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So let’s talk about the seemingly dying breed of snake charmers. Exactly where did they come from? How did they become charmers of snakes and how do they do what they do?It is said that the Guru of Snake Charmers taught people to revere Reptiles rather than be afraid of them and that the art of charming snakes emerged from those who were in the business of treating people for snake bites. Those who sought to follow in the Guru’s footsteps were trained as to how to properly handle a snake and what to administer for Snake bites. These healers as they were called, also removed snakes from people’s homes and became known for their healing abilities and the ease with which they handled snakes.It is this ease these healers had with snakes that ushered in the era of Snake Charmers. The general belief is that the art of snake charming originated in Egypt and this is given creditability from the account of a showdown between a kings, sorcerers, and a man named Moses. But scholars hold that snake charming as we know it today probably originated in India. It is here we find the fine points of Snake Charming being defended as a family business.Dressed in traditional attire, having long hair wrapped in a turban, wearing beads and earrings our snake charmer sets out to find his audience. He carries his snake or snakes in a basket that is suspended over his shoulder on a long pole. When he finds the perfect spot he will sit down in front of his basket cross his legs and wait for the appropriate time to remove the lid.

Snakes

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Coming up with fly fishing gift ideas is a surprisingly simple task. Here are a few fly fishing gift ideas that will make great Christmas presents.

Fly Fishing Gift Ideas

Fly fishing is much more than just a rod, fly, water and fish. Don’t scoff. This is true and gives you plenty of fly fishing gift ideas for Christmas presents.

1. Wading Staff – Picture it in your mind. A clear, green river flowing through majestic trees. The sun filtering through the leaves of the shadowy banks. A fly fisherman wading out into the stream…slipping and falling on his butt in the water. Ahhh, it was going so well! A Fly Fishing Wading Staff can keep derrieres dry by giving you something to support yourself while walking across wet rocks and slimy things in the deep. Typical staffs retract into a shorter stub for easy packing. Expect to pay between $40 and $60 for something of solid construction. A great fly fishing gift.

2. Quick Seine Nets – Ask a fly fisher about how to pick the best fly for a location and you’ll get a lecture on nymphs. By nymphs, I mean the insects, not the randy historical figures. With fly fishing, insects tell the story on rivers. The Quick Seine Nets are tailored to help fisherman quickly and easily analyze the insect population at a fishing spot. The nets act like a sieve in the water and let you scoop up the local insect population. The size of a racquetball racket, you can free hand them or attach them to your fish nets. Quick Seine Nets come in a few sizes, but cost no more than $25. Just plug the name into a search engine to see the selection.

3. The Trout King – This book is the equivalent of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral for fly fishing enthusiasts. The story revolves around a fly fishing tournament in an out of the way location. The undefeated local angler goes against an out of town visitor. Both hate to lose. The friendly competition turns serious and the pages just start flipping buy. You can buy it online at any bookstore for $15 or so.

4. Nomad Fly Fishing Journals – A little self-promotion here. Nomad Fly Fishing Journals are compact writing journals that let anglers keep notes on their efforts. They can note the fishing conditions, which flies worked the best, who the fished with and notes on what they should do differently next time. You can click the link at the bottom of this article to see the journals and expect to pay $25 for the journal and waterproof case.

Frankly, it is pretty hard to go wrong when buying fly fishing gifts. Any of the above fly fishing gift ideas will make great Christmas presents.

Each year, colleges and universities from all over the nation send their men’s basketball teams to the “Last Frontier State” to the Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourney. The competition heats up the cold winter days and nights, as teams meet head on to battle for buckets. Colleges and universities get the opportunity to play against their top rivals and powerhouses of the game. These games draw in record crowds each year, as any basketball fan should not miss the chance to attend this fast paced pre season classic.

The main question on any sports fan’s mind is, why Alaska? The reason is simple, former University of Alaska Anchorage head coach, Bob Rachal found a loophole in the NCAA rules determining pre season play. In an effort to draw more attention to the state, the University of Alaska Anchorage, and the Seawolves athletic program, Rachal became the mastermind of what began as the Sea Wolf Classic. The NCAA rules stated any games played outside the contagious 48 states did not count towards a program’s pre determined allotment. For this reason, participants of the Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourney can get an early gauge of their teams prowess against national talent.

The first Sea Wolf Classic was held in 1978 for the ‘78-’79 basketball season and saw the Wolfpack of North Carolina State University crush the University of Louisville’s Cardinals. The tournament ended in 1978, leaving many wondering if it would become an annual event. Much to everyone’s relief, the Sea Wolf Classic became a Thanksgiving tradition in 1979, but under a new name.

Broadcaster Billy Packer is credited with changing the name from the Sea Wolf Classic to the Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourney back in 1979. In this stunning tournament, the title game came down to the University of Kentucky Wildcats and the Iona College Gaels. The Wildcats proved too powerful for the tiny New York school, and emerged victorious as the second champion of this fantastic new basketball challenge.

A list of past champions reads like a who’s who of College basketball, including NC State, Louisville, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, and UCLA to name a few.

The attendance may have been meager in the early days, but soon the action caught on, and now college basketball fans of all ages flock to the state for the Thanksgiving weekend Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourney. What better way to celebrate our national day of thanks than by cheering on teams from all across the country? Many hotels, cruises, and lodges have special packages designed with the college basketball fan in mind.

If you find you cannot wait until December to enjoy hot hoops action, head to Anchorage and watch the action melt away the snow! Plan a trip for the family and bring budding sports fans to experience the thrilling display of skill and sportsmanship, or make it a raucous occasion for celebration with your best hoops loving buds. Whoever you bring, just make sure you bring yourself to this annual college basketball showdown!