The History Of The Viennese Waltz

By Melanie LaPatin

The product of a more elegant age, the Viennese Waltz was introduced in Vienna in the early 1800s and was roundly condemned in England. The Times of London had this to say about the Prince Regent's grand ball in 1816, We remarked with pain that the indecent foreign dance called the Waltz was introduced (we believe for the first time) at the English court on Friday last it is quite sufficient to cast one's eyes on the voluptuous intertwining of the limbs and close compressor on the bodies in their dance, to see that it is indeed far removed from the modest reserve which has hitherto been considered distinctive of English females.

So long as this obscene display was confined to prostitutes and adulteresses, we did not think it deserving of notice; but now that it is attempted to be forced on the respectable classes of society by the civil examples of their superiors, we feel it a duty to warn every parent against exposing his daughter to so fatal a contagion.

Of course, such condemnation did not deter the upper crust from eventually indulging in the Viennese Waltz. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote, Never have I moved so lightly. I was no longer a human being. To hold the most adorable creature in one's arms and fly around with her like the wind, so that everything around us fades away. When Lord Palmerston of England gave the royal stamp of approval by dancing the Viennese Waltz in public, the rest of English Society joined in " at least until 1914.

When World War I broke out, the waltz orchestras left England due to the fact that they were largely made up of Austrians. Nothing of Germanic origin was in vogue due to the war. The Viennese Waltz pretty much died out as England and Germany battled each other and the entire world joined in the fight. Austria kept it alive as a folk dance. Only the Slow Waltz variation that originated in England continued beyond the Austrian borders.

After the end of the Second World War, however, the original Viennese Waltz made a resurgence, and it remains one of the staples of ballroom dance to this day. It is a dance that requires a great deal of stamina as the dancers twirl constantly around the floor at a dizzying pace.

In America, Dr. Lloyd Pappy Shaw, who revived the Square Dance in the early 1900s, wrote, In close embrace, the dancers turned continually while they revolved around the room. There were no steps forward or back, no relief, it was all a continuous whirl of pleasure for those who could take it. If youve got the stamina, the same can be said today.

The Viennese Waltz is performed in time. Although it takes a bit of practice at first, the basic steps can be fairly quickly mastered. The original difficulty comes from starting on the alternate foot at the beginning of each bar. Once a dancer becomes comfortable with this arrangement, however, the dance becomes very fluid and elegant.

The Viennese Waltz remains essentially the same today as when it was introduced two centuries ago, and some of the greatest composers have written the most beautiful music in the world to accommodate the dancers. For this reason, the dance echoes the glories and the romance of a more genteel age. - 23812

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UFC 88 Flashback: Rashad Evans Earns Respect

By Ross Everett

Rashad Evans didnt scream about demanding respect in his prefight interviews because hes smart enough to know that respect must be earned. He earned it and then some with a devastating 2nd round TKO of Chuck Liddell in the main event of UFC 88.

If Evans needed any more validation of how little respect he was getting, he could have taken a look at the UFCs text message prediction poll of the main event which favored The Iceman by a whopping 81% to'% margin. Or he could have listened to the UFC announcers, who had all but penciled Liddell in for a return to light heavyweight title contention after his inevitable victory.

From the opening horn, Evans showed no fear of Liddells once legendary power. Instead, he danced and moved (which was dumbly criticized as showboating by the UFC announce team), using his slick footwork and speed to dart in and out of range of Liddells punches. In the process, he was able to use his superior handspeed to get off first. His punches werent exactly highlight reel power shots at this point, but were nonetheless effective as evidenced by a cut opened under Liddells eye.

The end was to come in the 2nd round. Liddell backed Evans up near the cage wall and went to throw an uppercut. Simultaneously, Evans responded with an overhand right that landed quicker, harder and more accurately. The perfectly placed punch knocked Liddell out cold and referee Herb Dean jumped in to cover him up and wave off the fight without taking a second look.

Rashad Evans raised his record to 17-0-1 with the TKO victory. Liddell, meanwhile, saw his record drop to 21-6"with three of those six losses coming in his last 4 fights.

Liddells loss notwithstanding, it was a good night for UFC veterans as Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson won their fights in impressive fashion. Franklin looked particularly sharp in dismantling tough Matt Hamill, eventually prevailing by 3rd round TKO. Hamill had trouble getting inside for the takedown he needed to compete in the bout, and every time he closed the distance he was met with a barrage of Franklin punches and kicks. Franklin employed leg kicks early on, which obviously hurt Hamills ability to shoot for takedowns and ended the bout with a perfectly placed body kick that had Hamill doubled up and tapping out even as Mario Yamasaki covered the prone fighter.

This was the UFCs first trip to Atlanta and despite a good attendance the crowd itself was somewhat disappointing. In a marked contrast to the knowledgeable and enthusiastic fans at the Target Center in Minneapolis for UFC 87"arguably the best MMA crowd ever at a US venue"the live crowd at Phillips Arena often acted as if they were at a taping of Georgia Championship Wrestling. Every foreign fighter was booed mercilessly"including South Korean Kim. Perhaps the audience didnt realize that South Korea has been a US ally since its establishment after WW II.

More problematic was the crowds utter lack of respect for the fighters postfight. Poor Dong Hyun Kim was booed during his postfight interview like he was Professor Toru Takana cutting a heel promo on Mr. Wrestling 2 after winning the Georgia Heavyweight Title by throwing salt in his opponents eyes while the referee was distracted. Not quite the respect that a 4th degree judo black belt whod just won a very tough fight deserves. Even Rashad Evans was booed after his dominating KO victory. - 23812

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a widely published respected freelance writer specializing in casino gambling, surfing and sports betting. He has appeared on a number of TV and radio programs offering strategies for successful NFL football betting. He lives in the Nevada desert with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pet llama. He is currently writing a biography of former NFL quarterback Jim Plunkett.

Unusually Good Flicks For Your Entertainment Pleasure

By Dylan Mccormick

Available are some of the best films of all time are the "oldies but goodies". If you want to watch a terrific film tonight, here is some information on some of the greatest motion pictures you may have never heard of. Check them out. Bear in mind you can download them more or less immediately to your own PC in the comfort of your own house.

Cop Land - Freddy Hanlin is the Sheriff of Garrison New Jersey, a small town not too far from New York City. Freddy always wished to be a New York City policeman, but he is slightly deaf, so he never could. When internal investigator Mo Tilden shows up in town to look into likely police corruption, Freddie takes up the cause and begins to help out. Freddie is about to learn that the men he has always idolized might be doing some very dreadful things.

Black like Me - Strong drama based on authentic history of a journalist who took drugs that permitted him to pass for black so he might undergo racial prejudice first hand. Some aspects of presentation are un-contemporary, although topics are still pertinent. Cast includes James Whitmore, Roscoe Lee Browne, Lenka Petersen, Sorrell Booke, Will Geer, Al Freeman, and Raymond Jacques. 107 minutes, 1964.

Frequency - John Sullivan lost his dad thirty years back. He is still affected by the loss. Somehow with the use of his dad's old ham radio, he can converse with his father, when his father was still living. He warns his father of the fire that would kill him. This saves his dad but sets off new events that now must be resolved, or John's mom will now pass away.

Hootenanny Hoot - Unsurprising comedy about college hootenanny show carried to Television is made tolerable only by presence of Money and other nation/people actors. This is one of Sam Katzman's "usual" low-budget films. Cast includes Gene Nelson, Peter Breck, Joby Baker, Rita Lee, Pam Austin, Johnny Money, Sheb Wooley, The Brothers 4, and Judy Henske. 103 minutes, 1973.

Strange Interlude - A Eugene O'Neill play that displays the tangled web of the diversity between our thoughts and our words. Norma Shearer is cast as a woman who lost the love of her life when he was shot down in WWI. The movie tells of romances and marriages between Nina and three men, only one of whom she loves. It is about growing old without settling their complications. This is a captivating movie, with Shearer at her brilliant best. The company includes Norma Shearer, Clark Gable, Might Robson, Maureen O'Sullivan, Robert Youthful, Ralph Morgan, Henry B. Walthall, and Alexander Kirkland. 110 minutes, 1932.

In God We Trust - Badly informed friar Feldman treks to L.A. to produce money for his monastery. This motion picture is a comedy that is unfortunately unfunny starring Richard Pryor, who plays God. Cast includes Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Louise Lasser, Richard Pryor, Andy Kaufman, Wilfrid Hyde-White, and Severn Darden. 97 minutes, 1984.

Thunderheart - There have been a number of killings on the Sioux Indian Reservation. The FBI goes in to sort out the situation. One agent, Ray Levoi, has Sioux blood. As he investigates the case he soon finds out there is much more going on than some accidental killings.

The Defiant - A captivating story of 2 escaped convicts, one black and one white who are chained together as they escape from the penitentiary in the South. Excellent performances by Williams and Chaney as individuals they meet during the voyage. Academy Prize for screenplay by Harold Jacob Smith and Nathan E. Cast includes Tony Curtis, Sidney Poitier, Theodore Bike, Charles McGraw, Carnie Williams, and Lon Chaney, Jr. 97 minutes, 1958. - 23812

About the Author:

Acquiring videos and motion pictures off the internet is relatively easy and quickly accessible. Where can i download movies is also easy. The top method is to download the films from the internet initially to the computer.

UFC 87 Flashback: Brock Lesnar Comes Of Age

By Ross Everett

The last time that Georges St. Pierre defended his UFC welterweight title, it quickly turned into the low point of his career. Already facing a number of personal issues away from the cage, he looked sloppy and distracted as Matt Serra defeated him by brutal TKO. This time, things were different as GSP brutalized Jon Fitch over five rounds to win an easy unanimous decision. The judges scores of 50-43, 50-44, 50-44 underscored the one sided victory.

After a dominant takedown to open the fight, followed by a barrage of GSP punches it looked as if Fitch wouldnt make it out of the first round. He managed to survive, though generated little offense the rest of the way as the champion had his way with him both on the ground and in standup striking exchanges. Fitch landed enough counterpunches to open a cut near the champions eye, but never even came close to winning a round. Fitch had to gut his way through another tough moment in the 4th, where a big knee followed by a flurry of kicks and punches had him on the verge of a TKO loss yet again. It may have been the champions strategy that saved him, as GSP decided to take Fitch down again rather than continue the striking onslaught as the round closed.

As the final horn sounded, GSP bowed down in front of Fitch in a nice, Muay Thai inspired show of respect. In yet another moment that is thankfully commonplace in fighting and all too rare in other sports, Fitch and GSP sat knee to knee in the center of the cage congratulating each other for over a minute as their respective cutmen worked on their wounds. The sportsmanship and mutual respect continued after the decision was announced, when Fitch embraced GSP and hoisted him into the air in celebration. To paraphrase HBO boxing announcer Jim Lampley there is no sport like fighting, and there are no athletes like fighters.

And theres very likely not another athlete like Brock Lesnar even within the ranks of fightsport competitors. In his 3rd professional MMA bout the amateur wrestling legend turned WWE champion displayed a brutally effective new fighting style along with stellar patience and cage control as he obliterated tough and highly experienced Heath Herring.

From that point forward, Herring was completely out of the fight though he repeatedly demonstrated his toughness by staying in the fight and not tapping out to strikes as had Min Soo Kim in Lesnars MMA debut. Unlike Lesnars gameplan against Frank Mir in his UFC debut"when he clearly wanted to overwhelm his opponent for a quick win"perhaps the most impressive element of his improvement as a fighter was his patience. There were a number of occasions where Lesnar could have tried and finished the fight by placing himself at greater risk, but took the conservative approach.

Overall, Lesnars performance bordered on amazing"a serious case could be made that he won all three rounds by 10-8 margins, though all three judges scored the fight 30-26. He repeatedly took down and threw around the 64 250 Herring like he was a welterweight, and controlled the fight to such a degree that his opponent didnt land more than a half dozen strikes during the entire fight"and none which were particularly effective.

Lesnars win gives a much needed boost to the UFCs barren heavyweight division. While it may be premature to consider him a top 10 heavyweight, should Lesnar continue to develop his potential in the sport is limitless. - 23812

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Phil Esposito's Rampage On The NHL Record Book

By Ross Everett

Although many of his offensive records have now been left in the dust by Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, former Boston Bruins/New York Rangers center Phil Esposito is still regarded by hockey experts as one of the greatest players in NHL history.

A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Esposito was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a teenager. After some time in junior hockey, he was called up to the NHL in'64 quickly earning a spot on the teams top line between Bobby Hull and Marcel Dionne. In'67, Esposito was traded to the Boston Bruins along with Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield.

Esposito began to shred the NHL record book in Boston, prompting Bruins fans to display car bumper stickers that read Jesus Saves; Esposito scores on the rebound. In'69, he became the first NHL player to top the 100 point mark (combined goals and assists) for the season"he obliterated the record with 126 points, which would be the first of six times that hed top the century mark. He topped 100 points in five straight seasons between'71 and'75, missing a sixth straight season by a single point with 99 in'70.

In the'70-71 season, Esposito scored 76 goals to smash the NHL's single season scoring record. That record stood for over a decade until Wayne Gretzky scored 79 for the Edmonton Oilers in'81-82. Gretzky also broke Espositos single season points record of 154. Perhaps the most amazing element of Espositos game was the frequency with which he put the puck on net"Espo had 550 shots on goal in'70-71. No one has since come close"in fact, just last Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals became the first player to come within 100 shots of Espositos mark.

In'75, Esposito was traded with Brad Park to the New York Rangers for Brad Park, Joe Zanussi and Jean Ratelle. By that point, he had been slowed considerably by knee injuries but his experience, intelligence for the game and nose for the puck made him a valuable component of the Broadway Blueshirts offense and he was named team captain. Until the very end of his career, he remained a dangerous scoring threat that all opposing teams were forced to reckon with.

After his retirement in'75, he remained active in hockey. He served as the GM of the Rangers before helping secure an expansion team for Tampa, Florida in'92. Esposito served as the President and GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning until'98. Esposito now hosts a daily hockey radio show on XM Radio, and has even done some acting appearing in a recurring role as a fire chief on the TV series Rescue Me. - 23812

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 and an authority on professional hockey history and NHL hockey betting . He's a published expert on handicapping theory, as well as stock and investment strategy. He contributes to a number of websites providing insight on how to bet on NFL football, MMA and boxing.