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USA Swimming - Official website for the national governing body of competitive swimming in the United States. Contains contact information, national and worldwide swimming news, discussion forums, meet results, and a searchable database of clubs and teams.

Alaska Swimming - Alaska - Meet schedules, posting of championship results, club listing and online Swim Guide of ASI's rules and regulations.

Allegheny Mountain Swimming - Governs competitive swimming in portions of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. Site includes descriptions for legal execution of each swim stroke as well as the usual meets, records, committees, club listing information.

American Swimming Coaches Association - Official site includes news, articles, features, job search, continuing education, speaker's bureau, clinics and events, and links.

Arizona Swimming, Inc - Provides activity schedule, results, minutes, team information, statistics and related links.

Border Swimming - Information about Texas swimming. Includes schedules, minutes, events, results, records, coaches and officials, and related links.

Central California Swimming - Includes swim meets, records, results, and National Championships listings.

Colorado Swimming - Includes news, announcements, articles, FAQs, meets, results, records, databases and forums.

Connecticut Swimming Inc. - Provides swimming information, results, meets, events, records, organization minutes, coaches, officials, photos, and related links.

Donner Swim Club - Contains schedule, events, news, meet results, and contacts. Columbus, Indiana.

Florida Gold Coast Swimming - Southeastern Florida - Team listing, area records by age group, regional Top 16 times, meet schedule, and meet results.

Georgia Swimming - Includes news, events, Georgia swim clubs, articles, calendar, records, facilities, photos, and related links.

Gulf Swimming - Southeast Texas - Includes a searchable times database, team listing, meet schedules and results, maps to pools and full records (LSC to State to Zone to National).

Hawaii Swimming - Includes schedules, meets, events, results, records, photos, team directory and related links.

Illinois Swimming - Includes records, time standards, officials, adaptive swim, age group, and senior information.

Indiana Swimming - Oversees all competitive age group swimming in the state. Includes news items, workshops, policies and forms, and current rankings.

Inland Empire Swimming - USA swimming officials and swim teams of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Includes forms, handbooks, meets, events, records, time standards, awards, clubs, officials, coaches, and committees.

Jefferson Swim League - The JSL is a summer swim league serving the Charlottesville, VA and surrounding area.

Lake Erie Swimming - Includes club list and contacts, results, schedules, records, newsletter, forms, standards, open water information, championship results and team scores, photos, archives, and related links.

Mars Community Recreation Association - The official web site with committee, contacts, jobs, meetings, membership, schedule, and news.

Maryland Swimming LSC - Is the US local swim committee for the majority of the state of Maryland. Provides news, schedule, meet results, records, club list, and related links. Also includes zone, coaches, officials, and administration sections.

Metropolitan Swimming - Covers the Metropolitan New York area. Includes standards, records, news, calendar, club list, results, statistics, and related links.

Middle Atlantic Swimming - Includes general, result and meet information, policy manual, handbook, news, team directory, records and standards, directions, and related links.

New York City Mountain Bikers. Our goal is to organize New York City Mountain Bikers and to educate the New York City Parks Commissioner and elected officials about our sport so that Mountain Bikers will be allowed to ride and care for the thousands of acres of unused and under-funded parks in the five boroughs.

Bike accessories What kinds of accessories can you get on your bike? There's such a thing as rear view mirrors, although these are more popular among road cyclists than Mountain Bikers. The same goes for horns or bells to let people know you're behind them. Also available are bike lights, powerful ones for use when you want to tear down the trail at night.

Bike clothes Road cyclists normally wear tight fitting cycle shorts and a tight fitting jersey, whereas mountain bike riders do have a tendency to look a bit baggy. The more clothes a mountain biker wears the better, actually, as they can serve to cushion falls. Rather than depending on those clothes, however, you can also stock up on knee, shin, leg, arm, and elbow guards. Gloves are also an essential, as they'll protect the hands from road burn, not to mention increasing the grip on the bike.

Bike security We live in a world where unattended bikes will quite often disappear. That may not be much of a bother if its only a $20 "beater", but when it's a mountain bike worth hundreds of dollars the loss stings a bit more. Sturdy bike locks are a must.

The sport of mountain biking is increasing in popularity year by year. It's an exhilarating sport, but it's also physically demanding. Both men and women take part, but its usually people kids, teens, and young adults. As with any other activity, Mountain Bikers have devised their own culture, including a language of their own. If you want to get into the game, you'll have to learn a few terms: If you're riding a "boing-boing" you're riding a bike with both front and rear suspension. If you've "bonked" you've run out of energy. To "bring home a Christmas tree" is a bad thing, it means you've crashed through dense brushes and leaves and things are hanging off your helmet - it also means you've left a trace on the hill, which is something Mountain Bikers - and people in general, of course, are not supposed to do. "Death cookies" are rocks that fly up into you as you go down the trail. This happens all the time and so that's why you want to wear goggles or some kind of eye protection. To get "first blood" means you're the first rider in a group who crashes and starts bleeding as a result. Some people perhaps feel this is a mark of honor for some reason. If you're doing an "endo" it means you're flying over the handlebars of your bike do to a sudden stop. And then you'll most likely do a "face plant" - hopefully into mud and not into a rock. Regardless, that's why you wear a helmet and eye protection!

RASBA - Renfrew Area Schools Badminton Association

The sport of Badminton is one that has roots heavily planted in history, as an early form of the game existed with the ancient Greeks and Egyptians. During fifth century China, a variation of the sport involved the kicking of a shuttle, until the 1600s saw the racket replace the foot. he sport as it is now played is believed to have come from a game called battledore and shuttlecock, where two players batted a feathered shuttlecock back and forth with the help of a minuscule set of rackets.

The game known as "Poona" in India travelled to England during the 1860s when British Army officers stationed in the country took an interest in the sport. A newer version of the game suited for the English made an appearance in 1873 at Badminton House, an establishment owned by the Duke of Beaufort. At that time, the activity was referred to as "The Game of Badminton," until a shortened version of the name ("Badminton") became the official label. Over the years, the English still played under the rules of India until 1887 when a standardized set of regulations were shaped at the Bath Badminton Club. In 1893, the first set of guidelines were published, followed by the first official competition in 1899. The coming years brought a wealth of changes for the sport, including the 1901 switch in indoor and outdoor play and hourglass-shaped courts becoming rectangular.

Badminton Skills and Attributes Regardless if one participates in a spirited game of Badminton arranged in the backyard or seriously trains for Olympic competition, high levels of play demands a reasonable level of fitness that includes aerobic stamina and speed as well as good hand-eye coordination and polished racket skills. Perfection of different shots, footwork skill and improved reaction time are key attributes to work on. Improving the Game One of the best ways to improve an overall Badminton game is to engage in half-court singles, using only half of the space of a standard singles court. Participants should follow normal play with scoring to 15. A keener sense of anticipation and concentration enhances defensive awareness. The art of deception also comes into play in Badminton, as body momentum and timing can be the difference between a victorious and unsuccessful rally. Learning how to place the feet and body into the correct position where the best follow-through can be accomplished is vital. There are of course the many benefits that come from developing such mental and physical strategies as, for example, a positive attitude and overall body condition.

captive bred Falcons from Scotland for sale in the UK and for export.

The peregrine falcon is the best known falcon and most widespread in the world. However if you travel to North Dakota, you won't see many and you will not find any at all in Antarctica. This falcon was on the endangered species list back in 1970 because of a problem with egg shell thinning that was caused mainly by use of the pesticide DDT during the 1950s and 60s. It took biologists 20 years to figure out that the pesticide used to protect plants from insects was the problem affecting these birds and other animals. Small animals ate the plants contaminated with the pesticide, and when the peregrine falcon hunted those animals, the infected flesh poisoned them. The chemical even changed the behavior of peregrine Falcons in that it made them stop caring for their young. The federal government banned the use of DDT in the United States; however, the recovery process took a while because the chemical residue remained in the environment. Other countries which are home to peregrine Falcons still use DDT, and that, along with trapping and shooting by poachers, still cause the bird's population to decrease. Today the endangered list still includes the peregrine falcon, and they are gradually increasing in population.

The peregrine falcon is not a very large bird; it is about the size of a crow. It is identifiable by its dark blue to slate colored back and its white throat. It also has a black teardrop right under its eye, and small black sideburns. Peregrine Falcons hunt at dawn and dusk; they will prey on ducks, pigeons, other birds and small mammals. They search for their prey from the air, and when they spot something to eat, they attack, making a sharp loud territorial call. They will swoop down at an incredible speed, up to 200 miles per hour, which makes this the fastest creature on earth. When they target their prey Falcons use their talons to strike a severe blow to the creature to eat on the spot or to carry away to their eyrie. Peregrine Falcons are normally cliff dwellers which build their nests far out of reach of people. However, you can find some in cities on top of high buildings. Researchers who study these birds help them with city nesting; they supply certain buildings with leaves and other materials which the Falcons can use.

The peregrine falcon can be found all over the world. Just look out for a bird the size of a crow with dark sideburns, yellow legs and pointed wings when in flight. Hunting permitted with a camera only.

This is the website that will tell you all about East Yorkshire's dive club! The club has been running since 1984, and offers everyone the chance to experience the world beneath the water's surface.

Diving has been around for hundreds if not thousands of years. Firstly this was in the form of free diving without any apparatus. Using hollow reeds as a snorkel and primitive goggles to create clearer underwater vision followed this.

Diving suits were designed to allow air to be pumped down to the diver. This continued and allowed man to do tasks underwater and to explore the underwater environment. In 1828 a patent application was lodged in France by D'Augerville for a diving apparatus similar in design to modern day equipment, but this faded into obscurity. In 1943 Jaque Cousteau and Emil Gagnan invented the modern scuba equipment and this has opened up the underwater world to millions of people. Advances continue to be made and these enhance the enjoyment of today's professional and recreational divers. If you are considering scuba diving this is something you MUST DO.

Locate and join a dive club. This is where you will get proper training and the best advice. Don't just buy a snorkel and fins at your local sports shop, try it out at sea and think, "Hey this is easy!" then buy a used tank and regulator and think you are ready to go. This is a recipe for disaster.

A good club will not only teach you how to dive, they will teach you about potential hazards, what to do and what not to do. They have divers with 10's of years of experience diving in many different conditions. They have access to the best equipment; know about good location for the beginner and the very experienced and they love to get new people involved. You will find good clubs all over the world. You can even take a vacation with a "Learn to Dive" theme to start you off. Look on the Internet, all good clubs have a website that will provide you with the contact details to get you started. Remember, you must get good training, being underwater is a foreign and potentially dangerous environment so get yourself off to a good start and JOIN A CLUB.

This is just the beginning. You are about to enter a marvelous world where you will discover as much about yourself as you do about the underwater environment. The dive club caters for all levels. We have beginners wanting to learn how to dive, people wanting to learn how to snorkel in preparation for their holidays abroad, and experienced divers who enjoy wreck diving. The club has its own Humber rib boat, as well as a compressor in the club house which is free for club members to use. The club is currently installing Nitrox filling facilities. There's something for everyone! So enter our website and learn more! Simply click on the menu on the left hand side to explore. We'd love to hear from you - you'll find full details on how to reach us within the "How to Get In Touch" section.

The Crisp Golf Society is an organization of golf players from Taunton, Somerset. Our Crispy Challenge and golf tounaments are held at Taunton and Pickeridge Golf Club

In a golf society that is increasing name brand conscious, many of us are tempted to simply buy what everyone else seems to be buying. This should not be the case, as everyone is different in their ability, interest level and budget. There are several levels or types of Golf Society clubs, from pro-line, custom and pre-assembled. Some are custom fit and some are just off the rack / as is.

Note: I will set an example of pricing for a typical / average price for a driver throughout this article in order to give you a feel for how the pricing fluctuates by the different types of Golf Society clubs available on the golf market today.

Let's start with pro-line Golf Society clubs or better know as brand name golf equipment like you see on TV or in popular Golf Society magazines. These are the clubs that you see a lot of advertising for and are endorsed by top playing professionals, who get paid to play these clubs. Pro-line clubs are more expensive due to these two main factors just mentioned. The average price for a pro-line titanium driver is around $300. Now, this does not mean that it is superior, it just means a higher price must be met to cover all the advertising costs etc.

Next is the market called custom clubs or component clubs and sometimes referred to as clone or knock-off clubs. There are many suppliers of these types of clubs and I am going to break them down into two (2) categories and explain each in more detail. By the way, this is the market I have been in since 1994 and specialize in. Believe me, I have seen a lot and have learned even more along the way.

FIRST GROUP - Custom clubs: In general these are clubs that are made up from individual components (as is any Golf Society club) but, the component quality, specifications and finish is of top-notch grade and quality as are most pro-line clubs as previously discussed. These are also assembled by a professional that knows what he is doing, and has assembling clubs for many years. (More on this touchy subject later in this article.) Some type of custom fitting is also offered in order to provide the end user with a club that will actually work! Novel idea huh? This goes along with the notion that the custom club builder has experience and helps golfers play better golf. The average price for a custom titanium driver is around $150. The club heads used are, usually a proprietary design by a reputable component manufacturer and shafts and grips by a brand name main-stream supplier.

Bartley Sailing Club; sail; learn to sail; watersports; dinghy; boat; sailboat; canoe; windsurf; water; fun; friendly; reservoir; dinghy racing

Consider Buddy-Boating or Flotilla Chartering Being part of a group can add to your enjoyment and you can learn from other sailors. If you're not part of a yacht club or other privately organized group, there are still ways to get mutual support and enjoy the company of other charterers. Some Sailing Club/schools offer group flotillas that you can join as individuals, couples or even whole boat loads of cruisers. Many cruises organized by sailing schools offer sailing instruction and even certification during the trip. Flotilla members can get to know each other before the trip, and group organizers go along to make the cruise as enjoyable as possible. Major charter companies like The Moorings and Sunsail offer flotilla group chartering opportunities where you join the flotilla with your own charter boat. The flotilla is led by captains from the charter company who stay with the fleet and take care of any problems that might arise.

Chartering is a great way to experience the best cruising locations around the world. It's a lot easier getting to these locations by chartering rather than sailing all the way from home. It's also cheaper and safer. It's the only way if you don't have many months of free time. Just follow good practices seamanship and navigation and you and your shipmates will have a great time and will want to go back again and again. To gain the experience needed to get your handle on sailing, sailing schools and clubs are the best possible route to consider gaining access to the sea as a sailor. If your hearts desire is to go from a sailing novice to captain of the ocean you must start by getting the right education. Sailing schools will provide you with all the information you could possibly need. A Sailing Club can be where you can get the practice you need. Sailing Clubs usually provide the vessels on which to practice and gain more experience to sail.

Depending on what you need to learn and how much experience you have and are looking to gain, it's of imperative importance to research where to go. To begin, you should know that there are many programs open to your specific needs and budget. There are many for profit schools that will help you learn the ways of the seas on week long eight hour session programs, others can be scheduled for those of you that prefer the weekends to sail. There are also non profit programs that can be scheduled for fun filled weekends, in which one can learn the basics to begin. To get started a little more than simple desire is required. Before you entrust yourself and your family to any given organization or program these are things you should be aware of: - Your instructors training and certifications. You will probably want who you are learning from to be certified by the A.S.A. the American Sailing Association or by U.S. Sailing, the national sailing authority. - How will you, the student be certified? Will your certification be recognized by other schools and sailing organizations and clubs?

Your #1 paintball auction site to buy and sell your new and used Paintball Equipment

Used paintball guns, or refurbished guns, are considered a great deal, as they are available at competitive prices. Paintball gun, also known as paintball marker, is one of the primary devices used in paintball - an outdoor game. Hopper, tank, and barrel are some of the major components of a paintball gun. Firing systems employed in paintball guns include electro-pneumatic, mechanical, pump, and electro-mechanical. At present, a variety of paintball guns such as electronic, full-auto, pump, pistols, semi-auto, and stock guns are available in the market. Among the top names in the paintball gun industry are AirStar, Brass Eagle, Bruizer, Component Concepts Inc, and Diablo. Paintball is an expensive game, and the price of a paintball gun varies according to its brand and model and firing systems employed. Usually, the price of a new paintball ranges from $150 to $1,800. Used paintball guns are a blessing for those players who are financially challenged. They are also ideal for beginners.

Nowadays, used paintball guns are in high demand because of its attractive features such as cost effectiveness, durability, and dependability. If an appropriate selection is made, used paintball guns can provide years of good service. The main advantage of used paintball guns is that they are lot cheaper than brand new ones. Sometimes, one can even acquire top quality paintball guns for half the price. When buying used Paintball Equipment, it is necessary to check whether the manufacture is still in business and does servicing. It is always wise to purchase used paintball gun that is in good condition. Sometimes, people try to sell used paintball markers that cannot be reused. For instance, paintball guns powered by carbon-di-oxide pressure system cannot be reused. Hence, one should be very careful while purchasing a used paintball gun.

Most of the paintball pro-shops in the US carry a complete line of used paintball guns, which are in good working order. In addition, there are a number of auction and classified sites on the Web, providing online services to shop used paintball guns. If you're new to the sport of paintball or would just like to save some money, here some ideas on some cheap paintball guns under $100. Paintball is not the cheapest sport out there, so you want to know a bit about paintball guns and Paintball Equipment before you purchase a lot of items. It's also possible to get a great paintball gun at a great value. In the line of spyder paintball guns the Spyder TL-X may look a bit cheap, but it can also take a lot of misuse. It fires at 5-6 bps, almost never chops, and is reasonably accurate, although it is quite loud. The gun has a vertical feed which gives it a high profile. It will take lots of abuse like muddy, rainy weather, banging, dropping, etc. The Spyder Xtra, manufactured by Kingman, is easy to maintain and dependable. It has a stock barrel that is surprisingly good, but it can also be finicky when used on CO2. This gun is also totally up- gradable!

Basildon Marquees and Inflatables, About, Marquees, Inflatables, Contact

Are you planning a wedding? If you have always wanted a beach wedding or an out door ceremony, consider the benefits of using a marquee tent to host your guests. Outdoor weddings and functions are directly affected by the weather. It is often recommended that wedding organizers consider a marquee tent to ensure a successful wedding or function. Having the option to take cover under a marquee tent is recommended, weather conditions cant be controlled, for any event or wedding there has probably months or even years of planning involved, it would be a disaster to have the day or evening ruined by fowl weather conditions. So, consider using a marquee tent to ensure that your day is a success.

Extreme weather conditions to consider using a marquee wedding tent would be rain, wind, harsh sunlight, cold conditions and finally the evening can be stretched out for a longer time under a marquee tent with protection from evening dew. Setting the date for outdoor events and outdoor weddings can often happen relatively early, therefore weather predictions are often out of the question, relax in the knowledge that you have the back-up of a marquee tent.

Getting a marquee tent for your wedding or outdoor function can be a simple process, firstly you need to decide on a company which can supply the type of tent you require, ensure that they can construct your marquee efficiently and provide or advise on extra services such as decoration for the interior of your tent. Choose a company which has some experience in the construction of marquees, to ensure that your day is not interrupted by technical difficulties and construction incompetence. Your chosen tent construction company should also be able to work closely with you or the organizers of the function to ensure time restraints are met.

There are many different styles of marquee tents to choose from. Your chosen marquee tent construction company should have a selection of different styles and colours for you to consider. For different occasions there may be suitable Marquees to suit and complement the style of your function, such as a Arabian Tent, or Indian and Bedouin Tents.

For your special day, consider the benefits a marquee tent offers, not only to provide protection against weather conditions, but also to create a style or complement your theme. If you decide to get a marquee tent, choose a company which can provide your desired marquee tent, skilled labor and industry experience, this will ensure your wedding day or outdoor event is a successful and memorable occasion.

Tattoos and Body Piercing are now regarded as socially acceptable, in the most part. In many ways they are now a part of our culture and won't be going away anytime soon. There are many reasons why people choose to get a Tattoo and Body Piercing.

Body Piercing (defined as any piercing beyond the standard earlobe piercing) has become such a popular form of body modification that between five and ten percent of the population of the United States has indulged in at least one form of it at some time in their lives. In most cases, once a person gets a Body Piercing, they follow the first one with more. There are lots of considerations; however, for making sure that your Body Piercing is done safely so that you don't end up with either an infection or a poorly done piercing that could leave an unsightly scar. It ain't ear piercing, honey… The procedure for a good Body Piercing isn't the same is for getting your earlobes pierced. Most earlobe piercings that you see done in a mall or jewelry store involve using a piercing gun that quickly shoots the actual earring post through the earlobe. This may be fine for an area of the body that has soft tissue and is easily pierced, but it isn't a good idea for other parts of the body for a few reasons.

First, it isn't as accurate as a needle, so lining it up won't always work. Just as with any gun, there is a recoil that will make the aim inaccurate. Second, the force of the gun will cause bruising and damage to the skin that isn't necessary and will slow the healing process. Third, a piercing gun can't be sterilized completely, so there is a higher risk of infection. The message is clear -- never get a Body Piercing done with a piercing gun. Always go to a professional who follows procedures approved by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). Once you get to the piercing parlor, there are several steps to the Body Piercing process that will take place to ensure both the success of the piercing and your health and safety. Each of these steps should be followed and nothing skipped.

Getting the preliminaries out of the way You must be comfortable in the environment and comfortable with your piercer before moving ahead with anything. If he or she attempts to rush you through the procedure without answering your questions or putting you at ease, do not continue. This is a long-term commitment you are making, so it's up to you if you want to go through with it. There is paperwork to be filled out, and don't let a piercing parlor tell you otherwise. A good piercing studio always keeps accurate records to ensure the health and safety of their clients. If there would ever be a question of contamination or some other health hazard, they must be able to contact you. If you are a minor, they must have the signature of your parent or guardian, who must be present at the time of the piercing.

The club have reputation as one of the hardest places to pick up women. Clubbing is what separates the men from the boys. You're either one of the guys dancing with women on the floor, or you're on the sideline with your Corona watching him. It's difficult, but definitely possible.

My answer is…why not? Now, let's take define casual clothes for a moment here. Casual is defined as relaxed, comfortable, sporty, laid-back and informal. Now, if that's the case, I don't see a problem with wearing casual clothes Clubbing. Obviously, we want to look good when we go Clubbing because of the fact that we either want to attract the opposite sex, look classy or perhaps keep our image intact. But I have seen lots of women and celebrities who look fanta-bulous in casual clothes in clubs too. In fact, what you can do is flip through some magazines and you'll soon see that even celebrities wear casual clothes Clubbing. The point is that we're comfortable in the casual clothes that we wear and don't compromise the way we look. First off, the casual clothes that you choose to wear to go Clubbing should have nice colors. If you feel like it, wear something with attractive prints. Perhaps, with a popular saying or an expressive t-shirt or something. Casual clothes that give you a personality boost. Casual clothes that gives you character - no, let me say that again, casual clothes that enhance your personal character.

As long as you don't choose casual clothes that are either too baggy and the casual clothes should make you look neat and presentable. When you're wearing casual clothes Clubbing, slippers, sandals and sports shoes are totally out of the question, regardless of the attire. The belts and accessories that you have on with your casual clothes will definitely make a big difference to your Clubbing experience. Try a nice little casual tank top with cropped khaki pants with large hoop earrings for a change. You're not expected to be able to afford the kind of Clubbing clothes that a CEO or royalty can afford but it's essential that you invest in good quality casual clothes for Clubbing. The bottom line is your Clubbing casual clothes should never be your gym clothes or jeans. Well, ok, sometimes you can pull it off with nicely pressed casual clothes with jeans.

It was one of those nights, when you feel the world stop turnin', you were standing There, there was music in the air. I should have been Away, but I knew I'd have to stay. Last train to London, just headin' out, Last train to London, just leavin' town AIR SUPPLY Funk, Hip-Hop, Soul, Swing, Rock, Jazz, House, Reggae, Latin, Drum 'n Bass, Techno, Bigbeat, Trance, Metal - make your choice. This is what the Clubbing scene in London has to offer. There is so much to see in London like the Clock Tower, Madame Tussaud's, and Piccadilly but nothing even remotely compares to what nightlife in London has to offer. Home to some of the greatest rock and pop bands in the world, music seems to be alive in every corner, every street, and every brick in the wall.

Now into our third season playing at Netherne on the hill in the rolling hills of Surrey, the Cheam Parish and Sutton Baptist Cricket Club are a sociable but competitive side looking to play to the highest standards whilst maintaining a fun atmosphere in which we all enjoy our Saturday afternoons.

Cricket is a sport of English origin, which has become increasingly influenced by international interest. As commercial opportunities have arisen, the sport has made itself more appealing to its followers. There is evidence to suggest cricket was played, in some form as long ago as the 11th century, but it was not until 1646 when the first organised game took place for a bet of twelve candles. Cricket continued to develop for another hundred years or so without any standard written rules. The earliest laws of the game were formally composed in 1744. Although it would be another 43 years before any central governing body existed. In 1787 Marylebone Cricket Club (more commonly known as the MCC) was set up at Lord's Cricket Ground to protect the standard laws of cricket. The MCC was to be the international guardian of cricket for another two hundred years and it is still to this day, the copyright holder of the "Laws of Cricket". Despite its previously strong English history, the first international cricket game was between the USA and Canada in New Jersey in 1844. The MCC later adopted a policy to encourage the global development of cricket - particularly in British colonies, where the sport was becoming increasingly popular.

The first international game played by England was not until 1877, when James Lillywhite captained a side that travelled to Australia and lost at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The event was a tremendous success and arrangements were hurriedly made for a rematch, which was won by England. This lengthy format of match (typically lasting five days) was to become "test cricket". Australia played a return match in 1882 and defeated England at the Oval. It was seen as a national shame and a mock obituary appeared in The Sporting Times the following day. It announced the death of English cricket, infamously stating "the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia". This later spawned an ongoing battle between the nations for ownership of these fabled Ashes. Regardless of the national team's failure at that time, domestic cricket in England continued to thrive. And eventually, in 1890 the inaugural County Championship took place, comprising eight regional teams. It had expanded to fifteen teams by 1900 and with the addition of Northamptonshire (1905) and Glamorgan (1921); the competition was attracting interest across England and Wales. The county championship had no fixed setup until after the Second World War. In 1968 a format was agreed that stayed in place until the 1990s. By this time county cricket was in disarray; teams were getting into debt as crowds sharply declined. After the addition of an eighteenth county, a two division championship was set up to remedy the problem of diminished interest, but this did little to help the crumbling county game, which still struggles greatly as gate revenue fails to compensate for overheads.

MLB Baseball Odds and Lines by Baseball Sports Lines - features sports betting lines and odds on NFL Football, MLB baseball wagering and online hockey betting.

Live wagering allows you to place bets on a game while it is going on. With this form of wagering, you will be able to place a bet on which team you think will win the game, but you will also be able to place bets on the events of the game as it unfolds on your television screen. The way live wagering works is simple. If you are watching a basketball game you will be able to bet on every single play of the game while it is going on. All you need to do is be on your computer, while the game is on television. If your favorite player is heating up, you can place a bet that he is going to make his next shot. Or if one of the best free throw shooters in the league is at the foul line, you can bet that he will make one or both of his free throws. The same rules apply with other sports such as football and baseball. Live wagering during baseball games is the easiest because the game is slower than basketball, football, etc. While watching a baseball game you will be able to bet on every pitch, every at-bat, and every inning.

The great thing about live wagering is that you can do it in addition to betting on the game as a whole. This will give you something to cheer for on every play of the game. It appears that live wagering may be the next big hit. Find a site that offers this service and give it a shot! Take a look at our website for Live MLB Baseball Odds and Live Baseball Odds Comparison Of all the major sports, obtaining Free MLB Picks is the most dangerous. I say this primarily based on the motives of handicappers that offer free picks. Let's face it; giving away free picks is not going to put food on anybody's table. A handicapper's purpose of offering free picks is to get you purchase their service. How willing would you be to purchase a handicapper's service if they lost 3 or 4 free picks in a row? Not very. Knowing this, handicappers choose free picks that have the highest probability of winning with no focus on the long-term value of the pick. Value is found in MLB Baseball Odds when the probability of a team winning is higher than the break-even percentage based on the odds. For example, you would have to win 52.3% of the time when betting consistently on -110 teams in football and basketball. Value only exists if a -110 team's probability of winning is greater than 52.3%. As you can see, many Free MLB Picks choose the heavy favorites of around -200 because they know that those picks will have approximately 66.6% chance of winning, even though they should be trying to pick small dogs that have a strong chance to win. In doing so, handicappers risk having long losing streaks and losing customers so therefore avoid it.

Comprehensive personals and Dating Sites Directory with links to online singles, personal ads, penpals, matchmaking, marriage agencies, foreign brides, love advices and other dating related services. Looking for a dating site? Our online Dating Sites Directory offers dating web sites in many categories with matchmaking services for that exact match. Choose from a variety of paid and free dating sites that offer many services with something for everyone. Our dating site listings include free personals, matchmaking for Catholic, Jewish online dating and Christian dating. Our ethnic categories offer African American sites, interracial dating, Latin & Asian dating services. Or choose from any dating site that offers free adult personal ads, web cam chat rooms, gay dating services for men and women, meet adult swingers and bisexuals for hook up though our Dating Sites Directory right here at Popular Dating Sites. Are you looking for a foreign bride? Choose from a variety of sites in our Dating Sites Directory for Russian brides, Asian brides and Latin Brides for that exact matchmaking experience and possible marriage through many resources featuring mail order brides.

We offer many online dating service listings with programs that include personal ads with personal profiles and photo personals to assure you find someone special that meets your criteria through our listings of internet dating services. Other features include free chat sites, virtual gifts and cards, matchmaking tickles and so much more. So what ever your dating needs let Popular be your international online Dating Sites Directory!!!!!

Dating Sites Directory is the ultimate directory of online dating sites. Increase your possibilities of meet singles for friendship, romance, love or marriage. Every day more resources for special people, personalities, physics and all relationships types. If you are looking for a perfect match, browse the categories and find the most appropriate site for your search and funny way to meet women and men. Read the reviews for best ranked dating sites and post your own comment. Dating sites webmasters or contents administrators add your URL and suggest a category.

Dating Sites Directory is the only online dating directory that listens to visitor comments to help provide ratings for dating sites. We also list those sites that are not recommended by listening to the feedback from our users. You will therefore find an unbiased accurate rating of dating services. Remember that any site with a rating between 3 and 5 stars you can join with confidence. Any site that has a rating below 3 stars we do not recommend that you join.

Dating Sites Directory provides links to the best dating services, personals and matchmaking sites for singles seeking love and romance online.

All kind of internet dating services from international, and local dating sites which offer a safe place to connect other singles online whit a variety of useful features in order to help their users, to marriage and introduction agencies. Most of dating sites come with services overview and actual members reviews.

Online dating service is an example of a dating system. What differentiates an online dating service from other matchmaking is its reliance on the Internet. Online dating web sites offer a fun, exciting and secure environment for interacting, dating online and meeting with other single people worldwide. As a proven leader in online dating services, our company offers millions of online dating profiles for millions of possibilities to meet your match. Our goal is to make it as easy and as quick as possible for you to meet people online.

In general, dating sites provide you with a way to contact a lot of people who are looking for a date. In our site there is a fast-growing online dating community. The main goal of our dating site is to provide high-quality dating ads and easy-to-use system in order to help singles connect with other singles around the world.

Our dating site is filled with cool and interesting features that make online dating fun and easy. Play dating games, participate in ratings, browse through thousands of profiles, view profiles and send instant messages - and you can specify exactly what you're looking for.

It's increasingly popular to become an online dating single and try to meet people with the hope that you might want to date one of them, or maybe even to develop a more serious relationship with him or her. You can meet some great people this way, and most of the profiles you look at are honest and genuine. You can, however, meet some more interesting characters online. Here are some to watch out for.

1. Married Terry. You never really know whether the new person you meet and develop an interest in is really an online dating single. Married people can be found at the neighborhood grocery store, a sporting event in the next city and believe it or not, at an online dating site. The difference with an online dating site is that it's easier for Terry to disguise him/herself so that s/he isn't recognizable to spouse and friends. Sometimes people who are "technically" married (i.e., not yet divorced) set up an online profile before they are truly available.

2. Bailey the Kid. Most online dating sites are closed to people younger than 18 years of age, but that doesn't stop some kids from posting profiles.

Online dating is for adults, and there are serious legal and ethical problems when children get involved, even if it's the child who is at fault. Avoid anybody who sounds juvenile, immature or too young for you.

3. Geezer Jo. At the other end of the spectrum are people who lie about their ages to attract much younger people. Some older online dating singles enjoy the company of much younger people, and there is nothing wrong with that. The problem is when Jo is dishonest and misleading.

4. Deceptive Chris. Chris would tell you s/he's not lying on his/her profile. Sure, that picture was taken ten years ago when he had hair or she was size 3. Maybe s/he's not exactly a doctor, but s/he does work at a hospital in housekeeping, and athletic might have been an optimistic description.

The Online Dating phenomena is getting so popular now that there are Online Dating websites that advertise they have over a million people in their database. That's a lot of people. The Online Dating websites may be successfully fulfilling their job of matching up people or there are a lot of people that are looking for a date or relationship that cannot seem to find someone compatible.

There could also be too many of one sex and not enough of the other. It's also possible that too many are being so selective that even though there are a huge number of people in the database not enough people fit into those selective categories. Whatever the reason there are loads of people, millions of them scattered over large numbers of Online Dating websites databases all over the Internet. How does one get noticed when there may be tens of thousands or more people as your competition? Good question! You have to post a nice appealing picture and a detailed and interesting profile that will make people want to contact you. It's also possible to run ads on some of the Online Dating websites. The purpose of Online Dating websites is to provide those people looking for a date over the Internet using their service, a selection of possible matches that meet their search requirements. Both men and women can enjoy this service of finding a date. There are even websites which allow free surfing while most others ask for a small fee, in order for users to have an access to their databases. The databases hold all the information on all persons who have entered their information into the Online Dating website.

Whether they are free or paid Online Dating websites, the basic model is still the same. The users are required to enter their profiles. The profiles are placed in the server of the Online Dating websites you have joined as a member. All of the Online Dating websites have a great search program which can readily match profiles using the gender, age, interest and community of the users. You can be a very desirable man or a beautiful woman in your actual life, but you can be unnoticed in Online Dating websites unless you know how to draw the attention of other people. You can only do this by having a catchy and appealing profile. It should say something about you, your passions, your interests, likes and hates. It should also say something about what you want in a date. Most people want to know positive things in advance.

For example you are a man. Try to let others know about yourself. Don't just educate them with your favorite sports because it will just bore them. In addition, do not write anything about sex. You can be at least a bit mysterious in order for you to get positive responses. On the other hand, if you are a woman you can apply your wits to help you get noticed. Don't make any mistake regarding sex. It would only lead to the wrong type of mail.

Agri Starts III - Biotechnology company in Florida producing ornamentals by tissue culture, specializing in insectivorous varieties, calathea, hosta, grasses, and other herbaceous perennials. Product image gallery, price list.

Alameda Homestead Nursery - Australian producer of hybrid clematis, as well as a range of other landscape plants. Information and photos for many varieties.

Albo Vanhulle - Belgian export nursery specializing in cut greens or ornamental foliage such as quercus rubra, quercus palustris among others. Also delivers ornamental and forestry plants internationally.

Aldershot Greenhouses Limited - Wholesale producer of roses in North America.

Allied Growers, Inc. - Supplier of tropical and blooming plants to the horticultural and floral industry, based in Florida, offers online shopping. Varied assortment includes houseplants, hanging baskets, cacti, and palms.

Alpha Fern - Florida-based grower and distributor of leatherleaf fern, pittosporum, cut ivy and varieties of asparagus including sprengeri, plumosis and ming. Details post-harvest product treatment.

Alvin Tree Farm - Wholesale nursery grower of specimen trees, shrubs and ground covers.

A.M.G. Growers, Inc. - Supplier of bare root perennials and flowerbulbs in Michigan, selling mostly in the upper Midwest and Northeast. Products include hosta, bearded iris, clematis, and many common perennials and spring-flowering bulbs.

Anthony Tesselaar International - Producer of a wide range of home garden plants with locations of dealers worldwide, descriptions and photos of plant varieties and information about the company. Anthura B.V. - Netherlands grower and exporter of a large selection of cut and potted anthuriums, phalaenopsis orchids and bromeliads. Includes company profile, virtual tour of facilities and detailed product information.

[English/French/Dutch/German/Spanish]

Apopka Foliage Industry Guide - Provides potential buyers a complete online listing of nurseries, brokers, transportation and other allied services.

Atchison Exotics - Grower of regular and tropical indoor pre-bonsai, including ficus, fukien tea, and pachira money tree. Located in Florida.

Australian Lavender Industry - Contact information for the professional association, annual conference details, and sample pages from its newsletter. Overview of the uses of lavender, cultivation requirements, and extraction of essential oils.

Bailey Nurseries, Inc - Wholesale grower of a wide range of ornamental plants, distributed through retailers and landscapers. Products include perennials, roses, vines, shrubs, and trees. Includes a searchable database with descriptions and photos.

Batenburg Flora - Broker, distributor, and exporter of ornamental plants and cut flowers, working through the Dutch flower auction. Brief company profile and sample product photos.

Beechill Growers - Irish grower and exporter of daffodil cutflowers and bulbs to the American and European markets.

Bella Vista Flowers - Specialized in the selection and breeding of Alstroemeria plants for cut-flower production.

Blacks Nursery - Northern Ireland supplier of hardy nursery stock from alpines to semi-mature trees to garden centers, landscapers, golf courses, and other amenity sectors.

Bloomz online - New Zealand floricultural company, specializing in calla lily, sandersonia and other exotic species such as phormium. Primarily orientated to the production of high health tissue culture, bulbs and tubers.

Blue Sky Nursery Ltd. - Wholesale grower of ornamental nursery stock including azaleas, rhododendrons, hollies, ornamental grasses, blueberries, hostas and more. Located in Ontario.

Arboricultural Contractors based in East London: Applying themselves to all aspects of Tree Work, with passion.

I am a Certified Arborist and I pride myself a little in that. Unfortunately, "Certified Arborist" means little if it is only a codeword for "salesman." The lion's share of Tree Work is accomplished by someone who is not a Certified Arborist and with no Certified Arborist on sight. One might argue that the the guy with the clipboard, "the arborist," has been doing some training with the "non arborists," and therefore they have a better product. This is hard to verify and, from what I have seen, generally not the case. They probably haven't been training at all. Having a Certified Arborist available while the job is being done is very important to the end result. It doesn't really matter if a company has Certified Arborists if they are not available to the customer.

A key point is whether the salesman/arborist speaks the same language as the non-arborists. The language barrier between English and Spanish speakers is a pretty high wall in some cases. I speak Spanish yet I have a hard time communicating technical details critical to safe Tree Work. I side with the Spanish speaking worker here because they are the ones who can be hurt if training is lacking. Make sure there will be someone on your job who speaks English in addition to any Spanish speaking workers.

There is much risk involved in picking up the phone book and calling the tree service with the biggest, most colorful ad. Many companies with strong ethics and customer satisfaction hardly advertise at all. You don't need to rule out the big ads, but make sure there are other criteria that go into choosing a tree service. Traditionally the Better Business Bureau has been a good resource for the consumer, however I am aware of one member tree service that currently has had 39 complaints in the last 36 months. Wow, that's service. Our company, Arboreal, has 0 complaints in the past 6 years.

There are a lot of other companies with the same good track record. As of this writing the best resource available to any consumer looking to hire a tree service is angieslist.com. Right now I believe it is temporarily free to join and it provides a wealth of information on local service providers from roofers to tree services to computer repair. You can't really outwit Angie's list if you are lacking in ethics. She will catch you and make you pay. Arboreal takes care of clients and angieslist.com keeps track of how well. The one and only drawback to Angieslist.com is that at some point she will also make the consumer pay. The $50 annual she may soon charge could save you thousands.

When it comes to Online Dating just as with the more traditional dating methods there are some points that you should remember if you want to get the best out of the experience, the first thing that you need to decide when joining a site is what it is you are actually looking for.

If you are looking for someone special, Online Dating is hard to miss. With databases of millions of singles of every description, Online Dating sites have a lot to offer. But with the increased opportunity, comes a new set of problems for hopeful singles searching. Here are a few tips and some advice on using Online Dating services. Your Online Expression Display
Usually when you sign up, you have to right your ad right away. Resist the temptation to quickly knock off a personal ad and description of yourself. Take your time to research what others are saying, and carefully craft your ad. Remember, your ad is all people are going to see, so it deserves all the attention you can give it. Count on spending a few days researching your ad, then a few more days writing and re-writing your ad. Good attitude wins the game.
Most wonderful benefit of Online Dating is the amount of singles you have access to, but at the same all those same singles have more options than he/she can handle. Most folks make quick random slighted decisions whenever a unusually amount of hot singles are brought to their finger-tips. So beware of this strange and exotic atmosphere in the Online Dating game. Keep a winners attitude. Taking anything personal can be damage to your self-image. However, I do not recommend Online Dating as a rebound method. If you are just divorce, let it sink a little bit first. Diving into the water with emotional spontaneity can break a spinal cord. Be very picky, but not superficial.
Don't fall into trap of making quick decisions based on the nicest photo, even though a lot of online daters are making a habit of it. Actually read the profile and emails thoroughly to gain a vibe about a person. Try to determine if there may be chemistry.not just body chemistry either. You may be saying to yourself, Well, I'm a major Hottie and my choices are limitless. I do not have time to look within a person. If that is the case, you will definitely not have the time to develop and nourish a meaningful relationship. You'll just be stuck with quickies until you don't even have strength for that either. You will only meet that special partner by getting to know and loving the person, not just by worshiping and leaning on the flesh. What do you really want?
Sometimes we think we want something, but in reality we are just longing for something else. Let this be the time for you to discover yourself, before you bond with another. You never really know what you want until you know who you are.