Class Acts On and Off the Court: Heineken Live Stage at Australian Open 2011

31 January 2011

The fans at the Australian Open will be not only entertained by the nail biting and exciting tennis matches, but they will also be able to enjoy live music from a range of popular Australian artists at the Heineken Live Stage.

The stage will be at the Grand Slam Oval, located between the Rod Laver Arena and the Hisense Arena, where fans will be treated to music and fun in the evenings and afternoons after the matches have taken place. Acts include talents such as Under the Apple Tree, Jason Singh, TimRogers and Operator Please.

There is a beer garden where the fans can enjoy a nice cold beverage while listening to the cool sounds of the Aussie music, as well as several bars and live DJs for later sets. All of this exciting activity will go on throughout the entire two week event.

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Seeded No1 Caroline Wozniacki: Will She Crack the 2011 Australian Open?

31 January 2011

Ranked the world’s top player in women’s tennis, Caroline Wozniacki is obviously keen to keep her title but can she do it?

In the first match of the Australian Open, Wozniacki was thrilled at her triumph over Gisela Dulko after a shaky start to the match. But what about the other players that she will have to face later in the tournament?

Wozniacki critics claim that her No.1 title is false and believe that she won’t last long in the open, but she is showing determination and with Serena Williams out due to injury, perhaps she has a chance to make it through and prevail.

She has been plagued with nasty comments and doubt about her abilities, but she says that she does not care about any of that and will do her best. She recently said “I’ve won six tournaments, and my friends and family are the ones who mean the most to me”.

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Australian Open Tennis Stars Rally for Relief To Help Flood Victims

30 January 2011

Many of the tennis players from the Australian Open 2011 gathered a day before the starts of the tournament  to raise money for the victims of Australia’s flood disaster. Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick,  Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Kim Clijsters and Sam Stosur  are among the popular stars who were involved.

Thousands of people in 43 towns across Australia have had to move away from their homes and others have died in the recent floods. The floods which originally caused havoc in Queensland are now also threatening the people of Victoria.

The fund raising event consisted of tennis matches where the world’s top tennis players played against one another in doubles. The group was first split into two teams, and they later split further into doubles matches, with one match even having 3 players on each side.

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Melbourne: Host City of the Australian Open

29 January 2011

Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria in Australia, and is home to the world famous Australian Open tennis championships.

It is the second most populated city in Australia, and is extremely multi-cultural. It’s a place where historical meets modern day, with Victorian architecture an pretty avenues with contrasting contemporary buildings just around the corner.

In spite of the large population, the city still has the laid back Australian way of life. The Melburnians commonly use bicycles as their method of transport, and for those who prefer not to cycle there are little trams shuttling about the city too.

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The History of the Australian Open

28 January 2011

The Australian Open is getting underway this week, but do you know about this history of the Australian Open? If not, read on for some interesting facts about the Australian Open in the early days.

1880 was the year of the first Australian tennis tournament and it was held in Melbourne. It was the Championship of the Colony of Victoria. Until 1905, all states in Australia and New Zealand held their own championship tournaments.

Then in 1905, the ‘Australasian Men’s Championships’ kicked off at the Warehouseman’s Cricket Ground in Melbourne. This was later renamed the Australian Championships in 1927, and by 1969 it had been given the name that it goes by today: The Australian Open.

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Can Rafael Nadal Win The 2011 Australian Open?

27 January 2011

Rafael Nadal is ranked 1st in the world in the singles rankings, but can he win the Australian Open this year?

Rafael Nadal, known as ‘Rafa’, is close behind the heels of Rod Laver. If Rafa wins the Australian Open of 2011, he will have won four consecutive grand slams, and will be the first player after Laver to do so. He will also be the youngest player ever to have achieved it. But can he do it?

The only thing that is certain is that Rafa will have to fight hard to keep his number one title. He will have to triumph over some of the world’s top players to get there including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

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Odds Watch: The Bookmakers Opinion of the 2011 Australian Open

26 January 2011

Here we take a look at the 2011 Australian Open predictions in Melbourne.

Quarter One of the Australian Open 2011

It would seems that Rafael Nadal, currently raking 1st in the world, has a pretty easy path cut out to the semi-finals. The first quarter will be brimming with Spanish players that he has easily beaten in the past, including Lopez and Ferrer, as well as players that he should have a relatively easy time with in the first few matches such as Cilic and Youzhny.

A possible third round match against Marin Cilic may be a difficult one for him to grasp, but it’s unlikely that Rafa will trip up before he gets to the final four. Nadal is fevoured to be the semi finalist from this quarter.

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Life on the Tennis Tour: Pressure and Stress as the Australian Open Begins

25 January 2011

As the Australian Open begins in Melbourne, pressure is mounting for some of the key players.

Rafael Nadal no doubt carries the biggest pressure as he will be fighting to keep his place at the top. He is also attempting to hold all four Grand Slams at once, and if he succeeds, he’ll be only the third player ever to have done it.

Rod Laver, whom the arena at Melbourne Park was first named after, and Don Budge are the only two other players who have ever managed such a massive triumph. So of course this is a huge stress on Nadal as a victory will go down in history. And he’s only 24.

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Venus Williams Talks About Sexier Outfits For Australian Open

24 January 2011

Venus Williams caused a bit of a stir at the 2010 Australian Open, and she has promised that there is more to come. Last year she shocked spectators when she wore a skimpy outfit and appeared to have no underwear on. She commented on Twitter that she designed the outfit herself, and wanted to create an illusion by wearing shorts that were the same colour as her skin.

Venus has worn many risqué outfits in her time, including a saucy black and red number that looked like something out of an underwear catalogue. She wore the black lace costume at the French Open early in 2010. Something that is for certain is that her outfits never fail to turn heads and it is something Venus will always be remembered by.

She did it again at the US Open in 2010, when she wore a short tennis dress with sequins and flesh coloured shorts underneath. She told her fans that she wanted to wear outfits that represented the cities that she plays in, and this one was for New York.

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National Museum of Singapore

23 January 2011

This amazing history museum was first established in 1849 but has been relocated and had its name changed several times.  After returning to its original location in 1887 where it remains to this day it has under gone many transformations, most recently in 2006 when it reopened after a 3 ½ restoration which included the opening of the Singapore History Gallery.

The National Museum of Singapore is the oldest in the country and an architectural icon to its people; it is host to the 11 national treasures and presents the history and culture of the country in a conventional way.  Through exhibits and colourful festivals the Museum has become a vibrant place to discover precious artefacts and mesmerising works of art.  The permanent features show off the countries culture through; history, film, photography and food all of which are allocated their own sizable gallery.

The treasures of the National Museum date back as far as the 14 century and include; the funeral hearse of Tan Jiak Kim, mace of the Singapore City, the will of Munshi Abdullah, portrait of Sir Shenton Thomas and Frank Swettenham, which can all be viewed in the History Gallery.
 

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Classic Cars 1961 Studebaker Silver Hawk

22 January 2011

Studebaker cars were some of the most popular types of car in the US in the 1950s thanks to their performance and looks. The 1961 Studebaker Silver Hawk was a car that had evolved from the Starlite design of 1953 which was a coupe that was a very popular car in its own right. By 1962 production of the Silver Hawk had ceased, giving way to the Hawk Gran Turismo which was in production for just over 12 months.

As you would think from classic cars, 1961 Studebaker Silver Hawk had features that made it an iconic car of its time and one that was instantly recognisable. One of these features on the Silver Hawk was a tail fin that made it look even longer and sleeker than previous models. In fact when many people think of cars with a 1950s or 1960s design this is the kind of car that they think of.

Unusually for many classic cars, 1961 Studebaker Silver Hawk was very reasonably priced which was what made it even more popular with many people. Studebaker had realised that the time was right to produce cheaper car than what was on the market at the time. This was a decision that certainly paid off as the car was very successful.

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City Review of Anchorage, AK

21 January 2011

The city of Anchorage is nestled amongst the snow capped mountains and forests of Alaska, rich in culture, wildlife and friendly greetings it is a place to be welcomed and explored.   The cosmopolitan city of Anchorage has no shortage of culture which you can see expressed through its music, dance and art in many of the cafes and restaurants dotted around the city.  With the city sitting on the edge of the coast and the abundance of marine life available, it is no wonder that you can find some fabulous seafood restaurants in Anchorage.

If wildlife and outdoor pursuits is your thing then you will be excited to get out into the wilderness to experience this breath taking scenery first hand.  You can literally lose yourself in the beauty of the fjords, glaciers and waterfalls of the small bays on the outskirts of the city. The array of different wildlife; from fish catching bears, bounding deer to the occasional whales tail  or dolphin breaking the surface of the still waters, will seem like time has stood still in Anchorage.

There are various tribes of natives that live across Alaska but they only make up about 16% of the population.  The cold climate of has taught them excellent survival skills and they have learnt over the years to live of the land even in the world worst extremities.  You can see an array of culture and heritage in the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Centre.  There is a mix of Russian and native history in the Museums’ with a strong sense of the indigenous natives coming through in the art work on display.

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Is Andy Murray Prepared For the Australian Open as Rain Dampens His Preparations?

20 January 2011

Andy Murray is Britain’s number one player and is seeded 5^th for the Australian Open, but is he prepared enough to play well in the tournament?

Murray was due to play a warm up match last week against Marin Cilic in Melbourne, but as heavy rain fell and cancelled an entire day’s play, the whole four day event was totally ruined and it is leaving much speculation over whether Murray will be prepared enough for the big matches.

Cilic, who Murray was due to be up against in the warm ups, was beat by Andy Murray in the 2010 Australian Open at the semi finals. He triumphed his way to the finals, but lost the end match against Federer with scores to Federer of 6-3, 6-4 and 7-6.

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Black Canyon River Rafting Tour

14 January 2011

The Black Canyon River is situated in the Lake Mead National Recreation area near Las Vegas, Nevada.  Created by the 500 mile stretching Colorado River the Black Canyon lies just beneath the Hoover Damn, it was used by early Native Indians as a life line to the irrigation of crops until the fickle river made the area uninhabitable some 800-850 years ago.  After much research in the 1920’s to find a suitable Damn location, Hoover Damn was finished in 1935 backing water up to create Lake Mead and one of the biggest water recreation areas’ of the Southwest.

The 2000 feet high cliffs from the waters’ edge make this a spectacular rafting area with some of the most breathtaking views of the whole Canyon.  A typical rafting tour of the Black Canyon will consist of; being picked up from your Las Vegas hotel and transported to the Hoover Damn recreational area where you will welcomed on board a purpose built raft.

The raft launch area is at the base of the Hoover Dam and gives you a spectacular view upward of this fete of concrete engineering.  Over 100 people lost their lives in the construction of the damn out of the 5000 people working day and night to complete the build over a 7 year period.  The damn now offers an incredible resource for the surrounding area.

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Bio of Christy Walton

13 January 2011

Christy Walton is the widow of John Walton the Wal-Mart billionaire, When John died on the 27th June 2005 Christy inherited $15.7 billion.  In March of 2009 she was proclaimed the 12th richest person in the Forbes World’s Billionaires with a net worth of 17.6 billion.  Christy and her son, Lukas, currently live in Jackson, Wyoming.

The death of John Walton was unexpected as he flew and experimental ultra light aircraft from Jackson Hole Airport in Grand Teton National Park.  The aircraft experienced complications soon after takeoff and John crashed to his death at the age of 58 years.  Flying was a huge passion of Johns’ and he spent many hours in the air trying out different aircraft designs.

John also inherited the business of Wal-Mart from his father Sam Walton who opened his first variety store at the age of 26 after leaving the armed forces.  The first store was a franchise of the Butler Brother Chain for which he loaned $20,000 from his father-in-law to buy.  Sam’s store soon became the leader in the franchise because of the methods he used to secure saving for the customers.  It only took 4 years for Sam to quadruple the turnover of this small store with a net of $250,000 a year in 1950; this was the beginning of his legacy and the Wal-Mart Supermarket chain.

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Bio of Jacqueline Mars

12 January 2011

Jacqueline Mars, born in the United States and one of three siblings of the late Forrest Mars is the heiress to her Grandfather’s confectionary company. Whenever you bite into a Mars Bar, Milky Way, Twix or Snickers you can think of Jacqueline Mars grandfather Frank Mars who founded the company in 1911. When the siblings inherited the Mars Corporation there was talk that the three would sell the company and live a wealthy life off the proceeds.

Jacqueline Mars, who is now twice divorced with three children, took the bull by the horns with her brothers and continued the growth and development of the company. Although she could have lived happily on the sale of her inheritance, today she is worth an estimated $14 billion dollars from her own driving efforts. She was profiled by Forbes as being in the top 50 on the world’s rich list and at 68 years old the 4th richest woman in the world.

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A Short Biography of Sergey Brin

11 January 2011

This short biography of Sergey Brin follows his career and business ventures and triumphs.

On 21st August 1973, in the Russian capital of Moscow, a boy was born. His name was Sergey Mikhaylovich Brin, and he would in his later life help to transform the world of technology. Sergey was born in a time when the Soviet Union was still in existence.

Both of his parents were extremely intelligent people, both of Jewish faith. His father is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Maryland just outside of Washington DC. His mother is a research scientist for NASA. It’s easy to see where his intelligence came from.

His family emigrated from Russia to the US in 1979 because at the time, communists did not allow Jewish people to enter into the universities in the Soviet Union, and it was therefore adamant for the wellbeing and education of the Brins’ son that they relocated.

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A Short Biography of Larry Page

10 January 2011

This is a short biography of Larry Page, co founder of Google Inc, now known as one of the world’s most powerful people due to his passionate technological endeavours.

Larry Page was born on 26th March 1973 to a Jewish family in Michigan, USA. He with the help of his class mate and friend would in later life help to transform the world of technology.

Both of his parents were professors of computer science at the Michigan State University in their home town. Because of their professions, Page recalls computer equipment and magazines cluttering their home when he was a boy.

Page has an older brother, who was apparently responsible for teaching the young Page how to disassemble things in their home and this further fuelled his interest in how everything works. He says that he had always had a strong interest in invention hence his later interest in technology.

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The Casino at the Empire Leicester Square A Historical Account

09 January 2011

The Casino at the Empire Leicester Square is a highly opulent place that boasts of some really glamorous atmosphere and a high end crowd. It has more than 55,000 square feet of casino space and claims to offer a ’Vegas experience in the heart of London.’

The Casino at the Empire is the place to be if one is interested in gambling. It is recommended even for people who can’t afford, as it will be a wager one would only be happy to take!

The Casino is spread over the two floors of grandeur and there are many places to look out for and many tables to splurge and gamble at. At the ground floor, one finds a lot of tables and slot machines, in case you are not too interested in the card tricks and games.

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Romance Package at the Venetian Hotel The Romantic Getaway

02 January 2011

The Romance Package at the Venetian Hotel is a great experience for couples or simply for people who believe in romance. The package includes a trip to Madame Tussauds museum, followed by a Venice-like Gondola ride with a meal at Zeffirinos thrown in for good measure.

 It is without doubt great value for money. Madame Tussauds is an out of the world experience, almost surreal and one leaves the place with a feeling of déjà-vu.

The tickets are easily available with no long queues to battle.  The Gondola ride can only be booked for the day while Madam Tussauds and the meal can be availed any time during the day. Almost everyone who visits these places comes out with raving reviews and a promise to oneself and others to return soon.

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The Patek Philippe Grand Exhibition in Singapore A Grand Show

01 January 2011

Thursday, 13 May 2010

The Patek Philippe Exhibition wads a treat for horology lovers. It was organized in Singapore during the fag end of May early this year. The exhibition extended over four days and was unveiled at the St Regis ballroom in the city.

It was a treat to all those who were interested in the rare designs and machinery of the most exclusive brand of watches priced at an obscene amount. It is most definitely a watch connoisseur’s delight.

The company is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and the exhibits displayed were more than two hundred and fifty special editions from their museum. It is an exhibition that must be visited unless one wants to go all the way to Geneva to quench a watch lover’s thirst for those beauties.

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