GAMES & RECREATION

The Benefits of Recreational Activities. What is Recreation?

noreply@blogger.com (hazel) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:34:00 +0000

What is recreation? How do recreations differ from leisure? Recreation is in a way a rejuvenating experience involving therapeutic treatment of the body and mind whereas leisure is more of an entertainment activity. It is the bane of civilized society that along with wealth we have forgotten our old art of walking and have become couched potatoes.

We don't mind sitting idle in front of the TV or internet for days and months at a time. This curbs our physical activities and we end up overweight and obese, inviting conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and depression. But many take recreation as trivial and consider it as escapism. Like any other thing, too much recreation time can be harmful and can divert our attention from necessary work and we become lethargic in yet another way. But research has shown that recreational activities contribute to the satisfaction of life, health and also improve the quality of the life we lead.

There is evidence to show that the indigenous people of the US indulged in many recreational activities. Then when did they lose it? The saying "all work and no play makes Jim a dull boy" holds ground here. Recreation enhances longevity and counteracts stress. It is reported that in the US, stress is killing more and more people. So indulging in recreation can be a real help to live a healthier life.

In some jurisdictions many recreatons are actually termed illegal. They are gambling, producing erotica pornography, bellydancing and alcohol consumption. Sometimes recreation turns into an organised activity of the government. Public parks are built to facilitate recreational opportunities for people. It can help you from becoming bored and avoid unnecessary anxiety. Recreational activites include organized activites like playing baseball, football, table tennis, card games, sports and arts.

Recreation can be both indoor and outdoor depending on our preference. Some people like video games, playing cards or playing table tennis while some others may wish to sweat it out in the sun. Wherever you play it is sure to pep you up and provide you ample relaxation. For people with no passion for sports they could go on a travel expedition. Hiking, biking, snorkeling, surfing, sailing, kayaking are all recreational activities. To explore the unexplored, to hear the sweet singing of nightingale, to lay back bare on the bosom of mother nature and be one with her.

Anything that gives you peace of mind and happiness is deemed recreation. The world is moving at a fast pace and the need for recreation has been doubled. After the tiring schedule of workplace, people run short of energy, resulting in poor performance both official and domestic. An activity that a person would love would put them on track to pursue the serious goals in life.

This is not restricted to adults. Children should also get their share of recreation to develop motor skills. Now there are career opportunities also. Recreation specialists are there to look after the recreational needs of the community and individuals. These people who are qualified professionals work in parks, recreation centers and in venues of organized sport. Indulge in things you love and see the world through a new perspective.

The Video Game Mania!

noreply@blogger.com (hazel) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:29:00 +0000

Video games have now shifted from the entertainment parlors to our living room. Gaming is one of the favorite pastimes for many as it is a good source of recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation. Whether it is a kid, teenager, an adult or an elder, everyone loves to play video games to add excitement to their life.

Video games are becoming more robust because the software’s are getting better. It means that today’s video games are more intense and real than the ones played 4-5 years ago. The intelligent software programs and new hardware used for playing games are the two reasons behind the evolution of more advanced video games.

There are a variety of video games that are available in almost all the stores. Besides this, you will find ample online stores providing you a vast selection of really good video games at a reasonable price.

With the online stores, you don’t have to step into the shops and look out for the latest video games. Another benefit of shopping online is that you can compare the prices of the video games before finally buying one. Most of the game freaks prefer Internet shopping because it saves time, gives you more options and also proves to be quite reasonable.

Before you buy a video game, it is always better to read online reviews about it. There are many websites out there, which are especially dedicated to writing honest reviews or giving feedbacks about a latest video game. This will help you in taking a smart buying decision as well as save you from wasting money on useless games.

Playing video games can also turn out to be an expensive habit. Because a good video game will cost you a lot of money, there are some ways of saving your pocket and yet enjoying the game.

Multiplayer Online Games

There are different free multiplayer online games like God Wars or Galaxy, which can be played for free. You might think that how come these sites make money if they are offering you free games? The answer is, the site will make money through advertising.

Video Game Club

You can also join a video game club and save money. These clubs have a low membership fee and they mail the video game to your address. You don’t have to return the game on a due date or with late fees. Gamers can keep the games with them at a low monthly price and if you are bored with the game, you can return it and order for another one.

Barter Sites

A barter site is one where you can exchange the video game with another person. Make a library of 5-10 games and keep on exchanging them in order to play the new ones.

Choosing the Right Recreational Sport for Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (hazel) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:23:00 +0000

How do you know which recreational sport is right for you? Though this is a simple question, it may not have a simple answer. Before answering this question, it makes sense to define what a recreational sport is. In layman terms, a recreational sport is any sport activity or event that one engages in during leisure time. In other words, it is a sport activity or event performed primarily for entertainment and fun. Though in some cases there may be monetary rewards associated with recreational sport, it is not usually the main goal. Other reasons associated with participating in a recreational sport includes: fitness, health, socialization, competition and sport support among others.

There are several options of recreational sports available for all age categories ranging from indoor to outdoor. Making the decision on which choice to pursue can be a real challenge and this varies significantly from one person to the other. For former professional athletes, the decision may be easier especially if they continue participating in their particular former professional sports, only at recreational level. The big task of choosing the right recreational sport is however on beginners. In order to make the right choice(s) if you are a beginner, it is important to consider the following general guidelines:

1.Choose a sport that you understand and passionate about:

Recreational sport in a way becomes part of your lifestyle and therefore needs to be entertaining and enjoyable. Choosing something that you don’t like or have no knowledge about can be frustrating even if your friends adore it. It only makes sense to pursue something that you know the rules and regulations of the sport or game. However, this does not mean one cannot learn a new sport or game, but it easier to do so if you love the sport.

2.Consider your goals and objectives:

As mentioned above, there are different reasons that drive people into recreational sports. Choosing a sport that is in line with your goals, for example losing weight will only enrich the overall recreational experience. Some one looking for a recreational sport to aid in cutting down some extra body weight may benefit from running, jogging, walking, hiking or swimming among other high calorie burning sport activities as opposed to playing cards or video games. On the other hand somebody looking for a recreational sport that favors socialization may benefit from the latter.

3.Facilities, tools and equipment required:

Different recreational sports may require different tools, facilities or equipment or in some cases may require none at all. These tools, facilities or equipment may also vary depending on the needs of every person. For example if you want to play golf for recreation, you will definitely have to purchase a golf club, balls and perhaps shoes. You will also need an available and accessible golf course to play. In some cases if you have more than one favorite recreational sport, you may have to choose what is more convenient based on availability of facilities. It makes more sense to go running at a nearby track especially if you get off work late in the evenings than having to drive for several miles to get to a golf course (i.e. if you like both golf and running).

4.Availability of time:

Since a recreational sport is a pastime sport, choosing the right one may be dictated by how much free time is at one’s disposal. Some recreational sports are more time consuming than others. Additionally some of these sports must only be played outside. Where as some sports such as running, jogging, walking, playing tennis, playing basketball or swimming offers both indoor and outdoor options, some of them, for example playing golf, hiking, kayaking, surfing among other don’t. The more time one has, the more the options to choose from and the vice versa.

5.Seasonality:

Though this may not be a big deal for people living along the equatorial climatic regions, it definitely affects people living in areas with winter and summer season. Some recreational sports such as those requiring snow may only be available during winter and only in some parts of the world. So if skiing is the only favorite recreational sport that one can participate in, it means there will be nothing to do for most of the year i.e. during the other seasons. When deciding on the right sport for recreation, it is advisable to have more than one option especially in a situation where one is affected by seasonal changes.

6.Number of participants required:

Where as most recreational sports require participation of more than one person at one time, some can be pursued individually. If your schedule doesn’t allow group or team participation, choosing a sport that will enable you to participate alone is a good idea. Jogging, walking, swimming, biking and running are great examples.

Great Pinball Machines: Bally’s Cirqus Voltaire

noreply@blogger.com (hazel) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:18:00 +0000

The video game is now a ubiquitous part of American pop culture. Pinball, however, is still much cooler. Though there’s been a lot of consolidation in the pinball industry in recent years, the quality of modern games keeps improving. This is due, in part, to improvements in technology–though not at the expense of first rate playfield design. Pinball went through a few lean years during the early years of the video boom, when designers tried to cram as much stuff onto the playfield as possible, perhaps feeling the clutter was needed to replicate the video game experience. In recent years, however, designers appear to have concluded–and rightly so–that pinball cannot be a video game, nor should it want to be.

A great game of recent vintage is the 1997 Bally release “Cirqus Voltaire”. The theme is sort of a ‘Cirque du Soleil” on acid, and the iconography of the circus that they cram into the design and play of the game is amazing. The ultimate object of the game is to “join the cirqus”, which, of course, is a classical American archetype of freedom and escape. Yet this “Cirqus” is not a Norman Rockwell vision of juvenile fun–there are a lot of sinister undertones as well, including evil ringmasters and an almost palpable feeling of sleaze.

The game play offers a lot of what we’ve come to expect from Williams/Bally, with sweeping ramp shots, clever uses of time-worn features (like the disappearing pop bumper, reincarnated here as a balloon. This feature dates back to the 1950’s and appeared on Williams “Gusher” among others), and multi-ball a-plenty. As is very common with pinball games today, the game’s ultimate object is to work your way through a variety of ‘modes’. Sometimes this is a confusing endeavor, but here is very easy to understand–yet still very challenging to the player.

At its nadir, pinball companies were cranking out games featuring themes and subjects that offered little, if any, synergy with game play. The low point might have been some of the celebrity tie-in games of the early eighties (which gave the world debacles like a Dolly Parton and Roy Clark tie-in). “Cirqus Voltaire” may represent a high point of thematic unity between game subjects, aesthetic design and play experience. It offers an otherworldly interpretation on a circus, with subtext, nuance and detail.

The really great thing about the game is the multiple levels of contextual awareness it offers. A slack jawed yokel can play it and just think its a nice game about the circus. To a cleverer player, it alternately provides a celebration and condemnation of the circus and, deeper still, of the popular culture that spawns and embraces them.

Play Bingo Game Online And Have A Gala Time

noreply@blogger.com (hazel) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:11:00 +0000

Online bingo games are highly refreshing. It was regarded as a time killer in the past, but nowadays it has also been known for the great gala and rewards it offer. Millions of people in the U.K now engage in online bingo games when they are free from their routine work. For some of them, the online bingo platform provides a place for entertainment; for others, it is a route to win quick money. For another group, its simply a platform to chat and make friends. The bingo community is growing, for whatever reason it may be, and its gala time for the online bingo clubs too. If statistics is to be believed, there are over 250 bingo Web sites in UK alone.

With competition increasing every day, online UK Bingo clubs resort to new ways to woo customers. There are hundreds of free offers and jackpots announced at the online bingo clubs. There are regular bonus offers that give decent rewards to the players. They are offered apart from the usual cash rewards after every win. The bingo sites compete among themselves by offering the best rewards possible. The club that offers the best rewards is likely to win more quality customers. They may earn renowned players in their club and they will make the club more active and prosperous.

If you are new to online bingo, you may not necessarily compete with the expert players. You can find out friends of your level and play with them. The online bingo clubs are usually crowded during weekends and holidays, while they are almost empty during working hours. If you ever get free time during weekdays, you must try the game without fail because there are more chances for winning. However, it does not mean that winning a game during weekend is impossible. It is equally worthy to participate on weekends too. There will be special jackpots or other heavy rewards announced at the peak time too.

Several promotional offers are announced on a daily basis to online bingo players. If you register with a standard bingo player, you will get several such benefits. There are some free slots also available through them. You may take them as well if you feel free to play without risking your money.

Talented Crafter Recreates NES and TV Playing Games in Felt

noreply@blogger.com (hazel) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:48:00 +0000

I’m not sure if this classes as a person with too much time on their hands, or talented individual showing just how far they can push their crafting skills.

Over at Craftster a forum poster going by the name of bluebythe, known in real life as Canadian artist Blythe Church, has managed to create a plush version of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

The felt project didn’t stop at just the rectangular box with the right color scheme, buttons, and branding, though. The flap on the front of the NES peels back to allow you to insert the recreation of either the Mario 3 or Duck Hunt cartridges. There’s also the NES controller and gun to plug in.

Still not impressed? How about the recreation of the 14″ TV with interchangeable felt screens that make it look like the right NES game is being played depending on which cartridge you have inserted!?

I’d go so far as saying this setup could make kids cry. It looks so realistic an excited small child spotting it and thinking some video games
are on the cards is in for a really big disappointment. If that disappointment leads to a throwing rage there’s no need to worry as this NES is going to survive hitting a wall unlike the original, real console.

Total project time was two weeks and I think this is the best video games plush I’ve ever seen. If you’ve seen better post a link in the comments below.

Ninja Kiwi – Fun Games For You and Your Kids

noreply@blogger.com (hazel) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:08:00 +0000

My son introduced me to a website tonight that I wish he hadn’t. It’s become a giant waste of time, albeit a lot of fun too. It started with a game he was playing and having fun with tonight as I was working. I told him I could beat him easy.Turns out I haven’t beaten him yet.

The website he uncovered and I’ve been sucked into tonight is Ninja Kiwi. There are a variety of games available, but the one I’ve been absorbed with is some kind of balloon pop game. Various strategies and obstacles make each stage a little different and more challenging.

Turns out I still haven’t beaten my son. He made it through all 50 stages. I’m stuck on stage 49. I’ve done most of the stages faster that my son, but I CANNOT GET PAST these two stages.

If you’re looking for a fun little game you can challenge your kids to, go visit the Ninja Kiwi website and find a game you’ll enjoy. But I’ll warn you! Be careful. You just might lose a few hours of your evening you need to spend on something else.

Is conservation dying? A new study indicates disheartening trends

noreply@blogger.com (hazel) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:37:00 +0000

A co-worker sent me a link that I found both fascinating but also disheartening.

Newswise.com did a write-up about a University of Illinois-Chicago study about outdoor recreation and support of conservation efforts.

The theme of the story showed that people who partake in “vigorous outdoor activities” such as hiking or backpacking tend to be, down the road a few years, more likely to financially support conservation efforts.

Conversely, those who didn’t were less likely. Sounds like a no-brainer. To appreciate the outdoors you have to go out and enjoy the outdoors and really learn what it’s all about.

But the bad news didn’t end there. As it turns out, according to Newswise, not all outdoor recreation is created equal. The study also showed that people who go into the outdoors as more casual tourists or go fishing don’t have any more inclination to support conservation efforts than anyone else.

This actually makes some sense. People who walk up to the rim of the Grand Canyon (without hiking down and back) or drive through Yellowstone aren’t engaging in “vigorous” outdoor activities. In terms of fishing, much of it is done on a bank, on a boat or from some other shoreline or river with easy access. So there goes the strenuous thing again.

Some might take issue with the study, because it defined support of conservation efforts as giving to four environmental groups: the Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, the Sierra Club and Environmental Defense. Judge for yourself on that subject.

But here’s another nugget: The demographic most likely to give is white, college-educated, higher income and over 35 years old. So, it’s somewhat small number of people promoting conservation that may be shrinking given the current economy, Newswise reported.

But here’s the scariest thing in the Newswise article: It mentioned a previous study these same researchers did in 2008 concerning outdoor recreation. In that study, it noted a steady drop in outdoor recreation dating back to the 1980s. At the same time, there was a rise in the usage of video games, Internet surfing and movie viewing.

What does this mean? From what I gather, appreciation of the outdoors starts young. If people don’t learn it early, they don’t care later when they’re adults.

So consider this little story: I was scrambling up a rocky hillside in the Quartz Mountains one fine fall day, reached the top and enjoyed the view. Then I looked down and saw spray-painted graffiti on the rock and crumpled beer cans all over the place. I’d like to see less of that.

I’ve heard friends gripe about their kids locked away for hours playing video games or being on the Internet. So try this: Instead of blowing big bucks on a new video game console or an iPhone for little Junior, spend a little cash on a couple of backpacks, a tent and some gear and take the young ones out on an outdoor adventure. Enjoy the quiet, the solace and the wildness of the outdoors. Repeat as necessary. You might raise a hiker, a climber or maybe just someone who thinks about the land long enough to want to take care of it.

Recreation: Naples' Erndl named Florida Female Swimmer of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (hazel) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 08:07:00 +0000

Florida Swimming has named Naples resident Erika Erndl the Florida Female Swimmer of the Year.

“I’m very excited about it,” said Erndl, 31. “I didn’t even really think about it. I was very surprised.”

Erndl, 31, won the Masters 1K on Sunday in Aaron Peirsol’s Race for the Oceans in Fort Myers Beach, collecting a $1,500 prize.

“I did surprise myself a little,” she said. “I knew I had a chance to win. I was pretty tired from a hard week of training.”

She doesn’t normally compete in open water competitions.

“I kind of did it for fun,” said Erndl, who won the Masters Mile at the Open Water Festival in Fort Myers Beach in June.

Erndl said she will participate next in pool competitions, the Minnesota Grand Prix in November and the USA Swimming Short Course Nationals in December in Washington.

In August, Erndl set three meet records at the U.S. Open and was named to the U.S. national team as she attempts to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.