Saturday, January 31, 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo--Wunderkind of Footballers

By Denise I Smithson

Born February 5, 1985, winger Cristiano Ronaldo of the English Premier League club Manchester United signed a $21.24 million contract in 2003 at the age of 18. In that year he was given his first cap while he played for the Portuguese. Cristiano went to the final of the UEFA Euro in 2004, where he delighted his fans when he scored the first international goal of his career.

Ronaldo was on the global rise scoring often at both club and international levels and received his first Premier League title in the 2006-07 season. As the Premier League's top scorer, Ronaldo was named the FIFPro World Player of the Year in 2008. Also in 2008, Ronaldo achieved the Ballon d'Or award-quite the achievement for such a young soccer player.

Maria Dolores dos Santos Averio and Jose Dinis Averiogave named Christiano "Ronaldo" after then-United States President Ronald Regan--but it wasn't for his leadership skills, rather it was for his acting skills which made him his father's favorite actor. Ronaldo also has two older sisters and a younger brother.

Ronaldo began playing for the amateur team C.F. Andorinha when he was just eight years old. Local football club CD Nacional took him in 1995, and for them he played so amazingly well that the Sporting CP club let him play for them for three days and afterward they signed him to a contract for an unknown signing bonus. At Portugal's Sporting CP, Cristiano attended the Alcochete, a renowned footballer's academy. He would go on to become the only footballer in history to play for the Sporting CP club's U-16, U-17, U-18, and B-teams. After much pleading from many of his players and after seeing his talent for himself, Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson signed him to a contract. He became an instant hit with the fans.

Cristiano was now backed by a talented team as the first ever Portuguese player to sign with an English team. He asked for jersey #23, rather than take the #7 tied associated with David Beckham and Eric Cantona. Cristiano wanted to be his own player and that's exactly what he was from the start. He made his debut in the 60th minute as a substitute when his team was winning 4-0 over the Bolton Wanderers. In 2005, Christiano scored United's thousandth Premier League goal in October of that year, and in that same year fans voted for him to enter his first FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year awards.

In 2006, Ronaldo attained consecutive Barclays Player of the Month awards, only the third player in history to do this since Dennis Bergkamp in 1997 and Robbie Fowler in 1996. Cristiano's 50th career goal with Manchester United came against rivals Manchester City F.C. when they claimed their first Premier League title in just four years. Again, Ronaldo was voted the FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year Award and thought it looked like he might switch forces to play with the Real Madrids, he signed with United in April of 2006 for a cool $31 million a year-he became the highest player in United's history.

The prestigious PFA Players' Player of the Year, the PFA Fans' Player of the Year, and the PFA Young Player of the Year awards were taken by Cristiano for the 2006-2007 season. However, Ronaldo has been known to rave up with some antics, and these got him banned for three matches during the 2007-08 season. But, he was allowed to play again after he discussed with his coach no longer letting opposing team players get his ire up. He still wound up scoring a record-setting 35 goals for the season; George Best had 32 in 1967-1968. Ronaldo was made team captain in March of 2008.

Just as it seemed Cristiano might head for the Real Madrid team, he remained committed to United for another year. Scoring is 100th and 101st goals in United's 5-0 win over Stroke City in November, it seemed Ronaldo was headed for greatness, something most footballers only dream of. To end his season, Ronald accepted Manchester United's first Ballon d'Or award since George Best won it in 1968. The magnificent Ronaldo finished his season with 446 points-quite the accomplishment for such a young player. We await the 2008-09 season to see more ways Cristiano will wow his fans all over the world.

About the Author:

Friday, January 30, 2009

Lots to See on a Wilderness Travel in Tanzania

By Leo Safari

Tanzania is the country where more land than anywhere else in Africa is allocated to wildlife. Amazing? That is why a wilderness travel adventure in Tanzania is no ordinary experience. It is Africa at its best.

You will see...

Of course the Kilimanjaro. One of the main reasons visitors come to this beautiful country is to climb Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa at 5895m high.

See the wildlife in game sanctuaries so vast that some are still virtually unspoiled. The whole range of Africa wildlife is there to see as they interact in their natural habitat.

The Serengeti is world famous for its unique eco-system, for the great Serengeti-Maasai Mara wildebeest migration among other attractions. It is also the world's most famous game reserve with a research center for ecological conservation.

The Mahale Game Park is on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Here you will find the world's largest concentration of chimpanzees.

Or go to visit the Islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. Here you will experience the rich culture born of history of the Swahili-Arab influence as it is blended with the local African cultures.

What to do

Camping is as unique as it can ever get in Tanzania. You can live in a safari tented camp under the open skies around campfires , surrounded by animals, birds and insects of all varieties. This is camping as it should be, in the wilderness and untamed.

Leave camp every morning and take a walking safari to track game, another fun activity of wilderness travel in Tanzania.

Zanzibar Island and Pemba's idyllic beaches are famous as honeymoon spots and for great water sports. Here you can crown your wilderness travel safari in the interior by coming to the sun ,sand and sea.

So whether you are a nature lover, bird watcher, wildlife enthusiast, a camping fanatic, a seasoned mountaineer, an ecologist or just a plain romantic, it is all there for you in a Tanzanian wilderness travel.

About the Author:

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Mississippi Cruise Offers: A Great Holiday Revealed

By Anthony Herbert

River cruises are some of the most pleasurable ways to travel, and a Mississippi cruise is no exception.

You have several options when it comes to taking a high-end Mississippi cruise: You can travel on a historical steamboat, or take a themed cruise. You can mainly spend time visiting towns and cities, or enjoy a more rural and secluded trip on one of the famous boats plying the river.

A historical voyage on an old paddle boat can be a great experience, accompanied as it is by the showbiz entertainment of olden times. A historically-themed trip will take you to the prominent cities of the area, such as New Orleans, and will let you taste traditional cuisine, such as highbrow Louisiana Creole fare.

The most famous ships catering to this kind of trade are the steamboats Delta Queen, the Mississippi Queen, and the American Queen, although there are others.

The alternative to a "back to olden times" cruise is a trip focussing on specific subjects, such as the area's vibrant music tradition, or Civil War battle sites.

You can participate in bluegrass celebrations. You can experience the region's Native American culture. Battle sites from the Civil War abound on Mississippi cruises.

Even the themed cruises, though, often have a link to the area's varied past. Often there will be a guide accompanying you and telling you about the local heritage.

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's cruises are available for the whole family, and these are great ways to enjoy during the holidays with your loved ones while someone else cooks for you!

A voyage in spring, with flowers in bloom and a great variety of fresh fish and fruit on the cruise ship's menu, will feel very different than a trip in another season. Springtime is a great moment to visit the Mississippi with a loving someone, but also with a group of friends.

Mississippi cruises are truly a fantastic way to explore a great and glorious part of the United States. Whatever your specific tastes and inclinations, you can be assured that you will find a cruise that will feel right for you.

About the Author:

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Boat Evaluation - A Crucial Step for all Owners

By John Howard

From the viewpoint of the seller of a boat or yacht, but just as well for other involved people such as buyers, brokers, and marine surveyors, finding out the monetary worth of a marine vessel is one of the most crucial but also one of the most harrowing aspects of marine life.

As the potential seller of a boat or yacht, whether owned for pleasure or for fishing, and whether you plan to reinvest the proceeds of the sale into another boat or not, it is critical that you get the maximum used boat value from your vessel.

At first glance buyers may think that the subject is less crucial for them as there is a lot of choice of similar boats with clear prices, but make no mistake - don't become complacent and forget that not getting the best deal may mean losing tens of thousands of dollars.

But doing this is easier said than done. Without adequate knowledge of boat values, without knowing about the current market situation (often influenced by season and location), chances are that you will end up less well off than you thought. There are possibilities that you will do a deal which might seem to you very profitable in the beginning, but that a few days later you might realize that you could have got a much better deal in the nautical transaction.

To do the evaluation right, there are two principal routes: One is to employ a professional appraiser, the other one is to do it yourself. Hiring a broker is the easier and quicker solution, but it is not automatically the best option.

But then again, doing your own evaluation is a perfectly legitimate tactic, as long as you are willing to put in some work to educate yourself. And believe it or not, many people manage to do their evaluation better than the professionals.

To become your own appraiser for boat values, you need to look at as many resources as possible - and there are plenty of books and websites on the subject. Your aim should be to come up with realistic minimum and maximum process for the kind of boat you want or are about to sell.

For this, trade magazine classifieds (whether online or offline) are a fantastic place to start. Systematically collecting and comparing ads for similar boat classes over time will give you a very good idea of offer and demand, and therefore of current price levels.

Also good are boating festivals, which are usually organized by boating clubs and yachting marinas. These shows are excellent to pick up more info on boat values, plus people who come to the shows are experts in this industry and know what they are talking about. Don't underestimate the value of a chat with the right person to accurately pinpoint the possible value of a boat - and you may even find a buyer!

New boat exhibitions are good to gauge current fashions. Fashionable items demand a better price, and you can increase the value of your marine transaction by finding out what features and accessories are currently over- or undervalued.

About the Author:

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Choosing and Buying New Boat Seats

By Frank Gehry

Whatever the kind of boat you own or are looking to buy, whether you are a professional mariner or a hobbyist, you cannot do without the right seating for your boat.

Especially on older or second-hand boats (but sometimes even on new watercraft), the owner may want to change existing seats with new ones. Sometimes this may just apply to a couple of seats, but sometimes it has to be done for the whole boat.

Boat seats are parts that insure not only the well-being of your fellow mariners, but also serve to convey your personality onto your boat.

Seating is a very prominent and visible part of any boat and its quality and looks will not only determine how the boat is perceived in relation to the personality of the owner, but also its apparent value, witch would be an important consideration if you are trying to sell a boat.

In fact, especially when selling a boat or yacht, you will find that the investment of getting new seats will pay itself many times over.

There is a vast choice of different seating customizations that you can apply to your boat seats, and the number of outlets is just as plentiful, both in the physical world and on the net.

You will not be stuck with lack of choice, and the great variety of sellers is actually of help when it comes to getting a good deal, so make sure that you shop around and compare.

The next major tip would be to have safety issues in mind, always a major point when venturing into open waters. Comfortable seating is paramount if you do not want to tire out the vessel's crew.

Especially for boats routinely crewed by untrained passengers or by people who seldom go out onto a lake or at sea, safety is paramount and should also be considered when shopping for new boat seats.

About the Author:

Monday, January 26, 2009

Online Games Entertainment meets Social Networking in Unique Way.

By David Baker

Read carefully, the growth of online games entertainment is quietly generating new millionaires. This is a very special window of time for you, if you are reading this article before September 2007.

Now that you have found this information about online games entertainment you have the same potential as the pioneers that are already gaining ground in the market-place. Since you have discovered this new and exciting insider information about online games and social networking you also have access to the official prelaunch of a new and exciting online games social networking platform found at the end of this article.

W.C. Fields once said, "All I ask for is an unfair advantage."

Because you are here reading this online games report now at this particular moment in time; what you have is "The first movers advantage" for yourself to take a hold of now!

Even though I have been given permission to share this information about the online games entertainment industry with you this is only part of the full report. Now you've taken that all-important first step and are reading this, you are in the unique and privideged position of being amongst a group of pioneering entreprenuers who are seeing this information first.

Historically this is a time to position yourself and build immense momentum, which is then carried through the pre-launch phase, to ultimately launch with an established business on which you can capitalise.

This is about the first online games company ever to launch a business that encapsulates three of the most exiting phenomena on the internet: Online Games Entertainment, Social Networking using Web 2.0, and a new way of network marketing, which has been described as "Social Market/Network Marketing 2.0".

We will be the first company ever to launch a business that encapsulates three of the most exiting phenomena on the internet: Online Games Entertainment, Social Networking using Web 2.0, and a fun new way of network marketing that's works like crazy.

Online Games Entertainment

The online games market has been identified as the next evolutionary step in online entertainment. The online games and entertainment industry, although already a large and growing market, is extra special right now because of the timing. Timing is critical in acting on and making any online business decisions.

Playing Online Games Helps You Work Better

Online Games are also having an impact on people's productivity at work. AwardWinner survey (May 2007) showed that 76% of those who play intermittently at work achieve improved job performance. The findings examined whether playing casual online games at work enhanced employee creativity, energy and overall productivity. 80% Of the respondents, who played online games during the workday felt better focussed as a result of this periodic mental break. What's more an amazing 72% relied on game breaks to reduce job-related stress.

About the Author:

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Ideas For A Romantic Date - On A Dinner Cruise

By Amy Nutt

If youre going on a dinner cruise, youre looking for the ultimate romantic date. This means you need to come up with some ideas to make your dinner cruise something that will never be forgotten. It isnt that the cruise itself is not memorable, but the time and effort that goes into setting up this date is something that really needs to pay off.

You dont even have to live close to the ocean to enjoy a dinner cruise. As a matter of fact, you can live near a river or a harbour and have a great time on a boat offering dinner cruises. There are plenty of areas given this opportunity.

Some ideas

First of all, there may be various times in which the boat cruises are offered. If you live in Toronto, then you shouldnt have a problem finding Toronto dinner cruises that allow you to have your dinner at sunset on the water. This is something that is amazingly beautiful and incredibly romantic. In other words, it is a picture perfect moment. So make sure you are mindful of the time.

Also, make sure to buy your date a gift. A gift makes everything just a little more special. It doesnt have to be an engagement ring or anything, but something very nice that makes the night perfect. Thats not saying that it isnt already perfect.

Then again, cruises are a great place to present the love of your life with an engagement ring. A dinner cruise at sunset can make for the perfect proposal. That also makes for the romantic date of a lifetime. Actually, it is going to be the most memorable of both of your lives.

Basically, you need to be creative in how you go about your date. If there is dancing and you like dancing, arrange for a song that your date likes to be played. That way the two of you can dance to it. Your date will think you are so wonderful for having that kind of influence over the musicians when, in all reality, they are pretty easy to influence when it comes to the music they play.

As for what makes for a great occasion to go on dinner cruises, Valentines Day is a great day. Anniversaries are fantastic, birthdays, and just because. You dont have to have a reason to go on boat cruises. All you need is a desire to have fun and a desire to have a romantic time.

So whats your idea?

So what is your idea? It really does depend on what your date does and does not like, but it is also important that you surprise your date. Romantic surprises can melt any heart and your date will thank you for the change of events. Sometimes it is just not enough to go out to a restaurant and to the movies. Sometimes you just have to do something a little different. It sort of breaks the monotony.

So think really hard and be creative. What is it you know your date would love to do on a dinner cruise? Perhaps just walking around and talking is something that you both enjoy. Maybe you want to watch the sun go down together so that you can pay homage to a beautiful day. No matter what you choose, a dinner cruise is something that will provide you with a great time. And if you are in the Toronto area, youll find that the dinner cruises there are second to none. Youll find your date wanting to do these cruises more and more because of the essence that exists upon these ships.

About the Author:

Friday, January 23, 2009

Chartered Cruise for Corporate or Business Use

By Amy Nutt

In Toronto, there are many cruses that are offered out of the Toronto Harbour. Of those cruises are corporate or business cruises. These are great for meetings. Companies are always looking for new places to have meetings so that those attending are entertained. It is important to keep the environment as professionally comfortable as possible. Having a good listening environment means that the meeting will be a success.

In the meantime, the cruise provides many amenities to those attending. In other words, having a meeting on one of the Toronto Harbour boat cruises is quite the treat to those within your company or within other companies you are meeting with.

It makes you look professional

Something that is unique about Toronto Harbour boat cruises for business meetings is the fact that it makes your company look extremely professional. It reflects what kind of class your business really does have.

You have catered meals, a meeting room that is like a boardroom, but doesn't have the stuffiness that comes along with it, and you have everything you need to conduct a meeting. So this means that everyone gets to know what it is they need to know, they get fed, and they feel good by the time the meeting is over.

Everyone can then wander around if they like so that they may consort with one another and simply have a good time. Basically, if you want to have a meeting on a Toronto Harbour boat cruise, you can set a whole evening aside for drinks, food, and a good time. It is a great time for individuals to exchange ideas, so this can be a great opportunity for everyone.

Through the exchanging of ideas, you are able to bring things into your company that you would not be able to bring otherwise. This is because a comfortable environment such as this tends to bring things out in people that you would normally not see. If you keep the meeting in your stuffy old boardroom, then everyone is going to be uptight and in "business mode." If you can make them feel comfortable in their skin, then you might be quite amazed in what you may find in your fellow businessman.

It is good for PR

If your company is booking a Toronto Harbour boat cruise for your next meeting, this is good PR. You can make sure people know about it. If you reserve the entire ship, then people are going to know this and they are going to say, "Wow, this must be some business to reserve an entire ship." That's because you are definitely a great company and this means more people are going to find out about it.

You can also use chartered cruises to meet new clients. If you need to win them over in order to get a new contract, then this is going to be quite impressive. You can make sure they are pampered, fed, and that they feel comfortable. If they feel comfortable with you, they will most likely give you the deal. This is because people are more likely to go with what they are comfortable with. If they feel uncomfortable, they will not feel good about the entire situation.

So go ahead and look into Toronto Harbour cruises as a way to win over your next client, treat your employees, or conduct that next important meeting. Everyone will be thanking you for it, it increases your reputation, and you can get more work done that way. You can make it an annual event if you need to, a semi-annual event, or you can conduct your meetings on cruises as often as you need to.

About the Author:

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Camping gear

By reklicom

However just like buying any used gear, choose the wrong one and you more often than not have to kiss your money good-bye. So it is fair to say that buying used camping gear has both its advantages and disadvantages.

I you have never been camping before then your first task is to get yourself some essential camping gear. Buying new gear can be a costly exercise and if you do not have very deep pockets, or if you are on a tight budget, you might want to consider used camping gear instead.

Ask around among family and friends if they have the camping gear you need. There is always the practical benefit of mutual borrowing. Go ahead and buy one or two quality items that you can exchange. Just make sure that you do not cause damage to others' invested equipment. Before buying anything else, consider the best backpack you could ever get to hold in the rest of your camping gear.

This is probable the one thing that you want to invest in. Buy a good quality bag with just the right size (style is not that necessary). You certainly don't want myriads of mini bags or tied-to-rope items hanging around when you traveling outdoors. And trust me, you will know what and how much to put in right after you have a good idea of where to put it.

The fact is that many people who get themselves all geared up for camping will only actually go camping only a few times before they decide that it is just not their thing and end up selling their gear. Some of this gear is high priced and of high quality and if you cannot bargain the price down, at least you would have yourself some very high quality equipment at a fraction of the original costs.

Some used camping gear could be unwanted gifts or maybe not up to the quality that the seller had hoped for when they made the original purchase. So it definitely pays to ask as many question as possible before you buy the equipment. You can avoid spending a lot of money by buying used camping gear but you can also bring home items that are totally useless.

Share your camping gear between hiking partners. Delegate who will bring what. This reduces the possibility of bringing more than you will need. You do not need too many flashlights do you? You get the idea.

About the Author:

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Are Online Golf Lessons A Viable Option?

By Mick Euan Tait

The golfing beginner needs a lot of instruction and tips to begin with because golf is a difficult game to master. In my opinion, a good option is to look for trustworthy free golf tips to start your golfing education. That way, you can learn about the different swing techniques, grip styles, golf equipment options, and other areas like bunker shots - all without spending a single penny.

Pro Golf Lessons

When you have learned as much as possible from free golf tips, take a few one-on-one golf lessons. After that, you will need to practice at the range and on the course. By this stage you should be at a more consistent level where you can play some decent shots, and not so many bad shots. But to take your game to the next level, you should continue with your golf education.

Online Golf Lessons

By taking golf lessons online, it could make the difference from shooting scores over 100 or in the 90's to being able to break 90 or even 80. You will learn how to play golf with more accuracy and consistency, and really start to enjoy your golf.

Some benefits of taking online golf lessons are time and cost. The first benefit is that you can fit the program into your schedule by practicing the lessons at home or in your office anytime you want. For the same amount of money that you would pay for a 1 hour lesson, you will get 2 or 3 months worth of online golf instruction.

Comprehensive Golf Lessons Every Month

The top golf lessons online that you can find are programs run by professional and experienced coaches. For a very affordable monthly fee, you will receive a lot of information that will take you from a beginner to an advanced golfer. These types of programs give you all this information in an extremely organized way that is easy to follow along.

You will get lessons on just one area of golf each month. By the end of the month, you will have perfected and mastered that area - whether it is the full swing, putting, driving, or trouble shots. Every single area of the game is included; from the different types of shots to stretching and flexibility training, different training aids you can use in-doors, and learning the mental game of golf.

Different Types Of Golf Resources

There are normally many resources for you to learn from at the best golf lessons online programs. Things like breakdown sessions and practice drills on online video, DVD clips, live teleseminars, worksheets and assignments, evaluation of training aids, tracking worksheets, and access to a private forum.

A Master Of The Golf Game

Therefore, if you want to become a better golfer and master the game, I would suggest that you check out one of these golf lessons programs. You will receive expert help to lower your scores in a convenient and very affordable way. Remember, you can go at your own pace so that there is no excuse that you don't have time to practice.

About the Author:

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Canon Underwater Camera

By Ed J Price

Scuba diving that perfect recreational activity that creates memories that would last a life time. The underwater world is filled with beauty that it would blow any ones imagination of sea away. From color's and creatures there is just an abundance of beauty at every turn. Taking a mental picture back from this type of experience wouldn't justify the magic of the sea. Having a proper underwater camera will do just this, however most people get put off buying an underwater camera because their initial thought is extra expense.

The Canon g10 is designed so that it can cater for both land and sea functions. so, instead of over spending on a camera designed specifically for under water use consider the g10 and it dual function ability. Even though the casing and camera might seem like two separate items they actually work hand in hand. The casing is the vital component that gives the camera its underwater ability.Before purchasing any digital camera below are a few pointers you should know. Also, here is a brief summary of the g10 and its rich features designed for all keen photographers.

Megapixels are Important

Many scuba divers enjoy photo enlargements or even setting up a slide show on big screens. This helps bring out the reality of what was experienced under water. But, to do this all cameras must have a high resolution function. The Powershot g10 has a 15megapixel resolution function which is more than enough to print or display a high quality detailed picture. Excess megapixel isn't the only function that people look for however it remains to be the most important aspect of a camera when it comes to picture quality. When it comes to quality the Canon g10 is a camera is has the capacity to deliver whatever the occasion.

No Need to Worry Underwater

Many cameras fail miserably underwater due to poor and cheap underwater casings.The canon g10 has its own specific casing called the Canon WP-DC28.With the purchase of this underwater casing you can be sure your camera will not fail you underwater. Already built with under water features and settings the Canon g10 is a worry free camera especially with the proper underwater casing.

Taking Video Underwater

With 30ftps VGA movie support function the Canon g10 is more than capable to take underwater video life footage.

Technological Breakthrough

When it comes to technological features and functions the Canon g10 is in a class of its own. Its powerful digital imaging core (DIGIC) image processor can handle all the algorithms. These algorithms produce all the detail and accurate colors scheme needed for stunning photo finish. If you are concerned about taking photos in the darker regions dont be. With the I-contrast in built the Canon g10 balances light distortions.So,for whatever environmental lighting circumstance the Canon g10 is able to adapt.

Solid Performer on Both Land and Water

The Canon G10 is really a hardcore digital camera for professionals. Just because youll have that case doesnt mean that its a digital underwater camera for life. Once youre done with your long dive, you can take your camera out of the case and enjoy some fine beach shots. With the G10 and its 26 shooting modes along with your underwater casing, you are ready for absolutely any situation whether it is on land or deep in the ocean.

About the Author: