Leisure … more than a word, it's a lifestyle

Have you ever watched your children sending or receiving text messages on mobile phones or in chat rooms, but can’t understand a word of what’s being said? The Internet fuels adult and youth life in America and we must prepare to face the new habits that Internet use embraces, especially in the young.

One of these habits is the development of acronyms to keep youth messages short and secret.  Following is a list of some of the more disturbing acronyms every parent must know, they will help keep your children safe.

You can download a full list by clicking this link www.floridaleisureblog.com/text.pdf.

Help keep your younger loved ones safe.

I am watching the Presidential Address to Congress and all I can say is what a difference between this guy and the previous few doofuses that have occupied the White House.

Amazing … healthcare for kids … tax breaks if you earn less than $250K per year … a review of the wars … zero tolerance for people dropping out of school … an end to tax breaks for sending jobs overseas.

What a revelation … if you live here and don’t get an education then you are a traitor to your country.

I have been as depressed as anyone about the current “hopelessness” as we watch our savings dwindle, but sometimes you just need someone to take you by the hand and say it’ll be alright … many have tried in the past, but I actually believe this guy can do it.  Any doubts I had have gone … I am now a believer in Obama.

U.S.A.

Academy Awards Winners

Actor in a leading role: Sean Penn (MILK)
Actress in a leading role: Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Actor in a supporting role: Heath Ledger (Dark Knight)
Actress in a supporting role: Penelope Cruz (VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA )
Animated Feature Film: Wall-E
Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire
Costume Design: The Duchess
Direction: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Documentary feature: Man on Wire
Documentary short: Smile Pinki
Film editing: Slumdog Millionaire
Foreign language film: Departures
Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Music (Score): A.R.Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire)
Music (Song): A.R.Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Short film (animated): LA Maison En Petits Cubes
Short film (live action): Spielzeugland (Toyland)
Sound editing: The Dark Knight
Sound mixing: Slumdog Millionaire
Visual effects: The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Writing (Adapted screenplay): Slumdog Millionaire
Writing (Original screenplay): Milk

Details of how police in the Irish Republic finally caught up with the country’s most reckless driver have emerged in the Irish Times and I just had to chuckle.

He had been wanted from counties Cork to Cavan after racking up scores of speeding tickets and parking fines. However, each time the serial offender was stopped he managed to evade justice by giving a different address.

But then his cover was blown.

It was discovered that the man every member of the Irish police’s rank and file had been looking for – a Mr Prawo Jazdy – wasn’t exactly the sort of prized villain whose apprehension leads to an officer winning an award.

In fact he wasn’t even human.

“Prawo Jazdy is actually the Polish for “driving licence” and not the first and surname on the licence,” read a letter from June 2007 from an officer working within the Garda’s traffic division.

“Having noticed this, I decided to check and see how many times officers have made this mistake.”

“It is quite embarrassing to see that the system has created Prawo Jazdy as a person with over 50 identities”

Hopefully the Irish Police has now learned two words of Polish… but I wouldn’t bet on it. As for the seemingly elusive Mr Prawo Jazdy, presumably he has become a cult hero among Ireland’s second largest immigrant population. And good luck to him.

Great news this week…Tiger’s coming back! He’s due to make his comeback at the Accenture Match Play Championship that starts on 25th February and this is nothing but good news for golf lovers.

Golf has been pretty boring since he’s been away and it just goes to show what an impact he’s had on the game. In my opinion he’s simply the greatest to have played the game…and that’s saying something given some that have gone before him.

Sure some will argue about Jack Nicklaus being the best because of his 18 major’s but it’s only a matter of time before Tiger sets a new benchmark in my opinion. Tiger is currently on 14 major’s but he’s only been playing the game for 13 years whereas Jack took 25 years to amass his tally. Further, if you look at the most PGA wins, then Tiger is just 8 wins behind Jack overall. Of course, this is one subject we can argue about for a good few hours but in my opinion it has to be Tiger based on one simple fact… he’s had tougher competition than anyone before.

Previously, there were a few guys who’d challenge for titles. People like Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson and Gary Player would be battling for glory with Jack but if you compare those times to today you’ll immediately understand that any of the top 125 could win an event. Players today are fitter than before and simply have more game.

It’s nice to welcome back Tiger as I’m sure that even his competitors welcome his return because it will mean much more to them if they win when he is in the field. I’m also sure that the public’s enthusiasm will return as well…after all what’s a tournament if the best player in the world isn’t there?

Woke up this morning and turned on the news to see the weather forecast for today’s “ Great American Race,” the Daytona 500, and it was no real surprise when the lovely Elizabeth Hart on WKMG-TV,  told us to expect showers this afternoon. Wholly typical that we’ve had no rain over the last few weeks yet on the one day we don’t want any, we’re going to get some!

Anyway, all being well the 51st annual Daytona 500  will be started at approximately 3.15pm by three time Daytona 500 champion Bobby Allison who will serve as the Honorary Starter in the biggest, richest and most prestigious race in America.

Before the race goes green though race fans will be entertained with the Sprint Pre-Race Show, a heart-stopping pre-race show that has feature top-notch entertainers in past years such as Mariah Carey, LeAnn Rimes, Vanessa Williams, Five For Fighting, Bon Jovi and Kelly Clarkson.

The Daytona 500 has produced many of the most memorable moments in the history of NASCAR.

From the famous fight between Donnie and Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough in 1979 to the three-wide photo finish of the inaugural 1959 Daytona 500, something special always happens at the Daytona 500.

Most recently in 2007, the 49th annual Daytona 500 produced the closest finish since the advent of electronic scoring with Kevin Harvick nosing Mark Martin at the start/finish line by .020 seconds.

In the 50th running of the Daytona 500, Ryan Newman passed Tony Stewart on the last lap to win the most anticipated event in racing history and hoist the gold Harley J. Earl trophy in the air.

Newman’s name is now on a list with other legendary Daytona 500 champions such as Lee and Richard Petty, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Bobby and Davey Allison, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip, Buddy Baker, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick.

Who will be the champion of the 51st Daytona 500 in 2009? We will just have to wait and see. And if Elizabeth can make the rain wait until after it’s done, we’d all appreciate it.

Nigel and I don’t agree on much, but we are fans of Robbie Keane, so here just for our indulgence is a British ad that ran this week … hilarious.

Robbie Keane has already had plenty of stick over his quick escape from Liverpool.

The striker left Tottenham in a £20million deal last summer, only to return to White Hart Lane earlier this month.

Keane has been the butt of jokes over his amazing U-turn after just six months on Merseyside.

But the Irishman has now been ridiculed in the advert by Virgin Trains (above) for their Liverpool to London service.

TripAdvisor published the list that always makes my skin crawl and dread when I have to board that plane and have a hotel stay.  That’s why I always have my friends visiting Orlando stay in one of our vacation homes … I know they will pass any blacklight test and our cleaners are very thorough.

Here are this year’s “winners” and then a couple of blogs which will really make your skin crawl … hopefully you aren’t reading this from the “comfort” of a hotel room.

http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/28/dirtiest-hotels-in-the-united-states?icid=sphere_blogsmith_inpage_gadling

http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/10/update-inside-the-dirtiest-hotel-in-the-united-states/?icid=200100397×1218669904x1201177652

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Universal Orlando’s “Fear Factor Live” attraction was temporarily closed Thursday amid a factor of fear and uncertainty about the economy.

The attraction, which challenges park guests to gross-out stunts like the ones on the NBC television show, will reopen in the spring. Universal spokesman Tom Schroder wouldn’t say how many months the attraction would be shuttered but said it was a result of changes in seasonal demand and the business forecast for the rest of the year.

“What we know is that 2009 is going to have its share of challenges and so we’re managing our business as best as we can so we can meet those challenges,” Schroder said.

A limited number of other rides and attractions at the two-theme park resort will have their hours reduced, but visitors shouldn’t notice the changes, Schroder said. The resort is home to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

“We’re changing schedules based on guest demand,” Schroder said. “Our visitors will be able to experience the shows and rides they want to.”

The decision to shutter “Fear Factor Live” temporarily was made as Orlando’s theme parks feel squeezed by the recession. Universal Orlando laid off 70 employees less than a month ago, and last month The Walt Disney Co. offered voluntary buyout packages to about 600 executives at its U.S. theme parks unit.

Our Disney Passes are up for renewal … $450 each for 2 adults and $410 for our 4 year old (including  a renewal discount of $45) … even as Florida Residents, the Happiest Place on Earth is almost unaffordable … going to have to rummage down the back of that sofa.  Thank goodness my Universal Employee pass gets me in free at Universal, Sea World and Busch Gardens.