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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Ponyo Free

By Natalie Grey

Hayao Miyazaki, perhaps, commands the same respect among audiences as Walt Disney for his world class animation films. He made some beautiful films like "Spirited Away" and "Princess Mononoke". We expected a good film when Ponyo hit the theaters. But we were disappointed. Thye plot is full of loopholes and other departments too lack a finesse which makes the film almost bad. It is an anime which will be liked by the kids but I am not sure about the teens.

The film is a loose adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Mermaid". The story revolves around a goldfish which falls in love with a young human boy. The little fish wishes that she become a girl so that both of them can live their lives together.

Mr. Miyazaki totally disappoints with this movie. It is hard to believe that he is the same man who directed classics like "Spirited Away" and "Howl's Moving Castle". Ponyo is nowhere these great films and one wonders why Mr Miyazaki erred while making Ponyo. The animation is good but nothing to write about and we fear the audience might lose interest after the initial 30 minutes or so.

The script of the film, Ponyo should have been well-written. The film lacks punch because of a weak script. Ponyo is one such glaring example. But there are some scenes which show signs of brilliance. There is a scene in which we see Ponyo taking a human form and running along a huge wave that resembles a giant fish. This one should be liked a by all. But a disappointment still lingers - he was definitely capable of making a better film than what Ponyo really is.

Ponyo (Noah Cyrus), a juvenile fish leaves her father (Laim Neeson) behind to explore the wider world. Her father is a magical sea guardian. In her expedition she gets caught in some sort of human trash and is swept ashore to the loving hands of Sosuke (Frankie Jonas), a five year old boy. The two of them develops a liking for each other. One fine day she tastes a drop of Sosuke's blood which changes her into a little girl. Her father makes a valiant effort to stop the changes but fails to do so. Ponyo, on the other hand, does not listen to anybody and breaks free from the fishy world and head towards the surface.

Nature started to act strange as soon as Ponyo headed towards the surface. The tides were rising and the moon was drawing surprisingly closer. The reasons are not known. You need to watch the movie to find out the reasons for yourself. You can watch Ponyo online free and find out the rest of the story.

I am hopeful that the children will love the movie but I cannot vouch for the adults. They need to wait for the next product of Mr Miyazaki to feel happy.

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Saturday, January 30, 2010

How To Play The Violin Like A Master Pro- A Brief History Of The Violin

By Todd Harmons

Welcome to my history of the violin lesson. The violin history runs for centuries as an instrument that is used in various musical genres like classical, pop, jazz and country. It is a small, hollow stringed instrument with a long neck and four strings tuned from low to high; with each note having a perfect fifth to the one below it. This article covers a brief history of the violin. If you want to learn how to play the violin like a master go to this Violin Master Pro Site

The violin is made of different kinds of wood where the top is usually made of spruce while the sides and back are usually of maple. The fingerboard of the violin is usually made of ebony; however, sometimes ivory is also used. Violin strings were originally made of gut but is today made of different materials. Different kinds of violin strings give different tones and sound quality. Some violin strings also stay in tune, and last longer than others. Violin strings are today usually metal, synthetic core or gut strings.

Metal violin strings produce pure, clear and loud tones and are easy to play. Beginners and intermediate players prefer using steel core strings. The synthetic core violin strings are made of the nylon perlon and produce subtler sounds than metal strings and dont have to be tuned often.

Today, there are also electric violins that send signals via an electrical pickup device. There are also electric violins that work only when plugged in. Electric violins have a solid body design with wiring and batteries found in its body. Electric violin makers today can use their imagination to decide on the shape of the electric violin since it is fairly new invention

It is best to shop in violin stores for a better range of violins. There are some violin stores that sell violins from several different manufacturers, and some that manufacture their own violins. Some violin stores also rent and sell used violins. As new violins cost between two hundred to twenty thousand dollars, beginners usually rent violins or buy used ones. Whatever your choice, make sure that your violin comes with a violin case to provide it protection from any damage.

I hope you enjoyed this learn to play the violin like a master article. The history of the Violin lesson. If you are looking for the perfect solution to learning the violin, from start to finish, this is your answer. Violin Master Pro Site is the answer.

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Friday, January 29, 2010

Packers Shut Out Lowly Lions

By Ross Everett

The Green Bay Packers didn't do a good job protecting their quarterback last Sunday, but against the lowly Detroit Lions it didn't really matter. Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers was sacked five times, but Green Bay used a big first half offensive outburst to coast to a 26-0 NFL victory over the Detroit Lions. Rodgers threw two first half touchdown passes which was complimented by four Mason Crosby field goals as Green Bay improved to 3-2 on the season.

NFL football betting enthusiasts who backed the Packers as -14 home dogs easily cashed their tickets with Green Bay's third pointspread cover in five games. Detroit slipped to 2-4 against the spread. The 26 points scored went UNDER the posted total of 48'.

In the victory, Packers' receiver Donald Driver passed Sterling Sharpe for first place on the franchise reception list. Sharpe finished his career with 596 receptions, Driver now has 602. After the game, he talked about the accomplishment:

"It couldn't it come in a better place -- at home in front of the fans I've played in front of for so many years. It feels good. Now I just have to wait on Sterling to call me and congratulate me."

Despite the convincing victory, cornerback Tramon Williams wasn't happy with the relatively narrow margin:

"It feels like a 50 to zero game, but we didn't quite get there. I felt we should've put more points on the board."

For the Lions, their quarterback woes continued. Matthew Stafford is already out indefinitely with an injured knee, and against Green Bay backup Daunte Cullpepper injured his hamstring in the third quarter and was replaced by the Lions' third string quarterback Drew Stanton. Cullpepper is now listed as 'questionable' on the official NFL injury report. After the game, he talked about Detroit's lack of offense:

"It's very disappointing, very frustrating. It's embarrassing to me not to be able to move it on the field and get points on the board. We've got to figure out a way to do that, simple as that."

The Packers will play on the road this Sunday, heading to Cleveland to face the Browns. Green Bay will host the Minnesota Vikings the following Sunday followed by a trip to Tampa Bay on November 8. Detroit has a bye this weekend and will return to action as they host the St. Louis Rams on November 1. They'll play their next two on the road, with games in Seattle and Minnesota.

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

The Benefits of Having A Region Free Portable DVD Player

By Mark Thompson

A region free portable DVD player could be just the thing you require if you want to be able to see movies from around the world wherever you are you are. General regional DVD players are becoming more affordable all the time, and region free models follow that trend.

DVD Region codes are put in place as a form of digital rights management by film studios in order to attempt keep watch over sales in different global regions. This is all well and good for the film studios themselves, but it limits what is available to you. All countries have their own film or movie industries and prices, release dates and DVD special features.

If you speak another language, then it's only natural you want to watch movies in your native or second tongue. It's only a given to want more forms of entertainment and to want another window to the world open. A region free portable DVD player can give you an opportunity to watch what you like, when you like.

The majority of international movies are released with region codes 1, 2, 3, and 6 as those are the international markets that produce the most films. Those regions themselves cover a lot of ground, much of it scattered across the globe. It is not that 4 and 5 do not have a wide array of releases, but you can find that there is a larger selection to be found in 1, 2, 3, or six. Region 7 and 8 are almost completely useless, region 0 is the null and will work on most players, and region ALL will work on every player. Not many legitimate releases are to be found on region 0 or ALL, which is why you can purchase region free portable DVD players.

These players greatly vary in quality, so it's important for you to find reviews online and shop wherever possible. Normal retailers do not normally carry any region free players, though some electronics stores do. There are also several sites online that sell them as well. Bigger manufacturing companies like Sony do produce region free players so look for brands that you trust and have used before.

Be sure to check a model's screen size and battery life. Being able to play DVDs from around the world is great, but a tiny screen may ruin the experience and a battery that dies every hour or two isn't going to be very enjoyable either. Keep your eyes open for quality when shopping for a region free portable DVD player, don't let the novelty of it force you towards a low quality DVD player model.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Some Reasons That People Are So Intrigued By Celebrities Marrying and Breaking Up

By Shawne M. Patrick

Relations don't always last. Everyone knows that. However , some go on longer than others, and we are far more curious about the main points of some relations than others. Many people love to follow the gossip about stars getting married and breaking up. Why are they so entranced by this type of news? Is it really any of their business? Perhaps not, but that doesn't suggest that it doesn't grab our attention when we hear about some star getting married or breaking up.

Firstly, a lot of folk have fantasies about getting along with certain celebs. Thus they follow the lives of these people as closely as practicable to learn more about them and to feel more hooked up to them. Imagine their dismay when they here this star is getting wed and won't be on the market. This suggests that the very slim likelihood of them getting together is no longer there.

However, this is not the end of the line. A celebrity marrying doesn't mean that we are no longer fascinated with their lives. We continue to need to follow all the gossip in order to see if there's a chance they'd actually split with their partner so we will return to the illusion that we might actually have a chance with them should we ever manage to meet them.

One more reason why people have an interest in celebs getting wed and breaking up is simply because following their escapades makes them appear a little more real. They are doing things just like standard folks do, though perhaps in a splashier way. They look for love and family just like we do, and their achievement in their careers doesn't stop them from failing at it just as frequently ( or maybe even more often ) than the average joe does.

Celebs appear to screw up their lives a lot, which makes us feel happier about our own issues and mistakes. Even though they could be famous and have a lot of money, they still have their Problems. Although this might not make us the best people, it isn't really all that dangerous.

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

An Introduction To CFL Canadian Football For The NFL Fan

By Ross Everett

Its that time of the year again--Americans are getting ready for football. In a few months NFL teams will be opening training camp and college football teams starting practice. Up north, however, the footballs are already flying as pro football is in full swing up in Canada with the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Most Americans dont realize that the CFL has a lengthy and storied history. The league itself has been around since'30, and the Canadian Football championship--known as the Grey Cup--has been contended since'09. More recently, American fans are aware that a number of NFL stars got their start in the CFL including Doug Flutie, Jim Kelly, and Jeff Garcia.

The CFL is very high level professional football, but there are some significant differences between it and the NFL game:

The most obvious difference is the football itself--the CFL football is longer and fatter than the NFL ball. The CFL still has their goal posts on the goal line, which the NFL moved to the back of the end zone years ago. The field is 10 yards longer and 12 yards wider than the NFL field, and the CFL end zones are 20 yards deep instead of the NFL's 10 yards.

CFL teams are allowed an extra offensive player (a wide receiver), and on defense they're allowed an extra defensive back. This means that 12 players can be on the field at one time as opposed to 11 in the NFL. CFL football also differs in that teams only have three downs to gain ten yards, as opposed to four in US football. The phrase "two and out" is as commonplace in CFL football as is "three and out" in the US game.

A major difference in the scoring is the 'single' which awards CFL teams one point for a kick--usually a punt or missed field goal--that lands in the end zone. This will frequently produce partial game scores of 1-0 or 1-1 that are impossible in the US game.

The rule differences don't end there--CFL teams are required to maintain a certain percentage of Canadian born players on their roster. The idea is that this will protect the unique identity of the game, as well as prevent it from becoming little more than a farm system for the NFL. Currently' of the 40 players on a CFL roster must be Canadian natives.

Perhaps the greatest misunderstanding is that the average NFL fan looks at the rules of the Canadian game with more players, a wider field, and fewer downs and concludes that the game is a wide open shootout similar to Arena Football. Thats not really the case--you'll see some offensive battles but most games end up with final score totals in the mid to high 40s. In Arena Football, youll frequently see teams with potent offenses enforcing their will over and over again against teams with porous defenses. You don't see that too often in the CFL. The rules may be different, but as is the case in American pro football you need a solid rushing game and a stout defense to win games and championships.

There's also more parity in the CFL than even the NFL, which is famous for the competitive equality of their teams. The reason is fairly simple--football at the high school and college level in Canada simply isn't as competitive as in the US. That means the mandated ratio of native players also serves to facilitate parity within the CFL.

Among the 'non-Canadians' on the team, its also important to note that the CFL doesn't get the highest level US college players. Most with NFL ability are in the NFL, or on a NFL team's practice or developmental squad. There's definitely some American players that are uniquely suited to the CFL game, but the general level of talent is similar to that seen in the Arena Football League.

Despite some major differences, the NFL and CFL have more in common--they're both high level, intensely competitive professional football leagues. Once you understand the rule differences and the unique and fascinating history of the CFL, it is a very enjoyable brand of professional football to watch.

Before the Internet became ubiquitous, it wasn't easy for an American fan to keep up with the CFL. While they still don't receive coverage on ESPN, the Internet affords access to the sports media of every CFL city along with the national Canadian sports media at sites like Slam! Sports. The CFL's official site is also a great source of news, stats and information on Canadian football.

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Monday, January 25, 2010

A Guide To Projectors

By Lee Sparks

People buy digital projectors for many reasons, one of the main being cost per image area. When buying a projector the benefits include vast image size, however there are a few limitations which effect the image quality. Things to compare are resolution, brightness, and contrast ratio. Finding the best projector to suit you is not always easy with such a wide variety available.

* The different types of projectors include: * Home Theatre/ Cinema Projectors * LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Projectors * Digital Projectors * Conference Room Projectors * Portable Multimedia Projectors

Home cinema/ theatre projectors are usually used to provide home entertainment and are used for many purposes including playing films and movies, DVDs, video games aswell as much more. Home cinema projectors usually use DLP (Digital Light Processing) to create a smooth high video performance, with little pixelation and high contrast ratios.

LCD projectors are used for both home cinema entertainment aswelll as presentations. They provide clearer, sharper images than many of their counterparts by creating images ny shining a light throigh three small LCD panels which are very sharp and vibrant in colour. They should be used in dimly lit rooms ideally to produce the best quality images.

Digital Projectors allow the user to use video files on their PC and makes internet viewing very effective. There are two types of projectors to choose from, DLP and LCD. When buying digital projectors one important factor to look for is the amount of lumens. This is the quantity of different aspects of light that are available at one time.

Conference Room Projectors are mainly used to give presentations and reports in conference rooms mostly. They are used where high resolution graphics are necessary. Ideal for medical presentations or with high detailed artwork.

Portable Multimedia projectors are able to produce noise free presentations with fairly accurate images and are generally very light for ease of transportation.

The main Keypoints to focus on when buying digital projectors are:

-Resolution- refers to the pixel density of the projected images, Projectors have two resolutions, the natural resolution and the maximum resolution. The natural resolution is the standard pixel size of the image. The maximum resolution is the maximum capability of the projector. Digital projectors should be able to accept resolutions of 800-600, 1024-768 or 1280-1024, however it is the natural resolution of the projector that is important. The higher the natural resolution of the projector the greater the colour density image.

-Lumens- refer to the brightness of the image. Simply put the higher the lumens the brighter the projection. They are usually lower for home theatre models than for office models. Screen size will affect how many lumens will be needed. If the contrast ratio is low however, your image will look washed out. Lumens typically range from less than a 1000- least expensive but low light output, needs to be used in a dark or dimlylight room. To 3000+ extremely bright and expensive. Anywhere between 1000-2000 would be sufficient for most tasks.

-Throw Distance- refers to the maximum amount of distance your projector can project. Most digital projectors will have a ample throw distance for most home and conference use. To find out what this is go to the projectors manufacturers website.

-Contrast Ratio- refers to the difference between the white level (light) and black level (dark). Digital projectors with the higher ratios will have the most well-defined pictures.

-Lamp Life- the average lamp life for digital projectors is between 1500 and 3000 hours.

When buying degital projectors it is worth considering price, design, weight, aswell as any extra features different models may have.

Some of the most popular brands include Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Sanyo, Epson aswell as many others.

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Sunday, January 24, 2010

Techniques When Using Green Screen

By Phillip Guye

The Green Screen Technique, refers back to the mixing of video or photographic photos shot in 2 different locations, with one serving as a setting to the actor in the foreground giving a feeling that the actor is actually, physically in that location. This process means the removal of one of the colors to bring in another image that serves as a background for the topic.

The term Green Screen technique is used as the green color is often used as a backdrop since digital cameras are supplied with image sensors which are much more delicate to this color than other colors. This offers the most clean mask, aside from the other facility of smaller light needed to light up a green screen which is also due to the image sensors' higher sensitiveness to this color. Green Screen methodology is utilized in numerous science-fiction, action, and horror flicks which require a big number of effects to supply the illusion of transporting us to the world and times in which the tale is dealing with.

Green Screen Technique is a blessing to the cameramen, as he does not need to trouble himself anymore about the background, as the screen itself is a temporary background, that may be employed to play with colours and designs, and make nearly anything a fact. Actually it offers a great flexibleness to photographers, to bring their creativity in creating superb backgrounds and transport you to a mythical place and time in a most convincing manner.

Green Screen Technique is well liked by professional filmmakers and photographers. Apart from being helpful for film makers, especially people who are working with science-fiction and horror films, which need lot of effects, this technique is also utilized for still photography in print media and on the internet. For portrait photography, this strategy is most beneficial. It may also serve as a help for lecture room dissemination of technical information, and photography hobbyists can use this technique to experiment with their creativeness. You'll substitute the green screen with a solid colored, flat sheet, but since green is an essential color in the background, the sheet should also often be green. After filming, in the post production stage you can lose the green background thru special software and bring in a new image which is married to the subject you have filmed, which gives a fantastic feel of being in different milieu or times altogether.

Some significant factors on Green Screen system which should be kept in mind while using this Green screen method include correct lighting, and cameras of high quality which can create necromancy thru the green screen. Note that if you are using lighting in a non-professional demeanor, your product will end up with different shades and shadows on the screen. Green Screen method is being at length made use of in commercial photography and film making nowadays, and with a number of programs, you can bring your gifts into full play with this help.

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Saturday, January 23, 2010

Seattle Slew's Legacy Of Horse Racing Greatness

By Ross Everett

Seattle Slew, horse racing's lone remaining living Triple Crown winner, passed away on May 7, 2002 at the age of 28. Already ranked among the all time greats by virtue of this accomplishment alone, Slew is even more notable as the only Triple Crown winner to go undefeated as a three year hold. He came from humble beginnings, bought at public auction--the only Triple Crown winner to be acquired in this manner. After retiring to stud in'78 he remained a very profitable horse based on a stud fee of $300,000. His offspring earned over $76 million dollars at the race track and include over 100 stakes race winners including'84 Kentucky Derby champion Swale.

The Seattle Slew story began very modestly at a public auction in Lexington, Kentucky. The Keeneland Summer Yearling sale wasn't supposed to be the marketplace of champions, and the idea that this particular horse would ever amount to anything other than a farmhand was downright laughable. Slew looked clumsy, due primarily to a right forefoot that splayed outward and resulting in a shuffling gait at a trot. He also wasn't a majestic beast like his predecessor by a few years, Secretariat. Slew was borderline ugly. So ungainly a creature was he that he was given the less than inspiring nickname "Baby Huey" by the Keeneland staff. He was purchased by two couples (Karen and Mickey Taylor and Jim and Sally Hill) for $17,500. What wasn't apparent at the yearling sale was the intangibles that make up a championship thoroughbred--poise under pressure, love of competition, toughness, heart and desire. The Taylor's and Hill's had stumbled onto an equine Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan who's competitive fire quickly became apparent to the trainers that worked with him and the jockeys that rode him. His first race came at Belmont in'76, and the three races he entered--and won--as a 2 year old gave a hint of what was to come.

Slew quickly became a horse to watch as a three year old as he won three Derby prep races including the Wood Memorial. In the Derby, Slew got off to a terrible start as he stumbled out of the gate. He recovered from the miscue and essentially bulled his way through a pack of horses to lead at the 1/4 mile pole. Slew would win the Derby by a length and 3 quarters. He took another tough victory at the Preakness before clinching the Triple Crown with a 4 length victory in the Belmont Stakes.

Slew continued to campaign as a four year old, but in the days before the Breeder's Cup there weren't many opportunities for an older horse. He retired to stud in'78, where he sired champions such as the aforementioned Swale and'92 Belmont Champ AP Indy. Slew stood at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky from'85 until early 2002 when he was moved to Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Lexington, KY following a spinal operation.

Slew may not have earned the appreciation he deserved in his prime, coming so closely on the heels of the charismatic'73 Triple Crown winner Secretariat--arguably the greatest thoroughbred race horse in history. The jockeys that rode him, however, understood fully what a special animal they were dealing with. Jockey Angel Cordero gave Seattle Slew this lofty praise: "If I had a chance to take any horse in the world, if someone said your life is depending on riding one horse to win, I would take (Slew). I rode 44,000 horses, but he was special, he was different. He was muscled, like a wrestler. He ran different than any other horse. It was like he came from another planet."

After his death in 2002, Slew was buried at Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Lexington, Kentucky under a statue in his image.

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Friday, January 22, 2010

Searching for Affordable Green Screen Tips

By Phillip Guye

It is always advisable to look for Green Screen Tips when it comes to securing a place in the film industry. The issue of affordability comes into play each time you need to secure a high quality screen for your film shooting. Purchasing a green screen or (chroma key screen) can be expensive and building them on your own can be knackering. So, how do you decide the way to cheap screens? This is the topic debated in this article.

There is one thing that you should first consider when employing the utilization of chroma key screens. Chroma key screens are usually available in studios where the particular film shooting happens. This is where you've got to pat lease costs that they'd turn out to be dear. Therefore, you ought to have great knowledge and use good Green Screen Tips so you can secure the screens at a great price . The first green screen tips is to think about the studio. Many studios had different developments in the bizz. This is the reason why their prices will alter when it comes to renting chroma key screens from them. It's also always recommended to consider the studio prices. Compare them thoroughly so that you get the best screen at an affordable price.

The second green screen tips is the component of going for less popular studios. It is mostly terribly costly to secure services at a well-known studio. These studios have just established a name for themselves. Therefore, they already have a high competition of people looking for their services in film shooting. As a result, you should gamble with the less well-liked studios. They also have chroma key screens that you may use in shooting your film. However, they are massively cheaper because they are simply attempting to make a name for themselves and make people accept that they can create quality productions. Therefore it's wise to look for such studios and take advantage of the lower costs.

The 3rd of the green screen tips is using online services to find top quality screens at cheap studios. This is a good way to lease chroma key screens because internet sites have a chance to provide a discount. You can find the sweetest deals online for your video production, and searching online for rentals should definitely not be discounted. There are such a lot of sites that you are bound to find a good offer. You simply need a P.C. and a network connection!

What you have got to be sure of is that the quality of the chroma key technology in your film production is always high no matter the affordability. Therefore, always keep the Green Screen Tips in mind so that you are able to make a great production at affordable costs.

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Opera Glasses, A Grand Manner To See All The Action On Stage From Far Away

By Jeff Bridges

Opera Glasses are somewhat like binoculars except that they are for seeing stage performances. The opera houses of yesterday had seats that were free or cheaper for people but they were far away from the stage up on balconies. The stage was so distant that one could only see the figures moving around on stage. Props were nonexistent and seeing the singer or actors face was impossible. Opera glasses would make it a little easier for those sitting in the cheap seats to see what was happening on stage and see what the actors actually looked like. Opera glasses have been in use since the 50's.

Opera glasses are different from binoculars as they are made to be smaller and some where made not so much to look utilitarian but to look stylish. Some pop up from a flat looking case and are easily carried in women's clutch bags or in suit coat pockets. Others fold so that they can easily be carried around without notice. There are some that mimic those of the past with a single rod attached called a lorgnette, so the glasses can be held to the eyes with only one hand. This folds up as well.

You can purchase opera glasses easily these days. You can get an inexpensive model for about $50 to $100 US dollars but there are those with better optics are much more expensive. Expensive models will be more stylish as well. Antique opera glasses are often much more expensive merely because they are antique and most often much more ornate. Try them out to make sure they give you the magnification you need and are still in operating order.

Some theaters give you the opportunity to rent opera glasses for a small fee. If you are an opera or theater enthusiast that attends regularly you may want to have a pair of your own, but if you one go once in awhile renting them is a good option. If you want to buy your own it is a good idea to try out the rented ones to see what you prefer. You may like the ones you hold one handed with the rod or you might like the ones you use like binoculars. You might find out you don't even want to use them.

Opera glasses are different in another way from binoculars. The optical system used is much simpler than that used in binoculars. It is known as the Galilean optical system and based on the system that was invented by Galileo. The view is not as sharp with opera glasses as it is with binoculars but it still enables you to see what is happening on the stage.

China is the major producer of opera glasses today. They usually have a 3 X magnification that is good for a concert hall or big auditorium. Some go up to 5 X but they tend to cost more. Some come equipped with a center focus and others don't focus at all. The ones that do not focus usually have a small LED light that is placed between the barrels for the eyes. It helps you to read the program in dim lights without bothering the person in the seat next to you. People with good vision have no problem with these but if you do wear glasses or contacts you might want to look into the focusing type. There is a mechanism for the focus in the focusing opera glasses that takes the place of the light. You can use them with corrective lenses or without.

Most opera glasses come in a case and especially the antique variety. Some are soft cloth cases and some are hard lined with velvet. Vintage glasses are made of ivory, enamel that was heavily cloisonne?and they might have gems on them or be edged in gold. They were elegant yet supposed to be unobtrusive. Vintage and modern opera glasses make a wonderful gift for those that go to the theater, opera or ballet on a regular basis.

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Where Can We Convert Videos Online

By Nate Welling

Various sites out there are free to watch their videos or you can even share your own by uploading it to the site. Youtube is one of the examples which are very trendy website today for sharing different videos online. It has a large number of videos which can be viewed online by any website users. This site is a good match for you to get your videos and then convert it to a format that you wish for.

Youtube videos can be download using any youtube grabber application since videos from youtube cannot be download by just directly clicking on a download button. You need to have a grabber in order to download those videos and the format is .flv (flash video file). Or just look for a website that directly converts links of the videos you want. There are lots of websites there that converts files; it converts youtube videos into your desired format.

There are number of websites and applications are now available for converting videos into different extension and that is playable in any devices. It only takes a short while to convert your videos into different format.

Choose your video to be converted by searching it on youtube and copy the link of the video that is found on the address bar of your browser (i.e. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gISE-0j8zVw). This example is from youtube and as we know it is the best site for videos. You can also search some videos from the sites you know.

Now that you have your file to convert or you have already the link. You need to look for an application that can convert it in any format. One option here is converting using a desktop application software for converting videos that needs to be installed first into your computer before services are given. Mostly of them are not fully functional and need upfront fees before they can give the full access onto it. The other option is to convert your videos from websites. This is pretty simple and less in hassle and no need for installation.

More often than not, websites are the same practice in converting video files. Only copy and paste the URL you have selected just like the example above on the exact field. Select your format to use as an output of the file as they provide more choices for you to select. Then click Start or Convert and it will take a minute to complete. A message will prompt you when conversion is done.

Conversion using either of the two options has both advantage and disadvantage and it will depend on you to which to do you prefer to use. When you are using application in converting, it is good when you are converting large numbers of videos because it can convert more than one file at a time, which is the advantage of it. Disadvantage in terms that it is very hassle and as I mentioned above not fully functional unless it is paid. While you are using website in conversion it can only convert one file at a time. It is advantage to those people who forgot to bring their saving device where the installer of the application program is saved. Well this is the best option to this situation.

When done converting, check your mailbox and read for the instruction on how to download the file into your computer. Download it by following the steps. You will need to check the file if it is properly converted or to ensure that it is not corrupted. Play the converted file onto any of your media player, from the start through the end. Note that quality of the video will depend on the video you are converting. If the video is not in a good quality choose another video to convert. If the video play as you have expected then you have successfully converted your first video otherwise try again or maybe there are some steps you forgot to follow or it is on the website you are using. Happy converting!

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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

9 Captivating Video Assessments For Your Entertainment Amusement

By Muriel Powers

Select from these critiques and download a wonderful motion picture to see this evening! Me without You - Fearful, tender Williams and extroverted Friel have been best friends as long as they can remember, however as they come of age their relationship is compromised. Conceivably attractive girl friend film has some strainful minutes, but it does not quite gel. Cast includes Anna Friel, Michelle Williams, Oliver Milburn, Trudie Styler, Marianne Denicourt, Steve John Shepherd, Nicky Henson, Allan Corduner, Kyle MacLachlan, and Anna Popplewell. (107 minutes, 2001)

Across llOth Street - Barry Shear handled the directing for this film. Three black men, disguised as cops have robbed the mob bank out of over $250,000. Now the cops and the mafia are in a competition to seize the thieves, and recover the money. The actors include Anthony Quinn, Yaphet Kotto, Anthony Franciosa, Richard Ward, and Paul Benjannin. (1972 Crime-Drama)

All About My Mother - While a woman loses her youngster, she returns to Barcelona, rekindles a dormant kinship with a transvestite friend, who unwittingly the youngster's father. Pedro Almodovar directed this movie and it is his most moving motion picture to date-more sober than most, although not without his trademark wit and differentiated by wonderful behaviors all around. Cast includes Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, Penelope Cruz, Antonia San Juan, Candela Pena, and Eloy Azorin. (101 minutes, 1999)

Christmas Vacation - The Griswalds have big plans for the Holidays this year. Clark has invited a bunch of the relatives over for the big merriment. Clark's labors go foolishly wrong, par for the course for a Griswald holiday.

Skyscraper Wilderness - Fred's a pilot on leave who meets photographer Leslie; Benchley's supper talk, Astaire's "One for My Infant" and "My Beaming Hour" make this work. Cast includes Fred Astaire, Joan Leslie, Robert Benchley, Robert Ryan, and Elizabeth Patterson. (103 minutes, 1937)

Young Dr. Benjamin Stone is on his way to L.A. where his dream work as a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills awaits him. Attempting to circumvent a traffic jam he winds up off the beaten path in the tiny town of Grady, where he winds up crashing his car. To make things worse, it was into the town judge's fence that he crashed. Ben's sentence is 32 hours of community service at the town hospital. Serving his time, he starts to love the work, and finds himself falling in love.

Blank Check - Gangster Carl Quigley almost murders young Preston when he runs over his bicycle. Hoping to just pay the kid off, he gives him a check. The glitch is he gave Preston a blank check. Preston makes the check out for $1 million dollars and cashes it. When Quigley sees what has happened he wants his money back. Can Preston keep away from Quigley and his goons?

Bug - film version of Tracy Letts' play is tough to take seriously however not without a twist or two if you could recognize it as a stunt. This is simply bug versus man. Cast includes Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick, Jr., Lynn Collins, and Brian F. O'Byrne. (101 minutes, 2007)

My Son the Fanatic - Author Hanif Kureishi once more studies a Pakistani coming to terms with his life in England. In this case it's a taxi driver Puri who is disassociated from his spouse, and whose child is dissenting contrary to him for rationales he couldn't grasp. Cast includes Om Puri, Rachel Griffiths, StelIan Skarsgard, Akbar Kurtha, Gopi Desai, Harish Patel, and Bhasker Patel. (89 minutes, 1997)

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Monday, January 18, 2010

Green Screen Los Angeles: Shopping

By Phil Guye

If you like making videos then you can consider imploring the employment of a Green Screen los angeles. It is an engaging medium you can use to bring out all types of illusions. If you fancy making movies or producing films exclusively for the thrill of it, then green screens will suit the purpose completely. When doing some Green screen Los Angeles shopping there are suitable place you may want to test out.

You can own green screen los angeles by shopping from the renowned dealers in the city. A smart idea is to buy from famous brands. You can easily find such products in most computer shops in L. A. . All that you need is to get a good store which has a rep for selling quality and genuine products and you are set with a good green screen. A good practice when it comes to buying one is to take a look at it at the store. Ask the shop attendant to test it out while you are there.

Purchase a good and working green screen Los Angeles from the internet. Buying one on the internet is like hitting jackpot. There are loads of sites just ready to sell you one. All that you need to do is give in your product description and you are ready to go. Check out a number of internet stores that deal with such parts. A nice thing you can do is to compare the product features. Check if there are any warranties given with the product. Look out for a reduction too. Only when you are satisfied are you able to go on with the transaction. You may ask for suggestions from experienced users in town. Remember to be certain that the frames are high absorbance as to restrict the afterglow during filming. The store owner can help you with picking a quality screen.

Departmental stores have a section where they specialize in electronic components and products. It is a place to check out green screen L. A. too. The prize might vary depending on the store. Usually it is probable that the price is a bit on the higher end. If it's's an emergency then you should buy it. Just ask the attendants if they can test it for you. The sole drawback is that you are not warranted that it is a real item.

An alternate way of owning green screen Los Angeles is getting it from 2nd hand electronics shop. You may want to tread conscientiously here. Just because you aren't guaranteed that the product is genuine. This is a big gamble as they will not give you effective service. It is always sensible to deal in authentic items. Second possibilities of buying a faulty one are high in such places. Exercise caution and simply ask them to check it for you. If there is any trace of hesitance then you can look for the product some place else. It isn't good to risk when purchasing such items.

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Sunday, January 17, 2010

You Will Have No Difficulty Whatsoever When Using A Properly Made Movie Downloading Service

By Phillip Blanchard

Downloading movies using the internet can be done by anyone who can follow simple instruction. Movie download sites are designed so you will be able to do movie downloading and also burn the files to a DVD. These websites want it to be very easy for you to download your film files.

Todays PCs can hold a lot more data, allowing for movies to be downloaded. In most cases you can choose to make a DVD and have a nice copy of your movie. Let us give you some facts about movie downloads and why they might be right for you.

A great positive of downloading a film from a website is all the time you will save when running around finding what you want. Actually downloading the movie might take some time but your attention is not required during the downloading. If you go to a store for a purchase, you waste a lot of time in your travels.

The bit torrent compression technology has been a major contributor in making movie downloads become more practical. Compression allows more data to be transferred faster and stored in less space. This is critical in downloading a lot of data quickly on the internet.

Getting films through online downloads is the latest evolution in getting movies. We originally had the cinema, then we had video, then the DVD took over, and movie downloading is the latest. Movie downloading takes advantage of the current technologies to send you a film faster than you can imagine.

Streaming video is a type of movie downloading that gives you access to the content right away. The viewing will start almost immediately. The download will load at a speed that allows you seamless viewing. A streaming video is stored on a temporary file and does not use up hard drive space.

There are a variety of downloading possibilities made available at different downloading sites. Look carefully at these choices and use a site or a plan that accurately reflects what your download interests are. This way you get more value for your cost.

Like many other apparently very good opportunities, particularly on the web, you should be wary. Just do your homework and find a well trusted and established site for your downloads. Online reviews, forums and blogs can tell you what you need to know.

One of the reasons that the movie downloading industry has taken off is that people started to file share recent movies because the studios would delay the DVD releases. In this sense Hollywood popularized movie downloading. This caused the development of a new business, the movie download industry.

Downloading movies from the internet is grow as movie watchers a finding out about this means of attaining movies. Many of us now have PCs and are accessing the internet. New improvements in technology have made the possibility of a timely download turn into a dream come true.

Any movie buff with a computer will want to use the latest technologies. Music files downloading was the first example of combining entertainment products and file downloading. Now the film business is becoming the latest type of media entertainment to use file download products.

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Saturday, January 16, 2010

Record Companies Are Now Suing Mobile Carriers For Royalties

By Mallory McGuinness-Hickey

It seems as though record companies have developed a new game plan in order to collect royalties. As we all know, the music industry attempted to sue individual users who illegally downloaded songs. But because of this approach to recover from major fiscal loss has destroyed their public image.

In lieu of lowering the price of albums in order to go up against the free music circulating through the internet, the music industry has turned to collection agencies who are now taking legal action against cellphone companies over royalties from ring tones. They claimed that ring tones counted as public performances so cell phone companies should be obligated to pay performance fees. The courts quickly renounced this claim.

Despite this unfruitful endeavour to collect on royalties, Broadcast Music Inc is now suing T-Mobile over ring back tones, alleging that the mobile carrier is selling them without licensing agreements. Unlike ring tones, which play publically when someone calls, ring back tones are only heard specifically by the person calling. Instead of hearing a cellphone dialing, the caller will hear a song that was chosen by the cell owner.

Critics are quick to point out the apparent irony of this lawsuit. If ringtones, which can be heard by anyone around a cellphone, do not constitute public performance, it seems ludicrous to sue the mobile carriers over a ringback tone that can be heard only by the caller. With record companies suffering from huge financial losses, it seems as though they are grasping at straws in order to collect any money that they possibly can.

It does not seem that lowering the cost of CDs and DVDs is an idea that has occurred to the major companies. There are still a number of music fans out there that prefer to collect and own the media, however with prices constantly spiking, downloading music for free seems very tempting. CDs generally go on sale for about seventeen dollars.

Some bands have been avoiding the issue of music downloading through different tactics. Radiohead, an alternative rock band, created a website where fans are allowed to download the music for free, or for a donation. Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor has created a similar website. Keeping record companies' unsuccessful lawsuits and declining public image in mind, it appears as though creative thinking and fair pricing may be more productive than bullying money out of mobile carriers and individual users.

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Friday, January 15, 2010

New Orleans Stays Unbeaten With Win Over Miami

By Ross Everett

With an offense that can strike as quickly as the New Orleans Saints', they're never out of a game. The Miami Dolphins found that out the hard way on Sunday as the Saints came roaring back from a 21 point deficit to win going away 46-34. Drew Brees threw for 298 yards and a touchdowns, though gave up three interceptions as New Orleans remained undefeated at 6-0 despite trailing in a game for the first time this season.

Adding insult to injury for NFL betting enthusiasts who backed Miami as +6 home underdogs, the Saints continued their rampage against the pointspread with a late game interception return for a touchdown to cover. New Orleans is 6-0 against the number this season, while Miami dropped to 2-4 against the spread. The 80 combined points sailed OVER the posted total of 47'.

After the game, Brees said that his team never lost confidence:

"There was no doubt on our sideline we would come back and win. They had given us their best shot, and we had played about as bad as we could play. All we had to do was string together a few drives and gain the momentum back. We knew it was going to happen, and it did."

Following a rushing touchdown that gave his team their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter, Brees dunked the football over the goal post crossbar:

"There are times in the game when a team just needs an emotional lift. I felt like I had to do something to get everybody hyped. The first thing that came to mind was to dunk it."

Saints' linebacker Scott Shanle suggested that the game could portent good things to come:

"It can be a season-defining win. This was a test we hadn't faced yet, and we couldn't be happier with the way we responded."

A dejected Ricky Williams explained how his team had lost:

"This was our game to win. We fought and we fought. They just fought harder at the end."

Dolphins' QB Vonte Davis said the defense was aware that with Brees in the game even a 21 point lead was tenuous at best:

"With Drew Brees, it's like the score is 0-0. We knew they would come back and that it would be a tough game."

The Saints will now host the Atlanta Falcons next Monday night. New Orleans is a -9 home favorite with the total set at 53'. They'll then face two struggling teams, taking on the Carolina Panthers at home the following Sunday and playing against the Rams at St. Louis on November 15. The Dolphins will play on the road against the New York Jets this Sunday, with Miami a +3' road underdog and the total set at 40'. They'll play at New England the following Sunday before returning home on November 15 to take on the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Thursday, January 14, 2010

Corporate Fund Raisingl: PIPE, DPO, PPM, OTCBB, Pink Sheets or Reverse Mergers

By James Scott

There are many ways to use capital without using bank loans, lines of credit and other shady methods like shelf corps and bogus platform scams. If you are truly trying to raise capital for your company here are some simple breakdowns of your options with a quick definition for each one:

 PIPE: Private Investment In Public Equity this is used primarily by mutual funds and private investment firms where they buy discount stock in order to raise capital, there are two types of PIPEs traditional where common and preferred stock is issued at a set cap to raise money for the issuer and a structured pipe issues convertible debt.

 DPO: Direct Public Offering is when you sell equity shares directly to customers, suppliers and employees.

 PPM: Private Placement Memorandum is also known as an offering memorandum takes advantage of Regulation D rule exemptions 504, 505 and 506. This process came into existence with the'33 securities act and popularized in the late'80s, companies can raise money from the public via private placement; there is virtually zero interaction with the SEC after you file form d as long as you stay legal. (most popular form of fund raising).

 IPO: Initial Public Offering: extremely expensive, need SOX 404 audits, must have board of directors, quarterly financial reports to shareholders, report heavily to the SEC and 1 out of every 1000 companies that want an IPO actually qualify. I love participating in these but most companies just can't qualify for one reason or the other.

 OTCBB: Over the Counter Bulletin Board is an electronic quote system that is the next best thing if you can't go public via ipo, there is minimal red tape to startups and small businesses and is legitimized by the stringent ongoing reports to the SEC which keeps investor confidence high (these are extremely solid and I suggest this structure to companies when I am hired by their company or legal team as a consultant as a fast, easy way to raise big capital from the public otc)

 Pink Sheet: you can look at pink sheets as the Burger King, while the OTCBB is McDonalds, they are competing otc mechanisms. Pinks sheets are commonly referred to as penny stock and notorious for 'pump em' and dump em' controversies and a lot of crooked people are involved with this platform. This is not a long term process that will allow one's company to grow, pink sheets companies are typically short lived but it is cheap to set up but not a professional structure that could be upgraded in time to an IPO.

 Reverse Merger: a group funds the filing and creation of a public shell, they then sell that shell to a company that wants to go public, the established company merges it's entity into the public shell. The sellers retain around 30% equity after they charge an upfront fee of 300k to 1m. 99% of reverse mergers are successful with the merger, but unsuccessful to bring them to trade and the entity basically just fizzles out.

Taking your company public is actually quite simple and inexpensive when you have the right consultant putting the structure together for you. There are countless ways to raise capital quickly and easily. It's important that you understand your options before you waste time entering into the red tape infested banking system for a loan.

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

What Lessons You Can Learn From The King Of Pop's Last Moon Walk

By Fredo Anzano

One of the most famous dance steps of all time was the one popularized by Michael Jackson. Wikipedia gave meaning to this dance step as "a dance technique that presents the illusion of the dancer being pulled backwards while attempting to walk forward."

I thought about this meaning and came to realize that there is a stark similarity between Michael Jackson's life and his popular moon walk. This post will attempt to bring about the morals we can learn from the similarity. In no way am I attempting to degrade Michael Jackson and his achievements but will only focus on the moral side.

Being one of the most successful entertainers of his generation, Michael Jackson was able to sell over 750 million records, win 13 Grammy Awards and hit the no. 1 spot with his singles 13 times. Articles around the world agree that his lifetime earnings were more than $500 million and that his music itself is a billion dollars worth.

However, despite the popularity and wealth, the final part of his life was filled with struggles of debts and depression. Rumors say that his health drastically declined when he isolated himself from his family, friends and financial turmoil. People from all over the world loved him, yet he died lonely, depressed and broken hearted.

With all the bad circumstances that happened to Michael Jackson during his last days of his life, I thus refer to his final years as his final moon walk. I refer to his last years of his life as his final moon walk because no matter how much he tried to move forward in his life, his actions only caused him to move backwards. But unlike the moon walk, everything that happened to him in his final years was not mere illusions. Here are things about the life of Michael Jackson that I think will give us lessons in life:

1.) Try living within your pay grade - In spite of the millions of dollars Michael Jackson earns every year, his extravagant lifestyle forces him to spend more than $ 20 to 30 million above what he earns. His display of extravagance has caused him to be in so much debt that certain well known persons, including a Bahrain Sheik, blamed him for his inability to pay what he owed. This incapability resulted to his losing of his valued Neverland Ranch. While his assets still have greater value over his debts, he still died owing $ 400 million. Even if Michael Jackson had the right of living extravagantly, he should have been wise enough to live within his pay grade and made an effort of taking care of his finances. His inability to live within his pay grade brought about so much financial problems that he got more depressed.

2.) Life may be tough, but you've got to learn to face your problems - Michael Jackson may have achieved a certain amount of success in his life, but he never learned to face his problems. When he became depressed he turned to anything from plastic surgery, isolation and drug abuse. After he was accused of child molestation, he was so depressed that he was never the same again. J Randy Taraborrelli described how he escaped from his problem in an article for the daily mail, "He surrounded himself with children, animals and a false reality - so much so that he never learned how to cope in the real world. He never wanted to grow up, and his managers encouraged these eccentricities when they should have encouraged therapy."

3.) True happiness and joy does not come from fame and fortune - It cannot be disputed that Michael Jackson's achievements in life were far beyond the ordinary. He not only made and broke records, changed the norm of music, or paved the way to unity among races, but he has also earned the love and adoration of millions of people around the globe. But in all these achievements, Michael Jackson isolated himself from his family and friends and eventually his died being lonely, despondent, depressed and the feeling of people hating him.

There are so many lessons to be learned from the King of Pop's final moon walk, but I will stop here and let you think more of the King of Pop's final moon walk. I am hoping and praying that you can see lessons from his final moon walk. Let us just hope that our final moon walk would turn out to be much better than the King of Pop.

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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

The Benefits Of Choosing Legal Movie Downloads

By Freddy Stenson

Are illegal movie downloads worth all the trouble? It is often tempting to get the latest blockbusters for free and watch it at your convenience rather than wait in long queues outside movie places only to be disappointed. However, be warned that these movies come with quite a string of disastrous consequences.

Moreover, although you will incur costs for legal movie downloads, they are minimal as compared to the price you'll pay for DVD's or store rentals at your local Blockbuster store. Not only that, but the fact is that if you use file sharing sites to download your illegal movies, you infringe on the copyright laws of the owners of the productions.

Shockingly, more than six million households in America have downloaded from an illegal movie download sites within the past 60 days alone. Most of these downloads are videos that have adult related content and often, people have used a Peer to Peer (P2P) site to download these movies from.

There are a couple of ways that these legal movie download sites can charge for their services. One is a monthly fee or subscription that will charged, allowing you an unlimited number of downloads per month while your subscription is active.

This type allows for those that will be regular users to download and unlimited number of movies for a set monthly price. This will allow them to get the maximum number of downloads at the lowest price possible per selection. The other is where you can pay for each individual movie that you download. You'll pay a little more per movie, so this method is best suited for the occasional users.

Justice is not completely absent, with many offenders who are guilty of downloading movies illegally being brought to task. This is possible thanks to the ability to track anyone on the internet through the Internet Service Provider (ISP), which can pinpoint the exact location of the computer that was used to access the internet.

Nevertheless, perhaps the biggest benefit, one that most people worry about the most, is that these legal download sites have cutting edge security protection systems in place, which are constantly monitored and updated, so you'll almost never have to worry about downloading a potentially crippling virus in the movie file.

Many movie studios are now improvising some sort of security in the discs so that the people who download them cannot play it back on their system. This security is not foolproof and many hackers always find a loophole with enough time. With newer technologies, it is not that hard to break security protocols either.

It is like what happened with the music industry, where people suddenly were exposed to world of sharing and free downloading between individuals.

Just like with other illegal activities, free downloading too will grow over time with more people getting access to high speed internet. In fact, many people will learn about the phenomenon and spread it to others, which will consequently keep rising until pretty much everyone is aware of it.

A lot of the legal movie download sites now a days offer free trials. They allow you a certain number of downloads, or a time frame in which to try their services before any payment will be required.

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Monday, January 11, 2010

Silence and Peace Give Way To Love

By Jamie Brown

This day in age, people are turning to religion in droves. Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism has embedded it's ideology in the hearts and minds of millions globally. While all these religions deserve respect and tolerance, few in the west have a grasp on the complicated concept of Buddhism.

The end all and be all of online encyclopedias, Wikipedia grabs the first slot on a Google search for the term Buddhism and the breakdown reads like this: "Buddhism is a religion and a philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha (Pali/Sanskrit "the awakened one"). The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE.

He is recognized by adherents as an awakened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end suffering, achieve nirvana, and escape what is seen as a cycle of suffering and rebirth. Buddhism is traditionally conceived as a path of liberation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. Two major branches of Buddhism are recognized: Theravada ("The School of the Elders") and Mahayana ("The Great Vehicle"). Theravada, the oldest surviving branch, has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, and Mahayana is found throughout East Asia and includes the traditions of Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon, Tendai and Shinnyo-en. In some classifications, a third branch, Vajrayana, is recognized, although many see this as an offshoot of the Mahayana. While Buddhism remains most popular within Asia, both branches are now found throughout the world.

Various sources put the number of Buddhists in the world at between 230 million and 500 million." After living abroad in Asia for several years I have found that Buddhist cultures are more tolerant because the focus is on the 'self' and the meditation on the calming of the mind, concentrating on controlled breathing and the idea that meditation to bring one closer to peace is central to discovering one's self.

If you have the opportunity to investigate the practice of Buddhism, I would highly recommend it. I'm not saying to take up the path and convert to a religion but the calming affect that is central to this religions concept will bring a peaceful serenity to your life that you may find useful. All in all respect and tolerance for all religious perspectives is something that people are beginning to make a conscious effort to practice and understanding ideas from various religions can teach us an appreciation that can bring us all closer together.

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Sunday, January 10, 2010

Have Some Fun with Garfield Personal Checks

By Alan Plastin

Like Garfield, do you dread Monday mornings? Does taking out your checkbook give you anxiety? Well, if you're a fan of the lovable, and sometimes surly, big orange cat then carrying Garfield checks will always give you a smile when you take out that checkbook. Plus, it's not as expensive as you might think, not thanks to the Internet.

Created in 1978 by Jim Davis, Garfield is the world's most syndicated comic strip. Everyone around the world is familiar with Garfield and his pals. The comic strip centers on the life and adventures of Garfield, a large orange, and sometimes lazy, cat as well as his owner Jon and Jon's dog, Odie.

Some of the things that the comic strip focuses on are Garfield's repulsion to diets, his lethargy, his love of all things food, and his detestation of Mondays. Since the comic strip is not political in nature, but rather focuses on the humor of daily life, both children and adults are able to enjoy his antics.

Jon is the owner of Garfield and Odie. He is generally portrayed as being somewhat geeky, although good hearted. Jon's inability to find a date is an on-running joke, as are his eccentric habits such as stamp collecting and measuring his toenails. According to Garfield, he also has questioning taste in fashion as well.

Odie is an amiable yellow dog that is mostly shown to be naive, but endearing. However, his naivete could be an act since sometimes when Jon and Garfield are gone Odie can be seen watching educational programs on television and reading. Although Garfield usually gets the better of Odie, the two do seem to share a friendship with one another.

Now, if you're a fan of Garfield and his friends, then you can get Garfield personal bank checks at a portion of the cost that you might have paid at your bank by ordering your checks online. When you use a safe site you can save as much as 50% off the price that you might have paid in the past.

The Garfield checks are endearing and light-hearted, just like the comic strip. You can even purchase coordinating address labels and a matching checkbook cover to go with them in order to complete your Garfield collection. Every time you write a Garfield check, you won't help but smile-even if your finances are no laughing matter.

Purchasing checks online is easy and fast and takes the chore out of going to your local bank. You just need to have your routing number and checking account number on hand to get started. These will be printed directly onto the checks themselves. You can normally expect to get the checks in the mail in around 3-5 days, which might even be sooner than your bank could have gotten them to you.

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Saturday, January 9, 2010

Choosing Materials For Your Green Screen Studio

By Phillip Guye

There are plenty of talks going on about which materials to use for your green screen. Expert advice will tell you that you cannot settle for just green. There is a right shade of green that's fit for green screen studio use. If you use any other shade, it won't have an identical effect and it will not be able to accomplish what it is set out to do.

It is for sure, correct to go for only a particular shade of green and a specific sort of material as it will give you optimum results. However, in truth, you can make any effective green screen from nearly any kind of smooth and green surface. The actual consequences of that will alter according to preference but it does not mean that other type of green screen studio materials will be useless.

If you're one to go for quality, and you need to use the very best screen for your video productions, you can search the Net or ask around what makes the perfect green screen material. The most likely event is that you will be pointed in different directions. When it reaches that point, you've got to trust your own instincts and go with what you believe will work for you. Because certain materials may work for some folk but it doesn't for others. So you've got to be a discerning purchaser. Also remember that professional green screen material can be rather expensive. Separate a little of your budget exclusively for the green screen material alone if you actually wish to create a good green screen studio.

If you're attempting to find material that won't burn a hole in your pocket, there are guidelines in finding useable material which will neither leave you bankrupt nor annoyed at the end of the day : Use something solid like a cardboard or smooth wood. Color it green. Ensure that you cover every space in paint because inconsistencies will be magnified a hundred times in your production.

Employ a kind of fabric. There are 2 ways to go about this, you can either go for green fabric or take another fabric and then dye or paint it green. This method can be a bit tricky though since you've got to make sure that there are no black spots and fabric has the tendency to be insubstantial.

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Friday, January 8, 2010

Beginning Guitar Lessons: What You Need To Know

By Marge Greathouse

If, you have want to learn, how to play guitar? You have to take regular lessons. It is the easiest instrument to learn as huge resources are available.

Acoustic guitars are very portable, mobile and convenient to learn lessons as they don't required plug in an amplifier for sound.

There are three basic approaches to learn to play the guitar. One, you can teach yourself using free online resources such as chord sheets, lessons and videos. Two, you can ask friends or family members to teach you. Third, you can take formal lessons from a professional teacher either one on one or in a group setting.

Whichever way you choose to learn the fundamentals of guitar there is something you must ask yourself before you even pluck a string: Why do you want to play guitar? Do you want to be the lead solo guitarist in a band? Do you want to try and make a living off of being a professional guitar player? Or do you want to simply learn for the sake of learning? Answering this question will allow you to reflect on the level of commitment you want to give to this new journey and will help you decide what path is best to take in order to play the guitar.

You need your own guitar to begin guitar lessons.You could borrow one but you really should have your own to practice when you have free time.Additionally,owning a guitar helps you get use to playing a guitar,which is recommended for beginners.Prior to your guitar lessons,you should contemplate your level of commitment.Think about how many hours per day you can dedicate to learning how to play the guitar.This helps you set your priorities and figure out how much you really want to learn about guitar playing.

People who really want to learn to play the guitar will not stop when their fingers start to hurt.Commit yourself and keep in mind all the reasons why you wanted to learn to play the guitar in the first place.

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Thursday, January 7, 2010

Make it a Movie Night

By Mike Turner

Renting a movie is a great way to spend the night at home. It's a perfect solution to unwind from a hard days work. Just pop it in and relax on your sofa.

It's a great way to brighten up your day after a rather uneventful day at the office, or maybe even a stressful day. So, just relax and put your feet up. Oh, and don't forget your favorite snacks.

And, no need to be greedy about having a great time. You can also share the enjoyment with your family and even make a family night out of it. Renting a movie is a great way to bond with the family.

Movies are known to be great conversation starters and who said unwinding is best done alone. Share the experience with the whole family.

For the health nuts out there, try cutting up some fruits and vegetables for a healthy snack during the movie. Spice it up with some dip and you're good to go. Then again, there is always popcorn. Yum!

Heck, if the movie that you choose to rent is enjoyable, everyone will be too busy watching to worry about what they're eating anyway.

One of the hot things in renting movies is online renting. If you rent a lot of movies, this may be an option that youll love. You can buy a yearly membership with some companies and rent as many as you want the whole year.

Online renting may just be a great deal for you. Just crunch some numbers to see if this option fits your budget and lifestyle. If you rent often, than it could definitely be worth it.

The beauty of renting movies online is the clear convenience of receiving and returning the movies through the mail. No longer will you have to make those inconvenient and sometimes timely trips to the rental store.

More often than not, you will receive your choice of movie rental in the mail the next day. So just hop on the computer, choose, click, and enjoy.

Plus, no more rainchecks for that movie you really want to see. Most online rental services are always stocked and with a wide variety of movies.

Whether you're looking to be scared and frightened, rolling on the floor laughing, or a good ole happy ending, renting a movie and staying in is a wonderful option. The choice is yours for whatever mood your in. So turn on that tube and take a nice, relaxing night to yourself. You deserve it.

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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The Arena Football League Calls It Quits

By Ross Everett

After canceling their 2009 season, the Arena Football League has shut down entirely and appears headed for bankruptcy. Earlier this week, the league office released a short statement indicated that it had ceased operations because owners were "unable to reach any consensus on restructuring the league over the past eight months." The league had reached a new agreement with players earlier this year, but was unable to convince enough owners that they had a viable plan to return to profitability. The leagues statement continued that there are no other viable options available to the league right now."

Even before the decision was made to cancel the 2009 season this past December, it had been a tumultuous off-season for the Arena Football League. It began with the resignation of long time AFL commissioner David Baker just two days before the Arena Bowl championship game. Though Baker put a positive spin on his resignation saying that he felt it was time, the timing was curious despite his insistence that it was due to "personal reasons".

In October, the owner of the New Orleans VooDoo announced that the team would cease operations"despite being one of the league leaders in attendance. In announcing that the team would fold, owner Tom Benson (who also owns the NFL Saints) cryptically explained that it was due to circumstances currently affecting the league and the team."

A dispersal draft to reassign the VooDoo personnel was scheduled and postponed several times amid assurances from the AFL office that rumors of financial instability were unfounded.

The inability to get any consensus on a business model for the league reportedly served as the final nail in the AFLs coffin. A major problem was skyrocketing player salaries, and some sort of compensation system tied to team revenues was a necessity. That agreement was reached with the players, but a bigger conflict between the owners on a variety of business model related issues were never able to be resolved.

Despite the demise of the AFL, it wont be the end for "The 50 yard indoor war. The sport lives on the AF2 league which, ironically, was originally started as something of a developmental organization for the AFL. The league plays in smaller markets and has a more realistic salary structure. A number of current AFL players"and possibly a couple of AFL franchises"could end up in AF2.

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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

UFC 87 Flashback: Brock Lesnar Comes Of Age

By Ross Everett

The last time that Georges St. Pierre defended his UFC welterweight title, it quickly turned into the low point of his career. Already facing a number of personal issues away from the cage, he looked sloppy and distracted as Matt Serra defeated him by brutal TKO. This time, things were different"before an enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd at Minneapolis Target Center arena GSP brutalized Jon Fitch over five rounds to win an easy unanimous decision.

After a dominant takedown to open the fight, followed by a barrage of GSP punches it looked as if Fitch wouldnt make it out of the first round. He managed to survive, though generated little offense the rest of the way as the champion had his way with him both on the ground and in standup striking exchanges. Fitch landed enough counterpunches to open a cut near the champions eye, but never even came close to winning a round. Fitch had to gut his way through another tough moment in the 4th, where a big knee followed by a flurry of kicks and punches had him on the verge of a TKO loss yet again. It may have been the champions strategy that saved him, as GSP decided to take Fitch down again rather than continue the striking onslaught as the round closed.

As the final horn sounded, GSP bowed down in front of Fitch in a nice, Muay Thai inspired show of respect. The sportsmanship and mutual respect continued after the decision was announced, when Fitch embraced GSP and hoisted him into the air in celebration.

And theres very likely not another athlete like Brock Lesnar even within the ranks of fightsport competitors. In his 3rd professional MMA bout the amateur wrestling legend turned WWE champion displayed a brutally effective new fighting style along with stellar patience and cage control as he obliterated tough and highly experienced Heath Herring. Lesnar received a thunderous ovation from his adopted home state as he entered the cage to the sounds of Motley Crues Shout at the Devil.

From that point forward, Herring was completely out of the fight though he repeatedly demonstrated his toughness by staying in the fight and not tapping out to strikes as had Min Soo Kim in Lesnars MMA debut. Unlike Lesnars gameplan against Frank Mir in his UFC debut"when he clearly wanted to overwhelm his opponent for a quick win"perhaps the most impressive element of his improvement as a fighter was his patience. There were a number of occasions where Lesnar could have tried and finished the fight by placing himself at greater risk, but took the conservative approach.

Overall, Lesnars performance bordered on amazing"a serious case could be made that he won all three rounds by 10-8 margins, though all three judges scored the fight 30-26. He repeatedly took down and threw around the 64 250 Herring like he was a welterweight, and controlled the fight to such a degree that his opponent didnt land more than a half dozen strikes during the entire fight"and none which were particularly effective. A few more metrics to put Lesnars dominance into perspective"Herring hasnt been dominated to such a degree in his entire career which comprises 42 fights against opponents like Fedor Emelianenko, Vitor Belfort, Mirko Cro Cop and Antonio Rodgrio Nogueira.

Lesnars win gives a much needed boost to the UFCs barren heavyweight division. While it may be premature to consider him a top 10 heavyweight, should Lesnar continue to develop his potential in the sport is limitless.

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Monday, January 4, 2010

Free Paid Surveys - A Profitable Hobby You Should Start Getting Into

By Lori Bennet

You use the Internet to do a lot of things. Most of the times, you use it for entertainment. The Net has probably been the most common hobby for most people. But did you know that you can earn money with an online hobby? Why not try free paid surveys?

Free paid surveys are very effective tools used by companies to figure out how they can improve their products and services to please their consumers. These surveys will help a lot of companies to come up with new innovative ways to come up with better goods.

Perhaps there is no better hobby than free paid surveys. You only get to do this for a few minutes in a day. It's fun and easy to do. The best part is that you get paid for giving out your opinions.

Survey sites are great sources of new hobbies. Did you know that you can also be tasked to shop online, play games and visit websites? This is really a great way to get paid-even if you don't really do anything.

Online surveys are great because it gives you the freedom to choose the time when you want to work. You can still do the things you like doing; you can go out and dine out with friends and just return and answer the surveys.

You should be careful when dealing with different survey sites. Because a lot of people look for survey sites, scam sites have become a common thing. Arm yourself with the right knowledge so that you will be able to identify a scam site.

Answering free paid surveys can be a fruitful online hobby. Aside from the fact that you can have loads of fun, you will also get to earn money and receive great rewards.

You shouldn't look anywhere else. Free paid surveys are the best online hobby because they are easy, fun, and rewarding.

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Full Movies Download

Movies And MP3

Movies and MP3 files are already compressed with near maximum capacity. Repacking them would just create larger files and increase decompression time. Ripped movies are still packaged due to the large file size, but compression is disallowed and the RAR format is used only as a container. Because of this, modern playback software can easily play a release directly from the packaged files, and even stream it as the release is downloaded (if the network is fast enough).

MP3 and music video releases are an exception in that they are not packaged into a single archive like almost all other sections. These releases have content that is not further compressible without loss of quality, but also have small enough files that they can be transferred reliably without breaking them up. Since these releases rarely have large numbers of files, leaving them unpackaged is more convenient and allows for easier scripting. For example, scripts can read ID3 information from MP3s and sort releases based on those contents.