Archive for July, 2010
Posted on July 29, 2010 by James W
As the Baltimore Ravens and other teams in the National Football League open their preseason training camps, the league is issuing a candid heads-up on the dangers of concussions. A poster detailing the symptoms of a concussion and spelling out the dangers of “playing through” a head injury will be hung in every NFL locker room this season. Labeled a “must read,” it urges players to promptly seek out the team trainer or physician if they or one of their teammates experiences confusion, dizziness or any of 15 listed symptoms.
“Work smart. Use your head, don’t lead with it,” the poster states. It adds “concussions and conditions resulting from repeated brain injury can change your life and your family’s life forever.”
This is a good call and a change of tactics for the NFL. Until recently, the league was playing defense on concussions, denying that there was a firm link between head injuries and playing football. Now the league has switched to offense, stating the risks of concussions and working on ways to minimize them on the playing field. The locker room warning about head injuries is the work of the league’s medical committee and was written in cooperation with the players union and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Posted on July 21, 2010 by James W
People with poor credit find that a prepaid credit card helps to improve their credit. A prepaid credit card works the same as a regular credit card in that it can be used to make purchases online or in retail stores and to reserve hotels or rental cars. Any place that requires a credit card to reserve something will accept the prepaid card as well. In fact, the companies won’t even know that it is a prepaid card as it works just like a regular credit card.
The twist on a prepaid credit card is that there is never any debt as there is with a regular credit card. With a prepaid card, you deposit money into the account and that is the available spending limit. It’s almost like using a debit card against a checking account. Whatever amount of money is available in that account is available to use for spending. Many people find this to be more convenient and safer than carrying cash.
Some prepaid cards may require a small fee to open the account, but unlike a bank or credit card there are usually no additional fees to pay. There is never an interest rate because nothing is being charged and there is never any debt.
Unlike debit cards, though, many prepaid credit cards are reported to your credit history just like a regular credit card. It’s an inviting option and a reasonable alternative to using debit cards because of the credit reporting benefit. A debit card from a checking account will not be reported to a credit report.
Using a prepaid credit cards is also a great tool for those who have no credit history and would like to build credit without accumulating debt. Prepaid credit cards are becoming quite popular.
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Technorati Tags: finance, money, personal finance, prepaid credit cards
Posted on July 1, 2010 by James W
If you have ever walked into a casino and managed to get past the slot machines and the eye-catchingly dressed cocktail waitresses, then chances are you have seen a sportsbook. And don’t let the name fool you, it’s much more than a book, and simply adding the word “sports” to it does not necessarily narrow down your list of options.
No, a sportsbook is a place where sports lovers and gamblers meet. And if you are a fan of both, then you will love simply being in one. The typical sportsbook is home to a multitude of television screens complete with every sport being played in the world at that moment. And not only that, a ticker tape of game scores and other sports information dances across your eyes, bordering the television screens in a gambler’s version of Time Squares.
After walking into my first sportsbook, and I am not much of a sports fanatic beyond the occasional finals match, MMA title fight or conference final, I could not help but locate the nearest vacant seat and watch. If I am not much of a sports connoisseur, then my wife still has to discover the concept. Nevertheless, on a recent trip through the Vegas Strip, as we cut through the lobby of the MGM Grand Casino, I could not help but guide her by the hand to the scene of my first sportsbook. Comfortable seating, matched by a tall and glimmering display of sports images and live competitions, any one of which I could have wagered upon should I have so desired. Though the symphony spectacle of organized competition was more than enough to appease the moment and my sweet tooth for sports. My wife did not get it but I knew – a sportsbook is truly a special place.
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Technorati Tags: casino, gambling, online casino, recreation, sports, sportsbook
Posted on July 1, 2010 by James W
It’s 2:20, and you’ve been waiting at the Starbuck’s door for 20 long minutes, watching people come and go. It seems obvious at this point that your date won’t show. All that work for nothing, you think, and you prepare to head home, frustrated and depressed. What could have gone wrong? About 101 things. Here are a few things to do to increase the chances that your date will find the coffee shop and show up for the date.
- First, it’s a good idea to repeat the time and location at the end of the call. “So, I’ll see you Sunday morning at 10:00 at the college bookstore Starbuck’s.”
- Make sure your date knows exactly where it is. The best way to do this is to pick a location that can’t be missed. Giving directions is a little too nice and sends the wrong message. Before you call, research locations that even people new to your city could find easily. Using landmarks can be helpful, i.e., “It’s the Coffee Bean across the street from the park with Bermuda grass.”
- And not only should you pick a place that’s easy to find, you should pick a place that’s close to where your date lives or works, depending on what day the date is scheduled. A good way to ascertain this during the phone call is simply to say, “I live in Allston. What part of town do you live in?” If the location is easy to find and close to where she lives, there’s a much better chance that she won’t get lost.
- Also, most people don’t want to travel too far just for a coffee date, with a person he may or may not click with. You’ll get stood up more often if your date has to come a long way as opposed to walking a few blocks.
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Technorati Tags: bermuda grass, date, dating, first date, relationship
Posted on July 1, 2010 by James W
Online sports betting is a great way for you to capitalize on a hunch or your passion for a sport. It is also a great way to have some fun or make a game more interesting. However, with so many options for betting, it can be a little confusing. It’s helpful to break down some of the most common bets that occur on large sports wagering websites.
The most common and easiest bet is called the simple wager. This wager is simply betting on which team will win a match or game. One person wins and takes everything, while the loser gets nothing. A slightly more complicated but similar bet is called the future wager. In a future wager, you bet far into the future guessing which sports team will win the Super Bowl or make it to the finals. This bet can pay off much greater than a simple wager, but the loser still gets nothing.
Parlays and Progressive Parlays are a slightly more complicated form of betting. This method is basically a series of simple wagers. In a Parlay, you have to get every bet right but you can reap a massive payout. Progressive Parlays offer a smaller payout, but you can lose a few games and still multiply your bet.
More complicated bets exist such as Proposition bets and Head-to-Head bets. A Proposition bet is very specific and can be betting on very specific scores of a game or a player’s stats. Head-to-Head bets do not focus on the end results of a game, but instead on the individual competitor’s standings, compared to one another. In golf for example, a Head-to-Head bet compares several players’ rankings.
Now that you have a better understanding of different online betting styles, you can invest better and get better returns!
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Technorati Tags: betting, sports, sports betting
Posted on July 1, 2010 by James W
Are you looking for a great gift? Do you have a holiday coming up and want something unique and meaningful? For those special occasions when you want to give more than just a typical, store-bought gift, try a custom poster. In today’s age of technological advances, custom poster printing is easy, simple, and incredibly fun! Custom posters make great gifts for all ages.
When it comes time to give a gift, nothing says “I care” like a personalized, custom gift. Think about it. For your daughter’s next birthday, try a beautiful poster with photos of your daughter on the day she was born. What about pictures of your son’s football game? You could even make a custom poster with your original artwork. Children, parents, aunts, uncles, and anyone looking to give a fun and unique gift enjoy customer posters.
Custom posters also look great hanging on the wall. You can easily frame a poster and display it in the bedroom, living room, or the office. You can cover your walls with the things that mean the most to you. And imagine giving a gift to someone special and then seeing it displayed in their home! You know your gift means the most when it’s on the wall to see every day. Custom posters are easily framed and hung on any wall in your home.
The next time a birthday, anniversary, or a “just because” day comes around, think about giving a custom poster. You will love the look on the receiver’s face as you give a gift that will last a lifetime! Knowing your gift is meaningful will make it all the more special. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, the best gifts are those that come from the heart.
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Technorati Tags: gift ideas, holiday gifts, personalized gifts, poster printing, printing
