but when CPR failed he was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Initial reports in the Japanese media suggest that he was pronounced dead at the hospital, but a number of eyewitness accounts have speculated that he may have died in the ring.

Thats at least a small bit of solace amid the tragedy of Misawas death"he died in the ring doing what he loved, and what he did better than just about anyone on the planet. Not like Owen Hart died in the ring, doing a stupid stunt in a silly character that he was reportedly assigned as punishment for refusing to go along with a storyline he felt demeaning, but working the kind of brutally stiff, athletically realistic match that got a generation hooked on Japanese wrestling.

A top level amateur wrestler in high school, his skill gained the attention of All Japan Pro Wrestling president Shohei Giant Baba. He made his professional debut in 1981, and got his first big break in 1984 when he was chosen as the second Tiger Mask replacing Satoru Sayama. In 1990, he had his longtime tag team partner (and occasional rival) Toshiaki Kawada unmask him.

Misawa would wrestle as himself from then on, and become an even bigger star in the process. In June, 1990 he became one of the top stars in All Japan Pro Wrestling when he defeated Jumbo Tsuruta. That match was his first main event appearance at the venue Cheap Trick made famous in America, the Nippon Budokan. He soon faced Triple Crown Champion Stan Hansen in an unsuccessful challenge for the title, and would become arguably the biggest native star in Japanese pro wrestling for the next decade.

Hed have legendary battles against Kawada, Hansen, Kenta Kobashi, Jun Akiyama and Steve Dr. Death Williams in singles competition. Hed also become a force on the tag team scene along with Kawada facing Williams and Terry Gordy along with Tsuruta and Akira Taue. Misawa would continue as a mainstay in AJPW until the early part of this decade. After the death of Giant Baba, he repeatedly bumped heads with his widow over the companys direction and in 2000 quit to establish Pro Wrestling NOAH. He would serve as the companys president while wrestling a full time schedule until his untimely death.

Japanese pro wrestling served as an introduction for many American fans into shoot fight sports and MMA. Before the Internet, fans would trade videotapes to stay up on the latest matches from Japan and along with Jushin Thunder Liger and The Great Muta Keiji Mutoh it safe to say that Misawa is one of the wrestlers most responsible for getting a generation of American fans hooked on the product. Were it not for the subculture he created in America, later wrestling promotions like Ring of Honor and MMA promotions like the UFC wouldn't have had a ready made audience to tap into.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for a number of offshore sportsbooks and an authority on NFL football betting . He's a published expert on sports handicapping theory, as well as financial investment strategy. He contributes to a number of online media outlets providing insight on how to bet on NFL football, soccer and boxing.

Have You Thought Of Buddhist Meditation?

By Ferdinand Emy

Buddhist meditation is one of the most complex and varied forms of meditation on the earth. Practiced by millions of individuals, this form of meditation is varied by the school that teaches it. As every school has a different method of teaching, the specific forms of Buddhist meditation is ofttimes unique to that school. All the same, there're many principles of Buddhist meditation that's carried over between the various schools.

The general goal of Buddhist meditation is to pursue repose and insight to obtain Enlightenment and Nirvana. Typically, this is done through the Samatha meditations and the Vipassana meditations. Samatha is a reference towards quietude, while Vipassana is a reference towards insight. Each of these types have diverse methods, and these distinct methods are all employd to develop sure aspects of yourself.

In Buddhist meditation, the Samatha meditations are responsible for developing concentration, loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. Some schools will also develop more aspects of the self, but these five aspects almost Always tend to be pursued.

In Buddhist meditation, the Vipassana mediation tends to develop inner peace and freedom, clarity of self, as well as aspects of wisdom and compassion. because of the belief system of the Buddhist, a good number of forms of Samatha overlap Vipassana, which is acceptable as achieving Enlightenment and Nirvana is through the combination of both Vipassan and Samatha.

If you don't believe in the Buddhist religion, you may still make utilise of the fundamental methods of meditation, Although much of the spirituality and meaning behind the meditations is lost. Non-Buddhists tend to strive towards health and mental clarity, in addition as other non-Buddhist goals. This converts the concentrate of the meditations, Although still permits non-Buddhists to benefit from the form.

Buddhist meditation is a combination of thought and breathing techniques. These two basic techniques span across all of the schools. Nevertheless, the number of steps employd to master the techniques of meditation are extremely varied. For instance, the Theravada tradition has a little over ninety ways to develop the mind and concentration. The Tibetan tradition, on the other hand, has thousands of visualization meditations.

Most teachers of Buddhist meditation will only teach from the school they were originally taught from. There're only a few teachers that will try to span the diverse schools and categorize the practices of these diverse schools.

Buddhist meditation is normally guided until the principles of meditation have been taught to the pupil.

About the Author:

There are many benefits of meditation especially for busy people. Ferdinand is the author of meditation for busy people, come over and get a Free Guided Meditation now

Learn More About HO Model Trains

By Ferdinand Emy

Model trains have been around for nearly as long as actual trains have. They have been designed and manufactured by companies from different parts of the world, with very various specifications. This is specially true for models built in the first decades of the last century.

As time passed by, scales and standards were established between companies that produced model trains and accessories for them. Companies who began working with other companies had to establish standards in order to make products and accessories that were compatible.

On the other hand, the fair and the customers discovered that they liked some trains excellent than others, and so the specifications that were preferred stayed, and those that weren't tended to disappear.

Scales are one of the most common standards that are employd for model trains. A scale is a measure of the relationship of dimensions of a model train compared to a real train. It's measured in ratios. A ratio consists of two numbers separated by a colon. The first number is Regularly one, while the second number represents how much of a given measurement corresponds to real dimensions.

For example, a scale of 1:40 means that if a good number ofthing measures one inch on a model train, it'll measure 40 inches on a actual train

The most common scale employd in English speaking countries is the HO scale. HO model trains employ this scale to keep their proportions equal to the proportions of the trains they are representing.

Although the nomenclature is HO model trains, in the United States of America, Japan and Australia, the rest of the countries know it as H0 model trains, with the letter O replaced by the number zero. Both nomenclatures HO model trains and H0 model trains pronounce the letter O or the zero as oh.

HO model trains use a scale of 1:87, which makes then one of the littleest model trains in the marketplace . In fact the term HO model trains, comes from the fact that they are almost twice as little as the O scale, which is 1:43. Therefore, they were called Half model trains, or HO model trains for short.

HO model trains are so known that there are literally thousands of models created with distinct materials. Prices can be as cheap as fifty or a hundred dollars or they can range up to thousands of dollars, depending on quality, materials, and level of assembly required. Their popularity similarly means that its relatively easy to buy HO model trains accessories and tracks.

All in all, HO model trains are a very good choice for taking up model railroading. They can be inpricey, simple to get and with a good balance between detail and size.

About the Author:

There are important things you must take into account before spending money on Hobbies Train head over now and learn the basics of hobby train

Rafa Nadal - The New Star

By Edward Pagan

Sometimes referred to as 'Rafa,' Rafael Nadal is a native of Spain who has made a massive impact in the world of tennis.

Born June three, 1986 in Manacor, Mallorca, Rafael Nadal is the son of Sebastian and Ana Maria Nadal.

Standing 6'1' and weighing 178 lbs, Rafael Nadal turned into a professional tennis player in 2001 after having played since four years old. Fans shouldn't let this young age trick them as Rafael Nadal nabbed his first championship at just eight years old.

Under the guidance and teaching of Toni Nadal, his uncle, Rafael Nadal commenced learning to play tennis extraordinarily early in life as is evident from his early championship.

Toni, who remains Rafael's coach, is a particularly crucial part of this kid's success.

In 2005, he won 11 titles and also captured recognition as the 'Most Improved Player' for 2005 as named by the ATP.

In June 2006, Rafael Nadal won his 2nd Roland Garros crown and also scored his 100th claycourt career victory.

That same month, Rafael Nadal turned twenty and finished his teen years with major success.

Even though Rafael Nadal is right-handed, he plays left-handed and produces a backhand using both. As with lots top athletes in their sport, Rafael Nadal is managed by IMG and is sometimes found in Nike attire.

Fans who would like to request a signed photograph or simply send Rafael Nadal their best wishes are advised to do so in care of his professional connection.

If you are asking for an autograph, be sure to include a SASE ( self-addressed stamped envelope ) along with your request.

Popular items to have signed include blank index cards and photos. It is usually recommended that fans not send any item that they can't afford to lose, for example cherished possessions and/or limited edition collectibles.

Depending on the athlete's schedule, autographs may be authentic, secretarial, pre-printed or not possible to provide. Patience is the key to requesting autographs by mail, particularly when you are talking about an athlete as popular as Rafael Nadal.

Depending on the sportsman's schedule, autographs could be authentic, secretarial, pre-printed or even not possible to provide. Patience is the key to asking for autographs by mail, particularly when you're talking about a sports figure as popular as Rafael Nadal.

Letters and requests should be mailed to: Rafael Nadal ATP Tennis 201 ATP Blvd. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.

About the Author:

Find more on Rafael Nadal and Nadal profile.

Info on Air Jordan shoes and How to spot fake Jordan Bulls cards

By Cyndi Whittel

So you've found a Jordan and you can't wait to get it graded! It's so nice and you got it so cheap you can't hardly believe it! Well, before you go spending your hard earned money to buy this card, or spend money to have it graded step back and take a closer look.

Many of these same techniques and items to look for are similar to any fake card. Realizing that they are around is the first step to protecting yourself, finding out how to spot them is the next.

A loupe/magnifying glass and this tiny amount of knowledge can go a long ways towards protecting your hard earned dollar.

Download and make sure to check out the included images that are close ups from several of the key reference points for you to look at.

FYI - Information on the Gretzky and a couple dozen other commonly counterfeited cards can be found at the bottom of the page under "REFERENCES"

On to Michael (MJ).

Of course not everyone has a real Jordan to compare to...but, if you can find yourself another Bulls card from 86/87 the color schemes and the card itself will match up to a real card quite well and give you a great reference. (this is true for an 79/80 OPC Oilers common, 84 Topps Dolphins card or any of the others...)

So how do you spot this?

A. The turn- You will see down on the banner a darker orange than the yellow area that "Premier" is printed in. There are fakes with a darker orange so use other guidelines too.

B. Also notice the red crown. On the real card the points are quite sharp, the word "Fleer" is sharp and doesn't seem to have the fuzzier edges. This card is also in a different font. The real one is quite sharp with sharp corners on the letters vs. a more "bubbly" type of font. The color is also a much more bold red.

B. Also notice the red crown...on the real card the points are quite sharp, the word "Fleer" is more sharp and doesn't seem to have the fuzzy edges it also is a different font. The real one is quite sharp with sharp corners on the letters vs a more "bubble-like" font. The color is also a bolder red.

2. The red and blue color on the border should have a definite separation. Notice the fake card has a "blurry" effect. Also notice how deep the color is on the real card and how bold the colors are.

3. The "Chicago" on M.J.'s jersey - Notice how blurry 'Chicago' is, it's sometimes noticed on the fakes that the dot over the letter "i" looks touching the name as opposed to the real card where there is a noticeable separation of this dot. It also will appear that the loop in the letter "o" is closed off. As if that weren't enough, read on...

4. The Name plate - Notice the difference in the color blue here. almost a dark blue vs. a baby blue. You'll also notice that the name, team, position all is more "blurry" than a real card. The font is more "bubbly" on the fake than on the real and the corners of the letters aren't near as sharp on the fake. (similar to the "Fleer Crown in #1A)

5. The black borders - This same technique, will work on all but the most sophisticated fakes. If you have a loupe/magnifying glass, take a look at the black printed lines. In printing, ink is laid on a plate and then put onto the stock, it is not "printed with dots" like most consumer printers do it. (dot-matrix bubble-jet). What you will notice under the magnifying glass is that the black line is not a solid black line, but rather a bunch of small black dots put together to make line. If it's not solid, it's a print and therefore, it's a fake. A dead giveaway.

More on Michael Jordan shoes... Air Jordans are named after the American basketball legend 'His Heir-ness', Michael Jordan. It was the first in the series to hit the market and take the public sentiment by storm. To say Air Jordans was a runaway success is an understatement which You will see looking at the way people were prepared to pay steep penalties, ignoring NBA rules, rather than having to play matches without wearing them. It was the bright Color Ways in red, white and black that initially caused all the euphoria about Air Jordans, which was also the reason why the legendary player himself dared the NBA rules. When Air Jordans 1 was introduced again in 2001, it reinstated the sneakers back at No1. Given the penchant for innovation, the creators of Nike Air have done it again when the introduced Air x Air Force 1 Fusion. It was a hybrid shoe conceptualized by merging the craftsmanship and vibrancy of and basic designs of Air Force 1, and Rare Air Jordans on the latter's proven platform. For once, it is easy to tell why the makers of Nike Air have been trying hard to fuse two different sneakers into one if you see how fast they went disappearing from stands. By combining Air Jordans and Air Force 1, Nike has hit two birds in one stone. Air Force 1 Fusion is a definite boon for those who were caught between having to choose from Air Jordans or Air Force 1s. It might interest you to know why Nike Air was so popular since the late 1980's. It is the same philosophy that drives Nike which is playing behind Air Force 1 Fusion and Air Jordans fusions also. If you thought it was the hype alone that was responsible for the runway success of Nike Air and all its sequels that was to follow later, the true reason lies in their ability of making people think differently about cushioning. It is the encapsulated air, from which Nike Air Jordans take their name, which works great in combination with the ground breaking full length air unit and cup sole to cushion the foot impact in an extraordinary fashion. No one needs told how great an impact the color of the shoes can also have on their decision making.

About the Author:

About the Author: Cyndi Whittel can help you with the hottest gear urbanwear and accessories af1's, nike Fusions and Air Force One/Shocks/Dunks visit custom air force ones website or : fusion jordan shoes site.

Michael Jackson Website

By Mbonda Nkopit

The Michael Jackson website lets fans have a discussion to one another and contribute to their feelings and memories of their favorite music star. The most recent reports are posted there for fans to see. The Michael Jackson Website also has pictures, music and a supporter store for everybody to look thru.

This site permits fans to connect to their idol in a way that is otherwise not possible. They can share their joys and their sorrows. Discuss their favorite songs and videos. They can find out about Michael Jackson's last plans for the tour he was planning before his badly timed death.

Official photos are posted for fans to enjoy. They can also upload their own photographs with Michael as well as fan art and other ways they have chosen to memorialize their favorite pop star. These pictures are shared with all of the other fans. The site honors the crucial role that fans have played in the life of Michael Jackson and his music.

For those that wish to hear Michael Jackson, some songs are posted to hear. A copy of the Thriller video is available for them to view to honor the 25th anniversary of its release. News is posted from Michael Jackson's concert promoters and his record companies that fans must know are also kept here.

Members of the family post their messages for the fans. It is a way for them to thank the fans for their munificence and faithfulness to Michael Jackson and his legacy. All press statements and stories about mementos fans have left in honor of Michael Jackson are posted here for fans to read.

Other fan sites have grown as well, but the official site is still one of the finest places to discover anything official about Michael Jackson. All other stories from other sites may only be rumor. The official site is the only one that guarantees that all news is right.

A great way to remember Michael Jackson on your own is to enjoy the Michael Jackson Ultimate Collection. It includes 4 discs of music that follow his complete career from the Jackson 5 to his most recent releases. It also has a DVD of music videos and concert photographs.

By going to the Michael Jackson website you be able to meet the other fans and impart your own opinion about this amazing singer. You may be an active participant with all the others in commemorating him. Spend some time at the Michael Jackson site and join in.

About the Author:

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The Michael Jackson Ultimate Collection

By Mbonda Nkopit

If you're a fan of Michael Jackson, don't miss out on adding the Michael Jackson ultimate Collection to your albums. The Michael Jackson ultimate Collection is a set of 4 audio CDs and one video DVD. If you don't have any other album by this artist, this 1 will make up for anything you missed.

Known as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson had a career that spanned several decades. Beginning in the late 1960s with the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson became the idol of many music fans of all ages. By 1972, he was starting to record solo albums. By 1975, they left Motown Records and signed with CBS Records.

In 1978, Michael Jackson played the scarecrow in the film version of the musical, The Wiz. He also helped Quincy Jones arrange the score for the film. They also collaborated to provide the album "Off the Wall", including tunesmiths Paul McCartney, Rod Temperton and Stevie Wonder.

In 1980, he won three Yankee Music Awards and was recognized by the billboard Music Awards. When you hear Michael Jackson, you'll see how his music evolved in the 1980s. With the release of "Thriller" Michael Jackson's status as a true music icon was strongly established.

With this final collection, you get a few tracks from Michael Jackson's early days with the Jackson five. It also contains some songs that were formerly no longer in print, like "You Can't Win," "Someone Put Your Hand Out" and "Someone in the Dark" from the flick E.T. The alien. Of course all his well known songs are included as well.

Visit the Michael Jackson website and you will find out a ton more about the man and his music. The video DVD contains plenty of his music videos, including "Thriller" and "Beat It." It also includes a concert he did in Bucharest in 1992 that was broadcast by HBO during his "Dangerous" tour.

Through his long career, Michael Jackson experimented with many musical styles. From ballads to techno; swing to funk, he managed to thrill his audiences repeatedly with his new songs as well as those that became classics.

Adding together the Michael Jackson ultimate Collection to your own song compilation will provide you a best meaning of his transitions throughout his career. The different styles and trends he made are all there to enjoy. The Michael Jackson final Collection will finish up being a favorite in your compilation, as it is in many others'.

About the Author:

Before you buy michael jackson ultimate collection, Make efforts to confirm Mbonda Nkopit wonderful writings at his michael jackson ultimate collection blog

Michael Jackson CD's a Great Way to Remember His Genius

By Melody Peterson

The world was plunged into shock, when it lost its greatest ever entertainer. It will become one of those moments that people recall with the phrase, "Where were you when Michael Jackson died?" The loss felt by so many millions of fans has been just one of the driving forces behind the high numbers in which Michael Jackson cd's have been flying off the shelves of music stores worldwide.

Intrigue still surrounds the private life of the best entertainer the world has been fortunate to create; however, it is for his music and the passion he managed to articulate through his songs that will be his true legacy.

It is interesting how public feeling towards his music has not actually changed that much however, with most top ten posting singles coming from the Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad albums.

As Michael Jackson cd's continued to sell out, extra orders were placed with distributors in response to the high demand. Even with demand not being able to be completely fulfilled, the King of Pop's most popular albums such as; "Thriller", "Off The Wall" and "Bad", also made it to number one in a host of countries.

It wasn't just in CD format that records were broken however. In this ever digital age, Jackson reached the top of the Apple iTunes download charts in the US, and Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada and New Zealand simultaneously, suggests a younger generation of buyers are equally eager to purchase the star's music.

Whilst Jackson's music in all formats continues to sell well, the public preference does seem to be for Michael Jackson cd's. Whether this is due to the age of those most likely to buying his music, or simply to own a tangible memento from the King of Pop is unclear. However, it is with grim irony that the turnover in sales is what the star and his team had planned when announcing his "This Is It" tour.

Whilst the records broken now are only from his back catalog, it will surely only be a matter of time before his currently unreleased materials start topping the charts. As AEG scrabble to contain their losses from the cancellation of the "This Is It" tour, we can expect something by Christmas of 2009 at the very latest.

The rehearsal sessions for his UK comeback are already going to press, whilst it is also already known that Jackson cut over 40 unreleased songs. These are certain to be released. It is also rumored that a lot more material exists; so completely new Michael Jackson cd's will continue to be seen for many years to come.

About the Author:

Melody Peterson enjoys writing about many topics including celebrity news. If you are looking for a great selection of Michael Jackson CDs at low prices, be sure to visit http://www.michaeljackson--cds.com

Downloading Movies - Top 10 Advantages

By Martin Cracknell

There are so many advantages to watch I Sell The Dead free from the Internet. The practice is so popular that customers now have a vast array of websites that have all types of services and packages to choose from.

1. The Prices Are Affordable

The number one benefit of downloading movies from the Internet is the package and pricing plans that movie websites offer. They've made it so affordable, that it's hard to stick with the old-fashioned DVD disc anymore.

Some websites offer a fixed monthly fee for unlimited downloads, while other websites charge a per movie download fee. The plan you choose to go with all depends on your movie viewing activities. If you have the ability to watch a lot of movies every month, then an unlimited plan is your best bet. On the other hand, if you normally watch only a few movies every month, then a per download fee will better suit your needs.

Because your provider will automatically charge your credit card every month, the billing process is effortless. You don't have to concern yourself with having another bill to go and pay online or having any interruption in service. You can even earn rewards on your credit card.

In any economy, cost is always a driving factor for any product. The ability to download movies allows you to reduce your household expenses. You'll find that even with per movie download fees, the cost will be cheaper than going out and renting the movie. This is also true with going to see the movie in theaters. After you factor in the cost of drinks, popcorn, and tickets, you'll find that staying at home and downloading movies is the most cost-effective solution.

2. You Don't Have To Drive

The best thing about downloading movies is that you can select and see movies right from your home. You not only save money on gas, but you also you save on time. We all know how precious time is these days -- now you don't have to wait in check-out lines or traffic anymore.

You don't have to go out in bad weather conditions and you don't have to avoid going out all together and settling on television programs. You can have a calm movie viewing experience over and over again. Let's face it, the last thing you want to do after a hard day at work is to go back out again. Downloading movies helps you stay at home and spend more time with your family.

3. Eliminate Late Fees

Another great benefit to downloading movies from the Internet is being able to be worry-free, no-hassle experience. You don't have to run to the movie rental store to drop off your movie on time. We've all had to pay a late fee at one time or another. Having one less worry in the back of your mind is everyone's goal.

You don't have to remember what the store hours are or trying to get there before they close. Since movie websites are open 24 hours a day, it means no more late fees, no added expenses and no more worries.

4. No Damaged Discs

When you handle DVD discs, you have to worry about damage if you rent or buy a movie. Getting scratches on discs seems to happen no matter how carefully you handle the discs. If you return a damaged or badly scratched disc to a movie rental store will result in a fine. When you buy a DVD disc that ends up getting a bad scratch will mean the disc will not play well or even at all. In either scenario, money is being wasted.

Damages and extra fees are no longer a problem when you download movies from the Internet. Since you are able store all you downloaded movies on your hard drive, these problems are eliminated. There is no longer any discs to handle, no more damages or scratches, and no more money wasted.

5. Enhanced Selection

The best benefit to downloading movies from the Internet is the utter size of online movie collections. The possibilities are endless, whereas in DVD stores and movie rental stores they are limited. Online movie websites are frequently updating their collections and many of them have tens of thousands of movies to choose from.

You can download a 24 hours a day, making it simple to watch your favorite movie at any time. The days of driving to a store only to find that they do not carry the title you're looking for or that it is not currently available because all of the copies are out are over.

The movie websites also index their movies by the most popular movies in a genre, the most popular movie downloads and the most popular movies ever, among many other types of categories. These categories end up providing you with great movie suggestions that you wouldn't normally see. This kind of service can't be found in a regular store.

6. Ease of Use

The movie websites make it very easy for customers to search and purchase their movies. Searching movie titles can be done by title, genre, year, and actor so that you don't have waste time trying to find what you are looking for.

Downloaded movies are only a click away and can be watched right on your computer or streamed to your television. You can also make copies of the downloaded movies to blank DVD discs if that is part of the features of your plan. You choose the movie experience you would like to have.

7. You Can Preview Movie Trailers

Online movie websites permit you to preview the movie you are about to download. At traditional stores you can only read the DVD cover.

This is a great feature of online movie download websites. You can truly get a feel for what the movie is all about instead just reading a description of the actors and plot.

8. Storage Costs Are Low

As your DVD movie collection continues to grow, you have to spend money on extra furniture, storage racks, or storage cases to keep all of your DVD's in. When you download movies from the Internet, you don't have to worry about having to acquire all of these extra storage costs.

You have the capability of saving your downloaded movies from the Internet straight to your hard drive. You not only save money but you also save time. The price of extra hard drive space has gotten so low that it is cheaper than having to buying blank DVD discs to copy the movies to. And when you save straight to your hard drive, you cut out the time of copying the movie to disc.

9. Community Reviews

You can get genuine opinions on the movies you are interested in downloading from the Internet before purchasing it. You can read about people's views and evaluations while you make your decision on a movie. You can't get this in a traditional store when you are just reading a description off of a DVD cover.

Having real opinions can end up saving you time on a movie that turns out to be a dud. Let others do the work for you, so you can move onto a movie that is worthwhile. They've spent the time finding out if it was a great movie or if it was a terrible one. You can also become a part of the movie website's online move review community, if it is available on the site. You can build a profile, upload your picture, take part in movie discussions and find people who have your same interests to chat with.

10. Flexibility

There are multiple ways that you can view your downloaded movies. You can play it from your portable DVD player, your IPOD, your DVD player, your laptop, stream it to your television, or make a copy to disc and play it on your DVD player. You can stop and re-start the downloaded movies at any time without worrying about late fees, damages, driving time, waiting time, movie theater food expense, or gas expenses. Watch them over and over again when and where you want.

There is really no better way to watch I Sell The Dead online for free. Downloaded movies can be the most convenient and economical way to build your movie collection. You now have the extra time and money to watch even more movies. You can have a better movie experience within the privacy of your own home with no added costs and no having to get ready to go out and drive to a traditional store or theater.

About the Author:

Check here for the latest movie release dates and movie tickets.

Sex And The City - Enjoy The Videos While You Wait For The Movie!

By Lola Jasminia

Over 5 years after it's grand finale, fans of Sex And The City, from all over the world, are patiently awaiting the release of the next SATC sequal. For many women, watching the re-runs of Sex And The City is as essential as shoe shopping and gossip! And it's especially important, now, to know the full story before the next movie is released.

The Success of a Groundbreaking Television Series

The first episode of Sex And The City aired in 1998 and was viewed by almost 4 million people. By the final episode, taking place under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, this smash hit had over 10 million faithful fans a week.

Since the first episode (which drew in 3.7 million viewers) to the last (drawing over 10 million), we have known that these women were something out of the ordinary. And, though they represent extremes, most of us can find something of ourselves in at least one of them.

Following the Struggle of Four Strong Women

Through the six series we are introduced to the many issues that modern women face. Though they may have more freedom in terms of careers and money, this comes at a price.

Advice columnist, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her high power, New York Businessman, Mr. Big (Chris Noth) have center stage throughout the series' six episodes with their on-again/off-again rollercoaster relationship. After following her to Paris and finally winning her over, Big and Carrie make it to the altar. But what lies in store for them in the sequal?

For Charlotte (Kristin Davis), the eternal optimism, love doesnt come easy. But persistence pays off, and she finally gets the family she wants and deserves by the end of Sex and the City: the Movie.

Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) always struggled with her own self-confidence and direction in life. This is shown throughout the hilarious yet thoughtful portrayal of her pregnancy and motherhood after season 4, as well as the on-off relationship with husband Steve (David Eigenberg).

And not much needs to be said about Samantha (Kim Cattrall) " the promiscuous, career-hungry woman who isnt afraid to take exactly what she wants from life. Not to mention the fact that shes helped women all over the world be proud to say Im forty-f*****g-five!

The Show Lives On

As much as anything else, watching any Sex and the City video from series one to six chronicles an immense catalog of fashion. Nobody can deny how Sex and the City stylist, Patricia Field, transcended fashion trends and even set them " down to every last detail. Women across the world are all eagerly anticipating the new fashion trends yet to be set by Sex and the City 2.

All of the best movie highlights and uncut episodes are available in the form of Sex And The City video, and you can snap them up for a fraction of the cost with the series boxset. Get YOUR set now and catch up with the girls before the next movie is released!

About the Author:

Lola Jasminia is patiently awaiting the release of the next Sex And The City Movie. Have you bought your new shoes yet?? In the meantime, join her at Sex And The City Video Blog for episode highlights, videos, character information and some good, old fashioned Movie Gossip!

Dana White And Tito Ortiz Kiss And Make Up

By Ross Everett

In the 'real world' time heals all wounds. In the fight game, money has the same curative effect. This was vividly illustrated with the recent announcement that Tito Ortiz has patched things up with Dana White and will return to the UFC. Tito left the promotion over a year ago after a highly publicized split with the UFC president. He never found a new promotional home that would give him the money and the high profile status that he craved.

Ortiz has had several run ins with the UFC over their notoriously tight pay structure, and first left the promotion in 2005. He was back later that year for a run as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter against longtime rival Ken Shamrock. After losing to current light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida in his last UFC appearance, he left the company and bounced around in a promotional capacity. He had surgery on his back in the process, and now claims that hes back to 100%.

Whether or not Ortiz is near his top form as a competitor is of secondary importance to the UFC since his true value has never been questioned"people will pay to see him fight. Ortiz is a fighter that offers no middle ground of public opinion, as people either love him or hate him. That dynamic is box office and PPV gold, a fact not lost on the savvy UFC brass. Dana White evoked the same theme in his comments on Ortiz at a Friday press conference in Las Vegas:

"Tito and I have a history that everyone knows. He's still a guy that everyone wants to see fight. He said his back has healed perfectly and he's ready to take a shot at the title. He's one of those guys that people love and people love to hate. We've put all our differences aside, have squashed everything and will move forward, and Tito will retire in the UFC."

To which Ortiz offered this response:

"Time really cures everything. Dana was a man of his word. Dana apologized to me. We're like boyfriend and girlfriend."

Ortiz indicated that White and UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta came to his home in Huntington Beach, California and made him the proverbial offer he couldnt refuse:

"I'm happy, I'm satisfied, You'll never hear anything about money again.

While neither Ortiz nor White would speculate on a timetable for his debut or his first opponents, sources suggest that he could debut on the UFCs New Years card against Mark Coleman. Coleman is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Stephan Bonnar at UFC 100 in mid July.

To best understand Titos appeal and why the UFC was so anxious to re-sign him, well paraphrase HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant. Merchant once noted in reference to George Foreman during his 'comeback' that there are many fighters, but very few stars. Like George Foreman, Tito Ortiz is a star. Some love him, some hate him but people pay to watch him fight.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for a number of offshore sportsbooks and an authority on sports betting . He's a noted expert on sports handicapping theory, as well as stock and investment strategy. He contributes to a number of websites providing insight on how to bet on UFC, MMA and boxing.

The Best Advantages To Downloading Movies

By Richard Atherton

Being able to free movie downloads from the Internet comes with so many benefits. The practice of downloading movies has become very common place. Customers now have a large number of websites to select from which have all kinds of services and packages to offer.

1. Affordable Pricing

The number one benefit of downloading movies from the Internet is the package and pricing plans that movie websites offer. They've made it so affordable, that it's hard to stick with the old-fashioned DVD disc anymore.

Some websites offer a fixed monthly fee for unlimited downloads, while other websites charge a per movie download fee. The plan you choose to go with all depends on your movie viewing activities. If you have the ability to watch a lot of movies every month, then an unlimited plan is your best bet. On the other hand, if you normally watch only a few movies every month, then a per download fee will better suit your needs.

Billing is simple because the websites automatically charge your credit card every month, that way you don't have to worry about any interruption in service or having another bill to go and pay online. You can also earn rewards on your credit card in the process.

The cost of a product is always a driving factor of its purchase. You can reduce your household expenses when you download movies. The cost will be cheaper than going out and renting the movie, even if you choose a plan that charges you a per movie download. Even watching movies in theaters is expensive after you take into account the cost of drinks, popcorn, and tickets. Staying at home and downloading movies is the most cost-effective solution.

2. You Don't Have To Drive

One of the greatest benefits of downloading movies from the Internet is that you can watch movies right in your home. You pick the movie you like and then watch it instantly. You save money on gas and you save time. With extra time being so precious these days, it's great to know that you don't have to wait in check-out lines or traffic anymore.

You don't have to go out in bad weather conditions and you don't have to avoid going out all together and settling on television programs. You can have a calm movie viewing experience over and over again. Let's face it, the last thing you want to do after a hard day at work is to go back out again. Downloading movies helps you stay at home and spend more time with your family.

3. Eliminate Late Fees

You're able to have worry-free, no-hassle experience when you download movies from the Internet. You don't have to worry about getting to the local movie rental store to drop off your movie before you're late. Almost everyone has had to pay a late fee at one time or another and it's frankly a real bother. Being able to have one less worry in the back of your mind is everyone's goal.

You don't have to remember what the store hours are or trying to get there before they close. Since movie websites are open 24 hours a day, it means no more late fees, no added expenses and no more worries.

4. Damaged Discs Are a Worry of the Past

When you handle DVD discs, you have to worry about damage if you rent or buy a movie. Getting scratches on discs seems to happen no matter how carefully you handle the discs. If you return a damaged or badly scratched disc to a movie rental store will result in a fine. When you buy a DVD disc that ends up getting a bad scratch will mean the disc will not play well or even at all. In either scenario, money is being wasted.

When you download movies from the Internet, damages and extra fees are no longer a dilemma. Being able to download movies eliminates these problems because you can store all your movies on your hard drive. No more discs, no more damage, and no more money down the drain.

5. Better Selection

The best benefit to downloading movies from the Internet is the utter size of online movie collections. The possibilities are endless, whereas in DVD stores and movie rental stores they are limited. Online movie websites are frequently updating their collections and many of them have tens of thousands of movies to choose from.

You no longer have to worry about driving to a store only to find that they do not carry your title or that it is not currently available because the rented copies are all out. When you download movies from the Internet, they are always accessible for download 24 hours a day. You can have your favorite movie waiting for you when you get home.

The movie websites also catalog the movies by the most popular movies in a genre, the most popular movie downloads and the most popular movies ever, among many other categories. They provide wonderful suggestions for movies you wouldn't have thought to download. You can't find this kind of service in a regular store.

6. Straightforward Website Maneuverability

The movie websites make it very easy for customers to search and purchase their movies. Searching movie titles can be done by title, genre, year, and actor so that you don't have waste time trying to find what you are looking for.

Movies are always at your fingertips and can be watched right on your computer or streamed to your television. You can also make copies of the downloaded movies to DVD disc if you want. You can choose the movie experience you want to have.

7. You Can Preview The Movies

Another benefit of downloading movies online is the ability to preview the movie you are about to purchase. Unlike traditional stores where you can only read the cover, websites allow you to preview the movie you are about to purchase.

This is a great feature of online movie download websites. You can truly get a feel for what the movie is all about instead just reading a description of the actors and plot.

8. Reduced Storage Costs

By downloading movies from the Internet, you don't have to worry about traditional storage costs. As your DVD movie collection grows, you have to invest in additional furniture, storage cases or storage racks to house all of your DVD's.

You have the capability of saving your downloaded movies from the Internet straight to your hard drive. You not only save money but you also save time. The price of extra hard drive space has gotten so low that it is cheaper than having to buying blank DVD discs to copy the movies to. And when you save straight to your hard drive, you cut out the time of copying the movie to disc.

9. Community Reviews

You can get genuine opinions on the movies you are interested in downloading from the Internet before purchasing it. You can read about people's views and evaluations while you make your decision on a movie. You can't get this in a traditional store when you are just reading a description off of a DVD cover.

Having real opinions can end up saving you time on a movie that turns out to be a dud. Let others find that out for you, so you can move onto a movie that is worthwhile. Most websites also allow you to become part of their online community where you can build a profile and take part in discussions on movies. You might even find someone with your interests that can recommend movies for you to watch.

10. You're Able To Be Flexible

There are multiple ways that you can view your downloaded movies. You can play it from your portable DVD player, your IPOD, your DVD player, your laptop, stream it to your television, or make a copy to disc and play it on your DVD player. You can stop and re-start the downloaded movies at any time without worrying about late fees, damages, driving time, waiting time, movie theater food expense, or gas expenses. Watch them over and over again when and where you want.

download GI Joe The Rise of Cobra from the Internet is the best way to watch movies. They are also the most suitable and inexpensive way to build your movie collection. You can watch more movies because you have the extra time and money. Start having a better movie experience within the privacy of your own home with no added costs and no driving to a traditional store or theater.

About the Author:

Check here for the latest movie release dates and movie tickets.

Las Vegas Poker Superstar Stu Ungar

By Ross Everett

Too often amazing talents are given to those people who are not able to handle them. Such was the case of poker legend Stu Ungar, who had skills at the card table unrivaled in history. Unfortunately, his ineptitude at every day life and self destructive behavior was equally legendary. Ungar would eventually succumb to his demons, and was found dead in his room at the Oasis Motel in Las Vegas in late 1998.

Ungar's skills at the poker table were like Mozart's at the piano. While countless volumes of poker strategy and theory have been written, Ungar's understanding of the game was downright instinctive. Ungar's greatest achievement was his three World Series of Poker victories, but he won millions in informal games and profitable card room sessions. The amazing thing about Ungar's sheer mastery of Texas Hold'em was the fact that it was the third card game he had mastered. Ungar first came to Las Vegas as a gin rummy prodigy; he had beaten all of the good players on the East Coast and moved to the desert mecca in search of new opportunities. He had soon run the table of Nevada's gin players, and then turned to blackjack out of necessity. He was quickly barred as a card counter at a number of Southern Nevada casinos. Needing a new vocation, he took up poker.

The problem, however, was that as masterful as Ungar was at life in the poker room, he was profoundly inept at existence beyond the casino walls. He fought a number of addictions-most notably to drugs and sports gambling. Following his WSOP victory in 1997, the 1998 tourney found him broke and almost wasted away from drug use. Though he had secured financial backing that would have enabled him to play, as the games began Ungar sat in the dark in his hotel room at Binion's unable to compose himself enough to appear.

Other stories of Ungar's troubled life away from the poker tables evoke the same theme: buying a new Mercedes with cash after a WSOP victory and driving it until it fell apart from lack of maintenance; signing mortgage papers as he played in the Dunes poker room; losing 1.5 million dollars betting on sports in the course of a weekend.

Sadly, Ungar's death came as a ray of hope had entered his life. Noted casino owner and longtime friend Bob Stupak had stepped in to help Ungar pay off his debts, clean up his life, and provide the stake money to enter the major poker tournaments. Ungar was found two days after the two had formalized the agreement in a contract. Ungar also left behind an ex-wife and a teenage daughter, who still live in Las Vegas. The official cause of death was listed as "coronary atherosclerosis" and a mixture of drugs including cocaine, methadone and Percodan were found in his system.

While many legendary gamblers have been tough, larger than life individuals with a healthy dose of 'street smarts', Ungar was the diametric opposite. He was almost completely helpless away from the poker table. In the card room, he became an almost unbeatable warrior. While his death came years before the 'poker boom', his influence as a pioneer of the game is without question.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for a number of offshore sportsbooks and an authority on college football betting . He's a published expert on sports handicapping theory, as well as financial investment strategy. He contributes to a number of online media outlets providing insight on how to bet on NFL, MMA and boxing.

Identifying Counterfeit Ladies Handbags

By Ashlynn Mario

Many people are interested in buying the latest in designer handbags, but it's important to be careful about it, to keep yourself from being taken in by fakes. There are a lot of designer lookalikes on the market, from fakes claiming to be the real thing to handbags made with a designer look but no designer label. Imitation designer handbags tend to be lower in quality, especially if they're claiming to be actual designer pieces. Lookalikes that don?t claim to be the real thing may be worthwhile for those who just want the look but not the name. However, you should still shop with care.

You'll find these handbags in traditional stores, and low quality counterfeit handbags in other venues, such as online auction sites, flea markets and road side markets. People selling these low quality fakes are hoping that the low price will convince you not to be too suspicious of their products.

Buying online can be particularly difficult, unless you?re sure that you?re buying from someone you can trust. If you really want a designer bag from an online auction site, be sure to go over the seller's feedback with care.

Check the photographs of the bag you're thinking about buying, too. Is the bag carefully photographed to show you all the details and the quality of its construction, or has it been photographed in a group of other bags. The quality of the images can tell you whether or not you're buying the real thing, or a fake that'll fall apart in only a few months.

Designer bags use good materials, not inexpensive vinyl, and good construction. If you see low quality stitching or other telltale details, you may be looking at a fake. Make sure the seller is using a picture that represents the kind of bag you want to own.

You should always pay for a designer bag via credit card. This keeps you from being unable to do anything if you're ripped off. A chargeback can be done if the bag turns out not to be the real thing. Just remember that it's harder to do this if the seller is outside the United States. Likewise, long shipping charges from foreign sellers can keep you from being able to act within the appropriate window for a complaint or refund.

If you prefer a designer inspired bag, rather than trying for the real thing, you may want to look up designer replica handbags. They're often made after the most popular designs, but they're a lot less expensive. You can find them from discount retailers and online stores Just make sure you know what you're buying and what kind of quality you are going to get.

Paying for real designer quality is worth it for many of us when we go to buy a handbag. Don't let yourself fall prey to imitations if you're in the market for a designer handbag. Save up and go with the real thing - you'll be able to enjoy it for a long time to come.

About the Author:

If you shop around long enough you will be sure to find designer leather handbags. For those of us who love to go shopping for that new outfit or accessory, women's designer handbags are definitely a great buy.

Bad Celebrity Themed Pinball Genres

By Ross Everett

This time we wont rank the bad celebrity pinball machines, well look at several different genres of bad celebrity tie ins:

THE BOX OFFICE BOMB THEMED MACHINE:

In 1991 Williams Pinball released a machine based on Terminator 2 complete with a gun trigger to launch the ball and a ton of Arnolds catch phrases like Ill be back keyed to various game objectives. The film was a huge hit, and everything worked well together. Because of the success of this machine the production companies thought that releasing a pinball machine simultaneous with the film would be a great cross promotional tactic.

Unfortunately, this thinking led to a number of pinball machines based on films that were absolute bombs. Some examples of this genre are machines based on The Last Action Hero, Judge Dredd and Hook. There wasnt a cooler cartoon than The Flintstones. So how do you screw up a Flintstones pinball machine? Just base the theme not on the classic Hanna Barbara cartoon, but on the horrible film starring John Goodman and Rosie ODonnell.

My all time favorite of the "bomb" themed machine has to be "Waterworld". Waterworld was released in 1995 starring Kevin Costner and quickly became the definitive big budget, no box office film replacing Michael Ciminos Heavens Gate and the Dustin Hoffman/Warren Beatty comedy Ishtar.

Playing a bomb themed pinball machine is downright surreal. The most pitiful thing is when the machine booms out a catch phrase from the film that no one is familiar with.

THE DUBIOUSLY TIMED THEME:

This genre includes themes that would have been pretty cool, except for the fact they were released well after the subjects popularity had begun to ebb. Gilligans Island would have been great back in the mid-1960s or even in the late 70s when a new generation discovered the show in syndication. In 1991 it was just creepy since nearly half of the cast members depicted on the backglass were dead. The Six Million Dollar Man was released in the fall of 1978, just in time for the shows cancellation.

Undoubtedly the strangest machine of this genre is 1994s Mario Andretti. Andretti is certainly worthy of a pinball machine as hes a legitimate auto racing legend. Whats strange about this machine, however, is the backglass which displays an image of grizzled old Mario Andretti. The smart move would have been to use his name, throw a bunch of race cars on the backglass and playfield and call it a day. Instead having the sixty-something race car driver on the backglass is vaguely akin to having your grandfather looking over your shoulder while you play.

ROOT,ROOT, ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM:

A comment on the original celebrity theme article mentioned this genre and it is a good one. Its important to understand that the pinball industry has been based in Chicago for most of its history. Presumably for that reason there have been some machines featuring the local sports teams and stars. Chicago Cubs Triple Play isnt too bad due to the Cubbies national popularity. The Big Hurt Frank Thomas was a solid major league ballplayer, but not really worthy of a pinball machine themed around him. The most egregious example of this was 1978s Bobby Orrs Power Play, released not long after the trade that sent Orr from Boston to Chicago. Nationally, no one outside of Boston and Chicago cared. My hunch is that it was made to scam some free season tickets out of the Blackhawks management.

THE BAD CONVERSION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET:

For reasons that Ive never been quite clear on it was common practice to rebrand a perfectly good game for the International market. Sometimes it was released by the US company, other times it was licensed to a foreign operation. Youd think that there would be some creative control over the rebranded themes but that wasn't the case.

Some of the ways machines were rethemed for the international market borders on the insane. Mata Hari was a classic machine of the early 1980s. The German release was rethemed as the more foreboding Lady Death. This one at least makes sense as they had some Nazi imagery that Germans are understandably sensitive about (despite being historically inaccurate, since the real Mata Hari was executed during WW I). Less understandable is the retheming of a military themed game called Special Force in the US to the downright bizarre Special Forces Girls, featuring comely women in low cut, cleavage baring fatigues.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is considered one of the foremost authorities on amusement and gambling technology, including pinball, slot machines and sports betting. He has also written extensively on pinball, video game and casino game history, as well as strategies to successfully bet on NFL football. He is currently writing a multi-volume history of the pinball industry worldwide.

All About HO Model Trains

By Ferdinand Emy

Model trains have been around for nearly as long as actual trains have. They have been built and manufactured by companies from diverse parts of the world, with very various specifications. This is peculiarly true for models built in the first decades of the last century.

As time passed by, scales and standards were established between companies that produced model trains and accessories for them. Companies who started working with other companies had to establish standards in order to make products and accessories that were compatible.

On the other hand, the flea market and the customers discovered that they liked a good number of trains better than others, and so the specifications that were preferred stayed, and those that weren't tended to disappear.

Scales are one of the most common standards that are used for model trains. A scale is a measure of the relationship of dimensions of a model train compared to a real train. It is measured in ratios. A ratio consists of two numbers separated by a colon. The first number is Regularly one, while the second number represents how much of a given measurement corresponds to real dimensions.

For example, a scale of 1:40 means that if something measures one inch on a model train, it'll measure 40 inches on a real train

The most common scale utilised in English speaking countries is the HO scale. HO model trains utilise this scale to keep their proportions equal to the proportions of the trains they are representing.

Although the nomenclature is HO model trains, in the United States of America, Japan and Australia, the rest of the countries know it as H0 model trains, with the letter O replaced by the number zero. Both nomenclatures HO model trains and H0 model trains pronounce the letter O or the zero as oh.

HO model trains employ a scale of 1:87, which makes then one of the smallest model trains in the shop . In fact the term HO model trains, comes from the fact that they are almost twice as small as the O scale, which is 1:43. Therefore, they were referred to as Half model trains, or HO model trains for short.

HO model trains are so known that there are literally thousands of models created with distinct materials. Prices may be as cheap as fifty or a hundred dollars or they can range up to thousands of dollars, depending on quality, materials, and level of assembly needed. Their popularity also means that its relatively simple to purchase HO model trains accessories and tracks.

All in all, HO model trains are a very good choice for taking up model railroading. They may be incostly, effortless to get and with a good balance between detail and size.

About the Author:

There are important things you must take into account before spending money on Hobbies Train head over today and learn the basics of hobby train

YouTube Street Fighting Sensation Kimbo Slice To Appear On UFC Reality Show

By Ross Everett

The UFC has been maligned in the past year or two for their heavyweight division and to be sure theres many top heavyweights not fighting for the promotion"the most significant being the undisputed best heavyweight MMA fighter on the planet, Fedor Emelianenko and the man considered by most to be #2, Josh Barnett. While the UFC might not have the best heavyweight fighter in the sport, they may soon have the most famous. Dana White announced recently that Kimbo Slice will be a contestant on season 10 of the UFCs MMA reality show The Ultimate Fighter. A good performance there could see him get a shot at fighting for the promotion.

In the past, Dana White has dismissed Slice and suggested that the only way hed ever fight in the UFC is by winning The Ultimate Fighter. Kimbo will get the opportunity to do just that and could deliver the highest rated season in series history. For Kimbo"real name Kevin Ferguson"its yet another strange twist in his bizarre career as a professional fighter. Slice first made his name fighting in non-sanctioned street fights to supplement his income as a bodyguard for a Miami based adult film production company. At some point, Kimbos entourage started bringing video cameras to his fights and the footage found its way onto the Internet.

Kimbo quickly became an online cult hero before he officially turned pro as a fighter. He began to train under MMA legend Bas Rutten and made his debut in an exhibition against former heavyweight boxing champ Ray Mercer. Kimbo won a dominating victory, and his meteoric rise to superstardom was underway. Not long after, he signed with EliteXC and they quickly made Kimbo the centerpiece of their promotion. While building a MMA promotion around a fighter with almost no experience likely led to their downfall, at the time Kimbo became a media sensation and Elite XC parlayed his popularity into a prime time network TV deal with CBS.

Things started out fine for Kimbo as he made short work out of his first three overmatched opponents. Kimbos fourth fight was originally scheduled to be against former UFC mainstay Ken Shamrock, but due to a last minute injury he eventually faced substitute Seth Petruzelli. Petruzelli caught Kimbo with a perfectly placed counter right hook and knocked him out. That was the beginning of the end for Elite XC, and the promotion was out of business in a matter of weeks.

Since then, Kimbo kept a fairly low profile. He's since parted with trainer Bas Rutten who intimated that Kimbo had let his newfound celebrity go to his head. UFC president Dana White would occasionally be asked if hed ever have an interested in Kimbo, which hed dismiss with the offhanded suggestion that the only way hed fight in the UFC was to compete in The Ultimate Fighter reality show.

While its unclear when that off-handed dismissal by White became a viable reality, but regardless of how the deal came together Kimbo will be a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter. As a result,the media coverage and ratings for their MMA reality show will likely be at an all time high.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for a number of offshore sportsbooks and an authority on UFC betting. He's a noted expert sports handicapping theory, as well as stock market investing. He contributes to a number of websites providing insight on how to bet on CFL football, MMA and boxing.

All About HO Model Trains

By Ferdinand Emy

Model trains have been around for nearly as long as actual trains have. They have been designed and manufactured by companies from diverse parts of the world, with very distinct specifications. This is peculiarly true for models built in the first decades of the last century.

As time passed by, scales and standards were established between companies that made model trains and accessories for them. Companies who started working with other companies had to establish standards so as to make products and accessories that were compatible.

On the other hand, the shop and the customers discovered that they liked a good number of trains good than others, and so the specifications that were preferred stayed, and those that were not tended to disappear.

Scales are one of the most common standards that are employd for model trains. A scale is a measure of the relationship of dimensions of a model train compared to a real train. It is measured in ratios. A ratio consists of 2 numbers separated by a colon. The first number is Always one, while the 2nd number represents how much of a given measurement corresponds to actual dimensions.

For instance, a scale of 1:40 means that if a good number ofthing measures one inch on a model train, it will measure 40 inches on a real train

The most common scale utilized in English speaking countries is the HO scale. HO model trains employ this scale to keep their proportions equal to the proportions of the trains they are representing.

Although the nomenclature is HO model trains, in the United States of America, Japan and Australia, the rest of the countries know it as H0 model trains, with the letter O replaced by the number zero. Both nomenclatures HO model trains and H0 model trains pronounce the letter O or the zero as oh.

HO model trains utilize a scale of 1:87, which makes then one of the littleest model trains in the shop . In fact the term HO model trains, comes from the fact that they are almost twice as small as the O scale, which is 1:43. Therefore, they were called Half model trains, or HO model trains for short.

HO model trains are so known that there're literally thousands of models produced with various materials. Prices can be as cheap as fifty or a hundred dollars or they can range up to thousands of dollars, depending on quality, materials, and level of assembly required. Their popularity also means that its relatively simple to purchase HO model trains accessories and tracks.

All in all, HO model trains are a very good choice for taking up model railroading. They can be incostly, easy to get and with a good balance between detail and size.

About the Author:

There are important things you must take into account before spending money on Hobbies Train head over now and learn the basics of hobby train

Steve Irwin - An Aussie Ambassador For Crocodiles And Australia Zoo

By Jennifer Schellington

Steve Irwin, the famous Crocodile Hunter from Australia died nearly three years ago. He was an Australian icon, winning the hearts of the world through his encounters with crocodiles and snakes. Some would say that Steve Irwin was an Ambassador for Australia. He had a larger than life personality, a sense of fun and adventure and of course that great Australian accent - "Crikey!"

1992 marked the start of Steve's International success. Steve and his wife decided to film a wildlife documentary about a crocodile rescue mission. This was instead of a more traditional honeymoon. This was the first episode of the "Crocodile Hunter" It became a success almost overnight with a further 150 episodes being filmed. Today it has been viewed by over 500 million people across over 140 countries.

From an early age, Steve was exposed to wildlife as his parents ran a reptile park in Queensland. He took an active role in the park, performing various duties. It was his Dad who was Steve's hero. He took Steve with him on various field trips to rescue crocodiles or remove them from populated areas. They also visited the Australian deserts to study snakes.

It was at the Reptile Park that Steve met his wife Terri. She was visiting from Eugene, Oregon which is in the centre of the USA. Steve was 29 and Terri was 27. It was apparently love at first site. They had lots in common. Terri herself was into wildlife and had started her won wildlife rehabilitation programme in 1986 called "Cougar Country." She was also a Veterinary Technician in a veterinary hospital.

The 90's saw the retirement of Steve's parents. It meant that the family Reptile Park transferred to Steve and Terri to run. They decided to re-name it, Australia Zoo Today, the zoo is world famous and probably the most well known zoo in all of Australia.

It wasn't long until Steve and Terri decided to have children. Their first was a daughter born in July 1998. They called her Bindi, which is an aboriginal word meaning "Young Girl." It was also the name of Steve's favourite crocodile. Their second child was born in 2003, a boy, whom they named Robert. He is very like his father.

Steve died on 4th September 2006. He was out at sea in Australia, shooting a documentary on the dangerous creatures of the sea. A stingray's barb entered his chest and killed him almost instantly. It seems ironic to think that this is only the second death in Australia by a stingray - how unlucky he was, this man that wrestles crocodiles for a living. The Australian nation was devastated by his death and the rest of the world mourned his lost.

Steve was a legend when it came to his charity work. Today Terri, Bindi and Robert continue on with Steve's plans. Australia Zoo is an awesome day out and continues to attract both National and International travellers. It is only an hour or so drive north of Brisbane and should be added to your itinerary if you intend to travel down the East Coast of Australia. If you love animals or have kids, then I strongly recommend spending a day here.

The Irwin Family continue to promote Steve's good causes and are celebrities in their own right now. Bindi is perhaps the most well known having her own doll and clothes line.

Steve really was an Aussie legend and is sadly missed across the world.

About the Author:

Jennifer Schellington has nearly half a decadeof experience in travelling Australia. Her website, www.realaustraliatravel.com gives useful information for planning your visit to Australia as well as where to go and what to do. Click here for more information on the Irwin's and getting the most out of a visit to Australia Zoo

Star Wars Movies and LEGO Systems

By Peter Bainum

LucasFilms has released a total of seven films in the series of Star Wars movies. Many toys and other types of merchandise has been produced based on these films. Some of the more popular toys released so far are the LEGO Star Wars sets. The LEGO Group has created sets based on the most popular scenes from each of the films. We will dive into each of these films LEGO systems here.

The first movie released for the prequels trilogy, the Phantom Menace. The LEGO Group released several LEGO systems based on this film including the only Star Wars LEGO Set that is built for toddlers, the Podracer Bucket. This set, like its name suggests, is sold in a bucket and is toddler friendly.

Episode II: Attack of the Clones is the second prequel released. It was released in 2002. The Episode II LEGO sets include what could be argued as the most popular of Star Wars LEGO Sets. The LEGO Group has released a few versions of the Slave I but this may be the most popular. It includes Jango Fett, Boba Fett's "father."

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is the third prequel movie released. This one came out in 2005. The Episode III LEGO Sets include a great LEGO set called Ultimate Lightsaber Duel. This could be the LEGO Groups most interactive Star Wars LEGO Set to date is it contains two LEGO mini figures, Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi, who are controlled by sticks connected to a platform each of them stands on. These two sticks can be moved back and forth and a battle scene is recreated!

Episode IV: A New Hope is the very first movie released by Lucasfilms way back in 1977. The LEGO Group didn't released the first Episode IV LEGO set until 1999! This is because it took that long for the two of them to come together and form a partnership.

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back was the second film released for the Star Wars series of films. The Episode V LEGO Sets include the original of the Slave I star ships, 7144 and 6209. The 6209 version of the two is the best as it is a much larger sized build and much more true the films version of the star ship.

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is the final film released of the original series. This film was originally released in 1983. The LEGO sets included in Episode VI include some of the Star Wars LEGO Sets most prized systems including the Jabba the Hut series of sets. The Death Star LEGO Set is a great example of a well thought out, well crafted LEGO System.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars was released in 2008 and was based on the animated mini series of the same name. The LEGO sets released for this system include a great set called the Pirate Tank. This set is very much unique to all other Star Wars LEGO Sets as it doesn't really have anything to do with either the Republic or the Seperatists. The Pirate pillage the galaxy with no preference.

About the Author:

Peter loves geting his hands on Return of the Jedi LEGO enthusiast and is always on the look out for Rare LEGO Systems and LEGO Mini Figures.