A new art form in the future will be CLA. Cloud Laser Art. People can go to a place where there are laser units, sit out side in a small shielded area and draw on the clouds. It would be fun and a great form of self expression, which would make humans very happy. We know that mankind likes to use the natural environment for self expression from cave drawings to rock piles near road ways and graffiti on rock formations. The idea of drawing on clouds is much better, because the cloud eventually dissolves and like an etch-a-sketch is ready to start over. This will be similar to what happens after Ice Carvings, Ice Sculpting is alive and well in North America.
We have all heard of Sand Castle building and contests, which go on around the world.
Often you will watch kids throw rocks into a glass clear pond or lake. They will throw one rock in and then another and say; "Okay, those are the eyes." Often people star up into the clouds and try to imagine a face, shape or resemblance to something in the 3D physical world. We have often seen pictures where the clouds appear in the shape of Jesus or a face and everyone calls it a miracle. Many people gaze up at the clouds and attempt to allow their minds to find a familiar shape or form. One might call this a frame burst from the brains memory and the mind fills in the rest and a seemingly regular cloud takes on the imagination and a new meaning. An interesting sub topic could be this article on visual stimulation and the brain:
http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?showtopic=276
http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?showforum=28
People are fascinated by these coincidences. Rock formations often look like people from certain angles. The fallen "Old Man on The Mountain" was one such anomaly. Today we look to Mars and see faces in sediment and erosion features.
http://www.ascrocco.it/home/img/sf_desk/ar...o_marseface.jpg
You will have to admit this looks pretty real, so either we are not the only species which re-designs our natural surrounding or our mind automatically is filling in the blank, either way since kids, teens and adults do this and we find this interesting, it is an innate tendency and therefore a relevant idea to promote weather control research and manipulation, what better way to find research dollars than through entertainment?
This is something man has done for thousands of years. Some obvious examples are the Sphinx in the Valley of the Kings, cave paintings. We have heard of some famous stone artists, who claim they can see the inner sculpture within a stone before they start, as were comments by Michael Angelo. Freeing the statue inside. Today we have the famous rock carvings of Crazy Horse, which is nearly completed.
Why not put it on a cloud also? It is possible you know? Weather control, cloud art, etc. Mother Nature often does it for us, but if we focus our energies on controlling heat and light within a cubic artificial grid of air, then we will be able to control the clouds completely.
Art is certainly interesting and our obsession with nature and art is interesting in that it seems to be an innate need of mankind to be able to control his environment and to provide some order to the complexity born out of simplicity, which we see everywhere, a concept that Steven Wolfram would most certainly agree. Los Alamos is doing just that and soon will be able to do it on a larger scale with super computers. This will entail lots of number crunching, but well worth the energy and time and money to develop. We maybe able to control not only the weather but stop Hurricanes too.
As we learn to control the weather for purposes of drought mitigation, famine and disease control, feeding peoples of the world thru abundant agriculture yields, flushing and controlling environmental pollutants or even giving us an edge on war planning, defensive barriers or safety during assaults, this technology to a lesser degree will be used as art.
Many things that come to be in the way of innovation are funded thru entertainment, war or the mother of invention (necessity). Certainly as we look at the innovations in TV (high definition), Digital Displays (plasma screens), Transportation (race cars), General Hobby Aviation (composites, ultra-lights, exploits of Dick Rutan), Virtual Reality (theme parks, animation, portable mini-simulators).
we see that entertainment can provide the money flows to increase the speed at which these things come to market and the speed at which they are adopted by the users and thus entertainment has always been a quick way or short cut to the future inventions of mankind. The list is so long in fact in the area of art and entertainment and the innovations brought forth that it might be considered the largest single factor towards the contributions to the forward progress of mankind. Necessity as previously mentioned and War and Defense being close seconds. Art should never be discounted as it is generally coupled with entertainment and imagination and let's not forget the words of Albert Einstein on imagination.
"Imagination is more important than knowledge..."
Is it possible that art can be the lead in to weather control? For instance drawing designs in the clouds instead of painting "I Love you Charlene" on a Hwy over pass cutting thru rural Alabama, Mississippi or Georgia in John Dear Green, would be something of value as a way of self expression. A portable laser cloud drawing device could also be mounted in a semi truck if not a fixed location site for tourists or expressionists with a few extra bucks. A semi truck mounted unit could be hired to write a computerized message on the clouds for events, parties, etc. At a fixed site people would come for miles just to sit and watch what someone would write today. You can learn a lot from cloud watching.
You can learn about life, weather, flows of nature and you can unleash your imagination. Manipulating the clouds and localized weather can be done with modern and current technologies. This concept is simple really in terms of physics. The truck moves to the center of where the cloud will be and send up ELF waves and creates a small Terminal Gradient Cloud, then drives about 2 miles away and has a design already made on the computer and approved by the buyers of the message: "Congratulations Graduating Class of West Point" or "God Bless America and our Troops" when as they de-plane or get off a ship. Great for weddings, bar mitzvah, country fair or you be the judge. In areas of big events people could pay to write their own message on the computer and the laser cuts the cloud and shades in the design or words and letters.
This is simple and not much different than the cutting of vinyl lettering by computers used by modern day sign makers. Very simple, using a 3-D program which knows the power intensity levels, based on the distance which is measured by laser which senses the moisture content in the clouds based on the distance from the device. On one side of the semi truck is a chemical laser and the other side another, when combined at exactly the right distance at very low power settings they interact in various amounts, which have been designed into the computer program coinciding with the amounts of energy and chemical needed to dissolve the cloud. Since the Lasers are chemical based even though quite low, color could also be added and chemicals normally found in atmospheric make-up, thus no harm no foul with environmentalists. This form of art is not too dissimilar to the smoke signal communication of the Native American Indians, the only difference it is done with modern technology and therefore the versatility is so much greater.
Once the design is entered into the computer on a CadCam type program or graphic art program it is sent to the laser system and it starts pulsating the lasers under extreme accuracy using sophisticated algorithms and data sets. After the system is built and configured it is ready to go and during transportation the laser heads and chemicals are stored at proper temperatures in stable tanks. And remember art is not the only use for this, for instance see some ideas below. Now you must note at the WTT we like to have a little fun and the night we discussed this at a local coffee shop in Springfield, MO we definitely were in a comedy mood with a touch of sarcasm. However these ideas will make you think and isn't that the point of this exercise? Sure you will get a chuckle out of it also we did. The World Think Tank is a lot of fun.
A. ) For advertising things could be written in the clouds too. "Drink Coke," "Fly Delta, but Hurry! We need the money," "Vote for Dog Catcher, NJ Former Governor," "CT former governor runs for Hartford County Auditor," "Gray Davis for Public Treatment Facility Director." We all know aerial advertising is big business, look at the Blimps, Skywriters, etc.
B.) ….For safety, things could be written in the clouds during rush hour. "Mixing Bowl" four hour wait, use different route, "HWY 1" three hour wait go back to work, you are better off there? "Free Parking on 405 to La Cienega use alternate." Bridge out ahead. New York Toll Way Fees raised today to $24.86 please have exact change ready to prevent delays, no refunds?" Just write it in the clouds, since you will be looking up praying to your god for break in traffic for this cluster muck you have to drive in everyday? Perfect solution, with an artistic flair? But in all seriousness you can see the benefits, "Dense Fog Ahead, slow down, multi-car pile-up, freeway closed all traffic exit at mile 122." In Montana during deer migration, "Watch out for Deer, Do Not Eat Road Kill" Public Service announcements are often put on Blimps:
C.) For big events; "Use Shuttle at Parkway for NASCAR event, Parking $5.00." "Olympic Check Point, have ID ready." "Democratic National Convention Ahead, Lots of parking available." "Cody WY Nightly Rodeo, 7 PM." But these of course are merely words on clouds, for the RNC they might want a Giant American Flag? The DNC might want a big tree with a couple of guys hugging it? You see big events can stay in the spirit of things and get out the true message. NASCAR might want a holographic design of Dale Earnhardt at the Daytona Speedway before the event. Blue Angels might wish to have a message about "Fly Navy" with a picture of an F-18 or JSF on the cloud for the crowd?
D.) For the People; Perhaps a Smog alert warning to warn people in Los Angeles due to a temperature inversion that day. In NY during Labor Day, perhaps a "High Terror Alert" in red? During the election, "Do Not Forget to Vote Today" in Florida with a reminder of how to press the right button in the computerized voting machines? On the beaches in San Diego, Fort Lauderdale, the Keys, Santa Monica, "Solar Flair Today, Use Sun Screen." After Hurricane Charley, "USAA and State Farm go to MLK Jr. High School GYM," "Relief assistance: FEMA and Salvation Army at Civic Center Auditorium." "New Mobile Homes For Sale; Tornado Magnet IV Custom Deluxe on sale, financing available, OAC." "Asteroid to Hit Earth Tomorrow, Run."
E.) For National Security; Border Patrol, "You are being tracked by automated aircraft, turn back or you could be shot or killed" In Spanish of course. For USMC, "Dear Iranian Insurgents, give up or you will be killed in 12 seconds." For US Navy, "This is a blockade, turn around now or you will be sunk." For US Army Recruiting; "Keep America Green, Join the Army." DHS; "Today's Threat Level is Green." Psych Wars: "This is Allah, you have been bad, go home and do not return."
Cloud Laser art could do all these things much cheaper and safer from the ground and also such a new idea would gather much interest and the word of mouth of any message or image would travel quickly. CLA or Cloud Laser Art is possible and fairly easy to do, we currently have the technologies to do this, and it makes sense. This is the ultimate in self-expression and can be used for entertainment, safety, homeland security, big events and even advertising if used in good taste.
Cloud Sculpting is the next logical progression of this idea, where you could make a cloud in the shape of a dog, cat or a dolphin. Perhaps you might want to make a UFO out of the clouds to see how many people call in during the annual UFO conference in Las Vegas? Think of the PR for the city, such a publicity stunt would certainly draw a crowd.
Although they might rather have you inside the casinos spending your money than out on the street corner looking up in the sky just in time to get hit by a middle-eastern taxi cab, shuttle bus or limo driver? In this age of International Terrorism perhaps we ought to all pay attention to what's happening in front of us and leave the cloud watching for recreational times?
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Bold Action: Living in the Moment
Reality show audition...I did it!
What an experience, a day and a half of focused effort and fun!
How many times do you find yourself saying maybe next time?
Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you went for it?
In this article I will share with you what I experienced when I decided to go for it.
While visiting, over the phone, with a friend, who lives in Dallas, TX, I learned that he was on his way to audition for a reality show. The reality show "Pulpit Masters."
After listening to Neil's three minute speech I found myself eager to join in. Neil's message was short, to the point, and "I loved it!"
The next thing I know Neil was sharing with me that there will be a second audition tomorrow. Tomorrow was Saturday and my interest was peaked. I immediately checked out the website and what I found was:
"a series setting out to find America's next great inspirational speaker"
"a chance to stand up and be heard...to reach out to an audience of millions and affect their lives in a positive and meaningful way."
someone with "a desire to stand before an audience and share their own insights into God and matters of the spirit and soul."
I decided I was a match...;-)
Next step, "could I put together a three minute speech in time?"
It didn't take long for me to decide on a subject. I have been quietly working on the relationship of Faith and Belief and it seemed to fit perfectly. More importantly the words just started to flow.
After sharing the opportunity with my wife it was clear that I was going to "GO FOR IT!"
After writing the first draft of the speech I packed my clothes and hit the road. With three hours of travel time from Oklahoma City, OK to Dallas, TX I had plenty of time to start ironing out what I wanted to say.
By 12:00am I arrived at Neil's house with plenty of time to spare. I would be rested and ready for tomorrow.
The day of the audition:
After responding to my three wake-up calls...just wanted to make sure...it was time to revisit my speech. YES! It was still feeling good.
With the first part of the speech flowing I began to work on the second part. After an hour or so of working on the speech I decided it was time for breakfast.
I love a good breakfast. After scanning Neil's bachelor like refrigerator I quickly realized how he stays so thin...he doesn't have any food! No food, not an option for me.
The next best thing when I am on the road and time is critical, the GOLDEN ARCHES! Yep, good old MacDonalds. One sausage and egg McMuffin and a large OJ to go.
I was feeling good and it seemed like everyone was smiling back. I love those moments. It was shaping up to be an amazing morning.
Back at the car I went to set down my OJ only to have the lid come off and yes, the OJ went everywhere. No big deal, I had a role of paper towels and I had plenty of time.
With a refill of OJ I was headed back to the house. The egg McMuffin was finished by the time I arrived back at the house.
With Neil's directions in hand, it was time to go. It was 10:00am, I gave myself a good 15 to 20 minutes to spare and as luck would have it, I needed every bit of that time...;-)
Was it me, or the directions, I just don't know. Still, between my stopping for directions, three different times, and calling the hotel, three different times, I finally arrived.
The scheduled start time 11:00am, my arrival time 11:10am. Yes, I was still smiling and feeling good.
Once there I settled in and focused on my speech. I was number 40, so, it was going to be a while. It wasn't until about 5:30pm that I actually had my audition.
In the mean time, between focusing on my speech and eating, I was able to meet many different people. Several shared their stories or what they called; their testimonials.
A NASCAR miracle or not, you decide:
It takes place at a NASCAR event. This is not a small event, easily a couple hundred thousand people.
While standing in line Sam and his family realized that they had left something in the car. So, rather than have everyone wait Sam decided to go it alone.
Sam grabbed his ticket, placed it in his pocket and headed for the car. After making it back from the car he went to reach for his ticket only to find that it was gone.
Ok, what to do. Sam decided to retrace his steps. Looking, and looking he was not able to find the lost ticket. Finally, as Sam tells it, he decided to have a talk with God; "ok lord, if you want me to buy a new ticket I will, if you want me to look in a different place I will!"
It was shortly there after that Sam noticed someone selling a ticket. Their hand was held high as they yelled "Ticket, ticket for sale..." So, Sam decided to buy the ticket. "How much?" Sam asked. Forty dollars! they replied.
Sam paid for the ticket and began to talk with the person selling the ticket. Sam shared that he had just lost his ticket and it was then that the person shared that they had just found the ticket on the ground.
In a crowd of a couple hundred thousand people, could it be that he found Sam's ticket and Sam found him. The seller gave Sam his forty dollars back and told him to keep the ticket. He was sure it belonged to him.
As Sam entered bleachers, not really knowing were his original seats were, he soon found himself right in the middle of his family.
The ticket was indeed Sam's. What a story, I love stories like this, don't you.
Yes, I took a risk. I acted on a feeling and got to meet some truly amazing people, and I was able to share what I do and test my speaking skills. I got to see if I could meet the challenge, and I did.
One thing to keep in mind, I didn't do it alone. I had support from a close friend and my wife, thank you both...;-)
What happens from here, I don't know. I feel like I did my best and that I connected with at least two of the judges. Am I who they are looking for, we will find out. The results won't be shared for at least another four weeks.
If you would like to here my speech go to the link below.
How bold are you willing to be?
Have an awesome day!
James Smith
Copyright ฉ James Smith, All Rights Reserved
----------------------------------------------------------------
Please Note: The author of this article has authorized its distribution with the requirement that it be published in its entirety, without changes, including the author's resource box. Please notify the author with a copy of your publication.
Resource Box:
Click here to listen to "Faith or Belief:" http://www.alofp.com/articles/art_H8ENWD91O.htm.
James can help you set a new course for you life today. Get your free copy of "Taking Action NOW: 9 Key Strategies," by sending an email to: 9keys0020008@alifeofpossibility.com and start living today.
Meet my support team:
My wife: http://www.picturethisornaments.com, and my friend Neil: http://www.musicalmotivator.com
What an experience, a day and a half of focused effort and fun!
How many times do you find yourself saying maybe next time?
Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you went for it?
In this article I will share with you what I experienced when I decided to go for it.
While visiting, over the phone, with a friend, who lives in Dallas, TX, I learned that he was on his way to audition for a reality show. The reality show "Pulpit Masters."
After listening to Neil's three minute speech I found myself eager to join in. Neil's message was short, to the point, and "I loved it!"
The next thing I know Neil was sharing with me that there will be a second audition tomorrow. Tomorrow was Saturday and my interest was peaked. I immediately checked out the website and what I found was:
"a series setting out to find America's next great inspirational speaker"
"a chance to stand up and be heard...to reach out to an audience of millions and affect their lives in a positive and meaningful way."
someone with "a desire to stand before an audience and share their own insights into God and matters of the spirit and soul."
I decided I was a match...;-)
Next step, "could I put together a three minute speech in time?"
It didn't take long for me to decide on a subject. I have been quietly working on the relationship of Faith and Belief and it seemed to fit perfectly. More importantly the words just started to flow.
After sharing the opportunity with my wife it was clear that I was going to "GO FOR IT!"
After writing the first draft of the speech I packed my clothes and hit the road. With three hours of travel time from Oklahoma City, OK to Dallas, TX I had plenty of time to start ironing out what I wanted to say.
By 12:00am I arrived at Neil's house with plenty of time to spare. I would be rested and ready for tomorrow.
The day of the audition:
After responding to my three wake-up calls...just wanted to make sure...it was time to revisit my speech. YES! It was still feeling good.
With the first part of the speech flowing I began to work on the second part. After an hour or so of working on the speech I decided it was time for breakfast.
I love a good breakfast. After scanning Neil's bachelor like refrigerator I quickly realized how he stays so thin...he doesn't have any food! No food, not an option for me.
The next best thing when I am on the road and time is critical, the GOLDEN ARCHES! Yep, good old MacDonalds. One sausage and egg McMuffin and a large OJ to go.
I was feeling good and it seemed like everyone was smiling back. I love those moments. It was shaping up to be an amazing morning.
Back at the car I went to set down my OJ only to have the lid come off and yes, the OJ went everywhere. No big deal, I had a role of paper towels and I had plenty of time.
With a refill of OJ I was headed back to the house. The egg McMuffin was finished by the time I arrived back at the house.
With Neil's directions in hand, it was time to go. It was 10:00am, I gave myself a good 15 to 20 minutes to spare and as luck would have it, I needed every bit of that time...;-)
Was it me, or the directions, I just don't know. Still, between my stopping for directions, three different times, and calling the hotel, three different times, I finally arrived.
The scheduled start time 11:00am, my arrival time 11:10am. Yes, I was still smiling and feeling good.
Once there I settled in and focused on my speech. I was number 40, so, it was going to be a while. It wasn't until about 5:30pm that I actually had my audition.
In the mean time, between focusing on my speech and eating, I was able to meet many different people. Several shared their stories or what they called; their testimonials.
A NASCAR miracle or not, you decide:
It takes place at a NASCAR event. This is not a small event, easily a couple hundred thousand people.
While standing in line Sam and his family realized that they had left something in the car. So, rather than have everyone wait Sam decided to go it alone.
Sam grabbed his ticket, placed it in his pocket and headed for the car. After making it back from the car he went to reach for his ticket only to find that it was gone.
Ok, what to do. Sam decided to retrace his steps. Looking, and looking he was not able to find the lost ticket. Finally, as Sam tells it, he decided to have a talk with God; "ok lord, if you want me to buy a new ticket I will, if you want me to look in a different place I will!"
It was shortly there after that Sam noticed someone selling a ticket. Their hand was held high as they yelled "Ticket, ticket for sale..." So, Sam decided to buy the ticket. "How much?" Sam asked. Forty dollars! they replied.
Sam paid for the ticket and began to talk with the person selling the ticket. Sam shared that he had just lost his ticket and it was then that the person shared that they had just found the ticket on the ground.
In a crowd of a couple hundred thousand people, could it be that he found Sam's ticket and Sam found him. The seller gave Sam his forty dollars back and told him to keep the ticket. He was sure it belonged to him.
As Sam entered bleachers, not really knowing were his original seats were, he soon found himself right in the middle of his family.
The ticket was indeed Sam's. What a story, I love stories like this, don't you.
Yes, I took a risk. I acted on a feeling and got to meet some truly amazing people, and I was able to share what I do and test my speaking skills. I got to see if I could meet the challenge, and I did.
One thing to keep in mind, I didn't do it alone. I had support from a close friend and my wife, thank you both...;-)
What happens from here, I don't know. I feel like I did my best and that I connected with at least two of the judges. Am I who they are looking for, we will find out. The results won't be shared for at least another four weeks.
If you would like to here my speech go to the link below.
How bold are you willing to be?
Have an awesome day!
James Smith
Copyright ฉ James Smith, All Rights Reserved
----------------------------------------------------------------
Please Note: The author of this article has authorized its distribution with the requirement that it be published in its entirety, without changes, including the author's resource box. Please notify the author with a copy of your publication.
Resource Box:
Click here to listen to "Faith or Belief:" http://www.alofp.com/articles/art_H8ENWD91O.htm.
James can help you set a new course for you life today. Get your free copy of "Taking Action NOW: 9 Key Strategies," by sending an email to: 9keys0020008@alifeofpossibility.com and start living today.
Meet my support team:
My wife: http://www.picturethisornaments.com, and my friend Neil: http://www.musicalmotivator.com
XM Radio vs Sirius Radio
Satellite radio is becoming more and more popular as an alternative to regular FM radio, and especially for travelers who want to listen to the same station throughout their trip. Basically, you get commercial-free radio for a small monthly fee(around $13/month) and the ability to listen to the same station wherever you go in the country.
So the question on everybodyย's mind is ย"What is the best satellite radio service?ย" Is it XM radio or Sirius radio? If you look at just subscribers, XM easily wins the battle with over 5 million subscribers compared to Siriusย' 3 million subscribers. However, there are a lot more options to consider when choosing your satellite radio service.
Here are some things to consider when making your decision:
Receivers
XM has the strongest variety of satellite radio receivers with the two best plug-and-play models probably being the Delphi XM SkyFi2 - with a 30 minute recording buffer(cost: about $95) or the Delphi XM Roady XT(cost: about $80.) If you want a portable option, the best one is the Tao XM2go(5 hour recording feature) - it can play broadcasts through headphones or speakers that are included and doesnย't require a docking station(cost: about $150.)
Sirius might not have the range that XM has in the hardware market, but they still have some nice equipment. The two best plug-and-play models for Sirius radio are probably the Sirius Starmate Replay - with a 44 minute recording buffer(cost: about $120) or the Sirius Sportster Replay - designed for NFL fans and it also has a 44 minute buffer(cost: about $95 after rebates.) Sirius doesnย't have a true portable satellite radio device yet but they have the S50 model which will allow you to record 1 GB of satellite radio content while hooked to a docking station so you can play it later as a stand alone device. The Sirius S50 also doubles as an MP3 and WMA file player. (cost: about $330)
Programming
Sirius and XM both have about the same amount of music stations, covering Pop, Rock, Dance, R&B/Hip-Hop, Country, Christian, Jazz/Blues, Classical and Latin. Both services also share news channels such as CNN radio, CNBC radio and Bloomberg radio. The big difference comes down to sports coverage and some guy you might have heard ofย….Howard Stern. Sirius signed Howard Stern to a blockbuster deal that will be sure to boost subscriptions for them.
Sirius also has a stranglehold on sports radio with exclusive rights to NFL broadcasts, NHL, NBA and rights to NASCAR in 2007. XM currently has exclusive rights to MLB baseball and NASCAR until 2007, they also have a lot of college football broadcasts. If youย're a sports fan at all, youย're going to want Sirius for their wide coverage of sports.
Costs
Currently both Sirius and XM radio services cost approximately $13 a month. Other costs you have to consider is in the accessories that go with the satellite receiver you choose. Docking kits for the home or car(if not included) can add about $100-150. Headphones and external antennas are other accessories that should be considered.
You can only expect the costs to decrease as satellite radio becomes more and more popular. All in all, satellite radio is an inexpensive option to get commercial-free, static-free, uncensored radio that you can take with you anywhere in the country and listen to the same station.
So the question on everybodyย's mind is ย"What is the best satellite radio service?ย" Is it XM radio or Sirius radio? If you look at just subscribers, XM easily wins the battle with over 5 million subscribers compared to Siriusย' 3 million subscribers. However, there are a lot more options to consider when choosing your satellite radio service.
Here are some things to consider when making your decision:
Receivers
XM has the strongest variety of satellite radio receivers with the two best plug-and-play models probably being the Delphi XM SkyFi2 - with a 30 minute recording buffer(cost: about $95) or the Delphi XM Roady XT(cost: about $80.) If you want a portable option, the best one is the Tao XM2go(5 hour recording feature) - it can play broadcasts through headphones or speakers that are included and doesnย't require a docking station(cost: about $150.)
Sirius might not have the range that XM has in the hardware market, but they still have some nice equipment. The two best plug-and-play models for Sirius radio are probably the Sirius Starmate Replay - with a 44 minute recording buffer(cost: about $120) or the Sirius Sportster Replay - designed for NFL fans and it also has a 44 minute buffer(cost: about $95 after rebates.) Sirius doesnย't have a true portable satellite radio device yet but they have the S50 model which will allow you to record 1 GB of satellite radio content while hooked to a docking station so you can play it later as a stand alone device. The Sirius S50 also doubles as an MP3 and WMA file player. (cost: about $330)
Programming
Sirius and XM both have about the same amount of music stations, covering Pop, Rock, Dance, R&B/Hip-Hop, Country, Christian, Jazz/Blues, Classical and Latin. Both services also share news channels such as CNN radio, CNBC radio and Bloomberg radio. The big difference comes down to sports coverage and some guy you might have heard ofย….Howard Stern. Sirius signed Howard Stern to a blockbuster deal that will be sure to boost subscriptions for them.
Sirius also has a stranglehold on sports radio with exclusive rights to NFL broadcasts, NHL, NBA and rights to NASCAR in 2007. XM currently has exclusive rights to MLB baseball and NASCAR until 2007, they also have a lot of college football broadcasts. If youย're a sports fan at all, youย're going to want Sirius for their wide coverage of sports.
Costs
Currently both Sirius and XM radio services cost approximately $13 a month. Other costs you have to consider is in the accessories that go with the satellite receiver you choose. Docking kits for the home or car(if not included) can add about $100-150. Headphones and external antennas are other accessories that should be considered.
You can only expect the costs to decrease as satellite radio becomes more and more popular. All in all, satellite radio is an inexpensive option to get commercial-free, static-free, uncensored radio that you can take with you anywhere in the country and listen to the same station.
Toy Tractors and Farm Equipment will add Kid Appeal to Antique Tractor & Engine Show
MONCKS CORNER, SC September 4, 2004 -- Kids will get to enjoy an added attraction of toys and collectible items at the Berkeley Museum's annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show Sept 11-12 at Old Santee Canal Park in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. While vintage tractors will be on display, conducting demonstrations and competing in pull competition, an exhibit of toy tractors, implements, road construction equipment, and collectibles will be exhibited and available for purchase. The farm equipment folks from Sparrow and Fair in Scranton, SC will bring to the two-day event their large exhibit of toy tractors and other miniature machines that make the eyes sparkle among both kids and adults.
Sparrow and Fair is one of the largest John Deere dealerships in South Carolina based on sales of equipment ranging from tractors, lawn mowers and farm implements to huge planters, harvesters, combines, cultivators, loaders, crawlers, cotton pickers and a variety of other farming and construction equipment.
The Scranton firm also has one of the largest displays of toy tractors, farm machinery and construction equipment of any tractor dealership in the stste, according to Consumer Products Manager Chip Avins.
In addition to toy replicas and miniatures, the display coming to the tractor show will include a collection of pedal-powered tractors, sand-box toys, play tools and battery-operated ATVs. โ€œThis display represents a large portion of almost everything manufactured by John Deere,โ€ said Avins. Avins says the toy display will include replicas of tractors and equipment ranging in scale from 1/64th to 1/16th. In addition, there will be variety of collectible items for tots and adults. โ€œWe take a lot of pride in the toys and miniatures we display and make available for purchase,โ€ said Avins. โ€œYou know, from age 9 to 90, we're all kids at heart when it comes to marveling at farm-equipment and the same goes for these replicas. Kids just love these hands-on toys because, they stimulate their imagination, increase their interest in agriculture and help increase their awareness of an important part of our heritage.โ€
According to Brad Jeffcoat, chairman of the Berkeley Museum's tractor show committee, the annual fund-raising event will feature two fun-packed days filled with exhibits and crafts, a tractor and farm machinery auction and an even bigger tractor-pull competition. โ€œThe 2004 show will involve participation by three major antique tractor organizations - the Lowcountry Tractor & Engine Association of Charleston, the Swamp Fox Tractor & Engine Club of Marion and the Sunny Plain Antique Power Association of St. Matthewsโ€ he said.
Tractors on Display
The focus will be on tractors of every color, vintage and variety. For those who prefer the big green machines, the red warriors, or the orange or yellow ones, they'll find their favorites on display and in action.
Hit-and-Miss Engines
The lineup of vintage machinery will also include hit-and-miss engines, which will be cranked up and on display along with a wide variety of other farm machinery available for those who want to look, swap or shop. An auction of used equipment and collectibles is scheduled for Saturday morning.
Antique Autos & Trucks
An added treat will be offered for classic car and truck lovers with an ample lineup of beautifully restored vintage vehicles and street rods from the past.
Craftsโ€ฆCraftsโ€ฆCrafts
Lowcountry crafts will be displayed and produced around the museum and in other areas of the park. Specialists in the areas of blacksmithing, basket weaving, chair caning, floral arrangement, furniture making and even sawmill and gristmill operations will be featured.
Pulling Power
A highlight of the show will be a display of pulling power of the tractors. Owners and operators of the machines will put them to the test in two days of competition sponsored by the Lowcountry Tractor & Engine Association, which will include lawn-mower pulls on Saturday.
Farm Machinery Auction
A tractors, parts and farm machinery auction will be conducted Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. under the gavel of noted auctioneer Jim Blocker of Walterboro. Items to be offered for auction may be delivered to Old Santee Canal Park for registration beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 8th.
Tiny Lund Museum Exhibit
A museum exhibit devoted to legendary sports fisherman and NASCAR driver Tiny Lund will open for the first time during the tractor show. The exhibit honors the Iowa transplanted Berkeley County race driver who operated a fishing camp in Cross, set a state record for striped bass catch and won the 1963 Daytona 500 driving a borrowed car. Memorabilia include Lund's uniform, helmet, driver's seat and other racing items along with NASCAR photos, write-ups, and a variety of collectible items.
Civil War Re-enactment
Confederate re-enactment troops will be encamped on the grounds of the museum during the two-day event. Sons of Confederate veterans, Gen. Ellison Capers Camp # 1212, will turn back the clock and open their encampment for visitors to see the lifestyle and challenges of the Civil War soldiers.
Music, Food & Entertainment
Music and laughter will ring throughout the park, mixing with the throttling of tractor engines and putt-putt-putts of hit-and-miss engines. Music will feature the Cruise-O-Matics performing classic rock and beach music on Saturday and the Red White Family on Sunday delivering Gospel and Blue Grass. Food vendors will offer everything from RC Colas and Moon Pies to Bar-B-Q, fish, chicken bog, burgers and fries. And there will be fun and games for the kids to boot.
Proceeds from two-day, fund-raising event are used by the Berkeley Museum to produce educational historical and community outreach programs.
For more information about The Antique Tracor & Engine Show you can call (843) 899-5101. To stay informed on South Carolina Festivals & Events visit South Carolina traveler at http://www.sctraveler.com .Join the mailing list by sending a blank email to sctraveler@aweber.com
South Carolina Traveler is proudly sponsored by: Signs~ By Bill, Jose's Performance Outboard, Aron Middleton,Owner and Developer of The Rosemont Group, The Santee Resort, Black's Camp, Nick Adams of The Nicholas Agency and www.lakejocassee.com , Mac's Rod and Reel Repair, Canal Lakes Resort, Johnston Landing RV Resort and Campground, Eagles Nest Campground, Hill's landing, South by Southwest, Elloree's Heritage Museum, The Lonestar Barbeque and Mercantile, Pete's Quick Stop, Maxwell's Lures, Missile Bug Fishing Lures Co.,& Santee Realty.
Sparrow and Fair is one of the largest John Deere dealerships in South Carolina based on sales of equipment ranging from tractors, lawn mowers and farm implements to huge planters, harvesters, combines, cultivators, loaders, crawlers, cotton pickers and a variety of other farming and construction equipment.
The Scranton firm also has one of the largest displays of toy tractors, farm machinery and construction equipment of any tractor dealership in the stste, according to Consumer Products Manager Chip Avins.
In addition to toy replicas and miniatures, the display coming to the tractor show will include a collection of pedal-powered tractors, sand-box toys, play tools and battery-operated ATVs. โ€œThis display represents a large portion of almost everything manufactured by John Deere,โ€ said Avins. Avins says the toy display will include replicas of tractors and equipment ranging in scale from 1/64th to 1/16th. In addition, there will be variety of collectible items for tots and adults. โ€œWe take a lot of pride in the toys and miniatures we display and make available for purchase,โ€ said Avins. โ€œYou know, from age 9 to 90, we're all kids at heart when it comes to marveling at farm-equipment and the same goes for these replicas. Kids just love these hands-on toys because, they stimulate their imagination, increase their interest in agriculture and help increase their awareness of an important part of our heritage.โ€
According to Brad Jeffcoat, chairman of the Berkeley Museum's tractor show committee, the annual fund-raising event will feature two fun-packed days filled with exhibits and crafts, a tractor and farm machinery auction and an even bigger tractor-pull competition. โ€œThe 2004 show will involve participation by three major antique tractor organizations - the Lowcountry Tractor & Engine Association of Charleston, the Swamp Fox Tractor & Engine Club of Marion and the Sunny Plain Antique Power Association of St. Matthewsโ€ he said.
Tractors on Display
The focus will be on tractors of every color, vintage and variety. For those who prefer the big green machines, the red warriors, or the orange or yellow ones, they'll find their favorites on display and in action.
Hit-and-Miss Engines
The lineup of vintage machinery will also include hit-and-miss engines, which will be cranked up and on display along with a wide variety of other farm machinery available for those who want to look, swap or shop. An auction of used equipment and collectibles is scheduled for Saturday morning.
Antique Autos & Trucks
An added treat will be offered for classic car and truck lovers with an ample lineup of beautifully restored vintage vehicles and street rods from the past.
Craftsโ€ฆCraftsโ€ฆCrafts
Lowcountry crafts will be displayed and produced around the museum and in other areas of the park. Specialists in the areas of blacksmithing, basket weaving, chair caning, floral arrangement, furniture making and even sawmill and gristmill operations will be featured.
Pulling Power
A highlight of the show will be a display of pulling power of the tractors. Owners and operators of the machines will put them to the test in two days of competition sponsored by the Lowcountry Tractor & Engine Association, which will include lawn-mower pulls on Saturday.
Farm Machinery Auction
A tractors, parts and farm machinery auction will be conducted Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. under the gavel of noted auctioneer Jim Blocker of Walterboro. Items to be offered for auction may be delivered to Old Santee Canal Park for registration beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 8th.
Tiny Lund Museum Exhibit
A museum exhibit devoted to legendary sports fisherman and NASCAR driver Tiny Lund will open for the first time during the tractor show. The exhibit honors the Iowa transplanted Berkeley County race driver who operated a fishing camp in Cross, set a state record for striped bass catch and won the 1963 Daytona 500 driving a borrowed car. Memorabilia include Lund's uniform, helmet, driver's seat and other racing items along with NASCAR photos, write-ups, and a variety of collectible items.
Civil War Re-enactment
Confederate re-enactment troops will be encamped on the grounds of the museum during the two-day event. Sons of Confederate veterans, Gen. Ellison Capers Camp # 1212, will turn back the clock and open their encampment for visitors to see the lifestyle and challenges of the Civil War soldiers.
Music, Food & Entertainment
Music and laughter will ring throughout the park, mixing with the throttling of tractor engines and putt-putt-putts of hit-and-miss engines. Music will feature the Cruise-O-Matics performing classic rock and beach music on Saturday and the Red White Family on Sunday delivering Gospel and Blue Grass. Food vendors will offer everything from RC Colas and Moon Pies to Bar-B-Q, fish, chicken bog, burgers and fries. And there will be fun and games for the kids to boot.
Proceeds from two-day, fund-raising event are used by the Berkeley Museum to produce educational historical and community outreach programs.
For more information about The Antique Tracor & Engine Show you can call (843) 899-5101. To stay informed on South Carolina Festivals & Events visit South Carolina traveler at http://www.sctraveler.com .Join the mailing list by sending a blank email to sctraveler@aweber.com
South Carolina Traveler is proudly sponsored by: Signs~ By Bill, Jose's Performance Outboard, Aron Middleton,Owner and Developer of The Rosemont Group, The Santee Resort, Black's Camp, Nick Adams of The Nicholas Agency and www.lakejocassee.com , Mac's Rod and Reel Repair, Canal Lakes Resort, Johnston Landing RV Resort and Campground, Eagles Nest Campground, Hill's landing, South by Southwest, Elloree's Heritage Museum, The Lonestar Barbeque and Mercantile, Pete's Quick Stop, Maxwell's Lures, Missile Bug Fishing Lures Co.,& Santee Realty.
Experience thrill of space exploration for free at NASA Marshall Open House Saturday, May 20
On Saturday, May 20, you can experience some of the thrill of space exploration without leaving Earth - or opening your wallet. "Open House 2000" at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., will take you on a daylong space adventure for free.
Food and official NASA souvenirs also will be available for purchase.
From 9 a.m.-6 p.m. you can create your own space voyage, whether lifting off on a simulated trip to Mars, mingling with robots and astronauts, or strolling through a full-scale mock-up of the International Space Station.
"Our Marshall Open House is an opportunity to get an up-close look at the cutting edge technology driving our nation's space program," says Marshall Center Director Art Stephenson. "We are, indeed, opening doors to the future, and I'm particularly excited about introducing our children to what we do here."
Attractions and entertainment include:
Space-related attractions:
ยท Space Shuttle Pavilion: Learn what makes up the primary elements of Space Shuttle as it is prepared for launch and space missions. See a full-size main engine, displays of the external tank, and video footage of a solid rocket motor and solid rocket booster.
ยท Magnetic levitation track: Learn how sports cars that speed from 0-60 mph in four seconds have met their match. See a new advanced space transportation concept that accelerates a model spacecraft from 0-60 mph in less than half of a second - just one of the launch technologies the Marshall Center is developing to make space travel more affordable.
ยท International Space Station: See the real International Space Station hardware under construction, then stroll through a full-scale mockup of the station.
ยท X-Vehicles: See new scale models of the X-33, X-34 and X-37 technology demonstrators - vehicles aimed at opening a "highway to space" by slashing launch costs.
ยท Robots: Talk with Oscar, a roaming, entertaining robot. And see locally built robots demonstrate their skills by competing against each other in a special robotic test facility.
ยท Wind tunnel: Witness an actual test at a Marshall wind tunnel, where winds up to five times the speed of sound -- about 3,800 mph - are used to perfect NASA launch vehicles.
ยท Environmental Test Facility: See where NASA simulates the emptiness of space and its extreme temperature ranges to test space flight hardware.
ยท Interactive educational demonstrations and movies: Learn about "toys" that fly in space with astronauts and other topics that will enlighten all ages.
ยท Moonbuggy vehicles: See vehicles that were designed, built and raced by students from around the nation at Marshall's annual "Great Moonbuggy" race in April. The buggies address the same engineering challenges faced by the original NASA Lunar Roving Vehicle Moonbuggy team at Marshall. See an original NASA-built Moonbuggy in the Marshall Heritage Gallery.
ยท Space telescopes: See where NASA's Great Observatory -- the Chandra X-ray Observatory -- was tested, including the one-third-mile long X-ray tunnel that simulates the stellar sources Chandra observes in space. Learn how NASA is making mirrors for the next generation of space telescopes.
ยท Astronaut life support: See where NASA develops air and water systems for the Space Station crew. Learn about advanced technologies for turning today's wastewater into tomorrow's drinking water.
ยท Spacelab Payload Operations Control Room: See where Marshall managed and controlled science experiments for all Spacelab missions. Sit at a Spacelab console and relive a Spacelab mission - complete with Earth-to-space audio transmissions.
ยท Rockets: See and learn about history-making NASA rockets that gave Huntsville its "Rocket City" nickname. See miniature versions of those rockets launched with flashes of fire and billowing smoke by the Huntsville Area Rocketry Association.
ยท Redstone Rocket Test Stand: Visit the historic facility where engines were tested for the rocket that successfully launched Alan Shepard to become America's first human in space.
ยท Spacecraft models: See detailed models of conceptual spacecraft designs, as well as the fanciful spaceships of Star Trek, Star Wars, and other popular science fiction shows, courtesy of the Huntsville Plastic Modelers Society.
ยท Model airplanes: See model airplanes that introduce young people to the joys of building aircraft and watching them fly, courtesy of the Tennessee Valley Aviators.
Personalities:
ยท Astronauts: Learn about space travel from those who have experienced it. NASA astronauts will be on hand to answer questions and sign autographs.
ยท "Rocket Boy": Meet - and get your book signed by -- Homer Hickam, the former NASA Marshall engineer who wrote the novel "Rocket Boys," on which the hit film "October Sky" was based.
ยท Mark Herndon: See the drummer for the country music group Alabama, with 42 No. 1 singles and over 60 million records sold worldwide.
For children:
ยท Mission to Marshall Scavenger Hunt: Children who take a fun and educational journey through Marshall tour stops can win a special NASA souvenir.
ยท Rides: Future astronauts can jump and play in the 20-foot tall "Astronaut Moon Bounce" or take a miniature pedal plane for a "flight."
ยท Clowns: Enjoy the antics of "Freedom Rose" and "Sparkles."
Events:
ยท U.S. Postal Service stamp unveiling: See new stamp designs featuring the accomplishments of America's space program. Special commemorative envelopes and cancellations will be available exclusively at the Open House.
Entertainment:
ยท Bands: More than 20 groups will entertain Open House visitors with country, rock, jazz, gospel and more. Entertainers include "Max-Q" - the astronaut rock and roll band; "Valor," a contemporary Christian group; and Teresa, five-time National Association of Campus Activities Country Artist of the Year.
ยท Dance: See performances by line dance group "K and K Kickers," "Way out of Line Dancers" and "Strictly Dancing by Jeremy."
ยท Broadway-style musical: Enjoy a sneak preview of performances from "Moon Dreams," a broadway-style musical set to open this summer, celebrating Huntsville's role in America's space program.
Special attractions:
ยท NASCAR: See the NASCAR No. 28 Texaco Havoline Ford Taurus driven by Ricky Rudd.
ยท Rides: "Journey" to Mars aboard the Morphisโ„ข MovieRide Theater simulator. Experience the thrill of "free falling" at 120 mph with the X-Tremeโ„ข Air simulator.
How to get there:
On May 20, visitors may enter Redstone Arsenal for the Marshall Open House through Gate 9 at the Rideout Road exit of Interstate 565; Gate 8, at Drake Avenue and Patton Road, or Gate 7 at Zierdt Road near the Huntsville International Airport.
For more information and directions to the Marshall Center, call toll-free (888) 901-NASA (6272). More information is also available on the Web at:
http://openhouse.msfc.nasa.gov
Food and official NASA souvenirs also will be available for purchase.
From 9 a.m.-6 p.m. you can create your own space voyage, whether lifting off on a simulated trip to Mars, mingling with robots and astronauts, or strolling through a full-scale mock-up of the International Space Station.
"Our Marshall Open House is an opportunity to get an up-close look at the cutting edge technology driving our nation's space program," says Marshall Center Director Art Stephenson. "We are, indeed, opening doors to the future, and I'm particularly excited about introducing our children to what we do here."
Attractions and entertainment include:
Space-related attractions:
ยท Space Shuttle Pavilion: Learn what makes up the primary elements of Space Shuttle as it is prepared for launch and space missions. See a full-size main engine, displays of the external tank, and video footage of a solid rocket motor and solid rocket booster.
ยท Magnetic levitation track: Learn how sports cars that speed from 0-60 mph in four seconds have met their match. See a new advanced space transportation concept that accelerates a model spacecraft from 0-60 mph in less than half of a second - just one of the launch technologies the Marshall Center is developing to make space travel more affordable.
ยท International Space Station: See the real International Space Station hardware under construction, then stroll through a full-scale mockup of the station.
ยท X-Vehicles: See new scale models of the X-33, X-34 and X-37 technology demonstrators - vehicles aimed at opening a "highway to space" by slashing launch costs.
ยท Robots: Talk with Oscar, a roaming, entertaining robot. And see locally built robots demonstrate their skills by competing against each other in a special robotic test facility.
ยท Wind tunnel: Witness an actual test at a Marshall wind tunnel, where winds up to five times the speed of sound -- about 3,800 mph - are used to perfect NASA launch vehicles.
ยท Environmental Test Facility: See where NASA simulates the emptiness of space and its extreme temperature ranges to test space flight hardware.
ยท Interactive educational demonstrations and movies: Learn about "toys" that fly in space with astronauts and other topics that will enlighten all ages.
ยท Moonbuggy vehicles: See vehicles that were designed, built and raced by students from around the nation at Marshall's annual "Great Moonbuggy" race in April. The buggies address the same engineering challenges faced by the original NASA Lunar Roving Vehicle Moonbuggy team at Marshall. See an original NASA-built Moonbuggy in the Marshall Heritage Gallery.
ยท Space telescopes: See where NASA's Great Observatory -- the Chandra X-ray Observatory -- was tested, including the one-third-mile long X-ray tunnel that simulates the stellar sources Chandra observes in space. Learn how NASA is making mirrors for the next generation of space telescopes.
ยท Astronaut life support: See where NASA develops air and water systems for the Space Station crew. Learn about advanced technologies for turning today's wastewater into tomorrow's drinking water.
ยท Spacelab Payload Operations Control Room: See where Marshall managed and controlled science experiments for all Spacelab missions. Sit at a Spacelab console and relive a Spacelab mission - complete with Earth-to-space audio transmissions.
ยท Rockets: See and learn about history-making NASA rockets that gave Huntsville its "Rocket City" nickname. See miniature versions of those rockets launched with flashes of fire and billowing smoke by the Huntsville Area Rocketry Association.
ยท Redstone Rocket Test Stand: Visit the historic facility where engines were tested for the rocket that successfully launched Alan Shepard to become America's first human in space.
ยท Spacecraft models: See detailed models of conceptual spacecraft designs, as well as the fanciful spaceships of Star Trek, Star Wars, and other popular science fiction shows, courtesy of the Huntsville Plastic Modelers Society.
ยท Model airplanes: See model airplanes that introduce young people to the joys of building aircraft and watching them fly, courtesy of the Tennessee Valley Aviators.
Personalities:
ยท Astronauts: Learn about space travel from those who have experienced it. NASA astronauts will be on hand to answer questions and sign autographs.
ยท "Rocket Boy": Meet - and get your book signed by -- Homer Hickam, the former NASA Marshall engineer who wrote the novel "Rocket Boys," on which the hit film "October Sky" was based.
ยท Mark Herndon: See the drummer for the country music group Alabama, with 42 No. 1 singles and over 60 million records sold worldwide.
For children:
ยท Mission to Marshall Scavenger Hunt: Children who take a fun and educational journey through Marshall tour stops can win a special NASA souvenir.
ยท Rides: Future astronauts can jump and play in the 20-foot tall "Astronaut Moon Bounce" or take a miniature pedal plane for a "flight."
ยท Clowns: Enjoy the antics of "Freedom Rose" and "Sparkles."
Events:
ยท U.S. Postal Service stamp unveiling: See new stamp designs featuring the accomplishments of America's space program. Special commemorative envelopes and cancellations will be available exclusively at the Open House.
Entertainment:
ยท Bands: More than 20 groups will entertain Open House visitors with country, rock, jazz, gospel and more. Entertainers include "Max-Q" - the astronaut rock and roll band; "Valor," a contemporary Christian group; and Teresa, five-time National Association of Campus Activities Country Artist of the Year.
ยท Dance: See performances by line dance group "K and K Kickers," "Way out of Line Dancers" and "Strictly Dancing by Jeremy."
ยท Broadway-style musical: Enjoy a sneak preview of performances from "Moon Dreams," a broadway-style musical set to open this summer, celebrating Huntsville's role in America's space program.
Special attractions:
ยท NASCAR: See the NASCAR No. 28 Texaco Havoline Ford Taurus driven by Ricky Rudd.
ยท Rides: "Journey" to Mars aboard the Morphisโ„ข MovieRide Theater simulator. Experience the thrill of "free falling" at 120 mph with the X-Tremeโ„ข Air simulator.
How to get there:
On May 20, visitors may enter Redstone Arsenal for the Marshall Open House through Gate 9 at the Rideout Road exit of Interstate 565; Gate 8, at Drake Avenue and Patton Road, or Gate 7 at Zierdt Road near the Huntsville International Airport.
For more information and directions to the Marshall Center, call toll-free (888) 901-NASA (6272). More information is also available on the Web at:
http://openhouse.msfc.nasa.gov
Joe Gibbs New Book - Game Plan For Life
On Friday, August 31st my neighbor Jeff and I went to Charlotte to a breakfast at the Weston hotel to hear my friend, Coach Joe Gibbs speak about his new book hot off the press: Game Plan For Life, co-authored by Jerry Jenkins.
I'd say there was a pretty good turn-out. Over 1200 people, to be exact! We sat at the table next to Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. There were several former NFL players there and some NASCAR folks too. Joe was introduced by his son J.D. who is now the President of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Joe always has a great sense of humor and some wonderful stories from his football days on the gridiron.
So here's a guy who was a physical education major from San Diego State University. He goes on to be offensive line coach at four major colleges before moving up to the National Football League. For seventeen years, he served as assistant coach to the St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Diego Chargers before getting the call to become the new head coach for the Washington Redskins.
In spite of losing his first five games with the Redskins, Joe went on to lead the team for 12 seasons and led them to eight playoff appearances, four NFC titles, and three Super Bowl titles.
In 1996, Gibbs was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He was one of the winningest coaches in NFL history, at that time having a record of 124 wins and 60 losses, and a post-season record of 16 wins and five losses.
If that were not enough, upon retiring (the first time) from the Redskins, in 1992 Joe focused his full attention to his NASCAR race teams and now boasts three Nascar titles. Driver Bobby Labonte holds one title and Tony Stewart won two championships. And this season is looking strong with his newest drivers, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Bush and Joey Logano. Joey is the youngest driver in Sprint Cup history to win a race at just 19 years old.
So it is certainly an honor and a privilege to know Joe and his wife Pat personally. I first met Joe when the Lake Norman Young Life area was birthed, splitting off of the Charlotte area eleven years ago. My wife and I were honored to chair the adult leadership committee of this non-profit high school youth organzation - younglife.org. We often held our monthly meeting at the Gibbs home where Joe would be walking around with one of the grand babies on his shoulder with a burp cloth. Joes' son J.D. and wife Melissa joined the committee and also continue to actively support Young Life.
So Joe has been on this grueling whirlwind tour promoting his new book, Game Plan for Life for about a month now. His fierce determination and focus that are reminiscent of his coaching days is apparent as he travels the country getting the word out.
How did this book get started? Thanks for asking. He commissioned a study that essentially asked the question, What are the key topics that will lead people to a "successful" life?
He put together an amazing list of Christian men (Josh McDowell, Chuck Colson, Ron Blue and many others) to write on a variety of topics, which is woven together by Joe's personal testimony. He will also be interviewing for video all of these authors (each committed to do four hours of interviews with Coach Gibbs over the next year). Gibbs considers this his legacy work.
The foreword is aptly written by former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy who has also won a Super Bowl.
The book is interwoven with many fascinating stories from Joe's colorful career and abruptly begins with the shooting death of Redskins player Sean Taylor.
I'd say there was a pretty good turn-out. Over 1200 people, to be exact! We sat at the table next to Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. There were several former NFL players there and some NASCAR folks too. Joe was introduced by his son J.D. who is now the President of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Joe always has a great sense of humor and some wonderful stories from his football days on the gridiron.
So here's a guy who was a physical education major from San Diego State University. He goes on to be offensive line coach at four major colleges before moving up to the National Football League. For seventeen years, he served as assistant coach to the St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Diego Chargers before getting the call to become the new head coach for the Washington Redskins.
In spite of losing his first five games with the Redskins, Joe went on to lead the team for 12 seasons and led them to eight playoff appearances, four NFC titles, and three Super Bowl titles.
In 1996, Gibbs was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He was one of the winningest coaches in NFL history, at that time having a record of 124 wins and 60 losses, and a post-season record of 16 wins and five losses.
If that were not enough, upon retiring (the first time) from the Redskins, in 1992 Joe focused his full attention to his NASCAR race teams and now boasts three Nascar titles. Driver Bobby Labonte holds one title and Tony Stewart won two championships. And this season is looking strong with his newest drivers, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Bush and Joey Logano. Joey is the youngest driver in Sprint Cup history to win a race at just 19 years old.
So it is certainly an honor and a privilege to know Joe and his wife Pat personally. I first met Joe when the Lake Norman Young Life area was birthed, splitting off of the Charlotte area eleven years ago. My wife and I were honored to chair the adult leadership committee of this non-profit high school youth organzation - younglife.org. We often held our monthly meeting at the Gibbs home where Joe would be walking around with one of the grand babies on his shoulder with a burp cloth. Joes' son J.D. and wife Melissa joined the committee and also continue to actively support Young Life.
So Joe has been on this grueling whirlwind tour promoting his new book, Game Plan for Life for about a month now. His fierce determination and focus that are reminiscent of his coaching days is apparent as he travels the country getting the word out.
How did this book get started? Thanks for asking. He commissioned a study that essentially asked the question, What are the key topics that will lead people to a "successful" life?
He put together an amazing list of Christian men (Josh McDowell, Chuck Colson, Ron Blue and many others) to write on a variety of topics, which is woven together by Joe's personal testimony. He will also be interviewing for video all of these authors (each committed to do four hours of interviews with Coach Gibbs over the next year). Gibbs considers this his legacy work.
The foreword is aptly written by former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy who has also won a Super Bowl.
The book is interwoven with many fascinating stories from Joe's colorful career and abruptly begins with the shooting death of Redskins player Sean Taylor.
This is a must read for anyone serious about true success. I highly recommend it. However you can't have the copy that Joe signed for me... unless you name is Dave. Not.
About the author: David Henning is the President of the Freshstart Company, LLC and has over thirty years experience as a radio talk show host, radio and television copywriter, newspaper editor and public speaker. Dave is a freelance copywriter and has authored hundreds of articles about helping people get a fresh start in life. See Dave's blog at http://www.freshstartstore.com
Avoid Caution Flags On Your Next Family Road Trip
"Most of my fondest family memories are from the road trips we have taken over the years," said Rusty Wallace, retired NASCAR driver and Nextel Cup champion. Wallace and his wife and three kids have spent a lot of time traveling on the open road and have learned the do's and don'ts of road trips. The stress and frustration that can come along with highway traveling can be easily alleviated with some planning, creativity and preparation. Americans are expected to take more than 328 million leisure trips this spring and summer (according to the Travel Industry Association); here are a few tips and tricks from the king of road trips to make those getaways fun for the entire family:
• Safety check. "Before the race cars hit the track, the most important thing is to make sure they are in top-notch running condition," Wallace said. "The same thing goes for my family cars." Wallace advises taking your car in for a tune-up before heading out on the road so that you can reach the checkered flags safely.
• Planning your trip. Surprises and unfulfilled expectations can lead to frustrations, but planning ahead can help everyone know what to expect along the way. Wallace recommends using trip-planning software such as Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator to help your family plan the perfect road trip. A reassuring voice along with accurate and simple mapping information will guide you to your destination. It also has easy-to-use tools that allow you to plan a personalized road trip from beginning to end.
• Speed bumps. Even if you plan all the details of your road trip, there are still bound to be some unexpected speed bumps along the way, such as road construction and traffic congestion. But don't let that ruin the fun. Streets & Trips can route you around the delay and get you back on track in no time.
• Pit stops. "On the track, we get in and out of pit stops as fast as we can, but when I'm with my family, we make pit stops fun," Wallace said. Make your pit stops enjoyable for everyone and long enough to allow a break from the road. If one of your road trips ever takes you to Rusty Wallace's home state of North Carolina, he recommends visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Get creative. The next time your family plans on hitting the road, try planning a themed adventure. Wallace suggests taking a trip across the country to visit all the NASCAR races, but if that doesn't suit your family's interests, Streets & Trips can help you customize a trip that will be fun for everyone.
• Safety check. "Before the race cars hit the track, the most important thing is to make sure they are in top-notch running condition," Wallace said. "The same thing goes for my family cars." Wallace advises taking your car in for a tune-up before heading out on the road so that you can reach the checkered flags safely.
• Planning your trip. Surprises and unfulfilled expectations can lead to frustrations, but planning ahead can help everyone know what to expect along the way. Wallace recommends using trip-planning software such as Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator to help your family plan the perfect road trip. A reassuring voice along with accurate and simple mapping information will guide you to your destination. It also has easy-to-use tools that allow you to plan a personalized road trip from beginning to end.
• Speed bumps. Even if you plan all the details of your road trip, there are still bound to be some unexpected speed bumps along the way, such as road construction and traffic congestion. But don't let that ruin the fun. Streets & Trips can route you around the delay and get you back on track in no time.
• Pit stops. "On the track, we get in and out of pit stops as fast as we can, but when I'm with my family, we make pit stops fun," Wallace said. Make your pit stops enjoyable for everyone and long enough to allow a break from the road. If one of your road trips ever takes you to Rusty Wallace's home state of North Carolina, he recommends visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Get creative. The next time your family plans on hitting the road, try planning a themed adventure. Wallace suggests taking a trip across the country to visit all the NASCAR races, but if that doesn't suit your family's interests, Streets & Trips can help you customize a trip that will be fun for everyone.
Father's Day Gift Guide
Why is it that dads can be such a challenge when it comes to picking that perfect gift for Father's Day? He's your dad; this should be easy, right? Maybe the difficulty comes in having Father's Day only one month after Mother's Day. Does your gift for Dad suffer from a lack of creative energy? How about using some of our gift suggestions as a starting point for an awesome Father's Day gift?
1.) Be Prepared!
All good dads teach their kids this lesson. Use this opportunity to return the favor with a battery-free emergency radio. As anyone in a storm prone area can tell you, an emergency radio is an indispensable part of any emergency preparedness kit. Continuing on with the theme of being prepared, give Dad a new flashlight (with extra batteries) and maybe an emergency case of his favorite beer.
2.) The Gift of Time
Ask any parent what they really want from their kids and they will say more time together. A great Father's Day gift is the making of family backyard BBQ. Start with a new barbeque tool set. But don't stop there. Then you need to visit your local store and pick out some of the finest steaks they have (don't forget to get enough for the whole family) and all the fixings. A gift for dad the whole family gets to enjoy, this gift may be one that becomes a family tradition for years to come.
3.) Start Your Engines
Have a NASCAR dad? With a racing season of nine months and tracks across the country, you can easily get tickets to race for your dad. The race may not be on Father's Day but he will still love the gift. How do you package such an exciting gift? Why not in a mug with the logo of his favorite NASCAR driver such as Dale Earnhardt, Jr.? He will be so surprised when he finds out what is in the mug and he can relive the memories of race day whenever he uses the mug. Can't you just see the grin on your dad's face?
4.) Up in the Air
Does your dad travel for business or enjoy travel for pleasure? Then a new travel bag or trolley bag might be the perfect gift. Luggage can get so beat up during travel. Pack into the bag some travel necessities such as a new toiletry bag filled with all the necessities, a book by your father's favorite author, and gift card for a nationwide chain restaurant so your dad can enjoy a meal on you after a long day of meetings.
Sometimes we make gift giving too difficult. The best gifts are those items that the recipients already love. So ask yourself, what does my dad enjoy?
5.) Crack Open a Six Pack
Is your dad a beer or wine aficionado? Buy him a bottle (or case) of a unique or memorable wine or a six pack of a limited edition micro-brew. Does he have a favorite game or hobby? Use them to come up with gift ideas, obvious examples are golf balls for golfers or power tools. But consider getting him something he would not buy for himself such as that exotic wood for the cabinet he has always want to build or time with a golf pro to really improve his game.
6.) Turn a Page
Books seem to be an easy out for gift giving. But for a reader, you really can not have too many books. Ask your father for his favorite authors and if he has all their books. Buy him the books missing from his collection or the latest release. If you get this information, a gift certificate for more books would be much appreciated.
We always think about taking Mom out for dinner for Mother's Day. Why not take Dad out to his favorite restaurant? Give him his Father's Day gift there while he is enjoying time with those who know and love him the most.
1.) Be Prepared!
All good dads teach their kids this lesson. Use this opportunity to return the favor with a battery-free emergency radio. As anyone in a storm prone area can tell you, an emergency radio is an indispensable part of any emergency preparedness kit. Continuing on with the theme of being prepared, give Dad a new flashlight (with extra batteries) and maybe an emergency case of his favorite beer.
2.) The Gift of Time
Ask any parent what they really want from their kids and they will say more time together. A great Father's Day gift is the making of family backyard BBQ. Start with a new barbeque tool set. But don't stop there. Then you need to visit your local store and pick out some of the finest steaks they have (don't forget to get enough for the whole family) and all the fixings. A gift for dad the whole family gets to enjoy, this gift may be one that becomes a family tradition for years to come.
3.) Start Your Engines
Have a NASCAR dad? With a racing season of nine months and tracks across the country, you can easily get tickets to race for your dad. The race may not be on Father's Day but he will still love the gift. How do you package such an exciting gift? Why not in a mug with the logo of his favorite NASCAR driver such as Dale Earnhardt, Jr.? He will be so surprised when he finds out what is in the mug and he can relive the memories of race day whenever he uses the mug. Can't you just see the grin on your dad's face?
4.) Up in the Air
Does your dad travel for business or enjoy travel for pleasure? Then a new travel bag or trolley bag might be the perfect gift. Luggage can get so beat up during travel. Pack into the bag some travel necessities such as a new toiletry bag filled with all the necessities, a book by your father's favorite author, and gift card for a nationwide chain restaurant so your dad can enjoy a meal on you after a long day of meetings.
Sometimes we make gift giving too difficult. The best gifts are those items that the recipients already love. So ask yourself, what does my dad enjoy?
5.) Crack Open a Six Pack
Is your dad a beer or wine aficionado? Buy him a bottle (or case) of a unique or memorable wine or a six pack of a limited edition micro-brew. Does he have a favorite game or hobby? Use them to come up with gift ideas, obvious examples are golf balls for golfers or power tools. But consider getting him something he would not buy for himself such as that exotic wood for the cabinet he has always want to build or time with a golf pro to really improve his game.
6.) Turn a Page
Books seem to be an easy out for gift giving. But for a reader, you really can not have too many books. Ask your father for his favorite authors and if he has all their books. Buy him the books missing from his collection or the latest release. If you get this information, a gift certificate for more books would be much appreciated.
We always think about taking Mom out for dinner for Mother's Day. Why not take Dad out to his favorite restaurant? Give him his Father's Day gift there while he is enjoying time with those who know and love him the most.
Portsmouth Virginia Museums
The Portsmouth Visitor Information Center is a good starting point when visiting the museums. The center is located near attractions, has a very friendly staff and offers informational brochures. Right outside the Visitor Information Center is the famous Portsmouth Seawall and the first of two Portsmouth ferry stops. The Children’s Museum of Virginia provides fun for kids of all ages. Exhibits include a planetarium, a rock-climbing wall, a giant bubble-making station, a real fire engine, a city bus and the Lancaster Antique Toy and Train Collection, one of the most notable model train collections in the world. The displays help kids learn about science, nature, art and other subjects in a fun setting. The Children’s Museum of Virginia is located at 221 High Street. The Courthouse Galleries is an art museum which includes two large galleries of exhibits. During Portsmouth's First Friday events, the Courthouse Galleries often host free musical entertainment. Another special event is the First Sunday of the month when educational programs such as gallery talks and seminars that complement the exhibits are held. The museum also hosts a range of art classes, lectures, poetry readings and book signings. The attraction is housed in a beautiful Greek-Revival building surrounded by a wrought-iron fence and nearly hidden behind massive oak trees that occupy its courtyard. The structure was built in 1846 and served as the Norfolk County Courthouse until 1960. The Courthouse Galleries is located at the corner of High and Court streets. Lightship Portsmouth Museum is a popular stop in Olde Towne, located at the end of London Street on the waterfront. Visitors to the ship can board and see how the men of the Lightship Service lived during their many months at sea. The Lightship Portsmouth was commissioned in 1915 and has since been restored to its original condition. While in active service, the vessel anchored for months off the coastline, serving Hampton Roads as a vital navigational aid to mariners. In 1989, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum contains exhibits on naval history and local memorabilia The museum was established in 1949 within the nation's oldest shipyard in Norfolk. The Naval Shipyard Museum was later moved to the Portsmouth waterfront at High Street Landing on the Elizabeth River. The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum contains two stories of sports and health exhibits. The attraction features information about nearly 300 past and present athletes. Special exhibits include a NASCAR simulator, baseball pitch speed test, and a sports broadcasting simulator. Fitness, nutrition, exercise and sports medicine is showcased in the Training Room. The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame is located at 206 High St. Located at 221 North St. is Hill House. The four-story 1825 English basement home is furnished entirely with original family belongings. The structure is listed on the Virginia Register of Historic Places.
The author writes for several Virginia websites including Virginia Beach VA, Tidewater - Hampton Roads Virginia and Chesapeake Bay News.
New York to Miami - The Atlantic Coast Route
This route starts you off in New York, heads south along the east coast and finishes in Miami.
So you are in New York, the biggest city in the US. Undoubtedly you'll have a huge amount to see and do here before you set off on your trip. Go see the Empire State, visit the Statue of Liberty, go shopping on 5th Avenue, take a walk through Central Park, and soak up the atmosphere in Times Square.
Atlantic City is located about 200 kms to the south of New York. Most of the journey would be on the Garden State Parkway. Just inland of Atlantic City towards the city of Philadelphia you could take some time to visit the million-acre Pinelands National Preserve.
Atlantic City is probably best known for the fact that gambling is legal and you can visit a large number of casinos here. There's more to the city however, it's located on the Jersey coast and there's a beautiful beach to enjoy. The boardwalk between the beach and the city is very popular and a great way to do some people watching and moving between attractions.
Driving on just 150kms down the coast along Ocean Drive will get you to Ocean City. The roadway here goes over a number of coastal islands, many of which are interesting places to do some bird watching or visit on the many beaches. You will need to take the Cape May-Lewes/Lewes-Cape May ferry to Lewes.
Ocean City is a small city on the coast of Maryland (not to be confused with the Ocean City in New Jersey which you will actually pass on your way south from Atlantic City). The main attraction of the city is the high quality 10 Mile Long Beach. Get some accommodation over looking the beach and simply relax for a while.
Another 150kms to the south of Ocean City is the resort of Virginia Beach. After crossing the border into Virginia you will be passing quite close to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge which is certainly worth a visit if you are into bird watching. The journey will take you through the 30km Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel (there is also a $10 toll) which is an experience all of its own.
When you come back to the mainland after the Bridge/Tunnel, you will come to Virginia Beach. This city is reputed to have the longest pleasure beach in the world. Surfing is a popular option here, as is Dolphin and Whale watching. You might also visit nearby Norfolk which has a number of attractions that might be worth visiting including the Chrysler Museum of Art, the Naval Station Tour or the Nauticus - National Maritime Center.
Located about a 2 hour drive to the south in North Carolina is Kitty Hawk.
Kitty Hawk is the site of the Wright Brothers first flight of a heavier air aircraft in 1903. The Wright Brothers National Memorial is the main attraction of the area. You can also enjoy a variety of activities here including Hang Gliding in Jockey's Ridge State Park which has some of the highest dunes on the east coast.
The next city on this trek south is Wilmington, some 400 kms to the south and west of Kitty Hawk.
The city of Wilmington is famed for its beautiful beaches, wonderful food and the welcoming nature of its residents. The one must see attraction for anyone passing through the city is the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial. Fans of the tv shows Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill will enjoy the city as well, as these shows are shot here. You might also visit the nearby Cape Fear, though it doesn't really live up to its name.
Continuing south west and into South Carolina, you will arrive at Charleston some 270kms later. On the way to Charleston you will pass through Myrtle Beach and Francis Marion National Forest.
Charleston is known as The Holy City due to the large number of steeples you can see overlooking the city. There are a huge number of attractions to see in this city including Fort Sumter, the Citadel, and the French Huguenot Church to name a few.
Moving on you will pass by Hilton Head Island on your way to Savannah about 170 kms from Charleston. Hilton Head Island is a very popular tourist destination; its beaches are renowned but it is especially famed for its many fantastic golf courses (in particular Harbour Town Golf Links).
Savannah was the first settlement founded in Georgia way back in 1733. The historic district is very popular with tourists as it one of the few town centres to survive almost untouched since the 19th century. So during your visit be sure to visit any of the town squares such as the original four public squares which were Johnson, Ellis, Telfair, and Wright.
Continuing south it's just 175kms to the Florida border, with another 50kms to the centre of Jacksonville.
Once you get to Jacksonville, Florida's largest city, you will have plenty to see and do. Some sights worth checking out include the Fort Caroline National Memorial, dedicated to the original French fortress in the area; Hemming Plaza, with its post modern architecture; and the Jacksonville Landing which is a popular area for fine dining and to do some shopping.
Heading south again you will come to Daytona Beach after about 150kms.
Daytona Beach is a very popular destination for fans of NASCAR and Daytona 500 racing. So with this in mind it might be good idea to visit the Daytona International Speedway. It's an interesting visit even if there's no race on the day you visit. Other activities you can avail of include Robert Strickland Shooting Range, where you can shoot all sorts of guns you would never normally get to; and the Museum of Arts and Sciences, with its Chinese, African and Cuban art; and many more.
You have an option here to take a detour inland and visit Disneyland in Orlando. Either way, when you return to the Atlantic Coast Route you will end up passing Cape Canaveral, where if you are lucky you might see a Shuttle launch.
About 240kms south of Cape Canaveral you will arrive in West Palm Beach. This town is the start of a metropolitan area that extends all the way south to Miami! All together this area has a population of almost 6 million. While in West Palm Beach you could visit any of the many beautiful beaches; or perhaps go snorkelling on Breakers Reef.
Continuing south through the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach Metropolitan area you will get to Miami after about 110kms.
Miami is a very multicultural city with over 30% Cuban, over 30% Non-Cuban Hispanic, and 40% everything else. Some interesting sights to visit include the Ancient Spanish Monastery, which was originally built in 1141 in Spain but was moved to Miami in the 50s; there is also Dolphin Stadium, home ground of the Miami Dolphins American Football team; and there is loads of other things to see and do.
This is the end of the Atlantic Coast Route though you will have the option of carrying on to Key West which is 250kms to the south and west of Miami along the Florida Keys.
So you are in New York, the biggest city in the US. Undoubtedly you'll have a huge amount to see and do here before you set off on your trip. Go see the Empire State, visit the Statue of Liberty, go shopping on 5th Avenue, take a walk through Central Park, and soak up the atmosphere in Times Square.
Atlantic City is located about 200 kms to the south of New York. Most of the journey would be on the Garden State Parkway. Just inland of Atlantic City towards the city of Philadelphia you could take some time to visit the million-acre Pinelands National Preserve.
Atlantic City is probably best known for the fact that gambling is legal and you can visit a large number of casinos here. There's more to the city however, it's located on the Jersey coast and there's a beautiful beach to enjoy. The boardwalk between the beach and the city is very popular and a great way to do some people watching and moving between attractions.
Driving on just 150kms down the coast along Ocean Drive will get you to Ocean City. The roadway here goes over a number of coastal islands, many of which are interesting places to do some bird watching or visit on the many beaches. You will need to take the Cape May-Lewes/Lewes-Cape May ferry to Lewes.
Ocean City is a small city on the coast of Maryland (not to be confused with the Ocean City in New Jersey which you will actually pass on your way south from Atlantic City). The main attraction of the city is the high quality 10 Mile Long Beach. Get some accommodation over looking the beach and simply relax for a while.
Another 150kms to the south of Ocean City is the resort of Virginia Beach. After crossing the border into Virginia you will be passing quite close to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge which is certainly worth a visit if you are into bird watching. The journey will take you through the 30km Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel (there is also a $10 toll) which is an experience all of its own.
When you come back to the mainland after the Bridge/Tunnel, you will come to Virginia Beach. This city is reputed to have the longest pleasure beach in the world. Surfing is a popular option here, as is Dolphin and Whale watching. You might also visit nearby Norfolk which has a number of attractions that might be worth visiting including the Chrysler Museum of Art, the Naval Station Tour or the Nauticus - National Maritime Center.
Located about a 2 hour drive to the south in North Carolina is Kitty Hawk.
Kitty Hawk is the site of the Wright Brothers first flight of a heavier air aircraft in 1903. The Wright Brothers National Memorial is the main attraction of the area. You can also enjoy a variety of activities here including Hang Gliding in Jockey's Ridge State Park which has some of the highest dunes on the east coast.
The next city on this trek south is Wilmington, some 400 kms to the south and west of Kitty Hawk.
The city of Wilmington is famed for its beautiful beaches, wonderful food and the welcoming nature of its residents. The one must see attraction for anyone passing through the city is the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial. Fans of the tv shows Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill will enjoy the city as well, as these shows are shot here. You might also visit the nearby Cape Fear, though it doesn't really live up to its name.
Continuing south west and into South Carolina, you will arrive at Charleston some 270kms later. On the way to Charleston you will pass through Myrtle Beach and Francis Marion National Forest.
Charleston is known as The Holy City due to the large number of steeples you can see overlooking the city. There are a huge number of attractions to see in this city including Fort Sumter, the Citadel, and the French Huguenot Church to name a few.
Moving on you will pass by Hilton Head Island on your way to Savannah about 170 kms from Charleston. Hilton Head Island is a very popular tourist destination; its beaches are renowned but it is especially famed for its many fantastic golf courses (in particular Harbour Town Golf Links).
Savannah was the first settlement founded in Georgia way back in 1733. The historic district is very popular with tourists as it one of the few town centres to survive almost untouched since the 19th century. So during your visit be sure to visit any of the town squares such as the original four public squares which were Johnson, Ellis, Telfair, and Wright.
Continuing south it's just 175kms to the Florida border, with another 50kms to the centre of Jacksonville.
Once you get to Jacksonville, Florida's largest city, you will have plenty to see and do. Some sights worth checking out include the Fort Caroline National Memorial, dedicated to the original French fortress in the area; Hemming Plaza, with its post modern architecture; and the Jacksonville Landing which is a popular area for fine dining and to do some shopping.
Heading south again you will come to Daytona Beach after about 150kms.
Daytona Beach is a very popular destination for fans of NASCAR and Daytona 500 racing. So with this in mind it might be good idea to visit the Daytona International Speedway. It's an interesting visit even if there's no race on the day you visit. Other activities you can avail of include Robert Strickland Shooting Range, where you can shoot all sorts of guns you would never normally get to; and the Museum of Arts and Sciences, with its Chinese, African and Cuban art; and many more.
You have an option here to take a detour inland and visit Disneyland in Orlando. Either way, when you return to the Atlantic Coast Route you will end up passing Cape Canaveral, where if you are lucky you might see a Shuttle launch.
About 240kms south of Cape Canaveral you will arrive in West Palm Beach. This town is the start of a metropolitan area that extends all the way south to Miami! All together this area has a population of almost 6 million. While in West Palm Beach you could visit any of the many beautiful beaches; or perhaps go snorkelling on Breakers Reef.
Continuing south through the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach Metropolitan area you will get to Miami after about 110kms.
Miami is a very multicultural city with over 30% Cuban, over 30% Non-Cuban Hispanic, and 40% everything else. Some interesting sights to visit include the Ancient Spanish Monastery, which was originally built in 1141 in Spain but was moved to Miami in the 50s; there is also Dolphin Stadium, home ground of the Miami Dolphins American Football team; and there is loads of other things to see and do.
This is the end of the Atlantic Coast Route though you will have the option of carrying on to Key West which is 250kms to the south and west of Miami along the Florida Keys.
Mairead writes for Novacarhire.com - an independent car hire reservation website where you can book low cost car hire at over 5000 locations worldwide
Heading to the US? Visit Novacarhire.com's Car hire USA page and get an instant quote which will offer you the best deals from top car rental providers
8 Places A Family Can Go To During A Florida Vacation
Your family is the best company to have during a Florida vacation because this is one of the most family oriented states in America. If New York is for the urbane, and California is for the fun-loving, Florida is definitely the family state to go to if you wish to enjoy quality time with your family.
Universal Studios - A family can't call their family Florida vacation complete if they don't take the time to visit its world famous Universal Studios. Besides having the opportunity to acquaint yourself with your favorite movies and Hollywood actors and actresses, there are also scores of wonderful rides, activities, and presentations offered to make your experience absolutely unforgettable. If and when you visit Universal Studios, make sure that you don't miss the terribly fun Jaws encounter and the space-oriented E.T. Adventure. Special private tours can also be arranged.
Sea World - Paris may be the world's definition for romance, but Orlando, Florida definitely symbolizes the essence of theme parks. Make sure that the itinerary list of your family Florida vacation also includes a trip to Sea World, one of the city's pioneering theme parks and which has been operating for more than three decades already. Going to Sea World is one of the closest ways you can get to living to the sea.
Walt Disney - If your family is having a family Florida vacation this year, one of your reasons no doubt of heading there is to have a magical Disney experience. Orlando's Disneyworld can be divided into four sections: EPCOT - where your family can transform your Florida vacation into a science adventure; Disney-MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, and finally Magic Kingdom, if you wish your family - or more importantly the children - to have an unforgettable Florida vacation. This is the only place where their favorite Disney characters can come alive!
Dry Tortugas National Park - If your kids are clamoring for something more realistic than what Sea World has to offer, then don't allow your family Florida vacation to end without a trip to Dry Tortugas National Park. This tourist attraction is the country's one and only at-sea national park. Guests can enjoy diving, snorkeling, or simply catching sight of some of the most beautiful and unique marine creatures.
Busch Gardens - Have your children ever wondered what it would be like if their lives and their pets' were reversed? If so, then you can give them exactly what they're asking for at Busch Gardens. Guests have the option of viewing animals as they roam their natural habitat by train, cable car, or monorail. Besides this once in a lifetime opportunity, you can also satiate your kids' thirst for thrills and excitement by getting them in heart-thumping river rapids. And for a special treat for the adults, you and your partner can also take a sip of the Anheuser Busch brew that's the main product of this site.
Mallory Square - Life in Key West doesn't have to be too quiet. You can take your family to Mallory Square where they can shop for lovely and rare items at Carribean Cargo and Shell Warehouse. After an exhausting but fulfilling shopping expedition, you and your family can choose to dine at any of Mallory Square's restaurants while being wooed and entertained by street musical performers.
Salvador Dali Museum - A family Florida vacation doesn't have to be about fun only. It can also be educational and with cultural value even if you so wish. For a trip of this ilk, consider taking your family to the Salvador Dali Museum. Give your kids a different outlook to art as they learn to appreciate the wonders of surrealism through the artist's works. Be sure to take part of the museum's tours so that you and your kids can gain insight to the man behind all these wonders.
Daytona, USA - If you have a group of rowdy boys in your family, you definitely have to take them to this side of Florida. Just about everything connected to NASCAR can be found here, and your kids are sure to race to your side in gratitude after this.
Those are not the only things that you can do on your famikly Florida vacation, but they're definitely some of the most important so don't miss any of them!
Universal Studios - A family can't call their family Florida vacation complete if they don't take the time to visit its world famous Universal Studios. Besides having the opportunity to acquaint yourself with your favorite movies and Hollywood actors and actresses, there are also scores of wonderful rides, activities, and presentations offered to make your experience absolutely unforgettable. If and when you visit Universal Studios, make sure that you don't miss the terribly fun Jaws encounter and the space-oriented E.T. Adventure. Special private tours can also be arranged.
Sea World - Paris may be the world's definition for romance, but Orlando, Florida definitely symbolizes the essence of theme parks. Make sure that the itinerary list of your family Florida vacation also includes a trip to Sea World, one of the city's pioneering theme parks and which has been operating for more than three decades already. Going to Sea World is one of the closest ways you can get to living to the sea.
Walt Disney - If your family is having a family Florida vacation this year, one of your reasons no doubt of heading there is to have a magical Disney experience. Orlando's Disneyworld can be divided into four sections: EPCOT - where your family can transform your Florida vacation into a science adventure; Disney-MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, and finally Magic Kingdom, if you wish your family - or more importantly the children - to have an unforgettable Florida vacation. This is the only place where their favorite Disney characters can come alive!
Dry Tortugas National Park - If your kids are clamoring for something more realistic than what Sea World has to offer, then don't allow your family Florida vacation to end without a trip to Dry Tortugas National Park. This tourist attraction is the country's one and only at-sea national park. Guests can enjoy diving, snorkeling, or simply catching sight of some of the most beautiful and unique marine creatures.
Busch Gardens - Have your children ever wondered what it would be like if their lives and their pets' were reversed? If so, then you can give them exactly what they're asking for at Busch Gardens. Guests have the option of viewing animals as they roam their natural habitat by train, cable car, or monorail. Besides this once in a lifetime opportunity, you can also satiate your kids' thirst for thrills and excitement by getting them in heart-thumping river rapids. And for a special treat for the adults, you and your partner can also take a sip of the Anheuser Busch brew that's the main product of this site.
Mallory Square - Life in Key West doesn't have to be too quiet. You can take your family to Mallory Square where they can shop for lovely and rare items at Carribean Cargo and Shell Warehouse. After an exhausting but fulfilling shopping expedition, you and your family can choose to dine at any of Mallory Square's restaurants while being wooed and entertained by street musical performers.
Salvador Dali Museum - A family Florida vacation doesn't have to be about fun only. It can also be educational and with cultural value even if you so wish. For a trip of this ilk, consider taking your family to the Salvador Dali Museum. Give your kids a different outlook to art as they learn to appreciate the wonders of surrealism through the artist's works. Be sure to take part of the museum's tours so that you and your kids can gain insight to the man behind all these wonders.
Daytona, USA - If you have a group of rowdy boys in your family, you definitely have to take them to this side of Florida. Just about everything connected to NASCAR can be found here, and your kids are sure to race to your side in gratitude after this.
Those are not the only things that you can do on your famikly Florida vacation, but they're definitely some of the most important so don't miss any of them!
How And Where To Buy Quality Diecast Collectible Cars
In today's online market, there are many ways for the average Joe to buy and sell goods which have added options to the former yard sale generation. Ebay has skyrocketed the possibilities in which consumers can both seek out and get rid of various item from purses to houses to small collectibles. Auction prices are set by sellers and revised accordingly as supply and demand warrants. It is astounding how many items a simple search will provide, even on a focused area such as diecast cars. Since the popularity of diecast cars is increasing exponentially with the new designs that the marketplace is offering, the online demand for the products has increased proportionally. One can find many opportunities to build a collection simply by logging on to Ebay. Alternatively, one can sell parts or entire collections through the same venue. All it takes is a computer, digital camera, and a little know how to become a successful diecast merchant on the internet.
Ebay is the most reputable online auction service. It has many safeguards in place to protect both buyers and sellers and to preserve its good name. While using Ebay once may assume they are in pretty good hands. However, vigilance is always necessary in the online auction world. Obviously there are always "bad guys" who are out to get novice consumers and take advantage of their lack of experience. The people at Ebay go great lengths to ensure your protection such as shutting down phony auctions and people who bid fraudulently to increase the bid price. These safeguards are useful, but not perfect. For this reason one must always utilized common sense when buying or selling diecast cars on Ebay.
Another website devoted to selling cars is gomotorbids.com, a division of gomotorsports.com. This site operates a bit differently than Ebay in that the cars can only be bought, not sold. Due to this fact, the site is more of an online store with an auction format. The company owns all of the cars being sold and the operators of the website ensure that all sales are completed with accuracy and legitimacy. Also, all bids begin at one dollar, eliminating the "reserve" sometimes seen on Ebay to inflate bidding prices. This site boasts that the consumer will be satisfied with every sale on gomotorbids.com due to its policies and safeguards.
When faced with the decision of where to buy and sell diecast collectible cars, one must consider all options. Of course yard sale type business including trading with acquaintances is always an option, but not often feasible. It requires a lot of time and includes traveling to destinations in order to make purchases and/or sales. The alternate option of internet merchandise fits into the lives of many more collectors. It is a personal decision, but once made, collectors find themselves accomplishing their goals of both accumulating and selling diecast cars for display.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a collectible cars at www.diecast-racing-collectibles.com
Ebay is the most reputable online auction service. It has many safeguards in place to protect both buyers and sellers and to preserve its good name. While using Ebay once may assume they are in pretty good hands. However, vigilance is always necessary in the online auction world. Obviously there are always "bad guys" who are out to get novice consumers and take advantage of their lack of experience. The people at Ebay go great lengths to ensure your protection such as shutting down phony auctions and people who bid fraudulently to increase the bid price. These safeguards are useful, but not perfect. For this reason one must always utilized common sense when buying or selling diecast cars on Ebay.
Another website devoted to selling cars is gomotorbids.com, a division of gomotorsports.com. This site operates a bit differently than Ebay in that the cars can only be bought, not sold. Due to this fact, the site is more of an online store with an auction format. The company owns all of the cars being sold and the operators of the website ensure that all sales are completed with accuracy and legitimacy. Also, all bids begin at one dollar, eliminating the "reserve" sometimes seen on Ebay to inflate bidding prices. This site boasts that the consumer will be satisfied with every sale on gomotorbids.com due to its policies and safeguards.
When faced with the decision of where to buy and sell diecast collectible cars, one must consider all options. Of course yard sale type business including trading with acquaintances is always an option, but not often feasible. It requires a lot of time and includes traveling to destinations in order to make purchases and/or sales. The alternate option of internet merchandise fits into the lives of many more collectors. It is a personal decision, but once made, collectors find themselves accomplishing their goals of both accumulating and selling diecast cars for display.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a collectible cars at www.diecast-racing-collectibles.com
More to See Than Just a Naval Shipyard
Located across the Elizabeth River from the much larger city of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia can be a delightful place to spend some time while on vacation in the eastern portion of this state. With many family friendly attractions, it is little wonder that people end up spending a good deal of time within the city of Portsmouth while traveling. Indeed, this port town has a rich Naval history and many interesting places to go along with it. Whether you want to learn more about the fascinating history of the area, or simply want to see what this part of Virginia has to offer, Portsmouth is a good choice.
One of the primary places that visitors to Portsmouth are drawn to is the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. After all, much of the history of this city is tied to the Navy, and coming to this museum can be a good way to introduce yourself to the area. In addition to many armed forces vehicles on display, there are additional varieties of watercraft to explore and see up close and personal here. People who have a fondness for the sea and for sailing vessels are sure to adore this museum, as will anyone with a general curiosity about life on the water.
For people traveling with children, the Children's Museum of Virginia can be a great place to stop at while in Portsmouth. Within its walls, people can explore its vast array of toys - a true kids' paradise. There are tons of hands on things for kids to participate in here; some of the most interesting are recreations of "real life" situations such as the dentist, the bank and the grocery store - as well as a police station and a fire station. Children will love exploring these kid-sized versions of real life places, and it is easy to spend a couple of hours checking everything out. In Portsmouth, this museum is a natural choice.
Sports fans that come to Portsmouth will be glad to know that the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame And Museum is located here. This ambitious, multifaceted attraction boasts a huge array of interesting exhibits geared toward all types of sports fans. The general idea is hands on, so people who come here can try out things like pitching a ball in front of a radar gun to determine the speed, or simulate driving a real life NASCAR racecar. Those who are interested in sports reporting can simulate broadcasting a real game. This place is a great day out for the whole family while visiting Portsmouth.
Besides these larger attractions, Portsmouth can be a great town to simply meander around and explore. Its Olde Towne Business and Historical District has a ton of interesting shops and restaurants for people to take in, all located within a reasonably sized area. The well-preserved nature of the buildings in this area makes exploring it part history lesson, part-shopping spree in many ways - a winning combination. Make sure to bring your camera with you, as there are plenty of great photo opportunities to be had.
One of the primary places that visitors to Portsmouth are drawn to is the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. After all, much of the history of this city is tied to the Navy, and coming to this museum can be a good way to introduce yourself to the area. In addition to many armed forces vehicles on display, there are additional varieties of watercraft to explore and see up close and personal here. People who have a fondness for the sea and for sailing vessels are sure to adore this museum, as will anyone with a general curiosity about life on the water.
For people traveling with children, the Children's Museum of Virginia can be a great place to stop at while in Portsmouth. Within its walls, people can explore its vast array of toys - a true kids' paradise. There are tons of hands on things for kids to participate in here; some of the most interesting are recreations of "real life" situations such as the dentist, the bank and the grocery store - as well as a police station and a fire station. Children will love exploring these kid-sized versions of real life places, and it is easy to spend a couple of hours checking everything out. In Portsmouth, this museum is a natural choice.
Sports fans that come to Portsmouth will be glad to know that the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame And Museum is located here. This ambitious, multifaceted attraction boasts a huge array of interesting exhibits geared toward all types of sports fans. The general idea is hands on, so people who come here can try out things like pitching a ball in front of a radar gun to determine the speed, or simulate driving a real life NASCAR racecar. Those who are interested in sports reporting can simulate broadcasting a real game. This place is a great day out for the whole family while visiting Portsmouth.
Besides these larger attractions, Portsmouth can be a great town to simply meander around and explore. Its Olde Towne Business and Historical District has a ton of interesting shops and restaurants for people to take in, all located within a reasonably sized area. The well-preserved nature of the buildings in this area makes exploring it part history lesson, part-shopping spree in many ways - a winning combination. Make sure to bring your camera with you, as there are plenty of great photo opportunities to be had.
For more information on Portsmouth, Virginia visit http://portsmouthvirginia.travel.
The Ultimate Shopping Vacations And Entertainment Places In America
The ultimate shopping hangout in America is the Mall of America which is situated in Bloomington in Minnesota. It is the country's biggest entertainment center. It has loads of attractions. The number of stores in this mall is around 520. The mall also has a huge number of restaurants, night clubs and AMC theaters. Some special events are also organized here. However you cannot see everything in the mall in one day and hence you need some time.
America's largest theme park is Camp Snoopy. The park offers lots of fun rides like their latest roller coaster and spiraling Timberland Twister. The park occupies 7 acres of land and it has 30 amazing and fun filled rides. There are 9 amazing places to eat. The place has loads of entertainment and you can also shop here. The kids surely love this theme park.
Enjoy 4 stories of LEGO fun at the Lego Imagination Center. You can just watch it, play it or buy it. You can see the world's largest animated interactive LEGO clock tower and there are about ninety LEGO models on display. These include astronauts, dinosaurs and many more. It's a must see place.
Visit the Underwater Adventures if you love adventure. Here one has to go down 14 feet (under water) and then you have stingrays, sharks and sea turtles so close to you. It's an experience on its own. This huge aquarium contains 1.2 million gallons of water. It has a long tunnel which is around 300 foot in length. There is also a moving walkway. You will actually feel that you can touch these marine animals. This is the closest you can be to them. The Discovery travel channel voted this as 'Worlds Best Shark Encounter' and so you have to see it to believe it. There are about 4,500 marine animals here.
You can have a lot of fun at Jillians. There are 16 big TV screens at this Video Caf้ for sports viewing. There is also a cool menu with delicious entrees, appetizers and not to forget desserts. There are a number of billiard tables. There is also a game room which has all the latest simulation and electronic games. Hi-Life Lanes is an excellent bowling alley and it also has great places to dine and several other things.
If you like speed and adventure, try NASCAR. This electrifying indoor car racing competition runs at 195 mile per hour. You can start with this high tech game right away. Just sit into the cockpit and get off. This stock car racing is actually very close to the real car racing.
America's liveliness is all thanks to the nightclubs especially America's Original Sports Bar, Flashbaxx, Players and Lt'l Ditty's. These places have everything from karaoke, pool, live bands to dueling pianos, dancing and many other things. You can know about fighter pilots from ACES Flight Simulation. You can actually fly the F-18 Hornet jet fighter here. You can also fly the old WWII P-51 Mustang. You will actually feel as if you are flying an aircraft. This is an experience which you should not miss.
Minnesota has many things to offer. Travel to the Twin Cities; know for intriguing theater, art museums, sculpture garde and fine orchestras. Pacific Place has all the dining, shopping and entertainment centers. You can shop at some of the best stores here like Tiffany & Co, Coach, MaxMara, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Chico's, Helly Hanson, Pottery Barn, L'Occitane, Noble and Williams-Sonoma and Barnes. There is also the AMC Theatre complex which has 11 screens. Nordstrom store is the right place for food, film and fashion. Fir visiting this place, you have to cross the Skybridge Connection. However the best shopping is what is done by sitting at home, through eBay. You can find everything you want for your home from here.
America's largest theme park is Camp Snoopy. The park offers lots of fun rides like their latest roller coaster and spiraling Timberland Twister. The park occupies 7 acres of land and it has 30 amazing and fun filled rides. There are 9 amazing places to eat. The place has loads of entertainment and you can also shop here. The kids surely love this theme park.
Enjoy 4 stories of LEGO fun at the Lego Imagination Center. You can just watch it, play it or buy it. You can see the world's largest animated interactive LEGO clock tower and there are about ninety LEGO models on display. These include astronauts, dinosaurs and many more. It's a must see place.
Visit the Underwater Adventures if you love adventure. Here one has to go down 14 feet (under water) and then you have stingrays, sharks and sea turtles so close to you. It's an experience on its own. This huge aquarium contains 1.2 million gallons of water. It has a long tunnel which is around 300 foot in length. There is also a moving walkway. You will actually feel that you can touch these marine animals. This is the closest you can be to them. The Discovery travel channel voted this as 'Worlds Best Shark Encounter' and so you have to see it to believe it. There are about 4,500 marine animals here.
You can have a lot of fun at Jillians. There are 16 big TV screens at this Video Caf้ for sports viewing. There is also a cool menu with delicious entrees, appetizers and not to forget desserts. There are a number of billiard tables. There is also a game room which has all the latest simulation and electronic games. Hi-Life Lanes is an excellent bowling alley and it also has great places to dine and several other things.
If you like speed and adventure, try NASCAR. This electrifying indoor car racing competition runs at 195 mile per hour. You can start with this high tech game right away. Just sit into the cockpit and get off. This stock car racing is actually very close to the real car racing.
America's liveliness is all thanks to the nightclubs especially America's Original Sports Bar, Flashbaxx, Players and Lt'l Ditty's. These places have everything from karaoke, pool, live bands to dueling pianos, dancing and many other things. You can know about fighter pilots from ACES Flight Simulation. You can actually fly the F-18 Hornet jet fighter here. You can also fly the old WWII P-51 Mustang. You will actually feel as if you are flying an aircraft. This is an experience which you should not miss.
Minnesota has many things to offer. Travel to the Twin Cities; know for intriguing theater, art museums, sculpture garde and fine orchestras. Pacific Place has all the dining, shopping and entertainment centers. You can shop at some of the best stores here like Tiffany & Co, Coach, MaxMara, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Chico's, Helly Hanson, Pottery Barn, L'Occitane, Noble and Williams-Sonoma and Barnes. There is also the AMC Theatre complex which has 11 screens. Nordstrom store is the right place for food, film and fashion. Fir visiting this place, you have to cross the Skybridge Connection. However the best shopping is what is done by sitting at home, through eBay. You can find everything you want for your home from here.
Las Vegas Vacation Outside The Casinos
Millions of people flock to Vegas for the express purpose of sitting in front of slot machines or pulling up stools to the poker tables, and yet there are so many other offerings in the city. A Las Vegas vacation does not have to center on gambling, though many people are unaware of the Vegas beyond the Strip.
First and foremost, there are the shows. Entertainment that does not require you to gamble away your hard earned cash is easy to find in Vegas, for there are multiple unique shows for your viewing pleasure. From magicians to concerts to illumination spectaculars, there are a number of programs that will amaze and delight even the most discerning viewer. But that is not the only option for the conservative traveler.
Your Las Vegas vacation could possibly include visits to the Nevada State Museum, where you can learn all about the history of this state from pre-history to the modern day. Located right in Vegas, this museum, which costs very little in the way of admission, offers a unique and thought-provoking look at the origins and development of Nevada. There are also art museums, the neon museum, and children's museums, just to name a few. Take a meander through the Atomic Testing Museum, which chronicles Nevada's place in the history of nuclear testing and bombing, or dance on into the Liberace Museum. Truly, there are many places to visit as you plan your Las Vegas vacation.
If museums are not exactly your thing, and you were hoping for a little more excitement, check out the Mario Andretti race rides, or the Richard Petty Driving Experience. These attractions are an important part of Nevada and NASCAR history, so for the racing fans, they are sure bets for entertainment and memorable experiences. Also in Vegas, you'll find the American Racing Academy, where driving courses, geared toward those individuals willing and able to spend close to a thousand dollars and several days learning all about street racing, Formula One, and so on.
Other options are still out there, like the Ethel M Chocolate Factory, Neonopolis, the Fremont Street Experience, and the Zoological-Botanical Park. There are also the Old Mormon Fort for history buffs and the Planetarium and Observatory for budding astronomers. A Las Vegas vacation can include any mix of these options, all located off the Strip but still in the heart of Las Vegas. So if you want to go but don't want to gamble away your time, don't despair, a Las Vegas vacation free from casinos awaits.
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First and foremost, there are the shows. Entertainment that does not require you to gamble away your hard earned cash is easy to find in Vegas, for there are multiple unique shows for your viewing pleasure. From magicians to concerts to illumination spectaculars, there are a number of programs that will amaze and delight even the most discerning viewer. But that is not the only option for the conservative traveler.
Your Las Vegas vacation could possibly include visits to the Nevada State Museum, where you can learn all about the history of this state from pre-history to the modern day. Located right in Vegas, this museum, which costs very little in the way of admission, offers a unique and thought-provoking look at the origins and development of Nevada. There are also art museums, the neon museum, and children's museums, just to name a few. Take a meander through the Atomic Testing Museum, which chronicles Nevada's place in the history of nuclear testing and bombing, or dance on into the Liberace Museum. Truly, there are many places to visit as you plan your Las Vegas vacation.
If museums are not exactly your thing, and you were hoping for a little more excitement, check out the Mario Andretti race rides, or the Richard Petty Driving Experience. These attractions are an important part of Nevada and NASCAR history, so for the racing fans, they are sure bets for entertainment and memorable experiences. Also in Vegas, you'll find the American Racing Academy, where driving courses, geared toward those individuals willing and able to spend close to a thousand dollars and several days learning all about street racing, Formula One, and so on.
Other options are still out there, like the Ethel M Chocolate Factory, Neonopolis, the Fremont Street Experience, and the Zoological-Botanical Park. There are also the Old Mormon Fort for history buffs and the Planetarium and Observatory for budding astronomers. A Las Vegas vacation can include any mix of these options, all located off the Strip but still in the heart of Las Vegas. So if you want to go but don't want to gamble away your time, don't despair, a Las Vegas vacation free from casinos awaits.
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History of Go Carts
What started out as a way for airmen in the 1950s to pass the time has turned into a popular worldwide sport for many. Go carts have quickly become a phenomenon all over the globe. With most historians giving Art Ingels the credit for inventing the go cart, he built his very first one back in 1956. But that first go cart was nothing compared to the models we have today. Newer more modern go carts can now travel 160 mph or faster. Now that's amazing.
This miniature Formula One racing machine is referred to by a lot of names including go carts, go karts, go-carts, shifter carts, gocarts, gokarts, enduro carts, and a number of other ways. But one thing is for sure, getting behind the wheel of one of them is exciting. Go carts are related to open-wheel Formula One or Indy Car racing. If you've ever wanted to know what it feels like to race a Formula 1 or Indy Car, while still being as safe as possible, go carts would be your best bet. And that's probably what Michael Schumacher, Sarah Fisher, Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart and Kyle Petty all thought when they were kids. They all started their racing careers in go carts. With speeds as high as 160 mph these little machines can travel as fast as the professional race car drivers do on many of their tracks.
There are many different options available today for people that want an exciting vehicle to drive. There are ATVs, dirt bikes, scooters, mopeds, go peds, mini bikes and motorcycles. But go carts are the closest thing you will find to the thrill of Formula 1, NASCAR or Indy Car racing. They are small open-wheeled vehicles with 4 wheels and no suspension. Instead of a suspension they rely on chassis flex. They are basically a smaller version of the professional open wheel race cars.
Many hopefuls who dream of one day racing at the pro level will get their start in go carting. Go carts can be a stepping stone to professional Formula One or Indy Car racing. The reason is that there are many different classes in go carting. No matter what level of experience you have there is a class for you. And as you improve you can move up to increasingly higher classes with greater competition. If you can get to the top in a go cart you may have what it takes for Formula 1 or Indy.
Professional racing is a very expensive sport. But with go carts drivers can get involved on a shoestring budget. It's a cheaper way to get involved with racing. Find out if you have what it takes without breaking the bank to do it.
But go carting is not only for the professionally-minded drivers. Go carts are usually driven by non-professionals, people just like you or me, out for a good time and a lot of excitement. Because anyone can drive one, regardless of their experience level, go carts have become extremely popular all over the world. They can be found in just about every large city either in family fun centers or other venues.
A go cart is made up of a chassis, motor, transmission, seat and 4 tires and a few other odds and ends. As mentioned earlier they have no suspension. The chassis must provide the stiffness and also enough flexibility to allow the cart to grip the road well on the straightaways as well as in the turns. The chassis can be either open or caged. The caged chassis allows protection for the driver in the event of a rollover while the open chassis does not. The cage performs a similar function as does a roll bar.
Engines used in carting are typically either 2-stroke or 4-stroke. They are made by manufacturers such as Honda or Briggs and Stratton among others. You would think that the 4-stroke engines would be more powerful than the 2-stroke engines, but that's not usually the case.
If you have ever wondered how fast go carts can travel you will be amazed at the top speeds. Sprint carts can usually get up to about 60 mph while the more powerful enduro carts can reach a top speed of about 90 mph. And if that's not fast enough for you how about the shifter karts that reach top speeds of 160 mph or more. You heard right, that is not a misprint and these are certainly not toys. Transmissions differ from cart to cart, but the shifter carts use a manual transmission with a clutch that allows the driver to get the most out of the motor.
It seems as though every part of the go cart has become a separate entity, a specialized piece of equipment with different options available to the purchaser. And with regard to the tires they are certainly no exception. In dry weather slicks are used. They are smooth tires that grip the road well. And as they heat up while driving they get even better traction. During wet weather tires with treads are needed. These are called rain tires. And of course, how could any respectable driver racing on ice do without specialized spiked tires? That's correct, there are even go cart races on ice in some parts of the world.
With the many different levels available for drivers today anyone can race at a comfortable level. And the sky is the limit to a talented driver. With a lot of practice, a bunch of talent and a little luck you might find yourself racing alongside Tony Stewart someday. It's certainly possible.
This miniature Formula One racing machine is referred to by a lot of names including go carts, go karts, go-carts, shifter carts, gocarts, gokarts, enduro carts, and a number of other ways. But one thing is for sure, getting behind the wheel of one of them is exciting. Go carts are related to open-wheel Formula One or Indy Car racing. If you've ever wanted to know what it feels like to race a Formula 1 or Indy Car, while still being as safe as possible, go carts would be your best bet. And that's probably what Michael Schumacher, Sarah Fisher, Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart and Kyle Petty all thought when they were kids. They all started their racing careers in go carts. With speeds as high as 160 mph these little machines can travel as fast as the professional race car drivers do on many of their tracks.
There are many different options available today for people that want an exciting vehicle to drive. There are ATVs, dirt bikes, scooters, mopeds, go peds, mini bikes and motorcycles. But go carts are the closest thing you will find to the thrill of Formula 1, NASCAR or Indy Car racing. They are small open-wheeled vehicles with 4 wheels and no suspension. Instead of a suspension they rely on chassis flex. They are basically a smaller version of the professional open wheel race cars.
Many hopefuls who dream of one day racing at the pro level will get their start in go carting. Go carts can be a stepping stone to professional Formula One or Indy Car racing. The reason is that there are many different classes in go carting. No matter what level of experience you have there is a class for you. And as you improve you can move up to increasingly higher classes with greater competition. If you can get to the top in a go cart you may have what it takes for Formula 1 or Indy.
Professional racing is a very expensive sport. But with go carts drivers can get involved on a shoestring budget. It's a cheaper way to get involved with racing. Find out if you have what it takes without breaking the bank to do it.
But go carting is not only for the professionally-minded drivers. Go carts are usually driven by non-professionals, people just like you or me, out for a good time and a lot of excitement. Because anyone can drive one, regardless of their experience level, go carts have become extremely popular all over the world. They can be found in just about every large city either in family fun centers or other venues.
A go cart is made up of a chassis, motor, transmission, seat and 4 tires and a few other odds and ends. As mentioned earlier they have no suspension. The chassis must provide the stiffness and also enough flexibility to allow the cart to grip the road well on the straightaways as well as in the turns. The chassis can be either open or caged. The caged chassis allows protection for the driver in the event of a rollover while the open chassis does not. The cage performs a similar function as does a roll bar.
Engines used in carting are typically either 2-stroke or 4-stroke. They are made by manufacturers such as Honda or Briggs and Stratton among others. You would think that the 4-stroke engines would be more powerful than the 2-stroke engines, but that's not usually the case.
If you have ever wondered how fast go carts can travel you will be amazed at the top speeds. Sprint carts can usually get up to about 60 mph while the more powerful enduro carts can reach a top speed of about 90 mph. And if that's not fast enough for you how about the shifter karts that reach top speeds of 160 mph or more. You heard right, that is not a misprint and these are certainly not toys. Transmissions differ from cart to cart, but the shifter carts use a manual transmission with a clutch that allows the driver to get the most out of the motor.
It seems as though every part of the go cart has become a separate entity, a specialized piece of equipment with different options available to the purchaser. And with regard to the tires they are certainly no exception. In dry weather slicks are used. They are smooth tires that grip the road well. And as they heat up while driving they get even better traction. During wet weather tires with treads are needed. These are called rain tires. And of course, how could any respectable driver racing on ice do without specialized spiked tires? That's correct, there are even go cart races on ice in some parts of the world.
With the many different levels available for drivers today anyone can race at a comfortable level. And the sky is the limit to a talented driver. With a lot of practice, a bunch of talent and a little luck you might find yourself racing alongside Tony Stewart someday. It's certainly possible.
One of the Best Ways to Retire Early - Live Full Time in an RV
If you have never considered RV life to be one of the best ways to retire early... think again. A lot of people do it, they enjoy the lifestyle, and it can be a very frugal way of retirement living. We RVed for 6 years for 6 to 22 month stretches at a time.
Now it is not frugal if you have to have an RV like Jeff Gordon lives in when he competes in NASCAR. You can spend over a million dollars on an RV. You can see the same scenery in a motor home or travel trailer costing $15,000 or less. Somewhere in between those 2 extremes is one of the best ways to retire early.
Full time RV does entail some sacrifice however. Due to storage limitations there is no room for your riding lawnmower or snow blower. Unless you like Ice fishing you won't need a winter wardrobe either. It seems most full time Rvers gravitate to warmer climes. Why?...because they can.
When your home has a steering wheel in the living room you are not bound to any one spot. It is always warm somewhere...picking your climate is one of the real pluses of RVing.
Don't like the neighbors, loud parties, barking dogs...that can be a problem if your home doesn't move. No problem in an RV, unhook and move.
Of course the more you travel the more you will spend on fuel and short stays at RV parks. A long term stay, a month, is much cheaper than the nightly rate. This will be you after a while. You will travel like crazy when you first have an RV...as you become exposed to more locations you find favorites and stay longer in specific places. You will also be spending less.
The larger the RV park the more varied the activities, and the more likely for you to find someone else with your particular interests. You want privacy you can dry camp (no utilities) or stay at smaller parks. It is your choice with full time RV living...flexibility is the key.
So if you have a bit of wanderlust and like having location options...full time Rving can be one of the best ways to retire early. It sure beats continuing to work.
Now it is not frugal if you have to have an RV like Jeff Gordon lives in when he competes in NASCAR. You can spend over a million dollars on an RV. You can see the same scenery in a motor home or travel trailer costing $15,000 or less. Somewhere in between those 2 extremes is one of the best ways to retire early.
Full time RV does entail some sacrifice however. Due to storage limitations there is no room for your riding lawnmower or snow blower. Unless you like Ice fishing you won't need a winter wardrobe either. It seems most full time Rvers gravitate to warmer climes. Why?...because they can.
When your home has a steering wheel in the living room you are not bound to any one spot. It is always warm somewhere...picking your climate is one of the real pluses of RVing.
Don't like the neighbors, loud parties, barking dogs...that can be a problem if your home doesn't move. No problem in an RV, unhook and move.
Of course the more you travel the more you will spend on fuel and short stays at RV parks. A long term stay, a month, is much cheaper than the nightly rate. This will be you after a while. You will travel like crazy when you first have an RV...as you become exposed to more locations you find favorites and stay longer in specific places. You will also be spending less.
The larger the RV park the more varied the activities, and the more likely for you to find someone else with your particular interests. You want privacy you can dry camp (no utilities) or stay at smaller parks. It is your choice with full time RV living...flexibility is the key.
So if you have a bit of wanderlust and like having location options...full time Rving can be one of the best ways to retire early. It sure beats continuing to work.
Gary Pierce is the webmaster of http://www.frugal-retirement-living.com he retired early at 49, still retired at 63. He has experience in lifestyles that are both fulfilling and frugal. It is 2009 and many are wondering if they can ever retire. Don't give up until you check out this website. Enjoy.
Auto Racing - The Two Main Types
In America, as well as other parts of the world such as Europe, few activities offer as much thrills and exhilaration's as auto racing, the sport of fast cars zooming around a track to the delight of thousands. Every year, millions of people worldwide turn on their televisions to watch auto racing, or travel hundreds of miles to famous locales like Talledega and Indianapolis to see these races live. This article briefly explains the two main types of auto racing in America today.
The first type is stock-car racing, or auto racing that uses the stock editions of automobiles to race around an oval track. NASCAR is the most well-known, professional version of this sport and is immensely popular in the South as well as other parts of the country. Stock cars used in this form of racing are built on standard factory editions and are usually limited to certain speeds for safety. As mentioned, they are raced on oval-shaped tracks in races that usually last anywhere from 200 to 600 miles in duration. Stock-car racing is the most popular form of auto racing in America.
The second type of racing, one that is more popular in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, is called single-seater racing. Formula One racing in the United States is perhaps the most well-known variant of this type, one that features production model racers built low to the ground with the sole purpose of performance. The cars are noticeably different in that they usually have slender bodies, large hydrofoils, and open wheels, which help to make them more maneuverable on average than a stock car. These are also raced on tracks that curve and wind far more than the oval tracks in stock-car racing.
Regardless of their differences, there is one thing that is certain: Auto racing is enormously popular and is here to stay. Both types offer excitement and a rush of adrenaline to their fans and drivers alike and will remain popular for decades to come. So if you haven't checked out a race recently go ahead open up your wild side today!
The first type is stock-car racing, or auto racing that uses the stock editions of automobiles to race around an oval track. NASCAR is the most well-known, professional version of this sport and is immensely popular in the South as well as other parts of the country. Stock cars used in this form of racing are built on standard factory editions and are usually limited to certain speeds for safety. As mentioned, they are raced on oval-shaped tracks in races that usually last anywhere from 200 to 600 miles in duration. Stock-car racing is the most popular form of auto racing in America.
The second type of racing, one that is more popular in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, is called single-seater racing. Formula One racing in the United States is perhaps the most well-known variant of this type, one that features production model racers built low to the ground with the sole purpose of performance. The cars are noticeably different in that they usually have slender bodies, large hydrofoils, and open wheels, which help to make them more maneuverable on average than a stock car. These are also raced on tracks that curve and wind far more than the oval tracks in stock-car racing.
Regardless of their differences, there is one thing that is certain: Auto racing is enormously popular and is here to stay. Both types offer excitement and a rush of adrenaline to their fans and drivers alike and will remain popular for decades to come. So if you haven't checked out a race recently go ahead open up your wild side today!
Auto racing can be a dangerous sport - one the most deadly actually. However, technology is helping with the danger aspect. Advances in crash technology, safety harnesses and the race suit have really begun to save lives. In a sport where if you make a single mistake, you could lose your life, every little bit counts.
Race Car Lover's Holidays
If you're a racing fan, a racing holiday might be in your best interest. The speed, the exhilaration, the overwhelming desire to watch those famous races you've only heard broadcast on the television are all great reasons to make your next vacation one that deals solely with racing. There are a number of ways to accomplish this.
Consider visiting one of the great racing museums. Good tracks like Daytona have some wonderful museum facilities that will keep you entertained for hours on end. Not only do they have some of the most famous cars ever stored in these museums, they also have some of the most interesting information about drivers, races, and all other things related to racing. You might learn something interesting as you enjoy looking at racing memorabilia.
Another option is to book a trip with a sports travel agency. Many of them have racing vacations designed just for you. You can choose from Formula One vacations, NASCAR vacations, or a Grand Prix vacation. Most of these packages include hotel accommodations, tickets to take in a race or two while you're on vacation, admission to a local museum, track tours, twenty-four hour trip assistance and freebies like programs and souvenirs. Others also include airline tickets and all sorts of optional packages you can add to your racing vacation. A famous one at Atlanta Motor Speedway includes a question and answer session with real NASCAR drivers. Others include the use of a hospitality tent before and after the race. This tent usually includes free food and beverages, sometimes even those of the adult variety. You can even choose to rent a scanner so you can hear the race, the drivers, and the officials as you watch it live.
Perhaps the best option for a race vacation is to live the experience through a racing school. There are many different decisions to make once you've decided upon a racing school, though. First, you need to decide what type of school you wish to enroll in. You can choose any type of racing car you enjoy watching from Corvettes to Indy 500 cars. Second, you need to decide how long you want your racing school experience to be. Basic courses can last anywhere from half of a day to three days. A basic one day course starts with a classroom session. Most of these sessions will cover the dynamics of the car, the dynamics of drivers, how to balance a car, how skids work, racing rules, and safety while you're on the track. All of these things are essential knowledge once you actually hit the track with your class and your instructor. In most cases, you will be given a helmet, a uniform, and you're own car. From there, your instructors will teach you exercises to build your skills and help you get used to the cars and the practice sessions that will follow.
In most of these schools, fully qualified driving coaches take you and your classmates, on a step-by-step basis, through a skill-oriented program to help you explore your interests. It might also help you develop your abilities as a driver. Don't worry, there's no pressure with most of these schools. Everyone out there is simply trying to have fun, and the racing school gets their money up front, so they could probably care less about your performance on the track. It's not a situation like high school football where performance is everything. By the end of the day in racing school, you'll be driving one of your favorite race cars like a pro. Lapping the track by yourself at speeds you've only dreamed of as you make your commute to work can be great fun, and racing school can give you that. If you choose to enroll in a racing school, be sure you rest and eat well on the day before. As much fun as it is, it can also be exhausting, so it's important to take care of your body before you actually visit the school. Also, you must have a valid driver's license to enroll in a racing school.
Choosing and planning a racing vacation can make your next holiday from your "nine to five" job the holiday of your dreams.
Consider visiting one of the great racing museums. Good tracks like Daytona have some wonderful museum facilities that will keep you entertained for hours on end. Not only do they have some of the most famous cars ever stored in these museums, they also have some of the most interesting information about drivers, races, and all other things related to racing. You might learn something interesting as you enjoy looking at racing memorabilia.
Another option is to book a trip with a sports travel agency. Many of them have racing vacations designed just for you. You can choose from Formula One vacations, NASCAR vacations, or a Grand Prix vacation. Most of these packages include hotel accommodations, tickets to take in a race or two while you're on vacation, admission to a local museum, track tours, twenty-four hour trip assistance and freebies like programs and souvenirs. Others also include airline tickets and all sorts of optional packages you can add to your racing vacation. A famous one at Atlanta Motor Speedway includes a question and answer session with real NASCAR drivers. Others include the use of a hospitality tent before and after the race. This tent usually includes free food and beverages, sometimes even those of the adult variety. You can even choose to rent a scanner so you can hear the race, the drivers, and the officials as you watch it live.
Perhaps the best option for a race vacation is to live the experience through a racing school. There are many different decisions to make once you've decided upon a racing school, though. First, you need to decide what type of school you wish to enroll in. You can choose any type of racing car you enjoy watching from Corvettes to Indy 500 cars. Second, you need to decide how long you want your racing school experience to be. Basic courses can last anywhere from half of a day to three days. A basic one day course starts with a classroom session. Most of these sessions will cover the dynamics of the car, the dynamics of drivers, how to balance a car, how skids work, racing rules, and safety while you're on the track. All of these things are essential knowledge once you actually hit the track with your class and your instructor. In most cases, you will be given a helmet, a uniform, and you're own car. From there, your instructors will teach you exercises to build your skills and help you get used to the cars and the practice sessions that will follow.
In most of these schools, fully qualified driving coaches take you and your classmates, on a step-by-step basis, through a skill-oriented program to help you explore your interests. It might also help you develop your abilities as a driver. Don't worry, there's no pressure with most of these schools. Everyone out there is simply trying to have fun, and the racing school gets their money up front, so they could probably care less about your performance on the track. It's not a situation like high school football where performance is everything. By the end of the day in racing school, you'll be driving one of your favorite race cars like a pro. Lapping the track by yourself at speeds you've only dreamed of as you make your commute to work can be great fun, and racing school can give you that. If you choose to enroll in a racing school, be sure you rest and eat well on the day before. As much fun as it is, it can also be exhausting, so it's important to take care of your body before you actually visit the school. Also, you must have a valid driver's license to enroll in a racing school.
Choosing and planning a racing vacation can make your next holiday from your "nine to five" job the holiday of your dreams.
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to salute Sacramento employers of National Guardsmen and Reservists.
May 7, 2004 -- The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is proud to salute employers who support their employees who serve in the National Guard and the various Armed Forces Reserves by taking โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ on a 65 city, nationwide tour which will stop in Sacramento on May 10th, 2004 at the west steps of the State Capitol.
During the stop by โ€œAmerica's Carโ€, citizens of Northern California will be allowed to have their picture taken with the car as well as encouraged to sign their name to several large banners that will be traveling with โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ to show their support of National Guardsmen and Reservists from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 10th. The goal of ESGR is to get 1.2 million signatures nationwide, one for every man or woman who serves in the National Guard and Reserves. In addition to the display, the ESGR, in conjunction with the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce and others, will hold an informative breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the basement cafeteria of the State Capitol. ESGR will recognize local employers who support their employees who are members of National Guard and Armed Forces Reserves, many of whom are on active duty all over the world including serving their country in the rebuilding of Iraq as well as the War on Terror.
โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ is a replica show car of the #29 ESGR Chevrolet Monte Carlo, sponsored in conjunction with Richard Childress Racing, that will be racing in five select races during the 2004 NASCAR Busch Series. The car, over the course of the season, will carry five different paint schemes representing different branches of the National Guard or Armed Forces Reserve as well as five different drivers who have teamed up with ESGR and Richard Childress Racing. When โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ comes to Sacramento, it will carry the paint scheme of Red, White and Blue. On Saturday, May 1st, the Marine Corps Reserve paint scheme was driven by 2002 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart at the NASCAR Busch Series race at the California Speedway in Fontana. Stewart took second place, with the ESGR #29 Marine Reserve car.
The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a division of the United States Department of Defense which has been charged with the mission to acquire and maintain employer support from all public and private employers for those men and women who serve in the National Guard and the various branches of the Armed Forces Reserve. ESGR is run through a network of 2,000 volunteers across the country as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Europe. Some of the companies who have supported ESGR's cause have been Tyson Foods, Pacific Gas & Electric, Miller Brewing Company, The Home Depot, and Verizon Communications. For more information on ESGR please visit www.esgr.com or call 800-336-4590.
For more information on the Sacramento โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ May 10th event, please contact Pete Conaty & Associates at (916) 492-0550,dnichol.pca@sbcglobal.net, Robert Anderson (916) 415-0735,robert.anderson.ca@esgr.us,or Paul Romey at (916) 791-9040,promey@aol.com.
During the stop by โ€œAmerica's Carโ€, citizens of Northern California will be allowed to have their picture taken with the car as well as encouraged to sign their name to several large banners that will be traveling with โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ to show their support of National Guardsmen and Reservists from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 10th. The goal of ESGR is to get 1.2 million signatures nationwide, one for every man or woman who serves in the National Guard and Reserves. In addition to the display, the ESGR, in conjunction with the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce and others, will hold an informative breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the basement cafeteria of the State Capitol. ESGR will recognize local employers who support their employees who are members of National Guard and Armed Forces Reserves, many of whom are on active duty all over the world including serving their country in the rebuilding of Iraq as well as the War on Terror.
โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ is a replica show car of the #29 ESGR Chevrolet Monte Carlo, sponsored in conjunction with Richard Childress Racing, that will be racing in five select races during the 2004 NASCAR Busch Series. The car, over the course of the season, will carry five different paint schemes representing different branches of the National Guard or Armed Forces Reserve as well as five different drivers who have teamed up with ESGR and Richard Childress Racing. When โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ comes to Sacramento, it will carry the paint scheme of Red, White and Blue. On Saturday, May 1st, the Marine Corps Reserve paint scheme was driven by 2002 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart at the NASCAR Busch Series race at the California Speedway in Fontana. Stewart took second place, with the ESGR #29 Marine Reserve car.
The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a division of the United States Department of Defense which has been charged with the mission to acquire and maintain employer support from all public and private employers for those men and women who serve in the National Guard and the various branches of the Armed Forces Reserve. ESGR is run through a network of 2,000 volunteers across the country as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Europe. Some of the companies who have supported ESGR's cause have been Tyson Foods, Pacific Gas & Electric, Miller Brewing Company, The Home Depot, and Verizon Communications. For more information on ESGR please visit www.esgr.com or call 800-336-4590.
For more information on the Sacramento โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ May 10th event, please contact Pete Conaty & Associates at (916) 492-0550,dnichol.pca@sbcglobal.net, Robert Anderson (916) 415-0735,robert.anderson.ca@esgr.us,or Paul Romey at (916) 791-9040,promey@aol.com.
Internship Programs For Minorities
With the economy in shambles, many recent college graduates are facing the harsh reality that job opportunities that were available for previous graduating classes are simply not available any longer. Not knowing when the recession will end has also added to the anxiety of many underclassmen as they try to distinguish themselves from the competition before their graduation.
With that in mind several internship programs catering to African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans are looking for qualified applicants to fill available positions. Some even are offering compensation for participants in their internship programs as well as travel expenses. The internship programs are looking for students who are pursuing degrees in business, computer science, engineering, psychology, communications, marketing, advertising and others.
A few of the opportunities include: AAAS Minority Science Writers Internship, IBM Minority Research Internship, Louis Carr Internship, Google Diversity Internship, NASCAR Diversity Internship, Nationwide/Tom Joyner Foundation Internship Program, Minority Access Internship Program, American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Minority Internship and INROADS Internship.
According to Black http://Students.com, the Tom Joyner Foundation internship is a partnership with the famous radio personality and Nationwide to help students continue their education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The program is a 10-week paid internship that includes transportation and furnished housing. Interns may also qualify for academic scholarships through this program.
The INROADS program, which has a long history of creating opportunities for minority students, is another internship willing to help students begin their professional careers. According to http://Inroads.org, “The mission of INROADS is to develop and place talented minority youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership.”
The program requires interns to maintain at least a “B” average, while staying in good standing with their institution, internship company and INROADS. They must also attend training and coaching sessions, which are scheduled regularly. Furthermore, they must participate in community service to be a part of this program.
In addition, NASCAR, which has come under fire recently for a lack of diversity, launched the NASCAR Diversity Internship in 1999 to provide internship programs for minority students. This program has successfully exposed many interns to motorsport opportunities that they may not have had exposure to without the NASCAR Diversity Internship.
To date, this program has employed approximately 200 interns, many of whom still rave about their experience with NASCAR. “I loved it,” said Joshlyn Ross, a 2008 Images USA, Public Relations intern. “Everything was so hands-on and I felt like I was truly a part of the company”
Amanda Hauck, a 2008 NASCAR, Inc. intern stated, “I did a lot of very interesting work! What I especially appreciated was the opportunity to apply my skills, and therefore sharpen them while at this internship.”
Many of the internship programs have early deadlines, so potential applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To read a complete listing of the internship programs, please visit http://www.FindInternships.com, because in today’s turbulent economic times, finding any job, including an internship, is becoming just as difficult as finding one’s dream job.
Horace Miskel is a writer for ; Regal Mag The preeminent Online Magazine for African American Men. For more information on this subject visit our ; Business Section To read about ; internship programs
With that in mind several internship programs catering to African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans are looking for qualified applicants to fill available positions. Some even are offering compensation for participants in their internship programs as well as travel expenses. The internship programs are looking for students who are pursuing degrees in business, computer science, engineering, psychology, communications, marketing, advertising and others.
A few of the opportunities include: AAAS Minority Science Writers Internship, IBM Minority Research Internship, Louis Carr Internship, Google Diversity Internship, NASCAR Diversity Internship, Nationwide/Tom Joyner Foundation Internship Program, Minority Access Internship Program, American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Minority Internship and INROADS Internship.
According to Black http://Students.com, the Tom Joyner Foundation internship is a partnership with the famous radio personality and Nationwide to help students continue their education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The program is a 10-week paid internship that includes transportation and furnished housing. Interns may also qualify for academic scholarships through this program.
The INROADS program, which has a long history of creating opportunities for minority students, is another internship willing to help students begin their professional careers. According to http://Inroads.org, “The mission of INROADS is to develop and place talented minority youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership.”
The program requires interns to maintain at least a “B” average, while staying in good standing with their institution, internship company and INROADS. They must also attend training and coaching sessions, which are scheduled regularly. Furthermore, they must participate in community service to be a part of this program.
In addition, NASCAR, which has come under fire recently for a lack of diversity, launched the NASCAR Diversity Internship in 1999 to provide internship programs for minority students. This program has successfully exposed many interns to motorsport opportunities that they may not have had exposure to without the NASCAR Diversity Internship.
To date, this program has employed approximately 200 interns, many of whom still rave about their experience with NASCAR. “I loved it,” said Joshlyn Ross, a 2008 Images USA, Public Relations intern. “Everything was so hands-on and I felt like I was truly a part of the company”
Amanda Hauck, a 2008 NASCAR, Inc. intern stated, “I did a lot of very interesting work! What I especially appreciated was the opportunity to apply my skills, and therefore sharpen them while at this internship.”
Many of the internship programs have early deadlines, so potential applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To read a complete listing of the internship programs, please visit http://www.FindInternships.com, because in today’s turbulent economic times, finding any job, including an internship, is becoming just as difficult as finding one’s dream job.
Horace Miskel is a writer for ; Regal Mag The preeminent Online Magazine for African American Men. For more information on this subject visit our ; Business Section To read about ; internship programs
Overreaction Better Than No Action at All
Following Sunday's wild finish to the Aaron's 499 at the Talladega Superspeedway, many in the media seem to be overreacting to the outcome of the latest restrictor-plate race, but it is clear there are some things need to be addressed.
Safety has always been a concern at Talladega, including the track's first event. Afraid tires would not hold up at the speeds being produced, many drivers - led by Richard Petty - boycotted the event. Since then, NASCAR and track officials have kept a careful eye on safety, but unfortunately it usually takes an incident like Carl Edwards' flip on Sunday to get the wheels turning on real change.
When Bobby Allison blew a tire and flew backwards into the catch-fence in 1987, NASCAR implemented the use of restrictor plates. When Rusty Wallace flipped violently past the start-finish line in 1993, the grass was paved to prevent a car from digging in and turning over. When Jimmy Horton flew over the Turn One wall in 1993, the speedway installed fencing all the way around the track - Ricky Craven later put that fencing to the test in 1996. When Dale Earnhardt Sr. flipped into the outside wall in 1996 and was hit in the roof and windshield by a number of other cars, NASCAR introduced the Earnhardt Bar, a roll bar located down the middle of the windshield.
With Edwards' car flying through the air and into the catch-fence, NASCAR should take a closer look at the incident to see where improvements need to be made. For this writer, a number of things stick out about the incident that need to be addressed.
First, it is clear that Edwards was throwing the block on Keselowski in order to push him below the yellow line. We saw in last October's event Regan Smith make the pass for the lead on the apron after being forced down by Tony Stewart, only to be penalized by NASCAR and stripped of the win.
With this precedent, Keselowski was damned and determined not to let up and not to move below the yellow line. When Edwards threw the block, Keselowski was there and the rest is history.
"Regan last year did the right thing," Keselowski said following the event. "He did the smart thing. He did the cool thing. And he did, he did something that I would be proud of if I was him. You know, he took the bullet. To be honest, I didn't. I wasn't going to take the bullet. I'm not in a situation in my career where I can afford to take the bullet and I had nothing to lose."
The second thing that sticks out is the fact Edwards' car got airborne in the first place. With safety innovations such as the roof flaps and the new car itself, it was a surprise to many that the No. 99 lifted into the air in the first place.
Sure, Matt Kenseth flipped his No. 16 during Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide race, but that was a Nationwide car, not a COT. Those types of bodies are more like the old style Cup car than the COT, it is understandable that one of those cars would roll over and flip through the air. However, when Edwards turned down across the nose of Keselowski and his rear wheels immediately lifted into the air, and there is a problem there. This new car was designed to be the safest it could be, but when a car's rear tires lift into the air after being turned NASCAR needs to step in and take a look at ways to keep the cars on the ground.
"I really don't understand why Carl's car did what it did," Keselowski pointed out. "I think that's something we need to look into. Those cars should not go airborne like his did, and I think that kind of confused me. I just thought his car would spin into the triangle. I think we ought to look at that and do some wind tunnel testing on that and see if we can't fix that."
Third-place Ryan Newman agreed with Keselowski that NASCAR needs to keep the cars on the ground at all times.
"The one thing that stands out in my mind is two days in a row, like I've said, we've [seen] a car turned around and get upside down," Newman explained. "We need to go back, not to the drawing board, develop some roof flats or something to keep the cars on the ground; that's one thing not just for the drivers, but for the fans, as well. That's one thing that stands out."
Finally, one of the most surprising things that came from the wreckage was the fact both Edwards and Newman - who hit the flying No. 99 at a speed of almost 200 mph - had sections of their windshield missing. Granted, Edwards hit the catch-fence nearly head on and Newman caught the brunt of Edwards' car in the hood and windshield, but with the technology available today this should never be an issue. Racing at speeds at close to 200 mph, drivers need to feel confident their windshield will not come apart in the course of an accident - regardless of the severity.
"NASCAR has got to do their job to get the cars on the ground and their job to make the cars safer. I noticed my windshield bed pulled away, and Carl Edwards windshield bed pulled away," Newman added. "Whatever we can do to keep making the cars safer, because I'm pretty sure that we are coming back to Talladega, and I'm pretty sure that we are coming back to restrictor plates, and I'm pretty sure that we are coming back to three wide and four wide for most of the races. What we can do to make everybody safer is what we need to do to come out of here today."
In addition, there is no denying the danger posed when Edwards' machine went flying into the catch-fence, sending debris flying into the crowd. NASCAR and track officials have come a long way in the twenty-plus years since Allison's terrifying incident, and thanks to those innovations, Edwards' car did not end up in the grandstands and the injuries - while unfortunate - were kept to a minimum.
This issue is one that is tougher to address. Sunday's incident proved quiet vividly that when a car is sent flying towards the packed crowd, there are safety devices in place to keep the damage as minimal as possible. Fans that attend any sporting event are subject to the dangers posed by that particular sport. Flying baseballs, hockey pucks and broken bats have all been sent into the crowd injuring the innocent bystanders. In a sport where 43 cars travel past thousands of fans at speeds nearing 200 mph, NASCAR has done an amazing job protecting those in the stands from injury or death.
"You have to understand that, like, for years, we have had wrecks like this every time we come to Talladega ever since the plate got here and for years it was celebrated," runner-up Dale Earnhardt Jr. pointed out. "The media celebrated it, the network celebrated it, calling it the big one, just trying to attract attention and trying to bring people's attention to the race.
"So there's a responsibility with the media and the networks and the sanctioning body itself to come to their senses a little bit and think about, you know, the situation," Earnhardt Jr. added. "But I mean, you know, you can't sit here and jump up and go, wow, what I saw today was crazy. I don't think it's right, unless you're a driver, because the media and the networks and everybody has been celebrating that stuff for years."
Clearly Sunday's scary incident has brought attention to the fact there are still gaps in safety that NASCAR needs to address. Yet, Carl Edwards claiming "we'll race like this until we kill somebody" might be taking it a bit far. Keep in mind Edwards was not only able to climb from his mangled race car, but jogged across the finish line afterwards. Now, Edwards is a fit guy, but for anyone to be able to climb from an accident of that magnitude speaks volumes for NASCAR's effort in terms of making the sport as safe as possible.
"There's no such thing as overreaction when it comes to safety," Newman argued. "For not just, like I said, not just us, but the fans as well. Just the bottom line is, whatever we can do to make it safer for everybody, that's what we need to do. And yesterday and today were two things that I'm sure NASCAR will spend some time looking at, replaying some videos and watching what the cars do and let their engineers figure out what we can do to try to help the situation."
Safety is never a finished project, it is something that constantly needs to be tweaked and worked each and every day. However I disagree with Newman's sentiments. Now, granted I am not behind the wheel of one of these machines, but I believe NASCAR just needs to be careful of overreacting to this incident in the name of safety.
In 2000, when Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin were killed at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NASCAR implemented the use of restrictor plates on the one-mile track in an effort to prevent any more tragic incidents. The result was a terrible race in which there was not a single pass for the lead.
What NASCAR needs to ensure is there is not a knee-jerk reaction to all the media outcries following Sunday's event. Action certainly needs to be taken in terms of keeping the cars on the ground and ensuring the durability of the windshields, but there is a fine line between reacting and overreacting.
Safety has always been a concern at Talladega, including the track's first event. Afraid tires would not hold up at the speeds being produced, many drivers - led by Richard Petty - boycotted the event. Since then, NASCAR and track officials have kept a careful eye on safety, but unfortunately it usually takes an incident like Carl Edwards' flip on Sunday to get the wheels turning on real change.
When Bobby Allison blew a tire and flew backwards into the catch-fence in 1987, NASCAR implemented the use of restrictor plates. When Rusty Wallace flipped violently past the start-finish line in 1993, the grass was paved to prevent a car from digging in and turning over. When Jimmy Horton flew over the Turn One wall in 1993, the speedway installed fencing all the way around the track - Ricky Craven later put that fencing to the test in 1996. When Dale Earnhardt Sr. flipped into the outside wall in 1996 and was hit in the roof and windshield by a number of other cars, NASCAR introduced the Earnhardt Bar, a roll bar located down the middle of the windshield.
With Edwards' car flying through the air and into the catch-fence, NASCAR should take a closer look at the incident to see where improvements need to be made. For this writer, a number of things stick out about the incident that need to be addressed.
First, it is clear that Edwards was throwing the block on Keselowski in order to push him below the yellow line. We saw in last October's event Regan Smith make the pass for the lead on the apron after being forced down by Tony Stewart, only to be penalized by NASCAR and stripped of the win.
With this precedent, Keselowski was damned and determined not to let up and not to move below the yellow line. When Edwards threw the block, Keselowski was there and the rest is history.
"Regan last year did the right thing," Keselowski said following the event. "He did the smart thing. He did the cool thing. And he did, he did something that I would be proud of if I was him. You know, he took the bullet. To be honest, I didn't. I wasn't going to take the bullet. I'm not in a situation in my career where I can afford to take the bullet and I had nothing to lose."
The second thing that sticks out is the fact Edwards' car got airborne in the first place. With safety innovations such as the roof flaps and the new car itself, it was a surprise to many that the No. 99 lifted into the air in the first place.
Sure, Matt Kenseth flipped his No. 16 during Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide race, but that was a Nationwide car, not a COT. Those types of bodies are more like the old style Cup car than the COT, it is understandable that one of those cars would roll over and flip through the air. However, when Edwards turned down across the nose of Keselowski and his rear wheels immediately lifted into the air, and there is a problem there. This new car was designed to be the safest it could be, but when a car's rear tires lift into the air after being turned NASCAR needs to step in and take a look at ways to keep the cars on the ground.
"I really don't understand why Carl's car did what it did," Keselowski pointed out. "I think that's something we need to look into. Those cars should not go airborne like his did, and I think that kind of confused me. I just thought his car would spin into the triangle. I think we ought to look at that and do some wind tunnel testing on that and see if we can't fix that."
Third-place Ryan Newman agreed with Keselowski that NASCAR needs to keep the cars on the ground at all times.
"The one thing that stands out in my mind is two days in a row, like I've said, we've [seen] a car turned around and get upside down," Newman explained. "We need to go back, not to the drawing board, develop some roof flats or something to keep the cars on the ground; that's one thing not just for the drivers, but for the fans, as well. That's one thing that stands out."
Finally, one of the most surprising things that came from the wreckage was the fact both Edwards and Newman - who hit the flying No. 99 at a speed of almost 200 mph - had sections of their windshield missing. Granted, Edwards hit the catch-fence nearly head on and Newman caught the brunt of Edwards' car in the hood and windshield, but with the technology available today this should never be an issue. Racing at speeds at close to 200 mph, drivers need to feel confident their windshield will not come apart in the course of an accident - regardless of the severity.
"NASCAR has got to do their job to get the cars on the ground and their job to make the cars safer. I noticed my windshield bed pulled away, and Carl Edwards windshield bed pulled away," Newman added. "Whatever we can do to keep making the cars safer, because I'm pretty sure that we are coming back to Talladega, and I'm pretty sure that we are coming back to restrictor plates, and I'm pretty sure that we are coming back to three wide and four wide for most of the races. What we can do to make everybody safer is what we need to do to come out of here today."
In addition, there is no denying the danger posed when Edwards' machine went flying into the catch-fence, sending debris flying into the crowd. NASCAR and track officials have come a long way in the twenty-plus years since Allison's terrifying incident, and thanks to those innovations, Edwards' car did not end up in the grandstands and the injuries - while unfortunate - were kept to a minimum.
This issue is one that is tougher to address. Sunday's incident proved quiet vividly that when a car is sent flying towards the packed crowd, there are safety devices in place to keep the damage as minimal as possible. Fans that attend any sporting event are subject to the dangers posed by that particular sport. Flying baseballs, hockey pucks and broken bats have all been sent into the crowd injuring the innocent bystanders. In a sport where 43 cars travel past thousands of fans at speeds nearing 200 mph, NASCAR has done an amazing job protecting those in the stands from injury or death.
"You have to understand that, like, for years, we have had wrecks like this every time we come to Talladega ever since the plate got here and for years it was celebrated," runner-up Dale Earnhardt Jr. pointed out. "The media celebrated it, the network celebrated it, calling it the big one, just trying to attract attention and trying to bring people's attention to the race.
"So there's a responsibility with the media and the networks and the sanctioning body itself to come to their senses a little bit and think about, you know, the situation," Earnhardt Jr. added. "But I mean, you know, you can't sit here and jump up and go, wow, what I saw today was crazy. I don't think it's right, unless you're a driver, because the media and the networks and everybody has been celebrating that stuff for years."
Clearly Sunday's scary incident has brought attention to the fact there are still gaps in safety that NASCAR needs to address. Yet, Carl Edwards claiming "we'll race like this until we kill somebody" might be taking it a bit far. Keep in mind Edwards was not only able to climb from his mangled race car, but jogged across the finish line afterwards. Now, Edwards is a fit guy, but for anyone to be able to climb from an accident of that magnitude speaks volumes for NASCAR's effort in terms of making the sport as safe as possible.
"There's no such thing as overreaction when it comes to safety," Newman argued. "For not just, like I said, not just us, but the fans as well. Just the bottom line is, whatever we can do to make it safer for everybody, that's what we need to do. And yesterday and today were two things that I'm sure NASCAR will spend some time looking at, replaying some videos and watching what the cars do and let their engineers figure out what we can do to try to help the situation."
Safety is never a finished project, it is something that constantly needs to be tweaked and worked each and every day. However I disagree with Newman's sentiments. Now, granted I am not behind the wheel of one of these machines, but I believe NASCAR just needs to be careful of overreacting to this incident in the name of safety.
In 2000, when Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin were killed at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NASCAR implemented the use of restrictor plates on the one-mile track in an effort to prevent any more tragic incidents. The result was a terrible race in which there was not a single pass for the lead.
What NASCAR needs to ensure is there is not a knee-jerk reaction to all the media outcries following Sunday's event. Action certainly needs to be taken in terms of keeping the cars on the ground and ensuring the durability of the windshields, but there is a fine line between reacting and overreacting.
Jay W. Pennell
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