fyl.sky

Speaking Of Careers in Music… Recording Engineer, What’s That About?

2009-01-12T01:01:00.000-08:00

Known as Recording Engineers, Sound Engineers or Audio Engineers… this is your desired title, and the “who’s you” of professions. Your on your way to becoming partly responsible for possibly some of the most explosive music in existence! Actually, you could be partly responsible for some of the most interesting commercials and/or movies also. (depending on what directions and opportunities you pursue)

So how does it work? Well before any recording is done, the producer, artists and YOU will discuss the “desired sound” of the recordings. This may be done to some extent before the project is started or may be specific to certain tracks after the project has begun.

Here’s what you’ll most likely be in for. (this is just an example of many) It’s 6:00… PM! You arrive at the studio and start setting up the equipment and instruments needed for the upcoming… 12 HOUR session! You’re 1 to 2 hours earlier then everyone else. It’s your job to have the studio ready for recording before the music artists and producer arrives.

Finally, the recording party arrives and recording begins. The engineer is responsible for working the track board, computers and other technologies to achieve the “desired sound” earlier discussed by the recording party. That’s basically what goes on during sessions.

In addition the engineer is responsible for mastering the recordings usually after the session is over. This is often overseen by the producer. Basically the engineer will “balance” the recordings to sound consistent to listening. To elaborate… often when recording, the artists may not sound exactly as you would hear when listening to a finished album. Sometimes the vocals may be a little louder then the music or visa versa. It’s the engineer’s job to smooth the recordings out. An engineer may also add certain sound effects to a project to reach the “desired sound”, sometimes an echo here or synthesized vocals there, etc. It’s the engineer’s job to polish the recordings to what ever extent. Finally, the engineer will break down the equipment and instruments when the session is over.

So how do you find yourself in the studio recording some of the biggest names in showbiz?

Nowadays it starts with schooling. You will need vast knowledge of computers and recording equipment. From there expect to be an intern or assistant engineer. Through time and experience you will be trusted to engineer on you own and obtain some of the most valuable connections in entertainment. Have Fun!

Now getting back to your computer, right now your cursor is blinking at the end of the words: careers in music recording engineer…

Hit Enter!

Dave Weston is a music industry entrepreneur, song writer and music artist affiliate. He is also the author of the Insider Music Careers Guide. You can learn more about music industry careers at http://www.music-career-guide.com

An Introduction to 8-string guitar

2009-01-12T00:51:00.000-08:00

8-String guitar comes with eight strings. There are many variants of this musical instrument guitar, one maybe invented from Russia along with the 7-string guitar alternative in the 19th century. The musical instrument 8-string guitar has started gaining popularity very recently, notably among jazz artists such as Charlie Hunter, The Special Purpose, Richard Scott, and Terje Rypdal and other metal artists like Meshuggah, Korn guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer also had also been appeared with 8 string guitar during occasional live shows.

There are constantly increasing the number of online musical instrument store and musical instrument store offering 8 string guitars, and a production eight stings is been released during 2007 by Ibanez. Some of the other main manufacturing companies of 8 and also 9 strings guitars are Novax Guitars launched by Ralph Novak and Conklin Guitars.

Advantages of 8 string guitars:

• Full range of bass notes appears from A an octave lowers than the 5th guitar string, and up to the drop-D string.
• Latest 19-century model smaller scale and thin neck facilitates access to all 8 strings, for even Barres.
• It has the ability to play 10-string range of Mertz, and 7-string Coste range.
• It has the ability to play Baroque transcriptions at actual pitch.
• It plays Baroque 8-course lute pieces from originals.
• Play drop-D pieces with contact to the usual 6-string and drop-D fingerings.
• Low D and A quiver understandingly with 2 open strings.

This period balanced 8-string guitar shaped by Reis in about 1840 is a hard surviving example of the multi-bass guitars. It is designed after the well-known Viennese builder Anton Stauffer, as many Viennese builders copied the same Stauffer's design. Note that the additional 2 strings are not fretted and they are only the open string could be played. The headstock is a usual figure 8 shape, where the gathering for the 7th and 8th strings is interlocked.

The musical instrument 8 string variations can also be found in classical nylon strung instruments. They are usually tuned with two additional basses, which differ in pitch depending on the piece being played. Another general variation is to add an additional bass and treble string. The additional treble is almost forever tuned to A, while the added bass string generally falls on A, B, or C.

Different types of Guitar Amps

2009-01-12T00:40:00.000-08:00

Once you have selected your guitar, you require finding an amp to go with it. Today there are various options available depending on size, sound, amplifier technology and configuration. We are here to give you some useful and necessary information that would steer you through the maze.

Various types of Amplifiers

There are basically four types of guitar amplifiers: Solid-state (analog), Tube, Modeling (digital), and Hybrids.

Solid-state Amps - These guitar amps are recognized solid-state as they use transistors for their preamp and for power sections as an alternative of tubes. They are extremely trustworthy and hardly ever require repairs. They normally have a very fresh tone, even though many come with "distortion" channels also. These amps are all the rage with players looking for a strong, dependable touring amp.

Tube Amps - Tube amps are favored by many guitarists for their tepid, fat tone and as well for the "organic" distortion. Tube amps are generally sound louder than solid-state amps of the same wattage and have an exact "feel", which you do not acquire from solid-state amps. Most tube amps have different channels, which could be switched from clean to distorted tones instantly. Tube performance could also be deteriorating over time, so tubes require changing occasionally.

Modeling Amps (Digital Amps) - Modeling amp uses digital processors to reproduce the sound of traditional and contemporary tube technology. Using software that "models" the sound of tube amplifiers (and cabinets); these amps put the sound of various amps in one box. Modeling amps are programmable, and frequently have fitted digital effects like delay, chorus, etc. Some as well comprise of digital or even for analog outputs with orator simulation for going direct in to a recording border or P A system.

Hybrid Amps - Combining the best of each kind of guitar amp into one package, these amps use a real tube in combination with the solid state power part of their amps. Marshall Valve state amps use tubes in the preamp part and solid state circuitry in the power section to make a tube tone with no necessity the use of power tubes.

Rocky is a Copywriter of www.gigasonic.com

He has written many articles in various topics.For more information visit:For more information visit:
www.gigasonic.com/alesis-hd24-recorder.html

Prophetic Music & The Arts

2009-01-12T00:30:00.000-08:00

I believe that music and art is the language of God's heart and when we abide in Him, He communicates with our heart through music and song, revealing Himself to us and giving us revelations of His love and identity. In turn, we communicate to His heart our adoration and awe of who He is and all that is in Him. This is my definition of prophetic worship. As words connect with our minds, music connects with our heart. Music is able to convey a message which only our heart can understand. If our heart could speak, it would come out music. You can "feel" music and it provokes an emotional response. Through prophetic music and the arts, we are able to relate to His emotions, His pain and His love.
Prophetic music and art can capture the very heartbeat of God in a song, a tone, or a brush stroke, or even a splash of paint. We can experience prophetic revelations through many different styles of music and art as well. After all, God is the Master Creator. He creates through us and speaks to us through His vast and beautiful creation. God loves to communicate with us through prophetic music and art... Of course there are so many other ways in which the Lord will speak to us, but there is something about prophetic music and art that can communicate His love and carry us into the very heart of God Himself... the Oracle Flame.
The "Oracle" was the innermost sanctuary of the temple in the Old Testament where the glory of God resided. It is the inner nucleus of all that is Him and is now accessible through the conduit of His blood. This is the place in which we encounter the energy of God, which is His love. An "oracle" is also a revelation or a place of revelation. A place in which we experience the immensity and fervor of this love in it's many facets and expressions. Only here may we know Him. Only here may we be transformed into His likeness and reflect the light of His glory. Only here may we know true love. Only from this place may we truly love. Here we fall in love with Him again and become His Bride. Here we receive His authority, His power, His energy, the all-encompassing, eternal force of God... love.
In the Oracle there is a Flame. A massive, raging, roaring, violent, searing, all-consuming pillar of fire. This fire is His love. It is the source of all that is good. It is life, it is the very energy that sustains us. It was the creative force that caused the universe to be. It is His life-giving and death-crushing power, which heals and destroys. It is a balm and it is a weapon. It is the nucleus of life itself. The Lord wants to fan these flames of love upon us until we are completely consumed in it. Here we must abide. Here we must remain, never to leave. He is calling us to abide in the Flame, to live in the Flame and to become the Flame. To be flames of love in this dark age.
When we engage the Flame and immerse ourselves in His love, we will take on His nature, we will become like Him. We will become His intermediaries on the earth, just as a bride represents her husband. We will be His emissaries of love, directly channeling this life-giving energy into the hearts of those with whom we connect. This is the power which transforms entire communities, it is the power which heals our land, it is the power which can disarm the greatest of foes. It is not our knowledge or words or actions or faith alone which can do this, but love. Through His love, we receive His vast knowledge. His words will be on our tongue. We will act out of love and have the faith of a child. Our very existence will be love. Everything we do will be motivated by love. Love will be the source and root of all that we are, all that we say and all that we do.
We are called into the heart of God. He is inviting, enticing and drawing us into the realm of His holy presence. He has been softly whispering and gently persuading, and now He is persistently beckoning, adamantly warning, intently shouting and fiercely roaring. He is desperately crying out to us to come away with Him to the intimate love chamber of His heart. Will His Bride respond?
My heart is to see the Church return to the source, return to the Flame of their first love to become once again His true Bride on the earth. My vision is to see His Bride arise to her rightful place of authority beside her Lover in a perfect and death-defying union which will cause even the greatest of Hell's beasts to tremble in sheer terror. It will cause the entire world to stand in awe. It will cause angels to salute in respect. We have not known this kind of power because we have not known this kind of love. In His love we will have greater vision because we will see through His eyes. In His love we will have the courage to follow our dreams because we will be motivated by love. In His love, we will abandon all fear, we will know His truth, we will feel His emotions, we will speak His words. Our hearts will beat with His love. We will absorb His nature. We will be one with Him. We must abide in His love continually and let His flame consume us. We must get back to the Oracle Flame and here we must remain.
My purpose is to allow the heart of the Lord to communicate with His Bride through the spiritual conduit of music and art and to allow our hearts to communicate back to Him in worship. When this exchange takes place and we truly have a revelation of who He is, we will then have the authority to prophesy to the nations the mysteries of God and the wonders of His love. This prophetic worship is the key.
My vision is to facilitate a journey into the heart of God through prophetic worship, to express and declare His heart, passion, emotions and message to His Bride and to the nations of the world through a revelation of His love in the Oracle Flame.
The purpose of http://www.oracleflame.com is to encourage you in experiencing this revelation through the prophetic arts.
So sample the music, browse the art, explore the revelation vault or go connect with others of like mind in the blog or chat... and let the Master Creator speak to your heart and drench you in the flames of His love.

New Year's Eve: Is it the single biggest letdown of the year?

2009-01-12T00:20:00.000-08:00

It’s the last week of the year and suddenly everybody you know is on this crazed mission to find a rocking party for New Year’s Eve. The big question you ask everybody you bump into is “What are you doing on New Year’s Eve”? and some of them has a perfectly planned out response – so as to not look like a loser – and some people just haven’t given the idea a second thought.

What is it about New Year’s Eve that gets everybody so worked up? No matter where in the world you are on the 31st of December, if you’re not “doing anything” you’re automatically classified as a loser. You spend all your energy chasing this surreal dream of a magical night. But what for?

A great party, gorgeous people and an international DJ..
A perfect way to spend New Year’s Eve entails a great party with gorgeous people and an international DJ playing the most amazing set. Sounds almost perfect on paper, just as long as it’s not superficial. Obviously there are people who are into those types of parties otherwise it wouldn’t be such a huge success, year after year after year. But if you’re not into that type of thing and you’re spending you’re week’s pay on a VIP all areas access pass just to show everybody that you were there, then who are you actually fooling?

Let’s face it, if you’re not into trance, dance and house beats there really is nothing for you to do on the most important night of the year. Or is there?

Here’s the deal..
The solution is simple. Instead of having that frantic, panicked grin on your face every time someone asks you what you are going to do on New Years Eve, throw the question right back at them. The only reason why they’re asking you is probably because they don’t know what they are going to be doing themselves. So why not invite him/her with you and your buddies, the more people the more interesting the party. And it doesn’t have to be a raucous, call-the-cops-to-put-the-music-off kind of party. The possibilities are endless and the sky’s the limit.

Make your own night to remember
Different people means different personalities and there is guaranteed at least one interesting person in the room, one person you have failed to get to know properly, one joker, one hot chic/guy who came with your friend from work, one person that knows how to work the grill and one person who knows someone that knows someone whose cousin has an empty house that night. Isn’t it also weird that you bump into all the people that you haven’t seen in like decades, just before New Year’s? So make the most of it. Invite them round too.

And even if you don’t have an empty house, go out to an arb place where all of you can just chill out and have fun (whatever that’s supposed to mean).

If you are going to be at one of those infamous parties that gets people talking about it for the next year, remember that it’s the people you spend it with that actually count. You don’t NEED to be at the trendiest hotspots or the most elite nightclubs to have a great time. It's the people you're with and the mindset you have that all form part of the makings of a great night.

About The Author:
MyMusicSearch.co.za is the South African music portal for music and music lifestyle in South Africa. Find everything you'll ever need to get fuelled on local talent, this one's for the fans.

Police Tickets Keep Fans Wrapped Around Their Finger

2009-01-12T00:10:00.000-08:00

Legendary rock band, The Police are set to bring their crowd-pleasing performance to both Toronto and Montreal with two shows apiece in late July, before returning to the Air Canada Centre for a final Canadian date in November. There are plenty of ticket deals to be found, as amateur ticket speculators and professional ticket brokers from all over North America have flooded the secondary ticket market with various quantities of inventory, which they had purchased in hopes of turning a quick profit in the volatile and sometimes lucrative secondary market.

The Police Tour is arguably the most sought after ticket of the year with over 1,770,000 tickets sold to date, according to ThePolice.com. The 80抯 rock-trio kicked off their highly anticipated reunion tour last month with a three-night run in Vancouver, BC, initiating the start of a world tour with more than 70 performances currently scheduled.

With face value prices originally as high as $240 per ticket and two to three times that amount in the secondary market, it came as a pleasant surprise to fans in Vancouver, that come opening night, prices had dropped 200% from where they were when the tour was first announced. For their first official concert in 23 years, prices bottomed out to the point where tickets were sold for half of the face value, ($49-$89 each), as listed on ShowTimeTickets.com.

The world tour is scheduled to end early next year, following two North American legs, a European tour, and dates throughout Latin America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The last date of the European tour, October 19th at Cardiff抯 Millennium Stadium, sold out within an hour of going on sale, setting a record for the venue previously held at three hours by Oasis and the Foo Fighters in 2005, as reported by BBC News.

Remaining Canadian Dates:

Air Canada Centre - Toronto - July 22, 2007 - Tickets starting at $165

Air Canada Centre - Toronto - July 23, 2007 - Tickets starting at $165

Bell Centre - Montreal - July 25, 2007 - Tickets starting at $150

Bell Centre - Montreal - July 26, 2007 - Tickets starting at $75

Air Canada Centre - Toronto - Nov 8, 2007 - Tickets starting at $315

*All prices as of June 21st, 2007 on ShowTimeTickets.com

Alison Moyet The Turn CD Review (W14)

2009-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

With so much fine music available today, do we really need a new album from 80's songstress Alison Moyet? Well, yes, actually we do - a new Alison Moyet album is always welcome to this reviewer's ears.

Alison's career went commercially south with the release of the Hoodoo album back in 1991, and she hasn't been able to recapture her former commercial success since. However, while Alison was hemorrhaging fans at an alarming rate, those who stuck by her were rewarded with some of the best music of her career; the aforementioned "Hoodoo", the brilliant "Essex" (1994) and the career-defining "Hometime" (2002). Quality control took a sharp decline with the release of her utterly forgettable album of covers, "Voice", in 2004.

Alison is back with her first album of original material in 5 years, "The Turn", which has been described by her label, W14, as being the album that "Alison Moyet was born to write and record." Fantastic for her - but is it any good?

Well, yes and no.

The album kicks off strongly with the cracking lead single 'One More Time', which acts as a brilliant warm up for the album's standout track 'Anytime at All' - a song of soaring beauty which showcases Alison's voice superbly. 'Can't Say It Like I mean It', 'The Sharpest Corner (Hollow), 'It's Not The Thing Henry' and 'A Guy Like You' are each trademark Alison Moyet, and are delivered with the passion that you would expect from one of the best female artists that England has ever produced.

The inclusion of the three songs from the play "Smaller", in which Alison starred alongside comic genius Dawn French, seems odd and unnecessary considering that these songs were heard more than 12 months ago; their placement on an album of new material smacks of filler rather than killer. 'Fire' is one of the weakest songs on the album and Alison seems to have forgotten to write a chorus for it.

Overall it's a strong collection of songs, and is a marked improvement over Voice, but you can't help feeling that it's all been done and heard before. Perhaps it's time for Alison to bring something new to the table to keep her remaining fans happy.

3 out of 5.

To learn more about Alison Moyet or The Turn, visit the Alison Moyet Forum.

This review may be republished in unedited form.

The Most Powerful Tool in The World - The Goal and the Plan

2009-01-11T23:50:00.000-08:00

Ok, once the hair on the back of your neck has gone down we can get started with the planning process. I don't know what it is about "planning" that gets so many of us creative types squirming in our seats. I've had monumental arguments with fellow bandmates over planning and I've even had bands break up because of it. Musicians seem to think that goals and plans are anti-creative or anti-artistic. That couldn't be further from the truth. Goals and plans serve to focus our energy and focus our creativity. They actually help us produce more and better art. If you only absorb one concept from this set of 21 let it be this: "Set Goals, Make Plans to Achieve Them, and Work on Your Plans Everyday." Nothing else can mobilize you and move you forward faster than a good plan and a little discipline. Now let's talk about how to make a plan.

1 Decide Exactly What You Want. Pick a goal. If you're new at this, start small. You don't have to reinvent jazz with you first goal. Pick something that you know you can achieve. Something challenging but doable. If you don't believe that you can achieve it, you will not. Make sure that it is measurable, that you will be able tell when you have completed it. Make it detailed and specific. For instance, don't say "I want to become better at playing in all twelve keys." Instead, decide to memorize the melody to the song "I Got Rhythm" in all twelve keys and be able to perform it at 160 BPM in any key from memory.

2 Write It Down in Vivid Detail. Write it down on paper. With as much detail as possible. What exactly will you be able to do when your goal is accomplished? How will you know when you've accomplished your goal? How will you measure it? The more clearly defined your goal is, the greater the likelihood of achieving it. Physically writing it down on paper can not be over-emphasized. Write and re-write your goals daily. This will keep your mind focused and your "eyes on the target."

3 Give Your Goal a Deadline Without a deadline a goal is simply a wish. Decide when you will achieve your goal. On what date will you be able to perform "I Got Rhythm" in all twelve keys from memory? If you find that you are not going to hit your deadline, simply create a new one. Not to say that deadlines should be changed on a whim. You should always strive to hit your goals on time, but there will be occasions when you will have to modify your plan. As you practice this method you will get better and better at estimating how long a goal will take to complete.

4 Make a List Write down everything you can think of that you will have to do to achieve this goal. List every single step. Break your goal down into tiny bite-size pieces that you can complete in one practice session. As you think of more steps, add them to your list. This is how you accomplish a big goal. You have to break it down into the actual steps that you will complete in your daily practice sessions.

5 Put Your List in Order Now turn your list into an actual plan. Put every step in order. What will you have to do first? Second? And so on. This will now serve as your blueprint. This blueprint will move you forward fast. With out a blueprint you are at the mercy of luck and chance. You are simply meandering around aimlessly. It's kind of like firing a bow and arrow with a blindfold on. It's worse actually. It's like firing a bow and arrow with a blindfold on and no target. You could hit anything, but chances are you will hit nothing. With a plan, it's as if you have a target in front of you, there's plenty of light and your blindfold is gone. You can work until you hit the target, and then move on to the next one.

6 Take Action Go practice. Get busy. Work on your plan. Action is the key to success. Without action you cannot accomplish anything. With action you will accomplish great things. Even if your plan is flawed you can accomplish a lot, simply by taking action. Action, Action and more Action.

7 Practice and Work on Your Plan Everyday Develop the habit and discipline of practicing and working on your plan every single day. Even if you only have twenty minutes to practice, do it. Learn something or take a tiny, tiny step forward. You will be amazed by how much you can learn and how fast your music can progress by utilizing this formula. This is the most powerful tool to help you progress on your musical journey and become a monster jazz musician.

Free Guitar Lessons Online: The Most Critical Fact

2009-01-11T23:40:00.000-08:00

You're learning guitar because you want to play on your guitar your favorite music, and you want to enjoy the feeling of drawing out of your guitar those enticing sounds.

And you want to learn to play your guitar in an optimum way, so you'll awaken the admiration of everybody listening to you.

And you can achieve your goals, when you take into account a few and very important concepts, specially when you are self-teaching.

I won't tell you that they are easy. I抣l tell you that you can definitively do them, just putting will and work. Like everything deserved in life.

Let抯 go through them.

Attitude: It is the main thing you must have in mind. I'm talking here about a strong and decided state of mind and body that puts you on the track of all the effort needed to meet your goals. Without hard work you won't get anything great in life. You won't even be a fair guitar player.

Listen in a different way: Until now most likely you listened just to enjoy it. From now on, you' listen music to enjoy it and learn from it. You'll listen trying to find out how the player is playing every specific part of the piece; what is the player intending to give; what difficulties is the player encountering, and how is he/she going through them; how would you like to have that part played.

Practice daily: Yes! Practice daily! Not less than two hours a day (one in the morning, and one in the afternoon, evening or night). I told you that it would be hard.

Practice efficiently: During the time segments you assigned to practicing, do just that.

Practice. Practice the lessons, exercises, scales, chords, pieces you must practice. Be clearly sincere with yourself. Don抰 fool yourself, thinking that you are doing your practice when you're only playing something you like to play and not what you must play.

Play with others: Whenever possible, specially when you have reached a playing knowledge and skills (and it isn't required very much), play sometimes with other guitar players.

You'll be surprised about how much you can learn.

Look for a teacher: Yes. Look for a teacher. If you are learning to play guitar on your own, there抣l be a time when you'll need the guidance and advices of a guitar teacher.

There are many things than cannot be written and read. They must be shown and explained over the guitar itself. And I guarantee you that you'll be amazed about what you will learn.

Remember. Attitude, change your listening habits, practice daily and efficiently, play with others whenever possible, and have a teacher to make your knowledge perfect.

There's no mystery in learning to play the guitar, but though rewarding it's a way of hard work.

Take it like that, and you'll become a very good guitar player.

You will find more very useful tips and advices visiting the resources in the Author's Signature paragraph below.

Learn How To Sing High Notes

2009-01-11T23:30:00.000-08:00

Amongst the vast range of vocal works, you will find high notes sung in most of the glorious, heroic, influential, lofty and passionate musical performances. It抯 the real greatness bought by the high notes. Such notes often appear in the climaxes of musical works and inspire the emotions of all who hear them.

Audiences love to listen to high notes and singers like to produce them, so this ideal quirk makes singing high notes hugely desirable all round!

Singing high notes could be described as almost instinctive and is indeed within the human nature. Throughout the world, there will be people of all backgrounds, including native minorities from various countries, who sing high notes in the most passionate manners when their emotions are excited. Letting out feelings via high-note vocals is a universal form of expression.

Whatever the reasons may be, it抯 true to say that people who enjoy learning to sing are usually in favor of high-note singing. This phenomenon not only occurs in singers who are already of the high voice range but also exists for those in the low voice group as well. However, desperately shouting high notes is extremely dangerous. People are often misled by the thought that the higher the notes they抳e reached by forced straining, the more success they have achieved. Without basic foundation and mastering of the correct singing skills of how to sing high notes, however, this shouting method does much more harm than good!

The singing of high notes actually belongs in the advanced stage of vocal training. There is a lot of confusion surrounding this area of singing and too many people tend to rely on their own methods, or blindly imitate their singing idols to produce high notes with uncontrolled, indiscriminate shouting, causing a lot of negative consequences.

Many have developed severe vocal deficiency.

Although I have rich knowledge and experience in the area of singing high notes, I do not actually advocate that people go ahead and sing notes that exceed their ability, nor do I advocate that people sing high notes frequently without the foundation of knowing how to sing them correctly. Besides, high notes are not all there is to the average vocal composition. The performance of a piece of vocal work is determined by many factors; it should be comprehensive and all-rounded in nature, delivering various aspects of sound to the audience抯 ear.

Nevertheless, singing beautiful and enchanting high notes is still a most stirring idea and is one to be encouraged. But being able to sing them well requires training in order to understand the right method for how to sing high notes.

Crash

2009-01-11T20:02:00.000-08:00

Rarely do I find myself equally liking and disliking a movie but that is exactly where I find myself with Crash, Paul Haggis’ first film following the critically acclaimed Million Dollar Baby. Crash follows a group of people in L.A. as their lives collide unexpectedly and violently over a forty-eight hour period.

Crash works because it takes an honest and serious look at racial, ethnic and class relations in Los Angeles a city that is the epicenter of such tensions. Instead of just offering the same overused and overdone stereotypes, Crash forces you to look at what we think we know about these issues and forces you to look at them from a point of view that may not have previously considered.

The movie is helped in part by the amazing performances of the cast. As star studded as the cast is that doesn’t necessarily guarantee great acting but in Crash the actors more then deliver and there is more then one Oscar worthy performance in the film.

Don Cheadle is outstanding as usual as a hardworking detective whose mother loves his thug younger brother then she does him. Matt Dillon is more then convincing as a bigoted cop who is caring for his ailing father and Sandra Bullock’s performance as the wasp wife of the district attorney who is very honest about her contempt and fear of anyone who doesn’t look like her is arguably the best of her career. It’s easy to forget that Bullock is a pretty good actress considering her recent choices in films (think Miss Congeniality 1 and 2 come to mind) and rarely have we seen her in a dramatic role, but she does an excellent job here that is more than worthy of a little gold man.

Crash doesn’t work because in order to tell its tale it relies too heavily on coincidence. The movie wants you to believe that all of these lives intersect in a two day span in a way that irrevocably changes everyone’s life and for many their view of the world. I realize that L.A. is a small town in that everybody knows somebody but give me a break. I don’t think Matt Dillon’s character is the only cop in the city or Michael Pena as the only locksmith. I don’t believe Terrance Howard’s was the only other person driving a black navigator or one of the young thugs just happens to have a cop for a brother. The movie tries hard to make you believe that all the coincidences are possible but it just doesn’t work.

I can accept that the lives of these characters intersect here and there but the movies insistence that they all connect in some way takes away the level of reality that the movie strives so hard to achieve. Everyone fitting in this nice little circle rings false and is actually completely unnecessary to the telling of the story.

Crash also suffers because it offers little to no analysis of these issues. It more or less says, “Here it is do with it what you may.” I didn’t expect answers and would have been very disappointed had the film tried to offer any but if offers very little in the way of hope and when you lay such heavy material on an audience you should at least offer some hope that things can and will be better.

Crash is a must see movie. I think in a country that has managed to convince itself that race issues no longer exist this film is a stark reminder that that is far from reality and that there is still a lot that needs to be done and that should be done. Often we don’t have the opportunity or we simply don’t want to look at the world outside of the little box we have created for ourselves. Crash forces you to look outside of that box and in the end I believe you will be better for it.

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and owner of PrologueReviews.com. To read more reviews by Tamika or to have your book, music or film reviewed visit http://www.prologuereviews.com

Sith Connects the Dots

2009-01-11T19:52:00.000-08:00

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith does exactly what it has to do, no more and no less. It brings each of the characters into place for the real Star Wars to begin by connecting the dots between the two ponderous prequels that preceded it and the magical movies from the late 70’s and early 80’s that started this phenomenon. It does so competently, but doesn’t really add anything new, in my opinion, to the overall saga. Having seen all of the prequels now, I’m not sure that Darth Vader’s backstory was even worth telling.

It’s possible that the problem is larger that the flaws built into George Lucas’ movies. It’s hard to take Vader all that seriously as an icon of evil when he spends so much time on TV these days chopping mop handles with his light saber and ‘force’ choking talking M%26Ms. How seriously could we take Hannibal Lector if he was on TV every commercial break telling us how he likes to eat his Whopper with some fava beans and a nice Chianti? Of course, Star Wars was the movie that created modern movie marketing and merchandizing, so maybe its poetic justice that it gets all the life sucked out of it by being oversold. It hasn’t seemed to hurt the bottom line, but for me it takes all the magic out of the movie.

As for the movie itself, it manages to tell the story of Anakin Skywalker’s descent into darkness competently. Even Hayden Christensen manages to be somewhat convincing as the future dark lord. You certainly sense that the character is more confident and at ease once he has embraced the darkness. But it’s no great performance, not even as marginally chilling as the performance Anthony Hopkins has given in the above mentioned role. I don’t know if Christensen lacks the chops to play truly dark or Lucas lacks the talent to direct truly dark, but for all of the darkness promised in this movie, I just didn’t see it. Even the Emperor seemed like a lightweight compared to what I remembered from Return of the Jedi. Physically both Anakin and Palpatine manage to wreak a lot of havoc, killing one lifeless character after another, but because we don’t really care about these characters it has almost no impact. Much is made of Anakin killing the Jedi Younglings, but every time they talk about it it’s “Anakin killed the younglings.” Nobody says the word “children,” which is the key to the horror of the moment. Lucas, knowing how many children would be in the audience, probably wanted to avoid talking about dead children, but by using a word like ‘youngling’ he detaches his audience from the tragedy and Vader from his darkness.

Anakin’s fall into darkness is convincing enough, if somewhat contrived. The loyalty conflict between serving the Jedi and the legitimate authority of the Chancellor would have been a more interesting story than the nonsense about Padme. Anakin’s visions of her death in childbirth lead him to seek the power over life and death one can gain from the dark side. Apparently in the vast technocracy of Coruscant pre-natal care is unheard of, since Padme didn’t know she was having twins, but it’s hard to imagine that many women die from childbirth in such an advanced society. Lucas gives us this as an excuse to have sympathy for Vader, a reasonable explanation for his fall into darkness. It would have been more interesting to have him choose to defend the Chancellor not because of some dark power the man had over life and death, but because he saw him as the legitimate leader of the government threatened by a Jedi coup. Anakin could’ve fallen on the wrong path thinking he was doing the right thing, which is the way many good people come to be evil. Rather we are given a character that chooses darkness as a means to an end, but a character Lucas still wants us to have sympathy for.

As for Padme, one has to wonder what happened to this character. She went from feisty fighter to pregnant lump. The only reason she’s in this movie is to give Anakin a reason to go dark and to give birth to Luke and Leia in time for them to be in place for Episode IV. After all the things she fought so hard for in the previous movies, you think she would want to stay alive and fight for her children, rather than just give up and die. Yet that is what she does. Other characters are also just part of Lucas’ giant game of connect the dots. One gets the impression that Jimmy Smits’ Bail Organa could’ve been a really interesting character in the prequel trilogy, providing some of the sorely missed Han Solo type charm to the series, but all he’s good for is saving Obi Wan and Yoda and providing a home for the future Princess Leia. Samuel L. Jackson is wasted as Mace Windu, his brief light saber duel with Palpatine is mostly forgettable, and his death was almost laughable. Obi Wan, Yoda and Palpatine are treated better by Lucas’ story, but then they are a vital part of the next three episodes and are not as easily dismissed as poor Padme was.

In terms of action and visuals this movie certainly delivers everything a Star War fan could want. It does a better job of being a Star Wars movie than Attack of the Clones, but still falls shorts, in my opinion, of capturing the magic of the original trilogy. Some critics have said that Episode III is a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions, and it certainly has all of the elements of one, but it’s executed more like a Saturday morning cartoon than one of Shakespeare’s plays. But maybe that’s all that it is, or all Star Wars ever was, a big flashy Saturday morning cartoon.

Kingdom of Heaven

2009-01-11T19:42:00.000-08:00

Kingdom of Heaven is Ridley Scott抯 way of trying to recapture the success of Gladiator and to turn Orlando Bloom into the international sensation and instant leading man that Crowe became after is Oscar winning performance in that Gladiator. I don抰 fault Bloom for trying. I know he had to be thinking how could he lose? Sure it抯 an epic drama and none of the other recently released historical epics (including his Troy) have come anywhere near the success of Gladiator, but Dreams has Ridley Scott, Gladiator抯 mastermind at the helm, he couldn抰 go wrong卹ight? Well, that抯 not exactly what happened. See someone forgot to tell Orlando that he抯 not Russell Crowe. And while he looked damn good in those elf ears, it takes much more then a pretty face to pull off an epic drama the likes of Kingdom of Heaven and unfortunately for us all Bloom just doesn抰 have it.

I hate to criticize Orlando. I do. I think he抯 gorgeous and love to watch him on the big screen and he抯 not a bad actor he just doesn抰 have the acting chops or the screen presence to be convincing as the salvation of a nation. Heaven tells the story of Balian (Bloom) a lowly blacksmith who has lost his child and then his wife to suicide. He soon learns he has a nobleman for a father who has returned to recruit him on his journey to go and fight the holy Crusades and save Jerusalem from falling back into the hands of the Muslims led by the historic military leader Saladin. Agreeing to go in hopes of being able to atone for his wife抯 suicide, he soon learn that knowing one抯 enemy isn抰 as clear as knowing where your religious beliefs lie.

Outside of Bloom not having what it takes to carry the roll of Balian, Heaven doesn抰 work because the story is choppy and unclear. Scott decides to tell several stories: the jockeying for power amongst the Christians, the tenuous treaty between King Leopold and Saladin, Saladin and his relationship with his people, and an unnecessary love story that only seems to be there so there can be an excuse to see a semi-nude Orlando and instead of seeming interesting and entertaining it all just came across as one big convoluted mess.

Instead of all of these mini tales the movie would have been much more interesting had it just focused on Saladin抯 and Balian抯 grudging but shared respect for one another and the battle over Jerusalem. Instead we are left with a lot of unnecessary screen time filled by boring sub-plots and a badly used Edward Norton who is stuck behind a tin mask mumbling for a good portion of the movie. Talk about bad use of an actor, Norton would have made a much better Balianl then Bloom and might have been able to stir up some emotions and excitement where Orlando could not.

Despites these gaffes, Kingdom of Heaven does offer some notable performances namely Jeffrey Irons who plays Tiberius a battle weary Sheriff of Jerusalem and commander of his own troops who is vehemently opposed to breaking the treaty they have with Saladin and David Thewalis the Hospitaler and Balian\'s father抯 friend and subsequently the one who helps Balian become the man his father wanted him to be.

While relatively entertaining, Kingdom of Heaven is ultimately a disappointment. I expected more out of Bloom but I really expected a great deal more out of Scott, after all he is the guy who brought us Gladiator and help turn Russell Crowe into a house hold name. Unfortunately, for everyone Kingdom of Heaven is no Gladiator.

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and owner of PrologueReviews.com. To read more reviews by Tamika or to have your book, movie or film reviewed visit http://www.prologuereviews.com

Monster in Law

2009-01-11T19:32:00.000-08:00

Monster in Law marks Jane Fonda’s return to the big screen after a fifteen year absence and Jennifer Lopez’s return to film after the Bennifer debacle. Monster in Law tells the story of Viola (Fonda) a Barbara Walters-esque reporter who loses her job to a young, blonde skinny Minnie who she thought was there to fetch her coffee. Upon learning this news she has an on air breakdown and after some time in a psyche hospital she leaves only to learn that her only child Kevin (Michael Vartan) is going to marry some girl (Lopez) that she has never met. At this point hijinks ensue (think Meet the Parents with the women at each other’s throats instead of the men) and an all out war erupts between Fonda and Lopez with Vartan’s character remaining completely clueless. I was under the impression this was supposed to be a comedy, except someone forgot to tell Anya Kochoff that when writing a comedy script the jokes should occur throughout the entire movie not just the last half hour or instead of a comedy you end up with a bumbling mess that makes you cringe instead of laugh and leaves you wondering how Klute’s Bree Daniel and yes, how even the Wedding Planner chose this as their comeback film.

In Jane’s defense she did the best she could with the script she had. It is hard to make Lemonade with rotten lemons, and that is just what this script is…rotten. The jokes were played out and unfunny and even the usually funny Wanda Sykes couldn’t save this stinker. Also, Fonda just isn’t suited to physical comedy. She tried: there were all the requisite falls, slaps and over exaggerated reactions but none of it played well. When I was supposed to be laughing I shuddered thinking, “Wow, could this possible get any worse?” Fonda’s role would have been more suited to a Streisand, a Midler or a Streep, they would have that aging, vindictive diva role down and might have been able to save the film, I stress the might.

Fonda wasn’t the only one cast badly. Jennifer Lopez as the sweet, innocent, underachieving, slightly dimwitted and very naive Charlie was about as believable as Ben Affleck saying “I do.” The scene where she was gushing about the importance of marriage and how her marriage to Greg was going to be the most important day of her life was one of the few funny moments in the movie, even though it wasn’t scripted to be so. You just can’t sell Lopez as the gushing, sweet, anti-diva Charlie. It’s just not possible. Let’s face it, we’ve seen too many marriages, too many divorces, heck too many engagement rings and this is the same woman who purportedly had an all white clause in her rider and if it wasn’t fulfilled all hell broke loose…sweet and innocent, I think not.

And poor Michael Vartan. I guess he was just happy to have a starring role in a movie so it didn’t matter to him that he was little more then a glorified prop, a well dressed extra, a poor excuse to propel this sorry excuse for a plot along for the 102 minutes it bumbled across the screen. Vartan had very few lines, those he had were just plain bad and he then was unceremoniously dismissed for two-thirds of the movie just so Fonda and Lopez could go at each other without him being present. The movie could have really gone on without him. As it was it was quite easy to forget that he existed or that he was even the reason why of all the shenanigans in the movie were happening to begin with.

Believe it or not Monster in Law wasn’t all bad. About two thirds in something amazing happened: thanks to a doctor who was really a waiter, a bowl of gravy and a really bad allergic reaction to nuts I had my first real laugh of the movie. Also, watching Fonda squirm as her mother in law played by Elaine Stritch, shows up was priceless. Those scenes were the best acted and best scripted scenes of the entire film. They almost made the movie worth watching.

All in all stay away. Monster in Law isn’t worth your time or money. Seeing Jane Fonda back on the big screen was nice but I really wish she would have chosen a better vehicle to make her long awaited comeback.

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and owner of PrologueReviews.com. To read more reviews by Tamika or to have your book, movie or film reviewed visit http://www.prologuereviews.com

Monster in Law

2009-01-11T19:22:00.000-08:00

Monster in Law marks Jane Fonda’s return to the big screen after a fifteen year absence and Jennifer Lopez’s return to film after the Bennifer debacle. Monster in Law tells the story of Viola (Fonda) a Barbara Walters-esque reporter who loses her job to a young, blonde skinny Minnie who she thought was there to fetch her coffee. Upon learning this news she has an on air breakdown and after some time in a psyche hospital she leaves only to learn that her only child Kevin (Michael Vartan) is going to marry some girl (Lopez) that she has never met. At this point hijinks ensue (think Meet the Parents with the women at each other’s throats instead of the men) and an all out war erupts between Fonda and Lopez with Vartan’s character remaining completely clueless. I was under the impression this was supposed to be a comedy, except someone forgot to tell Anya Kochoff that when writing a comedy script the jokes should occur throughout the entire movie not just the last half hour or instead of a comedy you end up with a bumbling mess that makes you cringe instead of laugh and leaves you wondering how Klute’s Bree Daniel and yes, how even the Wedding Planner chose this as their comeback film.

Fonda wasn’t the only one cast badly. Jennifer Lopez as the sweet, innocent, underachieving, slightly dimwitted and very naïve Charlie was about as believable as Ben Affleck saying “I do.” The scene where she was gushing about the importance of marriage and how her marriage to Greg was going to be the most important day of her life was one of the few funny moments in the movie, even though it wasn’t scripted to be so. You just can’t sell Lopez as the gushing, sweet, anti-diva Charlie. It’s just not possible. Let’s face it, we’ve seen too many marriages, too many divorces, heck too many engagement rings and this is the same woman who purportedly had an all white clause in her rider and if it wasn’t fulfilled all hell broke loose…sweet and innocent, I think not.

Believe it or not Monster in Law wasn’t all bad. About two thirds in something amazing happened: thanks to a doctor who was really a waiter, a bowl of gravy and a really bad allergic reaction to nuts I had my first real laugh of the movie. Also, watching Fonda squirm as her mother in law played by Elaine Stritch, shows up was priceless. Those scenes were the best acted and best scripted scenes of the entire film. They almost made the movie worth watching.

All in all stay away. Monster in Law isn’t worth your time or money. Seeing Jane Fonda back on the big screen was nice but I really wish she would have chosen a better vehicle to make her long awaited comeback.

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and owner of PrologueReviews.com. To read more reviews by Tamika or to have your book, movie or film reviewed visit http://www.prologuereviews.com

Kingdom of Heaven

2009-01-11T19:12:00.000-08:00

Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of Heaven is Ridley Scott抯 way of trying to recapture the success of Gladiator and to turn Orlando Bloom into the international sensation and instant leading man that Crowe became after is Oscar winning performance in that Gladiator. I don抰 fault Bloom for trying. I know he had to be thinking how could he lose? Sure it抯 an epic drama and none of the other recently released historical epics (including his Troy) have come anywhere near the success of Gladiator, but Dreams has Ridley Scott, Gladiator抯 mastermind at the helm, he couldn抰 go wrong卹ight? Well, that抯 not exactly what happened. See someone forgot to tell Orlando that he抯 not Russell Crowe. And while he looked damn good in those elf ears, it takes much more then a pretty face to pull off an epic drama the likes of Kingdom of Heaven and unfortunately for us all Bloom just doesn抰 have it.

I hate to criticize Orlando. I do. I think he抯 gorgeous and love to watch him on the big screen and he抯 not a bad actor he just doesn抰 have the acting chops or the screen presence to be convincing as the salvation of a nation. Heaven tells the story of Balian (Bloom) a lowly blacksmith who has lost his child and then his wife to suicide. He soon learns he has a nobleman for a father who has returned to recruit him on his journey to go and fight the holy Crusades and save Jerusalem from falling back into the hands of the Muslims led by the historic military leader Saladin. Agreeing to go in hopes of being able to atone for his wife抯 suicide, he soon learn that knowing one抯 enemy isn抰 as clear as knowing where your religious beliefs lie.

Despites these gaffes, Kingdom of Heaven does offer some notable performances namely Jeffrey Irons who plays Tiberius a battle weary Sheriff of Jerusalem and commander of his own troops who is vehemently opposed to breaking the treaty they have with Saladin and David Thewalis the Hospitaler and Balian's father抯 friend and subsequently the one who helps Balian become the man his father wanted him to be.

While relatively entertaining, Kingdom of Heaven is ultimately a disappointment. I expected more out of Bloom but I really expected a great deal more out of Scott, after all he is the guy who brought us Gladiator and help turn Russell Crowe into a house hold name. Unfortunately, for everyone Kingdom of Heaven is no Gladiator.

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and owner of PrologueReviews.com. To read more reviews by Tamika or to have your book, movie or film reviewed visit http://www.prologuereviews.com

Sith Connects the Dots

2009-01-10T22:51:00.000-08:00

Man on Fire: How Sound Tells the Story

2009-01-10T22:41:00.000-08:00

Man on Fire: How Sound Tells the Story

“I’m the sheep that got lost, Madre.” And so goes the description John W. Greasy offers of himself in Tony Scott’s Man on Fire (2003). John Greasy (Denzel Washington) is a lost soul trying to find his way back to the light, back to living. He is a man seeking redemption for the atrocities he committed in the past as a black ops agent for the government. His light comes in the form of Lupita Ramos (Dakota Fanning) the young charge he is set to protect. As he slowly finds his way again, finds a reason for living, it is suddenly and violently lost to him as a heinous kidnapping plot goes array and the young girl is ripped away from him. Scott’s use of sound acts as a way to document Greasy’s evolution through the film and highlights major turning points in the movie.

Scott’s use of auditory flashbacks as Creasy tries to commit suicide early in the movie, shows how isolated and desperate he is and the level of guilt he has regarding his former occupation. As the scene beings we see shots of Creasy drinking and crying for seemingly no reason at all. We see him praying and reading his bible but toying with his gun as well. Soon we begin to hear pieces of past conversations that Creasy has had with other characters in the movie: “I’m the sheep that got lost,” and “Do you think God will forgive us,” and “I couldn’t guard a corpse.” Each of these phrases plays over and over again as the scene escalates and Creasy becomes more and more drunk and isolated from his surroundings.

Hearing these thoughts play again and again allow us to know what is going on inside Creasy’s head. We understand that the man is fighting his demons and that he has extensive guilt for the atrocities he has committed in the past, ones he does not believe he can be forgiven for. These sound flashbacks are just as effective as images of his past deeds would have been because they allow us to understand what could bring him to kill himself. As the scene ends and he puts the gun to his head and pulls the trigger it isn’t a surprise.

As the film continues Creasy’s friendship with Pita gives him a new lease on life. Where he was looking to kill himself before and did not think he was able to guard anyone, he had managed to form a loving relationship with the young girl he was protecting. Nothing illustrated that relationship more then the sound bridge used as a transition from Pita’s music lessons to her kidnapping. Pita wanted to get out of her music lessons and Creasy told her all she had to do was burp periodically throughout the lesson and her instructor would be offended and never agree to see her again.

As Pita begins her lessons Creasy waits outside for her to finish. As he’s waiting the kidnappers converge on their location and soon a firefight ensues. Throughout this sequence what we hear is Pita taking her lessons and burping in regular intervals as her instructor continuously admonishes her.

Hearing Pita follow Creasy’s advice shows how far he had come since the beginning of the movie. Before he couldn’t find a reason to live and didn’t think himself capable of the job he had of protecting Pita; now the relationship between the two of them is so strong that she trusts his advice to get her out of an unwanted situation.

Hearing the lessons playing over the kidnapping attempt underscores how devastating losing her was to Creasy because his ability to live again was wrapped up in his relationship with Pita.

Scott continues to use sound as a way to document Creasy’s evolution throughout the film when he uses the song Pita was playing when she was kidnapped as the music for the scene when Creasy finds out she has been killed. From the moment he he’s told Pita is dead through to his decision to stay in Mexico and hunt down her kidnappers we here that song.

Using the song is significant becomes it serves as foreshadowing for Creasy’s decision to exact revenge for Pita’s murder. It is as if the song is a representation of his thought process, so when we learn of his intentions to go after the kidnappers it isn’t a surprise. It also serves as the final turning point for Greasy in the film: first he was alone and desperate, then he’s found his way again with his relationship with Pita, and now he’s back to being the man he’s tried to forget, except this time he was killing to right a wrong instead of it being his job.

Once Creasy was told that Pita’s missing, Scott uses the sound of Pita screaming his name as she was being kidnapped as a way to mark Creasy’s progress on his revenge mission. Using her screaming repeatedly throughout the film served as a reminder as to why he was after her kidnappers.

As he uncovered more and more about the kidnapping plot the flashback of Pita screaming was used more frequently as a way of escalating the action that was taking place. As the movie came to an end we hear that same scream, except this time Pita is being released by her rescuers and running to Creasy. Hearing the same scream used to mark her missing and then used as a way of harking her return offers closure for Creasy.

He has completed what he set out to do and his road to redemption is complete. So, as we watch Creasy die at the end of the movie, there isn’t a sense of regret but that the troubled man we meat early in the film is finally at peace.

Scott’s use of Sound in Man on Fire offers insight into the mind of its lead character, John Creasy and helps to represent his evolution throughout the film as well as major plot twists.

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and owner of PrologueReviews.com. To read more reviews by Tamika or to have your book, music or film reviewed visit http://prologuereviews.com

A Look at the Heart of American Beauty

2009-01-10T22:31:00.000-08:00

A Look at the Heart of American Beauty

Sam Mendes’ darkly comic portrayal of suburbia in his first movie, American Beauty (1999) takes a hard look at what happens when you’ve accomplished the American Dream only to realize that it isn’t enough. Lester, the film’s anti-hero wakes up one morning deep in a mid life crisis and decides that he wants something more then the life he has carved out for himself and proceeds to search for that something and in the process, disrupts the lives of those around him, particularly his wife Caroline. Through his use of color and surrealist elements Mendes shows how passionless and unhappy Caroline and Lester are in their seemingly perfect world and how true happiness lies not in doing what’s expected or in material goods but in finding the beauty in being true to yourself.

The color red and roses are a symbol of passion and desire and Mendes uses the combination to symbolize the lack of passion and in turn the misplaced desires in the character’s lives. Caroline, Lester’s wife is a woman who on the outside seems to have it all: a family, a big house, and a great career. But we soon find out that nothing in Caroline’s world is perfect except for the red roses she takes great pride and care in growing.

These roses can be found everywhere: lining the yard, on end tables, the center piece on the dining room table and even in the home she’s trying to sell. The roses represent the passion that Caroline has lost for life but can’t admit she no longer has. She is a deeply unhappy woman who tries to mask that unhappiness by projecting forth an image of perfection. She believes that if she thinks positive then everything will be okay. She listens to and recites daily affirmations to herself to keep up her positive mental state. The truth of the matter is that she is in a loveless marriage, is estranged form her child and is in a career she hates.

She envies and later desires the success (and attention) of her rival, the “Real Estate King” whose image is portrayed by big red signs placed in the yards of the homes he is selling. She learns form him that “In order to be successful one must project the image of success at all times.” Caroline’s roses are the embodiment of that idea since they are the only thing in her life that she is succeeding at and are as perfect as she pretends the rest of her life to be.

Lester realizes that his wife’s roses are representative of the lack of desire she has for him and their life together. So, it isn’t a surprise that his own misplaced desires are represented by the very flowers that he loathes because they get all the affection and attention he does not. As Lester begins to find his way first by standing up to his wife and then by quitting his job he begins an unhealthy fantasy for his daughter’s teenage friend, Angela.

These fantasies are very surrealist in nature and are some of the most beautiful and disturbing scenes in the movie. Each of these breaks in reality feature Angela intimately involved with the roses: they are coming out of her blouse or she is only covered in roses or she is immersed in bath that is filled with rose petals. Lester uses this fantasy as the only hope he has in his otherwise miserable life. His desire for Angela spurs him to make life changes that he believes will allow her to desire him and ultimately make him happy. Lester eventually learns that this fantasy isn’t they way to his happiness, yet using Caroline’s roses as a part of the lust he has for someone else turns the flower that’s representative of his misery to one of power and hope for Lester.

Mendes continues to play with the theme of color in Caroline’s life as a means of showing her unhappiness in the way that she dresses. She is the only one of the main characters that is brightly dressed. Most everyone else in the film can be found in muted colors: earth tones, grays and blacks but Caroline can always be found in color. Under her earth tone suit she has on a bright red slip. Her nightgown that she wears to bed is a light blue.

Later in the film in a very comic moment at a drive thru at a fast food restaurant she can be found in a red suit. Her desire to convince the world and herself that she is happy isn’t just saying or telling people she is happy but dressing happy as well. This obsession for projecting perfection even through her dress makes for poignant moments in the movie as reality breaks through a happy veneer.

Caroline cries as she isn’t able to sell the house though she has on her red slip and her roses on the table. She loses out on a moment of closeness with her husband because of her attachment to material goods as she looks perfect in her blue dress and high heels. Her attempt at finding happiness is abruptly lost as she’s caught in a compromising situation in her sexy red suit.

Throughout the movie Caroline misses the fact that she isn’t going to find happiness in all of her stuff or on how pretty the image she projects seems to be but only taking an honest look at herself and her life will bring her the happiness she finds so elusive. Her brightly colored garb makes her stand out in the movie but also makes her unhappiness more obvious.

Lester also tries to find happiness in colorful material objects. He turns in his boring Camry for a fire red 1970 Pontiac firebird a car he’s desired since he was a kid. He purchases and plays with a red remote control car, yet unlike his wife his use of material goods is a stepping-stone in trying to figure out what will make him happy, not as a way to cover up his unhappiness. As the movie progresses Lester finds searching for happiness out side of himself is pointless, that it starts from within. In the end it isn’t a brightly colored car or fantasies of a young girl that make him happy but black and white memories of his childhood, of his daughter of the early years with his wife that give him peace and happiness.

Mendes makes us question how we define happiness and success as he explores the inner-lives of a marriage that on the outside seem like they have it all, that they are living the American Dream.

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and owner of PrologueReviews.com. To read more reviews by Tamika or to have your book, music or film reviewed visit http://www.prologuereviews.com

Heart of Platinum

2009-01-10T22:21:00.000-08:00

Heart of Platinum

I always imagined that the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, that book within the book that offered all kinds of useful information to those thumbing their way across the Milky Way, was a rather fluid thing, in a constant state of being rewritten and reedited as new information was gathered by writers such as Ford Prefect. So it didn’t really bother me that they made changes to the story in bringing “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” to the big screen. Having seen the results of a completely faithful screen translation recently (Sin City), I was more than happy to see “Hitchhiker’s” be less than faithful. Unfortunately, being Hollywood, they changed all the wrong things.

The basic story (and it’s always been the most basic of stories) of an English everyman named Arthur Dent who gets saved from the demolition of Earth by his good friend (and undercover alien) Ford Prefect to go on an incredible journey through the galaxy remains mostly unchanged. They still have to listen to Vogon poetry, conveniently translated by a Babblefish, before they are thrown out an airlock into space. They are still improbably saved from death by the Heart of Gold, the only starship in the universe with an improbability drive. That starship is still commanded by two-headed Galactic President Zaphod Beeblebrox, (nothing like the name Zaphod Beeblebrox to make your spell checker more depressed than Marvin the Paranoid Android) and crewed by the aforementioned android and a girl named Tricia MacMillan (Trillian for short) that Arthur once tried to pick up at a party. And they all end up on the planet Magrathea, home of an ancient race of world builders who had originally built Earth itself as a huge computer designed to calculate the question to life, the universe and everything (the answer, already computed over 7.5 million years by another supercomputer named Deep Thought, is 42). They just take a few different detours than those familiar to readers of the books. The problem is that those detours result in a kind of philosophical shift away from what was always at the heart of the “Hitchhiker’s” story.

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” is a book about the absolute absurdity of existence. The answer the question of life, the universe and everything is 42, and nobody is ever sure of the question (how many roads must a man walk down?). And that absurdity, first and foremost, is what the book was about, with characters and plot merely added on for context. Arthur Dent was a man to whom life happened. He was a victim of the absurd whims of a universe that would seek to destroy his home planet on the same morning that it destroyed his home. Surviving that absurdity, without actually learning anything valuable from it, is what made Arthur Dent who he was. The problem for Hollywood is that that is not the kind of hero they want for one of their movies. No, Hollywood heroes need to learn, or redeem, or defeat, or triumph over something.

So Dent, whose entire sad little life was annihilated in the first moments of the movie, when given the opportunity to return to that life in the end makes the uncharacteristic decision to continue to travel the galaxy with Trillian, Prefect and George W. er, Beeblebrox. It was not a decision that the Arthur Dent I remember would’ve made, but of course in the book it wasn’t an option. The world building Magratheans never finished Earth Mark II, and if they had it probably would have been minus the trappings of civilization that Arthur remembered. So by recreating the world entirely as it was in the moments before its destruction, this film takes all the wind out of the earth shattering opening. Although if absurd things like the Earth being destroyed to make a hyperspace expressway can happen, I suppose equally absurd things like a whole new Earth being created can also, but it shifts Arthur from a victim of circumstance to a being wholly in control of his situation. He now has that choice, return to a place identical to home or continue his adventures in the galaxy. Whatever he chooses, he is no longer a victim of the absurdity of life, a fact that defeats the point of the story.

Other changes in the story are also counter-philosophical. Zaphod Beeblebrox is now searching for the question to the answer of life, the universe and everything. Although his reasons are as shallow as we might’ve expected, I don’t see the need to change from his original goal of finding the treasure of the wealthy Magratheans. It all still takes you to Magrathea. No mention is made of the fact that Earth was only minutes away from calculating that question, which takes all of the irony out of the timing of Earth’s destruction (but I suppose if the Magratheans could rebuild the planet exactly as it was in the moments before its destruction the mice wouldn’t have needed Arthur’s brain, they could’ve just waited a few more minutes for the answer). Also, the Arthur and Trillian love story feeds us the old love conquers all, will make a new man out of you cliché that seems completely at odds with the overall philosophy of the books. If love gives meaning to life, then life has meaning and absurd old 42 doesn’t mean a thing. We always knew that Dent was attracted to Trillian, but being the man he was we never expected him to take the risks required to win her. Tacked on detours to see a strange cult leader and to rescue Trillian from Vogosphere don’t really add much to the story, just more layers of confusion for those not familiar with it.

Of course it’s supremely tricky to adopt a book about an idea to the screen, especially a book about as absurd an idea as absurdity. The actors, director and screenwriters (including the late Doug Adams, author of the book) all manage to be fairly competent. And in its own way this film is a legitimate take on the “Hitchhiker’s” story, especially if you like happy endings. But at its heart, it’s more platinum than gold; it’s just not the “Hitchhiker’s” that we all know and love.

A Lot Like Love

2009-01-10T22:11:00.000-08:00

A Look at the Heart of American Beauty
Sam Mendes’ darkly comic portrayal of suburbia in his first movie, American Beauty (1999) takes a hard look at what happens when you’ve accomplished the American Dream only to realize that it isn’t enough. Lester, the film’s anti-hero wakes up one morning deep in a mid life crisis and decides that he wants something more then the life he has carved out for himself and proceeds to search for that something and in the process, disrupts the lives of those around him, particularly his wife Caroline. Through his use of color and surrealist elements Mendes shows how passionless and unhappy Caroline and Lester are in their seemingly perfect world and how true happiness lies not in doing what’s expected or in material goods but in finding the beauty in being true to yourself.

Mendes makes us question how we define happiness and success as he explores the inner-lives of a marriage that on the outside seem like they have it all, that they are living the American Dream.

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and owner of PrologueReviews.com. To read more reviews by Tamika or to have your book, music or film reviewed visit http://www.prologuereviews.com

This Autumn's Footwear Fashion; Platforms and Booties!

2009-01-08T04:46:00.000-08:00

Sarah Jessica Parker famously made Manolo Blahnik a household name in Sex and the City. However, long before the erstwhile Carrie Bradshaw and her girlfriends made the legendary shoe designer a figure of mass consumption, "Manolo's" were already an essential item in the celebrity world and amongst the fashion elite. But today, as more and more people demand their goods, how can the Manolos, Jimmy Choos and Vivienne Westwoods of the world still get away with charging women thousands of pounds for their shoes? The simple explanation - women love shoes - may seem an overused stereotype but it is, sadly or not, very true.

Take one of the leading shoe trends for Autumn 2006: the platform. Chunky heels are once again all the rage, but they owe more to 1980s decadence than to the Swinging Sixties. The recent return to the skinny jeans and leggings of the Bananarama age has prompted a comeback for the heavy platform and the stacked heel. But don抰 get carried away with images of Olivia Newton John trying desperately to extinguish her cigarette with her killer heel at the end of Grease - stacked platforms may also be worn with a bell-shaped dress or skirt, so there's hope yet.

Also on the footwear catwalk this Fall are ankle length "booties". Once again hailing back to the 1980s, booties vary slightly in length, from below the ankle to just above the ankle. Often available with side-zips and buttons, the bootie will also be worn with leggings this season, as well as skirts, jeans or slim trousers. Though many designs are available, the most popular has so far proved to be Steve Madden's black suede model with a brown wooden heel.

Animal print footwear has also been gracing the catwalks and fashion magazines with its presence this season. Bring out the Cruella De Vil in you (animal-friendly, of course) by donning stylish zebra, leopard or Dalmatian-print platforms, worn with black tights and a pencil skirt. Top fashion gurus have even okayed the right to mix animal patterns together by assembling them with plainer accessories, so fashion slaves may feel free to go completely wild.

The prevalence of patent leather once again harks back to that vampish, 1980s feel; worn with a belted sweater and a skirt, patent leather boots can bestow a classy day-to-evening appearance, and if layered with a polo neck, will provide a more mod-ish look. Last but not least, the Autumn season would amount to nothing if it did not include the high boot. Though booties may currently be stealing the limelight, high boots will always provide a sophisticated air that few other items of footwear are capable of; wear with a patterned coat, or a mini skirt and a cropped jacket to achieve maximum effect.

Clearly, this Autumn's fashionable footwear is both trendy and functional, whether worn with the season favourite (leggings) or not. But rest assured, you won't need Carrie's contacts or Charlotte's money to obtain them: most high street retailers, like Schuh, sell similar models for much lower prices, so that anyone can afford these essential Autumn fashion items.

About the author:
Andrew Regan is an online journalist who enjoys socialising at his local Edinburgh rugby club.

How to Deal With Cold Feet When Buying Used Shoes Online

2009-01-08T04:36:00.000-08:00

Was it Forrest Gump's mom who said shoes tell a lot about the person wearing them?

With the advent of online classifieds, it seems that virtually and practically anything can be sold. Baseball gloves, marbles, eyeglasses, Labrador puppies, motorcycles, autographed t-shirts, harmonicas, the sky's the limit. Even singer James Blunt has reportedly auctioned off his sister. (Now don't get any ideas. You're still better off making money from things, not people, that's been lying in your garage or attic)

Whatever the case, it seems anyone who needs quick; sure cash can just rummage for something precious looking in their possessions and peddle them off in the Internet. As simple as that, and you won't run out of buyers. Out of the billions of people frantically clicking their mouses, there's sure to be at least someone who specifically needs your Sue Grafton, R is for Ricochet Mystery novel.

But shoes?! Well, yeah, SHOES. People sell and buy shoes online. Tennis shoes, trainers, basketball shoes, ballet shoes, anything shoes. After all, the online classifieds is still the best place to find good deals and bargains, provided you don't run, ahem, barefoot into scams and spoofs.

Yeah, shoes

Don't be shocked anymore. The Internet-savvy generation of kids is no longer squeamish. They are ready and willing to wear other people's shoes. In fact there's even a certain pride to be had if their shoes are bought online. Especially if it's the latest Adidas Pro-Model D or Nike Shox.

When buying shoes online, of course be sure they're you're right size, unless they're a present for a clown. Secondly, be aware of ad descriptions for the product. If it says, "never been used", then you're safe. If it says, "slightly used", then it's still probably good. But if it starts saying, "a few scratches here and there," then better have cold feet.

In general, you want to make the best and wisest online purchase ever, not just with shoes but all other stuff on the Net. Most victimized buyers complain about the product in real-life not looking "as described" in the ad, so it's best that you meet up with the seller and personally inspect the goods. If ever you don’t like the shoes, then at least you’ve made a new friend. And then, just like Forrest, its run, run, run.

Jonnalyn Ajeda recommend %26lt;a href=”http://classifieds.ozfreeonline.com”%26gt;Ozfreeonline%26lt;/a%26gt; if you’re looking for a Free Classifieds Online. See also %26lt;a href=”http://mischievoushoney08.wordpress.com”%26gt;Solitary Jewel%26lt;/a%26gt; for more shopping related articles.

A Step By Step Guide For Buying Contact Lens Online

2009-01-08T04:26:00.000-08:00

The Internet has made buying and selling 'just a click away' thing. Whatever you need and wherever you need, just log on to the net, surf a little, find what you want and order online. In due course of time you'll have it home-delivered. End of the story.

The same goes for the contacts as well. You need a contact, log on. However, the question that most of the people ask is whether or not it is alright to buy online or is it better for one to go out and shop for it like we did in the good old non-Internet days.

Let me shoot the doubt forthwith. It's no problem buying it online. No problem at all. So, rest assured on that front. However, do take care of a few things so that you get the right lenses without hassles.

1.Keep your eye specialist in the loop at all times. Visit him regularly, get your eyes checked and ask for this advice on what kind of lenses would suit you best. Listen carefully to what he says and jot it down if you feel the need. Do not ignore anything he says, for in that case you might end up getting the wrong lenses.

2.Coming to actual ordering, when to fill out the form make sure that you have filled in all fields correctly. Do a double-check on it.

3.No substitution for what you asked for without the permission of your eye specialist.

4.The moment you receive the lenses, check the expiry date on it carefully and return them back right away if the date has already passed or is just round the corner. No point buying a lens that's about to expire in a month unless it happens to be a daily use one.

5.Before you put the lenses on, it is advisable that you visit the specialist and show the lens to him for his opinion on it. If he has any doubts, do not just wave them off. Consider them carefully.

Therefore, use the net to your advantage, but do not forget that ordering online means you do not get to hold the thing before getting it packed, which necessitates your ordering it carefully and checking it thoroughly on delivery.

The auther writes articles on different topics. To get more articles on contact lens visit http://www.contactlenseclub.com/contacts/

Choosing Colored Contact Lenses Is A Must

2009-01-08T04:16:00.000-08:00

There was a time when we used glasses that changed color in sun. They were the two-in-one option of the bygone days. Now, we have contacts with the same two-in-one function. These are colored lenses that correct the vision and give a different color to your eyes.

There are a number of well known brands offering them. It is advisable that you settle for a known brand rather than going for something cheap manufactured by the unknown aliens, for saving in this area may not only be unhealthy but may also make you pay much more in medical bills. Besides, what's the point in purchasing a cheap lens and then imagining all the damage it might be doing to your eyes. That would mean buying a lens and getting a headache for free.

The next step is to buy the right lens. In this category there are mainly three different kinds of lenses available. These are visibility tints lenses, opaque color tints and light filtering tints. These lenses are made in emulation of our own eyes, which makes them look astoundingly natural. It's much like wearing an additional eye and if you buy a good quality lens it feels comfortable enough for you to forget you are wearing a lens at all.

While choosing lenses you must consider your complexion as well as the color of your eyes so that whichever lens you pick looks best on you giving you an all round makeover. So, for those who are fair the right colors are blue, light green and violet, and if your complexion is rather dark settle for something bright and reflective.

If you are one of those with a reddish tinge on skin or hair, what looks particularly good on you is light brown. Green or gray are your colors if you have those crystal clear blue eyes.

However, visiting the eyes specialist is a must for those who have a vision problem so that the right kind of lenses could be chosen for you. Moreover, it is important that you take medical advise on whether or not you should wear lenses at all. Most of the time there is no problem wearing lenses but this additional precaution ensure that possible individual complications are detected beforehand and do not catch one unprepared.

Eyes are precious, delicate and complex, so every possible care should be taken to keep them healthy. Regular visits to the eye specialist is one of the important precautions that one must take.

The auther writes articles on different topics. To get more articles on contact lens visit http://www.contactlenseclub.com/contacts/

Contacts Guide: How to Use Crazy Contact Lenses?

2009-01-08T04:06:00.000-08:00

Occasionally we all like to get weird and practice the 'shock and awe' on our near and dear ones. Remember the days when as a child you would get behind the curtain and wait for mom to walk by, and the moment she did you would spring out, you shriek loud and your palm turned into claws with your fingers curled in. It would leave her startled and you would thoroughly enjoy that shocked look on her face.

That was fun. In those days, contact lenses were not so frequently used to enhance the shock effect neither were we allowed to use them as kids. Well, kids are still not supposed to use them but with the advent of newer technology, ground breaking innovations have taken place adding altogether new chapters to the evolutionary history of contact lenses. Contact lenses, thus, have stepped beyond their conventional role of vision correction and have become part of fashion and style.

Crazy contact lenses, as they have now come to be known as, fall under that category. The only difference being that they are not there to change the look to look better but to appear a little too different and, at times, plainly scary.

These lenses are zero power lenses and are normally available in two varieties-- monthly lenses and standard lenses. The monthly ones can be worn over a period of one month or 30 time on and off. The standard lenses, on the other hand, can be worn for as long as 18 months on and off.

These crazy ones have to used with care and caution. Avoid make-up, sprays and perfumes in order to avoid damage to the lenses, for they might sustain damage without your realizing, which can be harmful for your eyes in the long run.

Being zero powered lenses, they are sometimes shared by the people in much the same way as sunglasses are. Don't do it because they are very different from sunglasses due to their proximity with the living tissues of the eye. Sharing lenses could cause infection. So, avoid.

Prior to handling them wash your hands properly and always clean and disinfect the lenses with the prescribed solution only. Make sure that you use the solution manufactured by an approved and reputable company. Since these lenses are not used everyday, they must be stored carefully. When it is time to discard them, do dispense with them even if you have worn them only a few times. The desire to derive value for money in such cases is quite dangerous. After all, eyes are precious. Right?

The auther writes articles on different topics. To get more articles on contact lens visit http://www.contactlenseclub.com/contacts/

The Return of Extended Wear Lenses

2009-01-08T01:58:00.000-08:00

If you are one of the regular users of the contacts you must be very well aware of the daily regimen with the lenses. Come back home, remove the lenses carefully, rinse them, disinfect them and place them carefully in the lens case.

However, this is routine for those who wear the daily-wear lenses, and not with the extended wear ones. This other type is nothing too far different from the ordinary daily-wear lens, the only difference being that these can be worn overnight.

It was around 1981 that the overnight wearing of contacts was recognized as medically acceptable by the experts. In the beginning one could keep the lens on for as long as two weeks at a stretch. Later, encouraged by the results, the permissible limit was extended to 30 days. However, the honeymoon did not last long and the researchers found that the likelihood of infections was far more pronounced in those who wore them overnight.

Consequently, the maximum approved wear duration shrunk to seven days. But even that was looked upon with suspicion, for in the opinion of a number of experts, overnight wear itself was way too dangerous. So, soon most of the eye specialists started cautioning the users against the overnight use of the contacts.

However, the extended wear lenses have staged a comeback. These lenses have comeback riding on the wave of disposable lenses, which reduces a few risks. Since one has to replace them periodically, the chances of harmful deposits are curtailed. Earlier the lenses were to be cleaned and disinfected regularly but one had to continue with them for a few years before replacing them. In such cases, the possibility of infection increases.

Now, when the lens has to be replaced weekly, one begins with a new lens every week, which cuts down the probability of infections. The advent of silicone hydrogels has also been helpful in bringing the extended use lenses back as they enable enhanced oxygen inflow, which decreases the chaces of infections further.

The auther writes articles on different topics. To get more articles on contact lens visit http://www.contactlenseclub.com/contacts/

You can never be too big for your boots!

2009-01-08T01:49:00.000-08:00

For many shoe-lovers, boots are more than just a type of footwear, often worn to support or warm your ankles and calves: they are an indispensable component of a truly stylish wardrobe, and they're crucial to making or breaking a particular fashion outfit. Boots were originally designed as durable work shoes for labourers - the same way in which denim material was originally devised to be worn by factory workers. And as jeans have become a staple fashion item in nearly every global wardrobe, boots are not far behind.

While work boots are still common, fashion boots can be found in every type of colour and shape. Many boots are still designed to be functional; for example, gumboots are often worn by anglers and fishermen because they prevent the entry of water and can be found in a variety of different lengths, such as thigh-length "waders". Many other boots are designed to be specifically sturdy so that they'll protect in outdoor or industrial settings; these include hiking boots, or boots that are designed to protect chemical plant workers from spills or radiation exposure.

However, the range of fashion boots found today far exceeds the number of functional boots. Every year, new boot trends emerge: in recent years, such trends have included cowboy boots, knee length boots with spiked heels and pointed toes, and ankle-length "booties". Such boots are often associated with "boot-fetishism", an emerging trend closely linked to "shoe fetishism"; boot fetishism cultures an image of sexual appeal around particular types of boots made with leather or latex.

While many believe this culture of boot fetishism is a recent phenomenon, it actually has its roots in the 1960s, with the development and proliferation of Go-Go boots. Go-Go boots, a white, low-heeled boot that rises a bit above the ankles, are said to have been designed by %26lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Courr%C3%A8ges"%26gt;André Courrèges%26lt;/a%26gt; specifically for the purpose of dancing. Soon, they became a common symbol of female empowerment, and were worn by Nancy Sinatra on the cover of her album 'Boots: Nancy Sinatra's All-Time Hits'.

But amidst these fashion trends, one pair has remained above them all: black leather Doc Martens are still seen as a staple lace-up boot which was first adopted by skinheads and punks in the 1970s and 1980s; however, they have filtered into mainstream fashion and are now worn by women and men alike. These types of 'masculine' boots have had an enduring appeal to both sexes, and many brands are producing similar styles for wider appeal. %26lt;a href="http://www.schuhstore.co.uk/champion_frameset.asp?brand=NEW%20ROCK"%26gt;New Rock boots%26lt;/a%26gt;, for instance, have an obvious biker-influence, and are designed to appeal primarily to rock music and heavy metal fans. The concentration of buckle-features and heavy detailing on New Rock styles perhaps indicates another direction in which future boot styles may lead; after all, history has already shown us that the possibility for developments in the boot styling industry are endless.

Fashion Fusion

2009-01-08T01:38:00.000-08:00

How often do you encounter a situation when selection of the right kind of fashion accessory makes you go wild? Some women have such dilemmas once in a while, some once in a week, and some of them go through this daily. The question bugs “Do I look different?”, “Do I look attractive enough?”

Sometimes you often wonder, why do some women become the epitome of fashion whereas some strive for little appreciation even after wearing an expensive diamond necklace.

Well, I believe that beauty is not the cause. For I have noticed some of the most charming ladies being bugged with similar kinds of hassles. The reason is, most women simply follow the stereotyped fashion trends and do not get noticed among the crowd.

The idea is, that you have to dress differently in order to look different. I guess, jewelry happens to be an important part of fashion. Therefore it is necessary that you make some changes in your jewelry box.

To start with, I must say, that simple elegant jewelries are out. Gone are the days of a simple chain with a diamond pendant. Ladies are no longer totems of sophistication. Just try out something much more dashing. Accumulate at least ten to twelve black colored chains of similar look and size. Jumble them together and flaunt it at your slender neck. They would very well complement each other.

When you try to look different, there is no harm in being a little more adventurous. One of the latest trends among fashion freaks is to try out something Bohemian. And when it come to Bohemian fashion, there is nothing like a candlenut necklace. The candlenuts, commonly known as Kukui nuts, are strung together in a string or a ribbon and tied in knot. Black happens to be the most popular color. However other colors like green, brown are also in vogue. The Kukui nut jewelries can be worn as necklace and also as bracelets.

You know what, I have always admired fashion conscious ladies since my early teenage. I still remember how my young English teacher at the high school adorned her ears with long wooden danglers. As she moved her head sideways while explaining the lessons, the danglers simply danced around her beautiful ears and caught our attention for an entire hour. Later on, I came to know that such wooden danglers can be easily made at home. All you have to do is cut out two stripes of reasonable length from a piece of ply and smoothen them with a sandpaper. Make sure you get the edges rounded. Drill small holes in each of them and attach a jump ring at it and attach it again with a hook. And there you are! That would look elegant as well as dandy!

Now while we discuss about fashion jewelries, how can the beads be left behind? You can make simple beaded earrings at home. Just grab a headpin, and put inside some beads of various colors. But the colors should be well synchronized. Get a round-nose plier and bend the extended portion of the earring at an angle of ninety degree. Bend the end of the headpin and complete the loop. Attach it with a French wire. And you are done with it.

If you are quite innovative, you can try this one too. Boil some eggs and peel off the outer hard layer. Make sure that the thin film inside is also removed. Coat them with two parts of epoxy coupled with a chemical hardener. Get a ceramic tile and coat it with petroleum jelly. Rest the egg shells over it and get them dried. After sometime, cut them out in different shapes and paint it with a nail polish. Once again you may implement some of your innovative skills by painting them with different colors. Drill a small hole and attach a jump ring.

I shall be happy if you like my ideas and try them out. But I would be happier if you discard them and try something different that comes to your mind.

After all, fashion is not about following the latest trends of market. Fashion is all about flaunting your own style that would reflect your own personality. Sometimes, the jewelry you wear may not go hand in hand with your personality. But once you are confident about your accessories, you can simply flaunt anything under the sun.

So what are you ladies waiting for? Just get going, full speed ahead!

Custom T-Shirts – The New Fad?

2009-01-08T01:29:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wanted to design your own clothing? Do you ever see people wearing t-shirts with slogans on them and think “I could come up with something cool”. Well, with technology improving in the customized garment printing industry, you can now make custom t-shirts yourself or at a variety of online stores.

Printing them yourself is done with heat applied transfers. In my experience they are hard to do right at home with an iron. You really need a heat press which is much more expensive than just designing the shirt online and having someone else print it professionally. You want this to look great, right?

The first thing you’ll want to think about is if you’d like a slogan, a slogan with an image, or just an image. The pricing of custom t-shirts is usually based on how many colors the design you come up with. If you just have text with 1 color, it is way cheaper to print than say a photographic image. So if you are choosing to add an image, you’ll want that image to be as few colors as possible, unless you are ready to spend a lot.

Once you know what you want the shirt to say, you’ll want to start playing with fonts. Font selection can really improve the way the t-shirt looks. You want to choose something that is easy to read unless your goal is to have people staring at you for a while with a confused look on their face. Bolder fonts of course will print better, especially on darker colored tees. A custom tee with text that matches the graphic will be the best. So for example, you might want to pick a techno looking font for a shirt you are going to make about clubbing. Or you might want a computer font for a technical joke. The font selection for your idea is very important.

Now that you have your text ready and image if applicable, you need to choose what type of shirt it will be printed on. There are many choices available, normal tees, long sleeve, ringers, hooded sweatshirts, polo shirts, etc. There are cuts for more fitted shirts and cuts for women. Some of the better, more fashionable brand names are American Apparel, Bella, Gildan, and Royal Apparel. Of course a plain shirt is less expensive than a ringer or other more detailed shirt.

So once you have your shirt style, brand, color, text, and image picked out, you are ready to order your new customized t-shirt. There really isn’t a better way to express yourself with your clothes. I imagine with the improvements I mentioned earlier in the garment printing industry, we’ll see customizable jeans and other clothing coming soon!

Once the shirt arrives, you are now ready to show off how witty you are. You can get hooked on making custom t-shirts, as all you may be the envy of all your friends with your intellectual prowess being shown on your chest. Wear your design with pride and get ready for the compliments!

About Author: Jason Gesham is a t-shirt designer and connoisseur. He designs %26lt;a href=”http://www.damnfunnytshirts.com/product_info.php/products_id/90”%26gt;Custom T-Shirts%26lt;/a%26gt; for %26lt;a href=http://www.damnfunnytshirts.com%26gt;http://www.damnfunnytshirts.com%26lt;/a%26gt;.

Rolex dealers

2009-01-08T01:19:00.000-08:00

Ask people to name a luxury watchmaker that’s well recognised for quality timepieces and you are more or less guaranteed to get ‘Rolex’ as the answer. For years Rolex have been synonymous with making quality and luxurious watches that look utterly divine and will outlast their owners. From Rolex Daytona watches to Rolex Explorer timepieces, Rolex Sea Dwellers to Rolex Daytonas, these scintillating watches have been lusted after from the rich and poor alike as to own a Rolex watch means you understand about the finer things in life. If you have a particular style of Rolex in mind such as a Rolex Daytona timepiece then a short yet satisfying search can be made that will unite you with the watch you most desire. Looking for respectable and trusted suppliers of Rolex Daytona watches is made simple when you consider online specialists such as Dream-watches.co.uk who have a dreamy range of Rolex Daytona watches that are waiting to spend some time with you. From pre-owned Paul Newman Rolex Daytona watches that come with black bezels and matt dials that have larger five minute markers, to brand new Rolex Daytona 116523 watches that are presented in steel and 18K gold casings and finished off with gold fixed bezels; if it’s a Rolex Daytona timepiece you are after then these are the stockists that can supply it. Rolex will always be well recognised as luxury watchmakers and with a Rolex Daytona timepiece on your wrist you’ll have a lavish chronometer that can certainly clarify this.

Tips for getting apt fitting for Men抯 suit

2009-01-08T01:09:00.000-08:00

There are some special elements to be noted in men抯 suit as they are applicable to both off-track and tailor-made suits. Most importantly, be familiar with these pointers when trying on your suit so that you know what should be altered if necessary. But things like shoulders fitting and lapels could never be modified after finishing.

Shoulders

Shoulders of a men抯 suit are extremely important. This is the place where your suit is going to hand and drape from. Prime focus requires being on the shoulder padding that is used. The number one style needs to be one with soft sloping shoulders to offer an overall relax, comfortable and yet a very smart look. If in case you have a very sloping shoulders then it you should probably go for heavy padding to level up the shoulders.

Ensure the width at the shoulders offer sufficient room so that the material flows easily from the shoulder to the sleeves. If in case it is made too narrow, the middle deltoids are probable to swell out at the area among the shoulders and start of the sleeves. If in case it is too broad, it could as well shrink the overall frame of the man. The fabric around the shoulder back and front has to be wrapped level with richness without signs of sprain or looseness.

Waist

You should fasten the waist button and only then place both arms by your sides. If in case you see any buckling or pulls as the base holes or any buttons looking popping out, then your men抯 suit fitting is excessively tight around your waist. There are some jackets tapering at your waist, and yet we need not see such unenthusiastic effect after fastening the waist button. Do always remember that the outline and drape of your suit need to smooth and flat.

Suit pants

The notable thing in men抯 suit pant is that it should be on the waist area. It must always rest on your waist instead of your hips. Further if it rest on your hips it would meat that the waist is too big for you or the pant抯 climb has to be adjusted higher. Make sure that the pant抯 rise offers a good fit at the crotch of the pants but giving sufficient room for your comfort.

Proper men抯 suits fit would not be complete without the best finishing and ending off with your suit pants.

Safety Measures for Halloween Costumes

2009-01-08T00:59:00.000-08:00

Halloween is a beautiful day which comes up with more excitement and value for the children and parents. Halloween is an excitement day which cherishes the children and enrich them with full of happiness. Most of the children may cause injury, due to their carelessness and happiness. Halloween safety is insisted on the child to preserve any accidents and injuries. Safety measures should be taken for the day, to flourish the day with memorable incidents. Sometimes the child may cause accidents or injuries due to their dresses or costumes. To avoid such accidents, safety measures should be taken on the costumes. Selection of dress on the day should be made carefully and it should be fire proofed dress.

It is the responsibility of the parents to keep the child carefully and prevent against any accidents or injuries. Safe Halloween makes the day forgettable and memorable day for both the children and parents. Proper selection and good designing of costumes makes the child safety. Proper selection of costume is an important and essential should be taken by the parents for their children. Most of the parents do not take proper care for their children and they face the problem of accidents and injury for their children. Halloween costumes should be selected and designed properly, to protect the child against accidents and injuries.

Some of the measures used to avoid accidents and injuries are

The Halloween costume selected for the day should be designed in such way it is a fire proof material. Halloween costumes should be designed in loose costumes, so that the child can be protected. Sometimes, warm clothes may cause injury to the child. Halloween costumes should not be so loose or tight. It should be produced properly and normally. Costumes designed should not be too long, because sometimes the child may falls down in the crowd and cause severe injury. Proper selection of costumes is must and selection should be made in such way that the child will not get any accident or injury.

Proper tips and measures should be taken fir the day to make the day a memorable and remarkable one. Halloween costumes are the remarkable costumes which every child concentrates more on that. So, that Halloween costumes should be selected based on the weather, climate, and safety. The above said measures are the important measures which both the parents and children have to concentrate more. These measures will surely protect the children against any damages. Halloween measures are more required for the children and parents and cherish the day with happiness and sweet memories.

Usha is a Copywriter of http://www.halloweenfantasy.com. She written many articles in various topics such as sexy costumes,halloween party. For more information visit: http://www.halloweenfantasy.com. contact her at usharani.articles@gmail.com

Modelling – pay and conditions.

2009-01-08T00:48:00.000-08:00

Modelling – pay and conditions

Very few models make it to the top echelons of the modelling world where the big money is made – as high fashion magazines and catwalk supermodels. What can you expect to earn in a career in modelling then? Read on to find out.

In reality, most models make a living as self-employed contractors, charging a fee for every assignment they work on. Often they’re registered with a modelling agency, which helps find work for them and takes a cut of their payment for each job as a fee. The average fee charged by most agencies is around one-fifth of what the model is paid.

Because modelling is essentially a freelance job, it doesn’t offer a great deal of job security and it can be difficult to remain constantly in work. The ideal situation would be to jump directly from one assignment to the next, but models often find themselves with gaps in their diaries. This is where a modelling agency can come in very handy. A professional and experienced agency will do a good job of promoting all of its models and searching for work for them. It can be a stressful and time-consuming task for a model trying to hunt for a job, especially if they’re not yet very familiar with the industry and don’t have many contacts in the field, and it also requires a great deal of self-confidence and good negotiation skills, so registering with an agency can relieve a lot of the pressure from what can already be a pressured job.

It’s crucial to check the terms and conditions of the agency’s contract before signing up, though, to understand exactly what they will charge and what the model will have to pay themselves. Models should expect to cover their own travel expenses for auditions and assignments. If they are successful in obtaining the assignment, they can claim back their expenses as part of their fee to the client. Models also normally have to pay for their own training, even if it’s organised by the agency. However, the agency may pay up front for the training and expect repayment at a later date once the model is established or completes their first assignment.

For almost every assignment, the client will hold auditions to find the model who’s right for them. This means that many models spend much of their time rushing from one audition to the next, often without success. It’s therefore important for models to take care of their body and image all the time, even when really busy, so that they look their best for prospective clients. This means creating a strict beauty regime and adhering to it religiously.

Models starting out can expect to earn as low as £50 per assignment and may need to supplement their income with other work. As they progress, modelling has the potential to earn them £100 to £500 or even £1,000 per assignment.

Career progression in modelling is based on experience of assignments, which helps the model to build up a varied portfolio as a sales pitch for potential clients and agencies as well as getting their name known. Experience also helps to build a network of contacts – it’s always easier to get work if you know the right people. As models become more experienced and more well known, they can command higher fees and more prestigious jobs.

Modelling is rarely a life-long career. As it’s based mainly on image, youth is important and many models find their careers starting to wane from as young as their mid 20s to early 30s. In fact, the prime age for female models is as young as 16 to 18. So, it helps to have a fall-back career for when the modelling work starts to dry up. Some young models get swept up in the glamour and excitement of their first few modelling assignments as teenagers and misguidedly let their education slip, leaving them with nothing to fall back on when their modelling days are over, which could be as young as their mid 20s. By this time it may be more difficult to recover their education and/or vocational training in order to change career.

In fact, for many models, their career in modelling is very short-lived as it takes a great deal of courage, commitment, stamina, self-confidence and resilience to cope with the highly pressured, extremely competitive, unpredictable and often critical environment. It’s essential to be mentally tough in order to deal with the rejection that models often face, and to cope with being frequently in and out of work. Many models become disillusioned with the industry and leave after only a few months.

A Suit that fits Ideally

2009-01-08T00:38:00.000-08:00

If you're similar to the majority of guys, the contemplation of trying a outfit all day summons thoughts of tetchiness and uneasiness. Nevertheless, when fixed properly, a suit can be tremendously at ease to be dressed in. The clandestine is in dealing with the five vital parts on the body in which the suit ought to fit properly over; they are the shoulders, torso, sleeves, waist, and pant length. Subsequent to these guidelines will not only keep you feeling relaxed all day, but it will improvise your appearance your suit. While following the tips mentioned below, it's suggested to stand in front of long mirror for exact measurements.
Shoulders: This is vital point in sizing suit. This part should never be altered so choose the exact and right choice. To make certain a appropriate jacket size, initially dangle your arms directly down along your sides. Now imaging a directly upright line running from the ground up which strokes the very border of your shoulder. If your shoulder pad dangles past this line, the jacket is unfit for you as it is large. Similarly, if the shoulder pad is short of the line, the jacket is tiny. It's finest to have somebody else run their hands flat alongside the border of the shoulder pad and your shoulder to umpire your accurate size.
Torso: The jacket should be conventional to the arc of your torso. Jackets of the suits are usually cut somewhat broad so that it can house a wide variety of body types. Nevertheless, for those with sporty builds might desire to have their tailor move the facade buttons over and away from the rim of the closure so that when the jacket is buttoned, it has a more built-in curve. As suggested buttons must not be moved over 1?inch.
Sleeves: make your back straight and peep in the mirror with the arms straight down along your sides. The sleeve edge should expand slightly over your wrist bone. Remember, if it extends too much then you have to cut off your sleeves. It's actually too long. And also remember that when you raise your hands you sleeves naturally pull back and it might appear shorter.
Waist: it's crucial and suggested to tuck your shirt in when adjusting your exact waist size. If the pants are somewhat big, ask your tailor to touch the back of the pants where the center seam is awaiting the waist fits snuggly. Then free about ?inch from the touch to permit for additional room which is key to a console and have your tailor mark the touch or pinch. Since sitting, standing, walking, and concluding a snack all blow the force on your waist, it's finest to permit for an extra ?inch of room to comfort the sprain卐specially after a large diet. Alter the waist according to your requirement.
Length: when you go for measuring your pant length, it's always suggested to be dressed in a pair of shoes and peep in mirror so that you are watching at your side. At the present, the length is the one targeted point which permits for alterations relying on your requirements. Many prefer pants touching ground and few prefer short pants so that it hangs straight and clean. Well, as the standard length is the pan touching the top edge of your shoes it is always suggested to follow it for comfort.

Tips To buy a Man抯 Suit

2009-01-08T00:28:00.000-08:00

A suit stands for men抯 reputation and prestige. A smart and sharp suit is every men抯 requirement, be it for party or for business meets suit is essential to prove out handsomeness. A suit adds pleasure to the men抯 esteem and boosts up physical confidence. Suit is not just for party and business purpose there are even suits designed especially for marriages. A suit adds sparkle to the bride抯 looks.

Whether you require an additional suit for the workplace or want to dress to make an impression at a forthcoming special occasion, a sharp suit is attire necessary. The deception is to purchase the finest quality you can pay for in an all season fabric, and an approach that won't look outdated too early. Follow or bear these tips in mind mentioned below while buying a suit.

Prepare to disburse at least $300 to $400. Suits can be cheap to expensive i.e. $200 to $2,000 or more. The finest values come from finding originally luxurious ones being sold. There might be lots of sales put up during seasons and approach the stores to hit the minimal price. Bear in mind, all that you buy from the store can be cheap but it must fit your body well or else no using of purchasing it. As suggested, it抯 better to buy a bit expensive suit which suits you well.

Before finalizing the suit try out the suit once. Get measured for your accurate size pants and jacket. Get measured for your accurate size pants and jacket. Sizes comprise a figure (for instance, even numbers amid 36 and 56) in addition a short, usual, long or extra-long description.

Just make a decision for choosing all-season fabric. As anyone can wear it for longer hours and look better than wool-polyester blends, but if your prefer choosing a blend then you have a added benefit of less wrinkle formation on coat. You can pick from other choices as well such as, twill, linen and wool crepe. If you choose a prototype, such as pinstripe, opt for a flattering, flexible color such as navy or charcoal.

Choose a jacket style. Three button jackets are usually preferred as it gives classier look few thin men prefer buying a two button or double-breasted jacket. Confirm the jacket buttons with no trouble and doesn't drag on both side, whether you prefer to stand or to sit. Confirm that you can move your hands without any trouble and with usual swift. The collars must stretch out flat and show a 1/2-inch (1 cm) edge of shirt lapel. Shoulders cannot be changed, so confirm they aren't stuffed or too boxy. The sleeves must exactly touch the wrist bone and shouldn抰 exceed much. The jacket must be completely lined with no wrinkling ridges.

Finalize the pants style. Flat-front pants are inclined to be extra slimming, whereas pleats and manacles can make the pants dressier. (Shorter men, however, must keep away from manacles.) Go for lined pants that relax contentedly on your waist. When they're bordered, they must break at the laces of your shoes and strike just on top of your heel.

Johnjustin is a copywriter of www.mensusa.com. He had written various articles in different topics on Mens Dress Suit. Contact him at john.mensusa@gmail.com

Strategy to follow in men’s suit

2009-01-08T00:18:00.000-08:00

Double breasted Men’s suits are forever kept completely buttoned. For single breasted Men’s suits, when standing, all buttons other than the bottom one are fastened. Either case of three button suits with lapels, which roll over the top button, the top button must not be build up. Under no situation fasten the bottom-most button of a single-breasted suit jacket. To put off "grouping," the single-breasted jacket must be kept fully unbuttoned while the wearer is seated.

Tie – when it comes to ties it should be darker than shirt that you wear. The bottom of the tie ought to just handle or just go over the top of the strap buckle. The shirt collar must not be the button-down range, even though this strategy is often ignored. It is also suggested that all buttons of the shirt, counting the top one are buttoned for an in order and neat appearance.

Suitable colors for belt and shoes are generally brown and black. The belt and shoes must suit one another. The belt's buckle has to be silver or gold. Other metallic accessories worn with the men suit (like cuff links, tie bar, tie tack, and watch) must match the belt buckle. Where watches are of matter: the more official the occasion, the thinner your watch should be. In the most official places, the watch has to be kept in one's pocket. Shoes must not carry rubber soles. Relatively, they could be made of leather. Some companies as well make dress shoes with timber soles.

Your socks as well must suit the pant leg. This makes the leg look longer, also minimizes the capability of a too-short pant leg.
If it is not possible to have a perfect match for pant leg, then get compatible socks for your shoes. However, it is more exact if it goes with matching pants. The typical traditional shirt colors are light blue or probably white and light pink. The classic traditional suit colors are navy blue, grey, and as well charcoal. Men’s Black suit has only lately earned recognition as a suit color, and still is not been recognized as chiefly conservative.

Johnjustin is a copywriter of www.mensitaly.com. He had written various articles in different topics on Mens Dress Suit. Contact him at john.mensusa@gmail.com

Secrets of French Chic

2009-01-08T00:08:00.000-08:00

Secrets of French Chic.

With Carla Bruni set to become the new Jackie O, it is time to get some of that seemingly effortless chic, poise and polish into your wardrobe. Not for years has the political landscape had someone as stylish and elegant. How do you achieve this look? One way to do this is visit a Fashion Stylist. The other is to follow my secret tips....

Fashion in Milan, Paris and London remains very different to the US. Europeans love America for casual clothes and will stock up on all the basics, jeans etc. Particularly with the current dollar rate.

Visit Paris, and arriving on Eurostar what you notice is Quality. So how do Parisians do it??

1. Invest in good jewellery. From waitresses to shop assistants, French women will wear beautiful pieces clearly saved for.

2. Costume jewellery is often large scale and chosen to match colours. Parisians will buy the dress and at the same time the matching must-have necklace. Galerie Lafayette and other department stores carry vast choice.

3. Shoes must be leather, high quality, as opposed to high fashion and are chosen every season.

4. Bags are another investment piece, whatever the budget quality is paramount.

5. Each season Parisians flock to the stores and buy just one or two key items. This is not random shopping, it is carefully considered choices. Colours and styles are chosen to complement existing items.

6. Scarves are everywhere, worn in every permutation by young and old alike.

7. Beauty, hair and skin care is highly valued, with regular facials, tints etc. to present a groomed look. Many shops carry large ranges of small diffusion beauty brands at every price level.

8. High fashion trends are cheaper and mixed in with the investment buys and designed to last one season.

9. Underwear is a whole universe! Big department stores will have a whole floor given over to underwear. French women know they look good from the inside out. This is true grooming.

10. Perfume. It is the nation of Perfumers -look good smell good.

11. Knowing what truly suits them and buying it. This is probably the key secret. If you don抰 know this, use a Personal Shopper or Image Consultant and learn. What you learn will pay dividends for the rest of your life.

Paul McCartney at The Superbowl

2009-01-07T23:58:00.000-08:00

Paul\'s show at the Superbowl was an historic event for a number of reasons. We were all watching a living legend in action, a star from the 1960\'s up there on stage acting like a teenager entertaining teenagers in 2005, and the audience reacted on the most fundamental level. Now I\'ve seen a lot of shows by many rock legends, including Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Grateful Dead, and many others, and I have to say that Paul\'s Superbowl show was the best short rock and roll show in history.

To begin with, I did not fail to notice his choice of songs. He began his show with \"Baby You Can Drive My Car\", a driving piece of simple rock and roll, and then followed up with two more simple Beatles songs. Of course, Paul can afford the best musicians to back him up, and I also did not fail to notice that these expert players stayed true to The Beatles tracks and played them note for note like the records. Each song was one that Paul wrote, and they were all straight ahead, simple rock and roll. I also thought it was significant that he chose \"Get Back\", and that at the end of the song he asked the audience, \"Do you want to Get Back?\" The audience roared their approval. Now what do you think they all want to get back to?

The significance of what he did proves a concept that\'s occurred to me recently. I believe that the cycle of creativity in music is just about over. If you examine human history, creative bursts never remain in any one genre indefinitely. Ever since the early 1990\'s when Van Halen, Alanis Morrisette and Jewel hit the charts big time, there haven\'t been any more rock acts that are capable of sustaining their success in the recording studio. On account of this and the phenomenon of free MP3 downloading, most record companies are losing money. The old formula of having the record company put up well in excess of $150,000 to promote a new act simply doesn\'t work any more. In order for a record company to recoup their initial investment in recording time and promotion, it\'s absolutely necessary to have an act that can write and record more than one hit record, and that\'s the missing key. There are no more acts who can do that, and the record companies are painfully aware of this.

After Paul finished his three Beatles songs, he performed one Wings song - Live and Let Die. I think he chose that one because it has great dynamics which lent itself naturally to the impressive light show that accompanied the song. But then Paul chose to end his show with \"Hey Jude\", which is certainly one of the definitive Beatles songs. In terms of the dynamics of his entire show, it was a natural choice for an ending.

I also could not fail to miss that whenever the camera panned out over the audience, all I could see were young people in the teenager to early 20\'s age group. I would have expected to see old hippies from Paul\'s generation, but there were none that I could see. Of course, the audience adored Paul and did the usual arm waving thing and massive lighter thing in the dark, and that means nothing because audiences do the exact same thing for famous acts with no talent. But the point I\'m making here is that the young people are definitely turning back to real rock and roll, Paul is one of the originals, and the audience was fully aware and appreciative. There are at least three reasons why young people are turning back to rock and roll:

1. Forgive me for saying this, but Hip Hop and House \"music\" is beginning to bore them. There simply isn\'t enough variety in the genre, and everything the artists have to say lyrically has been said, said, and said again.

2. The body of rock and roll music that was created between the 1950\'s and 1990\'s is staggering in its size and variety. It dwarfs all other genres except for classical music, and because of it\'s depth, it\'s not boring.

3. Rock and roll music can be defined as sexual energy expressed in sound. I don\'t think the young people are aware of what is happening, but they are \"coming of age\", and what that means is they are experiencing their own powerful sexual energy for the first time in their lives. Simply put, they are connecting sublimally with the very music which embodies that energy. No other form of music has ever done that so well, and that\'s why so many adults and religious fanatics have called it \"The Devil\'s music.\" I couldn\'t disagree with those misguided people more. I won\'t argue about it. All I will say on that subject is that ALL creativity comes directly from God, who is the creative force itself.

So in conclusion, Paul\'s performance at the Superbowl represents the sports world\'s biggest show honoring one of the greatest and most talented rock stars ever. As an historic event, it signals the beginning of a massive return to what was the most creative time in musical history, including the classical Bach, Mozart and Beethoven era because although the music was very complex, it just doesn\'t have the breadth of style that rock and roll has. I\'m talking about doo wop music, country rock, rhythm and blues, soul music, top 40 rock, the British invasion, reggae rock, balads, political songs, sex songs, love songs, comedy rock, and the list goes on. Jazz is certainly high on the list of creative musical forms, but again, it just hasn\'t got the breadth and depth. The Recording Industry Association of America, who has the correct statistics, lists The Beatles as the best selling artists of all time with 166.5 million albums sold in the USA alone, Elvis is second with 117.5 million, and Led Zep is third with 106 million. I think it\'s very significant that those statistics are becoming geometrically times greater than the number of albums that they sold during their performance lifetimes. What has happened and is happening is that the young people of today are discovering them in droves because they are coming of age sexually and they recognize and connect with the most powerful musical example of that sexual power.

Considering that Paul is known as being the most popular songwriter in history, Paul was typically humble too. After he finished playing, he shouted to the audience, \"You were great ! Thank you Superbowl\". Now THAT is a true rock star in action.

My Definition of Rock and Roll

2009-01-07T23:48:00.000-08:00

"Rock and roll is sexual energy expressed in sound"
Have you ever heard a concise 9 word definition of rock and roll that really nails it?

It all started with "Elvis the Pelvis". Why do you think all the girls started screaming and fainting all over this country when they saw Elvis for the first time? It was because nobody had ever seen a man get up on stage and shake his booty around like he did. Being sexy like that just came naturally for Elvis, and the girls picked up on it immediately like some kind of sexual email was being sent directly into their brains! And other rock and roll stars followed in Elvis' steps very quickly. Jerry Lee Lewis knew what to do and he got himself into a great big ball of fire with his underage lover. Chuck Berry was another natural, and he also created some serious trouble simply because he was black and the white girls went for him big time. I think that may have been the first time that the pathetic and hung up white male population had to deal with the racial sex issue at this level.

And then there were The Beatles. Same phenomenon as Elvis, except all The Beatles really did was just stand up there, shake their mop top heads around and look cute, and thousands of girls got wet panties all at the very same time. Of course, it didn't hurt their effect on everybody that their songs were unbelievably memorable simple love songs, and those young girls who were coming of age and dreaming about falling in love really connected on that level too. Mick Jagger was another natural, just like Elvis. "The Lips" knew what to do without even trying very hard. Strangely enough, it wasn't Mick who actually got all the girls into bed, it was Bill Wyman, the Stones' bass player. In his autobiographical book Bill told all, and his groupies totaled in the thousands. He never really made it clear in his book exactly why that happened to him and not the same way to Mick, who simply must have gotten and still be getting whoever he really wants to have. But it did happen and all Bill ever did was stand there completely still and play his bass guitar looking sort of sad and forelorn. There simply has to be a logical explanation for Bill's success, and I think I know what it is. (Don't ask, I won't tell).

And then came Jimi Hendrix. The pun is intended. Jimi had to have been the sexiest black musician of all time, and there were few girls who didn't agree with that statement. They actually used to line up outside his dressing room backstage and Jimi would come out and choose whoever he wanted, one at a time or more than one. He was another one who simply couldn't help himself, although he did understand exactly what he was doing and why. Later on in his career, he stopped it on purpose because Jimi really was a serious musician who wanted people to appreciate his playing and his songwriting for being as creative as it was. He felt that his sex show was getting in the way of that kind of appreciation toward the end of his life, so after the Experience broke up, he just got out there and pretty much stood still, playing with his eyes shut because he didn't even want to see the girls out there anymore. In my not-so-humble opinion, Jimi was the only true genius in rock and roll. That word "genius" is highly overused and it's often applied to people who are just extremely talented. I disagree with the dictionary when it equates genius with "exceptional intelligence", and what I think the word "genius" is supposed to refer to is a person who creates something that's new, and not only new, but significantly new, important, and somewhat of a milestone in human development. And that's why I call Albert Einstein the premier genius of the entire human race - because the Theory of Relativity was a giant jump in the understanding of the way our universe operates, and to this day, few people actually understand anything other than the bomb part. I say that Jimi Hendrix was the one true genius of rock and roll because he was the only one who really did invent something new: and that was his use of feedback, which nobody before Jimi even thought of doing. And he even took his invention one step further. Until that time, all music since the time of Mozart and Beethoven has been built on chord structure. And rock and roll music uses simple chord structure. Jimi actually used feedback alone to construct song structure in a few, but not all of his songs (i.e. Third Stone From the Sun). And to this day, nobody has been able to do what Jimi did. In fact, Jeff Beck bought Jimi's strat at an auction, and even the super talented Jeff admitted that he couldn't get the same sounds out of the very same guitar as Jimi got.

But I think the best example of sexual energy expressed in sound has to be Led Zeppelin. Whenever they played live, Jimi Page sort of staggered around the stage as if he was drunk, but he wasn't drunk. It was just that the hurricane of sexual force that blew out of his amp was too much for even Jimi to withstand. And John Bonham, who was unquestionably the best rock and roll drummer who ever walked the face of this planet, pounded his drums with such force and shear creativity as a drummer that Led Zep's sexual energy increased geometrically. There are so many good reasons why Led Zeppelin is the #1 Rock and Roll Band of All Time. That label has been pinned on The Stones, probably because they toured more than anyone else and Mick really does put on a great show every single time. But if you think about it, there are only one, maybe two Stones albums where every song is great. All the rest of their albums have a diminishing number of great songs with the rest pretty much being "fillers". On the other hand, Led Zep's debut album stands up as being the best one of all time (including even Cream), and Coda which was their last album is virtually perfect too. All the rest of their albums are chock full of absolutely brilliant tracks, so when you add up the sum total of their work, it stands alone in terms of brilliant rock and roll intensity, unmatched level of musicianship, creative songwriting, and the shear volume of great tracks they recorded. Not even The Beatles top Led Zep for all the great qualities thrown into one, and I don't say that lightly at all because The Beatles were my major musical influence. That's because I was knocked out by The Beatles way before Led Zep was even formed, and I could comprehend their music and attempt to derive something I could work with to produce something of my own. I can't possibly begin to play on the same level as Led Zep's four players, and nobody else can either. That's why nobody with a shred of common sense covers Led Zep's songs - you'd have to be able to play Jimi's riffs and the drum and bass guitar parts if you wanted to do a cover version, and nobody can do it.

OK, ending up with little ol' me. If I managed to get pure sexual energy into my music at all, it would have to be in Knight in Shining Armor, in Mona, and in Favorite Toy. That's not really my opinion here, it's what the young kids tell me these days and have always told me in the past. Please don't mistake what I'm saying here because I wouldn't begin to compare myself or my music with the stars I've just discussed. But I had to conclude my diatribe with something . . .

Credit: Peter Cross is a former professional drummer and a singer/songwriter/producer/Web Master who was among the first to put music on the Internet in a downloadable format in 1996. His web site is very entertaining and at 206 pages, it may be the largest music artist web site on the Internet. You can find this article at: My Definition of Rock and Roll and his home page at: Rock and Roll with an Immortal Soul where his copyright is displayed right above the “Greatest Rock Sites on the Web” designation.

How are LCD and DLP TVs Different?

2009-01-07T23:38:00.000-08:00

What are the differences between DLP and LCD TVs, and which is the better choice for you?

LCD vs. Plasma to LCD vs. DLP

Two new technologies in the world of TV, DLP and LCD, are now in a tight competition. Not long ago, everyone was talking about Plasma vs. LCD - which one would win? It became clear to most that Plasma, with its short lifespan of just 3-4 years, was simply not the best choice.

In fact, the LCD screen has several benefits over plasma. For instance, LCD screens run much cooler than the average plasma TV, and thus require less power to operate. Plasma TVs run so hot, in fact, that they require a fan to cool them down – which can be noisy. In addition, plasma screens have a tendency to degrade over time, slowly becoming dimmer.

LCD screens, on the other hand, run relatively cool, and do not degrade over time. Some Plasma owners, who have used their TVs for a few years now, have already witnessed the dimming of their screens. Also, LCD screens tend to have overall better picture quality, and are typically 10 to 15 percent lighter than plasma.

Now the choice is mainly between LCD vs. DLP - two distinct technologies that offer slight differences in display, price, and performance. If you are looking to buy a new flatscreen TV this year, you are probably wondering which one is right for you.

What are DLP, LCD TV Screens?

DLP stands for Digital Light Processing, while LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. DLP technology, developed by Texas Instruments, uses a DMD, or Digital Micromirror Device, contructed of 1.3 million microscopic mirrors. Each of these mirrors is essentially a single pixel.

When a digital signal enters the DLP system, each mirror is either activated or not, resulting in tapestry of mirrors tilting either towards the DLP light source or away. This process produces different levels of light and dark reflected by each individual mirror. The colors are produced when the DLP light sources run through a red, green, and blue color filter on a moving wheel. Depending on the lightness/ darkness of each mirror, the colors come in an enormous amount of shades, producing vivid color images.

LCD screens are made of several polarized glass panels, between which are liquid crystal molecules. An electric current is run through the crystal molecules, changing their position in respect to the glass. As light passes through the molecules, these changes in angle result in different lightness/ darkness patterns that produce images on the screen.

There are usually three polarized glass panels, one with red pixels, blue, and green. This system also produced very accurate, vivid images, but angle is important. You may notice that the best colors in an LCD display are seen straight-on.

Is DLP, LCD TV Screens better than the other? Simply put, that is a difficult question to answer. Unlike Plasma TV screens DLP and LCD last much are longer, and are considered to both have superior image quality. LCD screens tend to have slightly better contrast, with a larger range of black and white color shades.

DLP, however, still has faster refresh rates than LCD (although LCD has been vastly improved in this area over the last two years). This can have implications if you are really into high-action motion (sports, action movies), because movement may seem a little blurred with LCD at times. Also, you\'ll want to remember that in order for you to get the best color out of your LCD, you have to sit right in front of it.

LCD TVs also have a slightly shorter lifespan than DLPs, with only 45,000 to 60,000 hours compared to 75,000 hours or more. As far as price goes, LCD and DLP are still more expensive than Plasma, but like all things in time, their price has been coming down. And right now, DLP is slightly more expensive than LCD, but not by much. DLP, in our eyes, is the best investment, at least for the next few years.

Popular DLP TV Units and Prices

Samsung HLP4663W 46\" Widescreen DLP TV Monitor: $2700

Toshiba 62HM84 62\" HDTV-Ready Projection DLP TV: $3000

Zenith D60WLCD 60\" LCD Projection HDTV-Ready TV: $1050

Gateway 56\" Widescreen HD-Ready DLP Rear-Projection TV: $3500

About the Author Bradley James is a senior editor at SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful consumer electronics review articles. For more information on LCD and DLP TV technology, please visit our LCD vs DLP TVs webpage.

Is the Record Album Dead? Not by a Long Shot.

2009-01-07T23:34:00.000-08:00

In 1982, Sony and Philips introduced the compact disc, a digital music playback format that used a laser to read the disc. The compact disc was expected to quickly replace the long play record album (LP) that Columbia had introduced in 1949. The product took off quickly, even at a retail price that was nearly double that of a record album, and sales of record albums plummeted. The CD, as compact discs quickly became known, offered what audio magazines called “perfect sound forever” while offering immunity to the effects of the wear and tear that often left records noisy. The record companies reduced the price of manufacture through improved production methods, and the cost of manufacturing a CD soon fell below that of manufacturing a record. Even so, compact discs continued to sell well at the higher price, making the CD quite a profitable product, indeed.

In order to maximize their profits, the record companies decided to phase out the phonograph record. They told their retailers that they would no longer accept returns on defective albums. This caused many retailers to stop stocking records altogether, and the record album had more or less disappeared from the market by 1990. And then something strange happened. The record began to make a comeback. Sparked by a few artists that demanded that their record companies issue their product in record form, the LP never quite went away. New albums by bands such as Pink Floyd and Metallica were issued in the mid-1990’s in LP form, and those releases not only sold out, but now command a hefty premium on the collector’s market. A number of independent bands that were signed by small record companies began to issue records in addition to CDs, partly just to be “different” and partly because the band members just liked listening to records. In some cases, in order to spur sales of the record, artists would include an extra song or two on the record that was not included on the compact disc of the same album. Throughout the 1990’s and to the present day, several million record albums have been sold every year.

Granted, records are harder to find in stores than they were fifteen years ago, and an interested buyer might have to seek out a collector’s shop or buy them online. But new albums by major and minor artists, along with older, “classic” albums, continue to be released in the LP format. Last year, in Japan, EMI Records issued every album by the Beatles in LP form as limited edition items. They sold out quickly, even at nearly $500 for the set. The market for records is smaller than it used to be, but the record album still thrives.

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm that operates several retail Websites, including AluminumChristmasTrees.net, a site devoted to vintage aluminum Christmas trees and accessories, and RarePinkFloyd.com, a site devoted to rare records, compact discs and by the band Pink Floyd.

Record Collecting Still Thriving in the Twenty-first Century

2009-01-07T23:29:00.000-08:00

It may surprise many to find that the hobby of record collecting, long thought dead after the introduction of the compact disc, is still alive and well. Granted, many music fans have long replaced their records with CDs, but for many Baby Boomers and Generation X-ers, the hobby of buying and collecting record albums and singles continues to be a focal point in their lives.

Records offer the tactile sense of a substantial product, unlike the CD. The seven-inch, 45 RPM single often came with a picture sleeve that has no equivalent among compact discs. The nostalgia of records draws many back to their younger days. And records still sound great. A recent check of the Bay auction site showed 959,857 records for sale. That抯 just under one million records!

These records aren抰 selling at garage-sale prices, either. At any given time, there might be six thousand records by the Beatles for sale, some of which have sold for up to $40,000. Elvis isn抰 far behind; his first five singles, issued on the small Memphis-based, Sun label, routinely bring $2000 at auction in nice condition. Other artists, such as the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, James Brown, or Madonna have issued records that not only command sky-high prices, but also draw a lot of bids.

The greatest interest in record collecting is in artists of the 1960抯 and 1970抯, but newer bands, such as Nirvana, draw a lot of attention from younger collectors. Nivrana抯 first single, Love Buzz issued in 1988, sells for up to $2000 and there are several other bands, such as the Misfits, that have released numerous records that sell for more than $1000. What do collectors do with these records? Some play them, some frame them, some simply put them on the shelf. There are collectors who only buy records that they intend to play and others that simply want anything that was ever commercially released by the artist that interests them. There is no pigeonholing a collector; they come in all shapes and sizes. For them, finding a long-unavailable single that has eluded them for years is like winning the lottery.

For those who are interested, there are literally thousands of Websites devoted to artists, records, and record collecting. There are well-known magazines, like Goldmine , Discoveries, and in the UK, Record Collector. Anyone who thinks they might be interested in collecting records has more resources available to them than ever before. Twenty years ago, people thought that records would be long forgotten by now. They couldn抰 have been more wrong.

〤opyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm that operates several retail Websites, including AluminumChristmasTrees.net, a site devoted to vintage aluminum Christmas trees and accessories, and RarePinkFloyd.com, a site devoted to rare records, compact discs and memorabilia by the band Pink Floyd.

Interested in Improving the Sound of Your Stereo? Consider Records

2009-01-07T23:24:00.000-08:00

Introduced in 1982, the compact disc was intended to provide better sound than the 40-year-old long-play record album, popularly known as the LP. Using a laser rather than a diamond needle for playback the compact disc was smaller, more convenient to use, and less susceptible to damage than the LP. A bonus was that the format was said to offer “perfect sound forever.” “Forever” isn’t that long these days; improvements in digital sound have come along in the last twenty years and the music industry introduced two new formats this decade that are designed to improve upon the “perfect” sound of the compact disc. Those formats are the Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) and DVD Audio (DVD-A.) Over the years, various audio publications have criticized the sound of compact discs, describing the sound as “harsh”, “brittle” or “sterile” compared to the sound of the LP. After years of research, SACD and DVD-A were introduced several years ago and introduced sound that was said to be cleaner and more natural than that of the compact disc. In addition, these formats offered multi-channel sound, and artists such as Pink Floyd offered special multi-channel versions of their albums to entice sales. It hasn’t worked, and sales of both formats peaked in 2003. What is interesting, however, is that both formats still trail the LP in sales!

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, the combined sales of SACD and DVD-A were less than those of the LP in 2004. The music industry is in a slump at the moment, and sales of all formats were down last year. But sales of LPs were down 13% from 2003, while combined SACD and DVD-A sales were down 33%. It would appear that the new formats are failing, even though they are said to be superior to the compact disc. The LP, on the other hand, continues to have steady sales. While the major labels are still somewhat hesitant to release new product in LP form, labels that specialize in reissuing older material, such as Classic Records, are releasing as much product as their manufacturing capacity will permit. It is worth noting that much of this reissued product comes in the form of high-quality, limited edition LP pressings that often carry premium prices of up to $50 per title. Why are records continuing to sell while the new formats fail?

There are several reasons why records are outselling the new, “superior” digital disc formats:

Format wars. Like VHS vs. Beta in the 1970’s, the SACD and DVD-A formats are largely incompatible. While players have been introduced that will play either one, most players play either one format or the other. Worse, neither one will play on a traditional CD player. You must replace your player to play either one.

Multichannel sound is difficult to use and requires purchasing new amplification equipment. SACD and DVD-A both have multichannel capabilities, but neither format’s players have digital outputs. Both must be connected to amplifiers or receivers with special SACD or DVD-A analog inputs.

Most of the music fans who preferred the sound of records to compact discs still prefer the sound of records to either SACD or DVD-A. Most will agree that while the new formats sound better than compact discs, the unique “digital” sound of compact discs is still there.

Many listeners aren’t interested in sound quality. Arguments can always be made about the sound of compact disc vs records vs SACD vs DVD-A, but millions of consumers are content to listen to music in MP3 format on portable players. MP3 format is inherently inferior in sound quality to all of the other formats, but MP3 players are selling as fast as companies can make them.

The day will never come when records again become the dominant music format. The convenience of portable players for CD, SACD, and DVD-A discs and MP3 files outweighs the advantages in sound quality that records offer over those formats. Nevertheless, it appears that a small but steady market for records remains very real, and that that market exceeds that of the new “improved” SACD and DVD-A formats, which will probably soon go the way of the forgotten Elcassette, Minidisc, and 4 track tape formats of the past.

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm that operates several retail Websites, including AluminumChristmasTrees.net, a site devoted to vintage aluminum Christmas trees and accessories, and RarePinkFloyd.com, a site devoted to rare records, compact discs and memorabilia by the band Pink Floyd.

The Underpinnings of Polychordal Dissonance and Consonance.

2009-01-07T23:19:00.000-08:00

In the last article, Polychords and the Jazz Improviser, it was discussed how one can learn and apply polychords to an improvisation. Continuing with the last article, the understanding of polychordal consonance and dissonance will be explored. As many music students may remember from their studies of basic tertian harmony, the common pattern for harmonic movement follows the following formula: IV-V7-I. A simple analysis of this formula would conclude that the IV chord announces the dominant chord, which in this case produces the tension, and this tension is then resolve to the I chord. As this analysis has shown, polychords and other harmonic concepts operate under similar rules. Within this article, there will be two opposing viewpoints presented concerning polychordal dissonance/consonance.

Throughout this discussion of polychordal dissonance and consonance, the use of triads will be used in all examples. The use of triads in this discussion makes it easier for the novice student to grasp polychordal dissonance/consonance. When one begins to apply this idea to tertian harmony that is larger in scope than triads (i.e. seventh chords and larger), the larger harmonies tend to function differently regarding dissonance and consonance. For this discussion of polychordal dissonance/consonance to continue, one needs to draw a circle of fourths where \"C\" is would be at twelve o抍lock and \"F#\" is at 6 o抍lock. After completing this circle, one then needs to number the tonal centers, starting with \"C\" in a clockwise fashion. For example: C is I, G is II, D is III, and continue to number in like fashion.

One of the pioneering principles that Vincent Persichetti set forth in his Twenty-Century Harmony, was that if one were to continue around the circle, as described above, the polychords will become more dissonant. In contrast to Persichetti抯 principle of polychordal dissonance, another view on polychordal dissonance is that if one were to maintain the above mentioned circle of fifths, but unlike the previous example, one needs to renumber the chordal units. If one were to start will C and label it \"I\" and continue this process clockwise until they stopped at F#, one then should have labeled F# as \"VII.\" If one were to start at \"C\" again and continue labeling the chordal units in a counter-clockwise fashion, one should end with an identical numerical pattern as previously described.

As a result of this labeling process, one will see that the polychordal units are symmetrical as opposed to Persichetti抯 polychordal principle. Due to this second labeling process, one can see that the extreme dissonance in this case, would be a polychordal unit that consists of C and F#. The next descending unit of dissonance would be one of the following: C %26amp; Db or C %26amp; B. On the extreme end of this dissonance, extreme consonance would be C %26amp; C and the next ascending order of dissonance would be either C %26amp; F or C %26amp; G.

The second approach to polychordal dissonance/consonance, tend to lend itself to improvisers and composers whom process information in a mathematical or analytical sense.

In the end, the composer and/or improviser has two methods in developing polychordal dissonance and consonance for their respective genre. In artistic terms, one is left to determine if either approach is conducive for themselves. One will determine which approach is ideal for them through practice and experience. To apply these ideals to an improvisation setting, one could follow the methods as laid out in Polychords and the Jazz Improviser. In contrast to improvisers, composers should start with a four bar phrase that has four or five polychordal units. From this example, one should then begin to compose through this predetermined chord progression.

Glow Stick Party Ideas

2009-01-07T23:14:00.000-08:00

Glow sticks are a great way to light up any party and are fun to enjoy by individuals of all ages. Glow sticks come in many colors, shapes and designs and are great for parties and other events or gatherings. If you have purchased or are thinking of purchasing glow sticks for an upcoming event, you may want to consider some of the following party ideas which include these items:

• Glow sticks work great as hand-outs for guests at parties or bars. People go crazy for these products!

• They are a great way to raise a few extra bucks when hosting an event, especially charity events. You can sell these products for up to 2-dollars a piece.

• Glow Bracelets and necklaces are great for you and your guests to wear. They are more convenient than glow sticks since you do not have to carry them around with you.

• Glow sticks can be taped or glued to posters or signs in order to grab the attention of your guests.

• Glow necklaces and bracelets are great for putting around table centerpieces and illuminating the table’s features.

Glow sticks serve many purposes and are great accessories to any events. They are relatively inexpensive (especially if you purchase them in bulk and wholesale) and are sure to brighten up any event. Glow sticks have become the main focus of many great holidays and events. If you are interested in glow sticks for either yourself or your children, here are some events and holidays which are great opportunities to use these colorful products:

1. Fourth of July – These are great accessories to wear in the dark while watching fireworks on the Fourth of July.

2. Halloween – Glow sticks, necklaces and bracelets are great additions to Halloween outfits and light the way for kids in the dark on Halloween night.

3. Weddings – Glow sticks and other glow accessories are great as wedding favors and add creativity and uniqueness to your wedding.

4. Camping – Fantastic items for the kids to play with and keep them safe.

Glow sticks, bracelets and necklaces are not only affective in providing fun and excitement for individuals, but they are also a great safety feature for children on dark nights. You can keep a close eye on them and drivers can also see them.

Jill Nelson is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her children when she isn’t working as a contributing editor for sites writing safety articles on topics such as Glow Necklaces for sites like Glow Sticks Direct.

Interview With An Up and Coming Musician From Toronto

2009-01-07T23:09:00.000-08:00

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com is delighted to have as our guest, Dan Goldman, Guitarist, Song Writer, Poet,Arranger and a musician of many other talents. Dan is here to discuss his world of music and travels.

Norm:

When did your passion for music begin? What keeps you going?

Dan: I can\'t quite remember when my passion began. It seems to have been an inborn appreciation. My earliest memories are of listening to old records and 8-track recordings that my parents had kicking around the house - anything from Kenny Rogers to Neil Diamond sparked my interest at the time. My father played piano, and I always loved listening to his romantic, albeit, slightly schmaltzy touch. I\'d press my ear against the sound board to get the most out of the vibrations.

Norm:

Who were the musicians that influenced you?

Dan:

There are too many to mention; but if I had to narrow it down, I\'d say, in order of appearance: The Beatles, The Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, my uncle Issac, Classical guitar repertoire including Bach and most of the Spanish composers, Joni Mitchell, Jim Hall, Bill Frisell and on and on. I\'m currently into Wilco, Joanna Newsom, Lisa Germano, to name a few.

Norm:

When on tour, do you notice any differences in audiences from one city to the next, and if so, would you say that this may due to their geographical location. For example, how would you compare audiences in Vancouver to those in Toronto or Montreal in so far as your music is concerned?

Dan: Yes, I\'d say the main difference lies in how saturated the market is. In Calgary, for instance, where there isn\'t as much traffic in terms of touring bands, I tend to get a warmer and more appreciative reception than in Toronto, where, although I play plenty of great gigs, the audiences are somewhat numbed by the sheer volume of musicians around. Then again, performances are always different and anything I think is the rule is always put into question as soon as I play an unexpectedly great gig in the least likely situation.

Norm:

What challenges or obstacles do you encounter while traveling and performing? How did you overcome these challenges?

Dan: I get nervous a lot. I\'m fine when I\'m actually performing, but I generally get stressed a couple of hours before the show. It\'s really important for me to eat and rest appropriately so that the stress doesn\'t take a toll on my performances. I generally try to put aside a certain amount of time every day that I\'m on tour to warming up or to my sitting (meditation) practice.

Norm:

Which is your favorite city to perform in? Why?

Dan: I can\'t say that I have one. Anywhere where the people are receptive and supportive becomes the best city.

Norm

How do you get the inspiration for your song and music writing?

Dan: I love music. It\'s not hard to get inspired, what\'s hard is following through and staying consistent with my writing practice. I find that the only way to get to where I want to be expression-wise is to spend the time it takes; and you never know how long that\'s going to be, so you just keep going!

Norm:

What was the first piece of music you ever wrote? What was the reaction?

Dan: I can\'t remember. It was probably something in the classical guitar idiom. I\'ve always made sure to ask people who I knew would be supportive - a stacked deck, if you will, in my favor.

Norm:

Do you set yourself daily, weekly, yearly goals? If so, what are some of your goals?

Dan: Yes, I definitely have to set daily goals, otherwise a whole day passes me by, and I feel like I\'ve done nothing. These goals are rewarding because I can say,for example, I\'m going to work on words for an hour, and then at the end of the hour I\'ve done it - it might all be shit, but at least I\'ve stayed with it, and it\'ll likely turn into something good at some point. In contrast, saying that I want to tour the world by the time I\'m 33 is a bit more difficult to materialize. Ultimately, I know that if I keep writing and touring, I will get led to greater accomplishments in my craft as well as a greater fan base with more touring opportunities.

Norm:

You are a guitarist, song writer, poet, and arranger. Which of the above do you prefer and why?

Dan: At this point, I\'m a singer-song writer. It\'s what I practice on a daily basis,and it\'s how I\'m starting to become known.

Norm:

I understand that in Canada there are Music Festival Travel Grants as well as other travel grants that assist professional Canadian musicians to perform at festivals outside their province or territory of residence.

Apparently, these grants are given to introduce experience artists to new audiences at an early stage of their career to a wider public. Have you ever received this assistance and if so, could you tell our audience how beneficial have they been from the point of view of furthering your career?

Dan: Yes, I\'ve received some assistance from the Canada Council for the Arts and it has been extremely helpful. I got a tour grant last year, for instance, which allowed me to tour across the country. Although the tour wasn\'t as well organized as I\'d hoped for, it did provide me with a new network of people across the country who have since become very supportive, including my current manager, Candace Elder.

Norm:

Do you think there is some kind of a connection between music and travel?

Dan: Absolutely. Traveling, whether physical or emotional, provides a new perspective, or a new backdrop, if you will, to your old script. It makes your story seem a little more vibrant, and therefore, worthy of being documented, which of course, is one of the main purposes of art.

Norm

What is next for Dan Goldman and is there anything you wish to add that we have not covered?

Dan: I have a tour beginning in August that I hope will bring me from coast to coast. I\'m also working on some new songs and am really excited to record them in the new year.

Thanks Dan and good luck with all of your future endeavors. Thanks Norm

To read more about Dan or listen to his music CLICK HERE

Homemade projector screen - Principle & how to DIY

2009-01-07T23:04:00.000-08:00

Projector screens are generally divided into two types base on their functionalities: reflection projector screen and transmission projector screen. It can also be divided into soft and hard screen base on the materials they are made from.

Home theater generally uses soft reflection screen. My brother-in-law originally wanted to buy a ?1000 (~$150) so-called \"import screen\", but a friend of his who sells projector screens told him that it is hard nowadays (in China) to distinguish the genuineness of an import screen, it is hard even for himself. Some of them that are labeled with \'import\' or \'joint capital\' were actually manufactured somewhere in the south of China. He felt that he\'d rather to buy a ?300 domestically manufactured screen with good feelings than buy this kind of \"import screen\". What this friend said makes perfect sense. But after doing some research, my brother-in-law found that all screens on the local market are made from high gain Bolivian bead that is used for projecting newspaper clips, they are simply not suitable for video frequency.

Theoretically speaking, a white wall with one smooth side actually is the best \"screen\". Because its gain is 1, meaning that the light projected can be completely reflected out, which is an ideal state of being \"no absorption, no gain\". Unfortunately, for the purpose of absorbing and proliferating the sound wave, he already made the wall a background wall with sound-absorbing material and plywood installed. making it impossible to serve as a \"projector screen\', he had to find another solution.

You might be wondering at this point: why do people still bother purchasing expensive screens if we can all use white walls?

Well, there are always benefits and advantages of using a professional screen: convenient, artistically beautiful and dignified, good screen can also make up the insufficiency of a projector and improve visual effect. Among the expensive screens, one type is \"gray screen\" (cost about ?15,000, roughly $2000). This kind of screen probably was originally designed for liquid crystal projectors. The biggest problem with liquid crystal projector is that the color appears dark and grey, insufficiently calm. This is its \"congenital defect\" that is caused by its liquid crystal board and path of rays.

Regarding gray screen, we all know that gray is merely a lighter black, and black absorbs all visible light. Gray can only partially absorb visible light, it is like brightness of the picture is reduced. If you have used any picture processing software\'s \"brightness / contrast gradient\" option, you should certainly have noticed such phenomenon that reducing brightness is equivalent to increasing contrast gradient? Same concept, since the brightness has been reduced, it in turn increased its contrast gradient. The black effect gets improved due to the bigger contrast. We can also experience the same effect when we look out through the sunshade glass of our car. In fact, there are many ways to just reduce the brightness, you don\'t have to use gray screen. There are magazines recommending putting the light gray filter of a photographic camera to the projection lens, the principle is the same. You can even use more simpler method, namely you need to adjust the projector\'s output brightness or increase the contrast gradient. No need to spend a cent, you may achieve the similar effect, but the premise is that showroom must be dark enough.

Back to the bottom line, if a gray projector screen cost you $2000, definitely it is not just because the screen color is changed from white to gray. Speaking from the optical principle, I\'m afraid there\'s a lot more behind. I\'m guessing probably certain chemical compositions have been added to the material of the screen that changed the reflection or absorption intensity of different wavelength of light, thus changed the luster and the contrast gradient of the entire image, that, makes up the inborn flaw of liquid crystal board after all. In addition to this, what other tricks do you think they can play? It doesn\'t seem to be possible with the meager knowledge of physics that I have.

It sounds more like it to throw in a ?15,000 screen if your projector cost you ?150,000. But adding a ?15,000 screen to a ?15,000 projector doesn\'t make much sense at all. If I have to buy a ?15,000 screen, then it would simply work better if I put the money together and buy a ?30,000 higher level projector to achieve better effect without any extra effort. A ?15,000 screen is a crazy price to my brother-in-law (imagine his monthly income is merely ?3000). Also if he buys a name brand Japanese gray screen, then he actually spend most of the money to pay for the labor.

The ideal screen for the DLP projector that my brother-in-law purchased should be like a white wall, just let the project light reflected completely without any \"reservation\". He figured that he really didn\'t need such costly screen. So he finally decided to make one on his own.

Exactly how did he do it? You may not believe how simple and inexpensive it really was! He spent a bit over ?10 (about $1.50) in a home decorating store on a self-adhesive pure white matted formica PVC panel with dim grains, cut the right size, pasted to his original background wall, that is it, flat and smooth! With such PVC screen, he doesn\'t need to worry about the \'curl-up\' phenomenon that may occur to a regular projector screen after around 12 years of use, he also doesn\'t need to worry that it would turn yellow one day due to natural oxidation. But remember it requires some pasting techniques to make it work perfectly for you. The result? Great! Here are couple of photos from him as \'evidence\'.

Jacklyn Chen - A webmaster and full time mom who works very hard to make living with multiple web sites. For more information and articles about home theater, visit Home Theater Blog, to see the entire entertainment blog, visit http://entertainment.news-blogs.com.

Article Source: http://www.valuablecontent.com

Gaming: Parental Guidelines

2009-01-07T22:59:00.000-08:00

Children spend at least 13 to 30 hours a week gaming. Most computer games are violent and aggressive and do little to inculcate moral values. Studies indicate that gaming results in aggressiveness and violent responses in children. And, children are less concerned and helpful towards their peers and families. They become socially stunted.

The onus of minimizing the effects and ensuring that children receive a rounded upbringing falls on parents. It is important to introduce character building activities and to censor games, ensuring suitability.

Study guidelines established by the Entertainment Software Board. They indicate suitability for different age groups. Read the content label which will summarize the game, this will serve as an appropriateness guideline.
Know your child. If you find any signs of being unsettled withdraw games that cause this change in behavior. Introduce games that titillate the imagination and make use of the mind. Avoid violence and aggression.

Visit www.ESRB.com this provides game ratings as well as reviews.

Rent a game and play it yourself. First hand knowledge will serve you well.

Communicate with other parents. You will glean the trends, know the popularity.

Play the games with your child. Know their reactions and learn their responses.

Establish an open relationship where your child becomes comfortable even talking about what is inappropriate or disturbing. Establish gently what is right and wrong. Bullying does not help.

Set up the computer and gaming console in a family room. All games will then be out in the open. You will be in a position to judge and monitor.
Feel free to contact the manufacturer and voice your opinion.

Study in detail the plus and minus points of computer usage.

Interact with your child at all levels.

Be a cautious buyer 杚uestion claims of advancing brain development.

Introduce a variable routine for your child. Outdoor activities interwoven with computer related activities.

Focus on social and emotional development. The child must be confident, curious, and forthright; display self control; be able to relate linearly, be caring and cooperative, and be communicative.

Choose games that are fun and have a degree of effective learning.

Introduce games that require two or more players梩his fosters social interaction.

Playing games should be a privilege not a right. Emphasize that parental approval is a must.

Use games to maximize your child抯 interests. If the child is mechanical minded purchase games that encourage this talent.

Choose games that require decisions and strategies. Games should be more than shoot, blow up, destroy, and kill. Avoid killer machine games.

Explain why a game is not to be played. Never just take away a game. A child needs to understand why you are against playing certain games.

Gaming is a part of life. It introduces computer technology, problem solving, and logic. It improves motor as well as spatial skills. Games are not just entertaining, they can be therapeutic too. Choose wisely and guide your child.

About the Author: Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for www.1888FreeOnlineGames.com , the premier website to play thousands of free online games including arcade games, action games, card games, flash games, strategy games, puzzle games and more. He also freelances for www.1888SoftwareDownloads.com .

What is Close-up Magic?

2009-01-07T22:54:00.000-08:00

Close-up magic is magical entertainment that happens right in front of you, magic you can not only see but feel and touch. This intimacy is what makes it so different from other types of magic. An expert close-up magician will involve and interact with the audience far more than a stage magician (or any other form of entertainer for that matter).

Most close-up magicians use common props such as playing cards, coins, sponge balls and rope. And all magicians perform the same basic magical effects with these props, making them appear, disappear, change, levitate, break and restore, or penetrate other objects. What is amazing about close-up magic is that it happens so close to you, sometimes while you are holding the props!

Close-up magic can be performed at just about any social occasion - weddings, parties, dinners, banquets, open days, trade shows - wherever people gather in small groups and have a few moments to relax. A close-up magician usually mingles with the guests at an event, moving from group to group or table to table. The magician will politely approach guests and then spend anything from 2 to 10 minutes entertaining them with magic. The time spent with each group depends on how many guests are at the event, how much time is available and how interested the guests are in magic.

There are many standard close-up magic effects and standard routines used to present them. For example, the ‘Ambitious Card’ where a chosen card repeatedly rises to the top position in a deck of cards without any shuffling or cutting, or the ‘Sponge Balls’ where the balls move invisibly between the magician’s hands and those of the spectator’s. In fact, these routines are freely available if you care to look. Anyone can search the internet and buy books and DVDs on close-up magic, or even the props and standard routines.

So, if anyone can buy the props and learn how to perform close-up magic what makes an expert close-up magician? Some people may have a talent for magic or be more committed to practising the skills required, but these things happen in the background. Two things make the difference to the audience; 1) how the magician presents their magic and 2) whether the magician can tailor their magic to a particular audience.

Presentation is very important - it is what makes close-up magic entertaining. A really good magician will be creative and present their magic in an original and entertaining way. Sometimes humorous, sometimes mysterious, sometimes just plain weird and freaky. The magic should become a vehicle for the personality and ideas of the performer. However, every audience is different, and the people at an event can be from any age group, male or female and from any walk of life. An experienced magician should have an extensive repertoire from which to choose magical effects, and present them in an entertaining way, to all the different types of people they meet at an event.

This is why close-up magic is so versatile and great entertainment. It is suitable for almost any situation and any audience, and the only entertainment where you can see the impossible, weird and wonderful right under your nose!

Chihuahuas Get a Solid ‘YES’ From Paula Abdul

2009-01-07T22:49:00.000-08:00

She may not be able to put up with Simon Cowell and his sharp-tongued criticisms on American Idol, but Paula Abdul can’t get enough of her three Chihuahuas- Thumbelina, Tulip and Tinkerbell. There’s no doubt that if there were an American Canine Idol contest for dog breeds, Chihuahuas would receive a solid ’YES’ from Paula when it comes to cuteness, intelligence and hug-ability! When it comes to celebrities, Paula is certainly not alone in her adoration of Chihuahuas.

Marilyn Monroe grew up in Los Angeles. As a child, she had a black and white dog that followed her to school. She named the dog Tippy and played with it during recess. A neighbor shot the dog dead in 1932 claiming that Tippy had repeatedly damaged his garden. After that incident, Marilyn seemed to have cooled to the idea of pet ownership. She shared a spaniel while staying with the Goddard Family in 1940, but didn’t actually adopt her own pet until after she signed with Columbia Pictures about eight years later.

While making movies at Columbia, Marilyn adopted a Chihuahua she named ’Choo Choo’ in 1948. One story says that Marilyn saw a few grips and camera operators playing with a Chihuahua while on a break and instantly fell in love with the Breed. Another version claims that the studio encouraged Marilyn to adopt a tiny puppy for the sake of publicity. It is more likely that she choose the pup for her own reasons.

Marilyn became a bit of a trendsetter by adopting a Chihuahua during a time when glamour dogs like toy and full-sized Poodles were considered more chic. Looking back, it was a terrific move that immediately separated her from most other Starlets of the day. The more Marilyn and her Chihuahua were seen and photographed together in public, the more interest people began to have in the Breed. Another sexy, bleached blond film goddess soon followed Marilyn’s example.

Jayne Mansfield owned at least two Chihuahuas and was said to have been an animal lover. One of her dogs died in the car accident that took her life in 1967. The following year saw the release of The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield. Perhaps the campiest semi-documentary of all time, this film had four directors and was obviously a vehicle designed to make money off her death. Filled with nude scenes and real life weirdoes, the best actor in the movie was said to have been Jayne’s Chihuahua.

Today, Paris Hilton seems to be the trendsetter when it comes to Chihuahua popularity. While it is doubtful that Paula Abdul was inspired to adopt her Chihuahuas by Paris, the two celebrities both have females named Tinkerbell. Although we haven’t seen Paula’s pets on American Idol, Paris has made her tiny toy dog a canine superstar by appearing with Tinkerbell on magazine covers and featuring her in episodes of The Simple Life series on Fox TV.

Paris once told reporters that she was inspired to adopt a Chihuahua after seeing Legally Blond, starring Reese Witherspoon and the unstoppable Bruiser. Film inspired dog adoptions are nothing new. Films like Benji, 101 Dalmatians and Beethoven had moviegoers scrambling to find look-a-likes for themselves or their children. This wasn’t always a good thing for the dogs or breed in question.

Most people who wanted a ‘Benji’ for themselves chose Yorkies, Silkies and Terrier mixes that just love to chew on anything they can find. Contrary to what was portrayed in the film, those who adopted a Dalmatian probably made the unfortunate discovery that this breed can be very temperamental and downright mean with children. As for Saint Bernard’s, few people have the space for them. Those who do may not want the huge feeding and veterinarian bills that come with such a large breed of dog.

Those who saw Legally Blond and decided they wanted a Chihuahua were pleasantly surprised. Chi’s are generally sweet animals that do not have a tendency toward destructive behavior and love to be with people. They may well be the easiest of all dog breeds to care for. One of the big advantages to owning a Chihuahua is that they love to go everywhere and are easy to transport because of their size. That suits the lifestyle of most celebrities who always seem to be on the go. It’s no wonder that so many have chosen a Chihuahua as their canine companion.

Anne Heche loves her Chihuahua and has been known to spend big bucks on all kinds of goodies for her pet. It’s been reported that Anne likes to shop at high fashion doggie stores like the pricey Fifi and Romeo which is based in Los Angeles (where else?). The Osbournes, the world’s most famous four-letter word family, also have a thing for Chihuahuas. Ozzie probably appreciates having a small dog breed that hasn’t turned his home into one large litter box as some of their bigger dogs have. Despite all the advantages of Chihuahua ownership, these canines have not always enjoyed the amount of popularity they do now.

Nasty rumors about the use of Chihuahuas in traditional Aztec ceremonies many centuries ago once left a bad taste in the mouths of small dog breed enthusiasts. Many archeologists and historians believed that Chihuahuas were eaten as part of religious ceremonies! Some still believe it. This incorrect interpretation of history was based on notes taken by conquistadors and missionary priests. They failed to understand the symbolic nature of rituals depicted on stone carvings and were likely the victims of native propaganda offered up to make the Aztecs appear even fiercer then they already were. Such stories were probably the result of the outgunned Aztecs attempting to instill fear in an enemy that possessed superior weaponry.

We now know that the Aztecs believed Chihuahuas could be used as spirit guides to help the dead find their way through the underworld. As a result, many were probably killed for the sole purpose of assisting nobles and royalty on their journey through death. They were not eaten! These ideas may have come from religious ceremonies practiced over a thousand years ago by the Toltecs. After their conquest by the Aztecs, Toltec ceremonies and rituals were adopted by their conquerors. However, there is sufficient evidence to prove that many of these rites had already been changed or abandoned by the time the conquistadors arrived.

Montezuma II, the last emperor of the Aztecs, had hundreds of Chihuahuas. Each dog had its own keeper and these animals were given royal protection. The Emperor’s love for the Breed is said to have been handed down to him by several of his predecessors who may have outlawed the killing of Chihuahuas and changed their part in religious ceremonies. By the time the Conquistadors arrived, these dogs were more pets and living good luck charms of the Emperor and Aztec nobility then anything else.

Chihuahuas have always had an almost supernatural appeal to humans. Their ability to warm the hearts of people is legendary. When you add to this the fact that Chihuahuas are the world’s smallest dogs and longest lived, is it any wonder why celebrities like Rosie O’Donnell, George Lopez, Noah Wylie and others can’t get enough of them? The votes are in. It's Chihuahuas that have caused celebrities to go to the dogs! Read more about Chihuahuas or find the perfect pup at http://www.ArizonaPups.com

What is PocketDISH?

2009-01-07T22:44:00.000-08:00

PocketDish by Dish Network is an ingenious video, music, game and photo device thats compact enough to fit into a pocket or purse. You can store TV programs, music, your favorite games and photos on PocketDish.

PocketDish was created by Dish Network, the fastest-growing U.S. satellite-television service, and the first pay-TV service provider to enter the market of portable video players. Using cutting-edge digital technology, the designers of Dish Network's PocketDish have created a miniature, multi-purpose entertainment system thats perfect for people on the go, offering super-fast downloads and crystal-clear images.

This portable media player is available in three versions: two compact, handheld media recorders, and one portable media player. The video recorder has a 7-inch liquid crystal display and a 40GB hard drive, The two media players have 2.2 and 4-inch displays and hard drives of 20 or 30GB. Each of the three PocketDish models come equipped with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that gives you four hours of video and 12 hours of audio.

All PocketDish models can be plugged into the USB 2.0 ports on Dishs Networks Dish Player 942 for fast downloading of programs. An hour of Dish Network programming can be downloaded in about five minutes. You can transfer a full-length movie with PocketDish in under 10 minutes!

Transferring Dish Network content is easy. Just connect the PocketDish to your DVR using the USB cable included with PocketDish. Once connected, a series of prompts on the screen will direct you through the transfer of content stored on your DVR. With the receiver, you can also manage the content of your PocketDish. When the transfer is concluded, simply chose Done and disconnect the cable from the PocketDish and the DVR. PocketDish will then update all files. The new programs can be accessed using the Video icon; theyre stored in the folder called Dish Network.

PocketDish offers great options for music and TV lovers:

TV/VIDEO: With more options than a portable DVD player, PocketDish lets you transfer programs from select Dish Network DVR receivers. You can enjoy your favorite programs anytime, anywhere.

MUSIC: Download your entire digital music library. With PocketDish, you can have thousands of MP3, WMA or WAV music files at your fingertips, all attractively presented, with cover art and play lists to suit any mood.

PHOTOS: Store up to an incredible 400,000 images and view them on the PocketDishs crisp LCD screen or on a connected TV.

GAMES: Download all kinds of fun, from mind-bending brain puzzlers to your favorite role-playing and adventure games for fast, challenging entertainment.

PocketDish by Dish Network offers the best in portable audio and video. Take PocketDish with you anywhere, anytime, and youll have easy access to your favorite TV programs, photos and games. With Dish Networks PocketDish, you can also record and play downloads from PCs and Macs, from digital cameras, digital video players, camcorders and VCRs. Plus, PocketDish is compatible with most television sets. Fun and convenient, PocketDish is ideal for the frequent traveler.

Mitchell Medford is an author and product consultant for several consumer electronics manufacturers. Visit his websites for more information on Pocket DISH and satellite tv.

Chinese Astrology Explained

2009-01-07T22:39:00.000-08:00

Are you confused about the meanings of Chinese astrology? Would you
like to know more about this 5000 year old art?

Chinese astrology is based on the lunar calendar. As with astrology
from other cultures, a horoscope is created using the position of the stars and
planets for each of the twelve signs of the zodiac based on the year of
birth.

The Twelve Chinese Signs

Rat

Rats are charming and attractive to the opposite sex. But despite
outside appearances, they are restless and this sometimes comes across as
aggressiveness. Rats are great with money, and love to pounce on an
opportunity. They are also very generous to their friends. They love
people and large gatherings and always have others around. They also run
in many intimate circles and like to be involved in everything they can, leading
them to sometimes attempt to do too much. They are good writers and
speakers, and success comes easily to them.

Oxen are calm on the surface, but have hidden tempers. They are hard
workers and are determined to the point of stubbornness. However, this
makes them one of the most dependable signs. They are trustworthy, and
easily move up at the office. If they don't watch out, they may not have
much of a social life. They are not very adept at mind games, and can
sometimes be led astray in romance. But once they find someone, they are
steadfast and loyal.

Tiger

Tigers are energetic and unpredictable. Their wild side leads them to
be the center of attention. They speak their mind and are always looking
for the new party or next great idea. They are also very involved in
giving their time and money to the causes they are passionate about. They
are generous and honest. However, they are also rebels. They seek
ideals and will rebel against a society they perceive as being in the
wrong. They are emotional and impulsive, prone to romance as well as
jealousy.

Rabbit

Rabbits are gracious and gentle. They adore quiet and peacefulness, and
prefer a good book to a night on the town. Their sensitivity can lead to
moodiness, but normally rabbits are great at keeping the peace. While they
are quiet on the surface, rabbits are good at finding deals. They are
sweet and can talk people into being on their side of an issue without
argument. While they are cautious, they can also be friendly and inviting
once they feel safe.

Dragon

Dragons have fire. They are full of life, and want to live life to the
fullest. They are perfectionists and are extremely demanding of both
themselves and others. They intimidate those who disagree with them,
although they are very loyal to their friends. They can be stubborn, but
they will let you know how they feel. They believe themselves to be B
and loveable, and they strive to motivate everyone to live up to their
standards.

Snake

Snakes are mysterious, often charming the opposite sex. They are
graceful, and tend towards all things grand and cultural. They are private
tend to look inward for their self-esteem, and are superstitious about
everything. They are not penny-pinchers, but always have money on
hand. Snakes are jealous when they find a lover, and will turn cold almost
on a whim.

Horse

Horses are generally friendly. They love being the center of attention,
and will keep others enthralled by their quick wit. However, they have
malleable alliances, and will have many short-lived romances and
friendships. They enjoy the change, and lead lives full of
adventure. They don't like being tied down, and love working out and
spending time outdoors. They don't like sticking to a plan, and will often
take on too much. They can be impatient with others whom they perceive as
moving too slowly.

Sheep

Sheep are peaceful people. They empathize with others' pain, and are
easy to talk to. They don't like to rush, and will break if
pressured. They do not like harsh words, and love to be led gently.
While they are passive, they are also patient, and generally they eventually get
their way. They always remember their friends and families and give
thoughtful gifts. They often worry about what others think, and tend too
spend too much.

Monkey

Monkeys are intuitive and clever. They are hands-on problem solvers,
and a great deal of self-confidence. They enjoy succeeding at difficult
tasks, and don't need to be talked into attempting one. The source of
their success is their great memory. They are hard workers, and don't care
what others think of them. They don't usually have many friends, although
their success does attract people to them.

Rooster

Roosters are romantics. They are perfectionists and dreamers at the
same time. Quick to see detail, they always love a challenge, especially
if at first glance it looks impossible. They take great pride in knowing
all the details of a subject that interests them, and are thus great
debaters. However, they will never admit to being wrong. They also
tend to step in and try to solve others' problems, whether or not they have been
invited to do so. They like to always stay busy, and will work for
whatever they have their eye on.

Dog

Dogs are friendly and are always up front about their feelings. They
are very family-oriented and are extremely loyal to their friends. They
will fight for a cause they feel is just. They are not comfortable around
extravagant wealth, and prefer a loving home regardless of social status.
Once you befriend a dog, they will be by your side for life. They are
monogamous, and tend to choose their lovers wisely. They work hard and
play hard, and know when it is appropriate to be doing one or the other.
They are good providers to those they love.

Pig

Pigs love a social life. They have many friends, and tend to stay out
of heated discussions and all kinds of debates. It's not that they don't
have an opinion; they simply love to party and don't want to risk ruining the
fun. They are good listeners, but are sometimes gullible and can be taken
advantage of easily. This can sometimes hurt them in relationships.
They are trustworthy and dependable, and stick by their friends.
They are generous to those they care about.

The Five Elements

There is another layer to Chinese astrology that is less well known than the
Chinese signs. Chinese astrologers use a 60 year cycle, made up of five
sets of the twelve signs. The five repetitions of the signs each
correspond to a different element, adding more intricacy to the animal.

The five elements are Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth.

In Chinese astrology, the elements are part of a cycle; one is not higher or
better than another. In fact, they have a cyclical relationship, both in
positive and negative ways, so that:

Water makes Wood
Wood makes Fire
Fire makes Earth
Earth makes
Metal
Metal makes Water

and:

Water destroys Fire
Fire destroys Metal
Metal destroys Wood
Wood
destroys Earth
Earth destroys Water

In addition, they can be openly aggressive and hostile:

Water resists Fire
Fire resists Metal
Metal resists Wood
Wood
resists Earth
Earth resists Water

So now you know the basics of Chinese Astrology. Enjoy exploring your
Chinese sign!

Michelle Andersen is an astrologer providing valuable tips and advice on understanding Chinese'%26gt;http://www.horoscopes-and-astrology.net/chinese-astrology.htm"%26gt;Chinese astrology, pet horoscopes, and zodiac'%26gt;http://www.horoscopes-and-astrology.net/zodiac-sexual-compatibility.htm"%26gt;zodiac compatibility. Choose from any one of three free'%26gt;http://www.horoscopes-and-astrology.net"%26gt;free readings - psychic love, tarot cards, or numerology reading.

Sledgehammer -- Medical Fiction Thriller at Its Best

2009-01-07T22:34:00.000-08:00

Looking for a good fiction book to read? Look no further. This medical thriller will have you glued to every page as the drama unfolds and an ER doctor must stop a biochemical nightmare from happening.

6 days … 6 days to stop an epidemic and convince the government that terrorists have indeed used smallpox as a weapon against us. When one of the terrorists shows up in the ER with symptoms, time is of the essence to convince higher ups and the government that indeed this is the dreaded once thought eradicated disease smallpox. If not for the quick action and prior medical expertise of the main character, Dr. Max Kroose, fatalities could be in the millions.

What makes the book even more interesting is that the events unfolding in the ER symbolize real events that occur in emergency rooms daily. The author, Dr. Paulo J. Reyes, is a practicing Emergency Room Doctor and First Responder to disasters in Los Angeles, California with a medical career spanning 25 years. His medical expertise helped to create a medical environment that medical personnel, fans of medical TV dramas, as well as all science fiction fans will enjoy. Added to that, the characters are well developed and passionate in their quest for answers. Although the book is fictional, it’s based on extensive research and leaves you questioning-could it happen today?

With today’s ongoing terrorists’ threats, the growing concern of a biochemical attack, and the fear of a global pandemic, this book shows you how situations like this would be handled. Would the government be prepared? Do we have enough vaccinations for everyone? Should we have voluntary vaccinations now? Questions you will want answers for.

To add this book to your collection, stop by our site at http://www.pauloreyes.com/. The book also sells at Amazon and iUniverse as well as other leading online bookstores. Also, sign up to be an affiliate and start selling Sledgehammer on your site now. Science fiction at its BEST! This book has gotten numerous 5 Star Reviews. Get it now and see why.

*******************

Dr. Reyes is an ER Doctor in California, First Responder and trained for disaster events as well as the author of Sledgehammer. He has appeared on CNN. He is available for media interviews by contacting Diana at diana@pauloreyes.com or (954) 971-4025. Free to reprint article as long as bio remains intact.

Throwing a Baby Shower Your Guests Will Remember

2009-01-07T22:29:00.000-08:00

Are you in charge of planning a baby shower? Do you need a baby shower theme? Decorations? Favors? This guide will give you baby shower ideas, whether you are a sister, friend, or coworker.

Baby Shower Themes

The first and most difficult thing to do when planning a baby shower is to decide on a theme. After this has been finalized, much of the rest of the shower will plan itself.

There are several ways to pick a theme.

A baby shower theme can relate to the mother-to-be and what she needs. It can be a color, a nursery theme, or a specific type of item. For instance, if the nursery is decorated in flowers, the theme could be "A Baby's Garden." If it is decorated in a sports motif, the theme could be the parents' favorite sports team. All the gifts would then coordinate with the room. If the nursery is painted with frogs, the theme could be "Green." This way, the guests can be a little more creative in their giving. Or the theme could be "Bedtime," prompting guests to bring pajamas, blankets, and crib items.

For a second (or third, or fourth) time mother, the theme can be really creative. For someone who already has almost everything they need, a theme such as "Reading," in which everyone brings books for the baby (and maybe for the older children as well) would be a nice change of pace.

Some people do not like to attend showers for second time mothers, because they feel that they have already received what they needed for their first child and are just being greedy. If you feel this may be the case for your guests (such as a group of coworkers), throw a baby shower in which the invitation clearly states not to bring a present. Or spend some money on a nice gift (for instance, a gift certificate to a restaurant, spa, or hotel), and ask that guests bring a specific item (diapers, specific baby food) in exchange for a raffle ticket. They can even bring as many items as they would like in exchange for several tickets. That way, people who wish to be generous can still give the mother-to-be a useful gift, and no one feels obligated to bring anything. At the end of the night, raffle off the prize.

Some other theme ideas include:

Look What the Stork is Bringing Noah's Ark (good for a shower where the guys are invited too!) Alphabet Soup Blue is for Boy

Baby Shower Decorations

The decorations should flow from the theme. A color theme is the most flexible and inexpensive, although a specific theme such as "Teddy Bears" will be easy, as you can buy coordinating tablecloths, plates, and napkins.

Keep the decorations simple. Put a nice tablecloth under the cake and spread some confetti rattles around it. Tie some balloons to the buffet or appetizer table. Add some pastel streamers across the living room, and you're done. After all, the focus should be on the mother-to-be.

If you are having the shower at work, the decorations can be even easier. Simply put the cake under a white tablecloth and add a bouquet of balloons. A lunchtime event is perfect for the office. Many of the baby shower ideas will work for any location, indoors or out.

Baby Shower Favors

After the shower, give your guests something to remember it by. Candle holders in the shape of a baby item, such as a rattle or booties, are popular and easy to find online or in a party supply store. Other favor ideas include magnets or candies in a pretty gift box. Of course, let the favors flow from the theme. At "Tea Party" themed baby shower, guests might receive tea cups and saucers. At a "Pamper Party," an idea increasingly popular for mothers who already have several children and therefore most of the stuff they actually need, they might take home spa accessories such as a loofah or bubble bath.

Baby Shower Schedule

Typically, a baby shower will last approximately two hours. If a full meal will be served, be sure to indicate this on the invitation so guests can plan accordingly. Usually, however, some light appetizers, punch, and cake are all that is needed. The following is a general idea of a schedule.

As your guests arrive, serve them some appetizers, and let them sign a guest book. One idea is to make this an advice book, allowing each guest to write down one piece of advice they would give the new mother.

Serve simple appetizers. Two to three dishes is best, along with some cheese, crackers, chips, dip, and fruit. Some ideas for munchies that are easy and can be made ahead of time include:

Deviled Eggs: Add salsa and cheddar for a Mexican twist!
Stuffed Mushrooms

After all your guests have arrived, begin with everyone introducing themselves. This is especially important if this is a mixed shower, with coworkers, friends, and family. Make sure everyone mentions how they know the mother-to-be.

Next, play one or two games. These will serve as icebreakers. Some ideas include:

Baby Boggle - See how many baby related words guests can make in three minutes from a sentence such as "I can't believe [Mother-To-Be's Name] is going to have a baby!" or something else silly and fun. Everyone reads their list, crossing off duplicates, and the person with the most remaining wins.

Baby Box - Place some common baby items (rattle, diaper) in a box. Cut a small hand-sized hole in the side. Give each guest 20 seconds to touch as many items as they can (no peeking!), then have them write down what they felt. The person with the most correct wins.

Remember, short is good, and have fun!

If there is going to be a full meal, now is the time. Generally, a buffet is best, as the guests can eat while the mother-to-be opens her gifts. If there is not going to be a full meal, give everyone some time to get another round of appetizers, then have the guest of honor open her presents.

After the gifts are open, serve the cake. At this point, the shower is over. Everyone will socialize for as long as they'd like, and the guests will begin to leave. If the time is important (i.e. the host has somewhere she needs to be), be sure to put an end time of the invitations.

Hopefully this gave you enough baby shower ideas to begin brainstorming. Remember to have fun, and you'll throw a successful baby shower.

Jennifer Barnett is a successful party planner providing valuable tips and advice on planning a baby shower that is inexpensive, fun for the guests with baby shower games, and choosing the perfectbaby shower gift. Her numerous articles offer moneysaving tips and valuable insight. Print her "Baby Shower Checklist" to help you plan and organize the upcoming event!

Oprah's Favorite Things Hits Big This Holiday Season

2009-01-07T22:24:00.000-08:00

Oprah Winfrey is one of the most popular talk show hosts in American television history. As her show enters its 21rst season, she has millions of viewers who tune in each day. One of her most popular segments is her "Favorite Things" holiday show. During this show, Oprah shares with the studio and television audience some of her favorite things including jewelry, gadgets and vacation getaways.

People love this show because on the "Favorite Things" episode, audience members get the extravagant gifts that Oprah displays. Around 300 audience members are showered with gifts each holiday episode. The amount varies, but Oprah audience members can each expect to receive between $4,000 and $15,000 worth of gifts. But, Oprah is a big winner as well. The 2004 episode of "Oprah抯 Favorite Things" had the highest ratings ever for a "Favorite Things" episode and was the second highest rated episode for the season.

Oprah has been doing her "Favorite Things" episode since 1999. Guests received a set of Illumination Ritual Candles, each one to inspire different feelings like love, peace and passion and each candle contained a tiny gemstone inside. The 12-candle set was valued at $169.95. Dog owners were no doubt thrilled with the Fifi and Romeo Pet Clothing ($150 and up) - one of Oprah抯 favorite things of 1999. One of the most extravagant gifts that year was a Susan Abbott Personalized Painting, ranging from $5,000 and up. Oprah loved the Susan Abbott painting given to her by author Sarah Ban Breathnach.In 2000, Oprah added many hi-tech gadgets like the Motorola Talkabout pager (priced at $179), so audience members could receive email while on the go. Another favorite thing from 2000 was the book equivalent of the iPod, the Gemstar REB1100 eBook from RCA ($299). The Gemstar let users download up to 8,000 book pages, so they never had to carry around a book again.The BlissLabs Glamour Gloves ($44) and Gel ($22) was one of Oprah抯 favorite things in 2002. The Panasonic 4-in-1 Digital Camera from Frontgate ($449) was also a big hit that year. The camera, the size of a credit card, takes pictures and video, but can also be used as a MP3 player and audio recorder.In 2003, Oprah decided to do two episodes of her favorite things segment - one in the Spring and one in the Fall. Spring audience members got an Apple iPod ($399), Silhouette Minimal X Sunglasses ($175-$250), and a Hewlett Packard Digital Camera, Printer and Dock (total value $730) among other items. Fall audience members racked up with UGG Classic Short Boots ($110), a Philip Stein Teslar Watch ($595), and a Sony DCR-DVD200 Handycam ($1000).

2004 was a very special Favorite Things segment for Oprah. She convinced 300 teachers to attend her show, under the premise of talking about education and a teacher抯 daily routine. Instead, she surprised them with the Favorite Things episode. The teachers received gifts such as a Sony VAIO S260 notebook computer, a Dell 30" wide-screen LCD television, a Maytag Neptune Top-Load Washer and Drying Center, and a trip for two to the exclusive Miraval Resort and Spa. Total gift amount for each teacher was about $15,000 - much more than the previous year total of $4,800. Oprah, a
supporter of education and teachers, knew the teachers were worth every penny.In 2005, Oprah decided to make her favorite things audience up of Katrina relief workers. Among the gifts were Sony VAIO?FJ Notebook, Kashw閞e?Shawl Collar Robe, BlackBerry 7105T from T-Mobile, and a couple of Oprah抯 favorites from 2004, UGG Australia's Uptown Boot and an Apple iPod. While considerably less than the year before, the 2005 recipients still received over $7,000 worth of items.

Probably due in part to Oprah抯 television audience as well as her personal appeal, each year the manufacturer抯 of the items found on Oprah抯 favorite things donate all the gifts. But they reap great benefits from doing so. They get television exposure and an immediate increase in sales after each episode. Companies like Sephora and Macy抯 have both publically stated that as soon as Oprah mentions one of their products, people are coming in the stores in droves to get it.

So in the end, it is a win-win situation. The manufacturers see increased sales, the audience gets great gifts, and Oprah just keeps on getting more and more popular with her viewing audience.

Shelly Lowery is a successful writer with an interest in celebrities like Oprah Winfrey. She demonstrates the power of Oprah's"%26gt;http://www.oprahs-favorite-things.com/"%26gt;Oprah's Favorite Things list each year on the holiday shopping season. See her report on what products made the list on Oprah's"%26gt;http://www.oprahs-favorite-things.com/favorite-things-2005.htm"%26gt;Oprah's Favorite Things for 2005, 2004http://www.oprahs-favorite-things.com/favorite-things-2004.htm"%26gt;2004%26gt;, 2003http://www.oprahs-favorite-things.com/favorite-things-2003.htm"%26gt;2003%26gt;, and 2002http://www.oprahs-favorite-things.com/favorite-things-2002.htm"%26gt;2002%26gt;.

Fact or Fiction --- Terrorist attack our nation using smallpox as a weapon against us?

2009-01-07T22:19:00.000-08:00

It very well could be real, but for now it’s the latest heart-pounding fiction book, Sledgehammer, about a terrorist who arrives in the ER with smallpox symptoms. An ER physician suspects it but has just six days to convince hospital executives and the U.S. Government before an epidemic breaks out.

The story is brought vividly to life by Dr. Paulo J. Reyes who obtained his MD at the UCSF School of Medicine, has 25 years in medicine and internal medicine and is a First Responder for the busiest cities in California specifically in terrorists training.

In Sledgehammer, the lead character, Max Kroose, an intuitive emergency room physician, believes terrorists are to blame for the attack and fears the more lethal form of smallpox, called Sledgehammer, will kill within days. As time progresses, the terrorists planned attacks at a sports arena, mall and airport must be stopped. The question becomes can this ER doctor convince the hospital administration and the public health care system about the presence of this deadly disease and the need to vaccinate the American public. You won’t be able to stop reading as you seek to find out the truth in this non-stop thriller.

How big a threat is smallpox? “The Federal Government should allow voluntary smallpox vaccinations to protect us from smallpox bioterrorist attacks,” says Dr. Reyes. “At the very least the Federal Government should allow voluntary vaccinations of the first responders which should include all hospital medical staff. The President and the military have been vaccinated. Why shouldn’t the American public?”

Dr. Reyes also authored Health-Care Reform or Redistribution of Cost? and in his research of the health care system, he has seen its shortcomings. Realizing there is clear and present danger of a terrorist attack in the health care system has prompted him to support voluntary smallpox vaccinations.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers smallpox as a possible danger and includes it as one of the possible agents of a bioterrorist attack, in its website under the subheading Emergency Preparedness and Response along with anthrax, plague, and tularemia.

Reyes believes the Federal Government should consider a trial program to detect the presence of the virus – similar to a pregnancy test – so if the disease presents itself, it will be detected before it becomes an epidemic or pandemic.

The American public is immuno-naïve to smallpox, which means it could spread very rapidly, Reyes says. And containment could be even more difficult or impossible if the virus was aerosolized, which the CDC believes may be the case, he says.

With new terrorist attacks continually happening in the United States and the fear of a global pandemic, Sledgehammer is a gripping book to get a real insight into what could possibly lie ahead unless immediate action is taken. Buy your book today at http://www.pauloreyes.com, Amazon.com or any major online bookstore.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Paulo J. Reyes has previously appeared on CNN and is available for TV, Radio, newspaper, article quotes, and other media interviews. Please contact Diana at Diana@pauloreyes.com or (954) 971-4025. Stop by his site for the latest information and updates on current news – http://www.pauloreyes.com.

Free to reprint as long as author’s bio remains intact.

The Rising Risk of a Terrorist Attack - Could It Happen Today?

2009-01-07T22:14:00.000-08:00

You’ve read about it, you’ve seen it: terrorist attacks on trains, in nightclubs and the worst terrorist attack in U.S history on September 11th in New York City. But will the next terrorist attack strike even closer to home – your own hospital’s emergency room. Dr. Paulo J. Reyes, a First Responder in California, ER Doctor, and author of the fiction thriller, Sledgehammer fears there exists a clear and present danger today and has written a book on the possibilities of a biochemical attack with smallpox. It clearly outlines how unprepared our nation is and what could happen if we don’t prepare now.

Dr. Reyes contends that our government continually acknowledges that it’s not a matter of “if” we are attacked again, but “when.” He supports voluntary smallpox vaccinations, which the military and President Bush himself have already received, but feels more needs to be more done to educate the nation of the risks involved in order to be adequately prepared for a biochemical attack. Reyes states, “As is evidenced with Hurricane Katrina and the reports that are now publicly known, the government needs to step up its disaster recovery efforts especially for First Responders and Emergency Personnel.”

Also of equal importance is the fact that First Responders and medical doctors can be ill equipped to handle such an attack. A study listed in Archives of Internal Medicine showed 631 doctors, mostly medical residents, were given a test prior to completing an online training course. On the pretest, half the doctors misdiagnosed botulism; 84 percent misdiagnosed plague and a case of routine chickenpox was misdiagnosed as smallpox by 42 percent of the doctors. "We've got a dangerous gap here and we need a much clearer strategic game plan," said Shelley Hearne, executive director of Trust for America's Health, which tracks how well states are prepared for bioterrorism or a pandemic.

Reyes’ book, Sledgehammer, although a fictional account of a small pox outbreak in a Los Angeles emergency room, is based on extensive research by Reyes and his experience and terrorist training as a First Responder. In Sledgehammer the hospital staff of a Los Angeles emergency room face the daunting challenge of preventing the contagious disease from quickly spreading and affecting their patients and colleagues alike. What adds further drama is the discovery that this particular form of smallpox is an aggressive type – sledgehammer smallpox or a malignant smallpox, which although it starts as non-typical rash, it quickly turns into a life-threatening situation. The terrorist’s threats also expand to several sports arenas, airports and shopping malls. The 5 star review book begs to ask the question, what if? What if this happened today, are we ready? After reading this medical thriller, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure we are.

----------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Reyes is available for media interviews to discuss further his findings on Smallpox. Also, his site at http://www.pauloreyes.com offers detailed information as well as current news events of today’s leading stories. His book, Sledgehammer is available at his site and also at Amazon and other leading bookstores. Free to reprint as long as author’s bio remains intact.

Seven Free Online Resources for Learning Chinese Faster

2009-01-07T22:09:00.000-08:00

Are you learning Chinese? If so, you’ve already searched the internet for information that’ll help you learn Chinese. What do you find? Lots of sites offering free information on learning Chinese.

I did an online search recently and realized that with all the free Chinese language information out there, it can be confusing for a beginner learning Chinese to figure out what’s useful and what’s not.

For you the Chinese beginner, where should you start? Which are the sites that offer you practical advice and Chinese phrases you can use immediately?

I’ve put together a select list of useful, free online resources to jump start your learning of Chinese and help you get better results in less time. :-)

Learn Chinese Resource #1:
**Free mini-course -- “How to Learn Chinese with More Fun and in Less Time in Five Easy Steps”
This is the only step-by-step guide available online that gives you proven tips on how to approach the study of Chinese for better and faster results AND the 80% of important basics you’ll need to know -- in 20% of the time.

Many sites on the internet offer free information on learning Chinese. They either provide too much information and get too academic or their information are badly organized.

They don’t tell you how you should approach the study of Chinese for better results. How you learn Chinese is more important than what you learn! And they aren’t focused on delivering ONLY the most important basics of listening, speaking, writing, reading you’ll need to know at the beginning stage.

That’s why I put together this mini-course for you based on my own experience of becoming effectively fluent in spoken and written Chinese. It’s a step-by-step guide to learning Chinese for the beginner that’ll save you time (and all the headaches!) and gets you the results you want.

URL:
http://www.living-chinese-symbols.com/learning-chinese

Learn Chinese Resource #2:
**Chinese Pod
Free, daily Chinese conversational audio mp3 lessons (called podcasts) based on real situations (ordering food, renting an apartment, talking about yourself etc.) you can download, listen and review on the go to start speaking Mandarin right away

Chinese pod audio lessons are not only free, they’re free AND very good. Teachers Ken and Jenny are great teachers. Go download these free audio mp3 Chinese conversational lessons for all levels in the Podcast Archive while you can! Chinese pod offers an interesting and effective way to learn and start speaking Mandarin right away!

Start with their New User Guide. You can sign up for their 7-day trial which gives you access to additional features like dialogue transcripts in Chinese, English, and pinyin, access to their learning Chinese center, and a 30,000 word glossary.

URL:
http://www.living-chinese-symbols.com/chinese-pod

Learn Chinese Resource#3
**Bryan Todd’s “5 Beginner Steps to Learning Chinese Faster”
Real experiences of an American learning Chinese in China. Bryan Todd’s funny and useful “5 Beginner Steps to Learning Chinese Faster” free email course doesn’t teach you Chinese but describes a beginner's strategy for how to get out into a real Chinese-speaking environment and learn it for yourself.

URL:
http://www.living-chinese-symbols.com/master-chinese-faster

Learn Chinese Resource #4:
**BBC Real Chinese
For those who plan to travel to China, learn useful Chinese phrases (note: no Chinese characters, only in pinyin, the Romanized script) for introducing yourself, getting around, shopping, booking a hotel in China etc. in this interesting ten-part, online beginner’s Mandarin course in slideshow format with text, images and audio followed by a one-minute video shot in China and cultural notes.

URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/chinese/real_chinese/index.shtml

Learn Chinese Resource #5:
**Chinese Forums
Find like-minded, motivated Chinese learners to discuss topics related to learning Chinese and Chinese culture

Chinese-forums.com is an online community of people with an interest in learning Chinese language and culture. When you’re just starting to learn Chinese, keeping yourself motivated is vital for getting results. This is where you’ll find other motivated Chinese learners of all skill levels to exchange tips and information whether it’s about overcoming difficulties in learning Chinese Mandarin or sharing your favorite Chinese movie or travel destination in China.

URL:
http://www.chinese-forums.com

Learn Chinese Resource #6:
**CRI Radio
A great site to read and listen to radio broadcasts in English and Chinese about China and life in China – China news, culture, sports, travel, entertainment etc.

URL:
http://en.chinabroadcast.cn

Learn Chinese Resource #7:
**Chinese Fonts
If you’re not reading Chinese characters properly on your computer, like the chinese words for “learn Chinese” %26#23398;%26#20013;%26#25991; follow the link to find out how to display and type Chinese fonts on your Windows or Mac computer.

URL:
http://www.living-chinese-symbols.com/chinese-fonts.html

There you have it -- seven free online resources for learning Chinese faster.

If there’s any “secret” to learning Chinese faster and with better results, it’s this: learn a little, use a lot!

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, or fret about getting the pronunciation right.

Start by speaking Mandarin with Chinese friends whenever you can and you’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in a short time!

Secrets to Buying a CRT, LCD or Plasma Television

2009-01-07T22:04:00.000-08:00

Each type of TV has positives and negatives. Before purchasing a possibly expensive piece of furniture for you home it would be wise to learn a little about each technology. This may prevent you from making a big mistake when you are ready to buy. Once you understand which type of television is right for you it's a lot easier to take the plunge.

If you are more than 10 years old you probably grew up watching television on a CRT type of TV. CRT stands for cathode ray tube. These televisions are still very popular due to a few advantages they still hold over the newer plasma televisions and other newer types.

If you've ever watched a plasma or LCD TV from the side you have probably noticed that the picture is darker from that angle. One of the great things about CRT televisions is that they are still bright even when viewed from the side. Sure, the LCD or plasma television has a great quality picture from the front, but if you plan on placing your TV in an area that will be viewed often from the side you should be testing out all of the different models in that regard. It would be very disappointing to see the great plasma picture quality at the dealer and then get it home and have a darker picture from your viewing point of view.

Another positive with regard to CRT displays is their price. They are more inexpensive than the more modern types of televisions while still producing a very clear and bright picture. They also show the color black truer than most newer models and have no danger of burn-in. On some of the newer models it's possible to have a bright picture burn into the screen and be faintly visible for the life of the TV.

With all of these positives why are the CRT displays diminishing in popularity? There are two main reasons. One, these television sets are usually bigger, bulkier and heavier. And two, if you want a large wide screen TV that is 42 inches, 50 inches, 60 inches or larger you just cannot find a CRT display that big. So if you have a big wide screen TV in mind you won't be able to go with the older CRT units.

The last deciding factor about CRT televisions concerns whether you should buy a flat screen or curved screen model. The flat screen versions can be viewed from the side better than the curved screens. The curved screens can distort the picture while the flat screens let you see the picture as it was intended to be seen. The difference may not be apparent when viewed alone, but put them side to side and you will certainly see the difference.

The next type of technology we will look at is the flat panel LCD displays. These come in HDTV (high definition television) or wide screen. If you want to see your DVD movies as you saw them in the movie theater you need to purchase a widescreen TV. LCD is a liquid crystal display and is not only used in televisions, but in computer monitors as well.

LCD displays have a flat screen and are relatively thin in width and lightweight. They have an exceptional picture viewing quality and as with the CRT displays will not produce burn-in. These TVs have high resolution that creates a superior picture.

The biggest problem with LCD flat screens is the fact that their viewing angles are lessened when compared with traditional CRT models. If you get too far off to the side the picture becomes extremely dark. They are also incapable of creating true blacks, another disadvantage when compared to older CRT models. Plus, the larger models can become rather expensive. However, if money is not your major concern and you plan on viewing the TV from directly in front you may decide that this is the best choice for you.

Plasma television sets, also known as plasma HDTV displays, have come way down in price over the last two years. Their prices used to exclude people from buying them, but their prices are now comparable to LCD models.

These TVs have become popular because not only can you get it in a very large screen size, perfect for your favorite movie or sporting event, but it has an excellent picture quality that is also viewable from wide angles. This is a plus over the LCD technology. This TV will give you the perfect %26quot;movie experience%26quot; at home in your own theater room.

Plasma television displays are great when it comes to picture quality and viewing angles, but their prices may still be slightly higher than other types. They also have a small potential for burn-in. But the big negative is their life span. They are basically not repairable when their bulb burns out. Depending on how much you watch TV you could end up with an expensive unit that will only last a few years. Once the bulb has burned out the TV is generally history. This is not the case with an LCD display where the bulb may cost in the neighborhood of $200, but it can be changed.

Rear projection models also have their positives and negatives. Rear projection CRT HDTV's are cheaper than the larger plasma and LCD displays, plus they have a flat screen and great picture. The negatives are their size and weight and smaller viewing angles. They are too heavy to hang on a wall and are much wider than the more narrow plasma and LCD units. Also, in a well lit room their picture can seem a little less bright than what is considered ideal.

There are other types of rear projection HDTV units too. The most popular are the LCD and DLP models. Both have flat screens with wide viewing angles, are thin and lightweight which means they can be wall mounted, will not produce burn-in and have terrific picture resolution and quality. Also, when the bulb burns out they can be replaced, unlike the plasma television models. However, they can both be a bit on the expensive side.

Now that you know the differences it's time to go down to your local electronics store and try them out. A little bit of viewing can go a long way in your determination of what's best and what's not. One more piece of advice: when looking at the varied assortment of models at you local store you'll notice that some have bright pictures and some do not. Do not base your opinion solely on that one thing. The store models will not have their brightness controls all set the same and it's possible that a dim picture on one of their televisions could easily be adjusted into a magnificent picture.

About the author:

This article is brought to you by Best Plasma Television, an online source for cheap plasma televisions. For more information visit Best Plasma Television.

Make your Teenager's Prom a Night to Remember

2009-01-07T21:59:00.000-08:00

Prom season is quickly approaching, and it is a time that you and your teen have dreamed about for a very long time. As a parent, you can make your teenager's prom a very special night to remember.

In the spring your teen will be thinking of formal dances, graduations, graduation parties, and the prom. While it is a special time for your teenager, it is also a time filled with high expectations and significant peer pressure. It is a time that will test the moral fiber of your teen and give them the opportunity to make their own decisions, hopefully making wise choices along the way.

Proms are no longer held in high school gyms; today's proms have gone upscale. Many schools hold their proms at luxury hotels that have full banquet facilities and professional entertainment. Students arrive in limousines, dance the night away in rented tuxes and skin-tight dresses then leave for a weekend of unsupervised activities with friends -- often their first extended trip without parents. With the rising purchasing power of the youth culture, the prom is now an industry unto itself with its own magazines, films, clothing, accessories, and services.

While many adults trivialize the prom experience, most kids take the prom seriously. The prom is a space where kids work through their understanding of authority, social class, gender norms, and multicultural issues. Proms are often the sight of public and personal struggle. They are more than just pictures and puffed sleeves -- they are a mythic part of today抯 youth culture and, for better or worse, will always be a night to remember.

Your teen will be faced with a variety of choices ranging from how to spend within the budget you抳e set to whether or not they will be attending un-chaperoned parties. Your teen will make some of these decisions with you, but your teen will be confronted with many choices on prom night that he or she will have to make alone. You should discuss the situations with your teen before prom night and suggest the best ways to handle them.

The following are situations both you and your teen should consider together before prom night.

1. Will your teen be allowed to attend un-chaperoned parties? Your teen will probably view this as a matter of trust. Be prepared to defend your view!

2. Will they be allowed to drive to the prom alone as a couple or should they go in a group? Should they drive at all or take a limousine?

3. How much money should be spent on the night? And who will pay for what?

4. What will be the curfew for prom night? Are overnight stays allowed, and if so, will they be co-ed?

5. Will drinking be allowed? Discuss your stance on alcohol consumption with your teen. Be prepared to share your views with your teenager before prom night.

While your teen will face some issues alone, he or she will be better equipped to handle a variety of situations if you've discussed those situations together before the event.

1. Peer pressure to drink or take drugs on prom night. You teen should to decide ahead of time how they will handle the situation if they are approached to partake in these activities. It might be good to discuss this with your teen and maybe even role-play the possible situation. If you decide on your convictions a head of time, it's much easier to say no when confronted with temptation.

2. How much importance should be placed on prom night? If their expectations for the evening are too high, they might find the night a big disappointment. Encourage them to go into the event with limited expectations so that the evening will be enjoyable, even if it is not extraordinary.

3. Will they have sex? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! Yes, on this night emotions run high, and it is best if they know how they feel about this issue before prom night arrives. If you haven't done so already, make sure you talk to your teen about their convictions about having sex before marriage. Explain to them that having sex before marriage puts them at risk for an unwanted pregnancy and STDs.

Prom night can be one of the most memorable events in your teenager's high school years. You can help keep those memories positive by helping your teen make concrete plans on how to handle a variety of situations that might come up. In the end, they will make their own choices that night, but if you've spent time discussing these issues with them beforehand, there is a much better chance that they will make wise choices on their own.

Preparing your Teenager for the Prom

2009-01-07T21:54:00.000-08:00

The time has come your teenager has waited for all of their life梡rom night. It will be a night of fun and enchantment, and a time they will never forget. These are some useful tips to help your teenager get ready for the big night.

Tip #1: Plan your budget accordingly. Prom night will probably not be a cheap occasion. Shop around for a dress or a tux. Look for sales and deals. However, you want your teen to look his or her best, so let them pick out the clothes. However, set a limit and be clear about it. It is possible to look good without spending a lot of money.

Tip #2: Talk to your teen about what to expect. Tell them what your prom night was like. Tell them what type of things they can expect to take place at the prom such as pictures, crowning of the king and queen, and dancing. Make sure they have enough money with them in case there is a charge for pictures, entrances, or dinner.

Tip #3: Set the rules. You need to communicate what you expect from your teen on prom night. Let them know what time you expect them to be home and that you will not tolerate any bad behavior. Setting a curfew is not a bad thing. No doubt about it, the prom is a special occasion. Therefore, a special curfew is in order. Discuss the after prom options with your teenager and use them to decide the curfew. If after prom is an all night lock-in, that抯 even better. If there is a private party at a home, call the parents of the teenager who is hosting. Tell your teen that it is ok to say no to sex, drugs, and alcohol if these options arise. Tell them that prom night is a very special night that they will always remember, and they do not want to ruin it with drugs, sex or alcohol.

Tip #4: Trust your teenager. This is their special night and they want to make it a special memory. This is one of the last parties they will have with their high school friends before graduation. Show them that you trust them. If you show nervousness or anxiety, it will only turn their special night into something bad.

Tip #5: Take lots of pictures. Even though your teen may protest, both will both want those pictures later.

There are several ways that you, as a parent, can help out at the prom. You can be a chaperone, you can serve drinks or dinner/snacks, or you can chauffeur. Your teen may be a little reluctant about your help, but assure them that you are not doing it to spy on them but because you would like to be a part of their special night. Tell them that parents like to have fun to, and that the prom can be something for both of you to remember. However, if your teen is absolutely against you being at the prom or helping out, just back off. Forcing yourself into the night will create hard feelings.

You can help your teen get ready for his/her special prom night by following the suggested tips. Make it a special night for you and for them.

Hire the Right Limo Service

2009-01-07T21:49:00.000-08:00

You have planned your event. Everything is in order and ready to go. Transportation is the only thing you haven抰 arranged. If you are considering hiring a limo service, there are a few things you should know first.

Your limo should look as great as you do on that special occasion. A limo can make you look and feel like a millionaire and it gives you additional room in the car and a safe ride.

When searching for the right limo service, ask your friends and family members for recommendations. People who have used limo services in the past and are very satisfied with service are the best form of advertisement for the limo service. Your friends and family members will be able to tell you about their limo experience, and anyone who has ridden in a limo will remember the experience. They will always have both positive and negative things to tell you about the limo. Asking your friends and family members for limo recommendations is the best place to start when you are considering a limo service for your transportation needs.

Next, you need to know your budget. How much are you willing to pay for the right limo service? Most limos run about $40-$80 per hour on average. How long will you need the limo? Check the limo service抯 hourly minimum. Different types of limos vary in price. So, depending on what type of limo you seek and the number of people the limo must transport, you will be spending anywhere from $40 an hour to $5,000 a night.

Once you determine how much you are willing to spend, you will need to do some research. You need to determine if a limo service is insured and licensed. You want to make sure your driver is legally permitted to drive on the road. Your research can also include the things you are seeking in a limo such as the size, the amenities, and prices. Some limos come with stereos, bars, a TV, DVD players, video gaming consoles, intercoms, a sunroof and even a Jacuzzi. The more amenities you request, the higher the cost. So research your options and determine the best price for the amenities you want.

When deciding which limo service is right, you also want to check out the year, make, and model of the limo. You will also want to take a look at the limo抯 condition. You should do all of this before handing over a deposit. It is ok to ask if you can see the limo before you make a final decision. If quality is one of your top priorities, you definitely want to see the limo you will be using before you sign any contracts or make any payments.

When you have decided what type of limo you want and what amenities it should feature, your next step is in hiring the right driver. A bad driver can ruin your event. It is very important that the limo driver is experienced and knows the area well. You may want to send the limo company a schedule of events so that the driver can plan the trip. When the driver arrives to pick you up, make sure he or she knows about any special needs or requests.
You might want to ask the limo service if they permit smoking in the limo, if they provide or allow party favors in the limo, and for a list of their limo rules.

When you are putting the final touches on arranging the right limo service, it is good to find out if the gratuities are included in the payment. If not, then you will have to tip the driver. The amount is discretionary.
Limo services are very popular. So, you will want to book your service as soon as you can. The sooner you can book the limo, the more likely you are to have a positive limo experience.

Your event is special, so choosing the right limo service is very important. Getting the right limo service takes time and research. If you have the time to do the right research, you will find the right limo service.

Hire the Right DJ for the Right Occasion

2009-01-07T21:44:00.000-08:00

Planning an occasion is a lot of hard work. No matter if it is a graduation, a wedding, a bar/bat mitzvah, an awards ceremony, or any other occasion, you spend hours planning what decorations to hang, what food and drinks to serve, what to wear, and who to invite. Do you have a DJ host your occasion, or do you simply play your own CDs? If you want to have an event that everyone will be talking about for days and years later, hire a good DJ to run your music and light show. Hiring a DJ can actually be fun. Just follow these simple tips, and you are sure to have a fabulous DJ suitable for any event.

TIP #1: Ask around. Ask your friends and family members to recommend a DJ who they have either worked with in the past or have listened to at another party or event. The best advertisement is word of mouth and your friends and family members will definitely be able to tell you if a particular DJ is good or not. If your friends or family members can抰 recommend anyone, you can also call local radio stations or a professional entertainment company or check the yellow pages.

TIP #2: Interview your potential DJs. Get to know them and learn about what they have to offer. Explain what type of music you and your guests want at the party or event. Ask the DJ if he or she has videos or cassette tapes of past performances that you can review. Most professional DJs will have samples.

During the interview, study the DJ's personality. Is he or she someone who you would want at your event? Is the DJ interested in your event? How do you feel he or she will interact with your guests? Remember, the DJ's personality is very important. Make sure he or she is really who you want to DJ your special occasion.

TIP #3: Ask the DJ for his or her music specialty. Does the DJ have the style of music that you and your guests want to hear? Will the music be right for your specific occasion? Will he or she take requests? Can he or she provide a variety of music that you think everyone will like?

TIP #4: Ask for references. Any professional DJ will gladly provide them. You will want to carefully check the references before deciding to hire the DJ. After all, you would not want a lunatic hosting your special occasion!
TIP #5: Make sure the DJ has all of the equipment that you will need at your gathering such as speakers, lights, microphone, etc.

TIP #6: Get everything in writing. Make sure the DJ knows the exact time, date, and location of the event. Make sure you agree on the fee and have all the DJ抯 promises in writing. You want to have all of your bases covered in case something does not go well.

TIP #7: Don't wait until the last minute to find a DJ. Start planning early. Many DJs are booked quickly with weddings, graduations, proms, and other parties. Try to book your DJ at least 3 months in advanced.

Consider booking a DJ when you are planning your next get-together. It is important to find the DJ who will best meet your occasion抯 needs without blowing your budget. Your guests will certainly remember the music from your event since the music will set the mood; so choose your DJ wisely. With a cool DJ that everyone likes, your event will be a hit, and everyone will talking about it for a long time!

How to Spice Up Rite of Passage Parties

2009-01-07T21:39:00.000-08:00

A rite of passage such as a bar mitzvah or a bat mitzvah, marks when a person reaches a certain time in his or her life when a significant change is taking place. Many cultures and religions have rite of passage occasions to celebrate a person's passage into a new and/or different stage of their lives. These rites of passage can include bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvah, graduations, birthdays, and more. These occasions are usually celebrated with large parties.

The single more important thing you can do to spice up your right of passage party is to hire the right entertainment. Since this is your son or daughter's party, let them choose the type of music. Ask them if they would like to have a DJ or a live band. Ask them if they would like a light show. Once you know what kind of music and light show your son or daughter would like, you can search for the DJ or entertainer. Ask friends and family members for recommendations. You can also ask local radio stations for a recommendation. Having the right music, whether it’s a DJ or a live band, is essential to spicing up the party and throwing a party your son or daughter will remember.

Food is the next big decision. The best way to accommodate a large party crowd is to have a variety of foods available. Of course, this can be a little costly. If you do not want to spend a lot of money on food, you can always serve hors d’oeuvres instead of a complete meal. Depending on how much you want to spend, you can be creative with the foods. You can have professional caterer prepare your foods or, if you have the time, you can prepare the food yourself. One way to spice up the food is to have it presented in a way that attracts attentions. Do not simply put it on trays and serve it. You can have it arranged nicely into patterns, with little decorations, or in bowls and plates that represent a theme. Be creative with it.

In fact, using a theme at your right of passage party is a very effective way to spice up the event. If your child is into technology, you can have a “techie” party—using decorations that represent the areas of technology that interest your child. You could host a luau, a party with a country western, Broadway, nighttime, or ocean theme. There are hundreds of themes. Check your local party store for ideas and decorations for your theme.

There are a lot of easy ways to spice up a right of passage party. Find out what interests your son or daughter, get an idea about what generally interest your guests, and design your party around that theme. Choose the right entertainment and a variety of foods and drinks that everyone will enjoy; present the food in a way that gets everyone's immediate attention. By following these three simple steps, you are on your way to spicing up your next right of passage party.

7 Tips to Hiring a Good DJ for your Party

2009-01-07T21:34:00.000-08:00

Planning a party is a lot of hard work. You spend hours planning what decorations to hang, what food and drinks to serve, what to wear, and who to invite. Do you have a DJ host your party or do you simply play your own CDs? If you want to have a party that everyone will be talking about for days and years later, hire a good DJ to run your music and light show. Hiring a DJ can actually be fun. Just follow these simple tips, and you are sure to have a fabulous DJ for your party.

TIP #1: Ask around. Ask your friends and family members to recommend a DJ who they have either worked with in the past or have listened to at another party. The best advertisement is word of mouth, and your friends and family members will definitely be able to tell you if a particular DJ is good. If your friends or family members can抰 recommend anyone, you can also call local radio stations or a professional entertainment company or check the yellow pages
.
TIP #2: Interview your potential DJs. Get to know them and learn about what they have to offer. Explain what type of music you and your guests want at the party. Ask the DJ if he or she has videos or cassette tapes of past performances that you can review. Most professional DJs will have samples.

During the interview, study the DJ's personality. Is he or she someone you would want at your party? Is the DJ interested in your party? How do you feel he or she will interact with your guests? Remember, the DJ's personality is very important. Make sure he or she is really who you want to DJ your party.

TIP #3: Ask the DJ for his or her music specialty. Does the DJ have the style of music that you and your guests want to hear? Will he or she take requests? Can he or she provide a variety of music that you think everyone will like?
TIP #4: Ask for references. Any professional DJ will gladly provide them. You will want to carefully check the references before deciding to hire the DJ. After all, you would not want a lunatic hosting your party!

TIP #5: Make sure the DJ has all of the equipment that you will need at the party such as speakers, lights, microphone, etc.

TIP #6: Get everything in writing. Make sure the DJ knows the exact time, date, and location of the party. Make sure you agree on the fee and have all the DJ抯 promises in writing. You want to have all of your bases covered in case something does not go well.

Consider booking a DJ when you are planning your next party. It is important to find the DJ who will best meet your party抯 needs without blowing your budget. Your guests will certainly remember the music from your party since the music will set the mood; so choose your DJ wisely. With a cool DJ that everyone likes, your party will be a hit, and everyone will be talking about it!

Shocking eBay Auctions

2009-01-07T21:29:00.000-08:00

Over the years the worlds largest and most successful online action house, eBay, has run some really bizarre sales.

Some are listed under eBays' Strangest Auctions' on the Home page. Here are some wilder ones that aren't!

November 1999 - Pregnant Keychain.

MMMmm. Lady's torso in plastic with a transparent stomach so you can glimpse baby Chuckie from front and sides whenever you open the front door. Educational! Uplifting!

EBay May 2000 - Purse made from a dead frog. Some fashionable person snapped this up for $5.50, and is no doubt wowing Manhattan to this day!

April 2000 - The most unrecognisable pelican ever, made from conch shells. Apparently of Dutch extraction, as he's wearing a couple of the molluscs as clogs.. And he's called 'Stinky'.

July 2000 - Funeral Home Coffee Scoop. Appears to be marked, presumably to reduce pilfering by customers with time on their hands? Online it went for $4.99.

August 2001 - Gator Bride. Mummified (sic) alligator in bridal finery. Assumed female, but the firmly erect tail is worrying. Others must have felt the same, as there were no bids.

July 2003 - Inflatable Ladys Legs. Under Home Furnishings of course. Seller says that when the legs are deflated they will go in someones mouth. Strong selling point indeed, but sadly no bids.

Some random shots - Cow Seed... GrowYour Own Herd (Item #145597342). Hey, this could be a hoax, you know? Probably works for sheep,though, they really are all the same like lawn grass.

Knitting with Dog Hair (2000) A book to tempt the most jaded spinster. Moulty Mutt=Money! Hats, sweaters, equipment - illustrated, but not sure if theres a section on taking shears to your Spitzer if the poloneck is behind schedule come Yuletide....

Young Mans Virginity For Sale (1999). Bad times indeed that a sterling young man like Francis D. Cornworth, owner of the BFGs spectacles, and cool 9 year old Honda Civic, plus being a jazz trumpeter and a standing member -excellent - of the National Honour League in Miami, would have felt compelled to raffle his most priceless possession to man or woman for a mere $10 million before eBay, took him down, pulled him off, oh, ok - removed him.

2006 - LEPRECHAUN FLUTE AS REPORTED IN MOBILE ALABAMA LEPRECHAUNS ARE LETTING THEMSELVES BE SEEN. DON扵 BE WITHOUT YOUR VERY OWN LEPRECHAUN FLUTE. WHEN YOU SEE THE LEPRECHAUN PLAY THE FLUTE AND HE WILL TAKE YOU TO HIS POT OF GOLD. DON扵 BE FOOLED BY IMITATIONS REAL LEPRECHAUN FLUTES ONLY MAKE NOISE A LEPRECHAUN CAN HEAR. Particularly wonderful is fact that leprechauns are into sheer flute noise -is they why they are out of Ballymeena and down in Alabam?

What can I say but - keep on selling!!!

Ellio's Rock Star Challenge: Teen Musicians Gain Exposure in Online Competition

2009-01-07T21:24:00.000-08:00

Ellio's Pizza hot new online music competition is adding sizzle to the summer scene. Ellio's Pizza is introducing their new Microwave Cheese Pizza and launching the Ellio's Rock Star Challenge (www.elliosrockstar.com). The Rock Star Challenge gives individual teens and teen bands unprecedented exposure to kids nationwide and DJs in top music markets. Plus, the winner will be awarded a three-day recording session with a music producer approved by one of 2006's hottest new bands, Flyleaf.

Ellio's, the maker of delicious frozen pizzas for more than 40 years, is kicking off the Internet-based Ellio's Rock Star Challenge with a pre-launch in June. "Everyone between 13 and 20 years old ? from garage bands to individual musicians ? can start pre-registering on elliosrockstar.com," says Susan Pilcher, Ellio's brand manager. When they visit the site, contestants can post information about their bands and their music genres, as well as upload their all-important MP3s. "Pre-registering increases the chances of gaining early exposure in the contest, especially with DJs," says Pilcher.

Starting August 1, 2006, teens can log on to www.elliosrockstar.com to view the singers' and bands' profiles and listen to their music. More importantly, they'll be able to comment and vote for their choice as to who should be named "Ellio's Rock Star". The top five musicians with the most votes will advance to a final round, where members of the band Flyleaf will choose the grand prize winner.

While today's teens have grown up loving Ellio's unique sauce and end-to-end toppings, the launch of Ellio's New Microwave Cheese Pizza makes it even easier for teen musicians to have a quality snack during practices and jam sessions. Pilcher adds that the new Ellio's Microwave Cheese Pizza is a perfect fit with the teen lifestyle. "Teens want to spend their time listening to music and having fun, not on food preparation," adds Pilcher. "Popping an Ellio's Pizza into the microwave is a simple and convenient way to get a delicious snack by a brand they know and love."

Parents also recognize that teenagers' involvement with music keeps their kids socially engaged and alleviates worries about where their teens are spending their time. "When teens are involved in writing, practicing, and performing music, they spend much of their time at home or at the homes of friends," says Pilcher.

The Ellio's Rock Star Challenge delivers on three of teen's biggest passions: music, the Internet, and pizza. This online contest gives teens the opportunity to showcase their talent, listen to MP3s and cast votes for the next Ellio's Rock Star.

Online Music: Exciting Developments

2009-01-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

Music could never be bound by any man made barriers, they said. And it has been proved beyond doubt, at least in today’s ongoing web boom. The market for buying, and receiving free rights to download online music, has always been bullish. That’s what we have been witnessing for close to a decade now. The reasons too could simply be enlisted here. First of all, it doesn’t take anybody making more than only few mouse clicks to begin listening to their favorite songs, or start gathering information on music events, singers and individual performers. Music listeners often queuing up to download music for free online would know much better how to make an actual purchase. The possibilities to choose from within any given genre are immense, and so is the information available these days. It simply helps to free download online music or demos first and then only decide for a certain label. Besides as mentioned above, it all gets to your headphones free of any social barriers, protocols or any market generated prejudice. You could just logon to your preferred music site anytime and start being part of a universal audience instantly.

There are several types of resources available on the Internet today that will let you download online music and just begin having fun. Sites with massive databases of songs have been offering downloads for years now. You could either pay for specific compositions, or simply hit the button to download music for free online. More recently though, a growing number of Internet broadcasters have been making ripples over the Internet. These are Internet radio stations that will let you listen to their streaming songs, just like any music event. No doubt, it took some time for them to be able to broadcast, since the issues of bandwidth had to be resolved. It’s extremely feasible nowadays though, to own broadband connectivity and allow their soundtracks to instantly flow.

Incidentally, these radio stations have more to offer, apart from just giving you a chance to download music for free online. It's not so long ago, when people had begun realizing how blogs too could be used for increasing sales. The same stands true today in the segment of Internet radios as well, specially, when you look how widely they might be getting listened to. One would like to make therefore, a mention of BlueBeamRadio.com here, which apart from being a method to download online music does also happen to be a music event organizer. Remember, how it were the off stream methods of the 80s and 90s that led to the present day glory of the Indie rock and pop. BlueBeamRadio.com might just be the same unconventional stop for you, since not only do they offer to showcase your own songs, but also call you to perform at their musical event. They are quite forthcoming about all this and plenty more. “Just be part of BlueBeamRadio.com and plan out your first music outing”, they insist!

Those planning to start their professional music careers should have a look of BlueBeamRadio first. There is a plethora of information available on several aspects. These range from knowing how to plan your first label, and go up to deciding the stage when you might be performing your first gig. Many of the known performers have already been through this taxing experience. BlueBeamRadio seems to have taken a good note of their heroics, as you'd be finding some of their profiles being stacked there. Beside, they would also be organizing, as mentioned earlier, a music event in Manhattan by late 2006, something that should leave all wannabe musicians excited. Last but not the least, the freedom to download online music will always be there. So, plenty could be achieved by signing in at BlueBeamRadio.com, apart from what you have in general, the streaming soundtracks, and the chance to download music for free online.

To summarize it all, the world of online music has been witnessing new ideas and developments. The boom of Internet broadcasting just proves out the same. So, it does suggest how different it might be the scenario tomorrow. The walls separating singers, performers and their fans are about to fall off. It's up to the common man now to decide, which side he or she might be willing to stand on. One could be a successful musician, if they have the right amount of creative burst. This is what BlueBeamRadio.com seems to suggest here.

You can download online music at Blue Beam Radio. Also check out for the Manhattan music event, as you go around looking to download music for free online.

The Demand for Sexier Halloween Costumes is Increasing Every Year

2009-01-07T21:14:00.000-08:00

The trend toward sexier Halloween costumes has been skyrocketing in recent years. These outfits have surpassed children's costumes in demand, leading companies to increase their stock of these types of outfits by leaps and bounds. Large buyers are also asking for more and more of these costumes.

Whether it's the influence of shows like "Sex and the City" or the convergence of fashion even on holidays, sexy costumes are all the rage for all ages. These outfits are showing more leg and midriff, and sexy versions of classic characters are emerging. In addition, while many customers will put a cap on what they are willing to spend on costumes, they will often go the extra mile for the accessories needed to put the finishing touches on an outfit, such as wigs, eyelashes, nails and jewelry.

Fashionable and sexy are overlapping in all walks of life, and Halloween is no exception. Increasingly, contemporary styles are being reflected in Halloween costumes, and higher-quality fabrics and embellishments are being used. Fashion-conscious shoppers want to wow other party goers rather than scare them, and they know exactly what they want to accomplish this trick. Halloween has become less a holiday to these shoppers than a reason for putting their style on display. Where Halloween once existed in its own realm, it is now an event that has become in sync with style trends.

An area that will expand this year and in coming years is the middle ground. Parents and children will always disagree on what is tasteful and not, and even adults occasionally are at odds with what they feel comfortable wearing. Some customers just wan t to be flirty and playful, while others desire more revealing looks. The argument between what is too sexy and what is not sexy enough will linger, but companies are entering the fray by offering more costumes that lie somewhere in the middle.

The best news for customers is that, due to increased demand and competition among businesses that sell Halloween costumes, quality, creativity and choices are rising. The result is better and better costumes with more variety and size options-and the customer always wins in such situations.

Costume Party Shop has stayed ahead of the trend toward sexier Halloween costumes by compiling an enormous collection of sexy costumes. We have outfits and accessories to fill all of your needs, plus a wealth of ideas for you to choose from. We're constantly updating our offerings to make sure that you'll be the talk of your next Halloween party.

How To Choose A Home Theater System

2009-01-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

When choosing a home theater system one must first consider there budget. In years past a home theater system was for only the rich, but with improvements in technology, home theater system are available for almost any budget. Costs range from $299 to $30,000 or more, depending on the components chosen and the size of your home theater system.

Components

Most people try to achieve creating a movie theater in there home. Now of days a most theaters have surround sound system. Therefore in a home theater you will want to look for the following components, a large-screen television (usually 32” or larger), and a speaker system with a subwoofer (a loud speaker designed to reproduce bass frequencies) %26amp; front and rear (usually a minimum of 5 speakers) speakers for quality sound. You will also need an audio/video surround receiver, a DVD player, and a cable or satellite receiver. Most people also add a video recorder and a DVD recorder.

The big screen television

High-definition television (HDTV) is the most popular for Home theater systems. HDTV’s digital technologies give a much sharper %26amp; crisper picture quality, also an improved video field to bring the audience right into the middle of the action.

One of the things you must consider when you design your theater system is to look to the future. This way your system will stay up to date longer. To do this you will need to consider things like purchasing a high-quality, integrated HDTV monitor with wide screen display, because the conventional full screen movies we have enjoyed for years will someday be replaced with the movie theater style wide screen movies that more and more we are enjoying now. Even cable systems are delivering digital viewing services, which will only continue to develop.

Wide-screen HDTV monitors start at 27” for a traditional square shape and 30” for a wide-screen, and range up to 82”.

When considering a television for a smaller area you may want to look at direct-view televisions. For larger areas you can consider rear-projection or plasma televisions, Direct-view televisions don’t require viewers to sit so far back from the viewing screen.

Surround-sound

Remember when considering your home theater system that sound is a very important part of the experience. You can buy a box system for as little as $200. You will want to look at different system and choose the one that best fit your needs and the sound quality that best fit you space and needs.

Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound has been the industry standard for years, says Craig Eggers, director of consumer electronics technology marketing for Dolby Laboratories. Dolby is now the North American audio standard for HDTV. This technology "delivers 5.1 channels of fully discrete surround sound audio to any home theater," Eggers says. This means the soundtracks are recorded with five main channels: left, center, right, left surround and right surround, plus a low-frequency effects bass channel.

Surround sound systems use a minimum of five speakers to bring the listener inside the viewing experience. Instead of watching the picture, you're a participant--just like at a movie theater.

These box systems also include various components such as DVD players or recorders, or am fm stereo, VCR players or recorders, some system may also include iPod or Mp3 player technology.

This will complete the basic systems, but don’t forget that you may also want to consider a camcorder or digital camera technology for those home videos.

Once you have developed the home theater that best fits your needs the only thing left is to sit back and enjoy and don’t forget the popcorn.

How-To Tips

Cables are an integral part of a home theater. Good cables will enhance the performance of your entire system, while poor quality cables can actually reduce quality. Look for the following when cable shopping:

· Look for cables with high-density shielding, gold-plated connectors and durable jackets to provide long-lasting, reliable connections. If you have the choice of using either digital or analog cables, choose digital to eliminate unneeded digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversions, which lead to reduced image and sound quality.

· When you're looking for the right cables, make sure you avoid generic cables made with low-grade materials and low-quality construction because they're highly prone to noise and distortion. Watch especially for connectors that fit loose or too tight, with inadequate shielding and unprotected solder joints.

· Be wary of manufacturers that don't provide information concerning the construction of their cables. Quality cable companies, such as Accell or Monster Cable, often will provide a cable cut-away illustration, providing clear visibility of their cables' material and construction.

· Finally, make sure to keep your cable lengths as short as possible to get the best quality sound.

Source: Accell Corporation

Written by Kevin Hampton, visit me at www.costlesselectronics.com