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The Oakland Raiders scored the only touchdown of the game in the first quarter and then prevailed in the kicking duel that followed en route to a–9 upset of the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. Much maligned quarterback Jamarcus Russell played his best game of the season despite two interceptions, throwing for 224 yards and a touchdown. Oakland now stands at 2-4 while Philadelphia slid to 3-2.

NFL betting enthusiasts who backed the Raiders as a whopping +14 home underdog were never in any trouble as Oakland took the lead late in the first quarter and never relinquished it. Oakland evened their mark against the NFL pointspread at 3-3, while the Eagles dropped to 3-2 against the number.

After the victory, Raiders’ coach Tom Cable said for the first time all season his team focused their intensity in the right direction:

“We went out and threw a fight on somebody and said, ‘Enough. Let’s play. That’s all you can say. There’s no magic words or anything like that.”

Last week’s 44-7 loss to the New York Giants may have served a wakeup call to the Raiders. In particular, they were offended by comments made by Giants’ linebacker Antonio Pierce that the game ‘felt like playing a scrimmage’. Raiders’ wide receiver Louis Murphy didn’t dispute the comments but instead took them to heart:

“That gave me extra fuel. You have to look yourself in the mirror and man up. His comments were true. We played flat. We didn’t play with any emotion. This game was totally different. We took those comments to heart.”

The Raiders’ defense received the bulk of the credit for the victory as they pressured Donovan McNabb all day, sacking him six times. The Eagles became the first team in three years to not score an offensive touchdown against the Raiders. Richard Seymour and Trevor Scott each had a pair of sacks, and Scott had the following observation:

“I’m sure they watched the Giants game and thought we were sorry. But all week coach Cable talked about persevering and forget the past and move forward so we can get to where we want to go.”

After the game, McNabb had little to say:

“I’m embarrassed by the way we came out here and played. We’re a much better football team.”

The Raiders will try to put together an actual winning streak as they host the New York Jets next Sunday. Oakland is a +7 home underdog with the total set at 35. They’ll play their hated rivals the San Diego Chargers on the road the following Sunday before a bye week. Philadelphia will play the Redskins at Washington next Monday night. The Eagles are a -6′ road favorite with the total set at 38′.

Seattle Slew–the last living Triple Crown winner–died on May 7, 2002 at the age of 28. As one of only 11 Triple Crown winners in history, he is by default one of the greatest horses in the history of thoroughbred racing. Of those 11 legendary animals, Seattle Slew was the only one to complete the Triple Crown with an undefeated record, as well as the only one to have been purchased at a public auction. After retiring in’78, Slew became one of the most important and successful stud horses in the history of the sport. He sired 1,066 foals including 102 stakes race winners. Among this impressive group of offspring was the’84 Kentucky Derby winner, Swale. All told, Slew’s offspring have won an amazing $76 million dollars at the race track. Slew’s stud fee of $300,000 made him a very profitable horse even after his racing career was over. Slew wasn’t a particularly attractive horse, but he had the toughness of a championship boxer and the sort of intestinal fortitude and desire that can only be given by The Creator.

The Seattle Slew story started at a public auction in Kentucky–not exactly a venue expected to produce a future champion. Slew, in particular, was an unlikely heir to greatness. He was somewhat clumsy looking due to a front right forefoot splay and had a shuffling gait at trot. Slew wasn’t a beautifully majestic creature like his Triple Crown winning predecessor, Secretariat. In fact, he could have been considered borderline ugly–to the extent that he was nicknamed ‘Baby Huey’ by the Keeneland staff. What wasn’t apparent at the time was Slew’s mixture of championship intangibles–competitive desire, toughness, heart and enthusiasm. His owners had unwittingly stumbled onto an equine Muhammad Ali, and his competitive fire quickly became apparent to his trainers and jockeys. His first race came at Belmont Park in’76, and he entered–and won–three races as a two year old giving a glimpse as to what like ahead.

Slew quickly became a horse to watch as a three year old as he won three Derby prep races including the Wood Memorial. In the Derby, Slew got off to a terrible start as he stumbled out of the gate. He recovered from the miscue and essentially bulled his way through a pack of horses to lead at the 1/4 mile pole. Slew would win the Derby by a length and 3 quarters. He took another tough victory at the Preakness before clinching the Triple Crown with a 4 length victory in the Belmont Stakes.

Slew ran in a few races as a 4 year old but in the pre-Breeders’ Cup days there wasn’t as many opportunities for an older horse. He retired to stud in’78. We’ve already discussed his prowess in the breeding shed, siring a number of first rate horses such as the aforementioned Swale, and the’92 Belmont champ AP Indy. Slew stood at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky from’85 until early 2002 when he was moved to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, KY following a spinal operation.

In some ways, Slew had much in common with the heavyweight championship reign of Larry Holmes. He came so quickly on the heels of such incredible excellence–Slew was forever in the shadow of’73 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, Holmes on the heels of Muhammad Ali–that he never gained the appreciation he deserved during his prime. In hindsight, however, it has finally been noted what an exceptional horse he really was. Jockey Angel Cordero, who rode Slew during the twilight of his career noted “If I had a chance to take any horse in the world, if someone said your life is depending on riding one horse to win, I would take (Slew). I rode 44,000 horses, but he was special, he was different. He was muscled, like a wrestler. He ran different than any other horse. It was like he came from another planet.”

After his death in 2002, Slew was buried at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, Kentucky under a statue in his image.

If you ever had an inkling to start a brawl amongst a bunch of photographers, simply ask them which is the best camera brand to buy, an then leave the room. Nikon fan boys, the Canon fan boys, the Sony fan boys and the rest of the pack will never get to a single decision.

Because everyone knows that regular (film) cameras are far superior to digital cameras. Hang on a sec, or was that the other way around? Who can keep track these days? Now before I digress too far from the topic, lets take a look at that age old battle, and see if we can determine which brand is best.

While it’s true, that there are certain photographers in the crowd, that swear by a particular brand of camera, I’m not one of them. While I do have more Canons than any other, I also have a Kodak, Olympus, and Fuji floating around the house somewhere. Just getting my personal biases out in the open.

With all of that in mind though, there do seem to be some camera brands that are more successful than others. Canon, always seems to grab more of the top spots from most top ten lists than any other. There’s a couple lists I perused just before writing this article, and Canon had between 7-9 of the top cameras on the lists.

The only other camera brands that seem capable of competing with Cannon (purely only on brand) are Nikon, Sony, and Olympus. These are all equally good cameras in many ways, but seem to be edged out by the big guns at Canon. Some brands do particularly well in niche areas, like Olympus with their underwater Stylus lineup.

But, is sales numbers the biggest true indicator of a good brand. Just because everyone else is buying them, doesn’t make Canon the best. Right? It could be just a big conspiracy to get you to buy a Canon (if you believed in conspiracies that is). Perhaps we should consider other factors as well. Such as reliability, price, after purchase support, ease of use, and customer satisfaction. Hey, let’s ask the critics.

Since there’s no point, in believing everything you read (including this article). I know I don’t. It would behoove me, to solicit testimonials from other camera critics in the field. For the sake of brevity, I’ll spare you the fine print, and get right to the bottom line. Canon once again is way out in front with fifty percent of the top camera choice spots. Nikon and Sony both make a respectable show with approximately twenty five percent each. There are other brands out there, but not many in the top spots.

Well, if you go by the numbers, it does seem to make a convincing argument for Canon. Big sales, and big critical reviews seem to keep them rolling in the money. A lot of that probably has to do with the fact, that they just offer so many models that cater to so many different people. I wouldn’t discount any of the other brands, and not just Nikon and Sony either. I still make my camera buying decisions on features and price.

Candle making is pretty easy to do on the whole. I am only surprised that more folks don’t experiment with this bearing in mind that candles are such a accepted item. Not simply do they generate a feeling of warmth and release perhaps healing powers as we find them restful, but they also give us soft and informal atmospheres to slow down by.

What is more, you need very few items to formulate them by. At the outset you will need several moulds, these are as a rule to be found in rubber otherwise plastic, nevertheless they need to be compliant. Along with 3 or 4 various wicks in varying sizes also some colour. There is as a rule quite a collection of colours, so you can, in fact, mix them.

Then there is the wax/stearin itself, plus you would surely like some pleasant scents to complement the candles. Hence, first get your moulds and make certain that they are entirely clean within and not harbouring filth.

A number of moulds contain a wick gap, thus you will need to do a scratch to thread the wick through. The thinner wicks to be used for the smaller moulds and vice versa. On average you want to cut the wick in any case 2 inches longer than your mould. Place the wick all through the mould, tying a knot inside the wick on the actual outside of your mould.

Then pull this out roughly half an inch, this part is wished-for to ignite it by. Compress some blue tack around the hole on the mould outside, otherwise your wax is liable to spill out. Straight away, at the bottom of the mould, secure the other edge of the wick to a cocktail stick plus set this across your mould bottom.

Clearly the wick has to remain central and secure, but do not attempt to stretch it. How much wax do I think you will need? If you fill your mould with water before you start this will act as a guide, however take into account this is the melted wax I am talking in relation to.

At this point you will want a couple of interlocking saucepans, so that one will incorporate the other. Use a trivet and situate a quantity of warm water beneath the larger pan. The wax goes within your little pan. Set the little saucepan inside the larger one and now put it on a low heat (temperature). If you are not sure how much wax to utilize experiment with around 500g.

Monitor the wax as well as the water level conscientiously. Don’t let it get too hot! When this has melted put in the stearin. Put in one tenth stearin to ten parts wax. Put your colour in little by little from the colour strips, you will not need much. Then add some scent, pot pourri, or essential oils.

The mould needs to be slightly warm. Pour the wax into a measuring jug, as this makes it easier to then fill up your mould. Try and hang on to the mould on a tilt when you carry out this. What’s more, endeavor to empty the wax inside so that it nearly touches the cocktail stick. You will perhaps have to block in all-around the bottom as soon as it has cooled down.

When it has set rigid, take off the mould sealant. Cut the knot off the wick as near to the knot as possible, then detach the toothpick from the base. Now take out your candle. If this is difficult, run the hot water tap over it for a few moments.

Now chop the wick to however long you actually want it. Make sure the base of the candle is level and leave it at least a day. It should then be ready for use. If you have managed this successfully you will probably receive as much enjoyment from it in the same way as if you were creating, say abstract paintings, or even realism artwork.

As a plea to the average carp and catfish angler; it is possible to double and treble your catches (and more but you probably would not believe me,) by treating fish as swimming tongues! It seems to go right over most anglers heads that fish can be manipulated (big-time) by what is dissolved into the water that surrounds them from specifically adapted baits… So why not let this be the start of something big for you too!

To begin with, I will group carp and catfish together, because many anglers catch both or target both and seek the biggest ones possible. These fish share so many dietary essential requirements that baits meant for big carp or catfish will often catch specimens from each group. Carp and catfish are like swimming tongues because they are covered in receptors cells inside and out that maximise the ability to detect potential many food substances in concentrations as low as 1 part in a million or even 3 parts in a billion!

A human smelling a bait in air is more than a little different to a fish detecting the bait in solution in water and for this reason many anglers simply choose the baits and substances they use from their personal perspective; not really appreciating how a bait and its substances impact upon fish senses directly or indirectly to various degrees between different baits and their components! Fish use cells literally outside their bodies as well as familiar nose and internal mouth and also throat cells too for instance, to detect potential substances in water. The systems fish use to detect your bait are so very impressive and sensitive that you would be a fool not to find out how to exploit them to the maximum and make catching your fish so much easier, for life!

It is noticeable that carp will detect various substances using cells and groups of cells that are specially adapted for the purpose, detecting particular essential amino acids especially well in certain combinations for instance. To detect foods and your bait substances special cells are found in fish in the skin, the face and head, the lips, barbels, fins, nose, mouth, throat and so on. You might wonder how carp detect oils in water, but even these are very slightly soluble and adding lecithins is an important point here too!

The lateral line in carp and many Cyprindae fish extends from the tail to the mouth and utilises specially adapted pit cells. This line of pits and cells are obviously highly important as they extend along the entire length of the fish. In carp the lateral line is so important that through evolution, the jaw bones and head has become shaped so to accommodate this system providing vital external sensory inputs!

Over all carp possess an amazing radar array with nerves all combining in the brain for the fish to respond appropriately to, and this is where we can truly exploit all these systems together in our baits and fishing approaches and tactics etc together in our favour, to make them far easier to catch! Obviously the more you know about what you are hunting, the more you can exploit everything vital to them, and carp olfaction and chemoreception are prime examples to exploit! You might discover carp become more predictable when you think like one rather than like an angler; even sensing weather changing and air pressure changes; many top anglers develop extra sensitivity naturally by being outside so much and this can act like a sixth sense when casting into a swim, choosing swims and so on!

The worm-like projections around the mouth of a carp help in the vital decisions and behaviours made in testing or eating an item, or rejecting it, and these are packed with high concentrations of specialised receptor cells; so getting your bait right is essential! You baits can absorb water so releasing substances, or even simply dissolve into the water in the case of highly soluble or hygroscopic additives, ingredients and flavour components like glycerol for instance. Now the chemical substances from your bait are most concentrated near your bait and this message in solution gets weaker travelling further away and this is obviously very significant in drawing fish to your bait!

Fish are able to detect these solutions and home in and follow the concentrations back to where they are highest and so find your free baits and hook baits for example. This is where balanced nutritional baits and nutritionally boosted readymade baits can really do manipulate fish feeding behaviours and dominate fisheries and catches! This is especially in the case where as many essential needs are covered as possible in a bait; so giving your fish multiple essential reasons to eat your bait and all the so-called bio-active substances used in baits all add to this impact!

This kind of bait exploitation of vital fish senses approach can even give your own adapted or homemade baits greater advantages over other anglers competing baits. So as you can appreciate, it will certainly pay you to find out more!

By Tim richardson.

When was the last time you bought your car only to realize that your neighbor has the same make or color? This doesn?t make you feel that you have had an exclusive buy, does it? You probably had a choice of some basic colors, which resulted in you picking up probably the same thing your neighbor got a day back! This is where the concept of automotive paints gained impetus.

There was a time when automotive paints were very limited as far as the shades of colors were available. Cars in the earlier days were available either in basic white or black shades. But as the demand for the colors grew, so did the experimentation of the colors begin, as far as car manufacturers were concerned. Today, the custom car painting does not mean choosing only the right shade for the 4-wheeled beauties. One has to consider factors whether the paints are rust free or scratch proof.

There are many different qualities of automotive paints available for custom car painting. Here, cost is also an important factor. For example, the poly utheranes available are generally at a higher end. There are also lower grade qualities available of this kind. This is because of a certain pigment used in them that makes it a tad expensive. The bottommost quality is the acrylic enamels. The difference between them, apart from the price factor, is the durability of the paint.

If you take a trip through any company that specializes in custom car paint jobs, you can get a variety of such paints available with their various categories and prices. Every painter has his/her own recipe for custom car painting. People have even known to change the basic look of the car or even the performance of the car (By replacing the engine) if they want a custom car as per their desire. This always adds a personal touch to the model. Once the basic body structure is changed, the custom paint job always remains to be the most important step.

The 1960s saw the use of transparent wildly colored candy apple paint applied atop a metallic coat. There was also an addition of glitter and the use of multiple coats that produced a sparkling effect. These custom car enthusiasts were also known to add decorative coats of paint in the shape of flames, pinstripes etc., over these coats. Apart from long flames on the car, automotive paint jobs also got a new twist in the story. Today, there is a growing demand for automotive logo designs. These are mainly popular amongst most car and bike enthusiasts as they can change the entire look of a plain car, to a very eye catching one.

Many people use these logos as a representation of the company or for personal use. Here, the painter has to take care that the color scheme used for the logo should match the basic color and look of the car. Most people today, love to go in for a fiery car paint color that is bold and makes a statement. These can even be seen at a longer distance. Serif fonts or delicate fonts are generally avoidable when it comes to custom car painting. This is because they may not always be visible at a distance.

If the reasons are professional and you need to display a website address, always consider the font and use contrasting colors for better readability. When it comes to automotive logo designs, one has to consider the objective of the design, the quality required and the extent to which your creativity can be unleashed. Sometimes, the designers use the various components of the car such as the handles, steering wheels etc., to display some more creative logos. Some of them break the traditional norms and implement trendy designs that can certainly look very creative and bring a ?designer? touch to the car.

For decades we have seen experiments in 3D technology which to be honest have never lived up to the hype. Now, they finally seem to have cracked it.

There are so any ways that 3D technology can be used to heighten our enjoyment of major events and also movies. An extra layer is added to the film to make us feel as if we are really there, and we feel as if we can reach out and touch it.

The progress that has been made in the last few years has been phenomenal. No more so that is recent blockbuster Avatar, and the fact that this technology is going to get even better is incredible.

Of all the movies that have been made in 3D, and there have been quite a few, 3 really stand out for me. You many have already seen them, if you haven’t you should really make the effort.

Few of us were privileged enough to see U2 in concert, but we got the next best thing by being able to see the entire concert in 3D. This gave cinema goers the impression of actually being at that remarkable gig. It was the first time that technology had been used this way, and it certainly won’t be the last.

The technology that went into making this so much more that just a tape of a concert is phenomenal. You know you are sitting in a movie theater but you are transported to that concert and you stay there until Bono leaves the stage. These are definitely going to be made more frequently and their box office potential is mind blowing.

Beowulf was released in 2007 in two versions, ordinary and 3D. To be honest, the former was nothing to get excited, just a re telling of the Beowulf tale with nothing new to get excited about.

Then when you popped on those glasses to watch the 3D version, the effects were fantastic. It enjoyed both critical and box office success and was really forerunner of the movies which have been released since.

Years in the making, James Cameron at the helm, the winner has to be Avatar. Mentally stimulating and visually stunning, this truly is a modern classic. This really is like nothing that has ever hit the cinema screen before; it has overtaken Titanic as the highest grossing film ever. I wouldn’t bet against it at the Oscars either.

We might not be aware of it, but we are all living in one big musical. Graduations aren’t as meaningful without sappy farewell hymns while weddings make us cry with emotional theme songs. Singing is as much a part of our everyday lives as breathing.

Unfortunately, not all of us can sing well. But that doesn’t stop people from enjoying it. Mothers still sing bedtime songs while kids still attempt to sing the latest pop songs no matter how off-key they sound. The world looks better when you learn how to sing. Its no wonder studies show that it presents the following benefits:

Lowers Stress

Have you ever noticed how singing in the car, on the way home, makes a long tiring day seem like a breeze? Singing helps our endocrine system lower stress levels. It soothes the nerves and calms the soul.

Boosts Motivation

Belting out your favorite song makes you feel inspired to do anything. It’s like having a good pep talk in your head! People tend to be more energetic while singing, making even the most boring tasks bearable and fun.

Gives Your Body Good Exercise

Singing also gives our lungs and heart a healthy workout. It promotes good posture and breathing. Not only that, singing makes our body release pleasure hormones called endorphins, giving us a natural high.

Boosts Self Esteem

You don’t even have to sing well – performing in front of family or friends builds confidence. It gives you some sense of accomplishment, whether on karaoke night or at a special concert event.

Provides Positive Social Interaction

Singing is one of the coolest ways to bond with your peers. It makes you expand your knowledge of the arts while building your teamwork skills. Learn how to sing with a group and you will soon appreciate being part of a community.

Singing has been making people healthier and happier for a long time – there’s no doubt about it. Whether you just love singing in the shower or performing in front of people, you are not only helping yourself feel better, but spreading that love all around. Good luck and happy singing!

Professional hockey players from the former Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia are now ubiquitous, but Stan Mikita was something of a pioneer. The Chicago Blackhawks legend was sometimes relegated to secondary status behind more telegenetic stars like teammate Bobby Hull, but you can make a very good case that Mikita was the best NHL forward of the’60′s. He was born in Sokolce, in what is now known as Slovakia. In the conflict torn years prior to WW II, he was sent to Canada and adopted by an aunt and uncle. Like most young Canadian boys, he started playing hockey and quickly exhibited significant talent at the country’s national sport.

Mikita starred for the junior league St. Catherine Teepees as a teenager before making the jump to the NHL joining the Chicago Blackhawks. He quickly became an important part of the Chicago offense in his first and second full seasons as a pro. In’61, he led the team in playoff scoring as they won the Stanley Cup.

During the early and mid’60′s, Mikita’s Blackhawks were the most feared offensive team in the NHL. Mikita centered the Scooter Line with Ken Wharram on the right wing and Ab McDonald or Doug Mohns on the left wing, and earned a reputation as one of the most complete offensive players in the game.

Never content with being a one way player, Mikita was a fearless defender and one of the most reliable faceoff specialists in the NHL. He also started a revolution when he became the first to play with a curved stick blade. That was considered radical, almost avant garde at the time but is now the standard in the NHL.

When he first came to the NHL, Mikita was a tough, hard hitting player who spent a considerable amount of time in the penalty box. That changed in the mid’60′s when he became a very sportsmanlike player almost overnight. This cleaner style of play would earn him the Lady Byng Trophy for most gentlemanly player twice. The story goes that he had a change of heart when his young daughter asked why he spent so much time sitting in the box on televised games.

Mikitas career accomplishments are among the most impressive in the history of the sport. He won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHLs leading scorer four times (1964,’65,’67,’68), the Hart Memorial Trophy for Most Valuable Player twice (1967 and’68) and the Lady Byng Trophy in’67 and’68. He remains the only player in NHL history to win the Ross, Hart and Byng trophies in the same season (1967).

Mikita suffered from back injuries in his last years as an active player, finally retiring in’80. He played his entire career for the Chicago Blackhawks, and was voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in’83. He became something of a trivia answer for a younger generation when a donut shop called ‘Stan Mikita’s Donuts’ was featured in the popular movie ‘Wayne’w World’.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and a noted authority on sports betting and NFL football betting lines. He is a frequent sports radio guest where he gives advice on how to successfully bet on football. He lives in Las Vegas with three dogs and a bunny.

Say you truly think that you wish to paint a car then get ready for a full task ahead of you. It does not mean that you cant or shouldnt do it, it just signifies be sure youre ready to see the job done from beginning to end. If you do not finish the job completely or the right way then youre going to be driving something that may be a bit embarrassing to the eye at least.

To paint a car takes careful planning and ensuring that you’ve all of the supplies you require and the time to go through at least a couple of the stages.

There’re things that you are going to need by way of supplies. You will need masking tape, dust mask, goggles, sandpaper, wax/grease remover, primer paint, paper for covering, car wash and detergent, paint sprayer, putty with knife.

When you purchase your sandpaper make sure you purchase fine and thick grit, as you will need both textures. The amount of primer and urethane based paint you require would be dependent on the size of your car. Whether or not you want to utilise a paint sprayer is completely up to you, say you choose not to then the regular spray paint cans will do fine. Be sure you wear proper clothing when you go to paint a car so your skin isnt exposed.

Lastly be sure you have the proper space to work in. You need to be able to work around your car. You most surely need good ventilation, and you’ll need to be able to protect it against the elements.

First off you must actually wash your car well. It doesn’t matter how clean it will look to you unless you just washed it, there’ll be whatever debris on it that you must remove, otherwise the paint will not adhere properly. Then once youve it washed nice and clean youve to get every of the old wax off it so that’s where the wax/greaser remover comes in. It’s really crucial you go through these steps when you go to paint a car.

You’ll in all likelihood notice that you have a couple of rough spots on your latest finish. Say you go to paint a car that is in this condition, you’ll not get good coverage with the new paint. Put little pit marks caused by stones or things like that just use a little putty to fill them in. The use the sand paper to gently smooth the rough spots and small holes. Make sure you rub out all the debris from sanding.

In order to paint a car, you must be very certain that its dry after your washing. This will take a few hours. Be sure it doesn’t get dirty once again. Next masking tape off the areas that you do not want to get paint on.

Totally prime the car. Then sand it gently again. Be sure to wipe the residue off.

Now you are ready to apply the base coat of the new colour. Preferably with a spray gun. Completely spray it and then let it dry for about 15 minutes. And then you could apply the second coat. Most often you could get away with 2 coats.

Let it dry for about 1 hour then you can apply the clear coat. Let dry 15 minutes then re apply. You’ll in all likelihood need about 3 coats of the clear to get a good finish.