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bamaleigh123 March 3rd, 2010

Mixed Martial Arts:  Valentine’s Crush

By:  Christie Bohorfoush, Senior Staff Writer

Mixed Martial Arts has come to Moody, Alabama through the help of Peter Zahel, owner and founder of The Cage MMA and Fitness, Inc. Zahel is a Karate Instructor – USA National Karate Champion in 2008 (one gold and two silver metals) – European Euro Cup Champion – two time Czech Republic National Cup Champion – and has a professional sports background since 1987.

This writer, once a huge fan of the WWE, found Mixed Martial Arts about four years ago and was immediately hooked by the sport. While some may argue why a woman, or any sports fan for that matter, might enjoy what some consider to be a rather barbaric sport… Mixed Martial Arts is actually a very safe sport. While indeed the sport consists of besting your opponent at grappling, kicks, and punches; the fighters have tremendous respect for each other and never simply beat the heck out of one another. The sport is purely based on who has the most skill and knowledge in the field of martial arts. This is exactly why I lost interest in the WWE, after viewing several Mixed Martial Arts fights… staged fighting simply lost its appeal to the REAL sport of martial arts fighting.

What Peter Zahel is bringing to the sport of Mixed Martial Arts is his own group of trained fighters from his The Cage MMA and Fitness, Inc. Club. As with any start-up club, he has fighters that are learning the skills of Mixed Martial Arts. How do they train? How do they know if they are growing in the sport? For those of you who do not all ready know that Mixed Martial Arts is the hottest and fastest growing sport, the best way to train and grow in the sport is by competing against other clubs. This is what Zahel is helping to bring to Moody and the state of Alabama.

On this particular evening, Zahel’s club played host to “Valentine’s Crush” (well, since it was February and all) pitting his Mixed Martial Arts fighters against others from varied clubs across Alabama. In fact, each club hosts an event… with the next event to be hosted at the Crossfit in Trussville, Alabama on March 6, 2010. This is the idea… each match helps the fighters to learn from their last fight and grow in the sport, bringing what they have just learned to the mat and helping them to master their skills.

I thoroughly enjoyed my evening of eight Mixed Martial Arts matches at Peter Zahel’s The Cage MMA and Fitness, Inc Club. From my front row seat, it was easy for me to view the fighters as they brought their best to the cage. It is my intention to continue to follow Mixed Martial Arts in Moody, as well as throughout Alabama, and to help this sport continue to grow here. Let me add that if you are a true fan of Mixed Martial Arts, you will find great thrills and the ride of watching these fighters as they improve their skills and best each other in the cage and on the mat. In fact on this evening, many of the fighters who won their matches came out of The Crossfit Club in Trussville; and so, I look forward to the matches that are lined up for March 6^th.

Be sure to catch The Cage’s next event, at their gym in Moody on March 27^th. Visit www.thecagemmaandfitness.com for more information on their events; as well as classes and instructions in the art of MMA.

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Match One:  Justin Suggs of Ranburn, AL vs Shannon Whittle of Verbena, AL

Shannon Whittle dominated the match with his strikes to Sugg’s mid section most of the opening match. Whittle defeated Suggs, by forcing him to tap out, after getting Suggs in a arm lock.

Match Two:  Brad Collins of Parrish, AL vs Jason Ware of Clanton, AL

At 1:45 seconds in the first round, Brad Collins took Ware with a triangle leg hold that forced Ware to tap out. After the match, Collins exclaimed; “I wanted to win so damn bad!” From the moment that Collins entered the cage, his intensity for the sport and his skills never wavered.

Match Three:  Bradley Johnson from Brookwood, AL vs B.J. England from Verbena, AL

After an upward kick from B.J. that staggered Johnson, B.J. was able to take Johnson to the mat and lock-in a scissor hold around Johnson’s neck that forced him to tap out.

Match Four:  Joe Henry of Talledega, AL vs. Jason Rawlinson of Verbena, AL

After an opening kick to the side of Henry, Rawlinson slammed Henry to the mat. At 1:47 seconds into the first round, Rawlinson caught Henry in an arm lock that forced him to tap out.

Match Five:  Jeff Patton of Parrish, AL vs. Fred York from Trussville, AL

This was a hard fought match, with both fighters pretty evenly matched. At two minutes into the second round, however, York’s  skills out bested Patton’s and he won by tap out

Match Six:  Alek Miller of Pelham, AL vs. Reshan Kahn of Birmingham, AL

Kahn took a beating from Miller, after Miller full mounted Kahn and pummeled him with his fists. The Ref stopped the match, due to strikes, as Kahn was unable to defend himself.

Match Seven:  Nate Bordilon of Odenville, Al vs. Cody Southwood of Madison, AL

The match began with a back and forth barrage of flying fists. At one minute nineteen seconds in the first round, however, Cody Southwood full mounted Nate on the mat and pounded him with his fists. The ref stopped the match, due to strikes, as Nate was unable to defend himself against the fists of Southwood.

Match Eight – MAIN EVENT – Nick Collins of Parrish, AL vs. Caleb Machen of Moody, AL

This was a match between welter weights, weighing in at 135 pounds. Although small and thin, this is clear proof that even the smallest of people can learn to defend themselves through the skills they learn in Mixed Martial Arts.

The match began with both fighters exchanging kicks to the mid sections. Machen soon found himself, however, pinned to the mat and taking a barrage of fists from Collins; but managed to fend off the blows from the mat and make it to the second round.

In the opening of round two, and having taken a kick from Machen, Collins soon found his footing and the will to fight back and use his skills. Machen slammed Collins to the mat; and although Collins was on his back and on the mat, he used his knowledge of mixed martial arts skills to apply a triangle leg hold to Machen and forcing him to tap out.

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admin February 3rd, 2010

The Cage MMA and Fitness in Moody is the state’s largest MMA_focused training center and gym offering daily classes in all disciplines of this growing sport.

On February 13th they will present The Cage Challenge 1 (Valentine Crush) showcasing local and up-and-coming fighters in The Cage’s twenty-four foot MMA fight cage. This event is open to the public with tickets starting at just $15.

Visit http://www.thecagemmaandfitness.com for more information

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Mike January 25th, 2010

The last few days I have had a clogged ear canal, and after all the over the counter “miracles” failed to cure it I reluctantly decided to see a doctor. Not satisfied with my recent walk-in center experiences I decided to try a different provider: MedHelp on Highway 280.

I was examined by a medical student, and then the Doctor. Both addressed my primary concern, but also touched on other issues that concerned them: My blood pressure and a psoriasis breakout I have been fighting for some time. They took the time to get to know all my needs and how they could help.

A very sweet and calming nurse treated my ear; and the Doctors laid out a treatment plan for my BP and skin problems. There wasn’t the feeling of being rushed that I have gotten from other medical centers as they answered my questions and worked with me to adjust the treatment plan based on my preferences and needs. I was a patient, not just a customer to be herded through.

I highly recommend MedHelp for both urgent care and general practice needs. Everyone treated me with respect and the utmost professionalism and I left feeling that my health-care was finally in good hands.

For more information on MedHelp visit their website: http://www.medhelpclinics.com/ where you can learn more about their practice and download the new patient forms to save time on your first visit.

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Mike January 23rd, 2010

I have always been a Wal-mart supporter. Their low prices allow average people to streatch their dollar further than they could without Wally World’s aggressive cost lowering. That being said, I don’t shop there very often. In fact, I avoid it at all cost. I like saving money, but sometimes I need to save my sanity too. My problem you see is not with the store, but with the people who shop there. So I am asking all of you to do a few simple things to make it easier for me to shop at Wal-mart without taking the last of my Xanax:

Leave Already! You’ve got a spot close to the door, and you saw me pull up and turn my blinker on. Put your crap in the car and leave! Why must you check your hair, fiddle with the radio and update your Twitter status before backing out of the spot. I’m not trying to be impatient, but i can do my taxes faster than some of you can put the Hummer in gear!

Control your children! When did this become something I have to tell you? You’re staring at the hundred-calorie snack packs as if Howie Mandel just asked you to choose a briefcase; and your adorable offspring is reaching into my cart as he prefers my Pringles to your healthy choice. Meanwhile three other kids are screaming because their parents took them down the candy aisle and are now SHOCKED that they want something from said aisle. In the distance a glass bottle shatters and some random child’s name is yelled out, followed by no further words.

Move Along Please Twitter and Myspace are great social networks. Aisle seven is not! You and a friend pull up side-by-side, cart-to-cart like two police cars outside the Krispy Kreme completely blocking the aisle while you debate that potato salad Nancy brought to the put-luck that you are sure was store bought. People are backing up behind you like 280 at six o’clock, but you are oblivious to the world around you as you continue to insult your friends and neighbors, who are likely over in Aisle twelve doing the same to you. Single file ladies!

Can You Hear Me Now? Get off the damn phone. This applies almost everywhere, but never more so than when you are shouting into your Nokia because you only have one bar under this steel roof, so everyone in the housewares department can your conversation and can almost here the party on the other end of the line: Your husband who is in electronics!

Freezer Door Dominance There are a dozen flavors of Ben and Jerrys in front of you, and for each flavor there is a row of ten or more tubs. You can’t decide between Chubby Hubby or Cherry Garcia; so you stand there with the door open, blocking the section. I know what I want, Steven Colbert’s Americone Dream. I go to reach in beside you, and you not-so-subtly shift your body to block me. This is your case, and you aren’t done yet! There’s no shortage, plenty to go around, but no one will have ice cream until you do! I say, let me reach by – politely of course – not only would it be a kind gesture, but my selection may just give you a push in the right direction. Come on, it has chocolate-covered waffle cone pieces in it!

Fun With Money This is another one for the parents. Our educational system needs work, I agree, but the express checkout lane is not the place to teach money management. If you have five kids, just buy five pieces of candy. Don’t have each kid a dollar and tie up the lane for ten minutes while they each complete their own single-item transaction, including two returns as some of the children have now decided they want what Charlie got, not what they actually wanted. It’s cute at the dollar store, it’s fun at a toy store…. it;s infuriating at the Wal-Mart when I just want to pay for my stuff and get out!

Electronics Hell Okay, I lied. This one is directed at Wal-Mart. Must everything in the electronics department be locked behind bulletproof glass, secured by locks that can only be opened with one key which Wanda has – but she’s on break right now? I’m buying a DVD, not trying to steal the declaration of independence. And as if that wasn’t annoying enough, you have the nerve to get all pissy when I call you over to open a case so I can look at an item. “Do you want it or not?” It’s a laptop computer, not a vanilla ice cream cone, give me a second to look at the stats. After all, you did just get done telling me computers stats were “I have no idea.”

Eh, forget it. Do what you want, I’ll just go to Target. Sure the prices are higher, and you stand a better chance of finding a unicorn than someone to help you; but at least I can get out the door without some senile old lady scrutinizing my bags and papers like she works for the TSA.

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Chris November 9th, 2009

Tea Party Preaches Intolerance and Hatred

Today, November 9, 2009, the Tea Party Express rolled into Birmingham, Alabama. I and my son felt that as Americans – and having it  been said that Americans have become lazy and spend their time sitting on our couches rather than standing up for what we believe I – we traveled to Kelly Ingram Park (the site of many civil rights rallies) to voice our opinion on the health care issue.

As my son and I arrived, my son with his sign that read HEALTH CARE NOW! and I with my sign that read YES, WE MUST HAVE A PUBLIC OPTION, we were immediately met with the Tea Party’s insults and out-and-out lies. I and my son were told that we were “Fat”… that we were “Nigger Lover’s”… that we do not have jobs or work… that we were unwilling to pay for health care… that we did not support our troops, etc. One very obnoxious woman even turned to me and said [and I quote] “I hope you die!” We were not shouting over the crowd, we were not attempting to debate the presenters; we merely stood there holding signs to show that the Tea Party was not representative of everyone in Birmingham.

Clearly, the Tea Party is out to incite others to their views and to preach intolerance and hatred. This was a crowd whose leaders stood on the stage this day and spoke of intolerance for gays and African Americans and who called President Obama a [quote] “Wuss and a sissy because he has not immediately sent more troops into Afghanistan or murdered Hasan (the man who shot our soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas) – even suggesting that Obama had “allowed it to happen.”

What was absent from the Tea Parties rally was any REAL conversation regarding health care. ALL they spoke of was getting a black man out of the White House. In fact, their battle cry was TAKE BACK AMERICA! In all of my years on this earth, I have never heard so much racism preached; or heard so much hatred for others who do not live what they consider to be a “Conservative Christian Lifestyle.” Well, this is not my idea of being a Christian. I doubt that Jesus would preach against blacks… condemn gays… or carry a banner promoting guns. No, this is NOT my idea of being a good Christian. The God I know wants us to have tolerance for each other and to love one another – period!

As I stood in this crowd of Tea Partiers, I heard nothing about an actual answer to the health care issue. And no, I am not an African American; but I was appalled at the racism that was presented on this day, as I stood in Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham, Alabama. People like this make me ashamed to be a white woman in this country. At one point, a woman actually turned to us and stated “You better leave here, before we sic the dogs on you.” How much more a racist statement could anyone make?

I thought that I lived in a country where the election of our first African American President, Obama, meant that we were finally making some headway on becoming one people – one American people – clearly I was mistaken. Granted, I voted for President Obama because I do believe that he is the first man (black or not) who has tried to make a real difference in America. Obama IS listening to we Americans and doing his best to give all Americans affordable health care… not rushing into war, without a clear exit plan… not preaching hatred for others with a different skin color or a different view from his own. I stand with our President and with affordable health care for every American!

The tea party crowd will tell you that these were the actions of a select few, and not representative of their movement. I believe otherwise, as the hatred was too wide spread; and the leaders on stage were urging them to raise their “cleaver” banners calling Obama everything from Hitler to Stalin – and of course, not an American citizen.

I urge all reasonable Americans to not trust their words, or mine. Go to one of these events and see it for yourself. Listen to them sing songs comparing our beloved country to the U.S.S.R. See them cheer at posters calling for someone to “Pull the plug” on Nancy Pelosi to save Grandma from the death panels. I support free speach and always will: but this kind of ignorance should not go unanswered

They are not debating the issues; they are not proposing solutions to our problems. They are enraging the so-called “base” through hatred and lie-based fear.

For once I agree with Glen Beck… If this is the future of our country: I fear for it too!

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admin August 4th, 2009

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Mike July 22nd, 2009

Country music artist Ryan Daniel will be performing on September 4 at Maxwell AFB from 11am-1pm and on September 12 at Fort Rucker, AL from 11am-1pm.

Ryan Daniel’s debut CD, Love Life and Memories, includes a memorable track titled Unknown Soldier.  Written about 15 years ago by Bob Dellaposta and Todd French, Unknown Soldier is a timeless patriotic song and the perfect fit for a Memorial Day playlist!  ”The song hit me because I served 10 years in the Air Force”, says Ryan, “and once a soldier, always a soldier. You feel those emotions of war for the rest of your life.”

“If the President says we are going to war, whether you agree or not, you go,” Ryan continues.  “That’s what we signed up for, that’s our duty, that’s just what we do. And in some cases you might be the Unknown Soldier.”

Ryan was deployed to the Middle East several times to serve in our fight for freedom overseas. While in the service, he was selected to join the elite musical touring group “Tops in Blue.” As a member of this prestigious Air Force production, Ryan toured all over the world, entertaining an estimated 250,000 troops and civilians alike. This opportunity led to him meeting his producer, Barry Best.  In August of 2005, Ryan left the military to pursue his dream of music.

www.RyanDaniel.org

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Mike July 13th, 2009

There are some really great – and really expensive – website design software suites out there that require hours of reading and even professional training to use. Then there is Expression Web from Microsoft. Expression Web puts that same power in the hands of the home-user and small-business that wants to see their ideas come to life quickly and easily; while maintaining the look of those more expensively designed sites.

With a What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) interface, you use Microsoft’s graphical interface to layout your page the way you want it; and an impressive behind-the-scenes core takes over, converting each image and keystroke into streamlined HTML code.

“Streamlined” code is a key note. Users of the predecessor of Expression Web – Front Page – will recall that the code created was often bulky and excessive with each line of text creating several lines of extra code denoting the font, size and other aspects of the design. With Expression Web Microsoft eliminates this concern by incorporating inline Cascading Style Sheets. Simply put; whereas before if you have ten paragraphs of text in one font you would also have ten sets of code describing that font; now you have one style marker covering all uses of that text style.

But Expression Web is not just for entry level web designers! With the click of a tab, you go from the WYSIWYG display, to raw HTML allowing experienced designers to tweak the graphical design, or fully code a site. Click back and verify your work; or click on the Preview button to launch the page in your web browser for a live preview of how your site will look to others. And now Microsoft is introducing Super Preview in Expression Web 3 (due in August) that will allow you to view and debug code against multiple browsers at the same time! An impressive tool to be sure.

Expression Web 3 boasts an affordable $149 price tag, making it one of the most cost-effective web design platforms out there, with the power to get the job done.

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Mike March 31st, 2009

What gives with pre-empting the Osbournes’ tonight for a weather repeat? I have no doubt it won’t be a “quality” show and probably won’t last more than a few episodes; but Fox is the home of “see what sticks” programming, and with the crap they run from week to week I find this selective censorship rather insulting.

I’ve got 500 channels, if I don’t want to see the show I’m more than capable of changing the channel, but quite frankly I planned to watch it as (a) it follows idol; and (b) I like to know what people will be talking about tomorrow. Do you have so little faith in your viewers that you feel you have to make decisions for us when it comes to what to watch? You chose to be a Fox affiliate, knowing the kind of shows they are famous for… it’s too late to be playing holier than thou.

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bamaleigh123 March 10th, 2009

STARS FALL ON ALABAMA AS PART OF NEW ENTERTAINMENT CIRCUIT

To confront the growing fear of the nation-wide economic meltdown and the direct loss of revenue and jobs to the State of Alabama, Ronnie Gilley (CEO, Ronnie Gilley Properties/Ronnie Gilley Entertainment and developer of Country Crossing, Dothan, AL), James Stroud (President of Ronnie Gilley Entertainment and award-winning music producer) and country superstars, Tracy Lawrence (“Paint Me A Birmingham”), Marty Stuart (“Tempted” & “The Marty Stuart Show”-RFD-TV) and Darryl Worley (“Have You Forgotten”) barnstormed Alabama today and will do so again tomorrow, Wednesday, March 11, 2009, with stops in Dothan, Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville and Mobile to announce plans for a series of major entertainment complexes.

Entertainment destinations will be located in Jefferson, Macon and Houston Counties creating thousands of jobs and millions of tax dollars and charitable contributions. Gilley is outspoken about economic development and the need for new job opportunities.

“Alabama is in dire need of job opportunities. The state coffers are empty and we need to create a solid tax base for our future. Tourism is the answer and the only way to make that happen is to create destinations that people want to visit. Entertainment is the key and Alabama needs to do everything in its power to make this happen. Gilley Entertainment will partner with various electronic operators to create ’boutique’ versions of Country Crossing throughout the state.” says Gilley.

The Birmingham Race Track and Victoryland in Shorter will be part of the entertainment circuit with showrooms and celebrity venues being planned.

Gilley is building the world-class entertainment destination, Country Crossing, in Dothan, Alabama. Designed to be a family-friendly resort with luxury hotels, an RV resort, bingo pavilion, celebrity themed venues and restaurants, a family entertainment center and one-of-a-kind entertainment events at the festival grounds, Country Crossing will also create thousands of jobs. [www.countrycrossingalabama.com]

Gilley launched last year’s extremely successful BamaJam Music & Arts Festival in Enterprise. The inaugural 3-day event drew more than 200,000 music fans to Coffee County and featured more than 30 acts on three separate stages. This year’s BamaJam Music & Arts Festival secured Verizon Wireless as title sponsor. The mega outdoor entertainment event will take place June 4 – 6, 2009 and features Grammy award-winning and platinum selling headliners including Taylor Swift, Kid Rock, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, The Black Crowes and many more. [www.bamajammusicfestival.com]

Gilley has also just announced the Jones Jam–a free music concert to be held Saturday, March 21, 2009 at the Peanut Festival Fairgrounds in Dothan. The concert will star Country Legend and Gilley National Spokesman, George Jones, as well as Clint Black, Lee Greenwood, Aaron Tippin and others. The mini festival will start at 2PM, with gates opening at 12 Noon.

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