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Thursday, November 13, 2008

15 Stunning Images Using Blur to Portray Movement

Movement

Photo by Mr Bones - No exposure settings supplied

Today, as a followup to our post earlier in the week A Beginners Guide to Capturing Motion in Your Photography I want to post a series of posts from Flickr that all illustrate a variation on the same theme - movement.

The following shots are all of moving subjects where the photographer has made the choice to set their camera to capture the movement as blur rather than freezing it. This is in all cases by choosing (or letting the camera choose) a ’slow’ shutter speed (although by slow you’ll see that the speeds (noted under each image) vary from anything from 1/30 second to up to 40 minutes).

Blur

Photo by Ben McLeod - Shutter Speed - 8 seconds

Long-Exposure

Photo by zane&inzane - Exposure Time - 10 minutes

Creative-Blur

Photo by PhotoToasty - Composition of 3 images at shutter speeds of between 1.6 seconds and 25 seconds

Movement-Blur

Photo by Amnemona - No exposure settings given

Moving

Photo by Sara Heinrichs - Exposure Time: 20 seconds

Long-Exposure-Landscape

Photo by Mace2000 - 50 second exposure time

Blurred

Photo by WisDoc - Shutter Speed - 1/30

Blur-Movement

Photo by Mace2000 - Shutter Speed - 50 seconds

Urban-Blur

Photo by Wam Mosely - Shutter speed - 4/5 of a second

Blur-Movement-1

Photo by Mace2000 - Exposure Time - 43 seconds

Long-Exposure-Blur

Photo by jon madison - Exposure - photographer estimates somewhere between 30-40 minutes

Dreamy-Long-Exposure

Photo by thorinside - Shutter Speed - 13 seconds

Light-Trails

Photo by tschnitzlein - No Exposure information given

Street-Movement

Photo by markal - No exposure settings given

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5 Reasons Sarah Palin Would Lose a 2012 Presidential Bid


Before John McCain’s presidential bid had even ended, many were touting Sarah Palin as a possible GOP presidential candidate for 2012. And in an interview with Matt Lauer this morning, Palin said that, “if there is a door open in 2012 or four yeas later…then I’ll plow through that door.”

If Sarah Palin tries to run for president in 2012, she’ll get plowed over. In fact, she probably wouldn’t even make it out of the primary. Palin-watchers can take their pick from a plethora of reasons as to why.

Reason Number 1: Too Many Better Candidates

The dust hasn’t even settled from the 2008 contest, and Republicans are already salivating over who the next GOP presidential nominee will be. To be sure, Palin’s name is among those that are being floated as possible candidates, along with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, and South Dakota Senator John Thune. But does it really stand out?

Experience-wise, every single one of those candidates puts Palin to shame. Additionally, each of those candidate brings far more expertise to the table than Palin. And maybe that will change over the next four years. But in the meantime, Romney is seen by many as an expert on economic issues by virtue of his successful construction (and later resuscitation) of Bain Capital, and given current economic concerns, that could be a big arrow in his quiver. Newt Gingrich and Tim Pawlenty are probably the truest conservatives of the bunch, and in fact would probably be more solidly aligned with the conservative base than any GOP candidate since George H.W. Bush was the nominee as the incumbent president back in 1992. Candidates like Jindal and Thune are largely considered by many to be the future of the Republican Party. Palin would have a difficult time distinguishing herself from the breadth of possibility in that field.

Reason Number 2: The Primary Process Has A Heavy Debate Emphasis

The 2008 presidential election season was unprecedented in the visibility of candidates. En route to the nomination, John McCain participated in 17 debates in the primary race alone. Few will argue with the assertion that Sarah Palin is at her worst in (a) debates, and (b) one-on-one interviews. It was a constant worry of the McCain campaign, and a primary reason behind the fact that Palin only debated Democratic vice-presidential nominee (and now Vice President-elect) Joe Biden one time. On that occasion, expectations going into the forum were lowered to a point that essentially credited Palin with an incredible performance as long as she managed to avoid a catastrophic failure.

She wouldn’t have that benefit if she were on the stage with Romney (a prolific debater), Gingrich, Jindal, Thune, or Pawlenty, to say nothing of any other GOP candidates who might jump in the race.

Reason Number 3: The GOP Favors Candidates Who’ve Sought the Presidency Before

With the exception of George W. Bush, Republicans tend to favor candidates who’ve sought the nomination before. John McCain (’08), Bob Dole (‘96), George H.W. Bush (‘92, ‘88), Ronald Reagan (‘80, ‘84), Richard Nixon (‘72, ‘68), Barry Goldwater (‘64)- all of them sought the GOP nomination at least one time before eventually winning it (Gerald Ford is absent from the list, because he was the incumbent president and nominee in ‘76 without ever actually having been elected president in the first place). That kind of news bodes well for a candidate like Mitt Romney, who made a substantial impact in 2008, but fell short.

Reason Number 4: Barack Obama Already Defeated Sarah Palin

Palin participated in a Republican ticket that got handed its worst electoral beating since 1964. On the safe assumption that Barack Obama would seek a second term in 2012 2008, she’d be facing the same guy who demolished her ticket the first time around.

Moreover, Obama didn’t just beat McCain-Palin in swing states. He didn’t even just beat them in states that are only moderately Republican. He beat them in GOP strongholds like North Carolina and Virginia. Palin was brought in as McCain’s running mate not only to make an offensive run at women, but also to shore up conservative and rural support. She couldn’t do it. It’s hard to see how she’d have any better luck on her own four years from now.

Reason Number 5: Palin Has Enough Baggage

Between Troopergate, her use of campaign funds for a pricey shopping spree, her former membership in an Alaskan separatist group, and her history of handing out high-paying government patronage jobs to her girlfriends from high school and college, Palin had a lot weighing her down in the 2008 race before her qualifications were even addressed. Romney’s biggest problem was that he began as a much more liberal politician than he is now. But that pales in comparison to Palin’s ethically questionable behavior. Gingrich had an extramarital affair, but he admitted that years ago, so it’s not really a newsworthy issue anymore. And Jindal, Pawlenty, and Thune are clean…for now anyway. Palin will have a tough time getting voters to look past her problems, particularly when there are other more qualified candidates to choose from who don’t have that kind of baggage.

...

It’s not to say that Sarah Palin will never have a shot at the White House. In fact, if she were to run for reelection as Governor of Alaska in 2010, and Alaska’s Senate seat in 2014 (whether it’s Ted Stevens or Mark Begich or someone else in that seat), she might have a decent shot by 2016. But 2012 is a lost cause. And if Democrats know what’s good for them, they’ll hope Palin pulls the trigger on her own presidential bid sooner rather than later.



Read jwilkes’s Last Article: 9 Senate Republicans Could Face Defeat in 2010

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T-rex comes to town: Stunning £10m show with life-size dinosaurs stomps towards Britain

By Amar Singh

Dinosaurs are roaming the earth once again - in a spectacular £10million show set to conquer these shores next summer.

Based on the award-winning BBC TV series Walking With Dinosaurs, The Arena Spectacular has won widespread acclaim during two sell-out tours in Australia and America and promises to be one of the most groundbreaking shows ever seen in Britain.

The show has been seen by two million Americans, including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Top billing goes to a terrifying 20ft Tyrannosaurus rex which, in a dramatic climax, tries to protect her baby from predators.

Enlarge Walking With Dinosaurs

In its dramatic climax, a 20ft Tyrannosaurs rex fights off predators attacking her young

Enlarge Walking With Dinosaurs

Thrilling: The £10million show next summer will feature 15 life-sized dinosaurs

The cast also includes an allosaurus, a torosaurus and a utahraptor.The largest, the brachiosaurus, is 36ft tall and 56ft from nose to tail.

Featuring 15 realistic, snarling and roaring animatronic dinosaurs, the show will take over the O2 arena in London for five nights from August 5-9 followed by six nights at Wembley Arena from August 26-31.

Tim Haines, creator and producer of the original BBC series, worked on the live show as a consultant.

He said: 'At its core, the spectacular manages to do what the TV series did so successfully, which is to make people imagine they are looking at real dinosaurs.'

Enlarge Walking With Dinosaurs

The beasts are operated by 'voodoo puppetry' which involves a backstage team manipulating miniature versions with the same range of movements as the life-sized counterparts

Enlarge Walking With Dinosaurs

The show has won widespread acclaim during sell-out tours in Australia and America

The beasts are operated by 'voodoo puppetry' which involves a backstage team manipulating miniature versions with the same range of movements as the life-sized counterparts.

Movements of the puppets are replicated on stage.

Newsweek hailed it as 'that rare entertainment beast that parents and kids can enjoy together'. Variety said the dinosaurs are 'stunning and faultlessly nimble'.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are among the fans of the live show

NYC man claimed liquid drug was 'holy water'



NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) -- A New York City man is accused of trying to smuggle a date rape drug into the United States by putting the liquid in bottles he claimed contained "holy water."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say laboratory tests recently confirmed that dozens of bottles seized at a western New York border crossing contained Ketamine, a powerful hallucinogenic used as a date rape drug.

Authorities say 50-year-old Warren Maynard of Brooklyn was arrested Oct. 16 near Niagara Falls after he tried to enter the U.S. from Canada, where he said he'd bought some religious items.

Officials say a Customs dog sniffed out the drug while Maynard was being questioned by officers.

The status of his case and whether Maynard has a lawyer couldn't be immediately determined Tuesday.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.

10 dos and don'ts to keep in mind when you're negotiating with the dealer.

How to Haggle When Buying a Car

Image
What would you like your monthly payment to be?
Unless you want to pay more than you should, you need to learn how to haggle for your automobile. Here are some tips.



DON'T wait to shop until your current car is on its last legs. Being in need puts you in a bad bargaining position.
DO have your research, including models, options, and prices, firmly in your head or at your fingertips.
DON'T worry about bargaining too hard and offending the dealer. Salespeople are there to make money. They take care of themselves.
DO be discreet. If you really want a particular car, continue to bargain as if you were undecided between two or three.
DON'T do the salesperson's work. During bargaining, you may be asked to name a reasonable profit. Don't; that's not your job! Focus on getting the best car for the lowest price.
DO be willing to walk away. Trust your gut instinct if the deal isn't good enough, if some details don't feel right, or if you don't feel good about the dealer.
DON'T glide over details. Most contracts include a fee for paperwork or advertising. If you've agreed on a good price, ask the dealer to waive them. If the answer is no, suggest that the dealer provide free servicing or extras (floor mats, for example) to offset the fees.
DO express negative feelings. If you do, you may see a radical change in the dealer's attitude, resulting in a better deal.
DON'T pay any mind when the salesperson asks, "What would you like your monthly payment to be?" It's an old trick. Paying $219 a month is no deal if the payments stretch out for an extra 24 months.
DO keep your trade-in out of the negotiation until the end. Clever salespeople give you a huge bargain on the new car, then fleece you on the trade-in. Get a firm price on the new car first, then the best price for your old one (you'll always do better selling it privately).

The 2009 IT career survival guide

Economic uncertainty, offshoring, and increased pressure on IT require tech workers to take control of their destinies

By Galen Gruman

The economy is in trouble -- everywhere. Even outsourced providers are nervous. Already under stress, IT staffers see their jobs getting more and more difficult as they must do more with less, all while wondering if they'll even keep their jobs.

The worst thing you can do is give up or panic. Although tech jobs are under increasing pressure, the reality is that the technology jobs market overall is still doing better than the market for other types of jobs. That doesn't mean you're immune from layoffs, stagnant salaries, or increasing workloads, but it does mean you have more options than many other workers -- if you're willing to be flexible.

[ InfoWorld has put together a special package of stories to help tech workers through the current tough times. Among the highlights:
* Slide show: Where IT jobs are headed
* Special report: 2009 IT career survival guide
* Special report: Where the tech jobs are overseas (and how to get one)
* Special report: Tech workers under fire
* Special report: IT and the financial crisis
* Get sage advice on IT careers and management from Bob Lewis in InfoWorld's Advice Line blog and newsletter. ]

First, the bad news on tech jobs
There's plenty of data to support the fears that many tech workers have about their job security and ability to make ends meet. For example, more than 50,000 tech workers lost their jobs before the financial meltdown hit, and more jobs are in danger.

That trend translates to income pain for even the survivors. According to the 2008 salary survey by our sister publication Computerworld, bonuses for IT workers rose only 0.2 percent from 2007 levels. At a time when 3 to 4 percent salary raises are failing to keep up with inflation rates that are rising above 5 percent, those dwindling bonuses are making tough times even more challenging for IT professionals.

And stress levels are up. That same Computerworld survey shows that only 14 percent of respondents did not feel more stressed than a year earlier. Shrinking budgets are one reason. "Companies are in the mind-set of not spending in the next 3 months and increasing only 1 or 2 percent in the next 12 months. That's quite a change from last year when it was between 7 and 8 percent," notes Steve Minton, vice president of worldwide IT markets at IDC.

Having desirable tech skills is key
The U.S. and Europe appear to be especially hard hit, though the downturn is being felt worldwide. Still, tech workers might consider moving to China, Canada, or other stronger markets where the demand for IT skills -- and the opportunities to develop new ones -- remains good. A move abroad may also give you more than technical skills: It can make you more appealing to companies that have global teams, an increasing reality everywhere.

To remain competitive, IT workers need a combination of the 30 essential basic skills -- including, according to one survey, strong ethics and morals -- and abilities in emerging recession-proof areas where demand remains high, such as security, VoIP, and wireless. And don't forget about not-so-hot areas that are critical to companies' abilities to keep running: Cobol skills can be great job insurance, for example. And don't forget about skills that have been hot for a while and thus tend to be neglected, such as open source, .Net, and Java.

Certifications also can help, especially management ones. But beware: Not all certifications are that valuable. Some are simply expected -- and may be necessary to even be considered for a job -- while others are superfluous. That's especially true for technical certifications; outside of security and networking, they're not proving that valuable. Those that do tend to give you an edge involve management and business-specific training -- skills that business managers more easily understand than technical ones.

Galen Gruman is executive editor of InfoWorld.

Fox cancels 'Mad TV'

Sketch series ends run after 14 seasons

Serena Williams, Mad TV
Tennis star Serena Williams will appear on this week's episode of 'Mad TV' on Fox. (Nov. 15)

Arden Myrin
Myrin

Bobby Lee
Lee


Fox is closing the book on "Mad TV" after 14 seasons.

Net confirmed Wednesday that the Saturday night sketch series, which had barely escaped cancellation in recent years, will end its run at the end of this season.

News comes soon after Fox announced plans to end the run of another long-running comedy franchise, "King of the Hill." But just as "King" may land a new home at ABC, the producers behind "Mad TV" are mulling ways to keep their show alive.

"There's been great interest in recent years," said exec producer David Salzman. "We've had a number of networks inquire as to whether the show was coming off Fox and saying that they'd be interested. We have not started to talk to them yet, but now is the time to begin those conversations. I think we have real prospects, but you never know, especially given the economy."

According to Salzman, production on "Mad TV," which received a shortened order this season, was set to wrap by December. The net decided to inform the show's producers of its decision now, rather than in May, in order to give them a chance to end the series with a bang.

"This will give us a proper sendoff, a chance to promote the finale and bring back old cast members," Salzman said.

Fox told Salzman the decision to ax the show was an economic one.

"They said it was too expensive for a daypart where dollars have been shrinking," he said. "Their thought was, the show is what the show is, and that essence needs to be maintained -- but it's hard to produce as big and ambitious a show as ours for less money than they're paying now."

In potentially shopping the show to other broadcast or cable outlets, Salzman said he'll look at ways to modify production and bring down costs.

Meanwhile, Comedy Central's deal to air reruns of "Mad TV" expires at the end of the year. Salzman said he hopes to find a net interested both in producing new episodes and airing the show's 326-episode library.

QDE, a joint venture between Salzman and Quincy Jones, launched "Mad TV" in 1995, utilizing Mad magazine's irreverent brand. Show, designed as a competitor to "Saturday Night Live," was created by Fax Bahr and Adam Small, who left after the show's third season.

John Crane, Salzman and Jones currently serve as exec producers. Season to date, the show has averaged 2.7 million viewers and a 1.2 rating/4 share among adults 18-49; both are unchanged from last year.

"Mad TV" made a name for itself with its pop-culture parodies; alums include Nicole Sullivan ("Rita Rocks") and Frank Caliendo ("Frank TV").

Current cast includes Arden Myrin, Bobby Lee, Crista Flanagan, Keegan-Michael Key, Nicole Parker and Johnny Sanchez.

Fox will likely decide the fate of its other Saturday latenight franchise, "Talkshow With Spike Feresten," in May. With "Mad TV" history, that makes it more likely the net will stick with "Talkshow" -- unless it develops other projects for the timeslot.

"Mad TV" reps Fox's most successful foray by far into latenight programming. After several tries in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the net hasn't attempted a return to the late weeknight landscape. (That could change next year, as NBC's "Tonight Show" transition opens the door to several shuffles.)

Where in the world is Jake Plummer? Playing handball

By Anna Katherine Clemmons

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- Jake Plummer stands in his tube socks, shorts and a T-shirt, still sweating. He's gone through about 20 shirts over the weekend. A sweatband holds back his shaggy brown mane, and he hasn't removed his goggles. He spreads his palms, showing his calloused hands (though the bruises, he says, are from playing the bongo drums at a bar the night before). "I know it's crazy," he says, "but I kinda want to keep practicing. I'm sore and exhausted, but I still want to play. Is that crazy?"

Maybe. Even crazier? Plummer isn't referring to football. He's talking about handball.
Jake Pllummer

Aggie Skirball/NFL/Getty Images

Jake has no regrets about leaving the Broncos, where he went 39-15 as starting QB.

Spend 10 minutes with the former NFL quarterback and it's obvious the man is perfectly happy away from football. One of the biggest reasons has been his rediscovery of handball, the sport that his father, Steve, taught Jake and his older brothers, Eric and Brett, when they were young.

Eric, 37, is the most talented Plummer on the handball court, a fact Jake reluctantly admits (though he quickly points out that Eric played in college). The baby brother in the family, Jake, 33, says his first goal is to beat Eric. "It won't happen now, but give me a year or two," he says, grinning. Jake's return to handball came soon after he left the NFL in 2007, a departure many fans and pundits questioned. He could have played a few more years, tried for a Super Bowl ring, or at the very least added more cash to the kitty. But he was tired of the anti-inflammatory diet, tired of his back and knees hurting and tired of coaches yelling at him. Back home in Idaho, he saw John Elway driving around the golf course, unable to walk from hole to hole, and worried that would be him in five years. Raised in Boise by "hippie" parents, Jake craved the outdoors: hiking, camping, even mowing the lawn. He missed spending time with his family (Brett and Eric are both married with children). "I've seen more of Jake in the last year than I had since high school," Eric says. So Jake and his wife, Kollette, a former dancer and Broncos cheerleader, moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, splitting time between there and a second home with 47 acres in Coeur d'Alene, a picturesque town in northern Idaho. Jake started volunteering with the humane society and the senior citizens center, delivering groceries and cutting down firewood. And to help keep in shape, he returned to handball, after a 12-year hiatus from the sport. "The first time I played again, I was so sore that I couldn't lift my arms," Jake says. Playing several times a week, Jake has lost 20 pounds from his NFL days and is in, he says, the best shape of his life. He can drop to one knee and jump back up or move his lanky 6-foot-2 frame with surprising speed and agility. His constant arm and back pain of the last decade is gone. He can run, bike and hike, or, as he demonstrated over a Halloween weekend handball tournament at a local health club, somersault, nose-dive and swat at handball shots from his left or his right side.
Plummer Family

Todd Fiesel

The Plummers -- from left, Brett, Eric, dad Steve and Jake -- take their handball seriously.

Not surprising, Jake says, since he credits handball as a major reason he was able to play in the NFL. "I guarantee it helped my career by rounding out my ability: hand-eye coordination, endurance and mental toughness," Jake says. Family friend Jimmy Slavin tells the story of the Plummers' traveling to New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony in 1996 (Jake finished third in the voting, trailing winner Danny Wuerffel). Afterward, they didn't celebrate with a fancy dinner; instead, Steve and his sons found a local handball court and played until almost 4 a.m.

Jake occasionally travels to weekend tournaments and recently had his father-in-law try handball for the first time. Last spring, while playing with Slavin, they discussed Jake's using his celebrity to help promote the sport. He decided to host a tournament in Coeur d'Alene, with the proceeds going through his Jake Plummer Foundation to several local charities.

Jake made some calls, and soon eight of the world's elite pros had agreed to play in Jake Plummer's First Annual Halloween Handball Bash. Amateurs signed up, too, until the entry list topped 95 competitors, men and women. The four Plummer men signed up. Jake's mother, Marilyn, made Costco trips for supplies, and Kollette organized the food. Jake's aunt Pat drove from Boise to serve as event planner. "He wants this tournament to become the Super Bowl of handball," Marilyn says.
How to Play Handball
First, you need a ball. A small ball: handball, racquetball or tennis ball. After you have acquired the ball, go outside and walk around looking for a flat surface with no glass windows. This is the wall you're looking for -- a wall with flat ground near it.

A ball and a wall! That is all you need to play handball.

Next, begin hitting the ball against the wall, letting it bounce once before you strike it again back against the wall you have chosen. Continue doing this until you find a friend to alternate hitting the ball with. You are now playing handball -- one-wall handball. That is it, the most basic way to play handball.

A ball and a wall! And a friend to add competition.
--Jake Plummer
Though he hopes to establish an annual tradition, Jake says his larger goal is to popularize youth handball nationwide while encouraging teen athletes not to focus too intensely on a single sport. "My ultimate goal is to get coaches to stop specializing their athletes, telling them they can't play other sports because it'll hurt their football," Plummer says. "I played all three sports and handball whenever I could. That's why I made it in the NFL -- that rounded me out as an athlete." On Saturday night, one of the competitors picked up a raffle prize, a football signed by the 2008 Denver Broncos. "How're they doing this year?" Jake asked with a wry smile. Clearly he doesn't keep close tabs on his former team. "I called Jake on a Monday night a few weeks ago and asked him if he was watching the game," Steve says. "He asked, 'What game?' I told him Denver was playing New England and that Denver was down 13-0. 'OK,' was pretty much all he said." Still, remnants of his fourth-quarter comeback days remain. Jake likes to talk handball strategy with fellow players and will yell at himself after missing an easy shot. "He and Brett got off the court … and he was giving Brett advice," LeAnne, Brett's wife, says. "It's funny, because Brett was the state champion in Idaho last year. But that's just Jake." When reversing on the court, he backpedals like a quarterback in the pocket, hitting off his back right leg with a swing that mimics his former passing motion.
Jake Plummer

Todd Fiesel

One of Jake's goals is to teach kids that playing a variety of sports is important.

When not playing, he's just another aficionado, wowing over the pros' shots and asking fellow players for tips. Try to talk to him about family or football during a match and he'll invariably steer the conversation back to handball. "Can you believe this guy?" Plummer asks excitedly while watching a consolation match on the last day (surely a role reversal for 20-something Jeff Kastner to have an ex-NFL quarterback idolizing his game, especially when Jake is one of three spectators). "I think he's happier now, though he doesn't talk a lot about it," Eric says. "Once in a while, football comes up, and I almost get a sense that he bristles a little. It was the forefront of his life for high school, college and much of his early adulthood. But now, there's a lot of things he missed out on that he's excited he has a chance to start tackling." Reputed to have begun as early as 2000 BC, handball remains a niche sport often passed down from fathers to sons. But if anyone can bring more exposure, it's Jake. Throughout the weekend, he sat and talked with every attendee, from the world's third-ranked player to an 82-year-old who had come to watch his grandson play. Plummer laughed and smiled, whether having a beer from one of the kegs consumed by the players and spectators or eating barbecue cooked in the parking lot by Happy Watkins, a former handball player who drove from Spokane, Wash. With the NFL spotlight gone, Jake is just another athlete relishing the pleasure of his sport. Around noon Friday, before the tournament began, Jake was hauling boxes of decorations and setting up tables. Before the competitors began arriving, he sat for a moment and offered this: "Handball is a lifelong sport where the athletes welcome you with open arms. That's why I don't miss football. You see the camaraderie: guys having a beer, giving each other [crap], hanging out, and that's what this game is. I don't miss the locker room because here, we play handball and sit there for two hours afterward laughing, making fun of each other and telling stories. I know it's weird because I'm not getting a paycheck like in the NFL, but I'm living, doing what I want to do, and my knees and back aren't falling apart. I don't walk off a handball court having [Mike] Shanahan yell at me, 'You missed your guy in the left corner.' … I don't have that anymore. I have my own self to get mad at. And I do get mad at myself sometimes. But my wife is like, 'Who are you doing this for? Don't you do this for fun?' And I say 'Yes,' and she says, 'Well then, have fun.' And she's right. It is fun. I want to play this until I'm dead, whenever that is. There aren't many things you can say that about."

Anna Katherine Clemmons is a reporter for ESPN The Magazine and a regular contributor to Page 2.