Knowledge Wanders
Wandering the great places…

Archive for June, 2010

30
Jun

Sporting Events in Atlanta

Posted in Destinations  by terrydaniels09 on June 30th, 2010

If you like sports, there are many things to do in Atlanta that you are sure to enjoy. It is a fun and growing city in Georgia with great opportunities for action and adventure.

Between the Falcons, the Hawks, and the Braves, Atlanta is your place for sports entertainment. Professional sports fans as well as collegiate teams are in for a treat.

The impressive venues and talented teams will capture your attention and keep you coming back for more. The 71,250 seat Georgia Dome is where the Atlanta Falcons are led by head coach Mike Smith each season in hopes of winning new titles and achievements every time they walk on the field.

If the NBA is your avenue for thrills, the Atlanta Hawks run the Philips Arena court along with the newest franchise, the WNBA Atlanta Dream. The Braves also hand out home runs at Turner Field, which is also home to the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame.

Their professional sports scene also displays the Thrashers hockey team, car and truck racing, collegiate games and world class golf tournaments on beautiful southern greens. There is something for every kind of sports fan in this fabulous city.

The Braves play on Turner Field, and their regular season takes place between April and September. Their Museum and Hall of Fame are also great places to explore and are also located at Turner Field.

They have featured more than 600 Braves artifacts and photographs that trace the team’s history from its beginnings in Boston to Milwaukee and then on to Atlanta. Both the Museum and Field are open year round for tours and visits.

This is a great place to witness history in the making and take a chance of catching the next foul ball that comes your way. They have hosted everything from home plate weddings, meetings, receptions, employee outings, team building and even events on the field.

So, why book a traditional setting for your next big event? Come do it at the home of the Braves for a unique and unforgettable experience.

Another option is to visit the home of the Falcons in the Georgia Dome which constantly hosts new exciting game day experiences. They offer affordable family ticket packages to make it possible for you and your loved ones to visit the great show downs that occur each season.

They get ready for each September kick off of new seasons. They also have hosted many events like the 1996 Summer Olympics, Super Bowl XXVIII and XXXIV, the annual Chick-fil-A Bowl and the most recent 2007 NCAA Men’s Final Four tournament.

They are sure to have something going down while you are in the area. Check it out for the next big game or fun event.

The Hawks, Thrashers and Dream all play at Philips Arena which is also home to world class concerts and other various events. This home to several professional sports teams is a great place to witness game day action of several sorts.

Come and see this fabulous arena where history is made each and every season. It is a great chance for you and your family to enjoy some intense action sports.

If you feel the need for speed, you should definitely check out Atlanta Motor Sports at the Motor Speedway in Hampton. This is an 870 acre racing complex which hosts the NASCAR Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series events in March and October.

If you are in town during those months, this is a great festivity that will leave your head spinning due to the amazingly fast cars that pass by many times. Aside from race weekend, this facility also hosts driving schools, Thursday Thunder Legends racing, Friday Night Drags, NOPI Nationals and many other events for you to enjoy.

Road Atlanta in Braselton is a 2.5 mile track which features sports car, vintage, motorcycle and go cart races from March through November. It is an exciting venue full of action and speed to keep the whole family entertained.

Atlanta is definitely a great area with many sporting events to attend and teams to become fans of if you are not already. It is right in the middle of the action and offers your family a chance to see it from the front row.

Terry Daniels has been writing about things to do in cities across America. He recommends things to do in Atlanta for finding great activities in Atlanta.

Contact Info:

Terry Daniels
TerryDaniels09@gmail.com
www.thingstodo.com

30
Jun

The Sport of Skiing

Posted in Destinations  by terrydaniels09 on June 30th, 2010

Skiing is a pastime enjoyed by many people of all ages. It has been around for a long time and actually refers to a group of sports which use skis as equipment for traveling over and through the snow.

Now it has even reached Olympic levels with many skiing events like Alpine, Freestyle, Nordic and many other styles. Thus it is done on a competitive level, but it is also a fun form of exercise and hobby for many people around the world.

When it comes to skiing, equipment is essential. There are many kinds of equipment that vary according to specific events and individual needs.

For example, there are different sizes to suit all different heights and weights of athletes. Longer, thinner equipment tends to be faster than wider, shorter equipment.

People can then choose the kind of equipment based off of personal preference and needs. Even the boots can affect your skiing; they connect to the skis with an intricate binding.

Skiing can be grouped into two general categories officially. The older form originated in Scandinavia and involves a free heel binding which attaches at the toes of the boot, but not at the heels.

These kinds of bindings are used for many types of Nordic skiing like cross country, jumping and Telemark. They are often referred to as cross country bindings because they allow more freedom of mobility on flatter terrain.

However, many people are skilled enough to ski downhill with them on. This is also known as Alpine or downhill skiing, which originated in the European Alps.

It is typically accompanied by fixed heel bindings that attach at both the toe and heel of the skiers’ boots. This is the most common equipment found in this sport.

There are so many different styles that are popular today. They help many enjoy the dark winters and colder climates.

Many forms have been identified and defined by the International Olympic Committee, the International Ski Federation and other sporting organizations like the United States Ski and Snowboard Association. Many people enjoy this major sport during the Winter Olympic Games as it is shoved into the public view.

Its roots come from the snowy parts of Scandinavia and Alaska. Both places have provided recreational and competitive skiing as well as cross country and downhill sporting events.

The techniques behind this sport are difficult to master, but many schools and instructors teach the basics as well as advanced practices for turning and stopping, carving, racing, mogul mastering and new freestyle techniques also. There are two kinds of downhill techniques known as telemark and alpine.

Many beginners learn at low speeds and not very steep slopes that are well groomed. This causes little risk and a great base for learning skiers.

More extreme skiers will push themselves on more challenging hills that are steeper and not as smooth. This requires the body to make more advanced adjustments at quicker speeds to handle the rough terrain.

The risks involved for advanced skiers are much higher and more threatening. Therefore, good technique is a must to ensure safety.

Also, helmets are becoming increasingly popular on the slopes as more have fallen victim to head injuries while skiing. Though there are some risks, if the sport is performed with proper technique, injury can be avoided while having an enjoyable time.

There are many great places to ski and learn how if you are a beginner. Denver has some of the best ski resorts in America.

It is known for its beautiful snow and sun shiny days which reach about 300 days out of the year. This makes for great snow conditions as the snow is softer and more easily manipulated and the atmosphere is warmer with the sun out.

This way, you can stay out longer while not freezing. The gorgeous views of Denver make for marvelous slope conditions.

Many people from the Denver area make it a regular sport and form of exercise. It is a great activity for the entire family to enjoy on vacation or as a regular outing.

Start today and see what all the fuss is about. Make the winter time an enjoyable season by using the beautiful mountains and snow to your advantage.

Terry Daniels has been writing about things to do in cities across America. He recommends things to do in Denver for finding great activities in Denver.

Contact Info:

Terry Daniels
TerryDaniels09@gmail.com
www.thingstodo.com

30
Jun

Constructing the White House

Posted in Destinations  by terrydaniels09 on June 30th, 2010

Washington DC is a beautiful city where America’s government runs its country. There are many things to see and do like the classic and historic White House.

The White House offers tours and many simply come and view it from its iron gates for pictures and to make memories. It has undergone many historic reconstructions and is the place where many of the nation’s leaders have made pertinent decisions for Americans.

It was constructed after President George Washington’s term. Before its construction, George Washington stayed in two executive mansions in New York City known as the Samuel Osgood mansion at 3rd Cherry Street and the Alexander Macomb mansion at 39th and Broadway.

The July 1790 Residence Act even claimed Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the temporary national capital for a ten year period beginning in December of 1790 during the Federal City’s construction. Another mansion was rented for Washington and it was known as Robert Morris’s mansion.

Since it was the capitol, they made a presidential palace for the President. During his time there, he made a few changes to its design which helped influence the make of the White House.

President John Adams also occupied the Market Street mansion for a short time after Washington. The architect who designed the White House was selected as a result of a design competition which received nine proposals, including one submitted anonymously by Thomas Jefferson.

George Washington was the judge, and he traveled to the new federal city to make his decision. His review was documented as a brief one in which he quickly chose the submission of James Hoban, an Irishman from Charleston, South Carolina.

However, Washington was not entirely pleased with the drawn up proposal. He thought it was too small, lacking ornamentation and not quite suitable for the nation’s president.

He recommended some enhancements and it was enlarged by thirty percent including the construction of the East Room which was inspired by the large reception room at Mount Vernon. Many improvements were made to the original design and President George Washington had much to do with its construction.

The original design by Hoban was said to be influenced by the first and second floors of the Leinster House in Dublin, Ireland which was part of the Irish parliament. Many other Georgian era country houses have been suggested as additional inspiration for the floor plan which makes sense as that is where Hoban traces his routes.

The Irish influence shows through in many details like the bow fronted south front. Also, the interior details include the former details in the Blue Room.

The first official guide to the White House was published in 1962 and was suggested to be a link between Hoban’s design for the South Portico and Chateau de Rastignac, a country house in France. Construction began with the laying of the cornerstone in the year 1792 without a formal ceremony.

The main residence and many foundations of the house were built largely by enslaved and free African American laborers and many employed Europeans. Much of the other work was performed by immigrants who were not yet citizens.

The walls were erected by Scottish immigrants, employed by Hoban. Irish and Italian immigrants also produced a lot of the brick work and plaster work.

It took a recorded eight years to finish construction and cost $232,371.83 to construct; that’s approximately $2.8 million in current dollars. Many deconstructions and reconstructions have since occurred.

Fires and redesigns have both contributed to what the White House is today. The original structure has since been rebuilt from the inside out to fix the failing wooden structure from long ago.

It is now reinforced by Steel and has been expanded upon to allow more room for executive offices. It is a beautiful building from the outside as well as the indoor views.

It now has six floors including two in the basement. It is even wheelchair accessible due to the modifications made by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Each President has left his mark on the house. Today, public tours and special events are hosted in the secure and gorgeous building.

You must be sure to see this magnificent government edifice during your next trip to Washington DC. It is an enjoyable expedition for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Terry Daniels has been writing about things to do in cities across America. He recommends things to do in Washington DC for finding great activities in Washington DC.

Contact Info:

Terry Daniels
TerryDaniels09@gmail.com
www.thingstodo.com

30
Jun

Visiting the White House

Posted in Destinations  by terrydaniels09 on June 30th, 2010

Washington D.C. is a beautiful east coast vacation destination for individuals and families. There are so many things to do, but you have to make sure to see the White House while you are there.

Not only is it a gorgeous building, but this is the official residence of the President of the United States. This is also where most of his work takes place as well as other government executives’ work.

It is settled at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington D.C. and was designed by Irish born James Hoban. He had it built between 1792 and 1800 of Aquia sandstone in the neoclassical style.

Ever since our U.S. President John Adams, it has been the residence of all our Presidential leaders. George Washington is the only President who did not live in it.

Also, when Thomas Jefferson moved into the house in 1801, along with Benjamin Henry Latrobe, he expanded the building outward. This created two rows of pillars that were meant to disguise stables and storage.

In the year 1814, during the War of 1812, the mansion was set on fire by the British Army in the historic Burning of Washington. This destroyed the interior and most of the exterior construction.

Reconstruction began almost immediately as President James Monroe moved into the partially reconstructed house in October of 1817. Construction did not stop there; it continued with the addition of the South Portico in 1824 and the North in 1829.

Later, President Theodore Roosevelt had nearly all work offices relocated to the newly built West Wing in 1901 due to the crowding of the executive mansion. This helped clear out room in the President’s personal space.

Then, eight years later, William Howard Taft expanded the West Wing and created the first Oval Office which was eventually transferred as the section went under expansive construction. The third floor attic was converted to living quarters in 1927 to augment the existing hip roof with long shed dormers.

The new addition of the East Wing was used as a reception area for many social events and was connected by more rows of pillars. All the Eastern alterations were finished in the year 1946 which created more office space for other government officials.

However, not all the construction was perfect and smooth. In 1948, some discovered that the house’s exterior walls and interior wood materials were nearing the end of their supportive lives.

Under the term of Harry S. Truman, the interior rooms were completely dismantled, and a new internal load bearing steel frame was constructed inside the walls for unfailing support. Once this was finished, they rebuilt the interior rooms from the inside out.

Today, it includes the Executive Residence, West Wing, Cabinet Room, Roosevelt Room, East Wing and the Old Executive Office Building which houses many offices of the President and Vice President. The many additions and reconstructions have made for a gorgeous building inside and out.

The amount of business that occurs inside its walls is also a magnificent sight to see. It is monumental in the performance of our government’s dealings.

The White House is now made up of six stories including the ground floor, state floor, second floor and third floor. The other two are in the two story basement below.

The term White House is regularly used as a metonym for the Executive Office and for the president’s administrative and advisers altogether. However, there is so much that goes on behind the walls that no one knows about.

The property is currently owned by the National Park Service and is part of the President’s Park. Also, in the year 2007, it was ranked the second spot on the American Institute of Architects list of “America’s Favorite Architecture.”

The building has come a long way since its early start long ago. It makes for a great tour or even view from outside its black iron gates.

Surely no Washington D.C. vacation is complete without visiting the White House. Schedule your time with the historic and monumental building that has been the home to almost all of our Nation’s Presidents.

So much history has occurred within its walls. Come and see it from the inside and the outside, as both are beautiful views.

Terry Daniels has been writing about things to do in cities across America. He recommends things to do in Washington DC for finding great activities in Washington DC.

Contact Info:

Terry Daniels
TerryDaniels09@gmail.com
www.thingstodo.com

30
Jun

New York State Lives Up to Logo

Posted in Destinations  by terrydaniels09 on June 30th, 2010

New York State is a beautiful place with lots of things to do. Many people are fans of this gorgeous east coast location that they even created a logo to place on T-shirts to spread the awareness of their affection.

The I Love New York symbol is a rebus, a kind of word puzzle that replaces words with pictures to represent a meaning. In this case the word love is replaced by a red heart symbol.

The logo uses the typeface called American Typewriter to say the I then the heart under which sit the letters N and Y, so that they form a square shape. The symbol and advertising campaign have been used since the mid 1970s to promote tourism in the City and the State alike.

The trademarked logo appears in souvenir shops and brochures throughout the state. However, not all of them are licensed as they should be.

The emblem has become a part of the American pop culture and has since inspired countless knock off t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc. of the I love New York logo. Consequently, the place has tried to uphold its trademark by filing a total of nearly 3,000 trademark objections against imitators.

The symbol has also been used in relation to other places like New Cross, London, where it has been altered to say “I love NX” due to the growing interest in the area. Perhaps it is because of the rise of new music in the popular scene.

Similarly, there are symbols formed for Los Angeles, San Francisco, Jersey City, Mexico City/ Distrito Federal and in Como Italy. Boston has modified the logo a bit, but has taken the idea to read “I shamrock Boston.”

Another example is in North Yorkshire, England, where the NY is said to stand for North Yorkshire rather than the traditional meaning. The symbol has also been used by the band New Young Pony Club in their album sleeve for Fantastic Playroom.

It is of course altered to say “I Love NYPC.” A few other varying logos that have appeared recently as part of this phenomenon include “I Spayed My Pets” using the symbol of a spade from a card deck.

Also, shirts saying “I Club Seals” using a club symbol from a deck of cards have been made. There are still many other variations.

One other variation is “I (have never been to in the shape of a heart) NY.” As you can see, people have taken the original role and have played it to match their personal situations and expressions.

Other variations include “I (shamrock) NY” to represent the city’s notable Irish-American population. Many professional associations have also adapted and adopted this new promotional symbol.

For example, when Apple opened their first Apple Store in NYC in 2001, they produced a pin which said “I (apple) NY.” Also, the American Red Cross in Greater New York added their cross symbol into the middle of the statement for their rendition of the logo.

This was done as a fund raiser when they were in desperate need for more equipment and expansions. Even Madonna has recorded a song for her 2005 album Confessions on a Dance Floor called “I Love New York.”

She also sang this song at her Confessions Tour with the popular emblem on her clothing and costumes. This has also led many people to substitute the word love with the word heart when they express towards things.

For example, the film I Heart Huckabees has taken this literal reading and translation to the next level. It was also thought to be the inspiration for the title of the hit 1950s television show called I Love Lucy.

Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown, New York, so the scene for the popular show was set in NYC. Since CBS aired the show when it did, there were a few items to go along with the logo.

The show used its own version of the sign in the show to represent the New York style. Certainly, many people have recreated the symbol for their own expressions.

One thing remains the same; New York continues to live up to its reputation. Visit the area and see if you and your family agree with the timeless logo.

Terry Daniels has been writing about things to do in cities across America. He recommends things to do in New York for finding great activities in New York.

Contact Info:

Terry Daniels
TerryDaniels09@gmail.com
www.thingstodo.com