As I drove to work today, infuriated by stupid drivers whom I wished bad tidings upon, I contemplated the names of famous musicians who go by one name.
I immediately thought of Madonna, Bono, Prince and Kesha. I began noticing a trend. Their names all end in a vowel. Right then, my mind kicked in to high gear as I began trying to think of a musician whose single name would throw a wrench into this theory. I flipped through my presets and heard Rihanna. This was beginning to move from coincidence to trend.
I did some more research to see if this trend could be confirmed as some sort of rule created inside my head. I scoured music logs from a few pop music radio stations. I came across Flo-Rida, Beyonce, Nelly (hey, Ys are sometimes a vowel), Drake and Orianthi.
But then I noticed some other one-name artists who didn't fit the mold. There was Usher, Pink, Akon and Eminem. But even with those four who didn't fit my rule of one-name artists having to end their name with a vowel I have to call the vowel to end a single-name artist to be successful at least a trend. At best, Usher and Akon are flashes in teh pan in the past decade or even less time. Madonna, Bono, Prince and to a lesser extent Rihanna and Beyonce trump any one-name artist whose name ends in a consonant.
So there you have it, this is the kind of crap I think about when I'm left alone with my thoughts.
Monday, January 31, 2011
France win World Championships and become second to qualify for London 2012
Spyns is based in Whistler and France; our French contingent celebrated a big win in handball last night as France defended their world championship title. Handball will be running from the 28th of July to the 12th of August in London 2012. Check out our selection of luxury 5, 7, and 10 day tours available that run the full duration of the Olympic Games.
France became the first nation in 37 years to retain the men's world handball title with a thrilling 37-35 victory over Denmark in Malmo.
The narrow victory saw them become the second nation, behind hosts Britain, to qualify for the men's Olympic handball event at the London Games.
Their fourth overall crown equals a record set by hosts Sweden and Romania.
Spain beat Sweden 24-23 for the bronze medal, while Britain's men did not qualify for the tournament.
Britain would have had to reach the 2010 European Championships - which they did not contest - to have had a chance of playing alongside the world's finest in Sweden.
Similarly, Britain's women have not qualified for the women's equivalent tournament, to be held in Brazil at the end of the year.
But both the GB men and women were recently given the green light by the British Olympic Association to take up guaranteed places at the London Olympics offered to them as the host nation.
The BOA decided they were competitive enough, and that the sports offered enough legacy in the United Kingdom, for the teams to take part.
However, Britain's men are a long way from being able to match the talent shown by France en route to victory on Sunday.
Normal time failed to separate the French and Danish teams, who finished their allotted 60 minutes tied at 31-31.
But France pulled two goals clear in the first period of extra time in a victory powered by Serbian-born Nikola Karabatic, who contributed 10 goals.
Serbia will be the venue for the 2012 European Championships, where another qualifying place for London 2012 will be decided, while the men's sport returns to Sweden for a final Olympic qualifying tournament in April 2012.
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720. www.spyns.com.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Young design students work on 2012 medal ceremonies
At Spyns, we are busy planning our client’s itineraries so they can make the most out of the Olympics and their time in London. We are offering 5, 7, and 10 day trips that will include hotels, tickets, transport, and guides so you can show up and let us take care of the rest. After planning luxury tours for over 10 years, Spyns has become a leader in the industry offing trips to New Years Eve in Times Square (www.newyork-times-square.com), Running of the bulls in Pamplona (www.pamplona-spain.com), Tour de France (www.tdf-tours.com), to the Palio in Siena (www.palio-siena.com), Oktoberfest (www.oktoberfest-germany.com), to bike tours (www.spyns.com). Anyway, check out our London Olympic site http://www.london-olympiad.com/ for more information. Below is an article of how some lucky design students have been give the opportunity in creating the medal ceremony. Looks like Spyns is not the only busy people about.
Design students are to get work experience on the London 2012 medal ceremonies, it has been announced. Royal College of Art (RCA) post graduates will have a hand in the design of the podium, costumes, flower holders and trays which will carry the medals and flowers during the Olympics and Paralympics.
Around 250 trays and 6,000 flower holders will be used in the ceremonies.
The students will work with industry professionals through to the 770-plus ceremonies that will take place at 29 different venues.
The students will work with industry professionals through to the 770-plus ceremonies that will take place at 29 different venues.
London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton described it as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" for the post graduates, while RCA rector Dr Paul Thompson said it was "a great honor" to be involved.
Mr Deighton said: "We look forward to seeing their proposals, then teaming them up with industry professionals to realize their designs which will be seen by a global audience at the greatest show on earth."
Next, the high street fashion chain which is London 2012's official clothing and home ware supplier, will work with the RCA students on their designs to produce all the costumes for the ceremonies.
These include the costumes for the escorts who accompany the athletes and the medal presenters plus the medal and flower bearers.
Professor Wendy Dagworthy, the RCA's head of the School of Fashion and Textiles, said: "To have their work viewed by millions of people is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and our fashion students are very excited to be involved with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games."
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720. www.spyns.com
Saturday, January 29, 2011
UK Officials crank down on ticket touts. Will you have orginal tickets?
Tickets for the general public are yet to go on sale, but already the UK officials have cranked down on 100+ fake websites and are trying to send a strong warning to ticket touts. At Spyns, we are talking with official ticket distributers in all four corners for the world to ensure our Olympic Games clients get not only original tickets, but get seats in one of the 30 different venues in use.
Ticket touts were warned today they could be issued with ASBOs banning them from 2012 Olympic venues, police said today.
Scotland Yard warned it was planning to use a range of tactics against touts and fraudsters planning to cash in on the multi-million pound Olympic economy next year.
Police have launched a specialist fraud unit called Operation Podium to disrupt organised crime gangs plotting to target the 2012 Games. So far 37 people have been arrested and the unit has 16 ongoing operations targeting organised ticket crime.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Downing, who leads the squad, said: "We believe that touts who are targeting events like Glastonbury and the FA Cup will also be targeting 2012 and our strategy is to send a message to them that we are coming after them with every tactic we possess.
"We will consider using ASBOs to ban ticket touts from all Olympic venues and we are also using the Proceeds of Crime Act to take poelpe's money off them. If we cannot prosecute touts for an offence we will go after them and disrupt them in other ways. We want to make it a very challenging environment for fraudsters and touts."
So far, police have run 10 operations against organised gangs involved in money laundering, e-crime, fraud and bespoke ticketing crime.
The unit's priority is preventing fraud around the launch of the Olympic ticket sales next month.
Some 8.8 million Olympic tickets worth £500million will go on the market, with three quarters of them being sold to the public.
Police fear criminals may try and launch false websites and manufacture counterfeit tickets.
The squad disrupted one Wolverhampton crime gang which was planning to flood the Olympic economy with counterfeit cheques.
So far many of the scams are not directly related to the Olympics but police say there is increasing intelligence that crime groups intend to target the 2012 Games.
Last month it emerged that more than 100 websites posing as ticket suppliers for the London Olympics had been shut down.
In another case, detectives uncovered a ring of fraudsters targeting suppliers of high cost goods, including champagne and laptops.
The gang claimed to be arranging corporate hospitality events and ordered luxury goods from suppliers and requested delivery to the address of a "virtual office."
Arrangements were made at the office for the goods to be signed for, by the reception staff, on delivery. They were then immediately collected by courier.
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720. http://www.spyns.com/
Friday, January 28, 2011
The year head for the London 2012 Olympic Games. What do you need to know?
From tickets going on sale in March to the final lick of paint being administered to the Olympic Park, 2011 represents a key year in for Olympic goer as the biggest Olympic Games yet, builds up momentum. Spyns takes a looks at the key dates throughout the year.
JANUARY
London 2012 organising committee will publish dates of Olympics and Paralympics tickets going on sale. Water polo, beach volleyball and handball are expected to find out their fate for 2012 inclusion from the British Olympic Association. Volleyball was granted an automatic spot last month, so it remains to be seen whether the BOA will take ahard line approach to the remaining sports. The full schedule of test events are also due to be announced in the first quarter of 2011 too.
London 2012 organising committee will publish dates of Olympics and Paralympics tickets going on sale. Water polo, beach volleyball and handball are expected to find out their fate for 2012 inclusion from the British Olympic Association. Volleyball was granted an automatic spot last month, so it remains to be seen whether the BOA will take ahard line approach to the remaining sports. The full schedule of test events are also due to be announced in the first quarter of 2011 too.
FEBRUARY
The Olympic PR machine will crank up a few gears when full details of all the 650 separate sessions for the 26 Olympic sports are published. It will give the British public time to take in and plan when the stars are likely to be competing.
The Olympic PR machine will crank up a few gears when full details of all the 650 separate sessions for the 26 Olympic sports are published. It will give the British public time to take in and plan when the stars are likely to be competing.
MARCH
Likely to be around March 15 – 500 days to go until the start of the Games – some 6.6 million tickets for all the Olympics sports will go on sale. A giant clock counting down the hours until the start will also be installed in Trafalgar Square.
Likely to be around March 15 – 500 days to go until the start of the Games – some 6.6 million tickets for all the Olympics sports will go on sale. A giant clock counting down the hours until the start will also be installed in Trafalgar Square.
Around 2m people have already registered for tickets in preparation for the launch. Ticket prices will vary according to the demand for the sport and will range from £20 to £2012 – the most expensive ticket at the opening ceremony. Ticket sales will not be a bun fight. It will be in ballot form, the idea being that families can plan their Olympic experience with preferences for sessions.
The IOC co-ordination commission will also visit London to inspect preparations. They were last in town in December.
APRIL
London will be abuzz in the first week of the month when hundreds of chief execs and sponsors attend Sportaccord 2011, the annual convention which gels sport and business. Themed ‘Why Sport Matters’, the Park Plaza Hotel in Westminster will feature over 100 federations from 60 nations, including Sepp Blatter and Martin Sorrell.
London will be abuzz in the first week of the month when hundreds of chief execs and sponsors attend Sportaccord 2011, the annual convention which gels sport and business. Themed ‘Why Sport Matters’, the Park Plaza Hotel in Westminster will feature over 100 federations from 60 nations, including Sepp Blatter and Martin Sorrell.
The International Olympic Committee’s executive board will also meet in the capital for the first time since the city was awarded the 2012 Games.
MAY/JUNE
Details on the London 2012 torch relay are expected to be announced. The relay will involve 8,000 runners, more than half of whom will be aged 24 or under, and will go to within an hour’s travel of 95 per cent of the population of the British isles.
Details on the London 2012 torch relay are expected to be announced. The relay will involve 8,000 runners, more than half of whom will be aged 24 or under, and will go to within an hour’s travel of 95 per cent of the population of the British isles.
JULY
Mark your cards for July 27 when celebrations will take place for exactly one year to go to the Olympics.
Mark your cards for July 27 when celebrations will take place for exactly one year to go to the Olympics.
AUGUST
A month for fine-tuning. Test events for beach volleyball in Horse Guard’s Parade, sailing in Weymouth, open water on the Serpentine and rowing on Dorney Lake will all take place. Badminton’s World Championships at Wembley Arena will also act as a Locog test event. Meanwhile, events marking one year to go to the opening of the Paralympics will take place on Aug 29.
A month for fine-tuning. Test events for beach volleyball in Horse Guard’s Parade, sailing in Weymouth, open water on the Serpentine and rowing on Dorney Lake will all take place. Badminton’s World Championships at Wembley Arena will also act as a Locog test event. Meanwhile, events marking one year to go to the opening of the Paralympics will take place on Aug 29.
SEPTEMBER
Tickets for the Paralympics are expected to go on sale.
Tickets for the Paralympics are expected to go on sale.
OCTOBER
The IOC co-ordination commission will make their second visit of the year to London to inspect preparations.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
The main venues including the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre and Velodrome and the Olympic Park are due to be completed by this time and handed over to Locog to be fitted out for the Games. The main press centre is also likely to be finished.
The IOC co-ordination commission will make their second visit of the year to London to inspect preparations.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
The main venues including the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre and Velodrome and the Olympic Park are due to be completed by this time and handed over to Locog to be fitted out for the Games. The main press centre is also likely to be finished.
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.
Written by Rod Gilmour, Olympic and Commonwealth Games sports reporter for the Daily Telegraph
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Team USA Synchronzed swimmer gets excited about the Olympics. Are you?
At Spyns, we are getting excited about the games 18 months before they start. I am guessing young Team USA synchronized swimmer Christiana Butera might have a little bit more to be excited about it. She might get to be in the Olympics!!!!! I’m just excited to be going to see her. If you would like to be one of our clients, get the 5 star Olympic treatment, and be as excited as I am about the London 2012 Games then, have a look at our website, chat with Ryan King (company president/fun guy/guide) and see the tour options we have created for you.
Christiana Butera of Mount Helix area makes Team USA in synchronized swimming for July world championships. She brought college team to La Mesa in December.
As co-captain of the Wheaton College synchronized swimming team, Christiana Butera has to focus on Saturday's season opener—the Wheaton Invitational. But nobody can blame her if her mind drifts to China and this coming July.
Butera, 20, surprised even her coach this month by making the U.S. national team in her sport, which will seek medals at the 14th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai. The world swim meet will hold synchro events July 16-23.
"Christiana is seeing if she can somehow work out school and training (she is a serious student, too); so we will find out ... if she can juggle both to participate," said Teresa Butera, her mother.
The Buteras live in the Mount Helix area. And in late December and early January, her family hosted members of Christiana's Wheaton College team, which trained at the La Mesa Municipal Pool, where Olympic legend Greg Louganis learned to dive.
Butera made the dozen-member Team USA by competing at mid-January tryouts in Indianapolis. Despite her relative short height (5-feet-2), she beat out dozens of the best swimmers in America.
"I'm not going to lie," said Rebecca Story, the Wheaton College coach. "I was pretty surprised. Going in, we we were hoping for a place, but we were also going to be happy with just the experience."
Story said Butera will have to re-tryout for the 2012 Olympic team, "so next year she'll go through the same process again and hopefully beat out the competition as she did this year."
Butera isn't built like the average top-notch synchro swimmer, Story said, but "she's got the heart, motivation and determination to make up for her missing inches. Her talent is the direct product of sheer work ethic and passion for what she does."
Story called Butera an incredibly smart swimmer, who "has learned how to power through most anything, and when I say 'smart' I don't just mean in the classroom. Synchro has so much to do with feeling, knowing how to move your body the right way, extension, quickness and the right mental perseverance.
From the first time she met Christiana, Story said, "I knew we'd make a great team. She posseses many of the qualities I've come to expect from all my athletes. To have a swimmer that exemplifies all my expectations is a true blessing."
Wheaton College, a private liberal-arts school of 1,600 south of Boston, has always been very supportive of the synchro program, Story said, "so between Wheaton and my coaching staff, we've been able to supply her with some of the best resources for training."
Butera was selected for the team and combo events only—not the individual event.
Butera was selected for the team and combo events only—not the individual event.
"We're still working out the logistics for her training program," Story said. The national team this week started training at the natatorium of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and sponsor St. Vincent Sports Performance.
"Right now our focus has turned towards our collegiate season with the first meet being January 29 at home," Story said.
"Right now our focus has turned towards our collegiate season with the first meet being January 29 at home," Story said.
Butera attended Academy of Our Lady of Peace in high school.
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Is Taco John's actually better than Taco Bell?
I've never been a fan of Taco Bell. To me the food was gimmicky and lacked flavor and substance. Yesterday, though, my near hatred of Taco Bell was vindicated when a lawsuit surfaced stating that their "beef" contained a mere 36% beef and was packaged as "Taco Meat Filler". Even more disturbing was the fact that, after watching a news story about the subject, a food item classified as being 100% beef only needs to contain a mere 40% beef.
The rest of the bulk is made of wheat and soy fillers, binders and extenders which I'm nearly certain contains far less nutritional value that even the fattiest ground beef would.
This report, WCCO's Good Question, did little more to calm me:
Yesterday, as I sat in the local Taco John's drive-thru waiting for what I assumed were superior tacos, I watched a fairly steady stream of cars roll through the Taco Bell drive-thru across the street. Either these people really love shitty food or had heard nothing about the food that's making them fatter (for a low price to boot) not really being food. Whatever the case, I went on with my day not really thinking about what I had eaten until later. Then I tweeted my thoughts and the two almost immediate responses were troubling. They, one of them being Jason DeRusha, both agreed that the Taco John's product was likely the same.
Later still I did some lazy sleuthing on TacoJohns.com and within their allergy information, all of the items containing ground beef had the categories of soy and wheat allergies checked. To me this signifies that the Taco John's beef also contains soy and wheat fillers along the lines of the Taco Bell "beef". A quick search of off-the-shelf Ortega taco seasoning mix reveals no soy or wheat ingredients in the flavoring which, to me, rules that out as a possibility.
So, at a dead end for now, I'll open the question to better sleuths with more time. What percentage of fillers and actual beef is contained in Taco John's taco meat? I'd be surprised if I'd ever receive a straight answer but given the not-so-shocking news about Taco Bell, I am interested in knowing that the supposedly better choice is, in fact, better.
The rest of the bulk is made of wheat and soy fillers, binders and extenders which I'm nearly certain contains far less nutritional value that even the fattiest ground beef would.
This report, WCCO's Good Question, did little more to calm me:
Yesterday, as I sat in the local Taco John's drive-thru waiting for what I assumed were superior tacos, I watched a fairly steady stream of cars roll through the Taco Bell drive-thru across the street. Either these people really love shitty food or had heard nothing about the food that's making them fatter (for a low price to boot) not really being food. Whatever the case, I went on with my day not really thinking about what I had eaten until later. Then I tweeted my thoughts and the two almost immediate responses were troubling. They, one of them being Jason DeRusha, both agreed that the Taco John's product was likely the same.
Later still I did some lazy sleuthing on TacoJohns.com and within their allergy information, all of the items containing ground beef had the categories of soy and wheat allergies checked. To me this signifies that the Taco John's beef also contains soy and wheat fillers along the lines of the Taco Bell "beef". A quick search of off-the-shelf Ortega taco seasoning mix reveals no soy or wheat ingredients in the flavoring which, to me, rules that out as a possibility.
So, at a dead end for now, I'll open the question to better sleuths with more time. What percentage of fillers and actual beef is contained in Taco John's taco meat? I'd be surprised if I'd ever receive a straight answer but given the not-so-shocking news about Taco Bell, I am interested in knowing that the supposedly better choice is, in fact, better.
Olympic Games borrow sports from X Games
For 15 years, the Winter X Games have acted as an incubator for hip, new Olympic sports that tend to lure larger and younger television audiences. Although officials at the International Olympic Committee do not credit the X Games directly with influencing what winds up in their program, many recent additions — and the athletes who star in them — earned their start at the Winter X Games, which begin Thursday on Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colo.
It began with halfpipe snowboarding. Next came snowboard cross, and ski cross. Now three more events — ski halfpipe and snowboard and ski slopestyle — appear set to become the latest, in time for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
“The chances are extremely high for ski slopestyle, ski halfpipe and snowboard slopestyle to be part of the Olympic program in 2014,” Christophe Dubi, the I.O.C. sports director, said in an e-mail.
Competitors in ski halfpipe use the same 22-foot-tall halfpipe as snowboarders, and they perform similar soaring, spinning aerial maneuvers. Ski and snowboard slopestyle share a downhill course familiar to anyone who has seen a mountain resort terrain park filled with features like picnic tables, handrails and massive jumps, from which competitors perform a series of tricks for a judged score.
All three events are already part of the 2012 Youth Olympic Games. Adding them to the Winter Games would continue a trend.
After the success of ski cross and snowboarding halfpipe in Vancouver, the International Ski Federation, known as F.I.S. — the sanctioning body for skiing and snowboarding at the Olympics — has fast-tracked Winter X Games mainstays ski halfpipe and snowboard and ski slopestyle. In October the I.O.C.’s executive board empowered Jacques Rogge, the committee’s president, to make a final decision about which new sports to add.
Rogge is expected to announce their inclusion by the end of April.
“We’re all expecting it and training right now, basing the next few years on it being in,” said Sarah Burke, who will compete in the women’s ski superpipe final at the X Games on Thursday. Burke, a Canadian, won gold medals in superpipe from 2007 to 2009.
“It’s kind of a no-brainer in my eyes,” Simon Dumont said about the Olympics adopting halfpipe. On Friday Dumont, 24, will ride in the men’s superpipe final, where he has won six medals, including two golds (2004 and 2005).
If selected, ski halfpipe and slopestyle would be the first freeskiing events in the Olympics. Freeskiing is a new-school movement and has a sensibility similar to snowboarding.
“Ski slopestyle and ski halfpipe are the type of events that the younger generation practices every weekend in snow parks,” Dubi said. “Observing what happens on the ground is the best way for the I.O.C. to remain relevant in its choice of Olympic program content.”
The Olympics, in turn, have made mainstream stars of competitors like Shaun White and the Australian Torah Bright, who each won gold medals in snowboard halfpipe at the Vancouver Games and will compete in superpipe and slopestyle at the Winter X Games this week.
Still, the marriage between the Olympics and snowboarding provides a cautionary tale for freeskiers.
In the early 1990s, before the principals in snowboarding were well organized, F.I.S. recognized the sport. In turn the I.O.C. deemed F.I.S. the governing body for Olympic snowboarding. A rancorous relationship between the ski federation and snowboarding worsened, and several of the world’s best riders, including Terje Haakonsen of Norway, boycotted the debut of snowboarding at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.
Ever since, snowboarders have criticized F.I.S. judging criteria, contest formats and Olympic qualifying requirements, all of which they say stifle the sport. Although many of these concerns have been addressed, some snowboarders still prefer not to compete at F.I.S. events.
Last week, as F.I.S. held the world snowboard championships in La Molina, Spain, several of the world’s top competitors were in Killington, Vt., at a Winter Dew Tour event.
“Snowboarding has its own tours, which are far more competitive than the actual F.I.S. tour, which is how you qualify for the Olympics,” Bright said. “I would very much like the I.O.C. to work with us to make it easier for us to participate in the Olympics.”
Last week, Haakonsen, who has gone on to help create Ticket to Ride, known as T.T.R., a rival tour to F.I.S., criticized the skiing body in an open letter published by several news media outlets.
Freeskiers have taken note. Dumont and Chris Schuster, ski sport organizer at the Winter X Games, helped create the Association of Freeskiing Professionals, an international rating system for competitions meant to ensure progressive courses and consistent judging.
“We wanted to make something that wouldn’t repeat the problems with snowboarding,” Schuster said.
This season there has been buzz about a new generation of freeskiing tricks, including a 1,260-degree triple flip, an inverted maneuver while spinning three and a half rotations. In an attempt to put on the best show at the freestyle world ski championships next month in Utah, the freeskiing professionals have discussed using their judges with F.I.S. officials.
“The cool thing about our sport is how unique it is, the creativity, and how it’s changing each year and the progression,” Dumont said.
After all, landing in the Olympics is one thing. The competitors also want to land the gnarliest tricks.
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/, email us at henry@london-olympiad.com or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Jesse Ventura not a fan of being molested
Former Navy Seal, conspiracy guy, TV show host, former governor, former mayor and former pro "wrestler" Jesse Ventura is all about getting his name in the news. This time he's gone ahead and filed a lawsuit against the TSA.
I'm with him in feeling that these tactics used by the TSA are overly invasive. What happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? If you have a legitimate reason as to why you're setting off the metal detector -- like a titanium hip replacement -- then you're in the clear.
Oh, sure, plenty of people think that Ventura is straight-up crazy due to some of his conspiracy-related beliefs but there are also plenty who feel that his sniffing around and the refusal of those in command to answer even the simplest of his questions is reason enough to believe in some of the very conspiracy theories his show attempts to expose but his objections over the TSA tactics have merit.
I have plenty of objections when it comes to flying given the current state of security at our airports. The tally of terrorists detained by TSA security measures still stands at zero and that number says alot. It says that the TSA is a failure of an agency -- an agency created out of fear. An agency which hires the unhirable and places them in charge of security for an agency created in some rather unscrupulous ways -- maybe even unconstitutional -- should have no place in America.
Maybe Jesse Ventura should bodyslam one of these glorified mall cops next time he's hassled and forced to endure a pat down if he ever goes back to flying commercially.
The lawsuit said the pat-down "exposed him to humiliation and degradation through unwanted touching, gripping and rubbing of the intimate areas of his body."
I'm with him in feeling that these tactics used by the TSA are overly invasive. What happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? If you have a legitimate reason as to why you're setting off the metal detector -- like a titanium hip replacement -- then you're in the clear.
Oh, sure, plenty of people think that Ventura is straight-up crazy due to some of his conspiracy-related beliefs but there are also plenty who feel that his sniffing around and the refusal of those in command to answer even the simplest of his questions is reason enough to believe in some of the very conspiracy theories his show attempts to expose but his objections over the TSA tactics have merit.
I have plenty of objections when it comes to flying given the current state of security at our airports. The tally of terrorists detained by TSA security measures still stands at zero and that number says alot. It says that the TSA is a failure of an agency -- an agency created out of fear. An agency which hires the unhirable and places them in charge of security for an agency created in some rather unscrupulous ways -- maybe even unconstitutional -- should have no place in America.
Maybe Jesse Ventura should bodyslam one of these glorified mall cops next time he's hassled and forced to endure a pat down if he ever goes back to flying commercially.
Hockeyroos look to youth ahead of the London Olympics
Spyns clients are fans of every sport, and with over 45 disciplines being played in London 2012 it can be hard to choose a favourite. Female hockey and Beach Volleyball have both gained popularity in recent Olympic and I’m sure the Australian female hockey team will be closely watched in 2012.
New coach Adam Commens has wasted little time making his mark on the Hockeyroos squad, bringing seven new young players into the national squad.
Following last weeks national training camp in which over 60 players from across the country participated, almost a third of the Hockeyroos squad has changed from 2010 in an attempt to fast track several players ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.
The new comers are Jill Dwyer, Bianca Greenshields, Marnie Hudson, Kandice Olivieri, Jodie Schultz, Jade Warrender and Kellie White. Jade Close, who played six senior games in 2010, has also been included in the national squad for the first time.
Commens said he was encouraged by the amount of talent shown by the players at the training camp.
“Overall I think we have an exciting group. It was pleasing to see how much talent was out there at the camp. When it came time to select the final 24 for the national squad it was actually quite difficult and there were several players who were not far away. However the 24 players we selected were the standout players. It was good for everyone to start with a clean slate and show what they can do,” said Commens.
In an indication of the style of play Commens intends for the team, many of the new players will bring speed and scoring power to the Hockeyroos, areas which have been lacking from the team in recent times.
“A lot of the new players will bring speed in the front. Jade Close, Marnie Hudson, Kandice Olivieri are all strikers and Jill Dwyer is an attacking midfielder. We were looking to inject some speed into the team and not only do these girls bring that but they also have good ball control at pace. I think they can assist the strikers we already have and they will receive good support from the quality midfielders in the team such as Casey Eastham, Megan Rivers and Ashleigh Nelson,” said Commens.
In an attempt to match it with some of the more physical European nations, Commens said he purposefully targeted athletic and bigger bodied players for the squad.
“That is one area where we need to improve. In the past it has been the Hockeyroos who have set the tone in terms of physicality, and we need to get back to that,” said Commens.
Aware that there is little time remaining until the 2012 London Olympics, Commens said that he hoped bringing some younger players into the squad now would help them gain experience and fast track their development.
“It is going to be a big test for these girls when we play some good teams over the next few months. We will see how they handle it, it is a big step up to this level of hockey,” said Commens.
Their first opportunity to do so will come sooner rather than later, with the Hockeyroos set to play world number one team Argentina, USA and Germany in a series of matches in Argentina from February 9-20.
“There is only 18 months left until the London Olympics so we need to work quickly and one way to do that is to expose our players against quality teams as often as possible,” said Commens.
Three players who were previously in the national squad – Kate Hollywood, Alison Bruce and Stacia Joseph, have been retained in the development squad.
“All three showed enough during the camp to suggest they are worth having in the group. They need to work hard to improve their games so that they can force their way back into the senior side,” said Commens.
Former Hockeyroo Renee Trost has also worked her way back into the program, securing a place in the development squad. At 30 years of age, Trost has not been in the national program since travelling to the 2008 Beijing Olympics as an emergency.
“She did very well at the camp. Physically, she is one of the best players in the whole program. That strength and her ability to break the lines could see her move back into the national squad and when she plays over the next few months we will see where she is placed at an international level,” said Commens.
In addition to selecting the national and development squads, Commens has also awarded AIS scholarships to six younger players outside of the Hockeyroos squad. Commens said this was done keeping an eye to the future to assure long term success.
“We need to be continually building for the future and I feel that these girls could be a chance to make it in the team for the London Olympics. But if they don’t, it is important that we begin their development for beyond London so they will be ready down the line in order for the team to have sustained success,” said Commens.
Following last weeks national training camp in which over 60 players from across the country participated, almost a third of the Hockeyroos squad has changed from 2010 in an attempt to fast track several players ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.
The new comers are Jill Dwyer, Bianca Greenshields, Marnie Hudson, Kandice Olivieri, Jodie Schultz, Jade Warrender and Kellie White. Jade Close, who played six senior games in 2010, has also been included in the national squad for the first time.
Commens said he was encouraged by the amount of talent shown by the players at the training camp.
“Overall I think we have an exciting group. It was pleasing to see how much talent was out there at the camp. When it came time to select the final 24 for the national squad it was actually quite difficult and there were several players who were not far away. However the 24 players we selected were the standout players. It was good for everyone to start with a clean slate and show what they can do,” said Commens.
In an indication of the style of play Commens intends for the team, many of the new players will bring speed and scoring power to the Hockeyroos, areas which have been lacking from the team in recent times.
“A lot of the new players will bring speed in the front. Jade Close, Marnie Hudson, Kandice Olivieri are all strikers and Jill Dwyer is an attacking midfielder. We were looking to inject some speed into the team and not only do these girls bring that but they also have good ball control at pace. I think they can assist the strikers we already have and they will receive good support from the quality midfielders in the team such as Casey Eastham, Megan Rivers and Ashleigh Nelson,” said Commens.
In an attempt to match it with some of the more physical European nations, Commens said he purposefully targeted athletic and bigger bodied players for the squad.
“That is one area where we need to improve. In the past it has been the Hockeyroos who have set the tone in terms of physicality, and we need to get back to that,” said Commens.
Aware that there is little time remaining until the 2012 London Olympics, Commens said that he hoped bringing some younger players into the squad now would help them gain experience and fast track their development.
“It is going to be a big test for these girls when we play some good teams over the next few months. We will see how they handle it, it is a big step up to this level of hockey,” said Commens.
Their first opportunity to do so will come sooner rather than later, with the Hockeyroos set to play world number one team Argentina, USA and Germany in a series of matches in Argentina from February 9-20.
“There is only 18 months left until the London Olympics so we need to work quickly and one way to do that is to expose our players against quality teams as often as possible,” said Commens.
Three players who were previously in the national squad – Kate Hollywood, Alison Bruce and Stacia Joseph, have been retained in the development squad.
“All three showed enough during the camp to suggest they are worth having in the group. They need to work hard to improve their games so that they can force their way back into the senior side,” said Commens.
Former Hockeyroo Renee Trost has also worked her way back into the program, securing a place in the development squad. At 30 years of age, Trost has not been in the national program since travelling to the 2008 Beijing Olympics as an emergency.
“She did very well at the camp. Physically, she is one of the best players in the whole program. That strength and her ability to break the lines could see her move back into the national squad and when she plays over the next few months we will see where she is placed at an international level,” said Commens.
In addition to selecting the national and development squads, Commens has also awarded AIS scholarships to six younger players outside of the Hockeyroos squad. Commens said this was done keeping an eye to the future to assure long term success.
“We need to be continually building for the future and I feel that these girls could be a chance to make it in the team for the London Olympics. But if they don’t, it is important that we begin their development for beyond London so they will be ready down the line in order for the team to have sustained success,” said Commens.
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.
Monday, January 24, 2011
British Airways signs as official airline for 2012
Spyns clients can have our team book your flight if you need, it’s just part of the added service you get with us. British Airways won the bid as official airline of the 2012 London Olympic Games.
London 2012 is halfway to completing its senior sponsorship program after British Airways was yesterday confirmed as the game’s official airline partner in a deal understood to be worth £40m.
BA is the fourth tier-one sponsor to sign up, joining Adidas, EDF Energy and Lloyds TSB in deals worth close to £200m. BA's deal gives it marketing rights to the 2012 brand and the airline will undertake community projects around the Games as well as providing travel bursaries to aspiring athletes. BA fought off competition for the airline slot from Virgin, which has a commercial arrangement with UK Sport, the body that funds elite athletes.
London hopes to have four more tier-one sponsors signed up before the Beijing Olympics begin. The commercial programme for 2012, which is forecast to generate £650m, is significantly ahead of that of previous host cities. No other games have had a commercial deal partner in place before the preceding games began.
Lord Coe, the organising committee Locog's chairman, said he was delighted BA was supporting the Games: "BA took me to my first international event, to the Moscow Olympics in 1980 which was not straightforward, they took me to my second Olympics too [in Los Angeles] and they were with us during the bid, so we welcome back a great friend to the table."
Coe said he was unconcerned at a number of venue changes because of cost constraints and objections from governing bodies. The temporary venue for the fencing events is to be scrapped because of cost and the mountain bike track has been rejected by the International Cycling Union. The aquatic centre is set to cost three times the original forecast.
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
All about my health
It hit me last Tuesday. My stomach began churning like a million angry washing machines. I knew the feeling and vaguely remembered it from many years ago. On one hand I knew that the unsettledness would likely pass but on the other hand I wondered if this was the third occurance of a condition that had haunted me for the past decade.
By midnight, unable to sleep due to the roiling and churning in my gut, I knew that this was no ordinary, temporary stomach discomfort. This was the third coming of my curse.
It first happened almost eight years ago to the day. I know that time that it was a severe case of nerves that set off the extreme acid production which three days later hadn't eased up even a bit. Somehow, though, I got through that first bout without ever knowing what had happened or what the cause was.
Then a year later it all happened again. Except that particular time it wasn't correcting itself. I suffered through nearly a week of trying everything to throttle back the excessive acid production from the B.R.A.T. diet to living on Pepto-Bismol. Then I actually decided to do what most guys would never do, I went to see an actual doctor. I described my symptoms, he asked questions, more descriptions, more questions and after about 30 minutes (yes, 30 actual minutes with a qualified doctor) he suggested an off-the-shelf solution of Prilosec. Yep, I could just run across the street to Target, plop down fifteen bucks for a box of Prilosec and, combined with a bland diet to begin with, be back to my normal routine.
But that didn't fly this time around. I began taking Prilosec just as I realized that this was the real thing and it did nothing. The only course of action that seemed to work was to simply quit eating. So my last meal was Tuesday evening. A hamburger. A bland, boring hamburger. If I knew it was going to be my last meal I would have at least made it something delicious but a hamburger it was.
After two more days (Wednesday and Thursday) of intestinal and gastronomical distress I had some Cheerios Friday morning. Even in my severely weakened and dehydrated state I inflated a low tire for my old lady as she headed off to work Friday morning. I thought I was out of the woods.
But I wasn't. After I called in sick for a third day -- missing more work in a week than I usually miss in a year -- I knew that that day was THE day. I was going to triumph or die trying. I was going to kick my body's feeble ass and with more bland food (I now despise toast) and another dose of Prilosec I was feeling better. And due to work policies I eventually saw a doctor later that day. Even though his prognosis varied wildly from what I knew from dealing with these extreme acid flare-ups in the past, I felt better having talked things out and being reassured that I didn't bring this on myself.
Friday evening I ate actual food -- a roast beef sandwich from Arby's. It was delicious. I spent the bulk of that evening lightly napping and actually slept through the night until my daughter's internal alarm went off around 8 AM Saturday morning. I was beginning to feel better. I even went to to grocery store for some provisions and was feeling confident enough to buy and then eat a deli sandwich. It was the best food I had eaten in quite some time. It was amazing. It was like food straight from God himself.
Needless to say, while I'm still recovering to a certain extent, I feel far better now than I did on Tuesday evening. I know I haven't seen the last of these extreme stomach acid flare-ups (the doctor six years ago described my condition as my stomach's acid pumps get stuck in the on position and maybe even in high gear and proceed to wreak havoc on my entire body) but I can't let it keep me from living my normal life. So by the middle of the week -- barring any complications -- I'll be back to occasionally eating a smorgasboard of spicy Mexican food and washing it down with copious amounts of Coca-Cola. After all, somebody has to eat those 8 quarts of homemade salsa in my pantry.
By midnight, unable to sleep due to the roiling and churning in my gut, I knew that this was no ordinary, temporary stomach discomfort. This was the third coming of my curse.
It first happened almost eight years ago to the day. I know that time that it was a severe case of nerves that set off the extreme acid production which three days later hadn't eased up even a bit. Somehow, though, I got through that first bout without ever knowing what had happened or what the cause was.
Then a year later it all happened again. Except that particular time it wasn't correcting itself. I suffered through nearly a week of trying everything to throttle back the excessive acid production from the B.R.A.T. diet to living on Pepto-Bismol. Then I actually decided to do what most guys would never do, I went to see an actual doctor. I described my symptoms, he asked questions, more descriptions, more questions and after about 30 minutes (yes, 30 actual minutes with a qualified doctor) he suggested an off-the-shelf solution of Prilosec. Yep, I could just run across the street to Target, plop down fifteen bucks for a box of Prilosec and, combined with a bland diet to begin with, be back to my normal routine.
But that didn't fly this time around. I began taking Prilosec just as I realized that this was the real thing and it did nothing. The only course of action that seemed to work was to simply quit eating. So my last meal was Tuesday evening. A hamburger. A bland, boring hamburger. If I knew it was going to be my last meal I would have at least made it something delicious but a hamburger it was.
After two more days (Wednesday and Thursday) of intestinal and gastronomical distress I had some Cheerios Friday morning. Even in my severely weakened and dehydrated state I inflated a low tire for my old lady as she headed off to work Friday morning. I thought I was out of the woods.
But I wasn't. After I called in sick for a third day -- missing more work in a week than I usually miss in a year -- I knew that that day was THE day. I was going to triumph or die trying. I was going to kick my body's feeble ass and with more bland food (I now despise toast) and another dose of Prilosec I was feeling better. And due to work policies I eventually saw a doctor later that day. Even though his prognosis varied wildly from what I knew from dealing with these extreme acid flare-ups in the past, I felt better having talked things out and being reassured that I didn't bring this on myself.
Friday evening I ate actual food -- a roast beef sandwich from Arby's. It was delicious. I spent the bulk of that evening lightly napping and actually slept through the night until my daughter's internal alarm went off around 8 AM Saturday morning. I was beginning to feel better. I even went to to grocery store for some provisions and was feeling confident enough to buy and then eat a deli sandwich. It was the best food I had eaten in quite some time. It was amazing. It was like food straight from God himself.
Needless to say, while I'm still recovering to a certain extent, I feel far better now than I did on Tuesday evening. I know I haven't seen the last of these extreme stomach acid flare-ups (the doctor six years ago described my condition as my stomach's acid pumps get stuck in the on position and maybe even in high gear and proceed to wreak havoc on my entire body) but I can't let it keep me from living my normal life. So by the middle of the week -- barring any complications -- I'll be back to occasionally eating a smorgasboard of spicy Mexican food and washing it down with copious amounts of Coca-Cola. After all, somebody has to eat those 8 quarts of homemade salsa in my pantry.
Olympic stadium: Don't betray the legacy of London's Games
Spyns clients have been looking into our 5, 7, and 10 day tours focusing on Opening and Closing ceremonies, Swimming, Athletics, Basket ball, and Beach Volleyball. The Olympic Stadium has a maximum capacity of 80,000 but will have 30,000 removable chairs so after the games it can be converted for other purposes.
As West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur football clubs fight over who will take over the main arena it would be wise to remember why we won the Games in the first place.
London was awarded the 2012 Olympic Games because the city's bidding team promised a legacy – for athletics and for east London.Whether those promises are kept depends in part on a vote by the board of the Olympic Park Legacy Company. Members will consider rival bids by West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur football clubs to take over the main stadium after the games. A crucial difference between the offers is that West Ham would preserve the arena, complete with running track, and modify it to suit the needs of a football stadium. Spurs would demolish it and build something more fundamentally soccer-friendly.
Most football fans agree that athletics lanes spoil their view. Spurs says it would compensate runners by investing in athletics infrastructure in Crystal Palace. But removing the track from east London would be a clear breach of the commitment to make the Olympic park "a purpose-built home for athletics for generations to come".
Spurs' main backer is US entertainment giant AEG, which has its eyes on the site as a concert venue. West Ham has event company Live Nation on board for similar reasons, but also has financial support from Newham council, the local borough. That local connection is vital. The Tottenham bid is commercially punchier – who pays to see athletics these days? – but it is also mercenary. Whoever takes over the site will inherit fabulous infrastructure and transport links, funded by the taxpayer. The decision about who should benefit must be about more than commerce. It is easy to see why AEG would like a piece of that action, and why it makes sense for them to make Spurs the vehicle. But
Tottenham is a place, not a brand. Its football club shouldn't be uprooted to chase a nice little earner for the proprietors.
Meanwhile, the promise was of an Olympic legacy for athletics and for east London, which presumably extends to its historic sporting institutions. Only one bid passes that test.
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Ian Thorpe Olympic comeback. Will he be there?
www.london-olympiad.com
Spyns clients will be interested to know Ian Thorpe is eying up an Olympic come back. With Micheal Phelps a favourite needing some competition it could make the Games interesting.
MOMENTS after ending speculation about his own future, London Olympic aspirant Geoff Huegill hoped he had also helped Ian Thorpe make up his mind about a swimming comeback.
Huegill, 31, confirmed yesterday that he had the 2012 Games in his sights after making a stunning return to the pool. His well-documented ''from flab to fab'' comeback was one of the great feel-good stories - and he hopes to add another chapter at his third Olympics.
But Huegill also wants another former world champion by his side next year. ''Absolutely. I hope I have ignited a fire in his [Thorpe's] belly,'' said the champion butterflyer. ''Hopefully he will swim on and want to be a relay swimmer [at London].''
Thorpe has been spotted training in Sydney and been in close contact with national head coach Leigh Nugent in recent months, adding to speculation he may return after his 2006 retirement. Huegill believed Thorpe's return would push the sometimes maligned Australian men's swimming team to greater heights before London.
The men began to answer their critics with an encouraging display at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
However, they were still overshadowed by their female teammates who claimed 16 of Australia's 22 gold medals in the pool.
''A swimmer of his talent will lift the spirits of the swim team two or three notches,'' Huegill said of Thorpe. ''And it [Thorpe's return] would definitely make those younger kids look over their shoulder which ultimately means they have to swim faster if they are going to secure their spot [on the Games team].
''That's one of the best things about a guy like him lurking around in the background - I am just grateful he doesn't do butterfly.''
Thorpe has not yet applied to return to drug testing - something he must do nine months before he intends to compete. He would have to apply by June if he wanted to be eligible to compete at next year's London Olympic trials.
The men's team has had its share of critics - especially when a 31-year-old Huegill and possibly Thorpe, 28, are needed to bolster its ranks. But Huegill defended his team's depth.
''After having an amazing men's team that we had in 2000, it was always going to be hard for the younger guys to fill those shoes,'' he said. ''But one of the most exciting things is that none of the positions in the team is a dead certainty - you still have to fight for your spot.''
Huegill admitted it would have been ''very easy'' to walk away after his Delhi success that included two gold and a silver. But Huegill admitted he would be kicking himself if he hadn't rated his comeback against the ultimate gauge in London - American superstar Michael Phelps.
''I know this is going to be my opportunity to take on the best in the world like Michael Phelps,'' he said. ''I don't want to waste this opportunity that I have got.''
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.
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