US Life Post » Hobbies

10 Great Bat Mitzvah Gift Ideas

Jack Gindi — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:13:13 +0000

There are many Jewish holidays and celebrations that are important to the culture. From Passover and Hanukkah to Yom Kippur and Purim, the list is long and cherished by the Jewish community. In addition, there are two other very important celebrations that take place in the lives of younger Jewish people: the Bar Mitzvah and the Bat Mitzvah, the coming of age ceremonies for Jewish boys turning 13 or Jewish girls turning 12, respectively, are recognized as being adults who are responsible for their actions from that day forward. For a girl’s Bat Mitzvah it is important and traditional to bring a gift that she can treasure as a part of the celebration for years to come. Here are 10 great gift ideas to give you a head start in choosing the right gift for her.

1. Savings bond or cash – There is nothing that a 12-year-old likes more than receiving money for their coming of age celebration. Starting a savings bond or giving them cash to save for the future is a great idea. This can teach them to be frugal with their money and help them learn that saving is always a good thing to do. Many times in the Jewish culture they give bonds in increments of 18 because that number is important in the Jewish culture. The Hebrew word for life (chai) has a numeric value of 18.

2. Star of David necklace – This symbol of Judaism is a great gift because it is a symbol of protection for the wearer. You can purchase a necklace in either sterling silver or gold.

3. A gift certificate for her favorite bookstore – Many teenagers like to read, so this can be a nice gift, allowing her to purchase her favorite books and do it on her own, making her own choices. She can choose books about her religion in order to learn more about Judaism, or any others on subjects that interest her.

4. A pen set – This can be great for a gift and will help her in high school, too. You can get a lovely, elegant pen set for around $50 and then have it engraved with her name for a special touch.

5. Photo album – You can get her a nice photo album to commemorate the special occasion of her bat mitzvah. This is a great way for her to share the experience with others through pictures of family and friends. You can gift either an old-fashioned book style for hard copy photos or a special piece of software (like iPhoto) that will let her make photo albums from digital pictures on her PC.

6. Storage box – This is a great idea if she has a lot of memorabilia. A nice box can even have her name engraved on it, and can be a place where she can keep her jewelry and other important things.

7. Frame – You can get her a nice frame into which you can place a picture of her on her special day. You can add the date and her name on the frame so that she will always remember it for the rest of her life. As with #5 above, this can be a regular frame, or a digital one that will display pictures (as slideshows, too) that were taken on a digital camera.

8. Family tree – You can create a family tree for her to cherish. Gather all of your family history from decades or even centuries past, and put pictures, clippings, stories and other things into a family tree design, and frame it for her to hang on her wall.

9. Family heirloom – It can be something very special to give her something that was handed down from previous generations in your family. She will feel special being the next recipient to receive the heirloom, and it is something she will never forget.

10. Ritual items – There are several ritual items that you can give her, such as candlesticks or even a Menorah, that are traditionally given at a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah.

A bat mitzvah can be one of the most joyous and sacred times in a young Jewish girl’s life. It is not only a time-honored tradition, but a turning point in her life where she finally gains recognition and responsibilities as an adult. The gifts are just the icing on the cake and they will make her feel more special and appreciated than ever.

Disney Precious Collections, the leading brand in kids jewelry, is comprised of two lines of the highest quality jewelry available for girls available. Looking for jewelry sets? Visit us online today!

Read The Related Posts:

For A Canon Digital Camera Powershot!

Marcel Torres — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:51:24 +0000

The Canon PowerShot selection of digital cameras takes great photographs and it is so effortless. The high megapixel resolution and 3-4x optical zoom with the Optical Image Stabilizer ensures radiant, detailed images.

The number one place for a Powershot purchase is almost certainly Amazon.com. Amazon is the net equivalent of Walmart. Because of their awesome volume of sales you can order a great new or used camera with obvious ease, and at great prices that are not that far from wholesale . Of any Canon, a PowerShot is certainly one you should check out, and online it is not uncommon to get savings of 15-47%.

But Select A PowerShot At All?

The moment you are looking at buying the best of the best ensure your Canon Powershot camera incorporates sophisticated DIGIC 4 Image Processor features with Face Detection Technology for phenomenal control. The DIGIC optiondiscovers and tracks the faces of any people who are moving until you’re all ready to take the photograph, then delivers perfect digital camera focus making each face in every photo looking its absolute best.

Here are some buyer reviews…

Canon PowerShot A1100 – The camera itself and the software included are astonishingly intuitive. Although there are heaps of manual settings possible I put the camera in Auto and just clicked away…

The PowerShot SD1200 – I did not hold that high of expectancies of the camera, but after buying it, I have had a whole load of fun. It’s simple to use, really easy to set, FAST, and good with low light. You do not always need to use the flash…

PowerShot SD780 – I work for a camera place and each day I’m reviewing cameras forpeople and when this came on the shelves I took one look at it and the list of the features and said to my boss man ‘Oh yes, we’ll be out by tomorrow’ and indeed we were. It went really FAST. Why? Because it’s a GREAT camera…

Author Marcel Torres discusses more about the the Canon PowerShot Camera here.

Read The Related Posts:

Why You Need A Good Car Stereo System.

Erin McCarty — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:18:47 +0000

A good vehicle stereo system is a marvel to experience – and a poorly built auto stereo system is a disappointment to have.

The price is a serious factor, but just because it is costly equipment does not mean it will perform well if it is installed carelessly, or if it is connected up with mismatched hardware.

It’s also subjective; just as many of us find black autos more exciting than other color cars. If you like your automobile stereo system more than any other in the same car, then you have the best for your purposes. And that will do fine.

The kind of auto does play a significant part in what type vehicle stereo system you must build. For some people, after only being in a few autos their ears recognize the basic traits of this unique environment. The majority of what we hear in a vehicle is a recording of the first artist in a stated environment, generally in two channel stereo which can be playing in a completely different environment with the listeners placed in ungainly listening positions relative to the location of speakers. A great car stereo system is made with the understanding of acoustics, basic electronics, and the different products that are to be used.

A good idea is to gain references to compare to your auto audio system or any other and experience it live in as many different environments as practical. One of the finest ways to do this is to go to expos’ and conventions. As you hop from exhibit to exhibit you’ll straight away spot the difference in sound characteristics of each setup. You’ll find some vehicle stereo systems that you prefer over others, if not a favorite and that is the way to pick an inexpensive car stereo system that you like. Also ask for specs, they will happily give it to you.

The advantages of OEM speakers are : they have got a bigger frequency reply ( more music coming thru the automobile stereo speakers ), more power handling capabilities, they’ll brighten your highs and increase your car audio system bass. There are two types of auto speakers available : the dual cone and the two way. A twin cone has a tiny paper cone built into a larger paper cone.

Amplifiers are the backbone of your auto stereo system. Puny amplifiers damage good vehicle stereo speakers, not the other way around. Amplifiers provides musical power and contributes greatly to the elimination of distortion and the upgrade of sound clearness. The dimensions of the amplifiers will be proportional to the level of power you would like. You can tell a good power amp by turning the auto stereo system above half volume and still hearing clear amplification. Don’t forget the more power you’ve got the better control you have over your system.

Now, you can find what more you can discover about Actron Autoscanner which you can access via the Actron range of Scanning equipment blog.

Read The Related Posts:

Recycled Metal Garden Art – Fun, Eco-Friendly Art For Your Yard

Ann Wallis — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 07:24:15 +0000

Enthusiastic gardeners are usually very earth-friendly folk. They enjoy digging in the dirt, recycling and composting, and easily integrate other people’s discards into their garden decor. When hunting for unique pieces to decorate their back yards, recycled metal garden art is often a popular choice.

The eco-artists creating recycled metal garden are very creative and ingenious What may be trash to you or me is reborn in the hands of these eco-artists. One artist, Andrew Chase, makes magnificent mechanical structure of robots, elephants and giraffes from recycled plumbing and automobile parts. He gets junk transmission and engine parts from his auto repair shop, and by combining these with plumbing fixtures and pipes he is able to create wonderful, moving creatures.

Discarded oil tanks and drums are quite frequently used to make metal yard decor. Coloured oil tanks that once supplied fuel to cottagers are cut down into brightly colored critters, including dogs with bones, dancing sheep or moose, lurking alligators and climbing frogs. For something a little different you can even add a diva or a devil!

In Haiti a growing crafts community is producing delightful metal wall sculptures from flattened drums which had been used to haul oil or other products. After removing the ends these drums are flattened then carved by hand into exotic pieces of art. Using only chisels, hammers and other simple tools, the artists carve decorative, elaborate designs out of the steel. Steel drum art from Haiti is very popular throughout the world, and increasing in popularity daily. Inside the house or in the garden, it makes a striking piece of wall art.Saving cycles from untimely graves a new breed of artists are choosing recycled bikes parts to create their art. Bike art is becoming so trendy it is a genre of its own. Providing nuts and bolts, spokes and wheels, and even gears, a cycle may be the perfect raw material for recycled metal art.

A large part of the appeal of recycled metal yard art may be the weathered and often rusted look of the various pieces. Rusted metal has a earthy, natural look and blends with the garden rather than making a loud statement. That is why many gardeners seek out pre-rusted metal art.

The talent of artists working with recycled metal always amazes me. Recycled metal garden art will add instant charm to your yard.

Ann Wallis is a long-time gardener and lover of beautiful things for her garden. All year round she pores through gardening magazines and websites looking for colorful perennials to fill the holes in her garden and fun, whimsical metal garden decor to add life and character to her yard. Ann’s favorite metal creations can be found at http://metal-garden-art.com

Read The Related Posts:

Walk Behind Mowers-From Traditional To Chic, The Real Lawn Mower Is Back

Rusty Martin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:12:58 +0000

The classic walk behind mower is a mainstay of life in the suburbs. The American Dream of owning a home comes with a lot of necessary tasks and choirs, not the least of which is the upkeep of the lawn. For over a century, the walk behind mower in its many, varied forms has been the primary tool for this task.

Why are these mowers preferred over a riding mower? The straightforward reason is that a walk behind will deliver a quality cut that you are able to have a hands on experience. These mowers also let a man vent some of his frustration out. It is a known fact that if a man is outside with a mower and he looks mad, simply leaves him to be alone with his lawn mower. There are also the health benefits that are able to be enjoyed. A person that uses a walk behind mower will be in a lot better shape than someone who chooses to us a riding lawn mower.

There have been a lot of changes to this piece of lawn equipment since the early days some 100 years ago. After the first few decade of the manual reel mower came to a close, the modern era all started with a ordinary gas powered mower and has seen the latest invention with the solar powered model. In between there have been a lot of positive changes that have been added to this mower, these have allowed for there to be a better cut each and every time.

The large array of mower styles is also one of the hottest points of debate amongst those who are lawn lovers. This debate started with the introduction of the gas mower in the 1940s and continues to this day. It appears that the argument over which style is best will continue for many more decades, but one thing is for sure, no one doubts the superiority of the walk behind as compared to other mower models.

Electrics are convenient and provide a slightly better environmental advantage. They are also beneficial for people who have a sensitivity to exhaust fumes or whom can not stand the sound of a traditional mower engine. There are some significant issues with electric and all of them have to do with the source of power. Corded mowers have a stronger motor and can handle heavier growth but they also have a long cord following behind you. This can be an inconvenience and dangerous (should you accidently run over your own cord). Battery powered units have varying amounts of engine power but the batteries do not tend to last long enough to cut the whole yard at once leaving you either having to have additional, expensive batteries, waiting for a recharge or having to plug into the power port and have the same issues as mentions above with the cord. Solar powered mowers have a lot of promise but they are a long way from being perfected. The ones that are on the market are weak and have a major issue of not being able to work very well when it is overcast or slightly drizzly. This is an issue since these are the best times to cut the lawn most experts will agree.

Gas mowers provide a lot of power, but as we all well know they also provide a substantial deal of noise and a lot of exhaust fumes. The pluses of these mowers are offset by their main disadvantage, the cost of the fuel needed to power them. Gas prices keep going up. More and more the price of fuel is increasing which makes there small engine mowers more inconvenient to use.

The manual reel mower is the favorite among environmentalists and those who are perfectionists about their lawns are starting to once again see the value of it in their lives. It is quiet, it provides excellent results, and it has no need for batteries of fuel. The maintenance is limited to sharpening the blades and oiling the component. Some have even mentioned that the sharpening of the blades can be a therapeutic experience and that using a manual mower can create a very Zen feeling in one’s mind. The only disadvantage is the fact that using one takes so long, and they can be slightly dangerous if you are not careful.

No matter what type of mower that you choose to use, you will be able to enjoy the many benefits that are associated with each and every one of these walk behind mowers. This will allow a person the chance to use the mower that is right for them, and have a great-looking yard with no trouble. Walk behind mowers are available in a wide variety of styles and models some of the top manufacturers include names like EarthWise, Lawn Boy, Black & Decker, WORX Eco, and Epic.

Then next time that your lawn needs to be mowed, make it a point that you head to your local hardware store and choose the design that is right for you and your needs. Once you use a walk behind mower, you will never want to use anything else.

Rusty Martin is an avid gardener and lawn care expert. Over his years in landscaping he has enjoyed sharing his knowledge and passion with others. He is a contributing writer to several lawn care & landscaping blogs and journals. He is very excited about a new site he found that offers Electric Lawn Mowers , and invites you to have a look as well.

Read The Related Posts:

Pandora Beads Jewelry Can Help You Create The Perfect Gift

Aya Wilkinson — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 07:33:42 +0000

Pandora Beads Jewelry offers a great opportunity to build a beautiful gift which will last a lifetime. There are many occasions which a beautiful bracelet with beautiful charm beads from Pandora Beads Jewelry can be offered. Each bead is chosen individually and you can build completely original and personalized gifts for the one you love.

This is because the gift is completely created for the receiver, you personalize the gift with intricate and beautiful charm beads which you choose based on the style and personality. It’s original and beautiful. This makes Pandora Beads Jewelry the perfect choice for special occasions such as Mothers Day. Mom will love a completely personalized bracelet which is created by you. It’s a matter of finding the appropriate charm beads and building the bracelet.

You can give a beautiful Pandora Beads charm bracelet for many occasions and to anyone. Amongst the many holidays and special occasions, Mothers Day is the perfect opportunity to create and give Mom something she will treasure forever. She has been there your whole life to support you, and it’s time to show her how much you appreciate all of her hard work. There are many gifts to choose from, but none offer the opportunity to truly completely personalize them. It’s a beautiful way to say “I Love You”. She will love the gesture and the bracelet and will show it off any chance she gets.

As mentioned above, there are many different charm beads to choose from, it’s only a matter of looking through them and getting creative. You can personalize a bracelet with her Zodiac, with beautiful flower charm beads, or other interesting and fun designs. Also, anyone can find a few charm beads to create a beautiful charm beads bracelet as there is a wide range of materials and prices available, making it affordable for any budget. Once you’ve chosen the charm beads, they are strung on the bracelet and the gift is ready to be presented.

You should always show mom how much you appreciate her and what she has done for you. Whether it’s for Mothers Day or just because, it’s important to show her the love and appreciation. Pandora Beads Jewelry offers the perfect way to do this. Mom will surely appreciate such a personal and thought though gift and will treasure it always.

Aya Wilkinson is the the writers of aClickAhead, the only SEO Company offering page one listings for the most popular keywords in your industry, you can benefit her experiences as a leading writer on pandora beads

Read The Related Posts:

Flight Pro Sim A Top Flight Simulator

Terry Rusty — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:12:03 +0000

There are a number of free flight simulators available online most of them tend to be pretty terrible and seem like they were created years ago but for you true flight simulator fans there is an incredible piece of flying software called Flight Pro Sim. When you are evaluating flight simulators there are a number of criteria that should be kept in mind which include the number of aircraft included in the package, the overall realism of the software and the quality of the graphics program. In this particular review of top flight simulators we will take a close look at Flight Pro Sim.

When it comes to how many aircraft is included some caution is needed. There are a number of flight simulators that claim to have a ton of aircraft yet each plane flies just like the one before it on their list. It is essential to get the most bang for your buck by having a large number of aircraft that actually fly like its real live version or else the program is not going to get much use. Flight Pro Sim comes with dozens of aircraft that each have their own unique feel and flying capabilities.

The realism of the flight simulator software is what separates the strong from the week and it needs to be looked as in detailed such as the individual aircraft performance when flying into the wind or a strong weather pattern. When you are using your flight simulator and hit turbulence than the simulation program should act accordingly as well as the way a strong wind will have an impact on your flight path. To get the most bang for your buck it is essential that the program feels as real as impossible and will have a high replay rate and enjoyment. Flight Pro Sim continues to set the bar in terms of realism in the top flight simulator category.

A scenery package or graphic program needs to add to the overall experience and not take away from it. No one is going to continue to use a flight simulator game if no matter where they fly the scenery is exactly the same. If I want to fly to Paris I want to be rewarded with scenery that matches the actual landscape and not some common town. With the help of military maps the scenery program with Flight Pro Sim is top notch and completely adds to the overall package.

When it comes to top end flight simulator games nothing comes close to Flight Pro Sim as it has everything that a pilot could want and much more. Flight Pro Sim enables you to fly around the world with over a hundred different aircraft, over twenty thousand airports each with their own particulars, scenery to match the worldly location and a realism that sets the standard in flight simulator technology.

Want to find out more about Flight Pro Sim, then visit Terry Rusty’s site on how to choose the best top flight simulator for your needs.

Read The Related Posts:

Purchasing And Caring For Tiny Compact Pets

Samual Allens — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:04:56 +0000

Everyone that loves a pocket pet must first understand what all goes into having one. Learning about owning and caring for tiny pocket pets for life is a major undertaking. These 5 pound and under little creatures have a variety of breeds or combination of breeds. Regardless of breed or size, learning about how to care for it is imperative.

One of the first things you will learn about owning a tiny pocket pet is that their body structure and organs are very small and fragile. This in and of itself is something you need to be very aware of. Ask yourself if you will be able to protect it from life’s harms along the way.

When these tiny friends and pocket pets are born, many aren’t much bigger than a small mouse, yet they must struggle to survive their siblings need for mother’s care. Often, they’re pushed out, laid upon or knocked of the nursing chain, resulting in death from either hypoglycemia or suffocation. So just surviving the first week is often a miracle.

Next you will probably learn about the tiny pets starting to crawl, walk, run, and jump. As you previously learned because of their small size they are not known as being big boned. Because of this a slight fall or bumping into something you and I would just brush off, could break their bones or damage their skull easily. Any of these situations usually leads to an emergency call with a veterinarian. Not just any veterinarian but one that is familiar with their tiny nature and how to work with their small organs and bones.

Keep in mind as these tiny pets get older they still have the needs, if not more than any larger puppy. More so due to the fact that their digestive system and stomachs are that much smaller and can only process so much at a time. This leads to the need for them to eat more often. This also means the proper nutrition in the proper amounts at regular intervals.

Something else you may learn about these tiny pocket pets is that they should not leave their mother any younger then at least eight weeks old. It is known that some of the larger breeds can leave their mother up to 2 to 3 weeks sooner. By providing a healthy and safe atmosphere for the whole eight weeks will give the puppy to start in life it needs.

Knowing how small your tiny pet is and will be for its entire life you will have to understand that you are its main source of protection. Watching out for hazards wherever you live but also for predators like hawks, owls, among others. Your little pet will like running and playing outdoors just as much as the bigger ones do but you will have to watch them and watch out for them for their safety.

Even though your tiny pocket pet is exactly that, tiny, their hearts and brains can be larger than large. They will be protective of you but can be hurt trying to defend whatever may be after you. Provide places for him to get out of the way and away from danger when they find the need even if it’s during playtime.

Owning and taking care of tiny pocket pets takes a considerable amount of thought before acquiring one. Since they are on such a small scale they are easy to travel with and do not require a large area to get their exercise, they are a wonderful pet to own. They provide just as much loyalty, love and laughter as the larger ones.

Learning about owning and caring for tiny pocket pets for life will be well worth your investment in time. The more you learn the easier the transition will be for your pocket pet to come home with you. Make sure you plan his nutritional needs, safe places for him, and talk to a qualified veterinarian about his care.

You can get more details and information on pocket pets and the exciting adventure you will enjoy when you get one today! There are also articles on how you can care for, and train your pocket pet fast!

Read The Related Posts:

The Kentucky Derby For The Amateur Horse Race Fan

Ross Everett — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 07:15:54 +0000

Although the Breeders’ Cup is nipping at its heels, without a doubt the Kentucky Derby is the biggest horse race of the year in the United States. This is a race that attracts many fans from the general public that typically don’t follow horse racing. A thorough understanding of horse racing, and which horses will win and why is a complex discipline that requires extensive specialized knowledge.

While understanding and predicting horse races is a very complex discipline, here are some basics that can help the amateur understand the Kentucky Derby. Back during the seventies, it was a race dominated by the favorite including three great Triple Crown winners–Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed–and a great horse that came close, Spectacular Bid. Since Spectacular Bid won the Derby in 1979, however, you can count the favorites who’ve won the race on one hand with fingers left over. If I was a serious horseplayer, I might not advise you to do this but since I’m just worried about predicting the outcome of this one race I’m going to suggest that you forget about the favorite altogether. Not only will you not be flying in the face of recent history, but also it allows you to concentrate on the horses offering greater value.

In all fairness, it should be noted that the favorite has been a historically strong proposition. In the 135 Kentucky Derby races the post time favorite has placed in the money at a 69% clip over the history of the race. So why have the favorites been on such a money losing run in the past two decades? My personal theory is that it is a function of the growing hype surrounding the race”in other words, you get a lot of amateur horse racing fans that distort the notion of the favorite being the most likely to win the race. The most hyped horse becomes the favorite, but this is not always the best horse. In any case, though it could be argued that the anti-favorite bias could be due for a turnaround, for the purpose of understanding this particular race Im going to forget about the post time favorite.

Don’t forget to pay attention to the starting position of the horses, known as ‘post position’ in racing slang. The historical data suggests that a Derby winner is most likely to come from positions 1 through 5, while the outer positions (11 through 20) have produced relatively few winners. This is something of an over simplification, but for the purpose of understanding a single race it won’t hurt to just rule out all horses starting in a bad position.

A couple more factors to consider are the horse’s gender and breeding lineage. A couple of simple rules can be applied here–first of all, forget all horses that aren’t intact males (geldings and fillies). Over 90% of all Derby winners have been intact males. Then, eliminate any horse that wasn’t born in the state of Kentucky. This stipulation is starting to change, but for the time being is a good rule to apply for the novice. Over 80% of all Derby winners have been born in Kentucky.

Don’t forget to consider dosage index numbers. These are a complex mathematical formula that measures a horse’s breeding lineage plus his past performance. You want to look for horses with a dosage index of 4.00 or less–over half of Derby winners have met this criteria since dosage numbers came into common usage in the mid 1980’s.

These are just a few steps that will serve you well if you dont know much about horses. Again, if you want to take a more serious approach to understanding horse racing you should look into the many books dedicated to the subject. For a recreational horse race enthusiast, however, these basic rules are helpful in trying to predict the Derby winner.

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

Read The Related Posts:

UFC Flashback: Lauzon Vs. Stephens Headlines Ultimate Fight Night

Ross Everett — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 07:30:14 +0000

Ever since he burst onto the MMA scene with a shocking first round KO upset of Jens Pulver at UFC 63, Joe Lauzon has been working to earn respect. For some reason hes had trouble being taken seriously as a top contender in the UFCs lightweight division. He may not fit the classical profile of a fighter, looking more like a fresh faced kid and is often referred to as a geek due to his educational background in computer science. In the main event at the UFC Ultimate Fight Night in Tampa, Lauzon withstood a game challenge from late replacement Jeremy Stephens to earn a 2nd round submission victory.

Lauzon was in control of the fight throughout, but Stephens gave a good account of himself despite his opponents obvious technical superiority on the ground. Lauzon appeared to be on the verge of ending the fight midway through the second with a ground and pound assault that he attempted to transition into a rear naked choke. Stephens fought back with a vengeance despite his disadvantageous position and opened a nasty cut on Lauzon’s forehead with an elbow strike.

As puddles of crimson gathered anytime Lauzon’s head neared the mat, he gained a new sense of urgency not wanting to lose on a stoppage due to the cut. He regained control on the ground and from full mount twisted into a nasty arm bar. Stephens tried to extricate himself, but was eventually forced to tap giving the bloody Lauzon a hard fought triumph.

The semifinal matchup featured another impressive effort from Cain Velasquez, who many have pegged as the heavyweight superstar of the future. Velasquez is a formidable physical presence at 6′2″ 241 pounds, and has very well developed technical skills for a fighter with only five bouts under his belt.

Velasquez was never really threatened in the fight, but he did have difficulty finishing off tough UFC newcomer Dennis Stojnic. Stojnic displayed impressive toughness and a chin of granite as he became the first of Velasquez’s opponents to make it into the second round.

In the second round, Velasquez quickly caught his opponent and sent him to the canvas with a nice combination which he followed up with another ground and pound attack to earn the TKO verdict.

On the undercard, Josh The Dentist Neer earned a tapout victory over the sports best known (and perhaps only) vegan, Mac Danzig. Danzig looked decent in the first round but in the second he looked listless and quickly fell victim to a nasty triangle choke.

In the opening bout of the evening, up-and-coming welterweight Anthony Rumble Johnson used his significant height and reach advantage to dispatch tough Luigi Fioravanti. Though most observers were impressed with Johnson’s wall to wall domination of the tough US Marine Corps veteran, he was very critical of himself in his postfight interview calling his performance sloppy.

The live crowd in Tampa gave a very poor account of themselves, at times booing fighters mercilessly for no apparent reason whatsoever. This was in addition to the usual booing when the fight goes to the ground typical of uneducated MMA fans–they often turned on fighters midbout for no discernible reason. Their behavior reached a nadir in Cain Velasquez’s post fight interview, where he was booed mercilessly despite an impressive victory and informing Joe Rogan that he was about to become a father for the first time. It was somewhat surprising, since the Tampa/St. Pete area is home to a flourishing MMA scene.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on soccer betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.