Second Round Should be an Instant Classic
The second round of the 2006 NBA playoffs has the chance to be one of the closest and best rounds in recent history. Three of the four series should go at least six games, with the fourth including “King James” and the powerhouse Detroit Pistons. Not to blow my own horn, but only a Phoenix comeback against the Lakers kept my first round predictions from going 8-0. So here we go, get the number of your local sportsbook handy, and lets check out the Conference Semifinals.
Western Conference
#1 Spurs vs. #4 Mavericks
This is really #1 vs. #2, but by now we all know the storyline behind the division rule, so I’ll skip that argument. This is truly a series to make some money if you are looking to gamble. The Spurs pulled out of game one 87-85, while being favored by 5 points. If I were a gambling man, and that I am, I would absolutely take the team getting points in each game. This series is destined to go seven and in a close fashion. Don’t think Game One was a fluke. I would even be inclined to take Dallas straight up in Game Two. Tim Duncan looked like the old Timmy, scoring 31 points and grabbing 13 boards, but this type of play might not last with his recent injury trouble. In summation, I still like the Spurs’ bench with Michael Finley, and I still like the Spurs to take the series in seven.
#2 Suns vs. #6 Clippers
OK Phoenix. You ruined my bid for a perfect first round, but you guys are going down in round two. The Suns are favored by 6 points for Monday’s Game One, which I think is terribly inflated. The Clippers are a much more complete team than the Lakers. If Phoenix struggled with the one-man show of the Lakers, what are they going to do against Elton Brand and company, which includes veteran star Sam Cassell. Cassell was brought in for just this reason: to win playoff games. Cassell averaged 15 points and five assists per game in the series against the Nuggets and is a proven winner. The Suns expelled way too much energy in the first round, with their three-game comeback against the Lakers. If you are about sports betting, do yourself a favor and put your money on the Clippers in game one. This series will be another nail biter; Clippers in six.
Eastern Conference
#1 Pistons vs. #4 Cleveland
Here we have the only easy series to predict. The Pistons are the overwhelming favorite to win it all, and they look like it too. They blew out the Cavaliers in game one, 113-86. This series could turn out to be a slaughter. Lebron was held to only 22 points and averaged less than 20 points per game during the regular season against the Pistons. You get the feeling that the only way the Cavaliers can win a game in this series is to have Lebron go absolutely nuts, which won’t happen against a defense like Detroit’s. With this series, I don’t care how many points the Pistons are favored by; take the Pistons and they will cover the spread. They only covered the spread by 17 points on Sunday. This series will not be close, especially if the pistons go 15 for 22 from three point land again. Pistons in five.
#2 Heat vs. #3 Nets
This is another incredibly hard series to predict, but it’s what I get paid for. Both of these teams really struggled in the first round against inferior opponents. Shaq showed flashes of brilliance in the Heat series but also showed his age. But Shaq is still Shaq and still leads the league in field goal percentage at 60%, which will help the Heat to step up in this series. Shaq also upped his rebounds from 9.2 to 10.8 in the first round, which should continue to give Miami second chance points. Even with this, I think the five points the Heat are giving up in Game One might be too many. Vince Carter increased his points average by more than five in the first round all the way up to 29.2 per, Game and I think the Nets could shock the Heat with a Game One victory. Take the points and take the Nets in this series. Nets in seven.
01 Dec 2008
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With the increase in the popularity of the sport, numerous centers and programs for scuba diving certification has come up in recent years. In the United States alone, there are nearly 2000 professional scuba dive centers. The first thing you’d need to do before joining a program is to check out the various centers and find out which one of them should be most suitable for you.
Open Water Diver Certification:
You have to be at least 15 years old to get the open water diver certification. Most open water certifications let you dive by yourself without an instructor present (if the charter does not make it compulsory). There is also Junior Open Water Diver Certification for people between ages 10 to 15. Before getting your certification, it is recommended by almost every center that you are in good physical health. Some centers may even require you to obtain a medical certificate before enrolling in a certification program. You also need to know how to swim though you don’t necessarily have to be good at it. However, you should be able to swim 200 yards using any stroke, and be able to float or tread on water for about 10 minutes.
Scuba Dive Centers for Certification:
There are numerous scuba dive centers around that can teach you the technical background knowledge and practical skills of scuba diving, but not all of them are completely reliable. Try to do a little research before registering yourself for a program. Also consider an agency that offers an internationally recognized certification card if you travel a lot.
Some of the most popular and biggest scuba diving certification agencies include PADI, NAUI, YMCA, Scuba Schools International, and PDIC. These organizations offer some of the best scuba courses and training instructors available. However, the training method, duration, lessons etc may not be the same with all of them. For example, NAUI courses are often more technical in the classroom than other programs but can’t be said better or worse than the rest. So, the outcome of the training and course will ultimately depend on your own effort and individual instructor.
Bubblemakers, Scuba rangers, and SASY are some of the popular agencies specializing in providing Junior Open Water Diver Certification for people between ages 10 to 15.
Course:
The duration of a scuba diving certification course usually depends on you and your schedule. Basically, it takes about two to three months to get a full certification which would cost between $175.00 and $250.00 and may include accessories such as books, tables, and rental equipment etc (you’ll have to buy or rent your own scuba diving equipment). A certification course normally includes classroom work, examinations, practical skills sessions, and four to five open water dives. Classroom work may be held once a week with more intensive weekends which include advanced reading, while open water dives typically take two more days.
The basic scuba diver certification permits you to dive from 60 to 100 feet below the surface, while an advanced scuba diving certification allows you to take deep dives of about 130 feet. The advanced scuba diving certification concentrates more on safety, physics, navigation, night diving, physiology diving and the dive tables.
01 Dec 2008
Serious scuba diving entails more than just the basic gears of the beginner diver. The diver needs more than just his set of mask, fins, regulator, oxygen tank, and wet suit to ensure the diver’s safety.
For external data that the diver should know, the assistance of a diving computer is essential. The diving computer provides information on the amount of time needed for decompression and even the depth of the dive itself. It also gauges data such as the levels of nitrogen content in the bloodstream, or decompression sickness that could be fatal to the diver’s life.
It would be wise to compare brands of diving computers before actually making a purchase. Aside from considering factors such as cost, quality and accuracy of the machine should also be weighed out. One effective way of doing this would be to search for reviews of the products and gather consensus of those who have bought and used it in their dives.
After buying one’s personal choice it would be prudent to study and understand the features and commands of the equipment. It should be known by heart, in the same way that a beginner is trained to deal with various situations that can happen to him under water. To get used to operating the product, it would be advisable to use its functions little be little in short-term expeditions.
Various unforeseen accidents can occur to a diver, especially when he is underwater. One trick is not to panic and to remain calm. Fear is a diver’s greatest enemy since it can blur out good judgment and training. Besides, another aspect that should be checked from time to time is the relaxed breathing of the diver. Panic can cause hyperventilation or worse, rapid ascent towards the surface can cause bubbles to form in the body’s tissues that could cause lack of sensation, immobility, or death.
01 Dec 2008
Scuba Diving In Musandam - Oman
The Sultanate of Oman is the second largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, lying along its southeast corner. It has a total land area of 300,000 square kilometres and a population of over two million.
The Musandam, separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates, is the northernmost part of the Sultanate.
Due to its geographical position and mountainous terrain it was isolated from the rest of Oman and the region developed at its own pace. Graded roads cut across the mountains have now made it more accessible. The grandeur of Musandam can best be explored by sea.
Musandam Peninsula has an abundance of sheltered fjords, some only connected to the mainland by narrow cliffs. Fjords, or khors, created by fragmented rock stretching claw-like into the sea and massive overshadowing cliffs towering above are magnificently reflected in the water below.
The coast juts into the Strait of Hormuz and extends some 600 kilometres. These spectacular fjords have given the area a second name “The Norway of Arabia” The Strait of Hormuz is only 60km wide and does not exceed 60m in depth and is of strategic importance to Oman as 90% of all the Gulf's oil trade passes through this area.
The only dive center is the Extra Divers Dive Center located in the "Golden Tulip Hotel" in Khasab, which is the capital of the most northerly province of Musandam.
It is the only dive center in the whole area...so lots of fish and few divers! Turtles, rays, nudibranches, dolphins, barracudas...name it - you´ see it.......maybe...! The dive center is brand new with new equipment, compressor, tanks, dive shop, dry room for our guests, multilingual instructors (german, english, french, italian & russian), a workshop... and a terrace for chill-out after diving. More infos at: http://www.scubasailing.de
The total population of Musandam is approximately 27,000 and the capital Khasab has 18,000 inhabitants. Dibba on the East coast of Musandam has a population of approximately 5,500. The Peninsula begins with Tibat, on the west coast in the Arabian Gulf to Daba (Dibba), on the east coast in the Gulf of Oman, this coastal zone, along with many offshore islands, offers a unique contact with nature. Small villages nestle along the tortuous shoreline, most of them only accessible by sea, like Lima and Kumzar.
Its rugged mountains rise up over 2,000 meters above sea level. In Arabic it is known as Ra's Musandam. The Ru'us al-Jibal (the Mountaintops), the northernmost extremity of the al-Gharbi al-Hajar (Western Hajar mountains), occupy the northern tip of the Musandam Peninsula. The peninsula is generally about 35 km wide.
The peninsula is mainly inhabited by the Shihuh, who are fishermen and herdsmen and are probably descended from the original inhabitants of northern Oman. Fishing is the peninsula's main industry with packing plants at al-Khasab and Bay'ah. Transportation is mostly by sea, since no roads cross the forbidding terrain.
01 Dec 2008
Scuba Diving In Musandam - Oman
The Sultanate of Oman is the second largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, lying along its southeast corner. It has a total land area of 300,000 square kilometres and a population of over two million.
The Musandam, separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates, is the northernmost part of the Sultanate.
Due to its geographical position and mountainous terrain it was isolated from the rest of Oman and the region developed at its own pace. Graded roads cut across the mountains have now made it more accessible. The grandeur of Musandam can best be explored by sea.
Musandam Peninsula has an abundance of sheltered fjords, some only connected to the mainland by narrow cliffs. Fjords, or khors, created by fragmented rock stretching claw-like into the sea and massive overshadowing cliffs towering above are magnificently reflected in the water below.
The coast juts into the Strait of Hormuz and extends some 600 kilometres. These spectacular fjords have given the area a second name “The Norway of Arabia” The Strait of Hormuz is only 60km wide and does not exceed 60m in depth and is of strategic importance to Oman as 90% of all the Gulf's oil trade passes through this area.
The only dive center is the Extra Divers Dive Center located in the "Golden Tulip Hotel" in Khasab, which is the capital of the most northerly province of Musandam.
It is the only dive center in the whole area...so lots of fish and few divers! Turtles, rays, nudibranches, dolphins, barracudas...name it - you´ see it.......maybe...! The dive center is brand new with new equipment, compressor, tanks, dive shop, dry room for our guests, multilingual instructors (german, english, french, italian & russian), a workshop... and a terrace for chill-out after diving. More infos at: http://www.scubasailing.de
The total population of Musandam is approximately 27,000 and the capital Khasab has 18,000 inhabitants. Dibba on the East coast of Musandam has a population of approximately 5,500. The Peninsula begins with Tibat, on the west coast in the Arabian Gulf to Daba (Dibba), on the east coast in the Gulf of Oman, this coastal zone, along with many offshore islands, offers a unique contact with nature. Small villages nestle along the tortuous shoreline, most of them only accessible by sea, like Lima and Kumzar.
Its rugged mountains rise up over 2,000 meters above sea level. In Arabic it is known as Ra's Musandam. The Ru'us al-Jibal (the Mountaintops), the northernmost extremity of the al-Gharbi al-Hajar (Western Hajar mountains), occupy the northern tip of the Musandam Peninsula. The peninsula is generally about 35 km wide.
The peninsula is mainly inhabited by the Shihuh, who are fishermen and herdsmen and are probably descended from the original inhabitants of northern Oman. Fishing is the peninsula's main industry with packing plants at al-Khasab and Bay'ah. Transportation is mostly by sea, since no roads cross the forbidding terrain.
01 Dec 2008
Scuba diving is an exciting water activity for almost all ages. It involves using special gear to stay underwater for extended periods of time. That simple definition, though, belies the true excitement of this recreation - scuba divers enjoy seeing marine life up close and even see underwater shipwrecks, coral reefs, and caves, all from a unique perspective. Scuba diving has become extremely popular because it offers unparalleled excitement, a good workout, and a chance to see nature’s wonders up close.
If you want to join other scuba divers, it is important to find the best scuba diving instructor – one who is certified by a professional body like NAUI (The National Association of Underwater Instructors) or PADI (The Professional Association of Diving Instructors)– since scuba diving has some risks. Getting good instruction ensures that you learn scuba diving safely. Both PADI and NAUI can also provide you with the facts about scuba diving, and dive certification is required to dive at most resorts and dive operations.
When selecting an instructor, it is important to select someone with the right certification levels. Levels include Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Master Scuba Diver, DiveMaster, Assistant Instructor, Boat Diver, Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Multilevel Diver, Night Diver, Search & Recovery Diver, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Navigator, Underwater Photographer, Underwater Videographer, Wreck Diver, and others. It is important to select a scuba diving instructor with the credentials and certification that most meets your needs.
When you are just starting out as a scuba diver, you may be interested in travelling to one of the scuba diving hot spots –The Red Sea in Egypt, Malta, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, and others. These popular scuba diving destinations offer beautiful dives and plenty of instructions for the new scuba diver. These destinations also allow you to easily rent all the gear you need for scuba diving – including a mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, exposure suits (wetsuit or dry suit), buoyancy compensators, weights, and tanks. All this gear allows you to stay safe and control your decent into the water. For beginning scuba divers, it can make sense to rent this equipment, as scuba diving gear can cost more than $1000. For new scuba divers, renting also makes sense because it ensures that the gear is properly maintained and kept.
However you decide to approach scuba diving – whether locally or at an exotic destination, whether as a pleasant pastime or a regular hobby – joining the ranks of scuba divers worldwide is sure to be an eye-opening experience – and one that will create a life time of memories.
01 Dec 2008
Scuba Diving with Club Med in Turks and Caicos
One scuba diving vacation option for divers is with the Club Med resorts that offer intensive dive programs. These particular Club Med locations have full service scuba diving centers staffed by PADI and NAUI certified instructors as well as full equipment rentals. Club Med has locations with dive intensive programs in the Caribbean and the South Pacific. One such resort is the Club Med Turkoise in the Turks and Caicos islands located southeast of the Bahamas. While these islands are not the lushest in the Caribbean, they do have excellent coral reef systems making it a top scuba diving destination in the region.
For those scuba divers who do not want to be bothered with transit between hotels, restaurants and dive boats, Club Meds are a wonderful option since everything is on site. Like other high end all-inclusive resorts, Club Meds have excellent dining, decent rooms plus great facilities for water and land sports. A bonus feature of Club Meds is the inclusion of instruction for many activities such as sailing and water skiing as well as the nightly entertainment on stage.
As for the scuba diving programs which are offered at additional cost, they usually offer standard five day packages which include a two tank trip every morning plus a weekly night dive. There are optional single tank dives in the afternoon as well. In my estimation, the Club Med Turkoise location I went to had 50% divers and 50% non-divers. It was kind of funny to see that the guests who go to bed the earliest in the evenings and show up in the dining room first thing in the mornings are the scuba divers. Many divers I met were repeat guests. This proves that the Club Med is able to attract a loyal following among some scuba divers. The resort is ideal for couples where one spouse is a diver and the other is not. There are plenty of other activities on site for the non-diving spouse to do while the other is out diving. Later in the afternoon, couples or friends could get back together to do other activities or simply relax. I went to this Club Med as a single traveler and had no problems fitting in. The dining room staff usually asks guests whether they would like to sit with a singles table or one with couples. The advantage of this Club Med setup is that it is very easy to meet other guests on a social level. I ended up socializing and diving with people from Europe as well as North America.
The Club Med dive boats are huge. These boats have rows along each side and another row in the center. They are ‘cattle’ boats for sure as there can be as much as 40 divers for each trip. However, they are nice ‘cattle’ boats with two ladders in the back platform and a large upper deck for the boat ride. A very nice feature of these boats is that there are two safety stop bars below the boat at the 15 feet mark. These bars are excellent for beginner scuba divers who still have problems remaining at a level 15 feet for their safety stops. All they have to do is hold on to the safety stop bar and wait for the 3 minutes. On each bar, there is also a regulator for those who are low on air. Scuba divers can dive in either guided groups led by a divemaster or in their own buddy groups. Either way, there is an adequate briefing before each dive. The guided groups are particularly good for divers who do not want to worry about navigation.
The diving at Turks and Caicos is wonderful with steep walls during the first part of each dive. The return portion of each dive will generally be over a reef system with lots of small to medium size marine life. One resident barracuda nicknamed Charlie is often seen and likes to hang out between the safety stop bars checking out the divers. In general, the diving is similar to that in the Bahamas but you won’t find crowds of dive boats out in the water here since Turks and Caicos are not as saturated with dive operators and tourists yet. For an extra charge, it is possible for the resort to arrange a 3 tank day trip with an outside scuba operator to dive some sites further out that have larger marine life. Some divers took this option and returned with very positive reviews of multiple shark sightings.
If scuba divers are interested in going to a Club Med, it is important to verify which locations currently offer the intensive dive programs. Different Club Meds also have different atmospheres. Some are livelier with a party scene and some are quieter. Consulting a travel agent familiar with Club Meds will be useful. Club Med does have a good scuba diving program with very professional staff and is an option worth checking out if one doesn’t mind being on dive trips with relatively large numbers of divers.
01 Dec 2008
Scuba diving as an activity is popular among many, for its challenging yet calming effects in being able to explore the beauty of life under the sea. But, the sport, with its numerous soothing benefits, has an enormous responsibility for divers. One wrong move, the enjoyable event could become a diver’s most terrible experience that could very well be his last. With its fame, scuba diving has also become notorious for unforeseen accidents or fatalities caused by unnecessary neglect. The keys to deriving hard-earned enjoyment from the activity are good training, presence of mind, and dependable scuba diving equipment.
Aside from the basic checklist of scuba diving gears – such as, wet suit, regulator, oxygen tank, mask, and fins – and the vital scuba diving equipment – like diving computer, compass, and gauges –, are other set of tools that can be used to fully make the most out of every experience are underwater cameras and lights. These gadgets can document every trip and dive into various sites. These are designed to capture details of the various colors and activities of marine life. To make sure of the quality and performance, it would be better to go the known brands available in the market. Another way to make sure of a wise purchase is to research and gather a consensus among experienced divers and their recommendations.
What is most important is for a diver to be knowledgeable of his sport and his scuba equipment. No amount of modern technology can assuage human errors causes by different factors. But, having a unruffled demeanor in times of accidents, could mean the life of a companion of one’s own. But, for whatever cost, may it be monetary or one’s life, the most important is being able to enjoy one’s self in whatever endeavor he may be in, but particularly in the art and science of scuba diving.
01 Dec 2008
Sugar And Spice - Dressing Up Little Girls
I admit it - I'm a total sucker for sugar and spice baby girl clothing. Give me lace and roses, hand-crocheted pinafores, add hand-smocked bodices and I'm in heaven. I've raised two little girls and had a hand in half a dozen nieces, and I'm here to warn you, ladies. If you love dressing up your little girl in ribbons and lace, indulge yourself as much as you can when she's a baby - because it won't be long before she's choosing her own clothes. And honestly, the frilly styles I love just don't suit the average active toddler. So -- get it out of your system when she's a baby - and take lots and lots of pictures.
Just for mothers like me, here are five classic looks for smartly dressed baby girls that will ensure that your little angel will never be mistaken for a boy - till she starts dressing herself, at least.
Hand-Smocked Polly Flinders Dresses
There is nothing in this world that says 'little girl' quite like a hand-smocked Polly Flinders dress. I was lucky enough when my youngest was an infant to find an entire box full of vintage 1950s Polly Flinders dresses, and buy them for a dollar apiece. If you're not familiar with hand-smocked clothing or Polly Flinders, let me give you an idea of what a bargain this is: a search for Polly Flinders dresses this morning turned up a few dozen dresses, including several vintage dresses from the 50s and 60s. The prices ranged from $45 to $175.
The Sailor Suit
What do you get when you cross red satin ribbons, navy blue pin-dotsand a white embroidered collar? Add a pint-size sailor's cap embellished with a satin ribbon and you have one of the most popular little girl baby dresses ever made - a very feminine twist on a little boy's sailor suit. It was one of the classic styles of the 1940s, and never goes out of style.
Ruffled Pinafores
It's a classic Alice in Wonderland little girl pretty - a gingham checked dress with puffed shoulders and a ruffled hem peeking out from beneath a starched pinafore. Pinafores started out as 'aprons' to help save the fancy dress beneath, but soon took on a style of their own. They slip on from the front, and button or tie at the back, and are meant to be worn over an under dress. Ruffled hems and shoulders and dainty embroidery are just a few of the things that make this classic baby clothing style special.
Ruffled Panties
Very little in this life is more adorable than rows of ruffled lace peeking out from beneath the hem of a smocked baby dress. Ruffle-bottomed diaper covers and fancy little embroidered bottoms that are meant to peek out beneath a dress are another of those classic baby girl looks that never age.
Velvet and Taffeta Roses
What's the well-dressed baby girl wear on Christmas? Taffeta and velvet, with lace and roses at the waist of course. Be traditional with a red velvet bodice and ruffled plaid taffeta skirt, complete with a tiny satin rose at the lace-trimmed collar - or let your bolder side out and dress your little darling in black velvet and pink satin. My own favorite of all time was a pearl gray velvet dress with a white taffeta skirt accented with a full-blown satin bow in baby-soft pink.
29 Nov 2008
Standardized Testing Teaching Tips
Standardized tests can be very stressful for children. Here, therefore, are some tips for parents and children that may help.
Before the Test...for Parents and Children
1. Have children study every night during the year so they will understand the material as their teacher is presenting it. Clear up any confusion as they go. This will make them confident in their knowledge and lead to a review for the test rather than to learning new information.
2. The night before the test, do something that is fun to help keep them calm. All their heavy studying should be complete by then!
3. Of course, they should get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and leave for school with a positive attitude and confidence in themselves. Parents, that's where you can help immensely! Wish your children luck, give them a high five, let them know you believe in them...whatever it takes to lessen the pressure.
4. Pupils should ask their teacher if guessing will hurt their score. Sometimes, students are penalized for guessing.
5. Both children and parents, remember... no one is expected to make 100%! All that children can do is their best. Encourage them to do so.
During the Test...for Children
1. Read to understand each question carefully. Then read ALL the choices you are given.
2. Monitor your time. If you get stuck on a question, do not spend too much time on it. Concentrate on answering the questions you know for sure and then go back to the others if there is more time. REMEMBER: If you do this, put your answer in the right space on the bubble sheet! You should already know if guessing will hurt you.
3. If you get nervous, shut your eyes, take a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
I hope these suggestions are useful. GOOD LUCK!!
29 Nov 2008