#DISNEY’S “MILLION DOLLAR ARM” BEGINS PRODUCTION

Recently announced in Burbank, Calif. (May 30, 2013) the Principal photography has begun on Walt Disney Pictures’ “Million Dollar Arm,” starring Jon Hamm. Directed by Craig Gillespie (“Lars and the Real Girl,” “Fright Night”), the film is produced by Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, through their Mayhem Pictures, and Joe Roth, under his Roth Films banner, with Palak Patel and Kevin Halloran serving as executive producers. Tom McCarthy (“Win Win,” “The Visitor”) wrote the screenplay. The film also stars Bill Paxton (“Haywire,” “Hatfields & McCoys”), Lake Bell (“What Happens in Vegas,” “It’s Complicated”), Suraj Sharma (“Life of Pi”), Aasif Mandvi (“The Daily Show,” “Margin Call”), Madhur Mittal (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Pitobash (“Three Idiots,” “Shanghai”) and Academy Award®–winner Alan Arkin. A.R. Rahman (“127 Hours,” “Slumdog Millionaire”) is scoring the film. “Million Dollar Arm” will shoot on locations in India, Georgia and Los Angeles.

Based on a true story, Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm” follows JB Bernstein, a once-successful sports agent who now finds himself edged out by bigger, slicker competitors. He and his partner Aash (Aasif Mandvi) will have to close their business down for good if JB doesn’t come up with something fast. Late one night, while watching cricket being played in India on TV, JB comes up with an idea so radical it just might work. Why not go to there and find the next baseball pitching sensation? Setting off for Mumbai with nothing but a gifted but cantankerous scout (Alan Arkin) in tow, JB stages a televised, nationwide competition called “Million Dollar Arm” where 40,000 hopefuls compete before two 18-year-old finalists, Rinku and Dinesh (Suraj Sharma, Madhur Mittal), emerge as winners. JB brings them back to the United States to train with legendary pitching coach Tom House (Bill Paxton). The goal: get the boys signed to a major league team.

Not only is the game itself difficult to master, but life in the U.S. with a committed bachelor makes things even more complicated—for all of them. While Rinku and Dinesh learn the finer points of baseball and American culture, they in turn teach JB the true meaning of teamwork and commitment. Ultimately, what began as a purely commercial venture becomes something more and leads JB to find the one thing he was never looking for at all—a family.

The producing team of Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, producers of such notable sports movies as “Secretariat,” “Miracle” and “The Rookie,” joins forces with veteran producer Joe Roth (“Oz The Great and Powerful,” “Snow White and the Huntsman,” “Alice in Wonderland”) to bring Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm” to the screen.

Director Craig Gillespie gained widespread recognition with the critically acclaimed “Lars and the Real Girl,” starring Oscar®-nominated Ryan Gosling. He also directed “Fright Night,” starring Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, David Tennant, Imogen Poots, and Toni Collette. For television, Gillespie produced and directed the highly acclaimed Showtime series “United States of Tara.” His direction of the pilot episode earned Toni Collette both an Emmy® Award and a Golden Globe® Award.

Golden Globe® winner Jon Hamm is perhaps best-known for his nuanced portrayal of high-powered, philandering advertising executive Don Draper on AMC’s award-winning drama series “Mad Men.” His previous film credits include “Friends with Kids,” which he also produced; “Bridesmaids,” “The Town,” “Sucker Punch,” “Howl,” “Shrek Forever After,” as the voice of “Brogan,” “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” “Ira & Abby,” “Kissing Jessica Stein” and “We Were Soldiers.” He recently completed HBO’s “Clear History” with Larry David for director Greg Mottola and the BBC miniseries “A Young Doctor’s Notebook,” opposite Daniel Radcliffe, which he also executive produced.

Alan Arkin, one of the most respected artists of the stage and screen, won an Academy Award® for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 2006 hit “Little Miss Sunshine.” For his role, Arkin also won an Independent Spirit Award and a BAFTA Award, and shared in a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast, in addition to receiving an individual SAG Award® nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. Arkin most recently earned Oscar®, BAFTA and Golden Globe® Award nominations for his supporting performance in director Ben Affleck’s Oscar®-winning Best Picture “Argo,” which also won the BAFTA Award for Best Picture.

Talented, multi-faceted actor Bill Paxton has starred in many audience-pleasing hit films, including “Titanic,” “Apollo 13,” “Aliens” “Twister,” “Mighty Joe Young,” “Spy Kids, 2&3” and “Tombstone.” He was recently seen in “The Colony,” “Shanghai Calling” and “Haywire.” On television, Paxton is well known for the series “Big Love,” for which he was Golden Globe® nominated, and recently starred in the award-winning miniseries “Hatfields & McCoys” opposite Kevin Costner.

Lake Bell wrote, produced, starred in and directed her most recent film, “In A World…,” which garnered Bell the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance this year. Bell was also seen at this year's Sundance Film Festival in the film “Black Rock,” opening in May 2013, directed by Katie Aselton. Other film credits include, among others, “A Good Old Fashioned Orgy,” Paramount’s hit comedy “No Strings Attached,” Nancy Meyer's “It's Complicated,” “What Happens in Vegas” and “Pride and Glory.”

Suraj Sharma won acclaim for his portrayal of Pi Patel in Ang Lee’s acclaimed movie “Life of Pi.” With no previous experience, Lee cast Sharma for the role of Pi, following an extensive, months-long search throughout India. For his work in “Life of Pi,” Sharma earned a Critics’ Choice nomination for Best Young Actor, an Empire Award nomination for Best Male Newcomer and won the Sierra Youth in Film Award from the Las Vegas Film Critics as well as the MTV Movie Award for Best Scared as Sh**t Performance, among others.

Aasif Mandvi, well known as a correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” is an accomplished actor who will next be seen in “The Internship,” starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. Recent films include “Premium Rush,” “Ruby Sparks” and “Margin Call.”

Madhur Mittal is best known for his performance as Salim in the acclaimed film “Slumdog Millionaire,” which won the Academy Award® for Best Picture of 2008 and for which he won the Screen Actors Guild Award® for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Pitobash is a Hindi film actor known for his roles in “I Am Kalam,” “Shor in the City” and “Shanghai.” At the age of 12, Pitobash was honored with the “National Balshree Award” from the president of India in the field of creative performance. He later went on to join Bollywood as an actor.

Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm” is slated for a 2014 release.

The Necessary Features and Components of A Viable Playground

How would you classify the play equipment at your local park? Is it safe? Appropriate for the age of your kids? Fun, sleek, and sturdily designed? What about the features of the park itself? Is it well thought out? Are there plenty of picnic tables, drinking fountains, waste receptacles, pathway barriers, soccer nets, and shaded benches? Are there grills for a barbeque, pleasantly flowered planter boxes, and bike racks?

So Many Different Details

It takes a lot to make a great park or playground, and the aforementioned features are just the beginning. There are so many aspects to that safe and fun experience that everyone wants, yet those in charge of the planning and execution of park and school playgrounds all too often miss the mark. This may be due to the fact that they forget what it was like to be a kid, or maybe they’re out of touch with what parents’ primary concerns are in regard to their children’s safety and enjoyment of the outdoors. Whatever the case, you may want to consider a few points yourself that you may not have thought of before. It’s never too late to start educating yourself on such topics, after all.

Is It Age Appropriate?

Foremost, when looking at different types of kids play equipment, you have to consider whether or not it’s age appropriate. The types of play equipment designed for elementary-aged kids are neither safe nor engaging in the right ways for children in the preschool age range. A small child could fall off a steep, twisted slide or be afraid of it to begin with. A jungle gym is not suitable for little children prone to losing their balance or falling. And play equipment with little whirligigs, small tunnels, and short slides is neither age appropriate or safe for a larger child. They would not be stimulated by what the equipment has to offer and their weight and height could affect the integrity of the structure and compromise their own safety.

Meeting Safety Standards

Kids play equipment for schools especially needs to be age appropriate and meet several safety standards. No principal or teacher wants a lawsuit on account of a child being injured on the playground. What they want is the safety and engagement of their students in their activities. They also want to ensure the functionality, cleanliness and overall viability of their play yard, investing in accoutrements such as lunch tables, waste receptacles, shaded benches, and drinking fountains. These things must be thought through carefully and then implemented only when all considerations have been made.

Eric Blair writes about play equipment for schools and play areas for children provided by ParknPool.

Understanding The Different Types Of Playgrounds For Children

Most places that have kids around them for an extended period of time will have some sort of playground or other entertainment for children.  Even though there may be a playground at most places, people often fail to fully understand why there is a difference between the types.  The reality is that each place has its own purpose to serve when it comes to playgrounds, and as such they are all built differently from one another.  It is important if one has kids to know the different types so the parent does not bore the child by taking them to the same types of playgrounds over and over again.

Commercial Playgrounds
The first type is the commercial playground environment.  These are usually associated with a restaurant business such as McDonald’s or Burger King to entice parents and children to visit.  Most of these setups are contained indoors these days and are usually centered around one large play structure.  While there are sometimes a few things to do, to save space and prevent a lot of chaos they usually put them within the structures so the children can have fun on their own and the parents do not have to worry about keeping an eye on them constantly since there is only one exit point.  While these playgrounds are good for visiting for a little while, they often get boring quickly because of the lack of variety in what they offer.

Utilizing School Playgrounds
School playgrounds are another great place to bring kids, even if they do not attend the school.  These are usually laid out in a large area and have a wide-open spot for football games or other things that do not require much equipment to play.  Since children have to use these ParknPool playgrounds every day, they are often spread out and contain many different types of equipment to have fun on.  Most people like to use school ParknPool Preschool playgrounds as their most visited areas because of the security and amount of entertainment involved, but this can have downsides as well.  A lot of school playgrounds have the same or similar equipment as one another, so visiting one over another can often end up being the difference between the backdrops and location. 

Makeshift Setups
The last type consists of makeshift setups that are usually placed in parks or other public areas for use.  Most people do not visit these park areas today simply because of the news stories of adults abducting children in them so easily.  Fortunately most cities have safe areas that have good equipment, and even if it is aged somewhat, they usually do not skimp on cost initially.  Given that these are unattended areas, the quality of equipment has to remain high so it can withstand many years of use and abuse by the children and adults alike.

Eric Blair writes about playgrounds and other outdoor ParknPool commercial play equipment that parents can give their childrent access to.

Coaching Drills ~ Putting the Finesse in Sports~!!

Anyone who has ever played in team sports is fully aware of coaching drills and how advantageous they can be to the sport in which you participate in.  Coaches and their drills are synonymous with the sports in which they are teaching.  A good coach will have every tool in his/her repertoire in which to try and successfully put their team in the winner's circle.

Coaching is a teaching/training process in which individuals/teams get support while they are learning to achieve their sporting goals.  Not every coach teaches in the same methods, some use visuals, some wish to improve physical or mental skills and other believe in working with their team in order to better themselves and their efforts in order to move forward from their present situation.

Coaches and their drills are often kept as highly guarded secrets as I remember when my oldest daughter was in competition dance and whenever we attended competitions, other coaches would possessively guard their dance drill techniques from other dance schools.  You were not allowed to bring video cameras into the auditoriums for fear of "stealing" another coaches drill secrets and incorporating them into your own style.  The wild eyed looks on some of the dance coaches and the threats that could ensue are something not uncommon in competitive fields of sports.

A successful team has a coach who knows their stuff, who applies their drills with finesse and brings awareness to the team through their own styles and techniques.  They do research and try through trial and error what drills work for them and which do not.  If you are a coach who is looking for drills, there are many places online which can accommodate such requests, they offer tips, tricks, techniques and customer support for all your sporting needs.

Coaching drills are a language in which coaches use to help their teams from where they are to where they want to be.  A coach teaches and supervises, moving everyone with direction, instruction and training.  It is assumed that a coach knows more than their players as well as having more experience and training while maintaining their own rules and regulations while keeping team spirit alive.

  **  This is a sponsored post for Total Coach, however, all the points and views are my own.  **

5 Trail Running Myths Debunked

The following article will debunk some of the most common myths, or excuses, people often use to avoid getting into trail running:

1. Trail Running Is too Dangerous Because the Risk of Injury is Far too Great
As long as you take a few precautions, the risk of hurting yourself trail running is no greater than regular running. Instead of running your regular distance, you should instead only run for the regular amount of time that you normally run. Especially during your first few trail runs, make sure not to push your body too hard, so you can remain stable, balanced, and alert. Taking smaller steps will keep you better balanced and will reduce the risk of falling or spraining your ankle. The most important thing to remember when trail running is to always stay alert.

2. It Is too Dangerous Because I Might Get Lost
Though you certainly need to be more careful when trail running, taking a few simple precautions will eliminate the risk of getting lost. If you are unfamiliar with the trail or it is your first time trail running, you would be best advised to go with a friend or a group of friends, or at the very least bring a map with you. You should also make sure to bring your cellphone in case something goes wrong. Instead of running in a loop, you should run to a certain point and then turn around and go back in order to reduce the risk of getting lost. Make sure to take notice of what the trail looks like and look for landmarks. You should also mark the trail regularly for your way back.

3. Trails Are too Rough and Difficult to Run on
Too many people have the wrong idea in their head when they envision trail running. They picture a giant obstacle that is nearly impossible to overcome, but the trails are there for the purpose of being navigated. Most trails are flat, smooth, and easy to navigate. There will be a few obstacles, like deep slopes, streams, and rocks, but as long as you know what to do when you encounter these obstacles, they will seem more like a fun challenge than anything. When you come across a steep ascent, slow down right before and prepare for it. When you are running down a deep slope, make sure you keep your eyes ahead of you and your body in full control to avoid falling. The method of running through trails is really not as technical as it is common sense.

4. Running Trails Will Damage My Race Training Routine
Many race runners think that the difference between trail running and track running will mess up their routine. They liken trail running to train for a race to an NFL punter thinking bench pressing will make him a better kicker. However, this is not the case at all. In fact, trail running, which will develop the exact same muscles you need to run your race, will challenge both your mind in muscles in a way that will encourage development that would not otherwise be possible. By exposing your ligaments and your joints to the different ranges of motion that trail running requires, you will be strengthening them and also lessening the risk of injury in your future. Your mind will also be exposed to different challenges that will help it to persevere through any struggles on the track during a race.

5. I Do Not Have the Right Equipment for Trail Running
Too many people are under the impression that trail running is much more involving than it really is. You do not need to prepare for a three-day hike; you are just going for a run. The truth is you do not need to dress much differently than you would for a regular run. If you have a pair of sneakers and some shorts, you are ready for trail running. Items like bug spray, sun screen, and a water bottle will help make your life easier if running through the woods, but there is no vital equipment you need to go trail running that you do not already have as a runner. If you are unfamiliar with the trail, it would be wise to bring a map, and you should bring your phone with you just in case you get lost.

Are you interested in purchasing a life insurance policy to protect your loved ones in case of an unfortunate event? Go online today to Kanetix | Life Insurance Comparison to compare quotes offered by various insurance providers in Canada. With Kanetix's online service you can easily find out which insurance provider is best for you in just a matter of mintues.

Five New Sports to Try in 2012

With the Olympics returning to the UK this summer the country will be going sports mad. It may be too late for you to make it into the squad for this year’s Games, but you can always take inspiration from Britain’s Olympians and try out some new sporting pursuits. Trying a new sport is a great way to stay fit and doing something you haven’t done before keeps you motivated as well. Here are five new sports for you to try to follow in the spirit of the 2012 Games:

Archery
One of the less gruelling but most skillful sports that will be on show at this summer’s Games, it’s the sort of activity you can start off no matter what your fitness level or physical attributes. An ancient pursuit dating back 10,000 years, it has been an Olympic sport since 1900 and calls for a steady hand, perfect precision and nerves of steel. There are plenty of sites across the country to get a taster and challenge your friends to the highest score.

Windsurfing
Watersport experience days are a great chance to get wet and wild, trying out a new sport and having plenty of laughs at the same time. Windsurfing is one of the toughest to master but most fun to try. You don’t even need to live near the sea, with manmade and natural lakes at landlocked destinations across the British Isles offering the chance to enjoy a taste of this sport which combines elements of sailing and surfing for thrills and spills on the water.

Fencing
If you’ve dreamed of being a swashbuckling hero but never knew where to start, then trying out Olympic-style fencing will give you a good taste of life as a swordsman. Safe and fun, you can learn about all the elements of the sport and get an essential guide to help you make sense of it at this year’s Games, but the best part is when you don the outfit and mask and try it out for yourself.

Trampolining
It seems there’s barely a family garden in the UK these days that doesn’t have a trampoline, but trying it out on Olympic-sized adult trampolines is a different game altogether. Athletes will put on dazzling displays of gymnastic trampolining in London in August, a discipline which has only been an Olympic sport since 2000. But it’s not hard to see why it is growing in popularity, awe-inspiring to watch and great fun to try out – it’s probably as close a feeling as you’ll get to flying as you spring metres into the air.

Walking
There’s a fine line between walking being a sport and walking being, well...just walking. But it’s a sport that you really need nothing to try out and is still a great way to stay fit and see the world. You may not want to adopt the unusual waddle that Olympic race walkers employ as you’re sure to get some funny looks when you head down to the shops, but setting yourself challenging walks around the park or through picturesque beauty spots is a wonderfully refreshing and accessible activity.

Produced by Activity Superstore, the leading gift experience supplier in the UK. With over 1,000 Gift Ideas from supercar experiences to pamper days, you're sure to find the perfect gift.

Security for the London 2012 Olympics

Everyone is awaiting the fore coming Olympics eagerly. It's four years since we had the last Olympics and many will agree to the fact that the London Olympic will indeed be amazing.It is unfortunate that no one has ever bothered to take his/her time to get to know how security has been planned. With an increase in terrorism, London 2012 Olympics’ security has been a paramount concern to the competition organizers. They have been running up and down to ensure that every step a fun takes in the game is safe.

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andywilkes/6916644487/

The Olympics security, Inc.
It was started in 1986 after it dawned to people that they need to be extra careful when having fun out there.  Olympic security Inc. has provided ultimate security for many clients in the US and for the coming games they are even more equipped.  They have a large number of highly trained personnel, unlimited communication between the team and clients and a skilled management team. Through a number of difficult situations, even those involving brutal killings and assassination, they have been able to be of immense help and have provided security in many business markets. They use upgraded CCTV cameras, patrol cars, unarmed security officers, access control, and many others.

Surface to air deployed to a different site
As compared to other Olympic competitions, the London Olympics has been planned in a sophisticated way. There will be a tight security for the games as it has been the concern of people that terrorist are now all over. Through the BBC, there were speculations as early as may as to how security will be managed in the London Olympics. Royal Navy has been deployed to Greenwich. This way, they will ensure that the HMS Ocean is safe to travel for anyone interested in watching the games. RAF typhoon fast jets have also been deployed in west London. They are piloted by highly trained personnel who will ensure that the sky is conducive for the games. In RAF Northolt, there will be helicopter armed with snipers. No matter where the terrorist is, a killer bullet will always be eying him/her. Jets and helicopters will be of considerable help because they are able to cover vast areas in an extremely short time as compared to other military groups. As the games continue, fast jets will fly over the widely expanded London, eyeing every activity taking place and reporting suspicious ones. As a matter of fact, the London sky will always be on close surveillance 24/7.  In general, there will be more than 13,000 military personnel, operating every day in the London Olympics. There is an operational plan the military will operate on to ensure that every part of London is well covered. There will also be security personnel’s at the stadiums. Not all will be armed or be in official police uniform. They will intermingle with fun, and it will be difficult to identify them.


Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/welshgovernment/7176415434/

Safe Site Facilities have already been involved with security for the London Olympics delivering 540 concrete blocks to the Olympic park.

Take to the Centenary Trail

Octavia Hill was a co-founder of the National Trust, and in honour of the 100th anniversary of her death, ten miles of centenary trails have been created in her memory, following paths through the landscapes she would have walked in the late 1800s and passing by her resting place in Crockham Hill, Kent.

Octavia Hill was an artist, writer, environmentalist, social reformer, pioneer of affordable housing - and a radical campaigner for open spaces.

She spent the last years of her life living with the views she and her family had acquired for the trust towards the end of the 19th century, land she was determined that others should enjoy long after she would no longer be around to appreciate it.

This natural paradise in the Weald of Kent encompasses Chartwell House, home to Winston Churchill from 1922 until his death in 1965, and centres on Toys Hill, Ide Hill, Crockham Hill and Mariners Hill, to which Octavia’s mother and sisters donated large sums of money which allowed it to be preserved forever.




The Sight of Sky and Things Growing
It is largely thanks to the Hill family that this tract of countryside remains today what Octavia called ‘an open-air sitting room,’ dedicated to those who crave access to nature and beauty - “the need of quiet, the need of air, the need of exercise and the sight of sky and of things growing.”

The 16 kilometre centenary walk can be done in two separate stages, or together as one in the shape of a figure-of-eight.

The six-mile Centenary Trail West is a three-and-a-half hour walk across moderate ground which includes rough pathways through woodland. This pilgrimage to Octavia takes you through Crockham Hill, where she lived, to the churchyard where she is buried under a yew tree near the church porch, and goes on to pass by Churchill’s Chartwell, much of it preserved as it was in his lifetime.

The Centenary Trail East is a gentler, four-mile walk likely to take around two-and-a-half hours, and takes in equally spectacular views over Kent’s famous ‘Garden of England.’
Both walks start and finish at Toys Hill car park, Chart Lane, Brasted, near Westerham, KentTN16 1QG.

• During her lifetime, Octavia Hill helped save London’s Hampstead Heath and Parliament Hill Fields for the nation, was a member of the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws, and was one of three founders of the National Trust in 1895 to preserve places of historical interest or natural beauty.

Nicki Williams is an outdoor enthusiast who loves walking and history - and adores combining the two.

She works for Gear-Zone, stockists of all the major outdoor brands including The North Face, Rab, Berghaus, Scarpa, Brasher and Thermarest.

Picture source: Compfight

A Look at Modern-Day Laser Tag

Laser Tag is a fun, non-contact sport with its origins in combat training. Laser tag perhaps reached its peak in the 1980’s in popularity; however, it’s seen a revitalization in this decade as well due to advancements in equipment and the explosion in popularity of “first person shooter” video games.

When one thinks of “laser tag” cheesy weapons, gaudy outfits and facilities with neon lights often come to mind. That’s just not the case any longer. Modern day facilities offer experiences similar to what law enforcement or military personnel use. Individuals are given a blaster or infrared emitting weapon that tags a sensor on another participant. Advancements in weaponry have come a long way since the 80’s but the basic premise is still the same. Players wear infrared-sensitive instruments; generally, these targets are integrated into vests that register points when tagged. Sometimes these targets are even incorporated with the gaming arena, depending on the mechanics of the chosen adventure. Some people see it as a safe and appealing pastime, while others enjoy getting family or friends together for an adventure.

Laser Tag – What’s the Point?
The principal intent is to score points for you and your team by tagging the challenger; normally sensors are found on the front and back of their vest and on the laser guns themselves. You should avoid being tagged, because aside from giving them more counts, usually this renders you immobile and unable to use your equipment for a few seconds, or in other cases indicates that you are out of the game.

The regulations vary from each activity, but these are general guidelines one might expect to see at a modern-day laser tag arena:

Laser Tag – The Rules
Physical contact must be avoided.

One must be cautious when moving around the amusement area and handling the tools and outfit. One must be careful not to damage the gear or facilities.

Medical conditions that may affect one during the activity must be disclosed. Some battlegrounds employ flashing lights, fog machines, and other paraphernalia to make the experience more entertaining but could agitate some allergy or launch some condition like asthma or epilepsy.

There are also codes of conduct players have come to abide by making for a fair and fruitful competition.

Rough housing is never favored. This is a game and it should be fun.

Participants should not block their sensors, detach the targets, or some other scheme to make it difficult for the opponent to tag them.

Make sure that your device and suit is working, that the sensors are turned on and functioning.
If there is malfunctioning gears, one must inform the conductor and participants of the situation and get out of the game until it is resolved.

Laser tag, as a sport, isn’t what it used to be, that’s for sure. But not all facilities are created equal. If you’re up for some modern-day first-person combat simulation, be sure you choose the right facility with the most modern equipment, adequate combat space and the proper rules and employees to enforce those rules.

Image by mek22 via Flickr.

About the Author:

Daniel Ruyter lives in the Orlando, Florida area and frequents Hard Knocks - Orlando's best laser tag facility.

The Clymb - 70% Gear & Outdoor Equipment

JOIN Today for Great Savings & Deals 70% BELOW the Retail Price~!!

Do You Need Bicycle Insurance?

Cyclists face bicycle liability issues. Therefore, they are finding that insurance is a wise protection to have. Bicycle insurance will cover a variety of occurrences such as when the cyclist is the cause of an accident or damage to another user of the road.

Basic Insurance Coverage
Third party claims can be expensive, but cyclists can feel confident on the road when they have bicycle insurance. With a basic plan, riders can safeguard as many as three bikes for coverage up to $15,000. Cyclists may also buy insurance to cover their specific needs. For example, riders who often compete overseas may add protection for foreign locations. Another optional coverage is public liability, which will protect other road users.

Personal Cycling Insurance
Riders may choose to protect their bike along with personal injuries. Cyclists will have coverage against theft, damage and third party accidents. Most insurance plans will allow riders to select the exact coverage they’ll use without paying for protection they won’t need. For example, if a cyclist’s home insurance covers bicycle theft that happens on the property, then they may opt for third party protection along with personal injury coverage and cancel theft protection.

Coverage for Athletes
Cyclists who participate in events such as triathlons, ironman competitions and cycling races should consider specialized protection. Often, a security requirement during a race is that competitors must lock their bicycle while competing. However, some events will allow insured racers to forego this requirement. Thus, a time penalty is avoided during the race.
Additional benefits for athletes to become covered include the ability to pay for bicycle insurance monthly and an opportunity to renew coverage and make changes online.

Additional Bicycle Protection and Benefits
With bicycle coverage, riders can choose to add roadside recovery. This service will rescue riders during a cycling accident or when a bicycle is vandalised and requires repair. An incident such as this may cause the cyclist to become stranded. Roadside recovery will pick the rider up and take him or her along with their bicycle to a repair shop, car rental agency, residence or railway station along with a requested overnight lodging locale.

In most cases, the incident will need to be more than a mile away from the cyclist’s personal residence to qualify for service.

Depending on the bicycle insurance company, cyclists may receive added benefits such as a loyalty bonus for renewed membership. Also, cyclists may cover up to three additional bikes as long as the primary insured party uses them. Riders may choose to protect other family members such as their spouse and children.

Prior Claims
With car insurance policies, the insured will often have concerns that the cost of the policy will increase after a ticket or an accident. This is typically not the case with bicycle insurance. However, cyclists must advise their insurance company when incidents occur as coverage may become invalidated due to a non-reported accident.

Bicycle insurance is a safeguard for cyclists. Furthermore, it will provide peace of mind and allow riders to enjoy their preferred form of transportation, leisure activity or competition.

Ryan is the owner of a chain of Adelaide bike shops. He recommends all of his customers take out some form of bike insurance just as a precaution. Ryan plans to expand his business throughout Australia in the next few years.

History of Shields

Types of shields

Used for thousands of years from all corners of the globe, shields have been a means of protection from attack by either stopping projectiles such as rocks arrows or bullets or by redirecting or slowing down a blunt hit from a sword, club mace or axe. Over time, shields became much more than a means of protection, and represented an allegiance or a social status. Although not as utilized as much in the modern world, shields still serve many cultural and practical purposes and hold major unnoticed roles in our day to day lives.

Early Shields

The oldest forms of shields were sometimes made of metal, but were usual constructed out of wood or animal hides. They often served not only in combat, but also as a means of shelter. Shields reached their height of importance during the early European Middle Ages, as shields were made out of small round sheets of metal. This immediate method of protection when linked together formed a wall of protection, and gave way to early forms of battlefield tactics.

Middle Age Shields

Over time, the simple small and circular shield was replaced by the kite shield, which led to the heater shield style which is often the prevailing image we have of middle aged shields. These shields were more durable and quite often these shields served as symbolic purposes, as they would hold the family crest or another symbolic image across the shield. The decline of the use of shields came with the entrance of gunpowder propelled objects. Although quite simple, and only capable of shooting one shot at a time, early rifles could pierce both shields and armor rendering them useless.

Modern Shields

Modern shields used today are professionally constructed and are usually intended for two purposes in the law enforcement industry. Riot control shields are made from metal and polymers, and offer protection from low velocity but heavy objects such as rocks, bottles and bricks. They are also an effective means for blocking or pushing back large crowds of people. The second purpose of the modern shield is for bullet protection purposes. These shields are much heavier and less mobile, and are made out of advanced synthetics that make them bulletproof or bullet resistant.

Non-Combat Shields

Excluding combat shields from the picture, shields are built and maintained to shield us from heat and harmful radiation. Nuclear power plants would not be able to exist with advanced shields to prevent harmful radioactive waves from entering our bodies. The same goes for lead shields used every day in dentists' offices and medical centers to reduce the long term damage X-rays have on the human body.

Citations:

• Image via Taifighta

This article was contributed by Pro-Tec Equipment, manufacturers and distributors of trench shields and other trench shoring products.

Sports Tours and Events For 2012

We should be treated to quite a few different sporting events in 2012, with the big one being the Olympic Games, but although the Olympics will take the main coverage, there are still many other sporting events to enjoy throughout 2012.

cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo shared by holdfast4 Rugby events.

Coming up to the summer of 2012, a lot of the rugby fixtures already have been and gone, so you will properly have to wait till early 2013 to catch the biggest of events.

However, this year's Olympics do feature rugby from each nation, but the one that may be worth watching will be the wheelchair rugby.

Don't think for 1 min that because these guys and girls are in wheelchairs, they don't hit hard, these guys push just as hard as the able-bodied guys!

Just watch some previews of wheelchair rugby online and you will get the idea. This is a full contact sport and will be a great thing to watch as part of the Paralympic games. seen this the real will be even better, so if you can still get hold of the ticket to one of these events, it is advisable to do so.

Cricket Events.
Not really Olympic based, but still if you are cricket fan then there are plenty of matches still to look forward to.

This month sees the West Indies tour of England which should be one of the highlights of the year. The West Indies being one of the best teams in the world, England will have to pull out all the stops to win this one.

June and July will see the Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka.

Through June, July and August we will also see other nations tour, such as New Zealand's tour of the West Indies, the South African tour of England and the Bangladesh tour of Zimbabwe.

September and October will feature the T 20 World Cup. In October we will see the champions league 2020.

Therefore, if you are a keen cricket fan, you have many top-notch games in store for you this year. All of them featured at top-notch venues in great countries. So, if you are thinking of treating yourself to a vacation or short holiday, and taken in one of the above cricket events at the same time, this would be a great idea.

Football Events.
The Olympic Games will be one of the main events this year to include football.

Football matches for the Olympics will be held throughout the UK, but tickets have been sold out some time ago, so really it is down to TV coverage if you want to see one of these games.

The other main highlights for this summer will be the Euro 2012, probably the best in European football this year.

The event starts on June 8, being held in Poland and Ukraine.

Cities throughout both countries will hold matches in stadiums that have mostly been built especially for the events.

With most of these cities being great destinations in themselves to visit, a football match in one of these cities will be a great vacation for anybody.

We should be treated to some great football spectacles, especially with some teams wanting to push all the way this year, so this is one to watch.

2012 will host many exciting sporting events, with the obvious Olympic Games and Euro 2012, being the main attractions.

Therefore, it is really down to your preference for which one you see and possibly go and visit.

The author would like to recommend as a great cricket tours operator - thesportingtraveller.com.

OPPORTUNITY: LeftLane Sports up to 70% OFF

LeftLane Sports is an exclusive, members-only shopping community featuring the world's leading Outdoor, Fitness, and Action Sports brands at up to 70% OFF retail price. 

Their Prices are guaranteed lowest, and their products are guaranteed premium quality.


Click on the banner above to learn more~!!

The Fast and the Furious – Advanced Driver Training in Style

The Fast and the Furious – Advanced Driver Training in Style

The skill of being able to handle a high-powered vehicle under extreme conditions is not just the preserve of F1 or Dakar Rally drivers. You too can lift your driving game to professional status in just a few short lessons.

1. Down On Skid Row
If you don’t quite have the nerve, or the points on your license to handle a skid round a corner on the motorway at 120mph then you can do it safely, under supervision and still feel the thrill of a handbrake turn. Skid Pan courses are some of the best fun and advanced driver training you can have legally.

The value of knowing how to handle yourself and your vehicle in a real life skid situation cannot be overemphasized. With Skid Pan Advanced Driver Training, you learn how to control a vehicle in a clean water skidpan with one-on-one driver instruction. While it might be fun to barrel round the track in a high performance sports car, the real skill is in learning how to control and safely manoeuvre a road car or family saloon in a hazardous situation.

2. Driving Drifting Days
Drifting is a term used to describe the direction that a vehicle takes when entering and exiting a turn. Drifting is also known as power sliding, and everybody who has seen any high speed car chase or watched the boys from Top Gear sliding out of a curve will want to learn how to do it with style. Drifting in a car is most easily achieved in a rear-wheel drive vehicle. More than just a great day out, when you experience the feeling of drifting in a car, and learn how you can control a vehicle while it is spinning can give you powerful skills in any inclement weather situations on slippery roads.

3. Advanced Driver Certification
If you use your car for work and want to get the lowest insurance premiums on your vehicle, you should consider investing in Advanced Driver Training. Many insurance companies recognise the value of being able to handle a vehicle on the roads and offer reduced premiums on the successful completion of an Advanced Driver Training course.

4. Stunts Supreme
If you fancy yourself a bit of a pro behind the wheel, then you have to experience what it is like to be a stunt driver for a day. These daredevil professional drivers risk life and limb to bring the most exciting techniques and driving scenes to the big screen. Screeching handbrake turns, parallel parking in one easy move. If you’ve seen it on film, you can live it at a stunt-driving course for the day.

Advanced Driver Training courses offer a host of corporate days for companies, as well as private parties and individual courses to suit your budget and your experience level. If you want to set your driving skills against something a little more real than a Granny in Grand Theft Auto, then Advanced Driving Training should be your next pit stop.

If you're a budding stunt driver, you're going to need some wheels. For great prices on used cars, drift over to Netcars.com.

2012 Mountain Bike World Championships Guide

When mountain bicycles made the bicycle showrooms nearly three decades ago, no one could have foreseen the popularity and incredible evolution the sport has enjoyed. Mountain biking, like its road cycling cousin, has a world championship. There are several categories for the mountain bike championships, and the 2012 competition has all of them, being presented in the Saalfelden-Leogang region of Austria.

There are two main categories for the world championships: cross country and gravity. Gravity cycling is comprised of the downhill and slalom style racing, while the cross country races are long and short course.

Gravity

For 2012, the UCI - Universal Cycling International - is removing the four-cross downhill race. This is a race that sees four racers line up and head down the course in cut-throat fashion. The UCI decided to remove this and focus more on the downhill courses. Also, the cost of designing a four-cross race course was deemed too much, forcing the UCI to remove it and make the downhill event the premier of the championships. There will be four days of double-elmination downhill races in Leogang starting on August 31.

Cross Country

The UCI has decided to keep both the standard cross country events and add the eliminator races for 2012. Eliminator races have cross country racers in criterium fashion. Criterium racing is done on an enclosed short track with breakneck speeds and tight turns. Expect to see mud fly in this event. The 2012 World Championships are the first of the competitive series to see eliminator races as a cup qualifier.

The cross country races are to be held in the Saalfelden, and take place over three days, with cumulative times being used for the final podium criteria, similar to a grand tour in road cycling.

Spectators

Spectators are encouraged to attend the World Championships. Admission gets patrons into the race grounds as well as the show tents, athlete village and bicycle showcase. This is a great place to see world class cycling. Many of the athletes racing at the worlds will be coming off Olympic performances, with the 2012 Summer Olympics taking place in London.

The lead up to the worlds takes place over two weeks, with smaller races, eliminations and showcases taking place during this tie. This is due to the increasing popularity of mountain bicycling. When the mountain bike worlds began several years ago, they took place over two days, and were thought more of as kitsch than serious events. Today, with mountain biking as a premier sport, the worlds are one of the biggest events on the mountain biking calendar.

Take advantage of the Mountain Biking World Championship length this year, and head across the Atlantic to Austria to see world class athletes keeping the knobby tires in the mud.

Josh is a lover of all things mountain bikes and will be participating at this year's world championships. He rides every day, not only for the enjoyment, but the fitness that comes with it.

Disney XD's Extreme Sports Wear Giveaway~!!

To enter this contest, go to www.disneyxd.ca and click on the Disney Drop-In Icon to access the contest~!!  NO purchase necessary!!    

Fill out the entry form, one entry per person and it runs from December 20, 2011 to May 31, 2012.  Bonus entries are available.

Open to Canadians excluding Quebec, 13 years of age or older.  Those younger require parental permission to enter. 

Boston Bruins Premium Oval with Light Keychain Review~!!

Wholesale Keychains is the place where car lovers can celebrate their dream machines by taking a little piece with them wherever they go. They sell automotive keychains for all major automotive companies such as BMW, Mercedes, Nissan, Ford Mustang, Chevy Corvette, Infiniti, Dodge, Jeep, Buick, and Cadillac to name a few. Whether it is an SUV, a truck or a luxury car, they have it all.

Take a browse at their wide range of selections that will transport you into “automobile heaven”. For fans of these vehicles, there is no better place to be. Browse through their selections from the comfort of your living room, coffee mug in your hand. All it takes is one click to get that little piece of accessory that is a surefire way to start a conversation, anywhere.

ARV $9.99

Wholesale Keychains have many designs to choose from including novelty, digital photo, carabiner, bottle opener, pepper spray and for the Hockey sports buff, NHL Keychains!!

 This attractive Boston Bruins Chrome key chain with Light has a sleek, contemporary look. The officially licensed Boston Bruins logo is in the center of an oval surrounded by chrome. Sturdy and well crafted, this keyring is backed by a lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship.

The Bruins key ring measures: 1 ½” by 1 ¼”

Plus, you can get your favourite Hockey team logo on leather key chains, bottle openers, pewter and more~!!  Not a Hockey lover...they also have keychains for Basketball, Baseball, Football, even NASCAR~!!

My Thoughts~!!

I liked the design of the Boston Bruins Keychain that I had the privilege to review!!  It fit comfortably in my hands, was just the right weight to remind you of your keys and the light button was easily pressed.

I loved the sleek, chrome colouring and the Boston Bruins emblem is a rounded bevel design that clearly depicts the design beneath.  The little light is great for up close, detailed areas, such as putting a key in a lock in dark situations.

I love all their different designs, some of their novelty keychains are really neat, like the Barrel of Monkeys or the Monopoly board and the pepper spray keychain would be a handy keychain to have!!  I love their NHL series and what better way to promote your favourite team then by proudly them displaying on your keyring??  For any die hard fan, this is a MUST have gift~!!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Best Extreme Sports Movies Ever Made

It is often said that real life leads to even more exciting stories than fiction and in the case of some of the world’s most daring adventurers and sporting pioneers this is often the case. Snow-covered mountains, rolling waves, dramatic cliffs and daring pursuits make for incredible experience days as well captivating films. But it takes a special movie to truly capture the adrenelin-fuelled adventure of some of the most extreme activities on the planet. From mountain climbing disasters to blissful days riding the waves, here are five of the best extreme sports movie documentaries ever made:

Touching the Void
The true story of mountain climbers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates who faced the terrifying choice that all climbers dread - whether or not to cut the rope. After Simpson breaks his leg in a fall during their descent, his co-climber Yates tried to lower him down the mountain but after lowering him over a cliff edge is forced to cut the rope to stop himself being dragged over as well. Remarkably, Simpson survives the fall and faces the virtually impossible challenge of getting off the mountain with no food, water and a broken leg. The close-to-the-bone documentary features real life interviews and reenacted footage and is a story of the triumph of human spirit when faced with the greatest adversity.

Man on Wire
French daredevil Philippe Petit found infamy when he performed a death-defying tightrope walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York back in 1974. Rare footage, recent interviews and startling still photographs all go into this poignant 2008 documentary which charts the build-up to the iconic stunt, as well as Petit’s street performing roots and previous tightrope challenges, as well as the pressures his extreme lifestyle put on his loved ones.

The Endless Summer
The ultimate surf movie which spawned films galore following in its wake and inspired a generation of chilled-out surf dudes. The iconic 1966 documentary follows surfers Robert August and Mike Hynson on their global quest to find the perfect wave, capturing beautiful images from exotic locations around the world as well as capturing the surfers’ psyche which motivates their pursuit of perfection.

127 Hours
A startling true account of climber Aron Ralston’s decision to cut off his own arm after getting it trapped under a boulder while canyoning in the Utah desert. An inspiring tale of one man’s determination to survive in the most extreme situations, with the added bonus of some beautiful footage of daring outdoor pursuits.

Let it Ride: The Craig Kelly Story
Charting the rise of not only snowboard’s first superstar, but the sport itself with seven-times world champion Craig Kelly among the pioneers of snowboarding in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This film is more than just a snowboarding documentary but a personal chronicle of a man’s dedication to the sport he loves, plus the stunning snow-covered scenery makes for beautiful footage.

This article has been created by Activity Superstore, the UK's leading Gift Experience Days supplier.