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By Adam, September 19, 2010 8:44 am

As with many sports, tennis has been able to adapt and evolve over the number of years it has been played. And of course with any change comes challenges from loyal fans who would prefer to see things stay at the status quo. One of the first major changes in tennis was using HPS Ballast instead of a Lamp Ballast to light the courts, so players were then able to play at night.

Another change came as women were given the freedom to play for money. As important as these changes were, they are now part of the past and it is important now to look toward the future. In order to see what is next in terms of the future of tennis, we must take a glance at two major changes that have taken place within the sport over just the past ten years. The first major change came through the addition of retractable roofing to just about all of the Grand Slam stadiums. The second major change is the addition of Shot-spot technology for the matches.

Even though a retractable roof may not appear to be a big change, it actually is for tennis. Before retractable roofs began being installed it was common at Grand Slam tournaments for players to have to worry about a potential a rain delay, in which they must leave the court for fear that the courts may get too wet and a player could slip and hurt his or her self. During a rain delay momentum has been easily change as the player who was ahead at the time of the rain delay could suddenly find his or her self losing after a delay. Some rain delays have been known to take just 30 minutes, while others meant close to 24 hours, being mentally prepared for and during a rain delay used to be an important skill for players to have. With a retractable roof on most of the center courts at the Grand Slam tournaments momentum can no longer change purely because of bad rain. Most tournaments now have this technology put in to all courts.

Shot-spot technology has been quite imperative to the evolution of tennis. For hundreds of years, chair umpires had been known to make poor decisions when it came to calling the ball out or in. These umpire mistakes could very simple cost someone a match. With this new technology, players have the ability to challenge a certain amount of calls per match that they feel is incorrect. This keeps the umpire honest and it also is now known to help change momentum in the game. For example, in a big point, if the opponent challenges a bad call and wins the point then the momentum can easily switch to their favor because of the confidence gained from calling the point correctly.

In order for tennis to stay alive, the sport must keep making little adjustments to the game so it is as fair as possible for all players and fans. So far the sport has had the ability to keep up with technology while not altering the game too much. It is important to maintain some kind of a balance, so the game is fundamentally the same with a few small changes along the way.

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By Adam, August 1, 2010 5:17 pm

When modern lighting options were introduced into living spaces, they were basically utilitarian. Rooms where people slept were lit more dimly than rooms for task work like kitchens or libraries. As times changed, lighting transitioned to be stylish and utilitarian. You can bring a lot of ambiance to a room depending on how it is lit. There are numerous light options that are works of art in themselves. Lighting can be relatively inexpensive, or it can be one of the priciest features in a room. If you are thinking of using lighting in a room to add style, there are a few things to consider. First, make sure you have a trustworthy location that will supply and repair your lighting choices. A place should be able to repair, an HPS Ballast or the ” target=’_blank’>Lamp Ballast.

They should be familiar with top of the line lighting and lighting styles. Once you know where you will be shopping, you can get to work making your lighting choices for each room of your home.

Just as it used to be, there should be different lighting options in different spaces. In some cases, light will need to be utilitarian and stylish, with the ability to change depending on what you are doing at different times. However, in general, lighting in a bedroom should be soft and relaxing. To shut out natural light, you may install black out shades. This enables you to sleep when the sun is shining. If this is the case, other lighting will need to make up the difference since you have shut out natural light. The same is true for rooms you typically think of as brighter like a kitchen or dining room.

Most of the time, you are going to want bright lights in your cooking and eating spaces. However, you may want softer lighting during romantic meals or later in the evening. Take a look around the rooms you are lighting and decide how to incorporate both methods of lighting.

Once you are set with utilitarian lighting, you can make fun choices for your ambient lighting. Lighting comes in so many styles you will be able to enhance any décor. Artists have incorporated light into their art installations and into sculpture. This means you can have a structure hanging on your walls or sitting on a table that is a piece of art, but that also provides light! This is a great way to bring style and art into a small space where you may not have room for two different pieces. Combine the two to save space and money, and achieve a great style.