10. Asian domination.
"When Se Ri Pak was the surprise winner of the 1998 U.S. Women's Open, she was one of only three Koreans playing on the LPGA tour. Since 2004, seven women's major championships have been won by seven different Korean women. That's an amazing transformation.
In 2009, 47 Koreans played on the LPGA, which has become a true global tour with players from 27 countries. On any given week, half of the top 30 players in the Rolex World Rankings are Asian (a majority of them Korean). Wins by Birdie Kim in the 2005 U.S. Open and Jeong Jang in the 2005 Women's British Open signaled a new wave of talented Korean players, most of whom were inspired by Pak's success. Three of four majors in 2008 were won by Asian players — Inbee Park and Ji-Yai Shin of South Korea and Yani Tseng of Taiwan. Shin is currently No. 2 in the world behind Lorena Ochoa.
What's behind the Korean gold rush? Demanding parents, national pride, the lure of big prize money and an emphasis on sports over academics."
(Golf.com)
December 18, 2009
That Takes Both Skill And A Whole Lot Of Luck . . . . .
Best simultaneous drive for show, putt for dough:
"At the 2001 Phoenix Open, Andrew Magee's drive at the 332-yard par-4 17th hole bounced onto the green while Tom Byrum was lining up a putt. Magee's ball glanced off Byrum's putter and into the cup for a crazy-but-valid hole-in-one. "It was the first putt Tom made all day," joked a caddie in the group."
Video link (YouTube)
(Golf.com)
"At the 2001 Phoenix Open, Andrew Magee's drive at the 332-yard par-4 17th hole bounced onto the green while Tom Byrum was lining up a putt. Magee's ball glanced off Byrum's putter and into the cup for a crazy-but-valid hole-in-one. "It was the first putt Tom made all day," joked a caddie in the group."
Video link (YouTube)
(Golf.com)
Make Your Own Big Mac At Home . . . . .
Homemade Big Macs
Serves 8
2 pounds Niman Ranch ground chuck or other high-quality beef. (Or, go all the way and grind your own meat. Try using Brisket.)
1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
3 fresh pickles, sliced thin
8 hamburger buns
5 ounces organic mild cheddar, sliced thin
Special Sauce:
1 large shallot, minced
1 1/4 cups extra virgin olive oil, divided into 3/4 cup and 1/2 cup portions
2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar, separated
Organic ketchup (Happy Girl, if you can find it)
1/2 cup organic cane sugar
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons sweet relish
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Seat salt
1 tablespoon Paprika
Homemade Aioli
In a large bowl, beat together egg yolk, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Take a kitchen towel roll it into the shape of an “O.” Place your bowl on top of the towel – this will prevent it from moving around when whisking the aioli. While whisking, add a few drops of olive oil. Keep whisking, and add a few more drops. And a few more. When your sauce begins to thicken, add olive oil in a very slow stream, whisking constantly. Your arm should hurt at this point. When all of the olive oil is incorporated, taste for salt, and add last teaspoon of lemon juice.
French Dressing
In a separate bowl, whisk together ketchup, sugar, minced shallots, 1 tablespoon sweet relish, 1 tablespoon vinegar, paprika and a pinch of salt. Whisk in ½ cup of olive oil in a slow stream.
More info here (LocalLemons)
Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures . . . . .
Forget Online Dating and Speed Dating... Now There's "Group Dating"
Pros
• You’ll have a gaggle of wingmen instead of one sacrificial one.
• You'll see how she interacts with your friends. Can she deal with your buddy’s gross sense of humor? Can she engage in conversation with the group geek about the latest Discovery Channel series?
• You can save yourself a dinner tab and three hours of yammering about someone named Manolo or Jimmy Choo. And you don’t have to try to look like you know, or care, what a slingback is. Instead, you can quick-sample the options and save your time for the girl who’s actually worth it.
• You can perform due diligence without actually having to perform. “Thanks to your best friend’s ingenious banter, you can find out that she loves Rottweilers, has her scuba license and is dying to go to Burning Man,” says Nooners.
Cons
• Increased competition. Scenario: Three eager men, one sexy woman and her two crabby friends. Someone's going to hit it off, and it might not be you.
• Peer pressure. Your best friend can be a wee bit critical. Sometimes it's better to get to know a lady without your friends pointing out that she has “man hands.”
• Not-so-secret secrets. You’d rather keep some things to yourself when you first meet a new gal, such as that time in South Beach when you belted out four Madonna songs at karaoke night -- a tale your friends may share immediately. “No matter how subdued and polite you seem right now, she’s listening to that story as a warning,” says Florida’s Charlene Anthony, who met her current guy on a group date.
• Uncontrollable buddies. One of your friends alienates a group of delectable babes, who would otherwise be totally into you. Repairing the damage may be impossible.
• Wingman duties. During your “shift,” you may have to strike a delicate balance of distracting the mousy, snort-laughing friend of hot girl while politely deflecting her exponentially aggressive advances.
Tips
• Communicate beforehand. Huddle with your friends and decide what’s good gab fodder and what’s off-limits. For instance: “References to ex-girlfriends or jokes about herpes,” says Gregg Barkley, who group dates in Los Angeles. Or “anything that involves quoting of movies between you and your buds -- girls don’t get that.”
• Coordinate outfits. “If everyone dons jeans and Affliction T-shirts, you’ll look like a boy band,” warns Anthony. “Or worse, if you’re all wearing khakis and polos, the one of you with jeans and a black tee will look like a free-thinking lead singer” (while the rest of you come off as his nerdy entourage).
• Come up with an escape route. Decide beforehand on a hard deadline to hit the road. Consider dropping a hint in the beginning of the evening that you absolutely must meet the other half of your crew by midnight. If the night goes well, you can pretend to cancel.
• Stay positive. Even if you don’t end up meeting Ms. Right this time, you can feel happy for your bud who always leaves empty-handed -- but scored that night. And since it was a “group date,” you’ll double your number of Facebook friends each time.
(TheBachelorGuy)
Pros
• You’ll have a gaggle of wingmen instead of one sacrificial one.
• You'll see how she interacts with your friends. Can she deal with your buddy’s gross sense of humor? Can she engage in conversation with the group geek about the latest Discovery Channel series?
• You can save yourself a dinner tab and three hours of yammering about someone named Manolo or Jimmy Choo. And you don’t have to try to look like you know, or care, what a slingback is. Instead, you can quick-sample the options and save your time for the girl who’s actually worth it.
• You can perform due diligence without actually having to perform. “Thanks to your best friend’s ingenious banter, you can find out that she loves Rottweilers, has her scuba license and is dying to go to Burning Man,” says Nooners.
Cons
• Increased competition. Scenario: Three eager men, one sexy woman and her two crabby friends. Someone's going to hit it off, and it might not be you.
• Peer pressure. Your best friend can be a wee bit critical. Sometimes it's better to get to know a lady without your friends pointing out that she has “man hands.”
• Not-so-secret secrets. You’d rather keep some things to yourself when you first meet a new gal, such as that time in South Beach when you belted out four Madonna songs at karaoke night -- a tale your friends may share immediately. “No matter how subdued and polite you seem right now, she’s listening to that story as a warning,” says Florida’s Charlene Anthony, who met her current guy on a group date.
• Uncontrollable buddies. One of your friends alienates a group of delectable babes, who would otherwise be totally into you. Repairing the damage may be impossible.
• Wingman duties. During your “shift,” you may have to strike a delicate balance of distracting the mousy, snort-laughing friend of hot girl while politely deflecting her exponentially aggressive advances.
Tips
• Communicate beforehand. Huddle with your friends and decide what’s good gab fodder and what’s off-limits. For instance: “References to ex-girlfriends or jokes about herpes,” says Gregg Barkley, who group dates in Los Angeles. Or “anything that involves quoting of movies between you and your buds -- girls don’t get that.”
• Coordinate outfits. “If everyone dons jeans and Affliction T-shirts, you’ll look like a boy band,” warns Anthony. “Or worse, if you’re all wearing khakis and polos, the one of you with jeans and a black tee will look like a free-thinking lead singer” (while the rest of you come off as his nerdy entourage).
• Come up with an escape route. Decide beforehand on a hard deadline to hit the road. Consider dropping a hint in the beginning of the evening that you absolutely must meet the other half of your crew by midnight. If the night goes well, you can pretend to cancel.
• Stay positive. Even if you don’t end up meeting Ms. Right this time, you can feel happy for your bud who always leaves empty-handed -- but scored that night. And since it was a “group date,” you’ll double your number of Facebook friends each time.
(TheBachelorGuy)
Sexiest UK TV Moment Of The Decade . . . . .
"So it was inevitable that the Sexiest TV Moment Of The Decade would come from a reality series.
Step back to 2006 and series 6 of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! for the winning moment – Myleene Klass showering in a skimpy white bikini."
Video link (DJMick)
Today's Culinary Lesson - Prime Rib . . . . .
How to Cook a Perfect Prime Rib
"So what exactly is a Perfect Prime Rib anyway? Whether you buy prime or select, fresh or dry-aged, corn-stuffed or grass-fed, if you don't cook it right, it ain't going to be good. Here is my definition or perfection, in three commandments:
Commandment I: The Perfect Prime Rib must have a deep brown, crisp, crackly, salty crust on its exterior.
Commandment II: In the Perfect Prime Rib, the gradient at the interface between the brown crust and the perfectly medium-rare interior must be absolutely minimized (as in, I don't want a layer of overcooked meat around the edges).
Commandment III: The Perfect Prime Rib must retain as many juices as possible.
Sub-Commandment i: The Perfect Prime Rib must be cookable without the use of heavy or specialized equipment, including propane or oxy-acetylene torches, sous-vide machines, or C-vap ovens."
(SeriousEats)
"So what exactly is a Perfect Prime Rib anyway? Whether you buy prime or select, fresh or dry-aged, corn-stuffed or grass-fed, if you don't cook it right, it ain't going to be good. Here is my definition or perfection, in three commandments:
Commandment I: The Perfect Prime Rib must have a deep brown, crisp, crackly, salty crust on its exterior.
Commandment II: In the Perfect Prime Rib, the gradient at the interface between the brown crust and the perfectly medium-rare interior must be absolutely minimized (as in, I don't want a layer of overcooked meat around the edges).
Commandment III: The Perfect Prime Rib must retain as many juices as possible.
Sub-Commandment i: The Perfect Prime Rib must be cookable without the use of heavy or specialized equipment, including propane or oxy-acetylene torches, sous-vide machines, or C-vap ovens."
(SeriousEats)
Someone Got Hustled . . . . .
A Golf Porn Lawsuit That Has Nothing To Do With Who You Think
"Raul Quintana owned a number of condos on exclusive Fisher Island, just off of Miami Beach. One day last year, he rented out one of the units to a "representative from a modeling agency" that wanted to hold a "photo shoot." You can imagine where this went.
Yes, the "photo shoot" turned out to be the filming of "A Sexy Golfing Experience," on the high-class site "Ass Parade."
(Deadspin)
"Raul Quintana owned a number of condos on exclusive Fisher Island, just off of Miami Beach. One day last year, he rented out one of the units to a "representative from a modeling agency" that wanted to hold a "photo shoot." You can imagine where this went.
Yes, the "photo shoot" turned out to be the filming of "A Sexy Golfing Experience," on the high-class site "Ass Parade."
(Deadspin)
Now This Would Make For An Interesting Vacation Agenda . . . . .
25 Authentic Asian Experiences
1. Catch a Fly Ball at the Tokyo Dome
2. Find Out What Marmot Tastes Like
3. Stroll Along Kabul's Great Wall
4. Forge Through a Gorge in Yunnan
5. Find Your Own Beach in Boracay
6. Worship the Moon at Loy Krathong
7. Witness a Disappearing Act
8. Watch the Bulls Run on Madura
9. Catch the Frontier Spirit in Xinjiang
10. Ride a Giant in Mondulkiri
11. Try an Aesthetically Challenged Fruit
12. Walk Among the Faithful in Manila
13. Pay Homage to the Kung Fu Master
14. Watch a Dancing Storyteller
15. Step into Living Cold War History
16. Place Your Bets at Macau's Dog Races
17. Capitalize on Beijing's Capitalism
18. Give the Kitchen God an Offering He Can't Refuse
19. Feast on Fish in Peshawar
20. Have a Vintage Cuppa in New Delhi
21. Pick Up Some Ancient Wisdom
22. Take the Slow Boat on Inle Lake
23. Drink Something Pink in Malaysia
24. Lose Yourself in Celluloid History
25. Get Lost on the Karakoram Highway
(Time)
1. Catch a Fly Ball at the Tokyo Dome
2. Find Out What Marmot Tastes Like
3. Stroll Along Kabul's Great Wall
4. Forge Through a Gorge in Yunnan
5. Find Your Own Beach in Boracay
6. Worship the Moon at Loy Krathong
7. Witness a Disappearing Act
8. Watch the Bulls Run on Madura
9. Catch the Frontier Spirit in Xinjiang
10. Ride a Giant in Mondulkiri
11. Try an Aesthetically Challenged Fruit
12. Walk Among the Faithful in Manila
13. Pay Homage to the Kung Fu Master
14. Watch a Dancing Storyteller
15. Step into Living Cold War History
16. Place Your Bets at Macau's Dog Races
17. Capitalize on Beijing's Capitalism
18. Give the Kitchen God an Offering He Can't Refuse
19. Feast on Fish in Peshawar
20. Have a Vintage Cuppa in New Delhi
21. Pick Up Some Ancient Wisdom
22. Take the Slow Boat on Inle Lake
23. Drink Something Pink in Malaysia
24. Lose Yourself in Celluloid History
25. Get Lost on the Karakoram Highway
(Time)
Now This Is Just Outrageous . . . . .
Credit card's newest trick: 79.9 percent interest
"NEW YORK (AP) -- It's no mistake. This credit card's interest rate is 79.9 percent.
The bloated APR is how First Premier Bank, a subprime credit card issuer, is skirting new regulations intended to curb abusive practices in the industry. It's a strategy other subprime card issuers could start adopting to get around the new rules.
Typically, the First Premier card comes with a minimum of $256 in fees in the first year for a credit line of $250. Starting in February, however, a new law will cap such fees at 25 percent of a card's credit line.
In a recent mailing for a preapproved card, First Premier lowers fees to just that limit -- $75 in the first year for a credit line of $300. But the new law doesn't set a cap on interest rates. Hence the 79.9 APR, up from the previous 9.9 percent.
"It's the highest on the market. It's the highest we've ever seen," said Anuj Shahani, an analyst with Synovate, a research firm that tracks credit card mailings.
The terms are eyebrow raising, but First Premier targets people with bad credit who likely can't get approved for cards elsewhere. It's a group that tends to lean heavily on credit too, meaning they'll likely incur the steep financing charges.
So for a $300 balance, a cardholder would pay about $20 a month in interest.
First Premier said the 79.9 APR offer is a test and that it's too early to tell whether it will be continued, according to an e-mailed statement. To comply with the new law, the bank said it will no longer offer the card that has $256 in first-year fees as of Feb. 21, 2010. However, customers will still be able to use their existing cards. The bank said "no final decisions" have been made regarding any rate changes for those cards.
First Premier noted that it needed to "price our product based on the risk associated with this market."
The bank declined to specify how many people were offered the 79.9 APR card.
According to First Premier's Web site, the credit cards are serviced by its sister organization Premier Bankcard. The company, based in Sioux Falls, S.D., says Premier Bankcard is the 10th largest issuer of MasterCard and Visa cards in the country, with more than 3.5 million customers.
In a mailing sent to prospective customers in October with the revamped terms, First Premier writes "...you might have less-than-perfect credit and we're OK with that." The letter notes that an online application or phone call is still required, but guarantees a 60-second status confirmation.
The letter also states there are no hidden fees that aren't disclosed in the attached form. That's where the 79.9 percent interest rate and $75 annual fee are listed. There's also $29 penalty if you pay late or go over your $300 credit limit.
Even if First Premier doesn't stick with the 79.9 APR, it will likely hike rates considerably from the current 9.9 percent to offset the lower fees, said Shahani of Synovate.
The revamped terms may not be the only changes; First Premier also appears to be moving away from the riskiest borrowers.
The bank typically mails offers to subprime households, meaning those with credit scores below 700. In the third quarter, however, 84 percent of its offers were sent to subprime households, down from 91 percent the same period last year, according to Synovate.
First Premier could be cleaning up its credit card portfolio since the new regulations will limit its ability to raise interest rates. That could mean First Premier won't issue cards as liberally to those with bad credit.
As harsh as First Premier's terms seem, that could be a blow to those who rely on the card, said Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO of CardHub.com.
"Even when the cost of credit is astronomical, for people in true emergencies, it's much better than not having access to credit," said Papadimitriou.
Until Feb. 21, First Premier is still offering its even-higher-fee card online. So the price for credit the bank charges is at least $256 in first-year fees."
(Yahoo)
"NEW YORK (AP) -- It's no mistake. This credit card's interest rate is 79.9 percent.
The bloated APR is how First Premier Bank, a subprime credit card issuer, is skirting new regulations intended to curb abusive practices in the industry. It's a strategy other subprime card issuers could start adopting to get around the new rules.
Typically, the First Premier card comes with a minimum of $256 in fees in the first year for a credit line of $250. Starting in February, however, a new law will cap such fees at 25 percent of a card's credit line.
In a recent mailing for a preapproved card, First Premier lowers fees to just that limit -- $75 in the first year for a credit line of $300. But the new law doesn't set a cap on interest rates. Hence the 79.9 APR, up from the previous 9.9 percent.
"It's the highest on the market. It's the highest we've ever seen," said Anuj Shahani, an analyst with Synovate, a research firm that tracks credit card mailings.
The terms are eyebrow raising, but First Premier targets people with bad credit who likely can't get approved for cards elsewhere. It's a group that tends to lean heavily on credit too, meaning they'll likely incur the steep financing charges.
So for a $300 balance, a cardholder would pay about $20 a month in interest.
First Premier said the 79.9 APR offer is a test and that it's too early to tell whether it will be continued, according to an e-mailed statement. To comply with the new law, the bank said it will no longer offer the card that has $256 in first-year fees as of Feb. 21, 2010. However, customers will still be able to use their existing cards. The bank said "no final decisions" have been made regarding any rate changes for those cards.
First Premier noted that it needed to "price our product based on the risk associated with this market."
The bank declined to specify how many people were offered the 79.9 APR card.
According to First Premier's Web site, the credit cards are serviced by its sister organization Premier Bankcard. The company, based in Sioux Falls, S.D., says Premier Bankcard is the 10th largest issuer of MasterCard and Visa cards in the country, with more than 3.5 million customers.
In a mailing sent to prospective customers in October with the revamped terms, First Premier writes "...you might have less-than-perfect credit and we're OK with that." The letter notes that an online application or phone call is still required, but guarantees a 60-second status confirmation.
The letter also states there are no hidden fees that aren't disclosed in the attached form. That's where the 79.9 percent interest rate and $75 annual fee are listed. There's also $29 penalty if you pay late or go over your $300 credit limit.
Even if First Premier doesn't stick with the 79.9 APR, it will likely hike rates considerably from the current 9.9 percent to offset the lower fees, said Shahani of Synovate.
The revamped terms may not be the only changes; First Premier also appears to be moving away from the riskiest borrowers.
The bank typically mails offers to subprime households, meaning those with credit scores below 700. In the third quarter, however, 84 percent of its offers were sent to subprime households, down from 91 percent the same period last year, according to Synovate.
First Premier could be cleaning up its credit card portfolio since the new regulations will limit its ability to raise interest rates. That could mean First Premier won't issue cards as liberally to those with bad credit.
As harsh as First Premier's terms seem, that could be a blow to those who rely on the card, said Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO of CardHub.com.
"Even when the cost of credit is astronomical, for people in true emergencies, it's much better than not having access to credit," said Papadimitriou.
Until Feb. 21, First Premier is still offering its even-higher-fee card online. So the price for credit the bank charges is at least $256 in first-year fees."
(Yahoo)
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