Why should you take up tennis as a hobby?

Tennis is an intense sport.  While not everyone can go pro, taking up the sport as a hobby can benefit a person in many ways.  Over the past years, I have seen how playing tennis has improved my life.  Let me share with you some of the advantages that I have been experiencing:

Whole body workout

If you're not a gym person, tennis can be the best form of workout for you.  It engages the whole body and promotes cardiovascular health.  Compared to the usual gym routine, you'll end up enjoying running and chasing after the ball.  Instead of dreading physical activity, you'll actually look forward to some action on the court. 

Enhanced focus

Whenever I watch tennis games on TV, I always marvel at how focused the players are.  It seems that they are all driven to succeed.  But I noticed that my focus also improved not just during games but even during study time.  As a pre-med student, we have to deal with readings and lab work.  These days, I seem to be absorbing more of what we're learning thanks to my tennis training.

Better rest

When you're fueled by coffee, sometimes it becomes difficult to get deep sleep.  Ever since I took up tennis, my sleep quality has greatly improved.  I also don't feel tired even after studying until the wee hours.   The intense workout somewhat helps your body adapt easily.  When I don't have morning classes, I play during the morning.  It helps me stay awake and enthusiastic for the rest of the day. 

To start playing tennis, you don't really need an expensive racket and high-end shoes.  What's important is that you experience the thrill of the game. 

The name’s David Baer. I’m currently studying at the University of Minnesota majoring in Biology. To stay fit and healthy, I regularly play tennis. For more updates, visit this page.  It will work wonders for your mind and body. 

A Quick Guide For Golf Beginners: How To Get Started

So you want to get started in golfing. It looks like an intimidating sport, but get a head start in the needed skills, equipment, and golfing venue and you’re all set to enjoy the adventure. Here’s a mini guide for golf beginners.

For starters, here’s a quick history of golf. It can be traced back to China thousands of years ago, although the modern, 18-hole version today actually began in Scotland back in the 1400s. The first documented mention of the sport was its banning by Parliament in 1457, as it was deemed distracting to people undergoing military training. Golf was the ancient term for “club,” which means the game essentially translates to “club.”

Image source: Pixabay.com 

When discovering golf for the first time, it’s important to know about clubs. Focus on finding the kind of equipment that will help develop those skills with minimal expense. Prioritize learning, not buying the best clubs. That said, you may carry as many as 14 clubs in your bag, but if you’re a newbie you can start with a driver, a putter, a sand wedge, and supplement those items with a 6-iron, 8-iron, pitching wedge, and a fairway word or hybrid offering 18-21 degrees of loft. Eliminate the guesswork and try clubs before buying them.

There are important golf terms to memorize as well, such as golf tee, fairway, the green, the rough, hazard, bunker, and stroke. There’s also scoring terminology, including ace, eagle, birdie, par, bogey, double bogey, and triple bogey. Acquaint yourself with these and the rules of the game.

Image source: Pixabay.com 

Seek out the help of a golfer friend or a seasoned hobbyist in order to avoid the confusion and overwhelming feeling that many new golfers probably have. There are numerous tips to heed, such as taking dead aim, creating a solid stance, and developing the perfect posture. Making friends with your grip is also crucial – practice holding the club in the correct position even when not playing golf. Don’t forget to have fun and build wonderful memories!

David Baer is currently studying at the University of Minnesota majoring in biology. On weekends, he enjoys going out with friends, golfing, fishing, and playing tennis. Learn more on this page.

Top Fishing Lakes In Minnesota

With Minnesota being the land of 10,000 lakes, it’s immediately a prime fishing spot.  But with so many areas to choose from and with so many people visiting the state for game fishing, it can be quite difficult for first-timers to find the best ones.  Hereunder is a list of the ideal locales for catching those famed pikes, walleyes, and various trophy fish.

White Bear Lake

White Bear Lake is one of the largest lakes in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.  It is located northeast of the Twin Cities and promises anglers a shot at catching a plethora of fish, from the black bullhead, bluegill, and largemouth bass to the muskie, northern pike, and yellow perch.

Image source: outdoorsfirst.com

Lake Waconia

The term “Waconia” comes from the Sioux and means “fountain” or “spring.”  This lake is located in Carver County and is 3,080 acres wide.  It’s a great area for catching largemouth bass, walleye, and panfish.

Lake of the Woods

Lying on the borders of Ontario, Canada, this 70-mile wide lake is a world-class fishing spot for anglers keen on catching walleye, muskie, smallmouth bass, and even espying Minnesota’s largest fish, the Lake Sturgeon.

Mille Lacs

This large and relatively shallow lake is a great fishing destination for catching walleye, smallmouth bass, and the northern pike.  It is located near Garrison, about 100 miles north of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. What’s up, everyone. 

Image source: millelacssmallmouthalliance.com

My name is David Baer, a student at the University of Minnesota majoring in Biology. When I’m not busy with my schoolwork, I like to go fishing or playing golf, especially during the weekends. For similar reads, visit this page.

Fishing 101: Saltwater Vs. Freshwater Fish

The reputation of fish as one of the healthiest food in the world has only been further established after years of studies and research. Global health organizations have ranked fish near the top of their various most-recommended food lists.

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However, there is an ongoing debate on which type of fish is better, saltwater or freshwater fish? Due to the difference of the nature of their habitat, these fishes naturally have different sets of nutrients to offer.

According to a number of studies, the intake of saltwater fish such as trout, herring, salmon, and sardines can increase the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in the body. However, studies don’t show just how long before these fatty acids remain. The only sure thing is that regular intake of saltwater fish is needed to keep omega-3 at optimum levels. Freshwater fish, on the other hand, aren’t as abundant. In fact, the levels of DHA or EPA (both fatty acids) found in people who regularly ate freshwater fish, were negligible.

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However, freshwater fish also has protein and can be a good alternative solely for their nutritional content. If a person follows a diet that doesn’t allow them to eat saltwater fish, they may choose to eat freshwater fish and take omega-3 supplemental vitamins.

Hello, my name’s David Baer, and I’m currently studying at the University of Minnesota, majoring in biology. When I find myself with some time alone, I play golf or go fishing. Visit this blog to learn more about the stuff I love.

How Golf Can Benefit Your Body

At first glance, golf may not look like a sport that helps a person reach their maximum physical potential. Compared to sports like football, basketball, running, swimming, boxing, and mixed martial arts, golf looks rather tame, and golfers don’t look as fit as athletes from the aforementioned sports. But did you know that golf benefits the body more than you may expect? In fact, golf takes care of four vital systems of the body – skeletal, muscular, respiratory, and cardiovascular.

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Golf forces you to keep your posture up at all times. This benefits your skeletal system, especially in the long run. It strengthens bones by keeping them in ideal positions during the game itself. The fact that golf is a low-impact game makes it all more beneficial for the bone structure in people. 

Connected to bone structure benefits, golf helps your musculature by strengthening back muscles, due to the numerous swings you take in practice and in game. The amount of walking you do helps the legs develop muscle strength as well. 

Playing golf affords your lungs the best air you can breathe. Play a number of holes regularly, and your respiratory system will thank you for it. In line with all these, with getting good exercise and fresh air, it’ll be easy keep your cardiovascular system in tip-top shape. 

I say, play golf now and reap its rewards. 

I’m David Baer, student of Biology at the University of Minnesota. I love golf, tennis, rock music, and sci-fi books. Go to this blog for more about me and the stuff I love.

Two of the mystery genre’s great page turners

Mystery novels for sci-fi fans are as interesting as any novel from any genre (well, perhaps except romance -- we can’t stand romance). Many of the best books we’ve come across were mysteries. Perhaps it’s the way mystery novels tickle that curious part of the brain, or perhaps it’s the way they make you work out all the possible scenarios in your mind while reading it, or maybe it’s the often universe-exploding twist that floors you at the end. Whatever it is, everyone loves a good mystery.

Image source: royalbooks.com

Let’s check out two of the great ones. 

Patricia Highsmith’s 'Strangers on a Train' This book was released in the '50s and attained such popularity that it was made into a movie. Two men agree to murder each other’s wife so they can get away from it scot-free. The book and movie had a cult following, making its mark in the world today.  

Stephen King’s 'Misery' Master novelist Stephen King has written immortal works that grip people from the first page. “Misery” is one such novel. Though the element mystery here is somewhat different from what people may come to expect, reading through the whole book will keep you asking questions as to how the protagonist will end up. And given that it’s from King don’t be too optimistic about things. 

Image source: popsugar.com

Hello there. I’m David Baer, born and raised in Minnesota. Right now, I am a college student majoring in biology at the University of Minnesota. I’m a huge fan of sci-fi books or just books in general. Follow me on Twitter for more on the stuff I love.

The Most Influential Nebula Award-Winning Books

Science fiction and fantasy writers and critics have within their ranks quite a few award-giving bodies, which include the Hugo, the Nebula, and the World Fantasy Award. There are even separate groups giving prizes in film and other media. But easily one of the most respected and most prestigious is the Nebula.

The Nebula Awards is given to the best SF and fantasy work of a writer in the USA. It started doling awards annually in 1966 and is organized by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), a nonprofit association of professional science fiction and fantasy writers. In short, it’s very much like the genre’s Critics Choice Awards.

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The awards are given in four categories, (based on the length of works) and are announced and presented during the SFWA Nebula Conference. Over the decades, the Nebula has been given to some of the most important works of science fiction that have changed the way people look at the genre and its relevance and impact in contemporary culture.

Among the most influential winners for the best novel category is the Nebula’s first awardee, "Dune." Written by Frank Herbert, this highly symbolic novel about the battle for planetary spice began a celebrated series of books that would later become a cult film and a video game. Another is Daniel Keyes’ endearing and heartbreaking book about the repercussions of gaining sudden intelligence, "Flowers for Algernon."

Image source: genius.com

The feisty Ursula Le Guin has won the Nebula a record-breaking four times in three separate decades for "The Left Hand of Darkness," "The Dispossessed," "Tehanu: The Last Book of Earthsea," and "Powers." Later winners include the infamous author of the Sandman graphic novels Neil Gaiman for "American Gods."

Hi, my name’s David Baer, currently finishing a degree in biology at University of Minnesota. When I’m not out and about, I also enjoy reading science fiction books. For more on my interests, check out this Twitter page.