Roller Derby has been around for years and was a staple of the early days of television. It was similar to its better known counterpart, pro wrestling and was seen on many of the same low powered UHF stations in the same bad timeslots. It had a similar borderline sleazy group of promoters and businessman that was common in the regional territory era of pro wrestling. Roller derby didn't have the success or popularity that pro wrestling did. There was a serious athletic component to be sure, but the dim witted storylines made pro wrestling look like Shakespeare. The sport does have its own history--most know that the LA T-Birds were the perennial champions of'70's, and Ann Calvello and Ralphie Valladares had been in the sport forever and were considered legends--but it never really stuck in the public consciousness like the pre-Hulk Hogan era of pro wrestling.

When the original purveyors of the sport quit promoting in the early'80s most thought it was dead and gone until a 'new school' of roller derby surfaced on cable TV via the A&E reality series Roller Girls. It featured a local, all-girl roller derby league in Austin, Texas and followed the lives of the players on and off the track. While much of the show dwelled in Lifetime style drama about binge drinking and bad relationships, it was the first clue that many had that roller derby had risen from the dead. A sport that had faded into the lowest level of obscurity had been rediscovered and embraced by an eclectic group of young women. They had kept the same essential format, thrown in a healthy dose of burlesque camp and Varga pin-up inspired glamour and made it into their own vibrant subculture. They changed the competitive format and renamed the competitions "bouts" a la MMA or boxing. The result was a compelling mixture of glamour, toughness and athleticism driven by a healthy dose of punk rock "do it yourself" mentality.

Today, roller derby is a full blown worldwide phenomenon. There are hundreds of local roller derby leagues not only in the United States, but Canada, Australia and Europe. Most of the local groups similarly play up the campy retro pin-up/hot rod iconography and everyone involved sure looks like they're having a good time. Between teams there's a vibe of good natured competitiveness and camaraderie.

The young women in roller derby have taken what was cast off TV time filler and revived it into their own distaff 'action sport'. The community that has sprung up around it bears a striking resemblance to the skateboarding or snowboarding subculture. There's one big difference--in contrast to more male dominated action sports the roller derby circa 2009 is just the opposite--a living, breathing matriarchal success story.

The new generation rollergirls also pay homage to their sports' pioneers much in the same way that skateboarders give props to Duane Peters and Tony Alva and surfers evoke the names of Duke Kahanamoku and Greg Noll. Many of the individual group websites have sections devoted to the history of roller derby, and the late Ann Calvello--regarded as the Queen of the original Roller Derby--is revered as something of a patron saint.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

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Being healthy involves a lot of different factors, however, it does not have to be that complicated to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Be positive about any and all progress that you make each day, and then each day will be a little more progressive. Continue reading so that you can have the facts on how to Eat healthy.

Everyone has to start somewhere, so start small and work your way up. A short fifteen minute walk around the block is better than munching the bag of chips, while viewing the television, start there. After a couple of days of that, work yourself up to thirty minutes. If you have a pet, take them for a walk with you, and they will benefit as well. You will notice a difference in how you feel, and the chips will not stand a chance with you.

There are any number of exercises that you can do at home. You should just choose an exercise routine when you are ready and stick to it. Work yourself up gradually, just as you did with the walking. Your muscles, bones, and relationships will thank you, and so will your figure.

The medical field suggest that we double the amount of fiber we are eating each day. You can do this by adding fruits or vegetable to each meal. Fiber is essential for lowering cholesterol, and it helps to regulate blood sugar while digesting. High fiber foods will fill your stomach up faster, and make you feel fuller longer.

Water is more important to the body than sleeping or eating. You can not live without water, and you should not. Both the muscles and the skin need water to function at peak. While eating extra high fiber food it is a good idea to increase your water intake to help with the extra fiber.

There are several foods that are good for the cells and heart. These types of foods are known as antioxidants. The chemicals that provide the color for these particular foods can also help with balance, memory, and fitness.

There are many different varieties to choose from, so there should be several that you will enjoy eating like broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, eggplant, plums, blueberries, strawberries, etc. Look at the list and you will notice that they all have deep, rich coloring. Just try to add a vegetable in at every meal, or a fruit during breakfast.

Add milk to your diet. It has calcium to keep your bones and teeth in good shape, and it is good for your muscles. It is a known fact that if you drink milk daily, you will weigh less on the average. How can argue with a cold glass of milk? Combine your berries and milk and make a great smoothie for breakfast.

Now, for some really painless information, young or old, it is healthy to curl up on the couch and catch twenty winks. Naps actually increase your fitness. If you have been losing sleep, or not being able to sleep, this is a great way to catch up. So now you have good tips regarding how to eat healthy.

Lisaliving.ca provides essential information about beauty, fitness, culture, and health for the working woman. The articles and information we provide on beauty are all valuable resources for women living and working in the GTA.

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Although a small country, Ecuador boasts a wide array of geographic and cultural diversity, including a variety of indigenous groups with distinctive cultures and languages. From snow-capped volcanoes and rainforests to tropical shorelines, Ecuador has varying landscapes and climates, making it wonderful for gay tours or exciting adventures a great idea any time of the year.

Perhaps best known for the Galapagos Islands, the mainland is also home to many attractions and sightseeing opportunities that make gay tours to Ecuador well worth the trip. Whether you are in search of a spiritual retreat, an outdoors adventure or gay travel that includes getting to know the LGBT community in Quito, exploring the rainforest and lounging on the beach, you are sure to discover the many reasons that Ecuador is such a popular travel destination year after year as soon as you step off the plane.

Quito is the main city where you will find an LGBT community, particularly in the bohemian neighborhood of La Mariscal. This is where the Quito Pride celebration is held each June and is home to the various community nightspots, cafs and friendly establishments that Quito has on offer. As for nightlife, La Mariscal is the place to party on Friday and Saturday nights, but is also a wonderful afternoon hangout any day of the week.

Quito sits at 9,200 feet above sea level against the backdrop of the 13,000-foot Pichincha volcano. The historic district is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and the streets throughout several neighborhoods are lined with art galleries, shops and quaint cafs. There are several major cultural attractions that may be of interest to those on gay vacations to Ecuador, including the Museo de la Ciudad, the Centro de Arte Contemporaneo, the Capilla del Hombre Guayasamin and the Parque el Ejido, where visitors will find an open-air market filled with local handicrafts.

Since the late 1990s, legal rights have expanded in Ecuador with protections that make gay vacations to this beautiful country safer and more enjoyable. However, discretion in public is still a good idea in many places, particularly due to the high level of machismo the still permeates the culture. Those who are considering gay vacations to Ecuador may want to take advantage of pre-arranged gay tours, which allow for a higher level of security and a focus on fun, while travel professionals manage logistical aspects of the voyage and ensure that you will not miss out on some of the most appealing cultural, historic and natural attractions that Ecuador has to offer.

This allows you to more fully enjoy your excursion with minimal worries and to explore this diverse country with like-minded travelers.

Commentary about Ecuador created by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys presents gay travel ideas and has a gay travel guide.

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