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Learning Spanish Does Not Have to be Hard in Hotels

Posted by admin on Sunday, July 25th 2010     

Giverny Hotel by Ginas Pics

Quick Hints To Help You Learn Spanish

Deciding to learn a new language is a fabulous idea. English and Spanish are almost equally spoken in the US. How many times do you hear messages in English translated into Spanish? That is a good reason for learning Spanish. Yet there are a lot of people who experience difficulty with a new language. Here are a few useful ideas and tips that will help you if new languages are a bit difficult.

There is probably no better way to become fluent in a new language than to go somewhere that forces you to speak it constantly. For anyone wanting to learn Spanish, going to a country where that was the main language would be a way to gain fluency. There are, of course, certain places in the U.S. where you could use this immersion method right at home. Traveling to another land will be a more effective immersion strategy, however, as it takes away the possibility of being able to lapse back into speaking your familiar language. There are many people who claim that immersing themselves in the new language made them learn it faster than they could have any other way. This does, no doubt, test your comfort zone, and not everyone likes this. So you'll have to made the decision whether you'd be comfortable immersing yourself in this way.

Work on improving your “ear” for the language. Some languages have more of an oral-emphasized than written. As long as it's a 'living' language, you'll still have to learn to hear it. Writing the alphabet or the correct way to write a sentence is not enough. You'll still have to understand it when you hear it spoken. The best thing to do is listen to your language as much as you possibly can. You will know you're on the right track when you can identify your language after hearing a few spoken words.

Simple flashcards are a way you can easily test your knowledge. Flashcards are an old school way of learning. They can help you memorize words, one of the most basic and most crucial areas of building your language skills. With flashcards you can quiz yourself on vocabulary and grammar and tenses. Flashcards are a tool that you can take around with you and use whenever you find an extra moment. Use them with someone else and let them quiz you sometimes. Remember to use both sides of the flashcards; one side for Spanish and the other for your native language, in case you need to remind yourself what a word means.

Learning a language does not have to be difficult. Remember, Spanish is not as hard to learn as many other languages, so it's a good one to start learning. When it comes to learning a language, there are many ways to proceed. What works for someone else might not work for you. When you find the program or strategy that you feel comfortable with, learning will be much simpler. If your goal is to speak Spanish fluently, just keep at it and don't be impatient, and you will gradually get there!

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Camcorder to PC – Lesson in Buying the Cable Connection to Your PC

Posted by admin on Saturday, July 24th 2010     

I decided a dinky while ago to start making some video clips for Associated Content. Something new for me and to make some extra money. If you have an older PC and need to connect a device to download videos to your PC this article can save you some time and frustration.

Of course I have a PC, but know nothing of camcorders or what is involved in producing the movie clips. So for starters I went to Wal-Mart for a camcorder. I was told that for the camera I selected all I needed a USB connection to my computer and I would be able to beget the functions I wanted to. Well I knew I had a USB connection on my PC so that sounded good. Wal-Mart however didn’t carry the accessories needed for the connection.

I went to Radio Shack. Gave the camera to the salesperson. He tried several different cables that were for a USB connection, but none fit the camera connection. He sent me off to Circuit City.

I learned that depending on the camera you buy, will depend on if you need to use the USB or Firewire connection to your PC. That is the first thing you want to gather out.

I went to Circuit City. Showed my camera to that salesperson. I told her what I was looking for. She gave me a cable that she guaranteed would work. I questioned her being so postive as the salesperson from Radio Shack tried several different sized cables and there was no identifying numbers to relate to.

The salesperson said “don’t worry, this will work”, and of course had that look of who am I to seek information from her on this matter. She is the knowing sales person, I was the customer who knew nothing of what I was looking for. . She again guaranteed it. I was unruffled not comfortable. I questioned her logic again. I said lets open up the package and see if it fits the camera. “No, that is not allowed. Buy it first, then try it. If it doesn’t fit, we will credit you right away”.

I said ok. Went to the paying counter. Paid for it, opened the package, Guess What. It didn’t fit. I got the sales person and her manager together and the manager explained why what I was given wouldn’t work and what I really needed. I found out it needed a Firewire connection not USB as I was told at Wal-Mart.

If I hadn’t checked it out at the store I would have gone all the diagram home to find out I was sold the wrong type of cable, and then had to have gone all the way back again. As it was, I still had to do that.

Now the plight was, my PC does have a Firewire connection but it has 9 pins. Today only 4 or 6 pin connections are commonly musty. I went to several stores and could not find a 9 pin cable connection.

Went home and got on-line. Searched and found a company that supplied just what I was looking for. A 4 pin Firewire connection at one extinguish and the 9 pin connection at the other slay. I ordered it and when it was delivered I immediately put it to the test. Wow – how icy – it worked great. I was also able to keep money. The 4 or 6 pin cables cost me $30.00. I purchased the 9 pin cable for $20.00 including shipping and tax.

After copying the film to my PC I opened it up in the software I bought for proceesing my movies. It works great too. It’s called Simple Movie Maker. I have windows 98 so I can’t use most of the software out today for this process. What I do have was cheap and it really works great.

I am really enjoying newly acquired pastime. Its fun. I need to think of what to film. How creative I can be. To edit and put together a little film clip is quite shapely.

Hopefully my experience and talking about it in this article will save some of you some frustration and time.

Categorized in Usb 2.0 Interface Cable
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Furious Love

Posted by admin on Thursday, July 22nd 2010     

Furious Dragon Love (17) by Melbourne Advertising and Design Club (MADC)


A fly-on-the-wall history of oil, the dramatic Richard Burton-Elizabeth Taylor marriage, and other great nonfiction that you must read this summer. Selected by Janice Kaplan.

From oil companies’ quests for riches to Richard Burton’s need for love, many of this summer’s nonfiction books bring new insight to familiar topics. The following books are thoroughly engaging—and will give you something other than hot dogs to discuss at the next weekend barbecue. (My picks for summer fiction are here.)

Recent events in the Gulf of Mexico give a sinister perspective to Tom Bower’s Oil: Money, Politics, and Power in the 21st Century. Big Oil executives are shown negotiating with Mideast potentates and Russian oligarchs as they try frantically to secure profits. In one story that now takes on new meaning, BP proves powerful at wheeling and dealing, but less successful with safety: an oil well explodes in 2002, a leaking Alaska pipeline causes damage to the North Slope, and a refinery fire that kills 15 and injures 170 in 2005 is described as “America’s worst industrial accident in a generation.” Repercussions were minimal because as oil companies took risks, politicians—both in Alaska and Washington—went along. At one point, BP execs had to make a decision on drilling four miles below the Gulf of Mexico, knowing that a $100 million gamble could pay back $50 billion. The fear was finding a dry well: “For oil explorers, the license to make mistakes was limited. The humiliation of failure was permanent.” As it turned out, hitting the gusher was even worse.

In Bonobo Handshake by Vanessa Woods, Congo’s tyrannical politics are a backdrop for the author’s own love story. After a brief fling with an American scientist at a chimp sanctuary in Uganda, she follows him to the jungles of war-torn Congo, where he is studying bonobos. Along with chimps, bonobos are our closest relatives, sharing 98.7 percent of our DNA. In the midst of the treacherous country, she falls in love with both the endangered apes and those trying to protect them—as well as the scientist whom she marries. Along the way, she describes chimps as violent and often vicious, while bonobos are peaceful and solve problems with sex. Whom would you rather have as a relative?

Reading about Liz and Dick makes you wonder how two people with so much could be so miserable. Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger focuses on the tumultuous, alcohol- and sex-fueled years the stars had together. Burton married twice after they split, yet the couple remained connected until he died at age 58. In revealing previously unpublished love letters from Burton (given to them by Taylor), the authors cast him as a tragic hero—a Welshman legendary for his “golden-throated voice, his bonhomie, his love of poetry and language and Shakespeare and liquor. His vibrant sexuality could heat up a room.” But riddled by guilt and insecurities, Burton never saw himself in such glowing terms. The authors insist Liz was always the bigger star, though here she also seems more pathetic—an old-fashioned courtesan who needed expensive gifts to shore her up. Even the famous 69-carat Cartier diamond, renamed the Taylor-Burton Diamond, couldn’t glitter brightly enough to make her happy.

When Henry Aaron swung a bat in 1974 and broke Babe Ruth’s home-run record, the game stopped as Vice President Gerald Ford congratulated him. But many, including the star himself, had mixed emotions. The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron by Howard Bryant describes how racism shadowed Aaron’s entire life and led to his “inability to enjoy his accomplishments.” The impoverished kid from Mobile grew up to become an American icon to some—and a target of hate to others. Only when steroid-tainted Barry Bonds grabbed the title of home-run king in 2007 did some fans begin to appreciate Aaron. This insightful, well-researched book presents Henry Aaron as a complicated man coping with difficult times. You don’t have to be a baseball fiend to find it fascinating.

You probably didn’t wake up this morning thinking, “Hmm… I wonder how the Hoover Dam got built?” But Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century by Michael Hiltzik  pulls you into a story of federal power, political battles, and the need for both water and jobs that led to the great feat of engineering. The Hoover Dam, along with similar projects, forever changed the West. But the Pulitzer Prize-winning author points out that while we can “bend a river to our will” and try to dominate nature, perhaps a better idea is “to learn how to live in harmony with the river.”

View our Gallery of the 12 Best Summer Fiction Books

Chuck Kennedy, MCT / Landov

“She was totally anti-Levi. I heard from a friend and then Bristol told me the next day, ‘You’re going to be mad. I’ve been talking to Levi.’ I didn’t care, but this is really surprising, you go from hating Levi to marrying Levi in two to three months,” Barber said.  

Barber, a Wasilla native, has known the Palins for years and says he’s close friends with the Palins’ eldest son, Track. Johnston and Barber were also friends; the two played hockey together, and Barber was set to be one of Levi’s groomsmen, as news that Bristol was pregnant by Levi was followed by wedding plans. Bristol’s struggles with her baby’s father led her directly into Barber’s arms, the ex says.  

“Bristol called me angry about Levi and then we just fell into place. It was good and then went downhill. I helped her out with Tripp more than Levi ever did,” Barber said. “What does Levi have going for him? Nothing. He’s probably the worst person to give fame to anyways.”  

Barber is clearly miffed that Bristol and Levi are back together. “I don’t understand how Bristol can go and spend her life with someone who can’t get his GED? What’s he going to do when all this stuff has run out on him?”  

Barber may sound like a lover scorned. But it’s clear he respects the Palins—especially Todd, whom he described throughout the interview as “the coolest guy.” He said that Track and Todd had invited him to fish with them last weekend in Dillingham, but he couldn’t get out of work to meet up with them. Barber was in Wasilla with the family when they first found out the couple had reunited.  

“ never had a good relationship with her Mom and Dad, so not telling them [about the engagement] doesn’t surprise me. But I know the whole family isn’t happy about it. I was in town for a night and stopped by to see Todd and Track. They were furious.”  

Barber says upon hearing the news he went outside with Track and asked him what he thought of the rekindled romance. Barber said Track was “disappointed and didn’t approve of the situation”—so much so, Barber says, that Track called his sister two four-letter pejoratives.  

By contrast, Barber says Levi handled the news that he had gotten together with Bristol rather well. “It really surprised me. When Levi did find out, he was very mature about the situation. He was more happy that it was me with Tripp and Bristol than someone he didn’t like. I still wanted to be friends, but Bristol wouldn’t let me do that.” Barber admits that he then dropped Levi as a buddy. “I feel pretty low as a friend for doing that,” he says, adding he doubts he’ll be asked back as a groomsman this time around.  

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Tablet PCs

Posted by admin on Thursday, July 22nd 2010     

Tablet PCs Techno-Café Durham University by jisc_infonet

A tablet personal computer (PC) is sort of like a child born of a personal device assistant (PDA), a laptop and a transformer from Alpha Centauri. A laptop that can be changed by lifting, swiveling and snapping the display screen into place, a tablet PC can be used as an attractive looking laptop with a touchscreen display, or a PDA on steroids. Use the stylus pen to make the PDA style seem more like a business-related e-machine smaller than a laptop, and much more powerful than a smart phone or PDA.

One of the more attractive parts of the tablet PC is it's weight, at two to three pounds, without external components added on. This makes it an ideal partner for planes, trains and automobiles, as well as hiking, and for a more extensive GPS system. No matter the application (app) that you happen to run on your smart phone, PDA or other web-enabled device, it will run better on a like-priced tablet PC. Well, save for more powerful laptops and computers, that is.

Using the tablet PC portion of the sometimes tablet, sometimes laptop gizmo, the user can write on the tablet's touchscreen display using the stylus pen, and have the information saved for later perusal or transcribing, or have it treanscribed automatically to text. This comes in very handy when you are brainstorming, and the small keypad just won't do for the quick writing you need to do. It is also great for sketching, drawing rough outlines for home renovations, gardens, in-ground pools and other such home improvements.

With the right apps, or programs installed and running, there is very little that can not be done using a tablet PC, and the cost is much lower than the average laptop and newer models of smart phones (when not purchased with a two or three year plan). With a tablet PC, there really is no need for a smart phone, as it will do practically everything a smart phone can do, and, in many cases, more. Hooking up to the Internet while away from home can still be accomplished with a Turbo Stick with the tablet PC, making the cell phone or smart phone non-essential for getting online while away from your usual, and known connection places.

With the display screen being able to flip and swivel, then “lock” into place is just more parts that have a high probability of breaking. For items like this, it is usually best to wait for the second or third “new and improved models”, but some tablet PCs have been constructed with an extremely sturdy chasis, and no cheap plastic parts are used for the interlocking or swivel parts.

If you are looking for an ultra-cool, compact laptop, or an ultra-cool, quite large PDA, or an extremely large smart phone, then a tablet PC should be one of the platforms that you should investigate before deciding upon your purchase.

Shop smart. Shop informed.

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The First Movies of Famous Actors

Posted by admin on Tuesday, July 20th 2010     

We all have our favorite actors and movie studios know we’ll buy tickets to movies just to see them in another role or heck even the same role. However, before they became complete darlings of the corporate machine they probably starred in a smaller role; everyone has to start somewhere. Here is a list of some of the most popular actors and the film roles that started it all. Note I said film roles, not showcasing their television or commercial work and also going for the ones that counted with the ever precious credits.

Johnny Depp – A Nightmare On Elm Street: Before he was a swashbuckling pirate or even a scissor-handed hedge trimmer, Mr. Depp was just trying to survive his dreams. Johnny Depp’s first acting role was in A Nightmare On Elm Street. Considering most Depp fans are the obsessed type that was probably already common knowledge. However, as the story goes, Depp wasn’t originally looking to become the character Glen Lantz. He just happened to be accompanying a friend who was auditioning and Wes Craven spotted him and had him read for the role. Those are the types of stories Hollywood is built on right?

Al Pacino – Me, Natalie: Me, Al Pacino? Play Tony? There probably wasn’t any questioning his being given the minor role of Tony in the 1969 film Me, Natalie, however, these days Pacino comes up anytime someone asks for the name of a great actor. Of course that hasn’t kept him from other bit parts like in Gigli or making straight to Dvd films of less value, but he is and forever will be Tony Montana from Scarface, so don’t forget that Tony.

Robert De Niro – Greetings: Scandal! De Niro technically appeared in a French film with the English name of Three Rooms In Manhattan, however he was not given credit since he was just a client at a diner. The 1968 Brian De Palma film: Greetings, is officially considered his first role, as the character Jon Rubin. De Niro plays both an aspiring filmmaker and a peeping tom in the film, though I can only say for sure he became one of those in real life.

Ben Stiller – Hot Pursuit: Stiller comes from a comedic background, so his television work along with some short film projects are disregarded and we’re looking at the proper deal, the big show and full length with 1987’s Hot Pursuit. Ben Stiller played Chris Honeywell a not so heavy with lines comedic villain, with his loyal father Jerry Stiller playing as Victor Honeywell. The lead of the film was played by Mr. John Cusack.

John Cusack – Class: Cusack hit his skedaddle with a string of 80’s roles and for some fans never lost it. He made his debut in 1983 with the Rob Lowe starring film Class, about a guy having an affair with his roommate’s mother. Cusack’s character was named Roscoe Maibaum.

Samuel L. Jackson – Together For Days: A fun hobby is going back and watching archaic action films and finding Samuel L. Jackson playing bit parts like Goon #1. Jackson’s career spans back to 1972 when he took on the role of Stan in Together For Days. A drama about a black rights activist and a white woman coming together, it was also known by the title Black Cream. Samuel L. Jackson would make a great political activist spitting fire I think.

The Rock – Longshot: Dwayne Johnson is the man behind the stage name The Rock, picked up when he was a wrestler. However, he has long since left his wrestling ways and taken up a successful acting career. His first film role outside of the boob tube was a movie from 2000 entitled: Longshot. The Rock played a mugger amongst a cast chock-full of recognizable names, many from the world of pop music since boy band creator Lou Pearlman was one of the writers and producers for the film. It was a longshot that The Rock would survive a role like this and still be drawing the box office numbers he does, but he made it.

Harrison Ford – A Time For Killing: Mr. Ford was not given his credits for the films Dead Heat On the Merry-Go-Round or Luv, in which he played a bellhop and then a hippy. However, his first credited feature debut did come in 1967 as Lt. Shaffer in A Time For Killing. It is a civil war movie about some escaped Confederate prisoners facing off against some Union soldiers, all of whom don’t realize the war is actually over. Harrison Ford’s career, however, was far from over.

Billy Bob Thornton – Hunter’s Blood: It could either be taken as an insult or a compliment that Billy Bob got to play a character of his own name: Billy Bob. The role was area within a hillbilly horror/action adventure about some city boys meeting up with trouble in 1987. Perhaps the film was inspired just a bit by Deliverance?

Burt Reynolds – Angel Baby: Burt did a lot of television work before landing in the 1961 film Angel Baby, as a thug of a guy named Hoke Adams. The film itself is about a woman teaming up with a greedy promoter to exploit her thought that she has the godly powers to heal people.

Owen Wilson – Bottle Rocket: In 1996 director Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson teamed up to expand on a short film idea from 1994, the film became Bottle Rocket. Owen played the role of Dignan, and having been a writer on the script and such he was lucky enough to write himself one of the leads gaining much attention when the film caught on with some audiences. Naturally Luke Wilson starred as well.

Luke Wilson – Bottle Rocket: The film Bottle Rocket was the official launching pad for both Wilson brothers who are considered amongst the elite actors of comedy today.

Jamie Foxx – Toys: Surely you remember Robin Williams from the 1992 film Toys, and perhaps you take LL Frigid J, but do you remember Jamie Foxx? Foxx played the role of Baker.

Denzel Washington – Carbon Copy: Aside from some Shakespeare and tv work, Washington has his film debut in 1981 with Carbon Copy. Young Denzel Washington plays a teen discovered by a white man to be his son. Going by the name Roger Porter the teen is eager to join the all white community of his father.

John Goodman – Jailbait Babysitter: If you look aid at some old blue jean commercials John Goodman wasn’t always a hefty man, though stout. If you look back to 1977 you’ll find him making his debut in a sexual B-movie comedy called Jailbait Babysitter.

Dennis Quaid – I Never Promised You A Rose Garden: He went unaccredited as a bellhop in Crazy Mama, such is the life of a bellhop. However, Quaid was credited as Shark, Baseball Pitcher in the 1977 film I Never Promised You A Rose Garden.

Mel Gibson – Summer City: Guess who played a baseball player in I Never Promised You A Rose Garden with Dennis Quaid; Mel Gibson. However, you might not have guessed it since he did not get an official credit, therefore the 1977 film Summer City gets to be called his debut. Mel plays a character named Scollop who technically isn’t the lead, but Mel Gibson fans who have seen it mild say he is the best reason to watch it.

Keanu Reeves – Flying: Some may say that Reeves isn’t a grand actor, however with The Matrix trilogy he became the King of Cool for quite a while. Reeves made his full film debut in 1986 with the sports drama Flying. Keanu Reeves plays the role of Tommy in this story about a girl gymnast who is working her method back from tragedy and an injury. No the girl is not named Tommy.

Jack Nicholson – The Wail Baby Killer: A 1958 film by the title of The Cry Baby Killer starred a teen Jack Nicholson as a panicky delinquent who thinks he committed a abolish. It turns into a hostage situation and in the end Jack gets away with starting one long pleasing career in acting.

Hugh Grant – Privileged: A 1982 film that was essentially a student project spawned the character of Lord Adrian, which was filled by Hugh Grant. Actually Grant was credited as Hughie Grant.

Anthony Hopkins – The Lion In Winter: Yes, Hopkins did some roles in shorter films, however, in 1968 he moved to the longer reveal starring in a film alongside the likes of Katherine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole. It is a historical drama and Hopkins plays the role of a man named Richard and as a quick note spoiling an entry for himself, Timothy Daulton made his debut in this as well as King Phillip of France.

Tom Cruise – Endless Love: Tom Cruise played a minor character named Billy in the 1981 film Endless Love. One may find this funny when considering his public feuding with actress Brooke Shields for she was the lead star of the romantic drama about a 15 year old girl in love.

Russell Crowe – Blood Oath: Before Gladiator there was television work for Crowe, but that gave plot to 1990’s Blood Oath. Crowe took on the small role of Lt. Corbett about POW’s in a 1945 war.

Richard Gere – Report To The Commissioner: Richard Gere played a guy named Billy in the 1975 crime drama Report To The Commissioner. Somehow it started him off on the career that would have him headlining as a reporter in 2007’s The Hunting Party.

Ben Affleck – The Black End Of The Street: It was Oscar winning Good Will Hunting that truly put Ben Affleck on the map, aside from his beloved roles in Kevin Smith films. However, his career began on The Dark Ruin of the Street, released wide in 1981 and shot in the Boston area.

Matt Damon – Mystic Pizza: A lot of people have probably heard of the 1988 Julia Roberts starring film Mystic Pizza, but did they stop to glance Matt Damon in the role of Steamer? Ben Affleck supposedly auditioned for the part as well.

Tom Hanks – He Knows You’re Alone: The opening to this makes Hanks sound like a creepy version of Santa Clause or something, however in the 1980 horror film He Knows You’re Alone, Hanks played Elliot. Tom Hanks and his career were one of the only survivors of this slasher film.

Leonardo DiCaprio – Critters 3: Leonardo DiCaprio made his rounds on television, however he made his film debut in Critters 3. This 1991 horror film is of course about hungry space aliens attacking an apartment complex with DiCaprio’s character Josh having to fend them off.

Christian Bale – Mio min Mio: In 1987 Bale would have been around 13 years old and he made his film debut in that years Mio min Mio. Christian Bale played the friend of the man character in this children’s fantasy fable of other worlds and kingdoms.

Bruce Willis – Blind Date: The bald every man’s action hero was unaccredited in several roles until landing the lead in 1987’s Blind Date. Kim Bassinger starred opposite of him. Just for the record Bruce popped up in The First Deadly Sin and the 1982 film The Verdict previously.

Morgan Freeman – Who Says I Can’t Ride a Rainbow!: Afro was the name of Morgan Freeman’s character in the 1971 drama Who Says I Can’t Ride a Rainbow! involving a pony farm in New York. Freeman had a whole slew of unaccredited performances ranging back to 1964 before this one.

Jim Carey – Copper Mountain: Jim Carey took the lead role as Bobby Todd in the 1983 ski comedy Copper Mountain. His previous work did consist of some filmed comedy skits and many prefer them to the musical skit like behavior of Copper Mountain. This one is generally easy to find on Dvd for 5 bucks or less.

Nicolas Cage – Fast Times At Ridgemont High: Being related to famous director Francis Ford Coppola meant Cage was actually credited as Nicolas Coppola, before the change. Cage played the nameless role of Brad’s Bud in the 1982 cult classic Fast Times At Ridgemont High.

Sean Connery – No Road Back: Sean Connery finally got some credit by playing the role of Spike in the 1957 crime film No Road Back. Connery plays a gang member with a speech impediment, other than his usual accent I guess.

Patrick Swayze – Skatetown, USA: Before Dirty Dancing there was Skatetown, USA. This 1979 roller disco movie had Swayze playing Ace Johnson.

John Travolta – The Devil’s Rain: It took The Devil’s Rain in 1975 to get John Travolta of the television screen, well off of precise television specific projects that is. He played the role of Danny. Which his new found religion of Scientology is probably thankful for since it wasn’t too great a role intriguing Satanists. However, he might have some explaining to do about all of that Saturday Night Fever.

This is not a complete list by far but the pages have to halt somewhere and a typing researcher must take a break. Naturally the future will maintain the first films for many destined to be star actors and the past will still be explored to see where the greatness began. Until next time, thank you, and goodnight.

SOURCES:

A coordinated investigation of online entertainment encyclopedias such as Wikipedia, entertainment blog sources of a random nature, my own unfortunate brain’s knowledge, films, and of course IMDB was helpful along the way.

Categorized in Southern France
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Student Films Screened Online

Posted by admin on Tuesday, July 20th 2010     

The sun was hidden behind a blanket of clouds and the wind was non-existent keeping the temperature pleasant. It was a nice day to shoot the outdoor scenes of this short movie.

In the credits of The Open, only five names of the crew and cast flash before the viewer’s eyes. The director worked the camera while the other four appear in the film and helped in-between takes to set up scenes.

“We are going to have to come back. The sun’s going down and we detached haven’t shot the ending,” said Robert Bava while perched on top of a painter’s ladder with a $3,000 camera resting on his shoulder.

For his independent project, Bava, a second-year Digital Media Arts student in his final year at Seneca College in Toronto, created a full-packaged DVD. It comes complete with a behind-the-scenes documentary and commentary track with him and the cast.

As a media student, Bava knows he can gain exposure for his film through a number of outlets. Instead of entering the movie in local student and amateur filmmaking festivals, such as Toronto’s YoungCuts Film Festival, has decided to post his work online.

“Many film festivals have a lot of guidelines, including an entry fee. They’re usually a good way to showcase your work to local communities, but, for the most part, uploading online is free and will reach a much broader audience,” Bava said while cramped in the dark Seneca editing room.

With his eyes attached to the screen of the Macintosh computer and his right hand clicking seamlessly on the mouse, “I unprejudiced want to show people what an amateur film creator like me can do with a little benefit from a few friends and no accurate budget,” he said.

This begs the question; can an amateur moviemaker with little equipment garner worldwide exposure at the click of a mouse?

Popularity of video streaming websites has grown to an all-time high in 2006 and many of them succor as outlets for hobby moviemakers.

The video sharing website YouTube offers a free online portal to upload user-created video. The site, which was started fair over a year ago, has caught the attention of the media and others. Among them, amateur video makers have willingly assign up their work for the world to notice.

According to the Nielsen estimates released in a report on March 14, 2006, YouTube attracted over nine million original users to their dwelling in February 2006. This is significantly more than other video streaming sites like Google Video, iFilm and Yahoo’s video search service. All of these sites saw fewer than seven million modern visitors in February.

The report also said the increase in online video interest is linked to the increase of broadband use. In the U.S., the number of active broadband users from the home has increased 28 percent from last year. As the broadband penetrates more home Internet connections, more time is spent on the computer accessing sites offering photo service and streaming media, such as audio and video.

Aric Whittom, the chair of digital video editing at the Toronto Film School says video posted online does have a wide advance but the production is not high quality.

“For the most section, the video posted online is low budget and done for personal use,” Whittom said.

More than 30 million videos are shown each day. The most celebrated videos on YouTube are slight and short humorous clips. However, many have still posted their amateur artistic work.

Under the channel heading “Short Movies”, more than 140,000 posts have been made. Not all posts are appropriately categorized, but most of the posts found here are self-produced, independent and amateur films.

Michael Lazazzara is a technical researcher and guest segment producer for G4 Tech TV’s Call For Help and Gadgets and Gizmos. He thinks the successes of these sites are due to rise in popularity of video podcasts, and believes the accessibility of equipment and increase of Internet use is a factor.

Video camcorders have become progressively cheaper over the years. Once camcorders were large and bulky, had minimal recording options and cost well over $1000 Canadian. Now anyone can purchase a basic MiniDV camcorder of a high enough quality to shoot basic sequences. Camcorders today go as cheap as $399.

One reality usually overlooked when posting video online is the station available to the user. There are restrictions to size and time. Anyone can post a video on YouTube, but the video cannot be more than 100MB or more than 10 minutes long. This is the case of many of the online video sites, reducing the quality of the video and putting a time restriction on amateur filmmakers looking to spread their work.

Other alternatives, such as Google Video, have no size limit. Videos more than 20 minutes long and at high quality are found through this outlet at no extra cost.

Even though uploading video may be free right now, Lazazzara thinks the free dash won’t last long. “Somewhere down the line, it will have to be paid for”. Whether we see more Google ads and sponsors around the videos is a examine yet to be answered, but, in the kill you’re gonna have people paying for this service,” said Lazazzara.

In Bava’s case, in order to put The Open online and gain recognition, Lazazzara says a lot of work will have to be done to promote it, but it’s a noble start. “Putting your video or movie online can relieve the problem of where to put your work. People can put it up online without it costing them a cent,” said Lazazzara.

Some video podcast sites such as www.domainoftheinfinite.com offer their website as a medium to promote independently made films. Sites such as these work together with the iTunes service to upload video on to video enabled iPods. With a small donation to the site, anyone can upload a video or film they would like to promote.

Whittom suggests most of the amateur moviemakers he teaches and the footage he sees usually mimic the video people have been exposed to growing up. He said he has seen a lot of snowboarding and skateboarding videos over the years.

“They’re riding on the coat tails of others. Creativity is not something you can teach. Most students want to learn how to do something they have already seen. It takes a while, but eventually they create their own thing,” Whittom said.

Shooting The Open has taught Bava how hard amateur film making can be. He enjoyed putting together the movie idea with his friends, but setting up the shooting locations and times when everyone is available was frustrating. It also took a physical toll; climbing ladders, trees and on top of a van to get the perfect angle took a lot out of him.

“Things are obviously easier with a bigger crew, but I have no money to work with so we all pitched in a little extra hard work and got the thing done,” Bava said.

Bava designed the content of the movie’s website himself, including the trailer, wallpaper, downloads and the story slack the film. In the DVD, he created the visuals from the outside in and the designed all the selections screens found on the disc.

He admits the project’s sole purpose was to bring together all the media and technology skills he has learned over the two-year course at Seneca College. However, he wouldn’t mind seeing this movie gain recognition for all the hard that was put into it.

“It was a long and tedious process, much like any large project. Fortunately, I had a small but reliable movie crew who was objective as enthused at the understanding of the film as I was. In the end, they are what matters most because they’re the ones that helped do the film end up the way it is,” said Bava.

The lead character in Bava’s film is drawn to a area called The Open. When he gets there he cannot escape. His dreams become reality and the truth is unknown. With a surprise ending he doesn’t want to give away, Bava looked back with a big smile on his face as he said, “Look for it online, it’ll be up there soon.”

Categorized in Full Movies Online
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Ten Ways to Know You’re Staying in a Cheap Motel

Posted by admin on Tuesday, July 20th 2010     
Spring Break may be coming to a close for quite a few people.   But the summer months are still ahead, and soon hordes of people will be lining up at the nation's airport gates, and gas stations, ready to embark upon a sumptuous (and possibly long overdue) vacation.If you're one of these people, you may have just booked your hotel room.   Perhaps the hotel is a quaint little out-of-the contrivance Bed & Breakfast, dedicated to spoiling its customers.   More than likely, you'll probably find yourself in one of the country's popular hotel/motel chains famous for its crumbly biscuits and napkin-sized bath towels.   These motels are titanic for the occasional stop-over because they are often so inexpensive.   But you know you're REALLY staying in a cheap motel when any of the following things occur...


#10 - Amenities listed in the brochure include hot water, TV, and carpeting...


With "amenities" like these, you might be better off at a local campground.   At least there, you know that the "toilet" is functional.




#9 -  The water in the hot tub/pool has become a gel.


If you have ever visited a rural "luxury" motel during off-season, you've probably seen more than your fair share of these.


#8 -  The "conference room" is the lobby.Since when did your last office meeting take place in a room with road maps and gumball machines? 





#7 -  When you examine a Non-Smoking room, you're given "The Patch."  Enough said.




#6 -  The "concierge" requests how many hours you'll be staying. If the motel you've chosen seems to be filled with "married couples," you might want to choose other lodging.




#5 -  You have to "rent" extra towels.


When there is an extra fee associated with the procurement of clean extra towels, you may as well have brought your own.



#4 -  Your room is full of nice plants...but they're growing from the carpeting.


No, that's not a planter filled with those lovely mushrooms and weeds.   It's actually the air-conditioning unit. 



#3 -  The sheets are moving before you get into them.  If this occurs while your room is empty, you've really got problems.




#2 -  That "smell" in your room has officially become a solid.


You've complained to management about the horrific odor in your room, only to have them spray liberally Lysol.   Now, the smell has taken on a life of its own.




#1 -  There are still scraps of yellow crime scene tape stuck to various surfaces... This is always, always, always---a bad sign.

Categorized in Cheap Hotel
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Best Convertible Carseats Under $100

Posted by admin on Tuesday, July 20th 2010     

Choosing the right car seat is an important and sometimes difficult purchase that all parents must execute. Many parents choose convertible car seats for the cost-effective feature of using the seat as the child grows.

From safety features to convenience, convertible car seats can seem overwhelming to shop for. There are many brands and various prices to determine when selecting a convertible car seat.

For the new parent on a budget and looking for a convertible car seat to grow with your child, here is an overview of convertible car seats under $100:

COSCO
$45 – $65: Cosco Scenera Convertible Car Seat: For infants 5 to 40 pounds; 5 point harness adjustment; 4 harness heights. Car seat weighs 11.8 pounds. Product includes a removable juice cup holder on seat.

$80 and up: Cosco Alpha Omega Convertible Car Seat: For infants and toddlers 5 to 80 pounds; convertible 3 in 1; removable pillow; headrest adjusts with harness.
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EDDIE BAUER
$70 and up: Eddie Bauer Deluxe Convertible Car Seat: For infants and toddlers 5 to 80 pounds; 5 point harness with harness adjustment; 4 position adjustable headrest; removable cup holder; adjustable body pad.

EVENFLO
$55 and up: Evenflo Tribute 5 DLX Convertible Car Seat: For infants 5 to 40 pounds; removable head and body pillow; 5 point harness; 3 shoulder harness positions; washable pads. Car seat weighs 23 pounds.

$60 and up: Evenflo OHS Convertible Car Seat: For infants and toddlers 5 to 40 pounds; front harness adjustment and buckle release; 2 position one hand recline; A-lock harness adjuster; washable cloth pad.

$80 and up: Evenflo Orion Convertible Car Seat: For infants and toddlers 5 to 40 pounds; 5 point harness; 2 buckle slot adjustments; 2 portion chest clip; washable cloth pad.

GRACO
$70 and up: Graco ComfortSport Convertible Car Seat: infants and toddlers 5 to 40 pounds; EPS energy absorbing foam; 5 point harness and three shoulder positions; removable infant head support; deluxe cup holder and snack tray; approved for aircraft use. Car seat weighs 11.5 pounds.

SAFETY 1st
$70 and up: Safety 1st Enspira Convertible Car Seat: For infants, toddlers, and children 5 to 80 pounds. 4 position adjustable headrest; 2-position recline capabilities; removable harness pads; cup holder.

$70 and up: Safety 1st 3 phase Convertible Car Seat: For infants, toddlers, and children 5 to 80 pounds. 5 point harness; removable cup holder on either side; removable tailored fabric pad unlike any other car seat.

Not all car seats are made alike. Many have different features and safety designs. Choosing the one that’s right for your needs can be a time-consuming process, but in the long run, the time is worth it. The car seat you choose will be with you until you retract a larger one or until the child is tall enough to sit alone. Choose one that you like and one that has the features you need.

Categorized in Graco Car Seats
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Tips for Buying the Best Senior Auto Insurance Policy

Posted by admin on Tuesday, July 20th 2010     

Car insurance when you get older can be rather tricky. Now that you may be living on a tiny income you may have to do some comparison shopping to find the best auto insurance policies available. Here are some favorable tips on how to effect money while getting the best auto insurance rates for seniors.

As a person ages they drive less so it stands to reason if you haven’t had any accidents your rates tend to lower. However, for income reasons it is still best to comparison shop for the best insurance quotes when it comes to any type of insurance, especially auto. The first thing to remember is nobody can be turned away for car insurance because of their age. However, if they let their license lapse, they may be required to take an exam before they are able to get their license renewed.

It is important to get insurance quotes from several different companies before deciding on your auto insurance choice.

Taking a driving course or purchasing a car with additional safety features can achieve money on your insurance rates.

There are several auto insurance companies that specialize in insurance for seniors such as AARP and AAA.

Sometimes employers or church groups may offer a group insurance rate that will save money on auto insurance policies.

Sometimes local insurance agents can offer lower rates than other auto insurance companies, it is always good to glimpse at several different avenues to find the best policy quotes.

Many seniors are driving automobiles that they have had for many years and sometimes the deductible on a distinct car many cost more than the car is worth. To get the best senior rate you may need to choose a higher deductible for your automobile.

Your insurance rates are adjusted according to your zip code. If you own two homes and spend the same amount of time in each home, you will need to resolve to list the car insurance in the zip code that will give you the best rate.

Most seniors never want to give up driving, however sometimes due to health reasons it may become necessary to give up driving. People sometimes continue paying for car insurance policies even after they never drive anymore due to health reasons for fear they may need to drive someday. The cost far outweighs the benefit and if you do have to drive one day, you probably wouldn’t be able to due to medical reasons, so let the insurance and car go. Expend senior taxicabs, family members or friends. The money you establish by no longer having a car will easily pay for your trips here and there to the store and doctor appointments.

Some good insurance companies that offer satisfactory rates to seniors are AARP, Progressive, Allstate, Farm Bureau, Geico and Status Farm.

Make sure you get all the quotes you can and tell them what you can pay, sometimes as with Progressive they can work around your priceline. Geico has a senior discount program and many other insurances do as well.

References for this article include: www.nscddconline.com/geicosenior/
www.insurancefinder.com/autoinsurance/seniorauto.html
seniorautoinsurance.org/
seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Discounts/2007/7-06-28-SenCitCanFind.htm

Categorized in Mercury Auto Insurance
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Florida Warns against Freshwater Swimming because of Encephalitis Danger

Posted by admin on Tuesday, July 20th 2010     

According to the Florida Department of Health news release, Ana M. Viamonte Ros, M.D., M.P.H., who is the Surgeon General for the Florida Department of Health, has issued a warning to all people in Florida to seek caution while swimming in any freshwater after two cases of Amoebic Encephalitis has been identified.

The warning arose after two cases were identified in Central Florida, the most recent case being the death of a Florida child.

As defined by Encephalitis Information Resource, encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain, that is commonly caused by a viral infection. Encephalitis
can also result from a bacterial infection, or it can be a complication of other infectious diseases such as rabies, or syphilis. Brain injure occurs as the inflamed brain pushes against the skull that can lead to death. Symptoms of encephalitis include, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and the surroundings around you, loss of balance, loss of bodily control, seizures and hallucinations.

The Situation Surgeon General Viamonta stated while issuing the news release that, “There is an increased risk of infection by this organism in all freshwater areas throughout Florida, especially during hot summer months, any kind of water sports or activity such as wakeboarding, water skiing, swimming or diving puts the public at a greater risk.”

The Florida Department of Heath has issued precautions for Florida residents and it’s visitors to be aware of. Wearing nose clips or holding your nose while swimming, jumping or diving in any fresh water can prevent the risk of someone getting an infection. Do not by any means swim in warm standing water which include ponds, lakes, storm water drains, and places that specifically state “no swimming”. Avoid any areas that have obvious signs of algae. If you or someone you know become ill with any of the above symptoms, immediate medical attention is advised.

Remember that during the summer months when lakes and ponds become warmer, shrimp amoeba is found on the bottom floors of lakes and ponds. The microscopic amoeba is call Naegleria and lives in that thin layer of muck that resides beneath the water. Although rare, those who come in contact with naegleria fowleri can become infected with well-known amoebic meningoencephalitis. When infected, the amoeba invades the brain, and the disease progresses very rapidly and death occurs within 3 to 7 days.

This is not a matter to take lightly. Take the precautions needed to not become infected. To learn more about encephalitis, please go to the Encephalitis Information Resource website.

SOURCE : FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ISSUES AMOEBIC ENCEPHALITIS ADVISORY FOR FLORIDA FRESHWATER
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/communications/office/pressreleases/2007/9.05.07MEDADVIS.pdf

SOURCE : Encephalitis Information Resource Website
http://www.encephalitis.info/TheSociety/Society.html

Categorized in Attorney General
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