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Prologue

My latest adventure, or should I say mis-adventure, involved rib patrol boats and gunboats mixed in a heady concoction of deceit, death, corruption and desolation. It’s a story that’s still going around and around in my head, and hopefully by setting out my thoughts it will help me come to terms with what must be my experience of a lifetime.

It all started out, as I guess many of these things do, by a phone call with the offer of some offshore oil support work operating some 35-40 miles offshore in the Gulf of Guinea. A planned one month stint during our winter months, in the warmth of Africa away from the cold and damp of blighty, and some good remuneration to boot!

Little was I to know that I was to become witness to the reality of life in the third world, between the haves and the have nots in what was in truth a division between life and death. As my story unfolds you will hear about a culture of deceit and corruption at the highest levels in government and military, why each and every white European carries a bounty of $2m on his head and the reasons why a militant organisation claims justification for piracy and murder.

Black gold, the oil that the west has an insatiable desire for, is the catalyst for a dreadfully greedy and violent part of Africa, Nigeria.

DAY BY DAY

Day 1. Tuesday 11th March

An exciting and early start to catch my flight from Manchester to Heathrow, before catching the daily BA flight to Lagos. I was met at the airport by a representative from my new employer, a UK Security Consultancy employing some 80 personnel. The job was to be the captain of an ex MOD Spitfire Class 24m, RTTL (Rescue and Target Towing Launch). It was one of two vessels recently acquired by the company with another two on the way. These vessels had been previously used by the RAF & Royal Navy for target towing in support of military exercises.

This was a great opportunity for me to gain valuable experience in a vessel somewhat larger than the 11m Humber Rib, which I worked on the wind farm at Burbo Bank, and the survey vessels in the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

I arrived early evening in Lagos, to be met by the company’s shore based project manager and driven to the Lagos Motorboat Club. Lagos, a city built for 3 million inhabitants but which supports 8 million, was vastly overcrowded with poverty around every corner. The city is the economic and financial capital of Nigeria and the second most populous in Africa after Cairo. It’s a huge metropolis which originated on islands separated by creeks that fringe the southwest mouth of Lagos Lagoon, protected from the Atlantic Ocean by long sand spits.

From the Motorboat Club I was ferried out to Apapa Island to rendezvous with the boat, meet up with the crew, have a few beers and a BBQ in the + 30c heat, at what was now 9:30pm.

Day 2. Wednesday 12th March

Day break and familiarisation with the boat was conducted by the chief engineer, an ex South African Navy engineering officer. Then a briefing from the two company liaison officers on board, again South African, both from a security background. My first mate was Nigerian as was our assistant engineer, also our chief cook and bottle washer was a Nigerian. A total company complement of 7 persons, comprising three Nigerians, three South Africans and me, the only Brit!

Background

Offshore and onshore oil installations are heavily guarded by security organisations, due to the aggressive militant operations carried out by MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta). These militants have been engaging the military in regular battles in the creeks of the Bonny River since the Nigerian government decided to heighten operations in the region to halt rising cases of kidnapping of foreign oil workers, who carry a $2m bounty on their heads, and the murder of fellow Nigerians seen to be co-operating with the oil companies, as they have no value.

Nigeria relies on oil and gas exports for more than 90 per cent of its annual foreign earnings, but has been collecting dwindling revenue because of the destruction of oil production facilities and its infrastructure by the activities of the militants in the region which is currently at an all time high.

The Plan

Our task was to patrol an offshore oil installation in the Gulf of Guinea. Prior to this we were to rendezvous with the Nigerian Navy. Our sail plan involved leaving Lagos taking an offshore passage through the Bights of Benin and Biafra across the Gulf of Guinea, some one and a half days motoring (350nm) to arrive at Port Harcourt.

Our rendezvous point was the onshore LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Plant terminal on Bonny Island. At this location our vessel was to be fitted out with four 12.7mm heavy calibre machine guns, two on the fly bridge with the second two astern, some light machine guns and a detachment of eight Nigerian marines with personal weapons, before proceeding to take up station offshore.

The Day’s Events

We had a Lagos pilot booked for 5pm so we took the opportunity to do final provisions and a fuel top up during the day. Our 24m patrol vessel was powered by twin 1,000hp engines. At 4pm, eight Nigerian Navy marines arrived and boarded as our guards during the passage. For security reasons the vessel was flying the Nigerian flag.

At 5pm with no sign of the pilot we cast off to wait in the middle channel for the pilot, which was not uncommon. The harbour entrance was quite formidable with watercraft dashing here, there and everywhere. A hundred ships were also at anchor just outside the harbour entrance.

I was very pleased to see the pilot cutter arrive and I welcomed aboard the pilot. After the formalities and documentation stamping etc. I asked to set the throttles forward to commence our passage. The pilot was immediately alarmed and requested our vessel to stop so that he could get off!

It became apparent that his job was only the paperwork and that we had to take ourselves out of the harbour and through the buoyage system to the fairway. On disembarking the pilot turned to me and pointedly asked did I have anything for him! He got short shrift from me, on this, my first introduction to the pre-requisite ‘backhander’.

At 6pm we successfully cleared the fairway buoy.

Day 3. Thursday 13th March

Steady motoring at 8 knots in a pleasantly rolling (no big waves) F2 all the way. We experienced some small delay due to the prevailing Guinea current across the Bight of Biafra on our way to Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State (the oil capital of Nigeria).

Day 4. Friday 14 March

Arrived at the entrance to the Bonny River channel just after noon, 12:15pm. The Nigerian marine’s lieutenant was quickly on his mobile phone to the local naval base to confirm our arrival and to take instructions on our meeting point. The Lagos marines were due to disembark and fly back to their home base in Lagos, their job done.

For some unapparent reason the guns could not be transported to the LNG jetty. We should continue to the jetty and wait for two patrol boats (gunboats) from the Nigerian Marines NNS Pathfinder group who would escort us to the Naval Base where the armaments would be fitted and the replacement detachment of Marines would board. As a civilian crew we were reliant on the Marines to handle all weaponry onboard.

One of the patrol boats, an 8-9m RIB, with five crew met us in mid channel to lead us to the jetty where the other patrol boat was refuelling. It was then decided that we would continue up the Bonny River led by the first patrol boat with the second boat following up once fully refuelled.

It wasn’t long before we were joined by the second patrol boat as we continued up the Bonny River, part of the Niger Delta. We were now well off our charts but with one patrol boat back and one front we pressed forward up river passing creeks at every twist and turn of this inhospitable river. Ship wrecks strewn the river bank which added to our sense of foreboding, but were in the hands of the Nigerian Navy so we should be alright!

Expecting to come upon a navy base at anytime it transpired that we had to go some 35 miles inland, through jungle waterways as well as open waters. At one stage I had to pass the helm over to my Nigerian number two while the white faced crew had to sit below the parapet because of the presence of militant hot spots. Some 6hrs later as nightfall befell us at 7pm we were rafted inside the navy base.

The base commander and an intelligence officer came aboard for 2hrs of questioning. The Lagos marines remained onboard and we all eventually bedded down for the night.

Day 5. Saturday 15th March

It was still expected that the armaments would be fitted at the navy base and the Lagos marines dismissed in order to catch their flight back to their home base. However a second intelligence officer returned and asked the same set of questions that were asked of us from the evening before. As our previous answers were still attached to this latest question list it was just a matter of copying out our yesterday answers. What was that all about? Information was very lacking and in the end nothing happened.

Day 6. Sunday 16th March

Standoff. Still nothing happened.

Day 7. Monday 17th March

St Patrick’s day and not a Guinness in sight! Not that this was of any consequence, being teetotal. The Lagos marines were becoming quite agitated and angry as they should have been flown home the previous Saturday. Their guard duties became non existent, sleeping most of the time. From this time on we set-up our own 4hr bridge night watches.

Day 8. Tuesday 18th March

Two company representatives arrived from Lagos, although not employed by our company they had some association with our operation. One an ex Nigerian Army Officer and the other an ex Nigerian Police Chief. They met with the base commander, returned to Lagos, and still nothing happened.

Day 9. Wednesday 19th March

By this time we were under the distinct impression we were being detained. Even if we could take our vessel out of the navy base how would we navigate the river, miss the militants and go where? At best we would probably become one of the many ‘hulks’ rotting away on the bottom of the Bonny River.

Our days had passed waiting for something to happen, some news or some direction. We watched interestedly as each evening we saw the patrol boats refuel in a most basic way. Fifty gallon drums of gasoline were casually rolled down and pushed around the quay, a plastic pipe inserted and ’sucked’ by a marine to draw up the fuel, and then passed over the deck to the fuel tank fillers. The air was rank with vapour and the bilges probably sloshed around with gasoline. Today one of the more friendly patrol boat skippers told us, “whatever you do don’t sail this boat out!” as a means of being helpful, I guess.

My Armageddon – Part II

On its way!

The author is the editor and publisher of an online power boat magazine for sports and professional users of rigid hull inflatable boats, RIBs. www.hotribs.com

I hope you managed to catch part I. But don’t worry if you missed it, the rest of the story is the most stirring!

Day 10. Thursday 20th March

At 4:45am, a strange time, the Lagos marines were finally discharged from their ‘guard’ duties and allowed to fly back to their home base. They were replaced by two Pathfinder marines who stood at arms all the time.

The day started as they all normally do in this navy base. The patrol boats, all re-fuelled the evening before were made ready for patrol and loaded up with their 12.7 mm machine guns fore and aft, their AK47’s and the ammunition for the day’s patrols. The navy’s Pathfinder group is responsible for the security of the Bonny River and its creeks in their fight against piracy, abduction and sabotage.

It was very frightening each day when machine gun fire broke the jungle silence as test rounds zipped overhead and into the forests around the base, but I learned to watch for the powder dust cloud of the fired ammunition and knew the sound would follow. The patrol (gunboats) then disappeared up river and creeks and arrived back at base late afternoon. Some six ribs formed the squadron, five serviceable with one under repair.

Fortunately they left us with our mobile phones which meant we could communicate with contacts back home.

Day 11. Friday 21st March

Good Friday, although I’ve never known what was supposed to be good about it! Today was to be my apocalypse, my Armageddon however you would like to describe it.

Roused a little early by the morning watch, at 06:20, I brewed a cup of coffee and went on deck to look at the comings and goings of this morning’s Pathfinders patrol. Just 20 yards from me I watched the lead RIB skipper (our friendly marine who only a couple of days ago let us know it would be best to remain in the navy base) who was finalising his preparations and crew for his next patrol. It was 6:45am now and I can still recall in slow motion how he checked over his shoulder to look at the outboards as he switched on the engine ignition.

In an instant I was looking at hell on earth! A wall of flame some 30ft high engulfed all the personnel on board the RIB. I could only make out shadows moving horrifically in the flames and no opportunity to help. One marine on fire, head to foot, appeared out of the holocaust, wearing heavy body armour and jumped into the river never to surface again.

I watched in fright and awe as the first RIB and its personnel disintegrated before my very eyes. Then the realisation that ordinance was exploding all around us and our vessel. Our crew, except the chief engineer who had bolted to the engine room to make ready to go, buried themselves behind the sand bags stacked at the stern of our vessel. For 30 mins my head was full of the noise of exploding ordinance. I was concentrating on keeping the Nigerian crew calm, as they were clearly terrified.

A break in the bangs, booms and zipping of bullets and a peer over the topsides. Almighty, not just one gunboat had gone up in flames, but one after another, after another. Five burning hulks came floating slowly past our vessel on the flood tide.

Now was the time to run ashore and run we did. We weaved our way passed spent heavy calibre shell casings praying that no more were on their deadly way. No time to look back now as we sought the shelter of the boats on the hardstanding. Another quarter of an hour was to pass before an all clear was declared.

I’ve never seen such devastation, but during the whole event it felt as though it was a film.

Removal of the bodies was a gruesome task. Rather than being ‘charred’ as I expected, I found it very bizarre that the bodies were white, arms and legs rigid in the final death throes of the fire.

That night myself and the three South Africans were accommodated ‘for our own safety’ in what was described as the officers hostel. The bars on the windows and doors, and us all sleeping together in the one room with a seven man guard really gave it away. We were never permitted to stray more than 100 yards from the ‘hostel’.

Day 12. Saturday 22nd March

This was now the time (I felt) to make contact with the British High Commissioner. He was unavailable to make a visit as he had no driver, but would endeavour to make representations the following day.

Day 13. Sunday 23rd March

The British High Commissioner turned up today. He was of very little help as his authority was not recognised by the naval base commander. Indeed he had other pressing matters later in the day, he had to get back in time to watch the football match.

Up to now the Marines had always kept their personal weapons with them. At one point after the Commissioner had left, a marine stood his rifle against the wall next to where I was sitting. He took some empty coke bottles into the kitchen. He was a friendly chap who I had known for a week or so and we got on well.

At this point where despair was almost total, all that went through my mind was ‘pick up the rifle, kill him and run’. It then dawned on me that yes, one would be dead and we could move to the door, but the guards who remained outside would mow us down before we got past the threshold. This thought stayed with me until the marine returned and reclaimed his weapon.

This was the only time in my life when I have ever thought about and could possibly have killed a man for real.

Day 14. Monday 24th March

Easter Monday, our deliverance day! I’m not religious but the significance of the hell of Good Friday and our release on Easter Monday was not lost on me.

We had been instructed by the company, through mobile phone calls, to show the marines how to operate our vessel the ‘Spitfire’ and all her idiosyncrasies. It was after this familiarisation with our vessel that I felt the most vulnerable. In effect they no longer needed us for anything to do with the vessel.

It appeared now that we had become a liability. With the tragic loss of the navy’s vessels and men on the Friday and a heightened risk of us ‘whites’ being kidnapped by the militants we became a genuine risk to their operations. Therefore at 4:30pm out of the blue, our associate the ex Nigerian Police Chief turned up at the naval base. After some discussion and paperwork we were dispatched in two military vehicles, two armed guards in each, to Port Harcourt for a hotel room. The next morning we caught the first available flight out to Lagos.

What a relief!

The following two weeks were spent in a Lagos hotel waiting to see if release orders would have any effect on us returning for the ship.

This period allowed us to reflect, report and talk through the events of the previous fortnight. I think this helped me hugely as I found it a relief to be able to talk about what I’d seen instead of coming straight back home and maybe keeping the death and destruction all bottled up.

The Nigerian Authorities did not release our patrol boat, so one month after arriving I was back on another British Airways flight back to blighty and the security of home.

Epilogue

We came to the conclusion that it was always the intention of the Nigerians to acquire our patrol vessel. Several representations had been made to our company for the purchase of our vessel during pre-planning discussions, which were all refused.

We felt the incident was simply the accident waiting to happen. Militants claimed it was of their doing when the extent of death and destruction finally became known. The militants and the authorities made denials, claims and counter claims which resulted in widely inaccurate reporting of this incident across Africa and in the European press. Google: ‘nigerian navy pathfinders’ to view several media reports of this incident.

This account, albeit with some detail and names omitted for obvious reasons, is to record the times, dates and casualty reports as accurately as possible from personnel who were there!

The Authorities

It is not unknown for deceit and corruption at the highest level to occur in this part of the world. Google: ‘vanishing oil tankers’ to get some of the background stories.

The Militants (MEND)

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta believe they are fighting corruption as the oil taxation revenues were originally imposed to ensure that education and health policies and programs were established for the good of the nation. They are having a major impact on the reduction of revenues through piracy, sabotage of pipelines and oil production facilities, kidnapping and murder.

The author is the editor and publisher of an online power boat magazine for sports and professional users of rigid hull inflatable boats, RIBs. www.hotribs.com

Online games, specifically video games have been inevitably invading the worldwide web as time passes by. Such games have been very helpful to us especially when we are feeling lonely and bored about our monotonous life. Furthermore, we tend to look for some enjoyment activities just to feel relax and at ease. That is why sometimes, it is good for us to play driving games.

Many online gamers nowadays, choose to play driving games rather than other breath taking war games. It is because driving games are more users friendly and also has some moral values. As a matter of fact, the simplest thing that you can learn in connection with the driving games is about following some traffic rules as well as to be persistent in reaching the finish line. Furthermore, driving games are not only intended for kids but also to adult gamers. Thus, it is safe to say that driving games were created for people from all walks of life.

In this day and age, more and more companies are popping out in the worldwide web to attract online gamers. Most of these companies are inclined with the driving games. Actually, one of the most favorite driving games sites today is the PlayCarRacingGames.ws. This download site in point of fact also offers free download. It has various kinds of driving games in which any one of us can choose from. Thus, there is indeed no reason for us not to try and play driving cars.

Most of the gaming consoles today make it a lot easier for us, the online gamers to play online and video games. They have actually innovated and improved the controllers, joysticks and other buttons which are necessary while playing driving games. Indeed, our tactical knowledge and motor skills are being well enhanced while we play driving games.

As a matter of fact, there are various forms of vessels as well as vehicles which we can use during our playing time. The possible vessels and vehicles are the boats, cars, Jet Skis, motorcycles and trucks. All these forms of vehicles can be modified and configured depending on our own preferences. Configuration of vessel and vehicle settings is just easy because most of the download sites actually let the gamers design their own car. Though the forms of vessels and vehicles may be different, but still the goal for all driving games is only one. That is to reach the finish line with a ranking of being the first among all other competitors. Reaching the finish line will allow us to take one level higher and can give us a somewhat sense of fulfillment.

Indeed, driving games are so simple but the enjoyment and excitement that it brings is undeniable. That is why many of us want to play driving games. Even just for a while let us take some time to relax and escape from our worries in life. After all, there is nothing wrong with playing driving games during our pastime just to have some sort of entertainment within ourselves. For more info visit PlayCarRacingGames.ws

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The holidays are fast approaching, and this time of year more than any other is just downright tough for most Raw Foodists. Even long time Raw Food enthusiasts get a bit chilly around this time of year.

For those of you who have no problems with fruit and greens 4 seasons of the year, then more power to you!

For the rest of you, however, we thought it might be helpful to let you know where we stand on the subject of cooked food compromises.

After 3 years of working personally with clients, I am convinced that ultimatums are a dead end road. As soon as we put a big “Forbidden Foods” list in front of our faces, we end up with bingeing, guilt trips and food obsessions!

It is more harmful to continually put your body through a raw food roller coaster than to find a happy medium and stick to it. I’ve said in the past, I would prefer that 80% of the population be 60% raw than 4% of the population be 100%.

The goal, remember, is not putting a “Raw Foodist” stamp on your forehead at the end of the day. We’re engaged in the pursuit of health, high energy living and ideally we’re doing this in a way that takes environmental impact of our choices into consideration as well.

So, if you’re not willing to have a hard-core Christmas, then here’s what I recommend you take into consideration. When restrictions are removed, the urgency to indulge in, or overeat, “forbidden foods” vanishes.

One of the ways I like to approach nutrition and eating is sensibly. I don’t believe that it requires an ability to decipher enzymatic, anti-oxidant and amino acid vocabulary to be able to thrive. If that was the case, we’d all be in trouble.

Whatever you’re considering eating, just look at your body, look at the food on your plate and ask yourself:

“Does this make sense?”

Is the food something you could find easily in nature?

You may be able to find wheat, for example, in nature, but in its natural state it is very indigestible to humans.

Would it taste good if you just added heat?

If you are going to eat cooked foods, then I highly recommend sticking to the foods that make sense. A slice of grilled fish, a baked potato and steamed broccoli makes a lot of sense to me. More sense than a “raw pie” loaded with dates, avocado and almonds.

I’ve felt much, much worse eaing complicated raw food recipes than I have eating healthy, simple cooked food like steamed greens or a sweet potato.

If you need to add a bunch of spices and sauces for your food to be attractive and digestible, then I would say leave it aside. Also, the extra sauces and spices are in large part responsible for the desire to overeat. These are the mechanisms of stimulation-addiction and the kinds of things that send the floodgates open. There’s only so much baked sweet potato and steamed broccoli a person can eat. But start smothering them in butter and cheese sauce and you have yourself a whole other story.

Keep your cooked foods simple and sauce-free. This will help you hold in line your own limits and leave you feeling relatively well, even if it is a meal of cooked food.

Avoiding the sauces and spices will also help you to choose better foods. Beans, legumes, pasta and most grains taste rather boring without salt and sauces, so best avoid them.

Chances are you’ll aslo find that it’s much easier to control your cooked food consumption when you’ve removed your restrictions about it. When the food is no longer “forbidden” obsession moves aside. You don’t have that lingering ultimatum telling you that “THIS, will be the LAST time you EVER eat cooked food!”

So, summing up, then stick to these:

Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and peas taste perfectly scrumptious without doctoring them up with spices and sauces. In fact, I find most vegetables tast quite nice steamed lightly. Sweet potatoes, pumpkins and squashes of all kinds are super tasty, too! Also, a simple piece of grilled fish or meat usually doesn’t require anything for it to be appetizing to most people. Just think of the foods you could find in nature. Then, if you can add fire and keep the flavor without having to add a bunch of sauces, I think you’ve hit a winner.

So, there it is.

If ultimatums are not on your plate, then these are my top recommendations for what to put there instead. Remember that the joys of being with good people, celebrating life and all her sparkly pleasures is REALLY good for your health. Make that your priority and the rest will fall into place, I’m sure of it.

Tera Warner is a writer and online entrepreneur, and co-creator of “The Raw Divas,” the only online raw food resource especially for women. Visit the website today at www.TheRawDivas.com for inspiration, recipes, and support for women who are passionate about health and LIFE.

A chess set consists of 32 pieces: 16 white and 16 black, representing two sides of a chess battle. To understand how to play chess and develop strategy, it’s imperative to know how each piece moves. This very basic knowledge is necessary to truly grasp the power of each chess piece and in the course of a match, make the most of that individual piece’s power.

The Pivotal 16

Each player begins the game with 16 chessmen: 1 king, 1 queen, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 2 rooks, and 8 pawns. To properly position the pieces on a chess board, start with the rooks and move inward. The two rooks are placed on the lower corner squares. Next to them go the knights, followed by the bishops.

The queen is next. As a rule of thumb, this piece always matches its color. Thus, the black queen will be on the remaining black square. The white queen, the white square. Lastly, the king sits in the final square of the row. The pawns are placed on the second row in front of the king’s “court.”

The pieces of a chess set collectively show a player’s power. What she does with this potential power is what ultimately determines who wins the game. The overall goal is to keep the king safe. To do so, a player must utilize each chess piece to its maximum strength. In short, chess pieces are capable of the following moves:

King: Moves only one square at a time, but in any direction. It’s the most important piece on a chess board. If/when captured, the game is over. The king’s special move is called castling; it is the only time two pieces can move at once (king and rook).

Queen: Moves in any direction for any number of squares. It is the most powerful piece on the board, capable of capturing and positioning from most any vantage point.

Bishop: Moves diagonally for any number of squares, yet is limited to one color. It is sensitive to pawn movement.

Knight: Moves two squares vertically or horizontally, then one square to the side. Its unique movement often factors into strategy.

Rook: Moves by rank or file for any number of squares. Starting in the corners, the rook – along with the queen – are major pieces on the chess board, capable of altering space and an opponent’s plan of attack.

Pawn: Moves only one square at a time and only forward. However, on the opening move, it can choose between two squares or one. A seemingly weak piece, a pawn can also be promoted if it safely reaches the end of the board. If it succeeds, a pawn can be exchanged for any other chess piece, except the king. Most often, a pawn gets promoted to queen.

What’s My Move?

It may seem too much to learn all this at once, but in order to truly grasp the potential of your chess pieces, it’s important you first understand what each individual piece is capable of. For instance, feeling despaired that you’re left with only pawns? Don’t forget about pawn promotion. Feeling like your king is being threatened? Consider castling him. By understanding your pieces’ potential, a chess board can truly open up with possibilities. You just need to recognize them first.

Elizabeth Traineroni is a chess expert, researcher and writer who takes time out to write articles in her spare time, where she’ll help you pick out the perfect chess set. Elizabeth will help you select something special from a huge selection of unique chess sets, chess boards and collectible themed chess pieces.

Golf is a game which is played on a large area, which is not clearly demarcated and usually stretches across large distances. The golf course is not like a simple playing field, and each course is different from the other. Most golf courses comprise nine or eighteen holes. The objective of the game is that the golfer has to strike a ball into a hole, which is usually at some distance from the first strike, and he has to use a minimum number of strokes to do so. The entire golf course is to be completed in this manner, and the ball has to go into every hole. Different types of golf clubs are used to do this, because the place where the golf club lands and then the distance it has to travel again to go nearer the hole or into it has to be taken into account.

Exclusive Hole Designs

As mentioned earlier, a golf course has many holes, and each hole is different from the other. The holes are at varying distances and there will be various obstacles to overcome before reaching each hole. That’s why a player has to use disparate clubs, drivers or putters to put the ball into the hole.

Golf originated in Scotland, in Bruntsfield Links, Edinburgh, as far back as 1456 A.D. From there it traveled to the south of England and currently it is played almost everywhere in the world, wherever there is a golf course.

Golf can be played in diverse ways and has different versions. In one, the stroke play is of importance, and the golfer who uses the least number of strokes in completing a course is considered a winner. In another version of the game, called stableford points play, the player who gets the most points is declared the winner of the game. Yet another one comprises match play with may mean completing the course as a single player or a team. The objective of this type of game is to get the lowest score in individual holes.

Whereas earlier golf was played by few people, golf aficionados have gradually increased over the years, especially since the sport has achieved professional status, which has increased its popularity. This, combined with increased sponsorship of the game and big money in playing and endorsements, has made golf a game which has achieved a certain status and public appeal. Famous golfers like Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam have become household names and golf has become a spectator sport which is also televised, so more money goes into the game.

Since golfing uses different types of golf clubs, sometimes as many as fourteen, and it is an expensive sport, there is a lot of money in the game in every conceivable way. From the time it originated it has changed a great deal, so that it has become even more popular. It is an exciting sport for golf lovers the world over and more and more people are taking to it, especially as it is a pleasurable sport, which also involves a fair amount of exercise and walking.

Martin Milewski is running several blogs about sports, fitness and recreation. Find more Golf tips here.

Tickets for the 2010 Winter Olympics are already being sought, which means some events may be sold out before some individuals even think about buying tickets. That is why you need to know what you need to do in order to get tickets for the 2010 Olympics before your favorite event sells out. However, there is a process to buying your tickets. It is not just a matter of being able to go online, shop, and then hit a “buy” button. The process is carried out carefully to ensure that everyone is admitted fairly to the event.

Buying the tickets

First of all, the Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver. It has been announced that the tickets requests will start being accepted on October 3, 2008. There are phases to the ticket buying process that you need to be aware of. Now keep in mind that on October 3, it is simply a request for tickets and not an actual opportunity to buy. It has also been stated by Olympic officials that there may be instances in which a lottery must be held to determine who can buy tickets to certain events and who can’t. This is how the Olympic Committee ensures that the ticket allocation is fair.

Here are the phases:

- On October 3rd, Canadian residents will be able to submit a form through the website www.vancouver2010.com. Those unable to submit online will be able to request a ticket request form via the telephone. The form will then be mailed to them. Non-Canadian residents will be able to contact the National Olympic Committee in their country to purchase their tickets. For those events that have more requests than seats available, the lotteries will be held if they are needed. Before early 2009, all parties will be notified whether or not their ticket requests were granted. Individuals will also be able to add-on unsold tickets to their ticket package.

- In early 2009, the remaining unsold tickets will be allowed to be sold to the public. Canadian residents who missed phase one will be able to buy these unsold tickets.

- In phase three, the seating assignment phase will be completed. If there are any tickets still unsold, the tickets will be sold directly to individuals requesting them. These individuals will then fill the remaining empty seats for that particular sporting event.

For specific ticket information, it is important that you contact your National Olympic Committee. That information can be obtained through a simple internet search, being that it depends on your residing country as to who you contact. Every country involved in the Olympics has a National Olympic Committee on their soil.

Being patient

The idea behind purchasing tickets for the 2010 Olympics is to be patient. The process is carried out the way it is to ensure that everyone has a fair shot at tickets. If you’ve watched the opening ceremonies in the past, then you are aware of how many people attend. Each one of those individuals had to go through the request and purchase process. Unfortunately, there are some events that some individuals are unable to attend. However, the process was fair and they more than likely had the opportunity to attend another event within the Olympics.

So make sure you keep track of what is going on with ticket sales. Once October 3, 2008 rolls around, the process begins so make sure you stay vigilant so that you can attend the events that you wish to attend.

Looking to buy winter olympics tickets? Road Trips provides customized 2010 winter olympics packages so you and all your friends can see your favourite Olympic sporting events in style!

When you think about reality television, chances are that there are some shows that really appeal to you and other shows that you really just can not stand. This is true for most people when they think about reality television and it is true for them because of the fact that different reality television shows look at different parts of the human condition. Different parts of that condition tend to hold special or otherwise significant meaning for different people and that is exactly why reality television is such a varied landscape. If you are interested in discovering which reality television shows match your body and mind, here are some ways for you to figure that out.

Try to find a common theme

The first thing that you should do when going down the road of this quest is try to find a common theme linking all of these reality television shows together. Make a list of the reality television shows that you like and make a list of the ones that you don’t like. Once you’ve completed both lists, you should have a very good idea from the list of the types of reality TV shows that you like and the types that you hate. Overall, the common theme that you found within the reality TV shows will allow you to determine if future shows that come out are shows that you might enjoy.

Try to find a pleasing format

Just as a different theme of reality television might appeal to you, a particular show format might be what attracts you to the shows in the first place. Consider reality television in the format of a countdown elimination, a one episode per team instance or any other format that reality television producers might come up with and see if the lists of shows that you like and dislike fall into these formats. For most people, the answer is probably going to be somewhere in the middle since formats and themes don’t usually go together, but at the same time you might be able to discover something about yourself through making this type of investigation happen.

Talk to your friends

Talking to your friends is perhaps a thought that had crossed your mind, but if you are like most people then chances are pretty good that you dismissed that thought altogether. This is because while friendship is sometimes predicated on having similar interests, the interests that we do not share are the ones we tend to be most defensive about and for that reason discussing reality television with your friends might be a risky move in your mind. At the same time however, the reactions that you get from your friends and the way in which you deal with those reactions will tell you a lot about your own tastes in this area, which is why talking to your friends about reality television is a very good idea.

Read Online Reviews

The final thing that you’ll want to do in an attempt to figure out which reality shows match your body and mind is to read reviews of those shows online. Online reviews differ from newspaper and magazine reviews in the sense that they are more frequently written from a personal style rather than a professional one and that makes it a lot easier for you to identify with reviews that really speak to you. Oftentimes it is the case that the words you find hard to express find expression through others and that is exactly why reading online reviews is an excellent idea to pursue. Do this along with the other suggestions and you should definitely be able to find your answer.

HNE Castings is the industry’s leading producer of reality TV castings talent.

Online casino games are very popular today with the casino lovers. However for playing an online casino game, one needs to know about his/her interests-whether to play a multi-player game or a single player one. For choosing the right kind of online casino, one can visit the casino review section of the numerous online casino sites. The casino review section of these sites gives an idea on the various types of online casino games available in the market, apart from information on which one is the best, which game will give greater bonuses, and all other related matters. One must make sure that he/she is getting the most out of playing a particular casino game online.

An amateur can also ask an expert about which will be the best online casino. It is very important that one gets best bonuses and great pleasure while playing the game. There are some necessary steps that one needs to follow while selecting an online casino game. The player needs to find out whether the online casino site he/she has selected is reliable as well as authentic or not. The next important thing is to find out whether the game is offered for free or one has to pay for playing the game. It is always wise to search in the portal for the best online casino page. Generally the owners of online casino portal grade the casinos on the basis of customer service, features, brand recognition, and bonuses.

One should also try to learn whether the online casino game site that he/she has selected is the best one or not and try to ascertain the popularity of the site by visiting the casino review section and the blog section written by the players on that site. A site with a wide range of games is liked by most of the online casino players as they can have access to many games in a single site. However, one must always check for the authenticity of the site to be on the safer side. One must also learn about the minimum deposit amounts and the stakes involved. Another most important thing that one should look for is that whether the particular site on online casino games has more of amateurs or experienced players.

A player must visit the loyalty section other than the casino review section as he/she will be expectedly playing the game on a regular basis. Having loyalty points means that they can be easily transformed into cash when one will be successful in getting loads of playing points. There are still a few other things that one should look into to get the right online casino game site. He/she must check on the style as well as quality of the gaming software. Apart from that, it should also be seen that whether it requires any sort of updating on the user’s computer. Also one needs to see the language used for the game. If a particular online casino website offers game in the player’s desirable language then that will be simply superb.

Following these few important things will surely make one a successful online casino player.

John Kostadinova is a prolific entrepreneur with wide experience in the world of online gambling. His site http://www.onlinexcasinos.com is a very good resource for online gambling news, casino reviews, and the latest in the world of online gambling.

People are becoming more conscious about the products they’re buying and how these products are made. That’s why manufacturers are creating styles crafted from sustainable resources. From sport shirts to fleece to accessories, eco-friendly products are a welcome alternative that are designed to work in harmony with nature. When you purchase a product that is organic, recycled or produced in an environmentally friendly manner then you have voted with your dollars and helped create a demand for alternative products. Eco Friendly products is a fledgling part of the apparel industry it will take time to make it to the mainstream in a more profound way, but as time goes on more products will be available for the environmentally conscious consumer.

Eco Friendly Clothing is all the rage these days and with the goings on in the world, economy and our daily lives eco friendly apparel makes sense. Organic clothing and recycled clothing are nice ways to treat out earth in a friendly manner and at the same time be fashionable and hip with your friends. The styles available range from plain white t-shirts, polo shirts and hats made of bamboo, and apparel created with recycled plastic bottles. As with anything there are downsides to eco friendly clothing such as it a little more expensive for consumer, but when compared to the upside the argument for more organic clothing is strong. I am quite sure as this catches on the prices will come down.

Eco Friendly Apparel is designed for healthy, active lifestyles and people who care about the environment and society enough to be conscious of the impact their clothes have on the rest of the world. Each of us leaves a footprint behind while we live our lives on planet earth and it is truly thoughtful to try to leave it as you found it. We as a species have a long way to go concerning the health of the earth. Just think that every little act does count and it does add up over time. We can reverse the downtrend in the degradation of humanities greatest possession – planet earth.

Made from natural and fair-trade materials like soy, organic cotton, bamboo, and leather-alternatives, clothing and accessories are eco-conscious, socially responsible and stylish at the same time. Be kind to our planet – buy eco friendly clothing.

Types of clothing

Bamboo fabric is created from the bamboo pulp. It does not need chlorine to bleach it and it can be dyed easily with minimal water requirements. Fabrics that do not dye easily are often treated with harsh chemicals and much more water, so an organic fabric that dyes easy is generally better for the environment.

Organic cotton is much more environmentally friendly than the traditional variety as it uses no pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides during the growing cycle. There are many growers of this crop, and the number is steadily increasing.

Recycled Fleece has many benefits for the environment and economy. Benefits include lessening of our dependence on oil (foreign oil), reduces discarded clothing, and is generally thought to create less air, water and soil contamination. When a polyester garment reaches a landfill where they incinerate some of the garbage, polyester will create toxic emissions that will pollute the air – recycling of these garments reduce that toxic emission. Major sources for recycled polyester are discarded plastic bottles.

Jason Duke has been involved with the apparel industry for a little over 2 years. Organic clothing is a new and exciting part of the apparel industry and is being promoted because our planet is needful of friendly manufacturing processes and less waste. Check out some Eco Friendly Apparel