Archive for February, 2010

The Historical Roots Of MMA: Muhammad Ali Vs. Antonio Inoki

Feb 22nd, 2010 Posted in Travel | no comment »

The UFC has only recently brought mixed martial arts to the mainstream in the US, but in Japan there’s a long tradition of fights pitting contestants from different disciplines against each other. While they’ve only been called MMA or ‘mixed martial arts’ in recent years, the sport clearly has its roots in these early contests between wrestlers, judo fighters and boxers. In Japan, Antonio Inoki’s fights against world famous martial artists brought great notoriety to the still evolving sport.

Inoki would often face other martial artists in fights that are widely accepted to have been “worked” (having a predetermined outcome) in the same manner as professional wrestling matches. While Inoki faced a number of karate, judo and boxing champions his most famous match was certainly his fight against world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali.

There’s a great deal of uncertainty about many of the stories surrounding how the event came together and transpired, but a few facts are now known. Ali took the fight as it was a large and presumptively easy paycheck. The big money he was earning is what kept him from walking out when his camp started to disagree with Inoki’s handlers over the rules and ‘finish’ fo the fight. Some suggest that it was supposed to be a fair fight going in, but Ali at the last minute insisted on rules more favorable to him. The more likely version of events is that Ali’s handlers agreed to a predetermined finish, only to have Ali balk at the last moment.

Many conspiracy theorists have noted that these rules were never announced to the crowd on fight night, leaving many with the impression that they were being made up as they went along. Action in the fight would further validate this view, but there actually were rules that both camps agreed to heading into the fight. Not surprisingly, most of these were designed to protect Ali. In fact, they were so one-sided that if Inoki hadn’t been so concerned about preserving his big payday he would have been justified in not fighting. Inoki was prohibited from punching with a closed fist or striking Ali in the head (ostensibly since he wasn’t wearing gloves). Inoki was prohibited from using any sort of submission maneuver. The most absurd limitation was that Inoki was prohibited from “grappling or trying to take Ali to the ground”. A few observers noted that this was like not letting Ali throw a jab.

Despite the repeated howls from the media that the fight was ‘fixed’, it was anything but–it was a real fight and painfully boring. Ali did next to nothing, Inoki did whatever he could within the one sided rules. Eventually, Inoki spent most of the fight on the ground trying to throw kicks at Ali’s legs. The event ended up as a 74-74 draw. Both fighters got paid, and the fans got to watch a fight albeit a really, really bad one.

The fight was officiated by former pro wrestler “Judo” Gene Labell, a legendary tough guy considered at the time to be the ‘baddest man on the planet’. He could have easily beaten up both men, possibly at the same time. That might have provided some much needed entertainment to liven up the tedious charade masquerading as a fight.

In the aftermath of the fight, Inoki’s popularity was greater than ever–in a perverse way he was something of a hero due to his trying to fight despite the rules being stacked so soundly against him. He remained one of the country’s most popular professional wrestlers and even enjoyed a career in Japan’s parliament. Without missing a beat, he quickly resumed his series of fights against other martial artists who were apparently all more comfortable with the “worked” environment of pro wrestling. Among his “victims” was none other than Leon Spinks, presumably serving as some sort of vindication for his draw with Ali. The popularity of these matches led to a number of promotions that were essentially hybrids of martial arts and pro wrestling, and these led to the big Japanese MMA promotions of today.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and World Cup betting sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

How To Get The Most From Living

Feb 21st, 2010 Posted in Business | no comment »

Getting The Most From Living

If you’re staring at your own planner and getting frustrated at the plans you have failed to follow through, it is perfect to simply cease doing that. Worrying and whining over things that you haven’t mastered to complete within the past few months is not going to get you anywhere. You’ve still got time for you to begin your quest for self-improvement and make the following couple of months the greatest ever. To help you get fired up, you very first require to be really fearless. Whatever your worries are, you will in no way be able to live a excellent living should you let them hold you back.

What action do you take to overcome your concerns? Start by making a summary of all of the things which scare you. Write them down as quickly as they arrive in your thoughts and don’t spend lots of time analyzing them. Right now, take your own checklist and start at the top. For each worry, question yourself if that’s the one that truly bothers you. Following, clear out all the mists and unlock the underlying anxiety. Gaining more experience and a better understanding of what really bothers you can help you manage those restricting factors.

Be satisfied with what you have also. Constantly seeking perfection will not give you peacefulness. When you are tied to getting some thing in a particular way, much better than it currently is, you’re engaged in a losing struggle. When you keep zeroing in on what is wrong, you just become dissatisfied and discontent. Naturally, that’s not to imply you shouldn’t give living your best shot. Within the similar way, there are always going to be better methods to complete some thing. Just enjoy and appreciate the way in which things are. Catch yourself when you are falling into the old behavior of in no way being pleased, gently remind yourself that life gets much better if you’re okay with the way it is. As you gradually remove your want for continuous perfection, you’ll discover the many wonderful blessings you already have.

Of course, looking and feeling good constantly works. Get care of your body, as soon as you feel fitter, you start glowing on the outside as well. Rest, diet, and exercise: those ought to also be in your list of focal points. Consider what to complete to make this happen and set your mind to it. Exercise self-discipline and eventually, the habit will arrive naturally for you. Scribble them all on your diary and be sure you give oneself practical goals for your physique.

Be wise with your cash because these are smart moves that will surely improve your spending budget. Avoid the inclination to put your money all in 1 investment. You are able to only put your trust with your cash on yourself. At the same time, open your mind to new advice and excellent ideas. You have friends and family who also have your greatest interest in mind. And when negative things occur to you, understand that this also happens to everyone. You’ll just really feel worse if you continue sulking and regretting. So, constantly put oneself very first and don’t allow anyone else be the center of the universe. Life is too brief to waste every moment on grief. Have the self-confidence to let go and know that you can constantly end up being happier.

Want to find out more about instant hypnosis, then visit our site on milton erickson.

Minnesota Loses First Game of Season

Feb 19th, 2010 Posted in Sports | no comment »

Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings are undefeated no more. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ used a couple of big plays from their defense in the fourth quarter to break open a close game and defeat the Vikings by a final score of 27-17. Favre put up decent yardage in the loss, throwing for 334 yards but had no touchdowns and an interception. The defending Superbowl Champion Steelers improved to 5-2, while the Vikings are now 6-1.

NFL pointspread players who backed the Steelers as -6 home favorites were rewarded with the cover. Pittsburgh had only covered one of their first six games heading into the contest, and the win improved their record against the number to 2-5. Minnesota dropped to 4-3 against the spread with the setback. The 44 points scored went UNDER the posted total of 46′.

The Steelers largely shut down Minnesota’s rushing game, holding Adrian Peterson to 69 yards. Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark underscored his team’s dominance against the run:

“That’s the biggest point of the game. You have the best running back in the world and you don’t give it to him. They’re saying they can’t beat us running, and that’s a major statement when you have the guy they have back there.”

Favre gave a mealy mouthed justification for the loss in his postgame interview:

“There were a lot of what ifs, a lot of reasons we didn’t win. The red zone was one of them. They’re physical, and they were as good as we thought they’d be. … When I came here and looked at our schedule and saw the Steelers game, I went, ‘Oh-h-h.’ ”

Favre has only thrown three interceptions in a Vikings’ uniform, but #3 was a costly one as it was returned by Steelers’ Keyaron Fox for a touchdown to put the game out of reach as Minnesota was driving for a potential game tying field goal. Afterwards, Fox recalled the play:

“Brett tried to force it in there and the running back bobbled it and slipped out of his hands and it fell into my lap. I had just run across the field after Peterson and I was winded, so it felt like it was 100-plus yards.”

The Vikings now face another big game next week as they head to Favre’s old stomping grounds in Green Bay for a battle with the Packers. It’ll be Favre’s first appearance at his old home in an enemy uniform. The Vikings will then have a bye weekend before hosting the lowly Detroit Lions on November 15. Pittsburgh will enjoy a bye week this week before returning to action on Monday, November 9th facing the Denver Broncos on the road.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and World Cup betting sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

EPAct 2005 Tax Deductions – Time Is Running Out

Feb 18th, 2010 Posted in Business | no comment »

Many businesses have implemented energy efficiency measures in their facilities over the past several years to help decrease operating expenses and aid the local and global environment. What a lot of these companies do not know is that sizeable federal tax deductions are available to them and also that time may be running out.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) provides generous, immediate tax deductions to businesses for making energy efficiency improvements to their buildings. The federal tax incentives center mainly on efficiency improvements to lighting, HVAC and building envelopes and can be as large as $1.80 per square foot.

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 extended Section 179D and EPAct 2005 so the act will not expire until December 31, 2013. However, that does not mean that time may not be running out for some companies.

For businesses that implemented energy efficiency projects in 2006 it is probable they filed their tax returns before April 15, 2007. If they were unaware of the deductions at that time, they are now at risk of losing those tax deductions forever since the IRS only allows a three year period to amend tax returns.

That means if you have not yet amended your 2006 tax return you have only a few months left to do so!

As an electrical contractor working with commercial and industrial customers you certainly have been thinking about ways to increase your sales and likely how to better utilize your current book of business to that end. You have also most likely been approached by your current customers asking what they can do to reduce their energy costs.

Have you thought about a strategic partnership with an experienced engineering firm that specializes solely in turnkey, energy cost reduction projects on a national level? One that can bring whole facility energy solutions to the table for you and your customers? A company that can provide a fast payback and increase cash flow for your customer?

Bringing in such a company will grow your business as you will be the one who is sub-contracted by the engineering firm to provide the installation services under their management and direction. You can use this approach over and over again with all of your customers and doing so will not only increase your revenues exponentially, it will also transform your customers’ impression of you from simply another vendor to that of a valued consultant.

Save Money On Your Company’s Energy Bill, visit Energy Edge Technologies site for strategies on saving a tremendous amount of capital on your Corporate Energy Bill or call 888-729-5722 Ext. 100.

What You Must Know About The Mormon Beliefs

Feb 17th, 2010 Posted in Education | no comment »

There is no doubt that Joseph Smith certainly laid the foundation for the Mormon religion. Many of the guidelines as far as the beliefs go is that the Mormons are to be constantly seeking out the word of God in respect to the truthfulness of the book of Mormon. They are told that the positive response to this would be a burning in their bosom. It would appear that most Mormons really don’t study their book or really know all that much about the contents of it. There are indications that this religion is certainly against everything that Christianity as we know it as for what it stands for. To begin with they believed that at one point in time God was a man .They believe according to their doctrine if they have lived a good life then one day they will become gods and will be in charge of their own heaven.

The next fallacy is that God the Father had many wives and that he is still alive and bearing spiritual children . Then there is a belief that Jesus was a spirit brother to Satan. They go on to believe that individuals who have black skin are inferior. That certainly brings to mind the Freemasons once again. It is believed by the Mormons that those that didn’t fight for God came back to earth as a black. It has only been in the last little while that blacks were allowed to become priests within the Mormon religion .

They believe that everyone is saved by grace provided they have done everything they possibly can to live within the Mormon doctrine or have just failed a very few of the Mormon beliefs. Yet again it becomes almost a confusing type of religion because it would seem that no one has a strict foundation doctrine. If you were to start off asking five different Mormons what they believe you will never get the same answer. Again this is like the Freemasons.

Because the Mormons are very zealous in their recruitment by way of being missionaries there are many individuals that are added to the congregation that are unknowing just what they are getting into. Amongst their beliefs is also the fact that they must give generously according to their means of which is typing. Now this isn’t something that is just unique to the Mormons as many religions stand by this as well. It’s just a matter of how far to the Mormons take it.

When one looks at the many similarities to the Mormons and the Freemasons it makes one wonder if the Mormons is actually a spin off of the Freemasons. It stands to reason that this is denied as the Freemasons deny affiliation with any other sector, as so do the Mormons.

Are you looking for authentic and unbiased lds scriptures? Visit SecretsofMormons now to access over 10,000 pages of lds books and out-of-print mormon manuscripts.