Archery -Three Noted Histories

Archery is a sport or practice of using a bow to shoot arrows. Throughout history archery was used for many purposes including hunting and combat. It now has mainly become a sport of precision. Some history on archery is that it was said to have begun around 15,000 years ago, but the earliest that proven evidence was reported on archery was between 8,000 and 9,000 years ago. The bow is said to have originally come from the use of hunting animals, and then it became a very useful tool in combat and warfare. It became the dominant means of shooting projectiles after replacing the "atlatl".

Some of the histories of Archery include Classical, Medieval and Asian Archery. The Classical groups that used archery included the Greeks, Indians, and Chinese. They had great numbers of archers in their armies.

Archers were one of the most decisive tools in warfare. Some archers were known to ride horseback, where combining their range, speed and mobility proved to be one of the deadliest weapons of all warfare. The phrase "a parting shot" came from this type of riding and it meant that a rider turned in the saddle to shoot as he rode away from the enemy.

Medieval European archery is one of the more popular studied forms of archery and it is recognized that the archers in the warfare of Western Europe were the most vital tool in their armoury. What many don't know is that they were one of the lowest paid of all types of soldiers. Because bows and arrows were so inexpensive it was cheaper to arm a man with these than to arm a man with a sword and highly expensive protective armour. The bow, to them, was viewed as a "lower class weapon", and it was hardly used to actually decide any of their battles.

The Vikings were the most noted for using archers in their battles, and that is why they had so much widespread success throughout the 9th and 10th centuries. Archers from this era were often trained very hard from early stages of childhood. Usually the boys were given bows that were of their own height and tournaments were regularly held to help the boys practice their efficiency.

In parts of Asia, archery was also highly developed. It is noted that Central Asian tribesmen were the most skilled at archery on horseback. These "horse archers" would shoot while charging at their targets, then in one motion turn around in their saddles and shoot at the targets again while they rode away.

A deviation from the norm in Asian archery was a tool called the "Foot-Bow". These were often preferred because they could fire arrows a lot faster, and at a longer range than most conventional bows or crossbows. The technique to use a foot-bow was for the person to lie down on their back, with the bow at their feet, then they would put the arrow between their feet and pull the string on the bow back with both of their hands and use their back and legs to bend the bow. It was said that the aim was not very good, but with the combined weight and velocity of the five foot long arrows, that became less important.

And a Child Shall Lead Them

Rookie goaltenders have had success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before – most notably with Ken Dryden in 1971 and Patrick Roy in 1986, both leading the Montreal Canadiens to the Cup – but never before has a crop of rookie goalies dominated the playoffs like they have this season.

Of the five remaining teams in this year’s playoffs, three are led by rookie goalies and another by a first-year starter. Carolina’s Cam Ward, Buffalo’s Ryan Miller, Anaheim’s Ilya Bryzgalov, and San Jose’s Vesa Toskala have all enjoyed incredible playoff success thus far.

Seven-year veteran Dwayne Roloson of the Edmonton Oilers, who was acquired in a mid-season trade with the Minnesota Wild, is the only experienced goaltender left. I don’t think anyone would have predicted that, especially with the presence of such big-name goalies as Martin Brodeur and Miikka Kiprusoff, and other veteran backstops or NHL powerhouses like Detroit’s Manny Legace, Dallas’s Marty Turco, and Colorado’s Jose Theodore, among the contenders. 

The New Favorite

Thanks to a surprisingly easy 4 games to 1 victory over the New Jersey Devils, and a dominating performance winning four straight games over Montreal after losing the first two in Round 1, the Carolina Hurricanes have emerged as the new favorite to win Lord Stanley’s Cup. Despite finishing the regular season with 112 points, just 1 behind Eastern Conference leader Ottawa, the Hurricanes’ odds of winning the Cup entering the playoffs were posted at 10-1. That was before the oddsmakers had seen Ward turn away almost every shot he’s faced.

In 10 playoff games, the 22-year-old rookie has allowed just 17 goals while posting a 1.77 goals against average (GAA). Ward let in just five goals in Carolina’s four victories over New Jersey as he outplayed his boyhood idol Brodeur. With his stellar play, and the Hurricanes’ opportunistic offense, led by 100-point scorer Eric Staal, Carolina will be tough to beat.

The Upstart Challenger

The Sabres’ Miller is the only U.S.-born goalie among the Fab Four. He hopes to duplicate the feat of another rookie American goalie, Ron Hextall, who led the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1987. After a shaky start in Game 1 against Ottawa, Buffalo’s defense and Miller shut down the Senators the rest of the way, allowing two or fewer goals in each of the last four games. The Michigan native has a 2.25 GAA and a .921 save percentage in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Buffalo’s defense has been stellar in front of Miller. Defensemen Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder lead all playoff performers in plus/minus at plus-13. The Sabres’ offense has been scoring in bunches. Buffalo has a team-leading 43 goals scored in 11 games and is riding high after winger Jason Pominville’s shorthanded, overtime goal clinched the series against Ottawa.

Mr. Perfect – Almost

Anaheim’s Bryzgalov has been the most surprising and impressive of all the rookies. Bryzgalov didn’t even enter the playoffs as the Ducks’ No. 1 goalie. That honor went to Jean-Sebastian Giguere, who led Anaheim to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2003, his second year in the league, and was named the Conn Smythe winner as the MVP of the playoffs that season. 

After splitting their first four games against Calgary in Round 1, the Ducks made the switch to Bryzgalov and they haven’t regretted it. The 24-year-old Russian has practically stood on his head as he is sporting a ridiculous 0.87 GAA and .967 save percentage. He recorded three straight shutouts, including Game 7 at Calgary to clinch that series. In doing so, Bryzgalov set a rookie playoff record, holding opponents scoreless for 249 minutes, 15 seconds. Only Montreal’s George Hainsworth, 270:08 in 1930, has had a longer playoff scoreless streak.

The Final Four

San Jose’s Toskala is hoping to join his fellow first-year netminders in the conference finals. After an excellent series against Nashville in Round 1, including a shutout in Game 2, and two 2-1 victories to open the Edmonton series, Toskala and the Sharks find themselves on the ropes as the Oilers have stormed back to take a 3-2 series lead. Edmonton will try to close it out at home on Wednesday night.

San Jose’s offense is led by Patrick Marleau, who leads all playoff goal scorers with nine. The Sharks will need to get an early lead and help Toskala protect it to force a Game 7 at home on Friday.

The Finals

The matchup between Ward and Miller should be as entertaining as it gets. Both are capable of stealing a game or two for their respective teams. Carolina is the favorite, but Buffalo has a lot of momentum and Miller has shown he can win the close games with four one-goal victories against Ottawa. Look for the Sabres to get to the Finals.

The Ducks have had a long time off after unexpectedly sweeping the Avalanche. Anaheim may be a little rusty to start the conference finals, but the Ducks have good veteran leadership in Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne and will ride the stellar play of Bryzgalov past either the Oilers or the Sharks to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Ancient Coins as Collections

Many collectors hesitate to buy ancient coins to collect because they can be terribly expensive. What is most important is the uniqueness of these coins and the benefits they provide their collectors.

Here are some tips that should be considered when buying ancient coins:

1. Conduct a research of ancient coins. It is important that a collector is aware of what coins are considered ancient. It does not require a collector to go to a library since many websites on the Internet can provide all the information needed to become well-informed about ancient coins.

2. There is a wide variety of ancient coins available for collectors. A collector can choose from different eras and civilizations. He can choose from a Chinese civilization, ancient Rome, Greek, Persian, etc. It is preferable for a collector to focus on a specific group or era when collecting coins.

3. Once a selection has been made, a collector may then focus on the buying of these coins. To start select coins that are least expensive –set a price range such as $20. Once the collection grows, he may then want to start buying the more expensive coins.

4. A collector may also try searching for ancient coins at auction houses or online auctions where ancient coins are available. Always be aware of possible fraud no matter which venue you are using and take extra care in buying coins at online auctions.

5. It is also suggested that the collector make a list of the ancient coins that he would like to buy. He can list them according to his order of preference which will make his search for ancient coins an easier task. Included on his list should be the amount he is willing to spend on a certain type of coin. The list will be helpful whether online or at an auction house, enabling him to manage his budget easily.

6. It is important to have a separate holder for his ancient coin collection or his other collections. Separate holders will help the collector organize and preserve his coins. Ancient coins are generally more expensive than other collectible coins so it is necessary for a collector to know the proper care for them.

Ancient coins should not intimidate coin collectors. They are an exciting way to enjoy the hobby of collecting coins. Not only do they provide fun but they serve as a source of knowledge for many coin collectors.

Ancient Coins And Legal Tender

Getting Started with the Hobby of Numismatics and Collecting Coins

What is Numismatics?

Numismatics – the very name sounds mysterious and evocative. In simple terms, numismatics covers the science and study of coins, cash, and other legal tender, as well as medals, tokens, and medallions. The collection of ancient, commemorative, and rare coins is a fun and exacting hobby, and opens up a realm of history that most people never get to see. A numismatist holds an ancient coin that has passed through dozens or hundreds of hands throughout the millennia. In medieval times, the collection of ancient coins was already popular, but it was known as a hobby for kings. Today, building a fascinating collection of coins does not have to be expensive, and everyone can participate in this exciting pastime.

How do I Start Collecting Coins and Legal Tender?

When deciding which coins to collect, you should consider your interests, your budget, and your return on investment.

The first step when building a collection of coins is to decide what category of legal tender interests you most. Some people like to focus their collections on specific precious metals, such as gold, silver, copper, or bronze coins. Others like to concentrate on a specific time or region, like ancient Roman coins. Commemorative coins are a popular form of collection, as are rare minted coins like those which had an error in their stamping. If a certain set of coins doesn’t interest you, it won’t be any fun at all to become a collector.

Another interesting choice for numismatists is a token collection. Tokens were historically used in place of legal tender, if coins of the right value were not available, or were not convenient. In the modern day, tokens are still used at gaming arcades and some vending machines. Tokens may not be as valuable as true moolah, but they are an interesting look at local history, and can be fun to collect.

The price of a rare coin depends on supply and demand. If only a few coins were made but there are tons of collectors, it will be very expensive to start that kind of collection. Ironically, ancient coins are some of the most inexpensive and most interesting coins to collect. Because of the large number of coins in circulation between 650 BC, when stamping coins became popular, to the fall of the Roman Empire in 450 AD, tons of coins were created, and more are being uncovered every day. Common bronze coins that were being used in the time of Archimedes can be bought for about $10 apiece.

The third, and probably least important thing to consider when starting your collection is the likelihood that your coins will increase in value. Coin collecting for investment purposes can be a tricky endeavor. There is always the possibility that the coins you buy will include counterfeits, and the coin market can fluctuate even more wildly than other kinds of investment. For these reasons, it is probably wiser for you to focus on building a collection of coins, tokens, or legal tender that you enjoy than to build your collection with an eye on getting a large return on investment. However, high-grade ancient coins, gold coins, Morgan dollars and Walking Liberty half dollars are among the kinds of collections that are most likely to increase in value over time.

An Introduction to the Bowling Game

Models use the runway for cat walking and balls do too. Bowling balls are tossed energetically to knock down ten bowling pins. This by far has becomes one of the most sought after stress relieving games in the world. It's main objective is to get something really hard and heavy and throw it to knock down all of the pins.

There are more than 120 countries belonging to the International Bowling Federation, which claims that there are about 110 million people who now enjoy bowling. They call bowling centers 'alleys' and there are different sizes of alleys and gimmicks used to lure patrons to play the game. The largest bowling alley in the world contains more than a hundred bowling lanes. The average commercial bowling centers contain only about twenty five to thirty lanes. There are already 11,000 bowling centers in the whole world.

Bowling consisted of four parts: the lane, the approach, the pit, and the pin deck. The approach is where players take several strides to get the maximum adrenaline they need to release the ball and knock down the pins. There is a control line (foul line) which marks the place where players must let go of the ball. The player must not cross the line before or after the ball has been thrown.

In the America alone, there are more than 7,000 bowling associations in different states that support countrywide competitions for more than 4 million bowlers. Americans find the bowling attitude the same as their culture, however, they are unable to take credit for the discovery of the game. Since bowling history is colorful and full of twists and turns, researchers have discovered that the game is actually the very first sport that was discovered. Back in 5200 B.C. they found primitive balls and pins in Egyptian tombs. They also found Polynesian cultures that practiced the same sport and found lanes about 6 feet long. However, the development of the game, which started in the third century A.D., is credited to the religious leaders of Germany. A kegel - which represents the devil - was used as a pin. It needed to be hit as a sign of purity and freeing from sin and anyone who failed to hit the target was determined to be wicked. It was a practice that led the congregation to salvation and was even more standardized by Martin Luther. But when bowling was banned and used for illegal transactions, 10 pin bowling was invented to bypass the law.

The American Bowling Congress started in 1895. Now there are about 55 million players in the US and bowling has become the American game, played to unite and promote equality among fellow men.

An Introduction To Hockey

Hockey is a sport that is enjoyed by many players and fans. Because it is most frequently played on ice (professionally anyway), it is often referred to as ice hockey, though there are some variations of the game using a roller rink rather than an ice rink making it possible for those who don’t have the benefit of ice rinks to engage in the game for fun. Hockey that isn’t played on the ice is generally referred to as roller hockey.

Ice hockey is played in a 200 foot by 85 foot rink. Lines are painted on the ice to mark various zones. The red line in the center of the rink marks the middle of the ice so the hockey players can tell how far to shoot. Blue lines are used to mark the three zones of the ice – the defending zone, the attacking zone and the neutral zone.

One each end of the rink, in the center of the ice is a set of goal posts which are set six feet apart, and a net. Between the goal posts there is a red line painted on the ice which is called a goal line. The object of the game of hockey is to make goals by knocking the hockey puck into the net using a hockey stick. A team achieves points when the puck crosses the goal line and goes into the net which oddly enough is also called the goal. The blue area in front of the goal that is painted in blue is called the crease. Only the goaltender is allowed in the crease, so if a player skates into the crease while attempting to make a goal, they may get an interference penalty.

Generally there are six players per team on the ice at one time. The three players that line up at the front of the team are called forwards and they mainly serve as the team’s offense. Depending on their placement they are referred to as the right wing, the center and the left wing. Behind the forwards are two defensemen, one on the right and one on the left. The sixth player is the goaltender, also called a goalie. The goalie generally stays in the crease to protect defensive zone, the defensemen also defend the goal as the forwards attempt to make goals for the team. Forwards and defensemen are allowed to provide both offense and defense for their team as they react to the activity of the game. At the end of three twenty-minute periods, the hockey team with the highest score wins. Tied games go into a five-minute period of overtime.

Another Excuse for Sugar: Halloween Costume Party Desserts!

A favorite, all-American dessert is the Rice Crispy Treat, a lip smacking pairing of marshmallow and crispy rice cereal into a crunchy, sweet dessert bar. To make a fabulous dessert to bring to the neighborhood Halloween costume party, prepare the Rice Crispy Treats according to your favorite recipe.

When it comes time to press your gooey mixture into a baking dish, use a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to shape your tricky treats. Use chocolate chips to create eyes and a mouth for a Jack-o-Lantern perfect for a Halloween costume party. You can also use other Halloween costume shapes like a ghost or a witch to make them. I’ve opted to use different ingredients to make a wide variety of Rice Crispy Halloween costume party treats, like caramel chips to create the pumpkin’s orange color or green food color to make the Wicked Witch an emerald green.

Everyone Likes to Be Tricked and Treated at Halloween Costume Parties

At my elementary school, everyone longed for the day that they would be in Ms. Larsen’s 4th grade class. She was known as the festive holiday chef, and she would tailor her lessons and class activities to fit with the current holiday. At Halloween, she would let us all wear Halloween costumes to school, and in all her years of teaching, she always wore a Halloween costume, too. One beloved class tradition was making Spooky Soil, or put simply, Dirt. It sounds rather unappetizing, doesn’t it? Just keep in mind that the ingredients are crushed Oreos, chocolate pudding, gummy worms and spiders, and fudge. It’s one of the simplest recipes out there. You just need two prepared packages of pudding, a bag of Oreos, some creepy-crawling gummy worms, insects, and spiders, and a warmed-up jar of store-bought fudge or chocolate syrup. Mix up all the ingredients, and serve in clear throwaway cups. I’ve made this “dish” and served it at Halloween costume parties in a black plastic cauldron. Let your ghoulish guests ladle out worms and layers of delicious dirt!

Try to Add Festive Extra Touches to your Halloween Costume Party Recipes

Many trick-or-treaters and Halloween costume party guests have savored the delectably sweet bites of a candied apple. What a great combination of crisp, fresh apple and lick-your-lips melted caramel! This year, why not hand out (or serve at your Halloween costume party) an extra special variation on the candied apple? Melt 14 ounces caramel with about a tablespoon of water on your stovetop. Be sure to stir constantly, so that your sugary mixture does not burn. Using six washed apples of your favorite variety (many people prefer the tart, tangy taste of Granny Smith), dip apples individually in the caramel mixture. Set the apples on a sheet of wax paper. Let cool for 10 minutes. Next, melt 4 ounces chocolate chips over the stovetop, and dip apples halfway into melted chocolate. Let cool entirely on the wax paper, and serve in a festive bowl. It’s a wonderful way to change up your menu at your Halloween costume party—and the three layers look grea

An Introduction To Fantasy Football

Okay, let’s get one thing straight right off the bat, we are talking about American football here, you know the sport with the funny shaped ball! Anyway, let’s not waste time on semantics I have stuff to do.

The way fantasy football works is like this, every participant or owner as we are called in the Fantasy Sports World, drafts or buys through an auction a team of players. For the purposes of this introduction we are going to assume the fantasy football league is NFL, but it could also be based on college players. The way the actual completion plays out depends upon the individual fantasy football league you happen to belong to. In some fantasy football leagues the winner is determined by total points at the end of a season, while others actually play against each other weekly with the team having the best record at the end of the fantasy season being declared winner of that fantasy football league.

The internet has been responsible for taking fantasy football from a hobby played out in sports bars and individual homes to a multi-billion dollar industry now according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. According to the FSTA, nearly twenty million players participate in fantasy sports and the industry has a growth rate of around ten percent. Fantasy Football is the most popular of all the fantasy sports available and continues to grow even faster with the explosion of websites and software to help with the game as well as the proliferation of fantasy football magazines available today.

Most fantasy football leagues will be made up of around ten or twelve individual teams which will have their own mock drafts before the season starts. Because you are drafting real players and their performance really matters it pays to stay in touch with what is going on with them during the off season and pre-season. For example if you draft a Ricky Williams and he decides to go off and smoke dope, too bad, you are screwed out of a running back! In some fantasy football leagues each owner must draft a new team every year, while in others you may be allowed to keep a handful of players which will not be entered in the draft. Some leagues have even gone as far as to create so-called dynasty leagues where an owner may maintain his team from the previous season and only draft incoming rookies. This is very similar to how a real football league works.

Players that are not drafted are designated as “free agents” and may be chosen during the season by trading players that an owner may currently have and making them free agents. The rules that govern this practice vary from league to league.