ping pong table

Buying a ping pong table for your clubs

2008-08-05T01:36:00.000-07:00

With land space are limited nowadays where most people stay in high building apartment buying a ping pong table to put at home for exercise is out of the tropic. Most people joined clubs or build their own ping pong club among their resident in their apartment. When buying a ping pong table for your clubs it is best to purchase a good quality ping pong table as it will last very long.

Tables must be without rollers as tables with rollers will tent to spoil fast and second reason is, with roller ping pong table, resident will move it here and there very often and will cost the roller to spoil.

When buying a ping pong table

2008-05-20T23:50:00.000-07:00

Recently I took my son to watch a game of ping pong which is called table tennis plays by his close friend against other school in a ping pong competition. There are sixteen schools left to fight for who is going to be this year champions. The game was play in a big hall with three singles and two doubles. His school was emerge runners up and lost to last year champions in the finals. When we reach home my son ask me whether I can buy him a ping pong table which he can plays with his friends. Tips on buying a good ping pong table.

When buying a ping pong table decided the places where you want to leave the table. If you prefer to leave the table at its place permanently then choose table with strong stand. If you are moving or closing every play then choose the table with rollers to allow easily movement and fold up model. Tables should be one inches thick tops as its an even bounce. Legs should be very strong so it would not move when playing and the height must be thirty inches from the floor.

Buying your first ping pong table

2008-03-21T22:05:00.000-07:00

If you want to own your first ping pong table there are many option that you had to look into it. How much is your budget for the ping pong table or it is just for training, exercises or just for the fun of playing. How often do you and your friends are playing with it. If you are playing everyday for competition. It is wise to get a good ping pong with the right woods and size and that can last you for a very long time. If it is just for the fun of playing and exercise, get one within your budget.

Most people whose house has limited space to leave the ping pong table permanently while some prefer to fold the table and leave at the corner of the room when not in used even if the house has ample space to stay permanently. Decide whether you are going to leave the table set up permanently or whether you will be frequently packing it up and putting it back.

If you decide to let it stay permanently It is best to buy a competition table which is one inch thick top as these tables give you a nice even bounce. If you want a set that can easily be taking up and down when not in used. I suggest you should get a set preferably a fold up models that can be fold and with a rollers which allows easily movement and brakes on the rollers which prevent the table from moving when playing.

Table tennis table as asian called ping pong table

2007-12-03T02:43:00.000-08:00

Ping pong table is make of woods and the stand is either of wood or steel. The tables is paint of green colours with white paint lining at the edge of the ping pong table, the centre where the net is putand a center lining of each size of the tables. The tables that requires by the table tennis federation for all competition are 14 meters long, 7 meters wide and 5 meters high for all games playing. The ball which is white of colour and has a diameter of 40mm and make of celluloid and the ball is hollow and light.

Table tennis which the Asian people prefer it has ping pong is play by two or four person. This sports is widely known throught out the world. Europe countries are very good with this sports, Sweden is one of the best countries for this sports. The sports is play where a players hit a ball with rackets back and forth to each others on the table. The winners will first touch 21 points a two points must be separated from the winners. A deuce will be called it the points is 20-20. Whichever the players gots two point are the winners.

Tips on how you want to win on a ping pong table

2007-10-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

Playing ping pong when you are small is like enjoing a game and a hobby to you. When you grow up you will take it as sports and you would want to win most of the time in school so that you will feel proud and be admired by your schoolmate and the school teacher. I started to play ping pong as the western mostly called table tennis when I was in a primary school, althought I respresent the school but I didnt take it very serious because I love playing scoccer more then ping pong. In fact I am the best ping pong player in the school and was advice by the sports master to take it serious, later I did and my game was improving and was represent my state when I was in the teen age but I left the sports after one year for some reasons.

Here are some tips on how you want to win on a ping pong table. First you must love the game and keep practicing on your weak points. Practice make prefect. Put a few hours per day in practicing and always try to play the game with players that is better then you or your senoirs. When ever you are not playing, watch your opponents, people very good in the game and also world class players on the video. Take a good look at how they play and what openings you can exploit in their game.

Never give your opponents a change, keep on attacking right till the end even if you are leading very far, cause a mistake might cause you the game and you could find yourself at the losing end. Develop various styles of serving with differing lengths and spins. Change your serving if you notice that your opponents is very good in it. Returning serves with your forehand keeps your opponent on their toes as they find it harder to predict the placement of your shot.

Playing pingpong in the primary school

2007-07-25T19:52:00.000-07:00

I started playing pingpong when I was in Primary school because it is one of the cheapest game in sports and beside you and your one friend can start a game compare to soccer, hockey, basketball where you needs alots of people to play in a game. Badmington and tennis is quite expensive game to us during that time where the racket is quite costly and the shuttle cocks needs to change quite often.

In our school its provide two pingpong table with the nets all you need is to bring your pingpong bats and a ball and you can start your game. We had yearly tournermont of the same groups age and a open ages. The winners will represents the school with others school. I came out in the champinons in both groups and I represent the school for three years. In my last year in the primary school I became the champinons of all primary school in my state and was the sport captain.

A game of ping pong

2007-06-26T03:14:00.000-07:00

A ping pong table is play by two or four players. Single is play by two players while doubles are play by four players. Whoever first reached 21 points are called the winners. If it is a deuce two points must be separated from the players. The games goes as it players had to hits with a plastic ball with a pingpong paddle to one another. If the balls goes out of the table you will lose a points and it goes on until the first player to reach 21 points.

If you are intreasting in buying a ping pong table you can get it from sports shops or throught internet online. A set of ping pong tables comes with a net and two iron net holders that clips on the centre from the right to left of the table. The cost of the ping pong table depends on the materials and the woods.

A game of ping pong

2007-04-18T00:38:00.000-07:00

Playing ping pong as most people called table tennis is quite funs as you do not need a very big space to play and besides you and one of friends can start the game where as in football (soccer) you needs alot of players to start the game. Playing ping pong is one of the cheapest sports.

A ping pong table is make of two table with a net in between to separated the players. It is hid by a wooden bat with a plastic white round ball. The points is count when the ball went out of the table. Whos ever touch 21 points first is the winner but incase when the points is 21-20 it will be a two points separted to be called the winner.

Table tennis also called ping pong

2007-03-12T03:53:00.000-07:00

Table tennis also called ping pong to many people or countries is one of the most popular indoor sports. Its is either play in sigle or doubles. Who ever first reached the score or points 21 are the winner. If deuce a two points has to be separated from the winner and the loser. To enjoy a game of ping pong, you need a ping pong ball, a net, ping pong table, and paddles. Ping pong is a game where the ball is hit back and forth over a net.

Most school and recreation cluds are offering ping pong facilities to the children and its members as its does not take many space and also it is easy to maintain and the cause of the game is quite low. Ping pong in Malaysia are mostly play by the chinese in most of the chinese school and all clubs

Ping Pong Game -- Simple and Fun to Play

2007-02-12T00:49:00.000-08:00

Ping pong, otherwise known as table tennis, is a popular indoor sport enjoyed by many around the world in facilities ranging from recreation clubs to school common rooms etc. Ping pong is very similar to tennis in that players on opposite sides of the ping pong table hit the ball back and forth over a net. But similarities end there as ping pong is played on a table surface rather than a hard court, thus the name "table tennis." To enjoy a game of ping pong, you need a ping pong ball, a net, ping pong table, and paddles.

Rules of Ping Pong

In a ping pong game the first player to reach 21 points is declared the winner. However, upon one player reaching 21 points with the opponent trailing less than 2 points, the game must continue until one player takes a definite 2 point lead over the opponent, at which point that player is declared the winner.

To start a point the server serves the ball with the paddle to the opponent's side of the ping pong table. If the server fails to serve the ball into play, either by serving the ball into the net or serving it out, the point goes to the opponent. Once the ball is in play either player can score points. The players must hit the ball back to the opponents' side of the table. If one player fails to return the ball to the opponent's side either by netting the ball or hitting it out, the point then goes to the opponent.

To start a point with a serve, the server throws the ping pong ball up at least 6 inches and as it comes down the server hits the ball with the paddle. Before crossing over the net the served ball must hit the server's part of the table first before bouncing a second time on the opponent's side. After the serve the ball remains in play as long as it clears the net and bounces once on the opponent's side of the table with each stroke. The point ends either when a player hits the ball into the net, or when the ball goes out without bouncing at all on the opponent's side of the table, at which time the opponent earns a point.

Ping pong games can be played as a single as well as a doubles game. In a doubles game, an additional rule is that the ball must be served diagonally across to the opposite court. If the server fails to serve to the diagonal area on the opposite side then the opponent gets the point.

As you can see the rules of the ping pong game is nice and simple enough so that anyone new to ping-pong can easily enjoy a game of ping-pong without much trouble and confusion.

Consider Taking Up Recreational Sports

2007-02-04T22:09:00.000-08:00

Participating in recreational sports is an excellent way to relieve stress. It can be as simple as joining your local bowling league. Bowling is a lot of fun and it's something that the whole family can participate in. You can rent the shoes for it at the alley and use their bowling balls, so you don't have to buy expensive gear. If you have extra space in your home, you can invest in a ping pong table.

It might not seem like it but ping pong is a great form of exercise because you have to move around your side of the table a lot to keep the ball in play. It also requires you to swing your arm which provides additional skill. Many people have turned to golf as a way to get in shape and relax. Golf requires a lot of walking and swinging of the club. Most golf courses are designed to look like parks so playing a game of golf can take you out of your stressful atmosphere at work and place you in a peaceful setting where you can get some exercise and relax at the same time.

Playing ping pong in my young time

2007-02-01T23:16:00.000-08:00

Ping pong table is like taking two tables to join into a table and in the centre is a net that fixed from left to right to seperated the two players. When I was in a primary school a few classmate, heighbours and friends, we will take from our house two tables and a long cardboard the size of a net and we will start playing ping pong the whole afternoon.

Two from our groups respresent their school and state during their youth time and now one of them is a trainer in a local clubs training young children. For myself I am still playing as an excersies

Rules of Ping Pong

2007-01-15T23:38:00.000-08:00

Rules of Ping Pong

In a ping pong game the first player to reach 21 points is declared the winner. However, upon one player reaching 21 points with the opponent trailing less than 2 points, the game must continue until one player takes a definite 2 point lead over the opponent, at which point that player is declared the winner.

To start a point the server serves the ball with the paddle to the opponent's side of the ping pong table. If the server fails to serve the ball into play, either by serving the ball into the net or serving it out, the point goes to the opponent. Once the ball is in play either player can score points. The players must hit the ball back to the opponents' side of the table. If one player fails to return the ball to the opponent's side either by netting the ball or hitting it out, the point then goes to the opponent.

To start a point with a serve, the server throws the ping pong ball up at least 6 inches and as it comes down the server hits the ball with the paddle. Before crossing over the net the served ball must hit the server's part of the table first before bouncing a second time on the opponent's side. After the serve the ball remains in play as long as it clears the net and bounces once on the opponent's side of the table with each stroke. The point ends either when a player hits the ball into the net, or when the ball goes out without bouncing at all on the opponent's side of the table, at which time the opponent earns a point.

Happy weekends

2007-01-11T00:42:00.000-08:00

The first was making sugar cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. Rise and I mixed up the dough early in the afternoon so it would be chilled and ready when cookie cutting time came. Then we sat my mother at the kitchen table with the four kids and they began rolling out the dough, with Grandma as the supervisor. It was fun for her to see those same Christmas cookie cutters she used with us being put to use once again with a different generation of young¡¯ns, as Angel and her husband Matt referred to their family. My son Kevin got into the action, loading and unloading the cookie sheets from the oven. Marshall, the youngest, was ever so proud of the gingerbread man that he dressed in jeans and a print shirt, using sprinkles and sugar. We rescued a flour-covered Grandma from the cookie table and moved into the dining room to play games. The players rotated from the board games to play ping-pong on the ping pong table in the basement from time to time.

2006-12-11T00:03:00.000-08:00

Mozart's doctor thought it was bad for the compulsive composer to sit at his desk for hours on end, intensely writing his music, so the sawbones was happy when he saw Mozart at the billiard table. Composer Tan Dun keeps a ping-pong table in his large home, not just for recreation, but so he has room enough to spread out his large scores when he's orchestrating them.

Tan Dun started his musical career in New York City busking on West Fourth Street. When he went back there recently he met some of the guys who shared the corner with him. They asked, “Hey, Tan, where are you playing?” He said, “I play at Lincoln Center, but inside.”

His opera, "The First Emperor," debuts at the Met this month. There's more in a fun interview with him from yesterday's NY Times magazine.

2006-11-30T21:14:00.000-08:00

On first walking into the exhibit, one is greeted by what appears to be a large fireplace-like setting on the opposite wall, with a raised brick floor leading into a small compartment that holds a red ball suspended over a stand. Upon closer inspection, one will see that it is not painted on the wall at all, but is actually raised a bit. The work is a very precise rendition of depth perception without sharp lines, which makes the brick walkway seem very real, as if the observers could tread upon it and enter the painting itself.

Another interesting installment is Robin Hill and Steve Kaltenbach's "Say it Back," which includes a recording of sporadically bouncing ping-pong balls, imitating the sound of softly falling rain. A large blue easel holds two sets of large blue paper lined in pale stripes. The papers are printed with e-mail correspondences between Hill and Kaltenbach concerning the conception and creation of the installation itself. On the ground below the easel is a miniature ping-pong table, complete with paddles and a regular-sized ping-pong ball, inscribed with the words "Say it back."

2006-11-16T22:53:00.000-08:00

Totally Friday Night, an event open to middle school-aged kids living in Ashwaubenon or attending school in the Ashwaubenon School District, will host a "Football Fever" event Friday at the Ashwaubenon Community Center, 936 Anderson Drive.

Kids can wear a football jersey and get in for $1 off. Football throwing contests for accuracy will be held on site.

Like other Totally Friday events, the evening will include a DJ with dancing and contests with prizes. A foosball table, ping pong table and snack bar are available.

Totally Friday opens its doors at 6 p.m.; doors close at 7 p.m. and remain closed until 10 p.m. unless kids are picked up earlier by a parent at the front door.

Permission slips are available at school offices or the village Recreation Department at Village Hall, 2155 Holmgren Way. Permission slips and IDs should be brought to the event.

2006-11-10T18:16:00.000-08:00

Phil Mickelson's decision to skip last year's Tour Championship was perceived by some as an unexcused absence -- how dare the world's third-ranked player choose trick-or-treating with his kids over a tournament where last place pays $105,300! When the tour gathers next week in Atlanta to wrap up the 2006 season, Mickelson again will stay home, having played in his final event two months ago before serving as America's lead goat at the Ryder Cup.

A ton of evidence suggests Lefty never recovered from his 72nd-hole meltdown at the U.S. Open, which pardons him from the dough rake at East Lake and justifies the five-month break he will take before returning at the 2007 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. With a pair of victories before Winged Foot, including the Masters, and seven top-10s in 13 starts, Mickelson was nicely positioned to win Player of the Year honors for the first time. He had won three of the previous nine majors, muting everyone who questioned his moxie in golf's biggest tournaments.

Everything changed June 18. Philly Mick's collapse seems to have prompted Tiger Woods' latest barrage of dominance, as if the master opportunist knew it would take months for his most formidable rival to get over the loss. And it has. Mickelson's best finish in five events after the U.S. Open was a T-16. Despite all the on-site preparation at Winged Foot, the twilight loops around the back nine after playing in the Barclays Classic and the pages of notes he rewrote after they had gotten soaked in the pro-am at Westchester, Lefty found himself double-crossed by the most reliable virtue of greatness.

Sometimes the harder you work, the harder you fall. Deep into their final night at the K Club, Mickelson and Woods were still dueling on the ping-pong table while the rest of the U.S. Ryder Cup contingent soaked the loss in Guinness. In 2007 the playing field won't be so level. Tiger has distanced himself from everyone, and if Philly Mick is serious about challenging that supremacy, he needs to make three significant changes in the upcoming year.

2006-10-30T00:11:00.000-08:00

You should be able to find several indispensable facts about ping pong table in the following paragraphs. If there's at least one fact you didn't know before, imagine the difference it might make.

The most common piece of furniture one might find in a game room is a pool table. While the shape of a pool table is standard, the sizes are not. There are regulation size pool tables which can be as large as 8 foot long and then you have your smaller than regulation tables which are usually 6 or 7 feet in length. As for the material pool tables are made of, most of them are made of wood but the type of wood can vary greatly and because of this, the price of the tables themselves can vary from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Another common piece of furniture in a game room is a ping pong table. These too can be regulation at 5 by 9 feet or smaller. Ping pong tables take a lot of abuse so they are made very strong, usually of hard aluminum. There are plenty of styles of these tables to choose from.

I trust that what you've read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

Of course no game room would be complete without a bar. Most of these are built into the room and are very stylishly designed. These bars are usually about 6 by 3 feet and are made of many different types of wood with shelves in the back to store your beverage of choice, whatever that may be.

Moving out of the game room we have the ever popular patio. You have, of course heard the joke about the Irish gentleman who lived out doors. His name was patio furniture. Okay, maybe it's not that funny but patio furniture is a big craze with many people. Who can resist sitting out doors in the blazing sun and getting fried to a crisp. Your basic patio furniture consists of tables and chairs, an umbrella, benches, rockers, porch swings, and a ton of garden accessories.

There's a lot to understand about ping pong table. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.

2006-10-09T21:15:00.000-07:00

How much traffic will the floor get?

The amount and type of traffic that your room will see should be one of the largest deciding factors in the kind of floor that you choose. A family room floor with a ping-pong table and busy, active life needs a floor that will stand up to lots of foot traffic and the occasional spill. In addition, you want a floor that won't show wear, will be comfortable underfoot, and easy to care for. Vinyl floor tiles or linoleum might be your best choice there, though a good, durable wood laminate floor might do well, as well.

I like to play ping pong on ping pong table

2006-10-04T00:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with ping pong table? This informative report can give you an insight into everything you've ever wanted to know about ping pong table.

An 8 million-year-old fossil of an ancient marine creature, lost for over 20 years, was rediscovered in 2002 at the University of Alberta underneath a ping-pong table and the results of the fossil research have only recently been released.

“The fossils made it under the ping-pong table in the undergraduate teaching lab, which ended up being the undergraduate teaching table that all the specimens for the paleontology classes would be laid out upon for the students to look at ... I did my undergraduate [at the University] in the ’80s, and the irony is that the ping-pong table Ichthyosaur was under my feet the whole bloody time,” Dr Michael Caldwell, U of A’s professor of vertebrate paleontology, explained.

The bones were originally discovered in 1971 in the Northwest Territories by a group of graduate students and a few volunteers. In fact, a technician who was on the original expedition still works at the University today. While travelling through the wilderness, the group had stumbled upon eight well-preserved skeletons of Ichthyosaurs: prehistoric marine creatures that resemble modern-day dolphins.

You can see that there's practical value in learning more about ping pong table. Can you think of ways to apply what's been covered so far?

There were eight fossils found, including two embryos discovered in an adult female. The Ichthyosaurs that were found in the Northwest Territories are by no means the oldest, nor the largest. What makes them special is the information they provide about the environment. The majority of Ichthyosaurs are found in certain locations in Germany, these fossils were found in the deep north, in a location of cold water, this poses many questions about the biogeography of the species.

“It’s not going to rewrite our basic understanding of Ichthyosaur relationships, but what it does do is add a very important part of the picture; or, it finishes off that part of that picture at the twilight of the evolutionary history of this group, where they are actually about to go extinct,” Caldwell said.

As for the future of the discovery, the fossils are already allocated a place in the U of A’s fossil records, and in the forthcoming year there is to be more research. Caldwell was awarded Australian Council Linkage Grant, meaning next year Australian authorities will come in hope of excavating more Ichthyosaur paraphernalia, and comparing it with similar specimens discovered the deep end of the southern hemisphere.

There's no doubt that the topic of ping pong table can be fascinating. If you still have unanswered questions about ping pong table, you may find what you're looking for in the next article.

my frens dapne like to play ping pong

2006-09-27T23:03:00.000-07:00

The following article covers a topic that has recently moved to center stage--at least it seems that way. If you've been thinking you need to know more about it, here's your opportunity.

Then, the only sound to be heard is Major Peach’s slow but deliberate footsteps towards the middle of the room. His face is ashen, concentrated. No flicker, and now there is no frown. Staring only at the ball as he nears to it. At the edge of the table he stands quietly, as if meditating, still with eyes fixed on the white sphere. Moments, just seconds, seem to last for ages until, at last, Major Peach reaches inside his jacket pocket and produces a penknife. He swiftly turns his head 90 degrees and makes another 90 degree turn with his body – all this in two quick movements startle the two technicians as the Major fixes on Brett. He says calmly and flatly: “You are witnesses.”

Daphne is puzzled. She had been drafted in to “help for a few minutes” by her colleague and friend Brett. She now stands by the wall, becoming more apprehensive with every second. She does not know what to make of this situation. A ping-pong ball? This weird Major Peach? She looks at Brett, expecting a shrug from him, but instead – and now she is really scared – she sees him open-mouthed and eyes bulging, staring at the back of Major Peach. The Major turns back to his task. He gradually draws the penknife down towards the apex of the ball. As it gets nearer his hand starts to tremble. The major must keep himself together. He knows that no one else can perform this task. He can’t walk away now. In order to steady his nerves he simply freezes every muscle in his body. The knife remains suspended above the ball.

The information about ping pong table presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about ping pong table or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

Arcade games began to be so popular in the early 70s. Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney made Atari that released the Pong video game (based on ping-pong or table tennis) that became almost everyone’s favorite. The success of the Pong video game spawned lots of imitations and created more and more avid video players. Eventually video game arcades abounded through the 80s. They can be found in the malls, department stores, bars and even in restaurants and movie houses. They’re everywhere in the United States.

Those who only know one or two facts about ping pong table can be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you're learning here.

play ping pong on the ping pong table

2006-09-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

The only way to keep up with the latest about ping pong table is to constantly stay on the lookout for new information. If you read everything you find about ping pong table, it won't take long for you to become an influential authority.

During the economic bubble of the late nineties, employers were in head-to-head competition with each other to offer benefits and salaries that would draw the best employees. For job seekers, that environment was almost a pick and choose situation in which they could nearly name their salary and benefits package. Many of the dot coms, flush with venture capital, were offering performance incentives that included sports cars, trips around the world, in-office massages, and ping pong tables in the employee lounge. The goal was to attract and retain quality employees.

Drakesbad is plenty kid friendly, with games and puzzles in the common lodge, a ping pong table, and a terrific tire swing in the shape of a pony. Even swimming pool toys are provided.

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you're fully informed about ping pong table, keep reading.

The dinner bell rings promptly at six, but there's no hurry. Show up any time before seven and you'll be fed, and fed well. We dined on tilapia and fresh vegetables, prepared with an Asian flair. Our hosts, Ed and Billie, made the rounds, welcoming the new guests and sharing pictures from previous years with the regulars. The youngster at our table bolted his food and rushed out to join the sunset horseback ride with the other kids while his mom enjoyed her meal at a more leisurely pace.

The kids returned as evening settled in around us. Dusk hours at Drakesbad are quiet but still social, with families playing board games in the lodge or sitting around the campfire. Drakesbad generously supplies the makings for s'Mores, but you'll want to get there quick if there are a lot of kids around - any that weren't on the ride had rushed to the campfire to build their own toasted marshmallow treats. The lights go out around 10 p.m., leaving you to the starlight and the glow of the kerosene lanterns. You can soak in the pool under the stars or curl up in the comfort of your room.

That's how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

play ping pong need ping pong table

2006-09-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

If you have even a passing interest in the topic of ping pong table, then you should take a look at the following information. This enlightening article presents some of the latest news on the subject of ping pong table.

If you're having problems with your game or are just a beginner and need all the help you can get, this article we'll go over a few tips while playing that can help develop you into a better player over time.

It may surprise you, but table tennis strategy can be quite complicated as there are so many different types of players. There are those who are more offensive minded and look to finish off their opponent quickly each point. Then there are those who play a steady table control game and pick their spots. Of course there is always the defensive minded player who waits for his opponent to make a mistake. Some of the following tips will help you with some or all of these players.

If you don't have accurate details regarding ping pong table, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don't let that happen: keep reading.

There are types of players called pips-out players. These are players who try to "kill" the ping pong ball by hitting it so that it has no spin. These can be very difficult players to play against, almost like trying to hit a knuckle ball pitcher. Here are some tips on how to handle a pips-out player.

That's the latest from the ping pong table authorities. Once you're familiar with these ideas, you'll be ready to move to the next level.

Facilities in my living apartment.

2006-09-21T01:07:00.000-07:00

The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

Living in my first apartment was one of the best years of my life. My new roommates turned out to be awesome people. We have all remained friends to this day. Having four guys in one apartment comes with its positives and its negatives. Some of the positives are always having people to play sports with (I can’t count the number of times we played 2v2 basketball), always having someone to play video games with, having friends to go out with, and just being able to have fun with friends. But when you live with three other guys’ things can get messy. Trash piles up everyday, no one cleans the kitchen, and someone always wants to party the night you have an exam to study for.

Overall my first (and only) apartment experience was a good one. I made two solid friends there, although I didn’t meet many other people in the apartment complex. We had good times, especially when we bought a ping pong table for the living room, and great memories. I would highly recommend everyone to live in an apartment at least one year during their college career that is unless you have a sweet condo or house.

The information about ping pong table presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about ping pong table or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

To amuse themselves the staff of the observatory made sledges, used snow shoes and skis, and made an outdoor ping pong table out of frozen snow. They carved wood, and played the pipes, violin, flute, mandolin and accordion. One of their more alarming pastimes was to hurl large boulders over the cliffs so they could hear them rumble and crash into the glen below.

The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you'll be glad you took the time to learn more about ping pong table.

ping pong table can be fascinating

2006-09-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with ping pong table.

My trip to Bocas started, the way many of my good stories do, with something hitting me in the face: the woman in the aisle seat next to me stood up to get a book out of the overhead when we hit a patch of turbulence—her well-aimed Poland Springs bottle squirted me in the cheek. The waterfire didn’t distract me though—my attention fixed out the window, looking down at the ocean: indigo greens and cobalt blues surrounding the islands that would be my home for the next few days. Bocas Del Toro.

This way, when you are getting set to play someone for the first time you can confidently stride up to the table and grasp the paddle in this cool manner, all the while looking down your nose and thinking to yourself, “look at them pawing their ping pong paddle like a five-year old, and me here with my awesome skills”. You have already won the mental battle, and that is vital for a hard-core ponger. Of course, they could be thinking “look at this dork trying to impress me with some cheesy paddle-grip, and what is he looking at on his nose”. But as long as they don’t say anything out loud, you’re good to go.

I ate breakfast at Shelly’s BBQ, where the atmosphere couldn’t be any further its western sounding namesake. It sits off the main drag in Bocas and the only reason I stumbled upon it was because I was lost. Crammed into a ping pong table-sized space sat four wobbly tables accompanied by several rotting wooden stools. The menu was etched in Spanish chicken scratch on the wall and asked no more than $2 for an item. Stacks of soon-to-be recycled beer bottles rested in the corner and sand covered the floor. I ordered the first thing on the menu, suspiciously called “sandwich”. What arrived was great: a toasty brown flour tortilla over-stuffed with a beef and a bright and crunchy cucumber salsa.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and ping pong table experts is time. If you'll invest a little more time in reading, you'll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to ping pong table.

To be perfectly honest, I don’t really know the proper way to keep score. Typically I just take turns serving, with each player getting five serves per turn. First one to fifteen wins, with the game point having to come on the serve of my opponent. This may or may not be the proper way to keep score, I make no promises. In fact, if you are planning on entering a tourney or challenging someone at a party, please look into the real rules so that you don’t get embarrassed. Even if you don’t play by the rules it is a fun game. Table tennis is definitely worth checking out. And if you turn out to be a sub-par player, there’s always guitar.

There's no doubt that the topic of ping pong table can be fascinating. If you still have unanswered questions about ping pong table, you may find what you're looking for in the next article.

information about ping pong table

2006-09-18T00:48:00.000-07:00

The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

While I was finishing my basement I got a very nice idea of what to make of it. We all wanted a place where the whole family could have some fun and spend time together. Of course we have an entertainment center at home with a great sound system and a big flat screen TV; however we also needed a place for some interactive fun as well. And the decision of the entire family, taken after long discussions, was to get an air-hockey table.

We chose that due to a few good reasons. To start with we have an exciting game that’s quite energetic and fast and despite all that you do not need any strategy or any special knowledge in order to play. In fact you only have to hit the puck and pray it goes into your opponent’s goal. For us this seems just great as anyone can learn to play and become good at it. Another reason is that those tables are hard to break and easy to maintain – exactly what we needed. It’s a thing that will last a long time and won’t need special attention.

It is also quite cheap to run; you only plug it in and turn it on to play, then turn it of, unplug it and cover it. Only uses a bit of electricity and that’s it. It also gave us a choice about the sizes, because if it was a ping-pong or a pool table, it would have been official size only. In fact those are quite ok if you have no space limitations but with our basement the situation wasn’t like that. And the most important reason of course is that an air hockey table is great fun and with it you are in the center of the action, no matter what size it comes in.

You will profit by using some ideas compiled in the list below. Beyond the obvious considerations of location, size, present condition and design of your home, buyers look for special qualities that appeal to their emotions.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and ping pong table experts is time. If you'll invest a little more time in reading, you'll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to ping pong table.

It is your job to prepare the groundwork, to "set the stage" for a buyer to fall in love with your home. Think of what has made your home so special to you and try to highlight these features. Although no home is perfect, you must try to become aware of its shortcomings. Once you do, you have the opportunity to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negatives by making your home more visually appealing.

For example: a long dark hall will appear shorter if wall papered in vertical pastel stripes; or by hanging a few pictures on the walls and installing inexpensive lights above them, you will stop the buyer's eyes along the way. The monotonous tunnel effect will be immediately eliminated!

Selling your home, though rarely a "fun" experience, can be a painless and profitable one if both you and your agent put in the effort. It is this cooperative venture that will meet your goal of selling your home fast, with the least amount of inconvenience and at the best price and terms for you.

That's how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

know more about ping pong table game.

2006-09-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

So what is ping pong table really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about ping pong table--info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.

Sometimes the most complicated games to master are the ones that are the simplest to explain. What can be simpler than the game of table tennis or ping pong? Two players on opposite ends of a table, separated by a net. Each with a paddle in his hand. One serves, the other returns. They continue to hit the ball until somebody misses. It doesn't get any simpler than that. And yet, this simple game is one of the most difficult games to master for several reasons.

For starters, there is only so much you can do with a ping pong ball. You can hit it with topspin, back spin, or no spin. You can hit it hard or soft. But you can't defy the laws of physics or gravity. Common sense will tell your opponent that if you hit the ball to your left, the ball is going to go to his right. It isn't suddenly going to change direction and head off someplace else.

Those of you not familiar with the latest on ping pong table now have at least a basic understanding. But there's more to come.

The point is this. Table tennis is actually a very predictable game if you've studied physics, math and other sciences. Of course most ping pong players have probably spent most of their youths in ping pong halls. Still, it doesn't take long to figure out that the ball is going to react a certain way off of a certain hit.

By the early 1900s, table tennis had already started to take on many of the characteristics of the game that we know and love today. However, it was still seen by most people as after dinner entertainment rather than as a serious sport. During this period publications found it necessary to warn people about what kind of attire they should wear when playing this game, such as not to wear tight fitting clothing. These were obviously meant as satire because of the fact that nobody took the game seriously.

As your knowledge about ping pong table continues to grow, you will begin to see how ping pong table fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

ping pong table: Furniture For Patio, Game Room And Crafts

2006-09-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

In this final edition of home furniture we're going to review some of the odds and ends type of pieces you might find in or out of someone's home.

Most people's favorite room in the house is the game room. This is where we all go to play, have fun and basically get away from the everyday hassles of life. Game rooms can be very diverse and most of the furniture one would find in a game room would be the games themselves.

The most common piece of furniture one might find in a game room is a pool table. While the shape of a pool table is standard, the sizes are not. There are regulation size pool tables which can be as large as 8 foot long and then you have your smaller than regulation tables which are usually 6 or 7 feet in length. As for the material pool tables are made of, most of them are made of wood but the type of wood can vary greatly and because of this, the price of the tables themselves can vary from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Another common piece of furniture in a game room is a ping pong table. These too can be regulation at 5 by 9 feet or smaller. Ping pong tables take a lot of abuse so they are made very strong, usually of hard aluminum. There are plenty of styles of these tables to choose from.

Of course no game room would be complete without a bar. Most of these are built into the room and are very stylishly designed. These bars are usually about 6 by 3 feet and are made of many different types of wood with shelves in the back to store your beverage of choice, whatever that may be.

Moving out of the game room we have the ever popular patio. You have, of course heard the joke about the Irish gentleman who lived out doors. His name was patio furniture. Okay, maybe it's not that funny but patio furniture is a big craze with many people. Who can resist sitting out doors in the blazing sun and getting fried to a crisp. Your basic patio furniture consists of tables and chairs, an umbrella, benches, rockers, porch swings, and a ton of garden accessories.

Then of course you have your hobbyist type furniture. For example, for those who like to sew you have your sewing tables. Of course today, in order to be politically correct, they're called work tables, and quite honestly can be adapted to just about any kind of hobby. Of course to keep or store your arts and crafts they have what are called craft armoires. These are really just fancy cabinets but don't tell the craftsmen that. For true artists you have craft tables, art easels, and what they call art taborets. These are just fancy tall dressers but they are very popular.

Needless to say there are more kinds of furniture than we have hours in the day to go over them. We have just scratched the surface in these past three articles which makes you wonder; how come so many furniture stores go out of business?

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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Furniture
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

ping pong table: A Family Drama

2006-09-08T01:59:00.000-07:00

September 7, 2006

By JOHN ALTAVILLA, Courant Staff Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- No matter how much Eli Manning accomplishes in the NFL, he will always be Cooper and Peyton Manning's baby brother, even if he manages to lead the Giants over Peyton's Colts in Sunday's Manning Bowl at Giants Stadium.

In some ways, Eli Manning is still the little annoying kid in the backseat on family trips, unable to keep up with Cooper, seven years older, and Peyton, five years his senior, when they would play an NFL numbers game September 7, 2006
By JOHN ALTAVILLA, Courant Staff Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- No matter how much Eli Manning accomplishes in the NFL, he will always be Cooper and Peyton Manning's baby brother, even if he manages to lead the Giants over Peyton's Colts in Sunday's Manning Bowl at Giants Stadium.

In some ways, Eli Manning is still the little annoying kid in the backseat on family trips, unable to keep up with Cooper, seven years older, and Peyton, five years his senior, when they would play an NFL numbers game to pass the time.

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"It was where you would say, `Number 68,' and they would go back and forth naming players in the NFL who were that number," Eli Manning said. "It was kind of who could last the longest, and I'm just sitting there and I couldn't name one guy. When Peyton and Cooper were growing up, my dad was still playing for the Saints and Minnesota, so they were going into the locker room and knew the players. They were just around football. By the time I came around, my dad was done playing football, so I never got that atmosphere."

Peyton and Eli are now peers, college legends at Tennessee and Mississippi and first-round NFL draft picks. Come Sunday, they will also be the first brothers to start against each other at quarterback in NFL history.

"It's certainly unique," Peyton said Wednesday.

The event has been super-sized since the NFL schedule was released in April. In its effort to promote NBC's first Sunday night game, the league quickly circled this matchup and has worked tirelessly with the network to promote it.

"I can understand why," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "Something like this might not happen again for another 75 years [after the Mannings retire]."

The main participants, Eli and Peyton, have been reticent about talking about their game.

"I think everyone has made a big deal more than Peyton and I," Eli said. "We've tried to make this thing as low-key as possible."

Across the nation this week, tales from every angle have been spun about the Mannings. But somehow Eli and Peyton have found time to just talk, like brothers might.

"It's not difficult to talk. I actually talked to him Tuesday night for about 20 minutes or so," Eli said. "The game doesn't come up. We just kind of talk about what we did over the weekend, things like that. It's less football talk and more personal stuff, what's going on in each other's lives."

"Usually we talk on Thursday nights and we've been doing this since college," Peyton said. "I'd call him and he'd tell me about Georgia's defense, and I'd tell him about the Dolphins' defense and we'd compare some X's and O's. We've done that some in the NFL, too. If the Giants are getting ready to play the Eagles or we're getting ready to play the Titans, we'll share some notes. Obviously I don't think we'll have that same conversation this week."

One of the topics was the first time Eli actually beat Peyton in an athletic event. It happened on a basketball court.

"There wasn't really a whole lot we could compete in growing up," Eli said. "He was five years older than me. We had a ping pong table, a bumper pool table and those games we used to play. I don't remember when I won at those things, but I can remember the first time I beat him in basketball. I was finally at the age where we were even enough where I could handle him. I don't know if it was really fair. I was in the middle of basketball season, playing for my high school. He hadn't shot a basketball in about five years, so I probably had an advantage over him."

Eli Manning's victory was sealed with a resounding dunk.

Now the stakes are much higher. Each leads teams with Super Bowl aspirations, hoping to make a national statement in their opening game. Their parents and brother and extended families will be there watching.

"It wasn't until I was getting ready for the draft [in 2004] and thinking about what teams I might be going to when I started realizing, `What if I get drafted by a team that's in the same division as Peyton?" Eli said. "What if we have to play twice a year? What if we're in the same conference?' That's when you start thinking about when you might get to play him or not.

"I guess it might be tough on my parents. They're both supportive and root for us so strong and to know one team is going to come out with a win and one is not, they never want to see one of us be disappointed or not succeed. So, I think they're very proud of us that we're in this situation, but it's going to be tough on them, and I know with my dad and my mom, they'll probably be a little nervous during the game."

Contact John Altavilla at jaltavilla@courant.com

to pass the time.

"It was where you would say, `Number 68,' and they would go back and forth naming players in the NFL who were that number," Eli Manning said. "It was kind of who could last the longest, and I'm just sitting there and I couldn't name one guy. When Peyton and Cooper were growing up, my dad was still playing for the Saints and Minnesota, so they were going into the locker room and knew the players. They were just around football. By the time I came around, my dad was done playing football, so I never got that atmosphere."

Peyton and Eli are now peers, college legends at Tennessee and Mississippi and first-round NFL draft picks. Come Sunday, they will also be the first brothers to start against each other at quarterback in NFL history.

"It's certainly unique," Peyton said Wednesday.

The event has been super-sized since the NFL schedule was released in April. In its effort to promote NBC's first Sunday night game, the league quickly circled this matchup and has worked tirelessly with the network to promote it.

"I can understand why," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "Something like this might not happen again for another 75 years [after the Mannings retire]."

The main participants, Eli and Peyton, have been reticent about talking about their game.

"I think everyone has made a big deal more than Peyton and I," Eli said. "We've tried to make this thing as low-key as possible."

Across the nation this week, tales from every angle have been spun about the Mannings. But somehow Eli and Peyton have found time to just talk, like brothers might.

"It's not difficult to talk. I actually talked to him Tuesday night for about 20 minutes or so," Eli said. "The game doesn't come up. We just kind of talk about what we did over the weekend, things like that. It's less football talk and more personal stuff, what's going on in each other's lives."

"Usually we talk on Thursday nights and we've been doing this since college," Peyton said. "I'd call him and he'd tell me about Georgia's defense, and I'd tell him about the Dolphins' defense and we'd compare some X's and O's. We've done that some in the NFL, too. If the Giants are getting ready to play the Eagles or we're getting ready to play the Titans, we'll share some notes. Obviously I don't think we'll have that same conversation this week."

One of the topics was the first time Eli actually beat Peyton in an athletic event. It happened on a basketball court.

"There wasn't really a whole lot we could compete in growing up," Eli said. "He was five years older than me. We had a ping pong table, a bumper pool table and those games we used to play. I don't remember when I won at those things, but I can remember the first time I beat him in basketball. I was finally at the age where we were even enough where I could handle him. I don't know if it was really fair. I was in the middle of basketball season, playing for my high school. He hadn't shot a basketball in about five years, so I probably had an advantage over him."

Eli Manning's victory was sealed with a resounding dunk.

Now the stakes are much higher. Each leads teams with Super Bowl aspirations, hoping to make a national statement in their opening game. Their parents and brother and extended families will be there watching.

"It wasn't until I was getting ready for the draft [in 2004] and thinking about what teams I might be going to when I started realizing, `What if I get drafted by a team that's in the same division as Peyton?" Eli said. "What if we have to play twice a year? What if we're in the same conference?' That's when you start thinking about when you might get to play him or not.

"I guess it might be tough on my parents. They're both supportive and root for us so strong and to know one team is going to come out with a win and one is not, they never want to see one of us be disappointed or not succeed. So, I think they're very proud of us that we're in this situation, but it's going to be tough on them, and I know with my dad and my mom, they'll probably be a little nervous during the game."

Contact John Altavilla at jaltavilla@courant.com

ping pong table: Giants QB Eli Manning Conference Call

2006-09-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

September 6, 2006

QB-ELI MANNING (on how the week has been) September 6, 2006

R20;Honestly, it hasnR17;t been too bad. ItR17;s been a regular week. I havenR17;t talked to the media yet or anything, so for me, nothing has been different. WeR17;re just trying to get ready for the Colts and put in our game plan and get ready to play. WeR17;ve tried to keep it as normal as possible.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on how often he has spoken to Peyton recently and if it has been difficult to do that) September 6, 2006

R20;ItR17;s not difficult to talk. I actually talked to him last night for about 20 minutes or so. The game doesnR17;t come up. We donR17;t talk about practice or whatR17;s happening really at all. We just kind of talk about what we did over the weekend and things like that. WeR17;ve been able to talk during training camp and two-a-days. ItR17;s less football talk and more personal stuff and whatR17;s going on in each others lives. Whenever we talked anyway, that stuff always came up and now itR17;s the majority of our conversation. But I guess during training camp, football and some things would come up whereas now, theyR17;re not.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on how he would describe Peyton to someone that doesn’t know him) September 6, 2006

R20;I would describe Peyton as a hard worker, a guy who is very competitive, a guy who knows what he wants and when he gets dedicated toward something, or has the drive toward something, heR17;s very committed to it. HeR17;s a good guy. HeR17;s fun to be around when the football season is not in season, or whenever heR17;s not involved in football, heR17;s laid back and enjoys to laugh and be around family and friends. But once itR17;s time to work, heR17;s committed and concentrated on that.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on the best advice Peyton ever gave him) September 6, 2006

R20;He gave me tons of advice. I donR17;t know what the best advice is. I guess itR17;s that whatever you put into (something) is what youR17;re going to get out of it, which means however hard you work or how many hours you put and your dedication and work ethic, the better that is, the better youR17;ll be.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on shooting recent commercials together with his family and getting physical at the end with Peyton) September 6, 2006

R20;They said to really go after it this time and see what happens. I want to get the outtakes of that commercial, because we had some good battles going on. It was about to turn into a wrestling match, it never got real bad, no punches were thrown or anything, but we were on the ground and rolling around a little bit. We had a good time doing it, but we need to find a way to get the outtakes of that commercial. There will be some funny stuff on there.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on the first time he beat Peyton at sports) September 6, 2006

R20;I remember the first time I beat him in basketball. There wasnR17;t really a whole lot we could compete in growing up. He was five years older than me. We had a ping-pong table, a bumper pool table and those games we used to play. I donR17;t remember when I won at those things, but I can remember the first time I beat him in basketball. That was the first time it was a real competitive sport where I was finally at the age where we were even enough where I could handle him. I donR17;t know if it was really fair. I was in the middle of basketball season, I think, playing for my high school, and he hadnR17;t shot a basketball in about five years, so I probably had an advantage over him.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on Eli dunking on Peyton) September 6, 2006

R20;ThatR17;s how the game (that Eli won) ended. It was of one of those tight games, like 9-8, playing to 10, you got to win by two, and I was at the top of the key and he went for a steal, which didnR17;t work, I got by him and went for the dunk and thatR17;s how it ended. It was one thing to lose to your little brother, but to get dunked on the last play, he wasnR17;t too happy about it.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on his father, Archie, not pushing them as children) September 6, 2006

R20;He never pressured us into playing sports, or into a specific sport, or telling us, R16;Hey, letR17;s go work on this,R17; or R16;LetR17;s do drills.R17; He didnR17;t over-drill us. He was always there for us, he supported us if we wanted. He always wanted us to come to him and say, R16;Hey dad, can you come work with me with my drop?R17; Or he might come catch some balls. He would do it all. He would run routes for us and do everything to help us out, but he didnR17;t want us to be forced into something we didnR17;t want to do. He was always there for us and did everything he could to help us, but he wasnR17;t going to pressure us into doing anything.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on the first time he fathomed this scenario of facing Peyton in the NFL) September 6, 2006

R20;It probably never hit me until I was getting ready for the draft. When I was young, I wasnR17;t thinking, R16;Hey, I want to play in the NFL one day.R17; ThatR17;s just not how I thought. I was playing every sport. I was playing basketball, I was just having fun. I loved football and once I got into high school, I wanted to be a good high school player. From there, just try to get into college, and once I started getting some letters, you realize, I want to take this to the next step and go to college. And in college, I wanted to be a good college player. I had a good sophomore year and as a junior you start getting asked questions if youR17;re going to come out early (and enter the NFL Draft). ThatR17;s when you start realizing you can play at the next level, but it wasnR17;t until I was getting ready for the draft and thinking about what teams I might be going to. Then I started realizing, R16;What if I get drafted by a team thatR17;s in the same division as Peyton? What if we have to play twice a year? What if weR17;re in the same conference?R17; ThatR17;s when you start thinking about when you might get to play him or not.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on a story that might illustrate the difference in Eli and Peyton’s personalities) September 6, 2006

R20;Peyton and my brother (Cooper) were always, I remember going on road trips, and weR17;d be going and they would play the numbers game, where you would say, R16;Number 68,R17; and they would go back and forth naming players in the NFL who were that number. It was kind of who could last the longest, and IR17;m just sitting there and I couldnR17;t name one guy. We just grew up in a different, not a different time, but when Peyton and Cooper were growing up, my dad was still playing for the Saints and Minnesota, so they were going in the locker room and knew the players. They were just around football. By the time I came around, my dad was done playing football, so I never got that atmosphere where it was engrained on me as early as those two guys. So, I was never a guy who knew everybodyR17;s number or where everybody went to college and those things. I enjoyed playing the game, I enjoyed everything about it, but I probably didnR17;t know the history of the game as much as my two brothers.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on the Colts defense) September 6, 2006

R20;TheyR17;re fast, and I think their defense is built around speed and making plays. TheyR17;re aggressive. Whatever they see, they attack at it and believe in what they see and take their chances when they want to. They do a good job of mixing up defenses and theyR17;re not, I wouldnR17;t say overly complicated, just what they do, they do very well. And thatR17;s what makes it tough. They find a way to make plays and cause problems for offenses.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on the DEs – Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis and Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora) September 6, 2006

R20;Both defenses have a lot of talented players and especially the defensive ends. All four starting defensive ends had a bunch of sacks last year and caused problems for the offense. I think both sides have to have a plan for how theyR17;re going to control that. To say youR17;re going to sit back there in the pocket and stand there for a long period of time, itR17;s not going to happen very often. So, it should be interesting and hopefully weR17;ll be able to block it up long enough to get the ball in our receiversR17; hands.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on DE-Robert Mathis and is he a guy you want to get in a foot race with?) September 6, 2006

R20;No. I donR17;t want to get in a foot race with any of those guys. Mathis was a guy last year who primarily came in on third down and had 11 or 12 sacks, so heR17;s a guy who causes a lot of problems. And this year, heR17;s playing even more on first and second down, so you have to watch out. You canR17;t have all of your attention on Freeney and forget him. You have to watch out for Mathis because heR17;ll cause some major problems. Really, the whole defensive front is built around speed and the tackles are getting in there and using spin moves and getting to the quarterback. So, we have a big challenge up front, our offensive line, to go block those guys and create some lanes, running room for our backs and enough time to get the ball down the field for the passing game.R21;

QB-ELI MANNING (on who the game will be toughest on) September 6, 2006

R20;I guess it might be tough on my parents. TheyR17;re both supportive and root for us so strong and to know one team is going to come out with a win and one is not, they never want to see one of us be disappointed or not succeed. So, I think theyR17;re very proud of us that weR17;re in this situation, but itR17;s going to be tough on them, and I know with my dad and my mom, theyR17;ll probably be a little nervous during the game.R21;

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ping pong table: What are we laboring for, anyway?

2006-09-04T21:32:00.000-07:00

By TOM TURNIPSEED
Guest columnist

Since the mid-1970s, American workers have put in longer hours and have seen real wages stagnate despite a near-doubling of our gross domestic product. Compared to other wealthy countries, Americans are working longer, and the gap between rich and poor in the United States has become the widest in the modern industrial world.

If minimum- and low-wage workers in America were not human beings, they’d be included on the endangered species list. And now it’s getting even harder for those workers and their families to carve out a subsistence in our economy.

The New York Times recently reported that wages and salaries make up the lowest share of our GDP since such data was first recorded in 1947. Corporate profits command the largest share of GDP since the 1960s, causing the investment bankers at UBS to describe the present period as “the golden era of profitability.”

Citing a 2 percent decline in the medium hourly wage since 2003 with inflation factored in, the Times article noted that the amount an average worker produces in an hour has risen steadily over the same period.

John de Graaf, national coordinator of the Take Back Your Time campaign, www.timeday.org, also noted that 40 percent of America’s workers got no vacation this year and said politicians should be asked, “What’s the economy for, anyway?”

De Graaf said: “Sure, we’ve got the grossest Domestic Product in the world, but there’s no time to enjoy all that stuff and we’re sacrificing so much. Americans can hardly find time to sit down to eat together anymore. Is our economy just for raising the Dow Jones average, or is it to provide healthy and happy kids, families and communities?”

Take Back Your Time program director Gretchen Burger said that nearly half of all Americans will reach Labor Day without even a week off this summer. “We’re the only industrial country without mandated paid time off for vacation, and even workers who get paid leave are giving a lot of it back because of excessive job demands or a fear their job could be in jeopardy if they take it. That’s not healthy — for our bodies, our families or our communities — and the situation is getting worse, not better.”

A National Institutes of Health study revealed that Americans were much less healthy than residents of the United Kingdom and twice as likely to suffer from chronic diseases. Several analysts pointed out that job stress and long working hours seem to be the prime culprits, leaving Americans with less time for exercise and relationships with family and friends, two of the most significant predictors of good health.

Take Back Your Time urges that issues such as paid family leave, sick leave and vacations be made priority subjects in this year’s congressional elections, to begin improving our health and the quality of American workers’ lives.

Take Back Your Time also suggests that personal and cultural change is needed as well.

“Let’s get back to the table,” says author Cecile Andrews, in echoing the theme for this year’s Take Back Your Time Day, which will be celebrated in many communities on Oct. 24. “We need to get back to the dinner table as families, to the card table as friends, to the pool table and ping-pong table for recreation. We’re putting all our time into either work or electronic media and our health and relationships are suffering as a result.”

Since the 1970s, family life has also suffered, points out Take Back Your Time board member William Doherty, professor of family studies at the University of Minnesota. Besides overwork, we’ve over-scheduled ourselves and our children. Doherty points out that shared family meals do more than help us bond; they’re also the leading predictor of how well students do in school.

So what, exactly, are we laboring for?

Mr. Turnipseed is a board member of Take Back Your Time and a Columbia attorney.

ping pong table: Another Baron Cohen sets his sights on the Hollywood Hills

2006-08-14T23:11:00.000-07:00

11 August 2006
After early acclaim for his independent films, director Ash Baron Cohen is about to hit the big time with a $15million Hollywood feature film, writes Bridget Galton

WHENEVER Ash Baron Cohen has enough of the loopiness of la la land, he goes round to cousin Sasha's house and thrashes the hell out of a ping-pong ball.

The film director, and the creator of comic character Ali G, grew up around the corner from each other in Hampstead Garden Suburb and are now near neighbours in Los Angeles.

"Sasha is the only real family I have here and when the whole Hollywood thing gets too much we get together and knock it out of each other on the ping-pong table," says Ash, who admits to pretending that their bats are swatting selected hate figures.

"I see a lot of him, we play ping-pong twice a week, he has the table and I bring my balls."

After studying experimental psychology at Sussex University, Baron Cohen headed out west to study film in Pasadena 12 years ago.

He wrote and directed his first independent feature Bang in 1995, about an actress who assumes the identity of an LA police officer for a day.

It was listed by the LA Times among the top 10 movies of the year and championed by Hollywood veteran Oliver Stone, who became his mentor and called him one of the "most gifted young film makers of his generation".

But Baron Cohn struck unlucky with his second film Pups, which starred Burt Reynolds and a teenage Micha Barton before she found fame in hit TV series The O.C.

His clever script about a bank heist gone awry saw an FBI head of ops teasing out the psychology of assorted hostages and teen robbers to prevent events from escalating into bloodshed.

Hailed as a Bonnie and Clyde for the MTV generation, the subject of kids with guns was deemed too sensitive for release in the wake of the Columbine High School massacre.

"It happened 48 hours after we premiered the movie at the LA film festival. We had big studio deals, which would have put Pups onto 1,000 screens, which is pretty good for a small independent movie," says Baron Cohen.

"When we heard the news it seemed so incredible that these kids had shot their fellow students. All the news stations were calling us asking had we somehow predicted it and linking the movie very strongly with what was going on.

"It was surreal and almost funny that people who had queued up to tell us about its commercial potential the previous day were now screaming down the phone; 'how could you think this was a commercial movie?'"

Fortunately US TV channel HBO bought the movie and ran it regularly, ironically ensuring more exposure than any movie release.

Baron Cohen went on to make This Girl's Life, about a porn star balancing the demands of her job with caring for a father with Parkinson's, and a short film with Prison Break star Wentworth Miller, about a military prisoner unapologetically confessing to torturing Iraqi suspects.

He is now casting his biggest movie to date. The $15m RadioActive, which Baron Cohen describes as a "multicultural view of the gang culture in LA with a social slant," has the producers of last year's best picture Oscar winner Crash on board.

"With the really small indie movies you wear three or four different hats so it will be nice to wear just one hat and concentrate on directing," he says.

"Although it will be less stressful, you also realise how much money is at stake."

Baron Cohen has written the scripts for all his movies. He jokes that being both director and writer leads to "interesting schizophrenic arguments with myself about who is compromising who?" But adds: "Orson Welles said the three things that make a great film are a great script, a great script and a great script. At first, writing my own seemed the best way to get started as a director, but after 12 years seeing hundreds that follow familiar trends I know finding an interesting original script in Hollywood is a bit like the gold rush back in the old days - a lot of fool's gold but very little of the real stuff."

Baron Cohen knows that making a good movie is also about the professionals around him.

"Most directors don't make two good movies in a row because there are so many different people involved. If one isn't up to standard the whole thing comes down.

One miscast actor can ruin the chemistry of all the others, even the music can ruin a movie. You have to have all the stars in alignment make a good one. The directors who are consistently good usually always work with the same crew."

Despite a dozen years in Hollywood, he has not fallen under its spell and hopes to return to work in the UK where there has been interest in one of his scripts.

But he admires the way the US accepts outsiders commenting on their society.

"One of the best things about America is it allows levels of self reflection. As a culture they have grown up on having therapists and talking about their lives. Film is a form of therapy for them. It allows them to look at what's going on in their country."

Last week, Baron Cohen saw the UK premieres of Pups and This Girl's Life screened during a special weekend event at Hampstead's Everyman Cinema in Holly Bush Vale.

He loves returning to his roots and hooking up with the multi-talented Baron Cohen clan he jokingly calls his "disturbed, chaotic family".

As well as famous cousin Sasha, whose new film featuring spoof Kazakstani reporter Borat is released in November, Ash has a nephew who is an up and coming TV director and a brother Simon who is director of Cambridge University's Research Centre for Autism.

"Neither Sasha's parents nor mine have anything to do with film. They viciously dissuaded us from getting into this industry so the only potential link is both our fathers were creative and had a warped sense of humour that required some sort of medical assistance," he says.

His future ambition is simply to "make movies that people care about and can relate to".

And although he wants them to reach as wide an audience as possible, it seems his psychology degree, which disposes him to examine human behaviour, will propel him away from mindless action blockbusters.

"Movies are human vehicles. People like to watch different behaviour whether to identify with characters or be entertained by them. Budgets have never been a determining factor for me, a good movie is a good movie no matter what it cost.

"The cinema and theatre are such odd phenomena where people sit in a room with strangers for two hours in the dark not saying anything. That in itself is a psychology experiment.

ping pong table: A camp of caring

2006-08-09T02:09:00.000-07:00

By Tina Firesheets
Staff Writer

MORE ONLINEFor information about sickle cell disease or the Sickle Cell Disease Association of the Piedmont, call 274-1507 or click here.STOKESDALE — Tiana — the more outgoing twin who likes to ride horses — doesn't get as homesick as her more reserved sister, Kiana.

But before the end of the week, the 8-year-old twins will call home at least once.

Activities at their summer camp aren't that different from others. Campers swim, ride horses and do arts and crafts.

But although they are able-bodied and appear healthy, many of these kids check into camp with pillows, teddy bears — and a Ziploc bag filled with all of their medications.

The registration process includes a visit with a nurse, who checks their pulse, temperature and blood pressure.

Like the rest of their fellow campers, Kiana and Tiana Harrell were born with sickle cell disease, a group of inherited red blood cell disorders.

Some people with the disease are relatively healthy, while others are hospitalized frequently. It causes symptoms ranging from pain to organ damage to anemia.

About one in every 400 African Americans have sickle cell disease.

And nearly one in 12 African Americans carry the sickle cell trait.

So, like Kiana and Tiana's parents, Tasha and Alton Harrell, this means they don't exhibit any signs of the disorder themselves, but they can pass the gene down to their children.

* * *

For the tiny Harrell twins, sickle cell manifests itself mostly through intense pain.

Tasha Harrell describes it this way: "Their blood cell changes shape and causes pain in their arms and legs."

That pain can last anywhere from three days to a week. Sometimes it's controlled by doses of Tylenol with codeine every four hours.

But if that pain is accompanied by a fever, they must go to the hospital.

About a year ago, that happened to Kiana.

It's hard for parents to see their child in such pain.

"You wish you could take the pain yourself ... and if I could, I would," Tasha Harrell said.

Her daughters tend to take turns fighting the symptoms of sickle cell. Usually, the first one is stricken with a pain crisis and by the time she has recovered, the other goes through it.

* * *

Kiana and Tiana are beginning to distinguish themselves from each other at the camp.

They have their own sets of friends and seek separate groups in social settings.

But when apart, they frequently scan the room for each other. Once one has spotted the other, their attention goes back to the activity before them.

Their father, Alton Harrell, said they always look after each other. If one gets a pain episode, the other immediately gets medication for her. Or covers her with a blanket. Or gets water.

"It's not just one of them hurting," he said.

His daughters look forward to camp, where they go on field trips and meet others who struggle with sickle cell, too.

For Alton and Tasha Harrell, it eases their minds to know their girls are at a camp where those who run it are knowledgeable about the disease.

There are nurses and a doctor present all week. If anything goes wrong, the staff knows what to do.

Camp director Monica Summers doesn't have sickle cell disease, but her 3-year-old son does.

So do most of her counselors.

For junior counselor Jasmyne Jackson, 17, sickle cell camp meant that she didn't have to explain to others why she takes so many medications or why she is sensitive to temperature changes.

Almost everyone at sickle cell camp takes medication. Breakfast is followed by a trip to the med shed, a wooden cabin near the dining and recreation halls.

Summers said sickle cell camp is a chance for kids to forget about all those days of not feeling well.

"It's their time to just be kids and have fun."

* * *

For Tasha Harrell, the separation that camp brings was easier than it was three years ago, when Kiana and Tiana were new campers.

"I cried," she said, while watching her daughters make new friends.

The girls hovered around the ping-pong table with a few other campers and occasionally flashed big, dimpled grins at their parents.

Some of the kids shot pool or challenged each other to foosball.

Others, such as 12-year-old LaTonya Hoffman, just sat quietly, sizing each other up.

But by the end of the week, many of them would exchange phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

Sickle cell campers bond quickly, Summers said.

That's because — for the first time — many of them are meeting other kids just like them.

"They can share their stories and talk about what works for them and how sickle cell affects them," she said.

And like Kiana and Tiana, they learn that others share their pain.

Contact Tina Firesheets at 373-3498 or tfiresheets@news-record.com

ping pong table: Despite camp's success, its future is uncertain

2006-08-08T00:13:00.000-07:00

Monday, Aug 7, 2006

By David Dellecese
ddellecese@utica.gannett.com

NEW HARTFORD — The X-Zone Fitness Arcade is helping get kids to leave their video games and couches behind to exercise by playing video games.

Through the use of Playstation and Xbox technology, the X-Zone, which opened in February, features video games that will only get you as far as your feet will take you. The video game systems are wired to exercise bikes that push the speed or power of your game forward the faster the player pedals.

A similar setup hooked up to a floor pad guides the user through progressively faster and more difficult footsteps, resulting in a rigorous workout of dance to popular tunes.

The dance program, called Dance, Dance, Revolution, has become such a hit that it keeps some kids busy for hours, as well as helping them stay in shape.

"It's a little bit of both," said Anastasia Docherty, 13, of Utica. "Fun and exercise."

Hoops, trampolines

The fitness arcade also features a basketball court; Sportwall, a series of wall machines with light-up targets to increase hand-eye coordination and accuracy; a ping-pong table; Foosball; and Aeroball, two enclosed trampolines on which kids jump while they attempt to shoot basketballs into their opponent's basket.

"My favorites are Aeroball and Dance, Dance, Revolution," said Marianna Maliani, 12, of Utica. "Aeroball is so unique and really fun. This is the only place I can do it."

The X-Zone Fitness Arcade was started by Sheila Shaheen and caters to kids ages 4 to 18. Organizers hope to gear up children for physical fitness in a safe and family environment.

"She knew there was a need for kids to exercise while having something fun to do," said George Shaheen, manager of the facility. "She saw a lot of kids playing video games; just sitting at home on the couch."

Grant Calogero, 13, of Utica spent half an hour recently trying the Sportwall before signing up for a membership.

"It's just pure fun," Calogero said.

Getting children started early with a regular routine of exercise can provide entertainment and better fitness habits now, along with creating habits that carry over in the future.

"Children that are active when they're younger carry on later in life," said Philip Haberstro, executive director of the National Association for Health and Fitness.

Targeting youths

Haberstro said that the numbers of overweight and obese children are startling enough to cause a reaction in the marketplace, resulting in more fitness centers with a slant toward younger audiences.

X-Zone serves as one way to take the technology that some see as an enemy to fitness and make it work in tandem with physical education rather than be seen as at odds with it.

The fitness arcade has around 300 members, thanks, in part, to word of mouth and members bringing in friends as guests who end up signing up as members themselves.

"The response has been incredible," George Shaheen said. "Parents are very enthused about it. Unlike an arcade, kids aren't dumping quarters into mindless machinery. Plus, they understand the health benefits."

The facility has two to three birthday parties every weekend, and staying true to the theme of fitness, only serves bottled water and Gatorade, and snacks such as fruit and vegetables.

"It was amazing when I first saw it," said Thomas Pfisterer, 10, of New Hartford. "They have a huge selection of things to do."

Pfisterer was keeping busy on the Dance, Dance, Revolution, machines, joined for a short period of time by his mother, Gina, who was thrilled at the way her kids are keeping up regular exercise through the arcade.

"You get them in here ... they're having fun, and they don't realize they're exercising," Gina Pfisterer said.

ping pong table: Schwarzenegger To Play 80-Year-Old Ping-Pong Champ

2006-08-06T23:07:00.000-07:00

Last Updated:
08-04-06 at 10:16AM

Governor Schwarzenegger is running for reelection this fall, but before then, he will face another opponent...at the ping-pong table.

The governor has agreed to play 80-year-old champion Byng Forsberg.

The decorated senior-circuit player agreed to donate to Schwarzenegger's reelection campaign only if the governor played him a game of table tennis.

Schwarzenegger said he may need to challenge Forsberg to a weightlifting contest afterward to redeem himself.

ping pong table: Transforming the dorm: Making the most of your personal shoebox

2006-08-03T21:33:00.000-07:00

Indu Chandrasekhar
The Student Life

August 03, 2006

(U-WIRE) ST. LOUIS, Mo. - It's pretty safe to say that most of Washington University's incoming freshmen enjoyed full rein over their rooms at home. And I can state with confidence that a room for one at home is a few square feet larger than the room waiting for two or three in Wash. U.'s dormitories. For some of you freshman this sacrifice of personal space might be what you loathe and fear the most. I, for one, missed my closet severely.
Like all things college-related, adjusting to your room size and limited space is easy if you have the right attitude and some creative ideas. In my extensive travels through the South 40 dorms, I have witnessed organizing and decorating schemes that range from convenient and cute to truly outrageous, and I will share all of what I learned with you.

University dormitories, no matter their appearance, age or location, are all essentially the same. Each student gets a closet, bed, dresser (traditional dorms) or bookshelves (newer dorms only), desk, chair and wall-mounted shelves (traditional dorms only). There are quite a few ways to arrange these humble objects, even in single-occupant rooms, depending on which wall the bed rests.

In a common Wash. U. dorm room, there are three main places of large-scale storage: Under the bed, on the desk and above the closet. The most commonly used space is where those monsters once lurked (never fear, there are only dust bunnies under Wash. U. beds). If you are willing to set the mattress frame of your bed to the highest rung (you can get a pretty large range in bed height), you can easily fit several rolling storage units with pull-out drawers. Even the dressers belonging to the older dormitories fit under those beds, although stashing them under the bed means losing a great place for makeup, jewelry, toiletries, pictures and the general mess.

Desks in University dorms can also be quite accommodating. They sport extra leaves on the side and back which you can prop up, adding to your desk space immensely. And if you feel these leaves are too cumbersome they can be removed to allow for that extra inch of wiggle room needed in tight quarters.

Finally, there exists an expanse of space above the closet that most students grossly under-use. Dorm chairs fit quite nicely up there, as do televisions, microwaves, stereos and extra storage units. The closet itself is expandable too: Canvas shelves that Velcro onto the hanger rod can hold a multitude of clothing and clear up the shelves in your dresser.

Most students stick with the provided layout of their dorm room, experimenting only with the orientation of the desk, which can face the wall or the window, and the dresser, which fits in the closet or under the bed. Students frequently place their fridges between the two desks. While this system always works, it doesn't stand out. Those looking for unique layouts should keep reading.

Starting with the simplest suggestions, there are two things that can instantly transform your room's atmosphere from an echoing prison-cell into the warmth of a living room: Bookshelves and potted plants. For as little as $20, you can purchase full-sized bookshelves that fit quite nicely by the dorm desk (just keep the side leaf folded down). Hardy plants are preferred as the tight quarters of a dorm room aren't always accommodating to those needy greens.

For those of you willing to try more daring arrangements, here's a fun fact: Wash. U. doubles are the exact length of two beds aligned head to head (in older dorms, one bed must rest partway in the closet). So, if you and your roommate decide you'd rather have an entire wall for some other large contraption, say, a ping-pong table, get ready for a lot of togetherness.

Another fun fact: The chairs provided in several new dormitories are able to rock back and forth. For the clumsy student, this means that you will be falling out of your chair quite often. You can take advantage of this chair, however, through a more convoluted scheme.

Here's how it once worked: Two young men, eager to have a larger space for their television, videos, games and music, decided to use the beds themselves as an entertainment center. They bunked the beds, removed the mattresses, placed a wooden plank on the lower bed frame, turned a bookshelf sideways and stuck it next to the TV (for all of their movies) and sentenced their mattresses to the floor, the perfect location from which to stare at a screen. The best part: When they finished their homework, they could tip backward in their rocking chairs and land with a comfortable wumph, right onto a waiting mattress. True story.

You might decide to stick with the tried and true methods of stretching your space, or you might invent an even crazier way of organizing your space. Either way, you can always add and rearrange as the year goes by, albeit settling into a room basically locks everything tightly in place. If your roommate is willing, try something outside of the box -- it doesn't hurt to be notorious within the first week.

Copyright ©2006 The Student Life via CSTV U-Wire

ping pong table: The Inaugural Lost Mind: "Live Together, Die Alone" Revisited

2006-07-31T00:46:00.000-07:00

July 29, 2006
Boxclocke

Lostaways, conspira-spies and Drive Shaft groupies rejoice: Blogcritics.org has a new column: The Lost Mind!

I will be writing in as frequently as possible to get you caught up to speed on the latest happenings in the world of the Lost, along with my own brand of commentary, and, once the new season starts, give you weekly episode recaps. Of course, I know I'm not the only one out there doing this. Due to the fanatical following the series has, there are already about a million different places online to get your Lost fix.

So you're probably wondering what I plan on bringing to the table to hold your attention for the time you should be spending configuring the Numbers onto a grid, or brushing up on your Dickens, or practicing your anagrams. What's my hook, my angle, my gimmick, my schtick? Well, if you're looking for major spoilers, celebrity drama, or "OMG Clare+Charlie=<3 4Evr," then look away. But if you want commentary on the production aspect of the show, studies of the mythology and story, and critiques of the episodes from someone with a screenwriting background, then you've found your man. And I've found an audience. And that's all we really want. Now, onto the matter and hand:

This week, the last week of July, marks roughly the halfway point of the summer hiatus. We're midway between the May 24 airing of the second season's finale, "Live Together, Die Alone," and the October 4 airing of the third season premiere, "A Tale of Two Cities." And what better excuse is there than a halfway point to revisit some of the mystery and excitement of the season finale you have TiVo'd?

Now, this is not intended to be an end-all, be-all collection of theories and tidbits about the episode. If you want a recap, or a comprehensive list of fan theories and other details, visit the episode's page on LostPedia. This is a chronological breakdown of some of the smaller curiosities that stood out to me in this repeat viewing. Stuff that I (and perhaps you too) might have missed the first time around while being baffled by the bigger stuff like the four-toed statue, but that I caught this time and can't quite shake the feeling that they're pretty significant to the story as a whole. If you've got a (legally obtained, of course) copy of the episode at hand, it might be fun to follow along. If not, here's a transcript.

Right after the first commercial break, Desmond says "we are stuck in a bloody snowglobe." Sound familiar?
Desmond mentions "hostiles" on the other side of the island rather offhandedly to Sayid. Inman mentions them later. Are these "hostiles" the Others? Is it Rousseau? Someone else entirely?
Libby mentions that her husband David "got sick." Any correlation to the injections and the Quarantine on the island? This lends credence to my theory that Libby has already had some experience on the island or somehow knew the plane was going to crash. I intend to write an entire article on that one in the future.
You know, I'm seriously beginning to think that the nets with the doll-traps aren't Rousseau's.
Upon second listening, that bird definitely did say his name. This moment is so out of the blue from the rest of the show, that my guess is that it is the see-the-monster-without-knowing-it moment that Damon and Carlton mentioned in the official Lost podcast before the show aired.
The Simpsons have four toes on each foot. I'm just saying.
So "Radzinsky made some edits" to the Orientation film. Does this have something to do with Kelvin considering the Others to be "hostiles"? By the way, I really don't think that the stain on the ceiling is Radzinsky. If it is, Inman killed him. But Radzinsky didn't kill himself.
Much has been made of the identity of the person that Sawyer shot. I think it's pretty clear that he's not an "Other" in the traditional sense. Personally, I'm in the camp that says it was Marvin Candle. How could he be the same age now that he was in 1980? Well, duh.
Hurley confronting Michael here is weak. Jorge does his best, but Hurley's just not very well written in this moment. In the post-episode podcast, Damon and Carlton admitted that this was probably the weakest scene in the episode, and since so much else had to happen in it (they deal with shooting a guy, they deal with Michael's betrayal, Jack explains he has a plan, etc.) Hurley's anger just sort of gets blown off. I'm inclined to agree that this is the weakest scene in the episode, but Hurley never gets a moment in the rest of the episode to show that anger. He had better be pissed off in the season premiere.
Desmond was discharged because he "couldn't follow orders." Is that a flashback set-up or what?
Eko says "open the door and I will forgive you." Locke gives a confused look before asking "forgive me for what?" Eko is a (sort of) priest, after all. It's part of his job to forgive sinners. I think that there is some other-worldly, religious thing going on with the Swan hatch and the button-pushing and the key-turning. I don't know what, but more on that later...
What of the seemingly abandoned Dharma station that Sayid finds? Since we don't really see much of Sayid any more after this point in the show — much like we didn't see the raft folks after the attack on the raft in "Exodus" — so my guess is that, like the rafties at the beginning of season two, we'll double back to explore more of what happened here within the first few episodes of season three.
Something must have moved the pile of pneumatic tubes. The way they were scattered about suggested that they had to have been interfered with, since if they all fell out of the pipe so close to the ground, they wouldn't have spread out like that. Something here isn't what it seems. Plus, if these are coming from the Pearl, what is the source of the vacuum?
Kate reads the phrase "0400 SR moves ping-pong table again," off one of the journals. My guess is that the "R" in "SR" is Radzinsky.

The whispering in the woods before the heroes get ambushed is worth mentioning because in one of the podcasts, Damon and Carlton carefully choose their words in describing how the whispers relate to the Others. They say that "we have been led to believe" (or something like that) the whispers are connected to the Others, which all but confirms that they are not.

The cheesy dot-matrix, sprocket-holed paper printout from the old computer equipment is exactly the kind of printout I deal with at my job (it's a shitty job). Let me tell you, the way those printers break down all the time if you're not careful, there is no way the Pearl was unmanned on 92204.
The half-deaf sound design when Charlie wakes up is what got the show nominated for the Sound Design Emmy. Did I mention that the show got screwed for Emmy nominations? 'Cause it did.
In what has to be the least subtle historical/mythological reference in the history of Lost or, indeed, television as a whole, a character named Penelope promises to "wait for you always."

In another moment that has me thinking there is something religious going on with the button-pushing and key-turning in the Swan, Des holds the keychain rather like a rosary when he's looking up to Locke at the hatch in the flashback. I'd dismiss it right away if he didn't later cross himself with the keychain, suggesting that he is indeed a Catholic, just before he turns the key.

Not-Henry is the only one who looks like he knows what's going on when the sky turns bright white. White, mind you, and not violet as Clare says.
By the way, I totally called it that the hatch would get blown up way back in, like, March. The losties went an entire season without having a hatch, and in the anything-goes take-nothing-for-granted style that Damon and Carlton and company have created this world... well... anything goes, and you can take nothing for granted. Especially something like shelter.

Charlie is acting really odd when he gets back to the beach. Could be a head injury, but when he says of Locke and Eko "they're not back yet?" it makes me wonder if he had some sort of spiritual experience with those two when the key was turned. Or, if there is no head injury and there is no spiritual experience, then it's just more awkward writing for the episode. Plus we know that Desmond, Locke and Eko are in season three, so wherever they are, they'll be coming back.
You never get a full shot of Walt. Presumably because Malcolm David Kelly isn't as young as he was back in the summer of '04. Damon and Carlton said at Comic-Con, however, that the issue of Walt's growth would be addressed, and they also suggested that time may pass differently on the island than in the rest of the world.
The number 7418880, which appears on the screen of the remote station computer, is 4*8*15*16*23*42. But you already knew that, right?
And there we have it. A second viewing of the second-season finale of Lost: "Live Together, Die Alone." Liked what I have to say? Have theories of your own about the finale? Think I should never do this again and it was a stupid idea? Let me know. I'd like for this column to be fairly interactive, letting your comments guide what kind of stuff appears in the articles. So, comment away. What else are you going to do with your time, look for code fragments?

Boxclocke is the pseudonym of Baylor Johnson, a student filmmaker and screenwriter at the University of Texas at Austin. His personal blog is The Boxclockery, part of The Workingchair.

ping pong table: Despite camp's success, its future is uncertain

2006-07-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

As North Bay Village PAL's first summer camp draws to a close, the organizer, city officials and campers are happy with the results, but the status of a camp next year is still up in the air.
BY EMILY STEVENS
Miami Herald Writer
It has been a summer of firsts for North Bay Village Police Athletic League.

Not only did the PAL hold its first summer camp, but for many of the 45 or so children who participated, some outings marked their first experiences with activities like horseback riding and museum tours.

Consider a camp outing earlier this month to the ice rink at Miami Beach's Scott Rakow Youth Center: With wobbly legs and uncertain expressions, many of the children clung to the railing as they navigated their way on the ice. Some took their chances and attempted to skate unassisted -- many times slipping and sliding on the ice before falling down.

Experience was no guarantee of success, noted 10-year-old Mercedes Leguizamon.

''I've been [ice skating] a couple of times, but I'm not very good,'' she said. ``It's still fun, though.''

Leguizamon, who attends Biscayne Elementary, deemed most of the field trips to be ``fun.''

''Normally, I would be relaxing at my house watching TV, but I'd rather be here at camp,'' she said during the Rakow outing. ``Going bowling was my favorite [field trip] because it was fun making so many strikes and having fun with my friends.''

Victor Accove, an 11-year-old who attends Treasure Island Elementary, said his best camp memory is making new friends. Well, that and the field trip to Dave and Buster's, ``because there's so many games to play and so many prizes to win.''

The rave reviews are music to the ears of North Bay Village detective Lisa Gittner, a 15-year veteran of the department who has overseen the PAL since it was created last year. Memories of her childhood involvement with a PAL summer camp in the Bronx motivated her to create the camp.

Her family couldn't afford to send her to any of the other summer camps offered in that area, she says, so she was grateful for the police officers who took the time to find her a place in their PAL camp.

''I remember the day I was playing Ping-Pong with a police officer. I never imagined it would affect my life, but it came back full circle because now here I am playing Ping-Pong with them,'' she said, refering to her young campers this summer.

Aside from Ping-Pong and trips to area gaming centers, the children have also been horseback riding at Enchanted Forest Park in North Miami and gone to the movies and area museums. Gittner said she also tries to make sure even the days spent at the school aren't lacking in activities.

With funding from the North Bay Village Police Department, Gittner purchased two air hockey tables, two foosball tables, a pool table, a Ping-Pong table and water toys. She makes sure the snack cabinet stays stocked.

The campers also have had a luau, arts and crafts days, a water sports day -- including an inflatable pool and Slip-N-Slides -- and played numerous basketball tournaments at school.

'I said, `I'm gonna open a camp if it kills me,' and it almost did,'' Gittner said.

''I had to go out and buy all this stuff,'' she said in reference to the games set up in Room 24 at the school.

Funding for equipment, supplies, lunches, outings and insurance came from the city of North Bay Village and police department, and costs were offset by registration and weekly fees.

Most of the children in the camp live in North Bay Village, but some from Miami Beach attended if space was available.

Gittner said the funding was sufficient for this summer, but its future summers are uncertain.

''We need a lot of help from the community to keep this program going,'' she said. ``I have no permanent facility. I don't know if the principal will let us have the class again. Plus I'll have to put everything in storage at the end of the summer.''

For a memorable finale this week, Gittner plans an overnight canoeing and camping trip in Arcadia at Peace River, to be sponsored by the North Bay Village PAL and the Miami Rotary Club. Campers and their parents are invited to enjoy the outdoors and spend the night in sleeping bags inside cabins or tents -- all at no additional cost.

North Bay Village Mayor Joseph Geller said he was grateful for everyone who helped make the camp a success, calling it ''a great thing'' and ``a terrific opportunity for our citizens.''

''One of our focuses over the past few years has been trying to find things for our young people to do,'' he said. ``And having this camp that's open to anybody in North Bay Village is an opportunity for the kids to have some fun while being properly supervised; and parents can feel confident that their kids are safe.''

Commissioner Tzvi Bogomilski agreed, saying the camp is ``a major step for North Bay Village.''

''It was a lot of hard work, but it was worth it because we've never had anything like this before,'' Gittner said. ``The turnout has been amazing.''

ping pong table: Father-son duo double their fun in BSSG

2006-07-18T01:56:00.000-07:00

By JOHN LETASKY
Of The Gazette Staff

Whether they are playing with a paddle or a racket, be on the lookout for the Bradys this weekend.

The father-son duo of Lance and Ryan are doubles partners in both table tennis and tennis at the 21st annual Big Sky State Games. They are both also entered in singles in table tennis.

The Bradys will be playing table tennis at Rocky Mountain College and tennis at Pioneer Park. It is the third time Lance, 50, has competed in the BSSG and the fifth time for Ryan, 18. Both have interesting reasons for participating.

"For me I'm usually a spectator and I always like watching," said Lance, who is a civil engineer for the Bureau of Land Management. "It's just fun. I know a lot of people and a lot of kids playing and I enjoy watching them. As far as why I'm playing this year, I guess he (Ryan) conned me into it."

"I play for similar reasons (as my father)," said Ryan, who graduated from Billings West this spring and plans to attend Montana State. "I know a lot of people and a lot of my friends play. It's another event to compete against them. Also, it helps me know athletes from other cities I might play against in tennis."

While the Bradys have never played in a table tennis tournament, they did play tennis together two years ago at the BSSG and, according to Lance, it was the "first and only time we played tennis together."

Although they have limited experience playing in tourneys together, it's not like the Bradys are not up to the task. Ryan played varsity tennis all four years he was at West, including three years in doubles. This past season West tied for the Class AA boys team championship with Bozeman. Ryan and doubles partner Jacob Ness helped the Bears' charge with a fourth-place showing.

"We just thought it would be a fun thing to do," said Ryan of entering BSSG. "Just get a little practice in and give it a go for better or for worse."

At their home, the Brady's have a ping pong table in the basement and they go through periods where they play a lot of games every night. Ryan said that regardless of the outcome, the games are still a challenge and enjoyable.

"Ryan usually wins," said Lance. "I'll have a spell where I win more than half. Those are kind of rare. I try to win one or two games out of 12.

"I never wanted to keep score with Ryan until he was competitive with me, and before long he was regularly beating me and that was probably five years ago."

Although at these BSSG table tennis is played indoors in air conditioned comfort and tennis outside in temperatures approaching 100 degrees, the sports do offer certain similarities and differences.

"I think a little table tennis can help regular tennis," said Lance. "It requires a quick reaction and hand-eye coordination. Of course you aren't moving with your legs as much. I don't see tennis helping table tennis skills as much."

"I find a lot of tennis players more so than other athletes play table tennis," said Ryan. "Both sports help each other with respect to following the spin of the ball and the hand-eye coordination. Also, the sports just how they look. Table tennis is just like tennis but on a smaller scale and that's why tennis players are attracted to table tennis and vice-versa."

At these BSSG, Ryan is expecting a good showing from him and his father. That competitive nature will serve him well in college intramural activities such as tennis, table tennis and chess.

"I know a lot of the other kids who have played in the Big Sky State Games for table tennis and I'd like to think I'm better," said Ryan. "It will be fun."

Published on Sunday, July 16, 2006.
Last modified on 7/16/2006 at 1:50 am

Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

ping pong table: Table tennis draws players of all ages

2006-07-11T02:30:00.000-07:00

7/8/2006 12:28 PM
By: Adam Shub, News 14 Carolina

CHARLOTTE -- It's not the ping-pong you played in your basement. The U.S. Open table tennis championships wrap up Saturday night at the Charlotte Convention Center, and for its participants, the game is much more than a hobby.

Tim Boggan has written six volumes on the history of table tennis that spans back to the first tournament in 1923. The game now reaches more than 200 countries and players of all ages.

“We have a guy playing here that’s 86 years old,” Boggan said. “We have a guy who’ll actually be 90 next year and he plays well.”

Table tennis is not just for older players. There are plenty of kids hoping to walk out with some prize money. Michael Landers, 11, says he learned to play from his father.

“He got a ping-pong table at the house, and when I was really small … I used to hit a lot,” he said.

In all, $50,000 in prize money will be awarded.

ping pong table: Teens win club improvement funds

2006-07-07T00:54:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 6, 2006

Intrepid Keystone Club member Leah Mulrenan paints the one of the club's pool tables as part of their games room renovation project.

Woburn teens win AMEX sponsored video contest

Teens from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Woburn's Intrepid Keystone Club were one of only five groups around the country to win the "My Club's Future" video contest sponsored by American Express and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The program offered Boys & Girls Clubs across the country the opportunity to submit videos with ideas on how to improve their local chapter. One winner was selected from each of the five designated regions across the United States to receive a $5,000 cash award. More than 100 entries were submitted for consideration. The video produced by the Woburn teens with cooperation from the Woburn Public Media Center focused on improving their games room.

Club member Leah Mulrenan represented the Club at Boys & Girls Clubs of America's National Conference recently held in Boston for the award presentation.

Mulrenan and fellow Keystone Club members and staff worked diligently last weekend, prior to the first day of the club's summer session, to put their winnings to work. With funds in hand, they were able to purchase a new ping pong table, new foosball table, new games table, a variety of board games and new games room equipment and supplies. In addition to the new games, the club's pool tables were painted and recovered, an additional table was refinished, the club's games room counter was tiled and repainted and a fresh coat was paint was added.

"The Keystoners and staff did an amazing job pulling everything together in a short period of time to make their games room look really special, said Ron Chieves, the club's new assistant director. "The kids who came into the building for the first day of summer were incredibly excited. It shows how invested our teens are in their club and how much they care about it."

The "My Club's Future" video contest is part of a multi-faceted program by American Express to support the organization during its Centennial anniversary. The program, including contributions to the national organization as well as local clubs, will help BGCA to achieve its mission of providing a positive place for kids across the country. "American Express' long-standing support of our organization has truly had an indelible impact on BCGA at both a national and local level," said Evan McElroy, national vice president, marketing and communications, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "We're honored to have the support of American Express, their merchants and their card members to continue our work in being The Positive Place for Kids."

"American Express has for many years been a proud supporter of Boys & Girls Club of America and we share in the celebration of this tremendous milestone," said Lisa Gregg, vice president, marketing, American Express Establishment Services. "The work that BCGA carries out across the country has had an immeasurable impact on the lives of children and we are delighted to help that continue into their next hundred years.

"At the local level, American Express is pleased to sponsor the 'My Club's Future' contest. Each submission showed incredible creativity in demonstrating the needs of their club. We know the awards will go a long way in helping to fulfill the specific needs of these clubs."

ping pong table: PROSPECTS RECEIVE REAL NHL EDUCATION AT CAMP

2006-07-03T01:49:00.000-07:00

When the New York Rangers coaching staff discusses long-range plans for bringing prospects up through the team's developmental system, the focus is often on arming talented young players with as much information as possible before they are introduced to the NHL.

"We talked about how we want to play as the New York Rangers, and the areas we want to prioritize in terms of exposing young prospects to what it takes to be an NHL player, and in particular, a New York Ranger," said head coach Tom Renney of one such meeting held at the end of the 2005-06 season.

That season-ending meeting helped set the stage for this year's Prospect Development Camp at the Madison Square Garden Training Center. Thirty young men who dream of one day wearing the Rangers' jersey as NHLers have spent the past week pushing themselves to the limit at this camp, and they all feel their participation has brought them one step closer to realizing their dreams and becoming even better hockey players.

Tom Pyatt, a fourth-round draft pick in 2005, is known for being one the best conditioned players in the Rangers organization, not just among the prospects. He represented Team Canada in the 2006 World Junior Championship tournament, and credits the Blueshirts' 2005 prospects camp for helping him reach that goal. Even though he's in great shape to begin with, Pyatt said he still feels the rigors of such an intensive camp.

"Monday was a tough day with the on and off ice fitness testing, but it helps you get stronger," Pyatt said. "We have had some really good workouts and it's a great learning experience. It's been a great week"

Lewiston MAINE-iac star Marc-Andre Cliché, drafted in the second round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, also took part in his second prospects camp this year, and he agreed with Pyatt's assessment.

"I think this is really great because we are taught the correct techniques in here to reach the next level," said Cliche. "It's a chance for a lot of us to get the experience we need."

Cliche also spoke about the respect each player has for the Rangers staff, including Special Assistant Adam Graves, who is one of the camp's instructors.

"To be on the ice with Graves, it's unbelievable," said Cliche. "He's a great guy and I love him. He loves to teach us about his experiences, and he was such a great player. It's a great opportunity and he's taught me a lot of things."

The feeling is mutual for Graves, who said he has really been impressed with this year's crop:

"These kids want to be here. They want to come to this facility every day to train to play at Madison Square Garden and be a Ranger," said Graves, who played 772 career games for the Blueshirts. We hope to get the right structure in place to get each player to commit themselves to getting there and being the best they can be."

University of Maine graduate Greg Moore is another player who has taken advantage of the prospects camp over the past few years.

"This is my third summer at camp and I have learned a lot of things that have helped improve my game," says the 6-foot-1 forward who grew up in Maine. "Even the smallest little things from the coaches on the ice can have a huge impact on your game. They have especially stressed an outstanding work ethic both on and off the ice. It's a standard that definitely helps. It builds my motivation for the summer and brings a lot of confidence to a lot of players who come in here and play with their peers. We know we've been in a Rangers camp, and now can go home and play with our competitive peers that we have played with before and play with a better level of confidence."

Goaltender Chris Holt participated in his fourth camp this year, even though he's just 21 years old. The only player at the camp with NHL experience, he has taken a huge step in his development by becoming both a leader on and off the ice for his peers.

"I've been talking to the young guys a lot," said Holt. "They all want to know what its like up there. They want to know what its like during the season, how all the guys are, what the locker room is like, and everything that comes with playing in the National Hockey League. This is the first year I have felt like a leader, and I am hoping to steer these guys in the right direction."

If he has his way, Holt has helped to reinforce the need for fitness, which has been the top priority at this camp.

"Fitness is always the number goal here at these camps," Holt explains. "It should be the number one priority for all these guys, myself included especially. Personally, after last year's camp [Strength and Conditioning Coach] Reg Grant and the coaches helped me make my weight, and I lost a bit more than twenty pounds to get where the coaches wanted me to be."

For many prospects, this camp marked the first time they have been on the ice since the end of their junior, college or European seasons, and they all say it feels great to be back on the ice.

"We are doing a lot of flow drills," says defenseman Michael Sauer, the 40th overall pick in the 2005 draft. "We worked on a lot of passing and shooting the first few days, and now it's been a lot of battle drills. Fighting for the puck along the boards and in front of the net, and positioning yourself along with your opponent. We have had a some really good workouts."

Brodie Dupont, one of two Rangers third-round draft picks in 2005, said he's extremely grateful for the Prospect Development Camp.

"They makes you realize what it takes to make it at the NHL level, and last year's (camp) helped raise my game a bit," says the star center for the WHL's Calgary Hitmen, who netted 30 goals for the first time in his career and more than doubled his scoring totals from the previous year. "I'm coming in here this year looking for advice. My mindset is obviously these guys are here for a reason, so I'm going to ask them a lot of questions."

Hugh Jessiman, the Rangers' first-round pick in 2003, is another fan of the camp.

"This is my third camp, and I am a stronger player both physically and mentally as a result," he said. "It really has been good for me because it gives me a chance to soak up a lot of what they are saying and use it the rest of the summer. It's always been very useful for me."

Lauri Korpikoski, the Rangers' second of two first-round selections in 2004, has a unique perspective on this year's camp. That's because last year at this time, he was getting ready to enter the Finnish Army, where he served from July until January.

"The army was a little bit tougher, but this camp is right up there," said Korpikoski. "They work us really hard, but it will pay off."

For Bobby Sanguinetti, the Blueshirts' first pick in this year's draft, the camp has been the latest stop on the non-stop roller coaster ride that was the last week and a half.

"It's been crazy running around with the travel from Vancouver," said the New Jersey native. "At the draft you are anxious to see where you are going, and then you find out and relax for a bit but then you are on the move again. But I am happy to be here. I am a little tired because they are working us real hard, but it is really great to be here."

Sanguinetti said he hopes to one day play alongside many of his fellow campers in the NHL.

"There are a lot of guys from the junior leagues," he said, "and it's the elite from each team. Everyone here is the best player on his respective team. They are bigger and stronger, some are older, but I still have a little time to improve and work on what I need to. It shows where I am at this point of my development and what I need to work on."

Amidst all the hard work and pressure, the kids still know how to enjoy their downtime. Moore has been the man to beat on the Ping-Pong table, while Sanguinetti and his former Owen Sound teammate Trevor Koverko have played countless games of pool. The players have also watched the World Cup soccer matches whenever they can, whether it is Marc Staal catching a game while working out, or Ryan Russell joining Rangers assistant captain Darius Kasparaitis to watch a game on the big-screen TV in the players' lounge.

There have also been some lighthearted moments on the ice. Everyone laughed as Graves and assistant coach Mike Pelino fought along the boards for the puck, or when Graves had to sprint down the ice after being stoned by Goaltender Miika Wiikman.

And on Friday, as Holt was turning aside shot after shot from the likes of Moore, Brandon Dubinsky, and Cliché, it was Pelino who managed to net the first goal. The assistant coach had fun with the moment – pumping his fist in excitement.

"It's a real aggressive camp," said Dubinsky. "They work us really hard but its good to get us into shape. It's something we all have to work on and I think I am getting prepared to make the next leap."

The players know they are under the constant watch of the Rangers' front office and coaching staff at camps like this one. Seated above the rink, Renney, President and General Manager Glen Sather, and Assistant General Manager Don Maloney closely eye the talent they have amassed over the past few seasons.

The timetable for each player's arrival on the Rangers' NHL roster is different, although those who have been in the system for a longer period of time are more likely to see action next season.

"It depends when you have been in," said Renney. "There have been guys who have been in camp three or four years ago, and that's realistic. I would say the evolution is somewhere in between three or four years before a draft prospect should be with the Rangers. There might be a surprise or two and we're always ready for that. We are always excited about surprises, and there certainly could be a couple."

One of those surprises came last year, in fact. In just a few months, Petr Prucha went from Development Camp prospect to a high-scoring Rangers regular.

"Last year we had Prucha at this camp and we all know the year he had," Pelino said. "We are keeping our fingers crossed that there is another Prucha out there and, hopefully, there will be a few of these guys knocking on the door come September."

ping pong table: Table Tennis loser has to jump the Net

2006-06-30T01:51:00.000-07:00

BY BILLY O'KEEFE
McClatchy Newspapers
--

"Rockstar Presents Table Tennis"For: Xbox 360

From: Rockstar San Diego/Rockstar Games

Rating: E (Everyone)

It seems just a little bit bizarre that any publisher -- never mind "Grand Theft Auto" purveyors Rockstar Games -- would harness the power of the Xbox 360 to give us what essentially is a fancier game of "Pong." But no one would blink at a traditional tennis game, so what's so bad about table tennis on overdrive?

As it turns out, not much. Judged exclusively on the merits of gameplay, "Table Tennis" takes the best part of video gaming's oldest hit recipe and makes it exciting again. Simply by reducing the playing field to the size of a ping pong table, "TT" becomes a game of speed, inches and especially anticipation. You'll need to respond to your opponent's shot as soon as (and ideally before) he or she takes it. The game offers its share of strategic means -- multiple shot types and control over spin and power -- but instinct is the true name of this game.

That alone not only legitimizes "TT," but also hoists it into a league all its own as far as sports sims are concerned. The first time you force a mistake out of your opponent after a 40, 60, 80 or 100-something-shot rally -- a cocktail of hypnotic and edge-of-your-seat gaming if ever there was one -- you'll understand.

Those who milk the gameplay for all its worth will eventually get their money's worth out of the $40 "budget" price, but it's worth noting that "TT's" single-player offerings leave something to be desired. There are several tournaments, but no career mode to glue them together.

The game's roster of fictional players looks fantastic and is surprisingly copious in the personality department, but you'll lament not being able to create your own player. Unlocking bonuses and accumulating achievement points do plenty to boost the game's longevity, and none of the aforementioned gripes are enough to offset the game's many pluses. But it'll take a sequel for "TT" to complement its gameplay with the kind of creative depth it deserves.

Billy O'Keefe writes video game reviews for McClatchy-Tribune News Service.

ping pong table: Gustavus Adolphus Home Celebrates 120 Years

2006-06-27T22:36:00.000-07:00

By SUELLEN CARLSON

6/28/2006 - Director of Volunteers,

Lutheran Social Services

The Gustavus Adolphus Home on the Lutheran Social Services campus is celebrating 120 years of service to young people. In preparation for the big event which will be held Aug. 26 to 27, there will be a chicken barbeque from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday in the cafetorium of the school.

To get there, go up Gustavus Avenue off of Falconer Street. Drive past the school and into the next parking lot on the right.

All proceeds of the barbeque will go to the purchase of recreational items for the youth.

Also in conjunction with the 120th anniversary, GA Family Services is continuing to attempt to contact as many past residents and staff as possible to be a part of its 120th Anniversary Celebration. The celebration will take place on the weekend of Aug. 26 to 27. Included in the festivities will be a Jammers baseball game, music, cook out, worship service and dedication of the ‘‘Wall of Fame’’ at the GA Learning Center.

To be included in the mailings or for further information, contact Liz Lobb at 665- 2116.

Also, GA Family Services has big plans to renovate the gym located in the residential facility and are seeking donations of recreational equipment. The goal is to give the youth a facility they both will take pride in and can earn the privilege to use.

‘‘It is important for GA to offer as many recreational options to our youth as possible,’’ stated Mike Hopkins, executive director of Gustavus Adolphus Family Services. ‘‘Given the length of the winters, indoor activities are essential to our programming success.’’

Some of the equipment GA is hoping will be donated are two slate pool tables, an air hockey table, a foosball table, ping pong table, shuffleboard table and a Nintendo 64 or other video game system. They are also hoping for a couch and love seat combination for a television viewing area. All equipment and furniture must be in good shape and able to stand up to the rugged use of very active teenagers.

To donate an item, please call Liz Lobb at GA Family Services at 665-2116. All items are tax deductible.

ping pong table: The Tao of the Barbecue Cycle

2006-06-22T23:14:00.000-07:00

In the winter, folks gather around a fireplace because it provides warmth and represents survival. On an atavistic level, the flickering of the flame is a window to the soul and to the history of the species. Fire speaks to us on a primeval level. The flame is mesmerizing, and the excitation and expansion of atoms release heat and light, summoning notions of the big bang itself, something that Homo Erectus must’ve grokked intuitively, all the way down to his hideous, unkempt toenails. Fire is a totem for all seasons: In the summer, the clans gather around outdoor barbecues and summon a flame that symbolizes survival in the form of sustenance. Following a ritual started by Early Man – who rubbed two sticks together, generating friction, and then ran a stick through the guts of a warthog and called it supper – tribes cook their protein, which makes meat easier to digest and prevents disease.
Yes, the exothermal process always speaks to humanoids, and, as the species has evolved, barbecuing is now hard-wired into our very DNA. Like the reproduction of the species, it’s a biological necessity to ’que. What separates us from the apes is not just the ability to walk upright. It is our capacity to douse briquettes with charcoal starter, drop a match, and bask in the glow of vanquished and inferior life forms, which have been set on fire with a spit rammed through their ass, all for our benefit.

(Judging by their diets, vegans and vegetarians have not made that metaphysical leap, and with this handicap, it is apparent that the only thing separating them from the missing link is, in fact, opposable thumbs.)

So light up the grill, pour some distilled spirits, and get in touch not only with your hunger, but also with Creation.

***

Traditionally, science class teaches young inchoate minds about something called the “carbon cycle” and its purpose for sustaining life on Planet Earth. The pattern goes like this: a) a plant inhales gases, exhales gases, dies; b) a living beast eats the dying plants; and c) the animal dies and its decaying carcass fertilizes the soils so plants can breathe, etc., etc., ad infinitum.

But as advanced beings, humans need more than science. We crave meaning. As such, spiritual explication of the carbon process can be heard at any funeral service these days: Listen as a cleric counsels the pious and grieving with the bit about “ashes to ashes and dust to dust.” This verse is the carbon cycle’s sacred corollary.

Which is to say that the evolution of the human animal has complicated nature’s algorithm and a simple repetitive pattern – it is an insufficient calculus to explain how life will sustain itself and flourish on the planet. To fill in the gap of modern metaphysics, we must study a new equation: So enter the BBQ cycle.

***

The BBQ cycle goes like this: The lighting of charcoal releases carbon gases that warm the earth’s atmosphere, slowly tearing a hole in the fabric that protects the planet from ultraviolet radiation. As the coals die down and glow like Satan’s psoriasis, meat – say a rack of raspberry-soaked beef ribs – is placed on the grill’s hot surface. Once grilled and then turned over, the cow parts are consumed by a gaggle of carnivorous partygoers, whose arteries will clog with the coagulated cholesterol. This greasy goo will choke off the blood and oxygen supply to the carnivores’ heart, sending the gluttons into early cardiac arrest, and ultimately killing the poor gourmands. After the de rigueur burial service and the invocation of the aforementioned "dust-to-dust" riff, decomposition begins. And then insect larvae infiltrate the casket and climb in and out of the eye sockets and various body cavities; worms begin to munch on the toothsome remains of the corpse, digesting the putrefied protein and turning it into waste, and the whole process tunes up the topsoil and makes it just right for vegetation to flourish.

In the interim, Orange Countians and Westsiders hop into gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles and motor to Pavilions for more racks of ribs, and their charcoal-burning grills and automobiles expel copious toxic particulates that throttle the ionosphere and poke an even bigger hole in the membrane between earth and annihilation.

Yes, it is summer in California, and the BBQ cycle repeats itself, while Brazilians with machetes are hired to hack up the rain forests because there is a demand for more grazing room for cheap bovine flesh to carve up into patties and toss on an outdoor grill … and deforestation becomes a necessary component, because it is important to kill as many farm animals as possible in order to continue to feed and clog the arteries of meat-eaters, who decompose and seed the growing grass, thus greasing the wheels of the barbecue cycle.

Without people dying en masse, the polar ice caps will melt.

***

The lighting of a barbecue not only provides a necessary geodynamic function, it also serves a crucial social one: Like the gathering of apes around the dead zebra and the obelisk from the future in 2001, a proper barbecue is a social gathering. It will fulfill the quest for fire on a primeval level, and also, because of its spiritual component, inspire rarefied conversation, reminding all involved that we are in a New Age of Enlightenment.

I hosted such a gathering recently. Below are excerpted snippets of dialogue that prove Descartes and Rousseau have nothing on the finest minds in Los Angeles gathered around buckets of beer, stacks of hamburger buns, and globs of guacamole. To wit:

“You know, whenever I hear Blink-182, I immediately think Buck Owens.”

“I think it’s Steely Carmichael, not Hoagy Carmichael. Unless this guy was a white dude that started a riot in the inner city by playing the piano.”

“So we’re filling up the van in Tehachapi, and this elderly Chicano guy is telling us what an asshole Gram Parsons was ... .”

“Watching drag racing on TV is like listening to opera over the phone.”

“Technically, it is a collection, not a compilation.”

“Actually we met at Jumbo’s Clown Room.”

“Here. Put six drops of this under your tongue.”

“That flag is from America’s Second War of Independence … .”

“Who brought the Danica Patrick Twinkies?”

“There was plenty of light by the ping pong table. But somebody must’ve stolen the tiki torch.”

“Yeah, right. If you are going to have a threesome with Santa Claus, you’re going to want to do it in Albuquerque.”

“How much was it for the accordion player with the mohawk?”

“Really. OK, how much would you pay to have him ‘taken care of’?”

“If you are fixing your toilet with a coat hanger, just remember that the rabbit comes out of the hole, runs around the tree ... .”

“Well, sometimes you have to break your own rules. Like that time Hunter S. Thompson offered me cocaine at the breakfast table in a hotel in Beverly Hills.”

“The bad news is that your hammock is completely shredded. The good news is that you now have an opportunity to brush up on your macramé skills.”

ping pong table: Hopkinton's history ensconced in stone house

2006-06-20T01:22:00.000-07:00

By Susan Brickman/ Crier Staff Writer
Friday, June 16, 2006

The runaway slaves in the cramped tunnel, so accustomed to maintaining silence, murmured to one another, encouraged by the cacophony of voices, the metallic clang of ale-filled pewter mugs slapped together in friendship, the sound-buffering activities of Sabbath Day celebrants in the tavern above.

The slaves quietly talked of their temporary stop on the underground railroad, their protectors and the coming end of their journey. Upstairs, rubbing their rough hands in front of the roaring fire, the locals celebrated their freedom from the work week and the family, gossiped about the neighbors and studied their newly delivered mail in the dim light.

The tunnel is now perfect for a game of hide and seek. The pewter mugs have been replaced with glass steins and crystal wine glasses, but the mail still gets delivered to the building at 5 E. Main St. in Hopkinton, albeit just for the resident. The brick fireplace is stoked during the colder months, and tales of the community are still shared in the old Granite Tavern.

Little has changed at the 300-year-old former inn and tavern in the heart of Hopkinton, the 12-room stone building once known as a meeting place for the townsfolk, the headquarters for the militia in the late 1700s and the site of glamorous dances in the 20-by-40-foot second-floor ballroom. Today, however, this stately, single-family home with its 6,000 square feet of living space, two acres, tennis court, four-car garage, five bedrooms and three full baths is best known for its location: the starting line of the Boston Marathon.

Built in 1706, the Samuel Valentine Stone Inn and Store was first a wooden building where local residents warmed themselves after Sabbath Day services, exchanged news and picked up their mail. It was replaced in 1745 by the Stone Tavern, was a summer resort and, for the last 30 years, has been home to a family dedicated to preserving the integrity and historic features of the colonial landmark.

The sprawling home with its eight fireplaces (the three grandest ones are still operable) its old stone jail cell, utilized years ago as a safe-house for some of the town's inebriated residents, and its "illegal" mega-wide pine flooring, is on the market, listed at $950,000 with Nancy Wilson and Robin Fay of Century 21 Westward Homes, Hopkinton.

Despite its age and history, every one of the rooms in this home is practical, from the not-too-formal dining room to the fireplaced living room with its built-in bookshelves to the cozy den with a working fireplace, original, rounded built-in bookcase, cherry flooring and deep storage closet.

The tap room, however, is the entertainment center of the house. Painted a rich red, it still has a beamed ceiling, wide pine flooring, an immense brick fireplace with a wood box, and, behind a dutch door, a built-in bar with a sink and refrigerator. There also is a convenient back staircase up to the former ballroom, now a media room and game room, with space for a pool table, ping pong table, even a home theater.

And that's just the right side of the house.

The other main gathering place is the kitchen, done in a country design with custom, nearly knotless custom pine cabinetry, Corian counters, a working fireplace with a wood box, exposed beams, wainscoting, pull-out shelves, over-cabinet lighting, a Jenn-air oven, an electric cook top, a microwave and convection oven and a large area for a country table. Behind it is a pantry area with a laundry closet, attached to a mudroom and the one-car attached garage. There are three other garages at the end of the driveway.

The center foyer, running from the front to the back of the house, runs past a quaint full bath with a porcelain sink set in tile, tile flooring, bead board walls, and a fiberglass and tiled shower. It's the perfect place for cleaning up: the rear door adjacent to the bath opens to the patio which in turns leads to the level play area and on to the tennis court.

Upstairs, in addition to the five bedrooms, three with wide pine flooring, two with oak flooring, two with fireplaces and all with many closets, is that massive ballroom with hardwood flooring under the carpet, the curved, vaulted ceiling, two fireplaces and walls of windows with deep sills.

At the front of the hallway is a full bath with a tub with a fiberglass surround and a white vanity with a porcelain sink. The third bath is located in back and features a pine vanity that matches the pine doors to the built-in closets and the shutters and a tiled tub/shower.

There also is a full, walk-up attic, two furnaces, 200-amp electrical service, public water and sewer, a storage shed, mostly new windows and a security system.

For more information, contact Wilson at 508-820-6094 or Fay at 508-269-4441.

ping pong table: Table tennis welcomes all comers as club grows

2006-06-20T01:19:00.000-07:00

By Abby Seiff
June 2, 2006 in Sports
Few people realize there is a table tennis club at this school, let alone that it’s been around for some time. But if they were to wander around the basement of Ida Noyes, as club president third-year Matthew Mao was doing several months ago, they might even stumble across some ancient ping-pong robots. The robots are machines costing hundreds of dollars that spew balls in rapid succession at the athlete-in-training. They are something that only a very well off team would purchase. The club, with eight or so core members, whose last budget request was to the tune of $154, was once quite rich and dedicated.

These days the club is more of a mixed bag. It’s peopled by both the extremely competitive and recreational players. International students who played the sport in high school arrive desperate for a table tennis fix. Visiting professors and scholars come to the club looking for an outlet during their short stays. Once, a former player from the junior team of Singapore was an active member of the club. And e-mails like the one that came last January from Jack Liu are not so unusual: “We are the exchange scholars from China and will arrive [in] Chicago at Jan. 20. We expect to play table tennis there with the members of the club…. You know we are super fans of table tennis and don’t satisfy two days play a week.”

While the immediate, near-addictive needs of its near-professional members are served, the recreational players get a great learning opportunity. Mao is the poster child for this type of player. He started playing on his dorm’s ping-pong table and became fairly involved. “I became, like, the king of the table.” He liked playing so much that he looked up the club and started going to practices—where he lost miserably. But the game was fun, so he kept it up. Mao developed some of the muscles that good ping-pong players use; he learned that, despite appearances, all the power comes from the legs. He began to explore the game outside of the University. In Chinatown, Mao picked up a cut-rate, but excellent, coach, and at a club on 47th Street, he played against 70-year-olds.

“It’s been a really great way to get to know people—especially around Chicago and the Hyde Park community,” Mao said.

Because of its mix of new and old players, the team rarely has the resources to fit all of its needs. The team has four tables, three of which are in workable condition, and of the 20 or so players who start out with the club at the beginning of the year, few are patient enough to wait around for the tables come practice time. The very good international players come and go. And nearly everyone is hampered by their primary reason for being here: academics. While the club has few players to begin with, come exam time it’s surprising if anyone shows up.

Four or five people are needed to field a team for competitions, and the team doesn’t have enough manpower to do that. Instead, players go on their own to individual tournaments. When the team was a member of the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA), something chose not to participate in this year, they were competing against schools which had drafted their ping-pong players.

“Truth be told, I think we were last on all of the NCTTA,” Mao said.

In America, table tennis is seen as a pseudo-sport. While there are clubs and dedicated players, the sport, when it is viewed as a sport at all, is something of a popular joke—think of Forrest Gump’s incarnation as a professional ping-ponger. Overseas, however, table tennis is nearly another soccer or basketball. Millions watch games, hound players for autographs, and enroll in lessons. There are some 40 million competitive players. The game has been an Olympic sport since the late 1980s. In the United States, it’s a basement toy, but nearly everywhere else, table tennis is the height of athleticism.

For example, when Mao studied abroad in Paris last quarter and wanted to keep up his game, there was a million-dollar facility in the middle of the city open 65 hours a week. There were dozens of people there at any time of the day, playing under lighting specially created for optimal table tennis condition. In the United States, if there are clubs, they tend to be like the one in Chicago’s Chinatown: two tables and dozens of players waiting patiently. The number of people who are interested in the sport may not be as high, but they are surely as dedicated.

The club at the University of Chicago hopes to meet the needs of the dedicated. Those who want to play can, after all, wait an hour for a table. Those who become addicted to the game, as Mao did, can put up with the inconveniences inherent in such a small club. They can handle, for instance, this year’s unlucky lottery draw that put the club in the balcony of Henry Crown and sends scores of balls flying over the side, two stories down. The number of dedicated players on the team may be small, but they are happy to have any club at all, and they send e-mails bouncing back and forth across the listhost setting up additional practices and games.

In the future, perhaps the makeup of the club will change. There may be fewer international former semi-pros, there may be more basement warriors. But the members of the club are glad to share their passion with anyone who might be interested.

“There really is no barrier to playing with us,” Mao notes. “We have no fees, we lend out paddles, we lend out balls. We even get people borrowing them for beer pong. We don’t ask, but they come back freshly washed.”
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Permanent URL: http://maroon.uchicago.edu/sports/articles/2006/06/02/table_tennis_welcome.php

ping pong table: Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis

2006-06-12T23:45:00.000-07:00

by RockStar Games

Reviewer: Gabe Boker
Review Date: 06/12/2006

Rockstar Games is a corporation best known for titles such as Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, and the controversial gore-fest Manhunt. As evident with their previous track-record, they’re a developer who enjoys pushing the envelope. When Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis was announced, some wondered how a team who usually works on innovative ways to virtually murder people would deliver a light-hearted ping-pong game. I was one of those people.

Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis strictly follows alongside its real-life counterpart. Table tennis is a game of precision, skill, and focus. All of these elements shine through in this Xbox 360 interpretation. The key facet here is how you can seamlessly put spin on your shots via either the face buttons or the right analog stick. Perhaps what’s even more substantial is how great placing spin onto a shot can sway a rally. Firstly we will take a look at implementing spin through the face buttons. The A button will enable a topspin dish, which is arguably the most reliable shot. Backspin is done by pressing Y. This is a shot that you’ll want to execute if you want to slow the pace of the game down. If you combine a backspin hit with the left bumper, which is used for a soft shot, the entire rhythm of the game can be skewed. Left and right spin shots are done with X and Y respectively. Next we have the analog method. The shots here are self-explanatory, with an up flick enabling topspin, and a back flick for backspin and so forth. Which route will give you more control? Personally, I use the face buttons. I tend to hit more shots out when using the analog stick, which in the long haul results in losing matches. On the other hand, if you’re familiar with the Fight Night-esque setup, use the analog scheme by all means.

Serving is carried out by way of two meters, one for power and one for spin. Combining a balanced mixture of both power and spin is your ticket to a well-done serve. One of my complaints though is how hard it is to obtain an ace. In the sport of table tennis, aces aren’t hard to come by, especially if you’re a talented player. Another problem I encountered was this game’s whacky physics engine. In example, let’s assume you’re running to the left side of the table and out of the blue your opponent places a subtle shot in the right area of the playing surface. This will cause you to change directions, but due to the physics, you most likely won’t be able to get back in apt time to make the play. This isn’t tennis. We’re talking about a ping-pong table that’s a mere few feet in width; going from one end to another shouldn’t be this hard.

As you probably already know, there is no create-a-player option. Not only is this a letdown, it’s a real shame as the characters available are your stereotypical, little to no emotion individuals with no depth. In addition, not only can you not create your own player, you can’t improve your character’s attributes in single-player. This is mainly due to there being no career mode, rather mere tournament play with no sense of accomplishment. Sure, you can unlock new outfits and characters, but unless you’re competing to develop yourself in various aspects of your game, the realism factor immensely decreases. I guess what Rockstar wants here is for you to get better, as opposed to relying on your character’s jaw-dropping stats that you built up by playing tons of hours. Very well, but if that’s the case, just make it so you can’t take your created monster online. Offline attribute-whoring should, after all, stay offline where it belongs.

All this aside, partaking in tournaments is actually very enjoyable. There are three different circuits: amateur, rookie, and pro, or in layman’s terms, easy, medium, and hard. The reason to play through the different difficulties is simple – to unlock more selectable characters to use online. On average, a tournament will take around 40 minutes to complete, give or take depending on the circuit. Something I admired about this mode was its atmosphere. Even though it’s single-player, you can still feel the excitement of the crowd on a close match or a clutch point. For example, if it’s match point, and say you’re using a player of Swedish descent, the audience will start to chant ‘’Sweden, Sweden, Sweden…’’ This is a nice touch, no question.

The only other offline facet here, apart from exhibition mode, is training. Unlike in most titles, you’re actually going to learn a great deal. Training mode will more than anything educate you on the numerous control mechanics, and how to utilize them to your advantage. You’ll also obtain an Xbox Live Achievement by completing all of the exercises with a perfect rating, as if you needed supplementary incentive to try this ravishing mode.

At last we have reached the real motive to purchase Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis, and that motive is no doubt its near-flawless online play. It’s not exactly bountiful in content, but I’ll be the first to say, it excels in its raw simplicity. You have ranked and unranked matches, alongside a spectator mode, titled Table Tennis Network. As with tennis, or any sport for that matter, precision is absolutely vital. Ergo, lag would totally break a game such as this. I’m happy to report that I have experienced little to no lag during my time with Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis. In short, the online competition is fierce, the servers are fluent, and by George, it’s darned fun.

Presentation-wise, I think you’ll find a good amount to like here. The sound effects are spot-on, including the way the ball-to-paddle tone will vastly diverge for dramatic effect during a high-count rally. The visuals are a tad on the shiny and plastic look, but nevertheless they’re very well done, with superb lighting, texturing, and animations. Not much to complain about here.

Review Scoring Details for Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis

Gameplay: 8.5
Despite its blatant lack of content (namely a player creation facet), off the wall physics, and generally tiring gameplay, Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis actually interprets the sport of table tennis quite well. It gets the job done with a first-class online portion, lots of control choices, and overall sense of realism.

Graphics: 8.3
Too glossy and the hair on the players could use a few more polygons, but other than those two minor complaints, the visuals are exceedingly solid.

Sound: 7.9
The audio here doesn’t astound by any means, albeit atmospheric elements such as crowd emotion and ball-to-paddle effects are done remarkably well.

Difficulty: Medium
The pro circuit is a hearty challenge, and online rivalry will leave you running home to mommy. There’s always the amateur path for the feeble, though.

Concept: 8.3
This is the first table tennis video game I’ve played. You?

Multiplayer: 8.7
If this game were food, multiplayer would be its main course. Delicious on all fronts.

Overall: 8.4
On the whole, Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis is a very well-rounded package. Its online play is superb, its controls are open-ended, and it’s all presented with slick visuals and rock solid sound. For a budget price, you’re looking at one of the few must-have games for your Xbox 360.

ping pong table: 'Grand Theft Auto' maker shifts gears with ping-pong

2006-06-12T23:41:00.000-07:00

By Marc Saltzman
Gannett News Service

Monday, June 12, 2006; Posted: 1:44 p.m. EDT (17:44 GMT)

Manage Alerts | What Is This? You didn't buy your Xbox 360 to play table tennis.

Rather, you probably wanted all that horsepower for photorealistic 3-D shooters and blisteringly fast racing games.

But before you balk at a Ping-Pong simulation, give "Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis" a spin, and you won't be disappointed.

And when you experience the game's depth, speed and multiplayer features, you'll see why this is much more than just a pretty "Pong."

In case you've never played this leisure activity-turned-Olympic sport, table tennis is played on a rectangular surface measuring 9 feet long by 5 feet wide, with a net that runs through the middle of the table. You must hit the ball, which measures 40mm in diameter, with a racket (don't call it a "paddle"), so that it bounces on the opponent's side of the net. Your opponent, in turn, must volley it back so it does the same on your end. The objective is to make it difficult for your opponent to return the ball; if he or she fails to do so, you gain a point. The player who reaches 11 points first wins the game (if it's a tie at 10 points a piece, called a deuce, you must win by two points). Players may opt for a 7- or 21-point game instead.

In the solo mode, players compete against fictitious virtual opponents from around the world, each with their own play styles. For example, Liu Ping from China has a powerful forehand topspin, while Jesper from Sweden has a long reach and Germany's Juergen is quick on his feet. In time, you'll learn each of their weaknesses and how to exploit them.

You can play as only two out of the 11 players at the start of the game, but once you defeat opponents through the various circuits, new players will become unlocked, not to mention new apparel in which to outfit them. Players can also unlock close to 20 international arenas.

One of the great things about this game is how scalable the difficulty is. That is, novice or younger players can easily win a few rounds by pressing the green "A" button for a topspin shot and letting the artificial intelligence decide where the ball should land. But in order to win increasingly challenging tournaments, players must pick up more advanced skills such as choosing where the ball is placed on the opponent's side of the table and whether to apply a topspin, backspin, left or right sidespin, soft shot or focused shot. Plus, the longer you hold down the button during your swing, the more spin and power is applied to the ball (referred to as "charging").

Anyone who grew up with a Ping-Pong table in the basement will be amazed at the authenticity of this game's physics, as the ball responds as it would in real-life. Plus, the players look (and move) so lifelike, a passer-by may think you're watching a televised table tennis match instead of playing a video game.

The crowds in the game also react realistically, such as calling out the player's name ("Take your time, Haley!"), or when about to win, chanting "Juergen! Juergen! Juergen!" Techno music fades in after a few back and forth volleys.

Players can also log onto Microsoft's Xbox Live ($49.99 annual subscription required) to play against real human opponents. You can choose to engage in a casual exhibition match or a timed round robin tournament for up to eight players.

Shortcomings are few, but the game lacks a create-a-player option, plus you can't play doubles for two players on the same television, which would have been fun.

Overall, however, "Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis" is a highly polished, fast and gorgeous game with lots of depth. It may not sound like the kind of sports simulation you'd want beside your football or boxing titles, but it proves to be a surprisingly fun and addictive time-waster for the entire family.

ping pong table: Chinese ping-pong coach arrives

2006-06-08T01:58:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

With the 6th Micronesian Games expected to be the last regional competition for its top players, the CNMI National Table Tennis Team is leaving no stone unturned.

Although, Zheng Ma was recruited from China through the efforts of Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino to help train the three Tinian-based members of the team, Marianas Amateur Table Tennis Association said the 22-year-old former coach of the Yin He Table Tennis Club will also be made available to the rest of the national ping-pong table tennis team.

"As his background indicates, his presence will have a very big impact for the CNMI National Table Tennis Team, especially the players from Tinian," said MATTA official Mario Espeleta.

According to Tinian-based national team player Charlie Cheng, Ma now works as a ping-pong instructor in a big university in Xian, China. He also said that Ma used to coach the same team that now boasts of top-caliber table tennis players Ma Lin and Hao Shuai.

Aside from being a former coach of the Yin He Table Tennis Club, Ma also used to mentor the Shaanxi Provincial Table Tennis Team.

Cheng thanked TDHC chairman Michael Kwan, TDHC executives Alfred Yue and Liang Wei Bin, and China Foshan Office operations director Wan Chan for helping recruit Ma.

"Without their full support and help, we would still be training without a professional coach," he said.

Aside from Cheng, MATTA also chose Tinian No. 1 Luke Lu to be part of the CNMI ping-pong team for the Games. Liang was also picked by MATTA, albeit as an alternate.

Other members of the national table tennis team are Saipan-based players Su Yong Dong, Chen Lin Ying, and Budhi Gurung. The three bagged the bronze medal in last year's Palau South Pacific Mini Games.

MATTA also named its national women's ping-pong team last month and it includes veteran paddler Jean Shi, netter-turned-table tennis player Lucita Paculanang, and up-and-coming players Rose Agulto and Siri Welch.

The Micro Games on Saipan looms to be the last regional competition for the table tennis players, as the Pacific Games Council has modified eligibility requirements for future Games.

Starting next year in Apia, Samoa, only U.S. citizens are allowed to represent the CNMI in the quadrennial event and there's a strong possibility the Micronesian Games Council will adopt the same rule.

ping pong table: Table tennis welcomes all comers as club grows

2006-06-08T01:54:00.000-07:00

ping pong table: Draaksbad Ranch in Lassen National Park

2006-06-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

Draaksbad Ranch in Lassen National Park
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"There are no keys at Drakesbad," says Billie, our hostess, ...

by Kriss Hammond

Draaksbad Ranch in Lassen National Park
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"There are no keys at Drakesbad," says Billie, our hostess, while introducing us to the lay of the land. "We're on the honor system." This applies to everything from the sodas and beer in the ice buckets to the items in the concession store. Candy bars, sweatshirts, and books about the history of Drakesbad - you sign your name and room number on the roster and settle up upon your departure.

Not that you'd be in any hurry to leave Drakesbad Ranch. The guests that have visited year after year for generations know that Drakesbad is a place you'll want to spend some time.

It's not easy to get to Drakesbad, but that's part of what makes it so worthwhile. Hidden in the southern side of California's Lassen Volcanic National Park, the ranch is accessible only by a narrow country road that winds over three one lane bridges before losing its pavement before turning up a gravel track. The last few miles are unpaved, but easily navigable by careful drivers. Nope, no need for four wheel drive.

We arrived in time for lunch and dined on a buffet of fresh salads and deli fixings. Meals are included with the price of your stay. The staff understands that you might want to spend the day hiking in the surrounding splendor; they will pack a sack lunch for you if you sign up the night before. The kitchen is happy to accommodate any special dietary needs if you let them know before arrival.

After dining al fresco in the afternoon sunshine, we headed out to Devil's Kitchen. The lodge sits on the edge ofLet's Soak in Volcanic Hot Springs an expansive meadow frequented by dragonflies, mule deer, and red winged blackbirds, to name just a few of the remarkable denizens. We crossed the meadow to the forest and hiked up a moderately easy trail shared with horseback riders. (The ranch maintains a corral of horses and offers rides for all skill levels.) The two-mile hike ends in an array of steam vents and boiling mud pots. Deposits of sulfur coat the rocks and the air is filled with steam. Yes, there is a strong smell, described to us in advanced by two little boys on the trail: "It's really stinky up there!" This is just one of a number of hiking destinations and the ranch even keeps a canoe at one of the nearby lakes - but you have to take advantage of that early in the season. The lakes are formed by snow melt and evaporate by the end of summer.

When we returned to the ranch, I poured myself a glass of cold lemonade that's available all afternoon outside the dining room. Then we explored the possibilities the ranch offers for the most essential of vacation activities: doing NOTHING. A covered porch offers comfortable seating and a shady place to rest. There's a hammock hanging above a circle of wild trillium. My favorite place was the bench swing on the edge of the meadow where the deer came to graze. And of course, there's a pool for lazy soaking and sunbathing.

It's not just any pool, though. It's fed by the hot springs up the valley. For over 100 years people have taken comfort in these healing waters.

Accommodations at Drakesbad are rustic but very clean and comfortable. Our room, paneled in knotty pine, had its own half bath, but for showers, we used the bathhouse down by the pool. A few of the cabins have full baths, and seasoned Drakesbad guests were heard to suggest that taking such a cabin would be "copping out" on the Drakesbad way of life. Mind you, the same guests were heard to suggest that brushing your hair for dinner was also copping out.

Drakesbad is plenty kid friendly, with games and puzzles in the common lodge, a ping pong table, and a terrific tire swing in the shape of a pony. Even swimming pool toys are provided.

The dinner bell rings promptly at six, but there's no hurry. Show up any time before seven and you'll be fed, and fed well. We dined on tilapia and fresh vegetables, prepared with an Asian flair. Our hosts, Ed and Billie, made the rounds, welcoming the new guests and sharing pictures from previous years with the regulars. The youngster at our table bolted his food and rushed out to join the sunset horseback ride with the other kids while his mom enjoyed her meal at a more leisurely pace.

The kids returned as evening settled in around us. Dusk hours at Drakesbad are quiet but still social, with families playing board games in the lodge or sitting around the campfire. Drakesbad generously supplies the makings for s'Mores, but you'll want to get there quick if there are a lot of kids around - any that weren't on the ride had rushed to the campfire to build their own toasted marshmallow treats. The lights go out around 10 p.m., leaving you to the starlight and the glow of the kerosene lanterns. You can soak in the pool under the stars or curl up in the comfort of your room.

Gourmet Dining at Drakesbad - Ranch StyleBreakfast follows the same routine as dinner, with a bell to let you know that it's time to fuel up for the day. We had 'scrambles' just the way I like them (and I'm fussy about my eggs!). Ed poured hot chocolate for our young table mate with the flair of the finest of European maitre 'ds. The sack lunches, ordered at dinner the night before were stacked on the stairs, ready for hikers and riders.

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Pam, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

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ping pong table: Ben Nevis - A Brief History Of Humans On The Mountain

2006-06-06T06:11:00.000-07:00

If you are planning to attempt to walk up Ben Nevis this summer there are some interesting facts you might like to know. Standing at 1,344 metres high (or 4,408 feet) Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles, and as such is the major challenge for any UK climber or walker. It is also a ...

by Trish Haill

If you are planning to attempt to walk up Ben Nevis this summer there are some interesting facts you might like to know. Standing at 1,344 metres high (or 4,408 feet) Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles, and as such is the major challenge for any UK climber or walker. It is also a challenge for people to get into the record books by attempting the climb in peculiar ways!

For the novice or non serious walker, once this peak has been achieved you can sit back and hang up your walking boots knowing that you have beaten the ultimate walk (as far as height is concerned, anyway).

Ben Nevis, translated from the Gaelic means 'Mountain of Heaven'. The first recorded ascent was in 1771, and in 1883 the footpath and observatory were built all thanks to Clement Linley Wragge, nicknamed Inclement Wragge.

Ben Nevis Weather

If you plan to walk up Ben Nevis you will find it hard to pick a day with perfect weather. The mountain summit is only clear on one day out of 10 on average. The old observatory records show 261 full gales per year, and 4,350 mm of rainfall, compared with less than half that amount in Fort William, the town at the foot of the Ben. The wettest month of the year is December. Only in April, May and June is the monthly rainfall less than 25 cm.

The AVERAGE temperature at the summit is one degree below freezing.

Deep snow lies all year in large pockets at the foot of the northern and northa east cliffs, and snow can fall in any month of the year. h

Every year around 100,000 visitors find their way to the summit. Following the path on a summer's day is a fairly safe way to the top, but going off the path or rock climbing can be very dangerous. In a five year period there were 13 deaths on the mountain. Although most averagely fit people can reach the top safely, it is not a walk in the park, and common sense safety precautions should be followed.

Check the weather before you set out!
Always make sure someone knows you are going to climb the mountain so they can raise the alarm if you do not return!
Keep to the path!

Meteorologists on Ben Nevis

Wragge was a meteorologist who climbed Ben Nevis every day to collect weather information. Wragge would collect information from various points on the way up and down the mountain, and his wife would collect readings from their home at sea level. His journey took him four hours to reach the top, and he was away from home for around 11 hours per day. From the 1st June 1881 to the 14th October 1882, and for a similar period in 1882 Wragge climbed the mountain every day without fail. In 1883 sufficient funds were raised to build the path and the 13 foot square room with 10 foot thick walls which was to be the Observatory. To help raise the funds walkers using the path were charged 1 shilling (5p in modern money), and 3 shillings if they were on horseback. Permits could be bought from a shop in Fort William, or from a path maintenance man based at the half way hut.

By 1884 an office, two bedrooms and a visitor's room was added to the observatory, together with a 30 foot tower (which would rise above the snow in the winter. The observatory was connected by telegraph, and later by phone to the Fort William Post Office. From 1884 to 1904, when funds ran out, the observatory was permanently manned and weather conditions were rigorously recorded. The normal summer shift at the summit was two months. They had fresh food in the summer. In the summer tinned food for nine months was taken up by horses, and coke, for fuel, was carried the same way.

To amuse themselves the staff of the observatory made sledges, used snow shoes and skis, and made an outdoor ping pong table out of frozen snow. They carved wood, and played the pipes, violin, flute, mandolin and accordion. One of their more alarming pastimes was to hurl large boulders over the cliffs so they could hear them rumble and crash into the glen below.

Temperance Hotel

A small wooden hotel annexe was also opened, the Temperance Hotel, run by two young ladies who provided food and a bed during the summer months. They charged 3 shillings for lunch, and 10 shillings for tea, bed and breakfast. A fashionable way to ascend the mountain was by pony, and 21 shillings hired the pony and a guide.

In 1916 the hotel also closed, and the buildings gradually fell into disrepair, aided by fire, and climbers who in 1950 were seen stripping the lead from the roof and rolling it down the mountain.

Ben Nevis conquered by Car

In 1911 a 20 horse-power Model T Ford was driving to the top of the mountain as a publicity stunt by the Ford agents in Edinburgh. Henry Alexander Jr, the son of the owner, was the driver. The car was not simply driven up the track - it involved 10 days of preparatory work finding and checking a driveable way to just the half way mark, and to put in bridging planks. It took three further days to drive the car to this point and just two more days to cover the stones and snow to the observatory. The car would sink axle deep in the boggy ground and would have to be hauled out by role. The 'Daily Telegraph' reported at the time that a false turn of the wheel would mean a fall which would have caused total destruction to the car, and certain death to the driver!

Me Alexander was feted as a hero when the car returned to Fort William. After the brakes were adjusted no other repairs were necessary, and the car was driven back to Edinburgh.

Mr Alexander seemed to enjoy his feat so much that he repeated it in 1928, this time in a Standard New Ford (Model A Ford). The last quarter of a mile was driven with four passengers.

Ben Nevis conquered by Bed

In 1981 a group of Glasgow University medical students pushed a bed to the top - they were accompanied by the former newscaster Reginald Bosanquet (then 48) who collapsed 1000 feet up. He later recovered and was able to walk down.

Other weird ascents:

A man from Fort William pushed a wheelbarrow to the summit and back before 1911.

A horse and cart has also been driven to the top.

In September 1980 the kilted Kenneth Campbell of Ardgay, Ross-shire carried a barrel to beer to the top to raise funds for cancer research. The barrel had legs down either side so it could be put down on the ground whenever he needed a breather.

The same Kenny also carried a piano to the summit and back.

So, whilst your planning your walk or relaxing after having achieved it, just spare a thought for the man who climbed the mountain day after day to take readings at the observatory, or those who have attempted the climb in improbable circumstances. For me, once was enough to say I had done it. But maybe the tales of the endeavours above have inspired you…..?

About The Author:
Pat Ransom has walked both Snowden and Ben Nevis and encourages others to do the same on the website http://www.mountainwalk.co.uk. Being a keen photographer the site is full of photos of both mountains and the surrounding areas.

ping pong table: Kaczka: George Saunders on Nepal's "Buddha Boy"

2006-05-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

When the editors at GQ asked In Persuasion Nation writer George Saunders to travel to Nepal to write about Ram Bahadur Bomjon—before he abandoned his spot a couple months ago, the 15-year-old “Buddha Boy” was making headlines around the world for meditating under a tree and not eating, drinking or moving for months—Saunders said no. But he couldn’t get the kid off his mind. The account of the trip Saunders eventually took appears in the June issue of GQ. Though Saunders’ story is more about the writer, really, than the Buddha Boy, it does provide an interesting look at what may or may not be an elaborate hoax as well as a Nepal in turmoil.

The level of noise, energy, and squalor of Katmandu makes even the poorest section of the most wild-ass American city seem placid and urban-planned. Some guys squat in a trash-strewn ﬁeld, inexplicably beating the crap out of what looks like purple cotton candy. A woman whose face has been burned or torn off walks past me, running some small errand, an errand made heartbreaking by the way she carries herself, which seems to signify: I’m sure this will be a very good day! Here is a former Pepsi kiosk, now barbed-wired and manned by Nepalese soldiers armed for Maoists; here a Ping-Pong table made of slate, with brick legs. I cross a mythical bleak vacant lot I’ve seen in dreams, a lot surrounded by odd Nepali brick high-rises like a lake surrounded by cliffs, if the lake were dry and had a squatting, peeing lady in the middle of it. Averting my eyes, I see another woman, with baby, and teeth that jut, terrifyingly, straight out of her mouth, horizontally, as if her gums had loosened up and she had tilted her teeth out at ninety degrees. She stretches out a hand, jiggles the baby with the other, as if to say: This baby, these teeth, come on, how are we supposed to live?
About half of Saunders’ story is available online, along with a photo gallery and an interview with him and photographer Jeff Riedel.

Posted by Michael Yessis • 5.29.06

ping pong table: How To Turn Your Backyard Into An Outdoor Rec Room

2006-05-30T20:53:00.000-07:00

New Products Can Extend The Use Of Your Yard

Dorothy Tucker
Reporting

(CBS) Recent warm temperatures have everyone heading outdoors. Is your backyard ready for the summer rush?

CBS 2 Consumer Reporter Dorothy Tucker shows us some of the latest luxuries that will transform a simple backyard into the perfect summer getaway.

Summer fun in the backyard at the Spitz home has been elevated to a new level. There's a weather-resistant ping pong table and a basketball court that doubles as a dance floor. There are also plans for much more, including more speakers and more lights.

"The advantage is it extends our living space," said homeowner Jennifer Amdur Spitz. "We barbeque, we eat out here. We play ping pong. The kids play together instead of watching TV."

The outdoor rec room is the latest trend in family fun, and the latest luxuries are truly impressive.

Jennifer plans to buy outdoor wireless speakers for her yard. Bose makes waterproof speakers you can hide in the bushes by burying them 8 inches in the ground. The Bose Free Space 51 Environmental Speakers retail for $449. The speakers are made to hold up in bad weather, and their cords extend 80 feet. They held up well to water exposure in Good Housekeeping Institute tests.

For about $1300, you can add a portable video projector to watch on the side of your garage. The InFocus Play Big IN72 Projector lets you watch wide-screen DVDs inside and outside. This was a big hit for folks shopping for backyard furniture.

"A movie on the garage would be really fun. It would be like having a drive-in theatre without the car," said shopper Sid Himes.

With so many toys, you'll probably want to spend as much time as possible in your backyard. For $349, you can fire up an outdoor patio heater. The BernzOmatic Outdoor Patio Heater runs off a gas grill propane tank.

"This new patio heater is a great way to extend the season and be able to use your patio either in the spring or fall," said John Kupsch with the Good Housekeeping Institute.

A portable heater may be the next purchase for the Spitz family, but for now, family and friends are enjoying the new toys they've got this summer.

The products featured have been tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute for strength and durability.

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

ping pong table: The Birth of Beer Pong

2006-05-28T22:21:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer Garfinkel

The air is humid, stagnant and reeks of beer. Ping-pong balls zip back and forth across 9-by-5 sheets of solid wood straddled across garbage cans. A Friday night at Dartmouth Collge is well underway.
Pong is the main staple of Dartmouth's Greek-dominated social scene. An October 2005 atricle in The New York Times about the perils of drinking games labeled Dartmouth the official founder of pong. Unofficial College historian and history professor emeritus Jere Daniell '55 recalls playing pong in its most primitive form when he was a member of Alpha Theta fraternity between 1952 and 1955. "I'm not even sure it had a name," Daniell says.

By agreeing to attend Dartmouth, it seems one agrees to embrace and cherish the sport. And players today, whether or not they realize it, are partaking in a pastime that has come a long way from the original game.

Humble Beginnings
Many Dartmouth alum say the game may have started when someone put their cup of beer on the ping pong table during a match. Whatever the case, it was more sport and less alcohol. "It was not a way to get drunk fast," says one old-timer.

Fewer Rules, Less Beer
Pong consisted of only two cups of beer per side from the 1950s until the 1990s; the last 10 years have seen a vast proliferation in the amount of beer consumed during a game.

Women's (Beer) Lib
Women were playing pong at Dartmouth before coeducation. Fraternity members would bring their dates from nearby women's colleges to their houses, inviting the ladies to join them on table. "Sometimes the women were just as into it," recalls one 70s-era Alpha Chi Alpha alum.

ping pong table: Kaczka: Table Tennis bouncing back in Knoxville

2006-05-28T22:17:00.000-07:00

By LISETTE KACZKE, kaczka@knews.com
April 30, 2006

The temperatures this past week - along with a phone call from John Rose of Knoxville Table Tennis Club - really brought back some cool memories from my childhood in southeast Virginia.
You see spring was the time of year when we neighborhood kids would gravitate toward Debbi and Denny's house. Actually, it was their garage because that's where the ping-pong table was set up. We'd throw open the garage door and hold ping pong tournaments. We played singles, we played doubles and we played alldaylong. And we'd get into trouble for ignoring our calls to dinner.

During my conversation with Rose, I discovered there's an organization here in Knoxville that caters to ping pong players. I also learned that it's not cool to call it ping pong anymore. Apparently, table tennis is the preferred term.

Whatever.

I just think it's fascinating that "grown ups" get together each Tuesday and Thursday evening at the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA on Cruze Street to play the game I loved so much as a youngster.

The KTTC really stepped it up last Saturday when its members conducted a nationally sanctioned table tennis tournament. The event, held in conjunction with the Dogwood Arts Festival, attracted 45 players from Georgia, Kansas, New York and Tennessee. The tournament committee distributed 15 trophies over five divisions of play, and handed checks to the top three places in the championship division.

Didi DeSouza of Atlanta defeated Knoxville's Meng Lien to claim the championship division. In the third place match, Richard Sanders of the Newgy Table Tennis Club in Gallatin defeated Jude Lam of Knoxville.

Other KTTC players turning in worthy performances were Kathy McMillin, who won the "D" division; Alan Ola, who finished second in the "C" division; and Jay Sirasankaran, who won his way into the championship division.

During the inaugural tournament, a recognition plaque was presented to Joseph Newgarden, player and owner of the Newgy Table Tennis Company in Gallatin. According to Rose, Newgarden's contributions include many years as a player, tournament sponsor and supporter of promising table tennis players. He's also promoted the sport in schools, and improved player skills through distribution of his invention, the Robo-Pong, which is similar in function to a baseball batting machine. Newgarden also was awarded a KTTC lifetime membership and the Dogwood Arts Tournament will be renamed the Joseph Newgarden Dogwood Arts Festival Tournament.

For information about KTTC, contact Dwain Kitchel at 865-584-5395, 865-584-5235, dwainkitchel@tvp1.com or Bill Neely at 865-577-8668 and ntexasred@cs.com.

Taco Toppings: Knoxville Disc Golf club president, Kevin Young announced the organization plans to host its first Professional Disc Golf Association sanctioned tournament May 27 at Victor Ashe Park. Prior to the event, some Home Depot employees plan to pitch in a little volunteer work at the course. On May 21, they'll put in some plants and install trashcans around the course. Check out the club's Web site at www.knoxvillediscgolf.org for tournament updates.

or those of you who aren't familiar with disc golf, let me clarify the bold note reference to "taco" - it's a term used to describe a warped disc that has hit a tree or other solid object at high velocity.

Flip-Flop: Eight gymnasts, representing three area training centers, have competed through regional championship meets and are national championship qualifiers.

Jessica Martin, a Level 9 gymnast and the only female of the group, competed in the USA Gymnastics Eastern National Championships in Hendersonville last weekend. She received a silver medal on vault and finished 23rd in the all-around. Aleskandr and Natasha Gridnev of the Premier West facility are Jessica's coaches.

The following gymnasts will compete in the USA Men's Junior Olympic National Championships in Battle Creek, Mich., starting Thursday:

From Premier North and coached by Phil Savage - Level 10s Brandt Gomez, Ryan McGranaghan, Timothy Michaels, Jacob Swift; Level 9s Justin Reynolds and Cale Robinson.

Level 10 gymnast Riley Kerr coached by Vlad and Elena Koloskov of Tataru's.

In The Scrum: The University of Tennessee Men's Rugby Club traveled to West Point, N.Y., last weekend to play in the USA Rugby National Championship Tournament at the United States Military Academy.

In the first round of the tournament's Sweet Sixteen, UT was upended by Utah, 40-19. In the second half, the Utes scored three tries in a span of 10 minutes to clinch the win. The loss sent UT to the consolation bracket where the Vols rebounded to defeat Colorado, 21-10.

Complete lineups and scoring summaries are available at www.tennesseerugby.org.

Between The Posts: After winning their division championship at the adidas Women's Invitational in Brentwood, the Knoxville Football Club's under-10 girls Outlaws Blue team received No. 1 spring rankings across the board in the state, region and nation by the Soccer in College Internet ranking service. The team is coached by Fil Leander, and assisted by Walt Zibas, Kelly Webb and Scott Wall.

Other KFC teams receiving a No. 1 ranking in the state were the U13 girls Velocity Premier, U17 girls Force and U15 boys Liverpool team. Overall, 14 KFC teams were ranked in top-10 spots in their respective age groups within the state.

KFC, the largest competitive soccer club in East Tennessee, has 39 competitive teams for boys and girls, ages 9-17, as well as an academy program for ages 5-8.

Lisette Kaczka covers recreation sports. She may be reached at kaczka@knews.com or 865-342-6275.

Copyright 2006, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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ping pong table: One night stand: Table Tennis

2006-05-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a quickie review from a one-night stand with Rockstar Presents: Table Tennis.

Yes, this is a Rockstar game -- the same folks that brought you Grand Theft Auto. Yes their are ping pong balls. No, there are no hookers or strippers that use said ping pong balls in a creative manner.

So, with one evening of play under my belt, I thought I'd share my first impressions on this $39 game.

Graphics: Let's get the eye candy out of the way first because in this game it really doesn't matter as much. This is a pretty game. On an HD monitor in 720P it is a really convincing, fun thing to look at. Basically all there is to look at are the character models. You have a ping pong table, the ball and the folks hitting the ball. Sure there are "stadiums" or other settings but generally it's only the player models you're going to be looking at. And looking at them is a pretty satisfying experience. Take three things as an example of the quality level: hair, shirts and grimmaces.

Have you been a bit let down with what you thought the next gen of DOA4 would look like and what you got? Maybe just a little? If you've noticed the hair, in that game you get these rather blocky looking things that represent hair. In Table Tennis, when you move the Sweedish dude to the side rather abruptly, you can see the individual strands on his head move, like you would expect them to in real life. The shirts hang like shirts should hang. You're convinced that the shirt is a real thing, not something painted over a model. And I swear that the folks playing the game sweat and start to darken the shirts.

Lastly, there's the expression of disgust on the opposing players face when you make them look bad. Just a really subtle thing, a curl of the lip that I seriously doubt it would have been possible last generation.

Gameplay: Like any really good game, this one is simple to pick up and difficult to truly master. Unlike tennis you don't really need to run all over the place to hit the ball. You can stand in one spot and time your button hits or your right thumbstick and just go back and forth for sometime. This is how my 5 year old beat me 4 matches to nil when we first started. Mind you, not 4 games but 4 sets of best of 3 games. The turkey just stayed in one spot and kept pounding the buttons while I was being "smart" by trying to aim my shots to different parts of the table. The deal was that when you do this (or when I did this) I also tended to move around a bit and would end up where the ball wasn't. Funny, but the AI I played after the 5 year old was a bit more forgiving.

There are some reviews out complaining about the lack of a really deep single player "campaign". I don't know if that's really an issue, at least for me. You can pick a character and go through a set of tournaments. As you do that, you unlock outfits, venues, etc. It's a bit like DOA4 without all the cheesy cutscenes or crazy "story". Honestly, I'm there to play the game, I don't care about a lot of the extraneous stuff. I'm currently playing Top Spin2 at the moment as well, and I gladly do away with the cheesy "messages" and stuff in that game.

There is also an exhibition mode for you to just pick a character and go. Now a cool benefit is that you can fire up a second controller and do multiplayer in this mode. Now with a 5 year old (and two 3 year olds) there aren't a lot of things I can play coop on the 360. We've done Joust but that got old. They're addicted to Feeding Frenzy but that's single player. I think, at least with the 5 year old, that Table Tennis might just work out (especially after he cleaned my clock).

Multiplayer: Sadly, with one evening (with an American Idol break in the middle, go Soul Patrol) I got to watch someone else play on the Table Tennis network but I didn't play anyone on Live. The watching is a weird novelty but something I doubt most of us will do much of. If you played a bit last night, chime in.

Rent, Buy or Ignore: Definitely a Rent. Maybe a Buy. I'm glad I bought it. My only question is on the Live front. If enough Geezers get it and the online tourney's for eight folks work out, I think this could be a good addition the the rotation. If you loved Top Spin, you should look into this. And if nothing else, it's a $40 game in a month with really nothing else coming out. So, if you need to help keep your local game store happy, just go for it.

Posted on Wednesday, May 24 @ 13:19:28 EDT by JameyT_admin

ping pong table: CMUQ robotics course concludes

2006-05-28T22:14:00.000-07:00

Web posted at: 5/29/2006 4:57:17
Source ::: The Peninsula

doha • A seven-week robotics programming course by the Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar concluded at the City Center Mall on Saturday with the second International Botball Challenge.

Omar Bin Khattab Scientific School won the challenge with the highest overall score. Al Khor International School came second while the third prize went to went to Amna Bint Wahhab Independent School.

Apart from the three winning schools, Doha College, American School Doha, International School of Choueifat also took part in this year's challenge to showcase their autonomous robots, which were created with the help of Carnegie Mellon Qatar.

Teams from each school designed, developed, programmed and documented their robots. The teams competed against each other on a playing field the size of a ping-pong table in a high energy, non-destructive tournament.

Elizabeth Whitewolf, Botball production manager and competition judge said: "The winning team had a great robot; it was designed well and had great engineering behind it. Not only that, the programming was amazing."

Botball is a US based organisation that introduces robotics to high schools. Student teams are equipped with a Lego Mindstorm robot, along with instruction on how to programme it to move autonomously through a course. The programming sessions conclude with a challenge - student teams are pitted against one another to see whose robot completes the course. The winning team also must demonstrate the work they've done in order to programme their robot.

An intensive two-day robotics workshop was arranged by Carnegie Mellon Qatar seven weeks prior to the competition at the university's campus. During the workshop, participating schools were given the necessary background and expertise to build and programme robots.

ping pong table: Pole Day moves onto Mother's Day, weather permitting

2006-05-24T02:23:00.000-07:00

Racing series IRL
Date 2006-05-13

By David Reininger - Motorsport.com

Not a single wheel was turned at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second consecutive day as a low pressure system over the mid-west continued to produced light showers throughout the day. The track officially closed just after 2:00 p.m. forcing Indy Racing League officials to postpone qualifying until Sunday afternoon.

The drivers found time to mingle with corporate guests, play games or just relax. Many found the lure of the Speedway to be too strong and couldn't stay away despite living in the area. "I like to be here," said Ed Carpenter. "I have a hard time being away from the track."

Carpenter spent some time in the Speedway Engines garage where "they have a ping pong table set up. I stopped in there to play a little."

Dario Franchitti said his "PR guys usually keep me pretty busy." Franchitti and the rest of his Andretti Green Racing teammates spent time doing TV interviews and visiting with family members of their crews. The family of each crew member was invited to lunch at one of the team's suites overlooking the front straight.

Despite the opportunity to spend extra time with team, Kanaan said the downtime was frustrating. "I feel bad for the fans and the people that have come out here and have to wait around to see what is going to happen," said Kanaan. "I'm going to sign as many autographs and visit with media as much as I can. I think once we get on track, the fans will not be disappointed, and we'll put on a good show for them."

Although the forecast calls for continued sprinkles, the low pressure system that has brought the rain has begun to move out of the area.

Discuss this article in the Motorsport.com Forums channel: IRL

ping pong table: TODD JONES: Rain delays don't wash options away

2006-05-24T02:19:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes during rain delays? It depends on when the rain starts.

The best of the worst-case scenario is when rain delays a game that hasn't started. This one is easy. The only guy who has a bad time is the starting pitcher. He's antsy, he paces.

If the game is delayed at the start, the home team's general manager decides whether to call off the game. A lot goes into his decision. Is a big crowd expected? You hate to say that, but we're in the entertainment business.

For most clubs, a sellout means making about $1 million on tickets, food and parking. So it's not easy to just bag the game and play a doubleheader the next time the team comes back to our park. Another factor is the weather forecast for the next few days. If bad weather is coming, the GM might try to play a game that he normally would postpone.

If we are in a rain delay with a team outside of our division, then you beg, borrow and steal to get that game in. With the unbalanced schedule, it might be the only trip that team makes to our park all season. Very few rainouts are never made up, so the team might have to come back and play us on an open date.

In 2004, the Marlins had about five games rained out in the last month of the season. They had to play the Expos at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field on one of their off days. That is the worst.

If the rain delay comes once the game has started, the decision on whether to continue belongs to the umpires. The crew chief is now the boss. It's up to him and him alone to decide when the field is unsafe to play. Yes, we all want to play every game. But no one wants to see anybody get hurt.

Passing the time in the clubhouse

Different paths have evolved for how players kill time during rain delays. The clubhouses in the major leagues are like your living rooms nowadays. In the Tigers' home clubhouse, there are about 15 to 20 televisions. There's video to watch of the opposing team. There's a great food room.

But be careful.

If you think the game is rained out and you eat a lot, and then the game resumes, you could have real problem.

The clubhouse has couches, saunas, Xboxes, you name it. If you have to kill time, this is the place to do it.

In Cleveland, the clubhouse has a Ping Pong table. During a rain delay, Ping Pong is where it's at. Guys who play it never need to stretch or prepare when the game is back on. I've seen guys come out of the Ping Pong room in a full sweat. Ping Pong is just as good as hitting off the batting tee.

Tigers reliever Todd Jones writes every week in The Mitt. Contact him at tigers@freepress.com.

ping pong table: Critics say Duke's alcohol policy not enforced consistently

2006-05-24T02:17:00.000-07:00

BY PAUL BONNER : The Herald-Sun
pbonner@heraldsun.com
May 12, 2006 : 10:40 pm ET

DURHAM -- Among the aspects of Duke student life the lacrosse rape case has drawn attention to is one with far-reaching implications for the campus and deep roots in students' experience.

Student life at Duke, as at most higher education institutions, is, if not steeped, at least irrigated liberally with alcohol. Campus committees commissioned by President Richard Brodhead in the wake of the lacrosse scandal to examine the lacrosse team's conduct before the March 13 allegations took aim at what it called inconsistent enforcement of Duke's policies concerning alcohol, as did another committee on the student judicial process.

For some, the language rings all too familiar. An earlier impetus for a crackdown was the 1999 death of Duke student Raheem Bath from pneumonia brought on from having inhaled his vomit during a drinking binge. Since then, where some see steady improvement, others see missed opportunities.

"To my disillusionment, the university failed to take full advantage of the opportunity to make the kinds of broad sweeping changes necessary to alter the drinking culture," wrote Duke researcher Aaron White in response to an interview request. "And so, here we are, talking about these same issues seven years later."

White, an assistant research professor of psychiatry at Duke, is among several faculty experts on alcohol and its effects on adolescents and young adults.

Catherine Bath, Raheem Bath's mother, wrote Brodhead last month to urge stricter enforcement. Brodhead wrote back to Bath this week, expressing his thanks and sympathy and intent to work diligently on the issue, noting that another of the study committees, dubbed the Campus Culture Initiative, presents a "major opportunity" to do so in a focused way.

"But, as you know, it is a difficult beast to control," Brodhead wrote. "To change the drinking culture requires thought, perseverance, and, unfortunately, time, since an absolute crackdown will inevitably drive irresponsible drinking to more dangerous settings."

One of the settings mentioned by the previous study committees is "Tailgate," parties preceding football games in parking lots near Duke's stadium. Underage drinking is afforded a "law-enforcement-free zone" there, with student affairs officials focusing more on overseeing students' safety, the lacrosse committee headed by professor James Coleman of the Duke Law School said, quoting campus police director Robert Dean.

Bath says that a ban on drinking games such as "beer pong," in which a makeshift ping-pong table is set up with cups of beer that players guzzle when the ball falls in one, isn't sufficiently enforced either.

"They're really not doing anything to curtail it," she said, noting that the game -- albeit with a tongue-in-cheek assertion that students play it with water, not beer -- figured in a 2004 winning entry in an annual freshman film contest about student life.

An Alcohol Law Enforcement agent last January cited the Armadillo Grill in Duke's student union, the Bryan Center, as well as the restaurant's bartender and five students after observing the bartender serving drinks without checking IDs, the agent said in a report. The Alcoholic Beverage Commission had fined the grill $2,000 nearly three years earlier for allowing underage drinking.

Larry Moneta, Duke's vice president for student life, also said he empathizes with Bath's position and speaks with her regularly, even if he hasn't agreed to her suggestion to check student dorm rooms for pong tables.

"Schools that have attempted draconian solutions, you won't find they've had that much success," Moneta said.

The university has taken a firmer stand against drinking games at Krzyzewskiville, the winter bivouac by students outside Cameron Indoor Stadium in line for admission to home basketball games, he said.

And he acknowledged the Coleman Committee's characterization of Tailgate, but added: "I think we've reduced the number of the biggest mob events to a smaller number. Our goal is to further take the dangerous drinking out of the equation."

Underage drinking remains a more complicated issue, he said.

One of the committees noted that 107 citations by the ALE early this school year at a single off-campus party suggested that policy violations are probably underreported. Stephen Bryan, associate dean for judicial affairs agreed, adding that disciplinary actions by his office for alcohol violations don't tell the full story. They show a steady drop from 195 in 1999 to 58 last school year. But the Duke Police Department reported 36 arrests and 488 alcohol law violations in 2004. The university in 2002 put adult residence coordinators in dormitories around the clock, which has led to more misconduct reports but also better conduct, Bryan said.

"I think that shift brought about increased awareness," he said.

White suggested that Duke could take the lead in alcohol, since, as everyone interviewed agrees, it is a problem on most campuses. Duke could "convene meetings involving college presidents around the country, examine the issue from multiple levels of analyses, involve community representatives in the process, come to a consensus regarding the role of universities in monitoring and moderating underage drinking, and then deal with this once and for all," he wrote.

Most others harbor less decisive hopes, given drinking's long prevalence in the college culture.

Scott Swartzwelder, like White a Duke expert on alcohol, the brain and social forces, says he's even begun to see some reason in the arguments of former Middlebury College president John McCardell to reduce the drinking age, even though Swartzwelder says young people's brains remain particularly vulnerable to alcohol until they're about 25.

"It would only work if you coupled it with a really good public education program, that would lead our young people to treat alcohol more the way it is treated in southern Europe, that is, more like a food than a drug," he said. "But it's a very dicey issue."

Duke has for three years used an educational program called AlcoholEDU, which was developed by in part by White and Swartzwelder. Bath said most parents are unaware, as she was, when it comes to their children's binge drinking, and education for them could make a difference, as well. Other Duke awareness initiatives include BlueSPARC, which brings together students, faculty and community members. Results of surveys of students taking AlcoholEDU aren't readily available, Bryan said.

But if his informal polling of students in his course "Alcohol: Brain, Individual and Society" is any indication, the message can make a difference, Swartzwelder said.

"A huge percentage agree to statements like, 'The information has affected my attitudes about drinking. I have or will use this information in talking with other students about drinking less,' " Swartzwelder said.

"I essentially grab them by the brain, and say, look, your brain is what got you here, it's what's going to get you through here, and it's what's going to carry you through the rest of your life as an effective adult."

ping pong table: How to Put Some Sizzle in Your Summer Parties

2006-05-23T00:26:00.000-07:00

5 Ways to be a Gracious Host and a Great Guest

Now that the hot weather is finally here, we are looking forward to long, lazy days on the beach and hot summer nights that heat up after dark. Here are a few tips from lifestyle guru Kim Kristofferson-Magnusson on maximizing your fun in the sun!

1) For family celebrations…KEEP IT SIMPLE!!

Whether you're hosting a graduation party for 20 or a family reunion for 200, remember that it's your day to have fun too! To make the most of your time visiting with family and friends, take a vacation from your oven and corral your "grillmaster" of choice out on the patio. Prepare a variety of cold salads ahead of time, pick up some fresh bread, add a frozen dessert, and voila… dinner is served! A buffet-style offering is wonderful outdoors, just roll up flatware in festive napkins, stack up some bright and shiny plastic plates, and all your guests can easily serve themselves.

2) When you're the guest…get in the "Theme" of it!

If you have a much-anticipated invite to THE party of the season, don't show up empty-handed… if the party has a particular theme (most of the SUPER-FUN ones do!), bring the host/hostess a little something that shows you appreciate all their efforts and planning. For example, if your host is a poker-aficionado planning a "Casino Night", try filling an ice bucket with playing cards, dice, poker chips, shot glasses, and poker themed cocktail napkins. If your hostess is a pampered princess who is hosting a "Girls Night Out" (who, me??), she will love you forever if you fill an oversized basket with some bath salts, perfume samples, delicious smelling body lotion, a steamy novel, and an eye mask…just go the extra mile, and your invite will be the first to go out next year!

3) When you're the host, think of all the party-goers…

When you're hosting a "bring your whole family" outdoor soiree, don't forget to think of the "little people"…if the children are happy, the moms and dads are happy too, so be well-prepared with activities to keep little hands busy. Try setting up a ping-pong table on the patio, where the future sports stars can organize a tournament. Croquet is an old, lady-like game that even the toughest of tomboys will love. Even a sprinkler will do in a pinch…

4) Favours are not just for weddings!

Don't you just love those little "take-me-home's" at weddings…little seedlings to plant, inscribed golf balls to better your score… When hosting a BBQ or outdoor event, favours are a perfect end to the evening and will serve as a reminder of your fun and frivolity. Why not try making your own BBQ sauce or marinade for guests to take home? Buy a bunch of brightly-colored plastic sand pails to fill with shells and rocks collected on your stretch of beach, or even a festive silk lei, sure to bring warmth over the long winter ahead.

5) Have Fun!!

The most important part of any great party is that you celebrate your wonderful family and friends who have come together. You don't need an excuse, just gather your pals for great laughs, good music, and reminiscing, and voila…the stage is set for some sizzling!

About the Author: Kim Kristofferson-Magnusson lovergirl@lovergirlpromotions.com http://www.lovergirlpromotions.com

Kim Kristofferson-Magnusson is the founder of Lovergirl Promotions, a company that designs fun and funky Tshirts for women celebrating "life's little luxuries". Sign up for our popular monthly newsletter at http://www.lovergirlpromotions.com for a chance to win a free Tshirt.

ping pong table: Ping Pong in Jerusalem

2006-05-23T00:25:00.000-07:00

Nine years ago I lived in Jerusalem in a place called the Jerusalem Center which sponsors a study abroad program by Brigham Young University (Although the study abroad program has been on hold the last several years due to terrorism concerns in the region). The Jerusalem Center has housing for close to two hundred students, a cafeteria, several classrooms, a concert hall which has one of the best views of the city while you watch the concert, a basketball gym, and a game room, among many other unique things. In the game room there were two ping pong tables.

Up until this time in my life I hadn't played too much ping pong also known as table tennis. One of my close friends had a table in his basement and I would play from time to time so I knew the rules and such, but I really didn't know any technique and wasn't very good. All the same I still enjoyed ping pong immensely. When I arrived in Jerusalem in the summer in 1996 I quickly began to play a lot of ping pong. I started to learn a few good serving techniques and I became pretty good, at least for an amateur/beginner.

One day one of the students at the Jerusalem Center decided to get a little creative with the two ping pong tables we had there. He put both of the ping pong tables together lengthwise and put one of the table's net in the middle of both tables. The double long ping pong table was invented. The rules we played with were almost virtually the same although the style was much different. When one player hit the ping pong ball across the net he had to make sure that it didn't go "out of bounds." The Out of Bounds rule was the only other new rule that existed. It was needed in case the server served the ping pong ball in a manner that it would land to the left or right of the extra long table. In other words the ping pong ball needed to leave the table area at the end of the extra long table or with in one foot of the end of the table. This obviously makes sense since the player receiving the serve could never return certain types of serves on an extra long table otherwise.

The most exciting part of the extra long table to me was the ability to have more control on the spinning of your serves. On the regular table I was never able to get the topspin or downspin types of serves to work for me. On the extra long table I learned the spinning technique quite well. The difference between the extra long table and the regular size table was that I could not get the ping pong ball to spin in time to reach the other player on the regular size table, but on the extra long table I was able to get the spin to work quite well since it had time to start and end the direction the spin would take it before going out of bounds.

It was great. I felt like a great ping pong player because I would win regularly against whoever I played. The truth, however, is that I was not that great of a ping pong player. Instead I had helped to invent a different way to play ping pong and was pretty good at the new rules we invented.

I think the most exciting part about this experience I had in Jerusalem at the Jerusalem Center is that I learned the valuable lesson of being unconventional. There are many games out there that are great and fun, but we can all be creative and make alternate rules to the games we play. It makes for a never ending relationship with the games we all love.

Michael Van Orden is a Ping Pong Specialist with Yard Game Central. For more information on ping pong or to purchase a ping pong table visit http://www.TablePong.com

ping pong table: Basement Renovation

2006-05-23T00:24:00.000-07:00

A finished basement can be a great place where you can entertain your family and friends by putting in a recreation room which includes a pool table, ping pong table, pinball machine, and/or dartboard.

Before a basement renovation you should:

1. Look for basement foundation cracks. Hairline cracks in the basement can be the fault of improper curing where as large cracks are most likely caused by settling. Both can be repaired with hydraulic cement if the crack is not active i.e. whatever caused the crack is no longer an existing problem. If the basement crack is still active then the crack patching may be re-opened later.

2. Look for basement moisture problems. Moisture problems may be tough to fix. Water is persistent and can make its way through the basement walls that are considered permeable. An easy way to test water problems is to tape a piece of aluminum foil to various places on the basement walls and floors. Seal the edges of the foil tightly and leave in place for several days. After several days, if moisture droplets appear beneath the foil then moisture is going through the basement masonry. If the moisture appears on top of the foil, the problem is condensation from basement humidity. Look for other water problems by looking in the underside of the basement's first subflooring for signs of leaks. Fix any faulty pipes and fixtures. Look for brownish stains on the basement subfloor and sides of the basement joists. This will indicate active or an old leak that has been repaired. If the stain is spongy, an active leak exists.

Basement renovation planning is key to the success of your basement. For instance, if you decide you want a wetbar and/or bathroom, you will need to have the plumbing done first. This would be a top priority because the plumbing usually goes beneath the cement floor. After the plumbing is completed, you need to plan and install the electric which may include hiring a certified electrician. Your plans should include enough electrical outlets, telephone lines and cable hook-ups. These will be used for your television(s), lamp(s), computer(s), electronic games, and a computer modem. Once installed, you must decide on paneling, dry walling, or painting to cover your cement walls. Although paneling might be cheaper, the refined look of drywall makes it the material of choice for finished spaces. Paneling can look dated and does not always last long. The next phase in your plans should be the stairwell. Some professionals suggest you should open up the stairwell and install a banister because a basement typically features stairwells that are enclosed. By opening up the basement stairwell you remove some of the basement like atmosphere. Some designers would like to see the doorways of the basement widened and employ arches and columns to dress them up. Examples include French Doors for privacy or a partial separator using decorative glass to add elegance to the basement room.

When looking at windows, if applicable, add as many as you can. Basements tend to be dark and gloomy but with more natural light it becomes a better and well lit area. If windows are very limited, look into security and use glass block windows. When it comes to artificial lighting, the choices are fluorescent lights, table lights, floor lamps and ceiling lights. If your budget allows, stay away from the fluorescent lighting since it is not the most appealing in design.

When installing the ceiling, stay away from suspended ceilings because they make the basement look like a basement. Consider using tray ceilings. When choosing the color for painting, use a light, bright, or dramatic color scheme. With these colors, you can turn that dark gloomy basement into a room that opens and brightens.

The basement floor is always cold since it is in direct contact with the ground. Look at having a subfloor between the concrete and flooring space. This will make it a warmer and dryer living area and a smooth surface for your carpet or flooring of your choosing. If a subfloor is not in your plans and you are using carpet, get plenty of padding to put under the carpet. Try to have a storage room added, maybe around the sump and furnace area. This would be convenient for all those things that can't be thrown out. Think about adding shelves to this room to keep it fairly organized.

To control noise, have thick wall to wall carpeting and a high quality pad can absorb much of the sound. You can use sound deadening material below any underlayment or subfloor. This is nice especially if the basement is used for a bedroom or office. An easy way to reduce noise is by installation of thick insulation between ceiling joists.

In below-ground basement renovations, should you want to add a kitchen or bath you can tie into the plumbing system that is in place above. You can buy toilets and lavatories that are specifically designed for below grade applications.

After your basement renovation are complete, start adding the "toys" that will make it an enjoyable area where you get away from it all.

K Hoyng is the web master and operator of www.quickcash2u.com which is a good source of information for remodeling and much more information. Visit this site at http://www.quickcash2u.com/basementremodeling.html

ping pong table: The Ping Pong Psych-Out

2006-05-21T21:54:00.000-07:00

I am a total nerd for table tennis, or ping pong as I like to call it. I'm the guy who holds the paddle in that weird grip with my fingers spread out over the back side of the thing and my thumb and pointer finger making a circle. Don't act like you haven't tried it. It's easy, just make the "OK" signal with your hand and stick the handle of the paddle in the circle of your finger and thumb from the palm side and hold on tight. This grip helps a lot with putting spin, or English, on the ball. It also makes you look like you know what you are doing even if you don't. I guess you win either way.

This way, when you are getting set to play someone for the first time you can confidently stride up to the table and grasp the paddle in this cool manner, all the while looking down your nose and thinking to yourself, "look at them pawing their ping pong paddle like a five-year old, and me here with my awesome skills". You have already won the mental battle, and that is vital for a hard-core ponger. Of course, they could be thinking "look at this dork trying to impress me with some cheesy paddle-grip, and what is he looking at on his nose". But as long as they don't say anything out loud, you're good to go.

Trust me on this I know because it has happened to me. Recently I was hanging out at a party, just chillin', listening to music, talking to someone, having some chips, and then I noticed the ping pong table in the corner. "Who wants a piece?" I asked, almost involuntarily. Almost instantaneously some other guy, feeling that his manhood had been challenged, said "let's do this". I could feel everyone else rolling their eyes and thinking "there goes the party", but it could have been worse.

I could have been the guy at the party who grabs a guitar and sits on one side of the room all night playing the same four songs that everyone knows as he longingly gazes into your girlfriend's eyes while singing "I could be your hero baby". You all know at least one of those guys. I mean, I play the guitar fairly well, but c'mon bro, we all know what you are trying to do.

But I digress, let's get back to pong. So this dude saunters over to the table tennis table to meet me and we lock eyes in a pre-serve stare-down. Without moving his eyes the guy picks up the paddle in this cool grip with his fingers spread out on the back of the thing. "Crap", I thought and handed the paddle off to some other male who wants to prove his rank in the herd.

To be perfectly honest, I don't really know the proper way to keep score. Typically I just take turns serving, with each player getting five serves per turn. First one to fifteen wins, with the game point having to come on the serve of my opponent. This may or may not be the proper way to keep score, I make no promises. In fact, if you are planning on entering a tourney or challenging someone at a party, please look into the real rules so that you don't get embarrassed. Even if you don't play by the rules it is a fun game. Table tennis is definitely worth checking out. And if you turn out to be a sub-par player, there's always guitar.

Andy Meredith is a passionate writer for Yard Game Central. More information about ping pong tables and table tennis techniques can be found at www.TablePong.com.

ping pong table: Young Marketing Professionals Blur the Lines between Work and Play

2006-05-21T21:51:00.000-07:00

Media and marketing events around the city are blurring the line between work and play as Philadelphia's young professionals talk business and network at some of the cities trendiest hot spots. Young marketing moguls-in-the-making know the value of hard work, and many are putting in long days to get the job done.

But they understand the value of a work/play balance, and staying connected with fellow employees, industry colleagues, and the community. Patrick McKenna and James Delaney, co-founders of DMi Partners, an interactive marketing firm in Center City, try to appeal to their employees' tastes and hobbies when planning company activities. After moving into a bigger office, they brought in a ping pong table for employees to blow off steam.

"It's not unusual for us to start the day early and not leave until late," said McKenna. "Our employees give 150%, so the table provides a good release."

Rather than sticking to the typical office party, DMi has hosted events at Philly night spots like Strikes Bowling Lounge, Helium Comedy Club, and Buffalo Billiards, where the casual atmosphere and presence of games and entertainment puts people at ease and lowers the "schmooze" factor that many people dread.

The formal B-to-B networking process is also being replaced with low pressure, casual gatherings that do not require an elevator pitch and a business card. In the marketing industry, socializing is the new networking. Professionals are gathering for business during the week at the same places they go for pleasure on the weekends.

Young professionals have more relaxed options through social events planned by outlets such as mediabistro.com, an online marketplace for public relations professionals, journalists, and freelancers. Mediabistro.com hosts "All Media" parties in major cities across the country, where young professionals mingle at hot venues like Philly's World Café Live!.

"Business has changed over the years because of the onslaught of young people," said Laurel Touby, founder of mediabistro.com. "They don't want to have things quite as formal as they used to be. Informal settings where people can talk business are definitely a trend."

Nina Nocciolino is a copywriter for, DMi Partners, an interactive marketing firm specializing in higher education, retail, real estate and finance.

ping pong table: Furniture For Patio, Game Room And Crafts

2006-05-21T21:43:00.000-07:00

In this final edition of home furniture we're going to review some of the odds and ends type of pieces you might find in or out of someone's home.

Most people's favorite room in the house is the game room. This is where we all go to play, have fun and basically get away from the everyday hassles of life. Game rooms can be very diverse and most of the furniture one would find in a game room would be the games themselves.

The most common piece of furniture one might find in a game room is a pool table. While the shape of a pool table is standard, the sizes are not. There are regulation size pool tables which can be as large as 8 foot long and then you have your smaller than regulation tables which are usually 6 or 7 feet in length. As for the material pool tables are made of, most of them are made of wood but the type of wood can vary greatly and because of this, the price of the tables themselves can vary from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Another common piece of furniture in a game room is a ping pong table. These too can be regulation at 5 by 9 feet or smaller. Ping pong tables take a lot of abuse so they are made very strong, usually of hard aluminum. There are plenty of styles of these tables to choose from.

Of course no game room would be complete without a bar. Most of these are built into the room and are very stylishly designed. These bars are usually about 6 by 3 feet and are made of many different types of wood with shelves in the back to store your beverage of choice, whatever that may be.

Moving out of the game room we have the ever popular patio. You have, of course heard the joke about the Irish gentleman who lived out doors. His name was patio furniture. Okay, maybe it's not that funny but patio furniture is a big craze with many people. Who can resist sitting out doors in the blazing sun and getting fried to a crisp. Your basic patio furniture consists of tables and chairs, an umbrella, benches, rockers, porch swings, and a ton of garden accessories.

Then of course you have your hobbyist type furniture. For example, for those who like to sew you have your sewing tables. Of course today, in order to be politically correct, they're called work tables, and quite honestly can be adapted to just about any kind of hobby. Of course to keep or store your arts and crafts they have what are called craft armoires. These are really just fancy cabinets but don't tell the craftsmen that. For true artists you have craft tables, art easels, and what they call art taborets. These are just fancy tall dressers but they are very popular.

Needless to say there are more kinds of furniture than we have hours in the day to go over them. We have just scratched the surface in these past three articles which makes you wonder; how come so many furniture stores go out of business?

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Furniture

ping pong table: Kaczka: Table Tennis bouncing back in Knoxville

2006-05-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

ping pong table: Coast Guard families host yard sale before departure

2006-05-19T19:52:00.000-07:00

By MIKE FORNES

Tribune Staff Writer

CHEBOYGAN - It could be the highlight of the yard sale season.

That's what Coast Guard families are saying as crewmembers of the original U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw prepare for their moves to other stations after the ship is decommissioned June 10. In all the years that the Coast Guard has had personnel stationed here, never has there been such a large departure of crewmembers at once.

“It's easier to sell things and move on than to transport a truckload of stuff halfway across the country,” said Information Tech. 1st Class Mike Locke, one of the Mackinaw crewmembers headed elsewhere. “Over time you figure it just costs less to buy the items new when you get to the next place.”

Barbara Locke, Mike's wife, said the one-of-a-kind Coast Guard Housing Yard Sale will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday and from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday.

“There will be about 25 families participating,” Barbara Locke said. “We won't allow any early-bird sales.”

She said that Blackthorn Drive will be closed off to traffic during the event to allow for a pedestrian atmosphere where people can stroll along both sides of the street in the Coast Guard Housing complex off Loomis Street near Cheboygan Area High School to see what families have to offer.

“If they buy a large or heavy item, they can bring their vehicle in to load it up,” she explained.

Among the items offered for sale will be baby furniture and accessories, housewares and sports equipment.

“I know we have two high chairs, a bassinet, changing table, an abundance of baby girl clothes, a double stroller, walker and baby swing,” Barbara Locke noted.

Standard furniture items include four twin mattresses, three bar stools, a queen-size headboard, two kitchen tables - one with chairs, a roll-top desk, computer hutch, microwave cart, futon with mattress, wall unit and entertainment center.

“Among the housewares items are a microwave oven, three coffee pots, four window air conditioners, two space heaters, two sets of dishes, pots and pans, a television set, plus miscellaneous kitchen appliances and dishes,” she added. “There are also three bikes, a weight set, ping-pong table and a punching bag. I'm sure there will be more in the days to come.”

ping pong table: YCKC enjoys 45 years of memories

2006-05-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

By Echo Ross

Mailing a letter cost just two cents, there were no paved roads in the capital city and sporting clubs didn’t need a liquor licence in order to sell drinks for proceeds.
It was 45 years ago when the Yukon Canoe and Kayak Club (YCKC) – then called the Yukon Voyageurs Canoe Club (YVCC) – planted its roots. At the club’s annual general meeting Thursday night, one of the founding members, Don Graham, tried his best to recall his many memories from the early 1960s.
“In trying to go back 45 years, I was lucky to find some old newsletters,” he said. “Without the newsletters, it would be hard to figure it out. I would be doing a lot of guessing.”
The first newsletter was dated June 1962 and it mentioned the club was already one and a half years old, which would place its founding in early 1961. It was shortly before that Graham purchased a brand new, 16 foot chestnut canoe for $205 – a canoe he still owns to this day, although it has benefited from some re-building and re-canvassing.
“She don’t leak at all,” he stated proudly. “She’s still in really good shape.”
Graham came by his love for canoeing quite honestly. His dad was a prominent member of the Winnipeg Canoe Club in the 1920s, winning a silver cup in 1927 that still sits in Graham’s home.
“I was probably eight years old when I went on my first canoe trip, with my dad and brother. We always had a canoe. I remember one 80-mile trip from White Shell to the Winnipeg River. It was 103 F.
“When I came up (to the Yukon), I didn’t really think they’d have canoeing, but they did.”
Thanks to the inspiration of Ron Butler, another avid canoeist at the time who now lives on Vancouver Island, Graham sold his motorboat and trailer that he had brought with him, and bought his chestnut canoe. He and a group of friends formed the YVCC, which had 26 members on record in the 1962 newsletter.
Eleven of those members were children, a few were “single fellows” from the Bank of Montreal, and the rest were married couples. The wives, he said, were also active canoeists. In fact, Graham’s wife Claire was the first editor of the club’s newsletter.
“We were a social club right from the start,” he said. “As we all became good friends, we needed a club house, close enough to the water, large enough for dancing and a bar to make good revenue.”
YVCC initially made an effort to build a clubhouse on Schwatka Lake, but the Commissioner at the time, Jimmy Smith, put an end to the development. Finally, they received permission to build on some land at Loon Lake, just below Haeckel Hill.
They spent the next four years at that site, before they accumulated enough funds through canoe raffles, canoe rentals and bar proceeds to build a new clubhouse at Chadburn Lake, which was much bigger than Loon and was ideal to hold their annual regatta.
“I have pictures of the clubhouse under construction in 1968,” recalled Graham. “We scrounged old chesterfields and chairs, a power plant for lights and music. We had a barrel heater, propane stove, kitchen utensils, complete behind the bar set up and even a ping-pong table.
“On numerous occasions we rented out the club for dances and parties besides our own meetings and get togethers. In the winter, we flooded a skating rink on the lake and had open pubic events like Skidoo races and hill climbing. We held ping-pong tournaments and sold hot dogs and coffee at the events, which helped keep us afloat.”
It’s thanks to Graham and the old club’s presence at Chadburn that the lake is now closed to motorized boats. The Commissioner made it that way after Graham and his son collided with a motorboat, breaking Graham’s collarbone.
YVCC planned annual canoeing trips for its members, such as one to Tagish Lake on Victoria Day. Sometimes they had to paddle through running ice early in the season. One of the weekend trips they did many times was to Watson River, wither the top half or the lower half to Carcross.
As well as a long-distance trip to Dawson City on the Yukon River in 1962, the club paddled the Big Salmon River in 1963.
By the late 1970s, many of the club’s original members had either moved outside or drifted away, and many of the new people who took over didn’t use the clubhouse. Its state declined over the years, thanks in part to vandals, and the City of Whitehorse tore down the building in the early 1990s.
However, Graham’s love for canoeing is still intact, despite his age and what he called weak knees. He and Claire still live in Whitehorse and two of their children remain in the Yukon as well – one in Haines Junction and one in Hidden Valley.
The last trip they took together as a family was around 2002, he said, when they jumped in a big war canoe and headed up Teslin Lake. The previous year, they did the Wolf River.
“I’ve travelled a lot of lakes and rivers, and I can still say there’s a lot I haven’t done,” he said, adding he always refers to himself as a canoeist first when asked, despite the fact he has taken up sailing, biking and cross-country skiing as well.
He said it’s a great feeling to know the canoe club still exists, though it’s been modified over the years. Graham talks to Bob Daffe, who owns Tatshenshini Expediting and is a previous president of the YCKC, on occasion, and loves to hear about all the trips club members have taken.
“I remember watching Don paddling in a canoe, running the slalom course, and going, ‘Oh man, this guy’s going to kick our ass,” Daffe said to numerous laughs during his introduction of Graham at the AGM. “Fortunately, he flipped right near the end and I went, ‘Oh yes, we have a chance.’”
Daffe presented Graham with a special canoe paddle, inscribed with his name and the words “founding member since 1961”.
Current YCKC president Violet Vanhees said it was fun for everyone at the AGM to hear the paddlers back then were having so much fun and doing the same things paddlers do now.
“And they were enjoying their hot dogs and beer too,” she laughed. “That’s the sign of true paddlers.”
It was also neat to hear what was going on in the territory at the time, she said, pointing out “the Yukon was a different place back then.”
As the new YCKC looks toward its future, Vanhees expects to see another 45 years of success, with the youth and adult programs continually growing in popularity.
“We’ve got a really vibrant club. There’s a lot of enthusiastic people who love paddling and really want to see it grow.”

Roulette is a French word meaning "small wheel

2006-05-19T01:09:00.000-07:00

Roulette is a casino and gambling game. A croupier turns a round roulette wheel which has 37 or 38 separately numbered pockets in which a ball must land. The main pockets are numbered from 1 to 36 and alternate between red and black, with number 1 being red. There is also a green pocket numbered 0. In most roulette wheels in the United States but not in Europe, there is a second zero compartment marked 00, also colored green.

If a player bets on a single number and wins, the payout is 35 to 1. The bet itself is returned, so in total it is multiplied by 36. (In a lottery one would say 'the prize is 36 times the cost of the ticket', because in a lottery the cost of the ticket is not returned additionally.)

A player can bet on numbers, combinations, ranges, odds/evens, and colors.
History of Roulette The first form of roulette was first devised in 17th century France, by the mathematician Blaise Pascal, who was supposedly inspired by his fascination with perpetual-motion devices. In 1842, fellow Frenchmen Francois and Louis Blanc added the "0" to the roulette wheel in order to increase house odds. Roulette was brought into the U.S. in the early 1800s, and again in order to increase house odds a second zero, "00", was introduced - although in some forms of early American roulette the double-zero was replaced by an American Eagle. In the 1800s, roulette spread all over both Europe and the U.S., becoming one of the most famous and most popular casino games. Some call roulette the "King of Casino Games", probably because it was associated with the glamour of the casinos in Monte Carlo. (Francois Blanc actually established the first casinos there).

A legend tells about Francois Blanc, who supposedly bargained with the devil to obtain the secrets of roulette. The legend is based on the fact that if you add up all the numbers on the roulette wheel (from 1 to 36), the resulting total is "666", which is supposedly the "Number of the Beast" and represents the devil.

Copyright © 2005 Farlex, Inc.

Asiafoods

2006-05-19T00:42:00.000-07:00

Asiafoods has *spectacular* customer service! It's the main thing that made me a repeat customer. Their selection is excellent, and their pages are attractive and load nicely, but the extremely high level of service and responsiveness to questions, comments, etc. is what really brought me back. If all online merchants were like this one, no one would ever have any complaints! Absolutely first rate."

"· I really like the extensive selection that Asiafoods.com offers. I have looked for Asian foods and candy online and Asiafoods.com has the best prices, selection and customer service. When I sent an email with a question about a product I received a response almost immediately. Shipping was super fast. I was also able to "track" the package, which was very convenient for me because I have to pick up my mail and I was able to see what day the package was delivered. I love Asiafoods.com I have had the best experiences with them and their products are always in stock (unlike many online stores). Everything about this website is phenomenal!!!

"· I've ordered a second time with this merchant, knowing exactly what to expect: quality, reliability, and excellent service! They're among the best businesses on the web (the few that are left =) and I look forward to many orders to come. Great prices, and great service! The products always arrive quickly and in terrific condition. The perfect place for hard to find food products."

All content copyright © 2005, Asia Foods International, LLC.

Welcome to the world of Home Stereo!

2006-05-18T22:53:00.000-07:00

Sadly when one thinks of home audio equipment, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the annoying neighbor in the apartment upstairs. We have negative memories of his booming, reverberating bass, and the difficulty of sleeping with his thunderous racket overhead.
The truth is, not only is he annoying, but he’s missing the point of what good home audio is all about. Ideally, the last thing your home stereo should do is annoy, either you or anyone else. The goal of this article is to get you started in this endeavor. While I can’t answer every conceivable question, I can share with you strategies that will help you choose the correct equipment, regardless of your budget, listening tastes, or surroundings. And you don’t have to break the bank (or the noise clause in your lease) to have top-notch quality.

Prepare yourself to learn more than you ever thought there was to learn about the humble home stereo. After reading the articles on this site, you’ll be able to approach your purchases with confidence and knowledge.

Collecting information is always the first step in acquiring wisdom. The next and most important step is sharing the wisdom with others interested in the subject. That’s what we’re going to do here.

From Anthony Armstrong,

Aragon Stage One HT Preamp and 3005 Amplifier

2006-05-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

These days, when one sees the name Aragon, visions of The Lord of the Rings come to mind. But, then, that's Aragorn. Still, looking at the blue streams of light that seem to shine from deep inside the front panel of these handsome home theater components, one does get a sense of the mystical and the magical. I was captivated by this look the first time I saw the Aragon gear at the Festival du Son last March.

The Stage One is an 8-channel unit in both analog (via a DB-25 input like that on the Sunfire Theater Grand) and digital, with Crystal Semiconductor 24-bit D/A converters for each channel. There's also a stereo Direct mode which does not convert analog inputs into digital form.

Additional inputs are provided for TV, DVD, Video, VCR, CD, Tape, Aux, all selected by front panel buttons (or on the remote), the selection of the internal tuner also available on either. There are plenty of digital inputs: 3 Toslink and seven coaxial RCAs. All video inputs have both composite and S connectors, with TV, DVD and VCR inputs also having RCA component input trios. There's a single RCA component out set.

Analog outputs are all RCAs, a little odd in that the matching 3005 amplifier also offers balanced XLR inputs. There are also digital and analog record outs on the Stage One. In addition, there are RS-232 jacks (by which software upgrades can be loaded), IR-in, and 12V DC out facilities, along with an "Expansion Port" with a screwed on cover.

The 3000 power amplifier series is THX Ultra certified, which means it passes "a rigorous series of quality and performance tests", covering "operatioon, output power levels, gain, frequency response and numerous other parameters." According to the Aragon web site, the 3005 "will deliver 300 watts into 8 ohms and 500 watts into 4 ohms." "The 3005 is a 5-channel amplifier that achieves it high output using the fewest active components possible for a more dynamic, powerful and more detailed performance. The minimalist approach of our design results not only in better sound, but in amplifiers that consistently rate among the most reliable available at any price."

"The 3000 Series amplifiers feature a single power supply design that we call SmartPower(TM). In this configuration, a channel could provide substantially more than its rated power for short periods of time by getting more energy from the power supply while the other channels aren't demanding as much. SmartPower enables the amplifier to perform at optimal levels in high-end two-channel environments as well as in the most demanding home theater applications."

If you want to use the Stage One's extra channels, the addition of the 3002 stereo amplifier is an option, as is the more recent 2007 (200 wpc) 7-channel amp. Channel assignments can include the centre rear for Dolby and DTS ES or THX EX, or be used for additional surrounds; line outs are provided for both Surround and Surround Back. Which surround channels are the discrete Dolby Digital and DTS surrounds is finally made clear on page 17 of the Stage One manual, with a diagram showing the basic surrounds at either side of the listening position, and the extra Surround Back pair behind.

All Site Contents Copyright 1995-2006 by Audio Ideas Ink Ltd.

The Gulf Islands

2006-05-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

Self-proclaimed artist havens, the Gulf Islands off the east coast of Vancouver Island host small communities that welcome travellers with open arms and warm smiles. Open markets and inviting studios display the wares of the Island's creative residents. Bring home hand-dipped candles, sparkling stained glass, or Island-made goat cheese. Relax and enjoy the Gulf Islands and their tranquil and serene atmosphere.

The Gulf Islands can be reached via ferries from Victoria, Vancouver, Crofton, Chemanius, and Nanaimo. Floatplanes and small airplanes can be chartered to most areas on the Gulf Islands.

Content copyright ?2006 Travel.bc.ca Online Inc.

penut butter and jelly sandwich

2006-04-28T23:19:00.000-07:00

You know how to make a peanut butter
and jelly sandwich, right?

It's easy to you, you probably never
even have to think about doing it.
Making one is "part of who you are".

You maybe even dream about everything
you want to do being as easy to do as
making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Wouldn't that be the easy life!

What about somebody who has never
heard about a PB&J sandwich. If you
asked them to make one they would stare
at you with that lost look in their eyes.

But if you showed them how... you take
2 slices of bread, spread peanut butter on
a slice of bread, spread jelly on the other
slice of bread and them put them together
and you have a PB&J sandwich. Mmmmm good!

They got it now! And very quickly the
ability to make another PB&J will be a
part of "who they are."

The 11 BANABU Principles is as easy
as PB&J when you it's part of YOU.

And, just like making a PB&J sandwich, with
this course you can quickly learn how to use
these 11 Principles so you too can start
living the life you want and dream of having.

Read the story of Mike Kemski and
how to apply his 11 BANABU Principles
of success by ...

Clicking Here

Warmest regards,

Patric Chan
CEO, eSuccessMastery.com

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motivation

Ten Thousand Dollar Business Building Giveaway

2006-04-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

Ref: Why Would A Sane Man Give Away $10,000 Of
His Expert Time & G-Zillions Of Dollars Worth of
Proven Business Growth Strategies... All Gratis?

Some people may think Jay Abraham is crazy to
invest freely in you. But he thinks you and your
business are worth it.

He grows businesses and builds bottom lines for a
living. He does it by finding you overlooked
possibilities, hidden assets and under performing
activities in whatever business you do. He does
it by improving the marketing you use and
changing the strategy you follow.

Jay can show you how to mine windfall bonanzas
from situations you don't currently take
advantage of. You'll learn to engineer more
success and profitability into every action you
take. You can make better bottom line-boosting
decisions. Jay Abraham has, can, and will show
you how to do it all --- with no fee to you.

Could your business efforts be overlooking the
obvious? Jay has helped people double, and
redouble their business' income. Just by better
maximizing every action, expense, or time
commitment they make.

His ideas have produced over $7 billion of income
increases for famous business people around the
world. His past clients have included Tony
Robbins, Brian Tracy, a founder of Fed Ex, the
creators of Chicken Soup For The Soul, three
major business publications, and twelve of Inc
Magazine's top entrepreneurs of the year.

Typically -- clients pay Jay $5,000 an hour for
his time. But they receive literally tens of
g-zillions of dollars worth of
business-increasing concepts, tactics, and proven
strategies in return.

Success, Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur and
Investor's Business Daily ALL wrote articles
about Jay's mind or methods.

Now Jay would like to multiply YOUR business
income, too-- totally at his expense.

Join Jay, as my guest, on a special 2-hour
teleclass he's doing gratis.

There, he's promised to give you the same $5,000
an hour-worthy: concepts, strategies, and revenue
increasing insights to turn your ordinary
business into an extraordinary money-maker... at
absolutely no fee to you.

The size of your business doesn't really matter
to Jay. What matters is the potential for your
business to grow and prosper. The type or
industry you’re in doesn't stop Jay's concepts
from working, either.

He's helped retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers,
distributors, service companies, professionals,
high-tech, start-ups, publications, you name it.

How you currently sell or market makes no
difference, either. If you want more income,
certainty, control…and less stress, let Jay
Abraham give it to your business --- totally
gratis.

So why would Jay want to give YOU these valuable
and proven insights--- gratis? Is he insane? Is
there a catch? The answer to both questions is a
resounding "No!"

You see, the reason Jay is conducting this
extensive two-hour teleclass -- without fee to
you -- is very straightforward:

He has found that educating high energy,
growth-oriented business owners and professionals
(at Jay's expense) is good for his high priced
seminar business. And in early May, Jay is
conducting a once-a-year SuperSession, three day
live event. So he wants to introduce you to his
concepts, today.

But whether you become an attendee or not doesn't
really matter to Jay.

You see, many people listening in on the telecall
WILL become attendees and receive a six figure or
seven figure financial windfall from attending.

But some of you will prefer to simply listen,
learn and freely use Jay's ideas and strategies
to multiply your business income on your own. And
that's alright with Jay.

Why? Because, as your business revenues and
earnings start to explode --- people all around
you will ask how you've done it. You’ll tell them
about Jay Abraham. Then they’ll turn into
attendees for Jay's seminar next year and in
years to come.

Also, you may decide to take part in Jay's appealing
Home Study version of the program, instead.

Maybe now you can see that getting you "monster"
business success is in Jay Abraham’s best interest.
When you succeed, Jay succeeds even more.

Now that you understand the method to his
madness, you can see that not only is Jay Abraham
NOT insane, but he might be the sanest person in
the room. Let me explain.

First, realize that when someone of Jay Abraham's
status invests his expert time, experience, and proven
knowledge in you --- great things usually happen.

You'll vastly expand the marketing approaches you
use. The selling systems you apply will be
better. The marketplace opportunities you go
after will expand.

Your business revenue, income, success,
bottom-line wealth will ALL significantly
increase: because Jay Abraham extended himself
and acted as your mastermind marketing mentor.

You will learn to come up with breakthrough ideas
that catch your competition totally by surprise.
Jay will help make your business the recognized
innovator in your industry or market. .

All this from the two hour teleclass call Jay is
doing for us --- FOR YOU... totally gratis.

So it seems logical that the only people who do
not take advantage of this…gratis, no downside,
two-hour teleclass (containing literally
g-zillions of dollars worth of proven action
oriented, earning-certain business strategies and
concepts)... must be insane.

As a business owner, you probably have no idea
how much more revenue you are leaving on the
table in overlooked windfalls or hidden earning
possibilities.

That's why --- to ignore this rare proposition
--- could be a sign of a mental disorder.
Because… you'd have to be crazy NOT to listen to
Jay's ideas from the comfort of your office or
home telephone.

The business press says Jay goes right for the
bottom-line jugular in everything he does…and
they're right! Call him crazy, but to people like
Jay Abraham --- business building is a serious,
no-nonsense, perpetual business.

People come to Jay for breakthroughs in
marketing, strategy, moneymaking and competitive
advantage.

When you use what Jay wants to teach you ---
gratis --- in his two-hour teleclass, you could
realize the same stratospheric and impressive
financial results.

Think about it: who else is offering you
money-for-nothing: marketing lessons for no fee.

My challenge to you is a follows.

Don't just assume that your business situation,
earnings forecast or income level has to remain
the way it is. You should question the approach
you're taking, the strategy you're following and
the promotion or marketing methods you are using.

The point most people miss is that your
possibilities, assets, activities and capital can
produce far greater results---IF you improve the
way you use them.

If your business income-prospects have seemed
somewhat disappointing lately—that can quickly
change.

If you want to start generating better-than-expected
bottom line earnings every month (earnings that can
realistically multiply every year), you'll be generously
rewarded by being on Jay's teleclass call. Indeed,
while many of your competitors are forced to take
pay cuts your income can grow and prosper.

Jay wants to turn your attention to the
money-making processes that do the most for your
bottom line. .

He'll tell you what activities really matter most
and where you're wasting time and effort.

These thoughts and ideas are normally only shared
with Jay's high-paying, private clients. But this
one time --- Jay wants to share them with you ---
totally, gratis!

If your business has been stressful, erratic or
challenging lately---come on this teleclass call
and discover marketing methods that have created
business fortunes.

Realize this: propositions like Jay is making to
you don't come along every day.

So if you'd like to learn the system Jay Abraham
uses to turn ordinary businesses into true
fortune makers for their owners---be on this
teleclass call.

One more point. And it's important.

Since Jay's goal here is to convince you to
attend his seminar in early May, he ALSO wants to
send you 12 different business building gifts.
These marketing "presents" will come separately
over the next ten weeks. They are prosperity
tools, each capable of earning your business more
than the entire cost of attending Jay's event.

Jay wants to do everything in his power to pay
for your seminar attendance for you --- before
you ever have to decide, commit or attend!

You "Chan" DO IT!

- Patric Chan

GRATIS Teleconference Sign Up Instructions:

"The Most Profitable Business Building Lessons
You Could Use"

Special, Two-Hour Jay Abraham Teleclass Will Be Held:

Day/Time: Thursday at 4 pm PDT

Register at:

http://www.abraham.com/businessgifts30

Your promotional code is 1070.

You'll need this code to register. You'll receive
the special confidential dial-in number and
private pass code upon registration.

NOTE:

The call promises to share an outstanding
collection of ideas, concepts, strategies and
highly specific marketing methods that have
created business fortunes. It will help any size
or type business owner build more revenue, make
more income and enjoy greater freedom, control
and success.

There will be two replays of the conference call
as a courtesy for those of you with scheduling
conflicts. Details provided when you register at

Your promotional code is 1070. You'll need this
code to register for F*R*E*E.

motivation

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