Friday, October 21, 2011

Convert your DVD movies to play on an iPod

Most iPods, besides their music features, offer high quality video capabilities; it’s one of the reasons they are one of the most versatile gadgets on the market. We all enjoy watching movies to relax and unwind, so why not convert your own DVDs to the iPod format and watch them whenever you want, wherever you are?

Transferring your DVD movies to play on your iPod, iPhone, Touch, or Nano can be simple, or in some cases, time-consuming and difficult. There are many iPod converters available, but only a few are worth purchasing: some are too expensive, some are hard to use, and many aren’t reliable (they mess up sound and/or picture, or they can’t convert new movies). A good iPod converter must meet the following conditions:

• User-friendly interface – the program must be easy to use.

• Fast encoding – the program must be able to encode fast so that the entire process will be finished fast.

• Versatile – the Converter should be able to output video for all iPod Video formats: Classic, Nano, Touch, and iPhone.

• Quality – the converted movie must offer excellent sound and picture quality.

• Error Processing – the program must be able fix any problems that appear during the converting process.

• Features – the program must have popular options implemented, such as picture quality, subtitles, different languages, etc.

It’s also helpful if the program has a tutorial/help section where the user can learn how to take advantage of extra features. Another important thing regarding conversion from a DVD to an iPod is the ability to zoom from widescreen to full screen. A good converter should have this feature implemented in order to allow for a clean transition.

The program should allow inexperienced as well as advanced users a satisfactory experience. For novice users, a good converter should have an option for automatically adjusting settings to achieve the best results. For advanced users, there should be the ability to manually adjust a wide variety of parameters. A good iPod converter should also allow converting from both NTSC and PAL DVD movies.

Excellent iPod converters can be found for around $40.00, and they’ll do everything, and often more, than some of the more expensive programs. You can try and go the inexpensive route, using two or three free programs in combination (Videora, DVD Shrink, Handbrake, etc.), but I found that the free programs involved a large number of steps, produced mixed results, and wouldn’t convert many new DVD movies (those produced over the past four years). Don’t get me wrong, I’m a thrifty guy, and if there’s a cheap way to do things, I‘m usually on-board, but in this case, the hassle just wasn’t worth it. The advantages offered by a good converting program far outweighed the trial and error hassles I found using outdated free programs.

Converting your DVD movies to play on an iPod allows one to watch their favorite movies and T.V. programs while on the bus or subway, on airplanes or long drives, or whenever you have a few free moments. DVD conversion software is getting more and more popular, as they facilitate the perfect transition from the ‘big screen’ to the ‘little screen’.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Common Strategies of Animated Comedy

As an independent filmmaker specializing in animated comedy, I'd like to share my thoughts and observations on how to create projects intended to make people laugh (in a good way). By taking a close look at recent popular shows and movies (i.e. Simpsons, Family Guy, Shrek, etc) I've outlined a brief analysis that identifies some of the major strategies of humor used in many of today's animated television programs and shows, as well as the advantages/disadvantages of implementing them. Just a note before we continue: this article isn't intended only as a guide for comedy filmmakers- I'm sure those of you who appreciate good humor will get something out of it as well.

The following compilation is the result of my own observations, and I'm certain you'll see what I mean if you take a closer look this Sunday night when Family Guy comes on. Later, I'll share some of my own thoughts on the subject of creating effective humor for mainstream audiences.

1. PARODY: This involves poking fun of well-known genres and plot formulas (action, horror, porn, etc), and making references to well-known films, TV shows, famous people, significant historical events, etc. Very often, these genres, films, and TV shows are spoofed. Think of the number of times you've seen a reference to a Kubrick film during an episode of The Simpsons, or a Star Wars reference in Family Guy to emphasize a joke.

Advantages: First off, it's easy to do and often elicits laughs. The basic structure of the joke is based on a well-known source, and the audience is likely to get it right away.

Disadvantages: To be blunt, it's lazy filmmaking. Too much parody thrown in a story can often be interpreted as a lack of creativity/originality, and ultimately limits the project's depth. Jokes/gags of this kind will only last as long as the spoofed or referenced subject is popular or is fashionable.

2. ANIMATION THAT IS DELIBERATELY BAD/CHEESY: Includes the use of poorly drawn/animated characters and backgrounds as an important element of the humor.

Advantages: Sometimes more efficient and more cost effective than using more detailed animation techniques. It's funny to watch and calling some attention to the bad animation can generate new jokes and great sight gags. Think of shows like Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Sealab 2021.

Disadvantages: Like the parody, this can quickly turn into lazy filmmaking. Depending only on bad animation for laughs might make the project difficult to maintain in the long run.

3. GROSS-OUT HUMOR/EXPLICIT LANGUAGE: Includes humor that is, but not limited to being scatological, sexual, bloody, etc. Also includes use of foul language. Since the Simpsons and South Park, audiences have come to expect jokes of this kind.

Advantages: In small doses and if done with subtlety, gross-out humor and the use of explicit language combined with visual sight gags can be hilarious.

Disadvantage: Easy to overuse. Dialogue containing too many four-letter words for the sake of being obnoxious will turn off most viewers. Gross-out humor, if only used for shock value, will seem shallow if it does nothing to contribute to the overall story.

4. NON-SEQUITORS (RANDOM HUMOR): Jokes, statements, events, etc. that happen out of nowhere.

Advantages: Absurd humor that occurs at random works on several levels, which include the outlandishness of the act itself, its unpredictability, and also its general disregard for logic in context with the scene's apparent focus. It can take an audience by surprise, and can add some originality to the project.

Disadvantages: If an absurd and random act suddenly shifts the focus of the story, it may disappoint viewers who have otherwise been engaged in the narrative. Also, many people may not "get it," which has the potential of restricting the viewing demographic. When a nonsequitor serves as a story's conclusion, it's usually evidence of an inability to create an effective ending.

On creating more effective humor:

Characters with unique qualities: Trying to be original isn't easy, but it is a lot of fun. When creating characters, don't worry too much about whatever's "hip" or "in" at the moment. Start off with characters that have very specific personality traits, habits, etc. Base them off yourself, off of people you know, your experiences, or just let your imagination run wild. Give your characters specific hobbies, unusual interests (i.e. a hero that can't resist objects that squirt water), and/or specific likes/dislikes. These concrete qualities will often provide opportunities to develop character, storylines, and above all, humorous events.

Stories with solid conclusions: Many creative folks I've talked to notice the difficulty of coming up with good endings. No matter what the genre, filmmakers of all sorts can learn a valuable lesson from mystery novel authors. When you come up with the idea for a film, start by knowing how it's going to end. This gives the story focus, and makes it easier for all the events to logically pan out. Another important tip to remember- audiences will almost always forgive a film with a bad beginning, but will never forgive a film with a bad ending.

Understand that being funny isn't the same as acting funny: Okay, what does this mean? Here's an illustration: There was a video on the internet of a careless skateboarder falling on his face multiple times after trying to coast off the roof of his parents' house. It wasn't funny to the skateboarder, but it was funny to most of the people who saw it happen. Why? On a psychological level, it's in our nature to laugh or take some kind of satisfaction in someone else's misfortune/failure so long as the screw-up doesn't result in death or dismemberment (most of the time). On a more practical level, most of the online viewers laughed at the sheer idiocy of the act. After all, the careless skateboarder who plunged off the roof actually expected positive results from his stunt. So how do we apply this to creating comedy? Create situations that are funny to the audience, but not to your characters. One effective way of doing this is having your characters expect serious results from doing things that are clearly dangerous, stupid, or both.

These are just a few pointers to help you get started with creating your own comedy, or to help you understand some of the more successful comedy out there today. I hope you enjoyed the article. Have a good laugh!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Common Home Theater Problems

One of the most common problems with a new home theater is the sound. The sound seems to be something that is very important to most people in regards to their home theater system. Most people would agree that the sound quality in a home theater is almost as important if not just as important as the video quality. If your home theater has the right sound, it could bring a movie right into your living room. If the sound quality is poor, it will remind you of watching black and white movies on your grandparents old console TV.

There are many problems that can arise with the sound quality of your home theater. The following is not a troubleshooting guide, but more of a collection of tips on how to handle some sound quality problems. Some can be fixed with just minor adjustments of wiring or placement of speakers, but others may require a full replacement of certain components.

Your first thought when your sound seems bad is that your speakers are bad. But before you rush out to the nearest electronics store and deplete your checking account, check these possible faults. The problem may not be in the speakers, but in the amp or the speaker wiring or connections. The first step would be to confirm that the speakers are properly connected at both ends.

If the connections are correct, the next step is to determine if the problem lies in the speaker or the amplifier. Some of the less expensive home theater systems come with low end amps that tend to have more problems. People that have these systems in larger rooms tend to notice the problems faster because they are trying to push too much sound through the little amp and it causes more problems. To determine if it is the amplifier, hook up your speakers to your stereo. Stereos tend to have a more powerful amplifier and the speaker quality will likely improve. If the speaker quality does not improve, then it is likely your speakers at fault.

Bad or old speaker wire or poor cabling could be a culprit to bad sound quality. Cheap quality cables are often included in home theater packages and can greatly reduce the sound quality in your system. This can be corrected by going to any electronics store and purchasing a higher quality speaker wire and ensuring that the corrections are made correctly.

When you first experience sound quality problems with your home theater system, it is best to first check all of your connections. The connections and wiring are generally easier to check and cheaper to replace than a component itself. By ensuring that everything is connected properly and your amp has sufficient power, along with using high quality speaker wiring, you should have no problems getting the sound quality that you desire. Taking these simple precautions could result in much less headache in the end. Before you rush out and buy a new system, use these suggestions to make sure that your problem is really a problem and not just a misunderstanding.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Coach (DVD) Review

Nominated for 16 Emmys and 4 Golden Globes, Coach delighted fans of all ages during its celebrated nine-season run. One of the most underrated sitcoms of its era, the series covers the exploits of fictional Minnesota State Screaming Eagles college football coach Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson), the quintessential male chauvinist pig. But unlike many of his politically-incorrect brethren, Hayden has a heart of gold. It’s this softer side that appeals to successful anchorwoman and girlfriend Christine Armstrong (Shelley Fabares). In the locker room, Hayden is joined by assistant coaches Luther Van Dam (Jerry Van Dyke) and Dauber Dybinski (Bill Fagerbakke), the perfect compliments to the coach’s oftentimes sketchy logic. Between his estranged daughter Kelly (Clare Carey), her less-than-manly boyfriend Stuart (Kris Kamm), nagging athletic director Howard Burleigh (Kenneth Kimmins), and ladies basketball coach Judy Watkins (Pam Stone), Hayden is always dispensing sarcasm, trading barbs, or being aggravated by someone.

Craig T. Nelson is brilliant in his portrayal of the opinionated and overbearing, yet multidimensional Hayden Fox. His onscreen rapport with co-star Shelley Fabares creates the believable illusion of a true romance. But Coach boasts a cast replete with star power. The series is given a charming comic angle by the underappreciated and long overdue breakout role of Jerry Van Dyke, brother to Dick Van Dyke, who plays the role of Luther Van Dam, the stuttering and kind-hearted bungling best friend of Hayden. Jerry had a few guest appearances in the decades before Coach that were absolute show stoppers (both The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Andy Griffith Show come to mind), but Coach put his talents to use full-time so all the world could see just how funny this man really is. Overall, Coach is a fun and oftentimes brilliant comedy, and the first few seasons are by far the best. So grab yourself a chair and some official Minnesota State Screaming Eagle merchandise and enjoy watching one of the best comedies of its time…!

The Coach (Season 1) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “Kelly and the Professor” in which Hayden learns that his daughter Kelly, a student at Minnesota State, recently went out on a date with a professor. The revelation drives Hayden crazy, and he’ll go to any lengths to uncover the identity of the guilty faculty member… Other notable episodes from season one include “I’m in Love with a Boy Named Stuart” in which Hayden is introduced to Kelly’s new boyfriend, Stuart, his future arch-nemesis, and “I’m Sorry I Told You My Wife Was Dead” in which Hayden compromises his integrity in an effort to coerce a widow into handing over the massive donation her dead husband had promised the Minnesota State football program.

Below is a list of episodes included on the Coach (Season 1) DVD:

Episode 1 (Kelly and the Professor) Air Date: 02-28-1989
Episode 2 (Love Me Tender) Air Date: 03-01-1989
Episode 3 (Kelly, Meet Christine) Air Date: 03-08-1989
Episode 4 (I’m in Love with a Boy Named Stuart) Air Date: 03-15-1989
Episode 5 (The Loss Weekend) Air Date: 03-22-1989
Episode 6 (Gambling for Meat) Air Date: 04-05-1989
Episode 7 (19 Candles) Air Date: 04-12-1989
Episode 8 (Parents’ Weekend) Air Date: 04-19-1989
Episode 9 (I’m Sorry I Told You My Wife was Dead) Air Date: 04-26-1989
Episode 10 (Define Romance) Air Date: 05-03-1989
Episode 11 (Whose Team is It, Anyway?) Air Date: 05-17-1989
Episode 12 (Hoot, Hoot Hike) Air Date: 05-31-1989
Episode 13 (Dauber’s Blow-Out) Air Date: 06-07-1989

Monday, October 17, 2011

Cinema - Film Posters for the Collector

At The DiscountMoviePosters Store you will find that collecting posters is easy with tons of movie posters on the market. Our great selection of movie posters range from 1916 copies to about to be released movie posters. You can't be frusterated with our discounted prices.

In the event you are eager to be the 1st amongst your friends to hang the science fiction movie posters, now is the perfect moment to add a poster to your collection since the prices are so affordable! These movie posters could be regarded as classic movie posters and raise ten to twelve times in cost, just as the first Star Wars movie poster.


The collection of movie posters by film star is very fashionable. Do you need
Hollywood movie posters of popular actors like Clint Eastwood, Clark Gable, Paul Newman, Sylvester Stallone or George Clooney? Or do you prefer movie star posters of actresses - Nicole Kidman, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Jennifer Aniston, or Reese Witherspoon?


You'll find in our >classic vintage movie posters catalog, our site has a big assortment that includes French classic movie posters, Italian vintage movie posters, Classic Mexican movie posters, Vintage Russian movie posters, and German classic movie posters. For those of you who are history buffs there is background information about the movie era of each country and it includes artists and styles.

Included in our Vintage U.S. movie posters index, are Western Movie Posters, both new releases and classics.
Posters of westerns are purchased often bought for the interesting scenery or full of action photography.

If you are into collecting movie and movie star posters, then it is very important to become educated in how to restore and safeguard your movie posters.

  • Movie posters are developed for commercializing and are printed on thin, acidic paper. After a while these acids are going to hurt your movie poster. So movie poster maintaining techniques such as chemical stabilization, identifying pH levels and examining pH levels are essential methods to learn about.

  • Movie poster conservancy framing comes about when all materials used during the process of framing do not jeopordize the integrity of the poster.

  • Concerning poster reconstruction Valuable posters could come with irregularities. Restoration specialists can mend the irregularities and possibly mend torn off pieces to their genuine condition.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Christmas With The Kranks (DVD) Review

Based on the best-selling John Grisham novel titled Skipping Christmas, Christmas With The Kranks resembles the book in almost every facet save for the title. Starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, Christmas With The Kranks is an instant Christmas holiday classic. Although not in the same league of Yule tide comedy gems Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story, this film ranks high on my list of holiday laughers. The supporting cast (led by perpetual funnyman Dan Aykroyd) turns in a superb performance, making Christmas With The Kranks an easy film to relate to and one you'll want to see many times in the years to come…

When the college-age daughter of the Kranks joins the Peace Corps and flies to South America for Christmas, her mother battles with a case of the empty nest blues. But her father, accountant Luther Krank (Tim Allen), takes advantage of the opportunity to shake things up a bit. Tallying all the money he and his wife Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) spend on Christmas, he determines that if they skip Christmas this year, they can afford to go on a week-long cruise instead and still pocket three thousand dollars in savings at the end of the trip.

But skipping Christmas turns out to be more difficult than they thought - especially when it comes to participating in neighborhood traditions such as the mounting of the roof-bound 'Frosties' (giant snowmen all the neighbors plant on their roofs). The neighborhood struggle over the Kranks' reluctance to put up their Frosty leads to some memorable and quite funny scenes where the couple encounters Vic Frohmeyer (Dan Aykroyd), the de facto leader of the neighborhood Christmas celebration. The Kranks continue to avoid all things Christmas related, and having visiting the tanning salon, they're prepared to go on their cruise Christmas Eve.

But when their daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) calls with the announcement that she's getting married, and more importantly, that she's on a plane bound for home - the Kranks are forced to miss their cruise and recreate all the festivities of Christmas Past for Blair and her fiancée. But attempting to do a whole month's preparation in one evening proves to be a monumental task, and one filled with hilarious pitfalls and obstacles…

Offering hilarious scene after hilarious scene, Christmas With The Kranks is one of the funniest comedies in years, and certainly one of the top ten Christmas comedies of all time. At no time does the humor become outlandish or utterly ridiculous as so many such films tend to do. Overall, one of the more lovable aspects of this film is its ability to relate to so many American families. In fact, you might see a bit of your own family in Christmas With The Kranks… The fact that it's one of those rare holiday classics with the potential to be seen year after year makes Christmas With The Kranks a definite must-see movie…

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Online Games - Beat Stress With Games

Every year on the Internet something new happens. A lot of discussion takes places about pluses and minuses. For last few years, online games are becoming a rage on the Internet. As expected, anything that becomes successful invites criticism. But the benefits may far outweigh the dangers. How about online games?

Online Games - why people play? Why do we do anything- because we love doing it? By natural instinct every animal seeks pleasure and runs away from pain. None of us likes the idea of getting admitted to a hospital, because that may be painful. All of us enjoy meeting friends because that is pleasant. It is true with games. Why no body is asking about the reason of popularity of games? The answer is very simple. Games make us feel good.

Addiction - anything that gives joy can be addictive. Some of us are addicted to adventures. They keep trying new adventure again and again. Some of us are addicted to love. Some of us are addicted to meeting friends. Some of us are addicted to collecting costly cards and so on. Everybody is somehow addicted to do what he/she loves doing. The need is to check that the addiction does not hurt.

Beat Stress With Online Games - play selected online games whenever you get bored. Play for a certain time and then stop. As soon as you feel relaxed, it is time to move on to your work. Controlled game playing cab be a fantastic stress buster. Try it.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Gossip: What People Say About It

Title:
Gossip: What People Say About It

Word Count:
386

Summary:
We decided, at a reader’s request, to write about gossip and, along the way, to note what others have gossiped about it. What might a gossip say under the influence of a confessional potion if asked, “Why do you always talk about other people?” “Apparently, because I have nothing much to say about myself.” Or as one Amanda Lear quipped, “I hate to spread rumors, but what else can you do with them?”


Keywords:
humor,laugh,laughs,laughter,news,newslaugh,comedy,fun,funny,spoof,spoofs,satire,joke,jokes


Article Body:
We decided, at a reader’s request, to write about gossip and, along the way, to note what others have gossiped about it. We decided, at a reader’s request, to write about gossip and, along the way, to note what others have gossiped about it.

What might one say under the influence of a confessional potion when asked, “Why do you always talk about other people?”

We imagined the reply, “Apparently, because I have nothing much to say about myself.”

Before we turn to the little basket of quotes we picked for you, we can also pass along a couple of our own consolations. One, it’s a lot better to be interesting enough to be talked about than to be the interested party who’s doing the talking. Two, gossip’s empty gambits take place in a playground, actually, on a seesaw. The child who delights to babble sees you way up there – the higher the better – and thinks that by putting you down he or she will put himself or herself up. Tada!

Now, we turn to what others have gossiped about it. It appears, not surprisingly, that brilliance has enlivened the subject only rarely.

“The trouble with her is that she lacks the power of conversation but not the power of speech.” George Bernard Shaw

“I know that’s a secret, for it’s whispered everywhere.” William Congreve

“They come together like the Coroner’s Inquest, to sit upon the murdered reputations of the week.” Congreve

“I hate to spread rumors, but what else can you do with them?” Amanda Lear

“If you haven’t got anything good to say about anyone come and sit by me.” Alice Roosevelt Longworth

“She proceeds to dip her little fountain-pen filler into pots of oily venom and to squirt this mixture at all her friends.” Harold Nicolson

“I’m called away by particular business – but I leave my character behind me.” Richard Brinsley Sheridan

“Here is the whole set! A character dead at every word.” Same Sheridan

“There is only one thing in the world that is worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” Oscar Wilde

“A professional athlete – of the tongue.” Aldous Huxley

Social sewage.” George Meredith

“Foul whisperings.” William Shakespeare (Sometimes referrred to in gossip as Billy Wigglestick)

Online Games – The Evolution

to kill one another.
Next came the interpersonal interaction in a multi-player environment. The first such game was called DUNGEN. DUNGEN had players competing against one another to complete a series of quests. DUNGEN provided with new settings and players each time the user logged on.
The late 1970’s saw the start of video game craze with more and more households getting computer savvy. As a natural corollary, people started writing their own games for the home computers. These programming hobbyists traded and sold these home-grown games in local markets.

Other changes in the 1970’s were home gaming consoles which used game cartridges. That meant the people could collect games cartridges for one base unit instead of having bulky game console systems.

The 80s – some pause before the storm
1980’s saw growing craze for the video and computer game craze, but online gaming wasn’t on the horizon yet. New games with better sound and graphics were introduced and gained popularity. Pole Position and Pac-man were two that achieved big popularity. It was during 1980’s when Nintendo introduced its first gaming system.
The 90s – revolution begins
The 1990’s saw the phenomenal growth in both popularity and technology mostly because of the rise of 3-D and multimedia.
Myst, the intellectual adventure game introduced gaming on the CD-ROM format. Fancier 3-D graphics hardware made FPS (first person shooter) games such as Quake possible.
The late 1990’s saw the exponential growth of the Internet, MUDs (multi-user dungeons) which made online games wildly popular. New and improved graphical interfaces had people all over the world playing against each other not only in FPS games but also in real time strategy games (RTS games) as well as third person games like Grand Theft Auto.
This was also the period when websites started offering online games such as tetris, ping pong, mario bros, super Mario, and other free online flash games and non-flash based games free for playing after registering with them. This really pushed online gaming into the popular psyche.
The 21st Century – world is just a playground
Early years of the 21st century were dominated by the DVD-CD-ROM. It has changed the way online games are played. The latest gaming systems such as Sony’s play station and Microsoft’s X-box have networking capabilities to enable people play with each other in real time from all over the world. Exponentially growing broadband internet services have made playing these online games possible in true sense of the word.
The only drawback to the constantly evolving technology for online games is that what you buy today might become obsolete by the next year. Luckily, for the serious gamers, the resale industry for these online games is huge. This resale industry is just another element to the ever-changing history of online game.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Happy Trails, America! But Where Are They?

Judging by the current national sentiment, Uncle Sam has once again wandered off the happy trails on which we’d prefer him to ride. But can we, just the usual joshing sidekick, possibly help him wend his way back through the tumbleweeds? Well, at least, we can give it a go.

To begin, let's ask how the most sagely free and prosperous nation can often wander so distressingly far from the path on which we may find the preconditions of contentment, including the wide laudation of our allies and even encouragement toward our own bliss?

What if we search for clues by separating what has guided us, nationally and internationally, into two visions: the steps we, as a nation, must take and the steps we choose to take.

Since we don’t have much choice about what necessity compels, we’re more likely to mend our ways by casting a savvy eye on what we do by volition. But just to review the various paths before us, so we find our way home with unsurpassable security, let’s briefly explore the less promising paths for remediation.

Where does the ancient bugaboo, necessity, compel us to tread?

Nationally, pretty much all that’s here is comparatively tame – the generally recognized roles of government, such as providing for the common defense, which, of course, includes whacking terrorist everywhere, preserving the right of our citizens to wake up each morning and be free to decide what they’d like to do, if only they didn’t have to go to work, and effecting the timely filling of potholes.

Internationally, we must, of course, cultivate our allies, encourage our biggest adversaries toward reassuring behavior; and do what we can to facilitate the rewards of almost-fair trade.

Since we have little or no choice about the above, we can only regard them as signposts along the trail we ought to be on or as unavoidable gopher holes we ought to approach very carefully.

Now, we come to the first signs of hope for a homeward-bound revelation – the things we actually have a choice about. And what do we see? Nothing less than where we have wandered from our happy trails.

First, nationally, we can actually choose to provide for the usual litany of things we ought to have had a long time ago, like schools we send our kids to with confidence they will return safely and filled with “news about the square of the hypotenuse,” healthcare we can afford without eviscerating our wallets, air we can inhale without significantly eroding the longevity of our lungs, and water we can drink that flows freely from our faucets. We might as individuals also choose to conduct ourselves so that we contribute to a mutually sane society, and the various vociferous factions who would impose their advocacies on all of us might reacquaint themselves with the delights of national diversity.

Now, at long last come to the point in the trail where, we think, Uncle Sam has most egregiously lost his way, that is, we have set our eyes on the things America can choose to do internationally. Here is, in fact, the very spot where we have stumbled off of our happy trails so regularly one might conclude Uncle Sam has, with some frequency, reached into his saddlebag for a sip of 80-proof guidance.

At this suspect location, we have all too often decided that the way to solve our problems internationally is to go to war. We’re not, of course, referring to the big wars, which necessity compels us to participate in, like World Wars I and II, and, just maybe, Korea. But the wars we have elected to take part in, the most wretched examples of misguidance being Viet Nam and now Iraq. These distant guns never had to sound and we never had to incur the remorseful loss of life or the economically debilitating expense of them.

But before we can stop wandering off into these woeful misadventures, we have to see an alternative path – one that definitely keeps us on our happy trails. And what might that revolutionary and salutary remediation in our international conduct consist of?

We think, having arrived at this point in our brief but perspicacious way home, that the answer is right before our eyes. Rather than warring to achieve our goals, we should, working with our allies and all the friends we can attract, use our naturally encouraging disposition and persuasive economic power to bring along nations that would actually like to be free and democratic, while we let the ones that have a problem with these self-evidently superior ideals go their own self-defeating ways.Then we would affably cultivate a world of successful emerging democracies, while our comparatively faltering antagonists would be confronted with examples that reiterate the error of their ways.

As a result, we would find ourselves, not exhausted gladiators of a reluctant empire, but happy emissaries of freedom and plenty. We would inhabit, not a world that can scapegoat us for its myriad self-inflicted agonies, but a world populated more and more by exemplars of the ways we advocate, such prosperous recipients of our benefactions that they might, we expect, actually have some unusually complimentary things to say about us.

And, speaking of exemplars, now that we would have replenished our eviscerated national treasury, we could also afford to provide our own citizenry with the sort of support systems the world’s wealthiest nation should have long ago been able to provide abundantly.

We have now wandered, though briefly, enough in our search for the way back to happy trails to know exactly the fork that has often us astray: international conduct about which we have a choice.

What we need is not the coercion of those who disagree with us, but the encouragement of those who wish to emulate us. What we need is America, not so much as a feared power, but more as a nourishing example of what we consider the most salutary principles.

We might, with these choices, actually achieve our goals internationally – and in ways that help us achieve our goals nationally.

Yes, often-wayward Uncle, with such signposts, we might once again find ourselves on happy trails – and know, for the first time, how to keep ourselves and our fabled white charger squarely on them.

Online Games – Are You Game For This

Who has not heard of online games these days? Internet has opened up a whole new vista for the entertainment and gaming industry which is booming and going strong with huge annual growth rates of 40-45% year on year. All you need to play an online game is a home computer and broadband connection. You don’t even need spare time; it sucks you in. Well, if you don’t have a computer at home but still want to play, don’t loose heart; you can play them on your cell phone.

Online Games and Pass Time

Innovative online games, apart from the traditional chess, poker and Mahjong, are real brain teasers. While these are games which need two players, who you find always online, there are still more which can be played individually. Games such as solitaire, crossword, sudoku are individual games.

Gaming Softwares and Techniques

Some online games require you to download and install their softwares before you can begin play. These softwares help save your personal settings for those games. But mostly, you can play any game without having to download anything at all.

When you log on to play a non individual game, you will be automatically matched against someone who is better than you are. It is frustrating to loose a match, albeit against an unknown player. If you wonder, all but you are skilled, take a look here. There are softwares called as ‘game cheat’ available to help you on the instant! Game cheats level out the playing field and soon you can play with experts without them knowing whether you are using a software aid.

How do you benefit from game cheats? Turn on cheats when you begin playing. Cheat predicts obstacles and opportunities and suggests the best move for you. It can also tell you the next possible move of your opponent, with dependable certainty. You can buy them from their websites for charges not big if you are serious on winning online. Some companies give away trial versions which you can upgrade later. These softwares can be availed for games like game cube, X-Box and the PS 2; and are being continuously upgraded.

A word of caution while playing online games would not be out of place. Play on trusted websites only as most gaming sites install spywares scrupulously onto your hard disk.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Great Practical Jokes To Play On Your Friends

Do you have a friend who just “needs” a practical joke played on them? Well, I might be able to help you. These are original jokes, meaning that they have been played on or by me or my friends.

Please do remember to be prudent and careful in playing these jokes on people, as you don't want to hurt anyone.

1 – The fish at the beach

I have discovered that some people have a revulsion to fish. I have also discovered that these people can also react very humorously to being confronted with a fish.

So, here's the deal – get a fish, complete with it's head. You can buy one at a seafood store. Wait until your friend is digging in the sand or reading a book. They key is to wait until they are focused on something with their head close to the sand.

Now is your time to strike. Take the fish and toss it right under their nose (don't say anything). Enjoy!

2 – The water bottle while camping

While camping is another great time to play practical jokes. This one is easy. While your friend is not watching, take their water bottle and put something nasty in it, like garlic powder. Then wait til they drink it for some hilarious results. Note: it's only fair to play this joke if you have water to replace the water you messed up. It's no fun to go hiking with no water.

3 – The rock while camping

This is a classic joke, but always good. While your buddy is occupied elsewhere, put a rock in the bottom of their pack. You won't get to see their reaction, but you'll probably hear from them when they get home and find that the hauled a rock down the mountain!

So be considerate, safe, and have fun!

Diving For Treasure In My Own Living Room

So, time arrived for replacing the living room furniture. Grandpa and I had our same sofa, loveseat, extra chair, tables, and lamps from our thirty-five years of marriage. Still leaning toward denial, we agreed blue remains our favorite color, not one person has fallen all the way to the floor in our chair yet, and parts of the lampshades still block the view of the bare GE 100 watt lightbulbs. Besides, right before the delivery men appeared at my fingerprint-smudged storm door with newly purchased pieces, I had a moment to examine our old stuff and found unexpected reminders of times gone by such as marbles, crayons, Barbie arms, Chapstick tops, and chewing gum wrappers.

After I turned one of the seat cushions on the loveseat over, I discovered a dim outline of our daughter’s first post-potty training accident. Of course, under that same cushion, as well as the others, I collected treasures I thought were forever gone. The first to catch my eye was the yellow edge peeping out from the upholstery of grandbaby’s last pacifier. How well I remembered searching house, yard, and car for that life-giving piece of equipment.

In fact, I can still imagine Grandpa heaves and sighs when he pulled at the carpet edges searching for the prize. After that, he removed the slats off every bed in the house and disassembled the complete frames. About to attack our living room furniture, he paused when our daughter emphatically assured him the baby had gone nowhere near that room. Instead, he turned his attention to the kitchen and hauled out the stove, refrigerator, and cabinets from the wall. There he found nothing more substantial than the only known copy of Great-Great Granny’s famous teacakes recipe that had landed on Plymouth Rock with the Pilgrims, which was buried among artsy dust bunnies that had self-formed, waiting to petrify into immortality. However, just before Grandpa started to peel the wallpaper in the bathroom, Grandbaby went to sleep for the first time without her snookie overhanging the corner of her lips. Her mother insisted the pacifier as no longer needed and threatened to have Grandpa committed if he continued his manic search.

Ahh, such memories. And then there are the tables. Oh, the tables. One big long scratched outline creeping toward a heart shape rested right in the middle of the coffee table. That blemish Grandbaby created proved to me, “Grandpa luvs Grandma now and forever.” Yet, since I interrupted the meant-to-be eternal sculpture, we were forced to live with the half-heart over the years. Another of Grandbaby’s canvases originated on the end table surface where she used the edge of her Fourth of July flag pole to etch a sunflower so that we would always have fresh flowers in our living room.

Before I could continue my walk down memory lane via the Sears Roebuck special deal of thirty-five years ago, the movers began replacing my lifetime of picture backgrounds, Good Housekeeping display tables, permanent grape juice rings, and foot propping coffee table with clean untarnished wooden pieces of beautifully upholstered fabric. Nostalgically, my only hope springs from an image of a great grandbaby of the future sneaking her yellow snookie through the cracks before Grandpa forgets how to handle his trusty Craftsman tools.

Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 2) DVD Review

Recipient of more than twenty Emmy nominations and winner of a Golden Glober for Best TV Series, Curb Your Enthusiasm is one of the more refreshing and original comedy series in recent years. Created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, the HBO original series harbors many of the same dominant themes as its successful predecessor. Following the real life world of Larry David as he socializes with the Hollywood elite, the show is more akin to Costanza and what the Seinfeld show would be like if it were to be applied to the daily life of Jerry's best friend George. Utterly hilarious, the show is one of the best original cable series productions on air today, alongside The Sopranos, Monk, and The Shield.

The Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 2) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere "The Car Salesman" in which Larry shocks his friends and family by deciding to take on a job as a car salesman. Meanwhile, Cheryl and Larry purchase a seaside holiday home from Jason Alexander's agent only to learn that the abode comes with its own disturbing "house sound," and Larry contemplates launching a new TV series with Jason chronicling the life of an unemployed typecast actor… Other notable episodes from Season 2 include "The Shrimp Incident" in which Larry comes to believe that an HBO executive stole some shrimp from his Chinese takeout order, and "Shaq" in which Larry earns the wrath of L.A. when he inadvertently trips Shaquille O'Neal at a Lakers game…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 2) DVD:

Episode 11 (The Car Salesman) Air Date: 09-23-2001
Episode 12 (Thor) Air Date: 09-30-2001
Episode 13 (Trick or Treat) Air Date: 10-07-2001
Episode 14 (The Shrimp Incident) Air Date: 10-14-2001
Episode 15 (The Thong) Air Date: 10-21-2001
Episode 16 (The Acupuncturist) Air Date: 10-28-2001
Episode 17 (The Doll) Air Date: 11-04-2001
Episode 18 (Shaq) Air Date: 11-11-2001
Episode 19 (The Baptism) Air Date: 11-18-2001
Episode 20 (The Massage) Air Date: 11-25-2001

Monday, October 10, 2011

Everybody is Happy in Their Own Way

Morning. I’m running late to work as usual. I’m rushing out of the door, buttoning myself up on my way. There’s Ivan Kuzmich sitting on the bench. Everybody calls him Grandpa Kuzya, he is about 80 years old, but his mind is not that of an old man at all.
- You’re in a hurry again? – the old man asks.

- Yeah, no happiness in personal life, - I reply finishing buttoning up.

- That’s because you don’t know what happiness is, - he reproaches me.

It’s hard to put up, pay no heed that being 49 something I haven’t known happiness.

I stop short, realizing that now I’m sure to be late. But to catch the old man in his overweening delusion is far more important that telling-off at work. What could an elderly person know about happiness? If he ever had it, it was forgotten long ago.

- Ivan Kuzmich, and do you know what happiness is? Did you have a cool Mercedes, sexy mistress, pretty wife? And maybe you used to be The Party’s Secretary General? Or a major research worker? Maybe you found and proved the formula of happiness? Tell me. What is this all about?

- I’ll tell you just in a word as you’re in hurry. Just briefly and understandably.

Listen. Being at work do not think about alcohol and holidays. Celebrating a holiday do not think about work. Being next to your wife, do not think about mistress, while being with your mistress do not think about her husband. Don’t talk to a policeman about money and with kids and neighbors about your problems as the first won’t understand while the late will be glad. Don’t lend money, in the evening don’t borrow salt, don’t throw out garbage. Bring your salary home, don’t be jealous about your wife, check your kids’ marks, walk your dog sometimes. And the main thing – always think before you say something. Don’t say anything just to say. You know, a word spoken in past recalling. And for the head working well eat cereal in the morning.

- So you want to say that if I think only about my wife, don’t think about vodka, don’t talk about money with cops, don’t borrow salt from my neighbor and eat cereal in the morning, I’ll be a happy man? Is that you formula of happiness?

- That’s it, that’s my formula of happiness, - the old man replies with joy, - and you should find yours yourself. When you find it, you’ll feel like a happy man.

- Hey, it looks like you’re talking just to kill time. Cereal, vodka, cops… why should you tell me all this?

- Well… yesterday I’ve been to a dentist. Been installed new dentures. He said that I should speak a lot to get used to them. And here you are, I talked to you and seem to get used…

Online Game Helps Children Make Healthier LIfe Choices

Health experts stress that attitudes and habits formed in childhood can strongly influence a person's future health.

"If children learn about the benefits of good nutrition and exercise and the hazards of smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, their chances increase for longer, healthier and happier lives," said Carolyn Aldigé, president and founder of the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation.

The need to help children make healthier choices is becoming ever more dire: The rates of childhood and adolescent obesity have doubled in the last 30 years, and as many as 50 percent of American youths do not exercise vigorously on a regular basis. Also, 4.5 million kids under 18 smoke regularly - including 10 percent of eighth-graders. With 70 percent of cancer cases directly attributable to diet and smoking, it's important to teach kids early on the importance of good health sense.

With that goal in mind, the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation created "Dr. Health'nstein's Body Fun," a free, online computer game that teaches children how to make healthy choices about food and exercise at home and at school. The game gives students a chance to participate in simulated sports activities and to get advice on choosing sensible foods out of vending machines. "Dr. Health'nstein's Body Fun" is full of other important nutrition tips, too.

"Dr. Health'nstein's Body Fun" produces outstanding results in schools and has a profound effect on the children who have played it, according to the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation. In fact, 93 percent of teachers who used Body Fun in their classrooms said it increased their students' interest in health education. Additionally, children said that they made healthier food choices after playing the game.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Ehud Olmert, MD, Lances Inflammed Boil; Aims To Drain Infection

Noticing that inflammatory behavior by Hezbollah and Hamas has been festering more and more acutely, Ehud Olmert, MD – in this case, Military Doctor – decided that, to avoid a wider infection, he had to lance the boil immediately.

The life-threatening activities of Hezbollah and Hamas had simply reached a point where sugical intervention became imperative.

While all who care about human life must regret the loss and maiming of it anywhere, we also know that Lebanon is too weak to clean out Hezbollah itself, while Hamas in Gaza has no intention of remedying itself.

So the only hope is to drain the boil and let the healing process begin.

The most curious question is whether Israel has a silent goahead to clean the sore spot widely enough to include problems the West has with Syria and Iran. As you well know, there are other nations that would dearly like to see remedial treatment of the regime in Syria and the nuclear irritant in Iran.

And it appears that Dr. Olmert may be ready to perform the entire operation, with all the silent assistants he requires during the military operation.

At this writing, Syria is playing a waiting game, no doubt encouraged to by the Israeli fly by of its errant leader's home before the procedure began, while Iran seems to be unwittingly moving toward a position where it may be vulnerable to a bit of a squeeze to exude its harmful elements.

While the surgery may be painful, the overall prognosis is good, in fact, the only hope for peace.

At least, once the dangerous infection has been treated, the painful sensitivity can begin to subside and the wound can eventually heal. It will be a long process and it will no doubt leave a scar, but if the healing process doesn’t begin now, it will only take longer, and the infection may spread and involve even more areas of the Middle Eastern body politic.

Finally, as you might have observed, a boil is in one way similar cancer, in that, despite its wily ways of spreading, it is a dumb disease, because as it continues to grow it finally kills its host and thereby itself.

Online Game Cheats

Many traditional board games are now being played online, and many people want the skills necessary to win. Play Buddy offers interactive software which assists players with online game cheats.

Each game has its own specific type of software. For example, when playing Checkers you can use the Checkers Buddy software . When you have tokens you want to protect, and you can't afford to lose them, Checkers Buddy will plot the best moves for you to take.

This will give you a much better chance at winning, even if you are faced with strong competition. The software will not be able to be detected, and you can play with ease. Hearts and Spades have similar programs which plot moves and give you an idea of the best strategy you should use.

Often, people are discouraged when trying to play games online. They meet opponents who play on a regular basis, and are very skilled. When they are beaten by these advanced players, many people give up. Interactive programs from Play Buddy make it easier for you to dominate any game you want.

It will provide you with online game cheats which will make playing games easier. Most of the traditional board games played online will have Play Buddy software which supports them. Some of the software will help you by giving you hints and clues as to the best decisions to make.

Free technical support is offered if you need any help with your software. You can upgrade for up to a year after buying it, and this will give you the latest programs which will allow you to be a stronger player. The programs are reliable, and you can depend on them in any gaming situation.

The last thing you want is to be playing in a tournament when your software fails. One error like this can cost you the game. You want to rely on a software that will work when you need it to. Whether you want to master the game of Chess, Checkers, or Pool, Play Buddy software will give you the online game cheats you need to compete.

Having access to game cheats and backdoors will allow you to enter any room you choose and beat your opponents. The most important thing is that you will become a better player with the software, and over time will be able to challenge anyone. Play Buddy makes playing games on the internet easier, and fun.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Canada In Secret Talks To Trade Quebec For Florida

History does not record the existence of a single Canadian who has not wished his nation had a bit of tropical diversity.

As chilliness North of Niagara would have it, Ottawa has had an ongoing freeze-on, freeze-off relationship with the relatively trendy Province of Quebec, that charming faux-French survival of the Sun King’s proud misjudgments about the importance of the new world.

Now, Canadian legislators have given voice to the sunny idea, Let’s see if we can swap the independent-minded province for Florida.

The offer comes at a particularly opportune time, as a result of the unusually severe hurricanes that have been selecting the Sunshine State as a favorite destination.

The Bush administration has agreed to consider the proposal but admits that there are certain difficulties. For instance, the President will have to explain to his brother and closet presidential wannabe, Jeb, that he’s now a Canadian and can no longer run for President.

To make the loss of their palm-treed haven more palatable to Americans, the Canadians have volunteered to teach everybody in Florida how to speak French. Once, they reason, Florida is enlivened with the sounds of bon jour and merci beaucoup, the switch will seem as uneventful as just swapping one champagne and brie festooned place for another.

Online Free Sudoku Puzzles Are A Great Way to Pass the Time At Home or On the Go

Without a doubt, Sudoku has become an increasingly popular pastime over the past few years. Emerging from simply a cult style game, it has since usurped the crossword puzzle as one of the most popular pen and paper games of all time. Most commonly you can find a daily Sudoku puzzle in your local newspaper, but thanks to the internet, you can now enjoy online free Sudoku challenges from the comfort of your computer. Many popular online free Sudoku websites offer excellent puzzles that range in both size and difficulty so that anyone from a beginner to an expert can pass the time with an enjoyable puzzle.

One very excellent online free Sudoku resource is Fingertime. Their website offers a daily free Sudoku game of average difficulty. Their high tech Flash based puzzles are suitable for anyone and relieve you of the hassle of having to scramble back and forth between using the mouse and the keyboard like many online free Sudoku websites. All you have to do is simply click an open space and select the appropriate number you wish to place there. Furthermore, this website also gives you a timer so you can see how long it takes you to solve the puzzle and it automatically removes any duplicate numbers so you will not get through the entire puzzle and suddenly realize that you placed one number in the completely wrong spot.

Web Sudoku is another great online free Sudoku provider. While it is not as user friendly and lacks the timer that you get on Fingertime, you do get a much larger variety of puzzles on a daily basis. When you visit their online free Sudoku site, you will be presented with the easiest puzzle of the day. From there, you can select other difficulties such as Easy, Medium, Hard or Evil. This variety makes this website great for any Sudoku player, no matter how much of a problem solving pro they are. Furthermore, you can find a link on their website which will take you to a variety of jigsaw style Sudoku games. Modernized in vivid colors and brilliant animation, the jigsaw Sudoku puzzles are a nifty new way to enjoy America’s new favorite pastime.

An Australian online free Sudoku website takes the classic Sudoku puzzle and adds a few extras to it. Firstly, you will notice on their website that there is a little chat area so you can converse with other Sudoku fans from around the world about the current puzzle you are working on. It brings a nice, group atmosphere to an otherwise individual based game. Also, this online free Sudoku website gives you the option to place numbers in squares with a little tag so you can easily remember whether or not you are completely sure about its placement.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Business Websites Can Be Inexpensive.

A website is no longer a tool only utilized by large businesses and corporations. Today, even the smaller businesses need a website in order to complete with their competitors.

The problem is, the majority of web designers today still do not think about the little man, aka: small businesses. Their prices and packages simply do not provide what small businesses need in order to gain a web presence. If the price is within the businesses reach, then the package is to small, or they use pre made websites that can be found over and over again on the Internet.

However, web design does not have to be expensive. Here are a few things to avoid when choosing your web designer.

A few common mistakes small business owners make:

1)Template Websites- Templates, sometimes called cookie cutter websites, are pre made designs and set ups of a website. Any number of other websites can use the every same template for their website. In the event that a potential customer has visited a website with a similar template to yours, then chances are they will either not take your business as serious, or reference your business with that website. Ask the potential designer if your website will be unique or made from a template before you do business with them.

2) Hourly Rate Design- Some web design companies offer "hourly rate web design." It has been found that many hourly designers will tell you something takes much longer to complete then it usually does. In this case, you will end up paying for hours of work when the work only actually took a few minutes, or they will hold your website hostage until you do. Look for set packages that list what you will get, no matter how much time it took to complete.

3) High Hosting Charges- Many new business owners and business owners not familiar with the Internet will let their web designer host their website for them. While there is nothing wrong with this, be cautious of the amount you will be paying month for their hosting. Small businesses that only require small website should not pay over $3-$7 a month for hosting. Larger businesses or businesses with large or dynamic websites should never pay over $10-$15 a month. On the other hand, you may find a design company offering free hosting as an introductory offer. If this is true, be sure to ask how much you will be paying for hosting once the offer expires.

4) Long Completion Times- Web design is a complicated process, however, a good designer can finish a website in a rather small amount of time. Be cautious of web designers that take a long time to complete each website. This may be a sign that they may have to much on their plate. If that is the case, then chances are you will not receive the proper attention and care that is needed to make a website a success. Always ask a potential designer how long it typically takes them to finish and publish a website.

Web designers all over the world focus on small business. You just need to make sure you find one. While the large design companies may have large, impressive portfolios, chances are they will not provide the support and attention you need.

Online Flash Games

The surplus of online flash game websites has grown immensely over the past couple years. This sudden growth of online flash games is partly due to more and more pre-teens and teenagers receiving access to the internet. Flash games come in a variety of forms and categories. These categories range from adventure, sports, racing, fighting, cartoon, ECT. There are a few websites that also run flash games for an adult audience, in which the games are not suitable for children.

When you are online looking for a new website to relax and play games on, you should look for the following features: a welcoming design, colorful and fun, a large list of games, and contact forms for the website owners. These features should be a key reason in your choice on which website to choose for your flash game playing needs. There are many reasons why you should look for these features before sticking with the specific website for playing online games.

The very first thing you notice when going to a website that has flash games is the design of the website. This should be the main focus of a website that offers flash games due to the fact that the majority of their traffic will be children, and the children will not want to stick around if the design is dull and dark. Bright colors and a "fun" design should be the general feel of the flash games website. If you open a website and it does not have bright colors and is dark and monotonous, the first thing the majority of people do is close the box. Theories state that certain colors will draw people's attention more than others, and this holds true with flash game websites.

You should also look for a large list of games when looking at a flash game website. This is the key reason you will stay on a website for a long period of time and also return numerous times. Games are what you are at the flash game website for, and that is what the website needs in order to grasp your attention and keep you interested. Also make sure that the website will update their game list every so often in order to keep the appeal of their website strong. A website should have at least 100 games or more in order to be even considered a well rounded website for flash games. There are various games that have a larger number of games than 100, and these are the flash game websites you should look for.

A contact form on any website is essential and especially for a game website. Think about it like this, if you are at a website and need to ask the owner a game question, and there is no possible way to contact them, will you stay? The answer would be probably not. Communication is crucial to any business and online flash game websites are no different. Maybe you want to ask the owner if they can obtain a game that you love to play, or you want to know how often the owner updates the game lists, either way, a form of contact is needed. If the website you are at does not offer a form of contact, then odds are, the website is not run professionally.

If you are looking for a website that embodies all of these features and many more, then I would suggest looking at www.itsall3.com This website has even more than just flash games, a form of contact, and a fun and inviting design, it has funny videos, phone videos and more. Itsall3.com is a website that we highly recommend for you to view if you are looking for a fun time online and a website that regularly updates. Itsall3.com has a larger number of flash games in their database and continues to add games on almost a daily basis. The list is over 300 at this point, and will probably be more once you read this article. This website offers a forum that you can submit questions to and also read over other viewers and online game players opinions. The forum also has areas for general chat so you can talk with other online flash game players.

Even though there is an abundance of flash game websites on the market right now, you must remain aware of the many flaws that the majority of them have, and recognize the websites that are user friendly and geared towards making your online flash game playing a happy experience. We will remain our stance that www.itsall3.com is one of the highest quality websites available online today due to the major amounts of flash games, the great forms of contact, and a fast loading, creative and colorful design.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Business Accounting: 7 Steps To The Best Software Solution

It is important to know in business where money is coming in and where it is going out. As such, accounting is one of the most vital processes in any business. It is even more important than developing products and selling. The management of the flow of revenues and expenditures is what ultimately makes a business fail or succeed.

Accounting is simply called the language of business. The requirements of every business may vary, but the general requirements of a business like collecting, classifying, reporting and analyzing of financial data is what constitutes the crux of accounting.

An enterprising businessman always looks for opportunities to make accounting simple. Without proper accounting process, your prospering business can take an unexpected nosedive towards bankruptcy. That is where the importance of accounting lies. Accounting is a critical component of a prospering business. It plays a role in every financial decision you make, like that of purchasing machineries and vehicles, equipment and supplies, to increasing production, selecting inventory quantity etc. But if you lack any extensive background in accounting, where do you begin?

Hiring an accountant is an option. But the best bet would be to invest in accounting software which aids you to save money and time as well. Maintaining accounts is challenging task. You may find it difficult and daunting to select the perfect software with so many options before you. However, remembering some criteria will help you in your endeavor. The following are the different aspects that you should keep in mind before purchasing any accounting software.

1.The first thing to take note of is your budget. That is, how much you are willing to pay for the software. Your software should be able to compliment your business, rather being a liability. Generally the more features the software supports, the more is the cost of it. Certainly, you do not need all the features available in the market. So according to your accounting needs pick a decent accounting software at reasonable price

2.Secondly, look for a software which is user-friendly and is easy to use. It should be compatible with your existing system, so that as you can cut on time in training your staff.

3.Scalability is another thing which you should keep in your mind before buying a software. It is particularly important for a growing business. You should choose a software imagining where your business would in future. A good accounting software should be able to grow as your business grows. It is always better to invest in a slightly costly accounting software that can compliment your business in future also.

4.Fourthly, you should be open to take in to account the views from different quarters, mostly from accountants. The views of accountants are important as they live and breath among this stuff. They are particular about the different business needs and their peculiar features requirement. You can only ignore their views at your own peril.

5.It is also important that your accounting software have all the features you need. It must have all the modules and reporting categories necessary for your business. Accounts payable and accounts receivable are some of the general modules an accounting software must have. Most of the accounting software come in different versions. You should look for a software which provides future versions also to match your future needs.

6.Value for money is the sixth aspect which you should keep in mind before buying. Selecting the right package means that you can get the best value. For the same lines of products, prices vary greatly. So just shop around. You can also purchase the product cheaply from online merchants such as Amazon or eBay.

7.Last but not the least, the manufacturer whose product you buy must provide after sales service. Most of the companies provide support after sales. But you have to think about local support which is more feasible. A perfect after sales support must have a complete FAQ package, a toll-free call center, and local service center.

All in all, the best thing would be to shop around, read some reviews and invest in software with expandable features. Your software must be capable of handling your growth. To sum up, you need to do some meticulous planning before purchasing. This smart decision to invest in a accounting software will save a lot of money and trouble in the future.

Online Crosswords

Crossword puzzles are popular games for individuals of various ages and skill levels. Back in the day, the only way to solve crossword puzzles was via pen and paper. These days, with the wonderful technological advances regarding computers and the Internet, individuals have found that they can solve crossword puzzles online. There are a few reasons why solving crossword puzzles online is a great alternative to the old pen and paper days.

Easy Access to Crossword Puzzles

One who chooses to solve crossword puzzles online can do so in an easy and convenient manner. Since many of us are rarely far away from computers and Internet access these days, all one needs to do is log on to their Internet provider and pull up one of the many crossword puzzles available online. The ease of access to these types of puzzles is a great reason to complete crossword puzzles online.

Wide Variety of Crossword Puzzles Available Online

Another great reason for individuals to solve crossword puzzles online as opposed to paper crossword puzzles is that there are a wide variety of crossword puzzles available online for individuals to choose from when looking to obtain puzzles. There are many different crossword puzzles available online which cater to various skill levels. For beginner crossword puzzle solvers, there are many puzzles which cater to this type of skill level and consist of an easier content and are of a shorter length than some ones. In the alternative, those who are more advanced with regard to solving crossword puzzles can find ones to fit their skill level as well.

In addition to skill level, one will also find crossword puzzles covering a wide variety of topics online and one is sure to find a puzzle that interests them. From sports to celebrities and everywhere in between, crossword puzzles can be found which cover a wide range of questions and answers. The variety of puzzle topics is quite large and there is a little something for everyone who solves their crosswords online.

Online Crossword Puzzles are Not Easily Misplaced

Due to the fact that online crossword puzzles are completed on one's computer, the individual solving the crossword puzzles is less likely to misplace the online puzzle as opposed to one from the Sunday newspaper, for example. For those individuals who like to solve their crossword puzzles little by little, having these puzzles available online makes it easy for individuals to save their work and know where to find the puzzle when they wish to complete it.

Conclusion

Solving crossword puzzles online has many benefits. Not only can one have easy access to a number of different puzzles but they know exactly where to find their puzzle when they wish to finish completing it. Online crossword puzzles are a great concept for many individuals who love solving crossword puzzles and enjoy doing so via the computer. As more and more individuals become adept at computer use and familiar with the Internet, more people will start to enjoy completing their daily crossword puzzles online.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

3 Surefire Ways To Combat Rising Gas Prices

I have heard the rumblings of many of you in Readerland about the recent spike in gasoline prices. In fact it's all I seem to hear about lately. But at least it keeps you from rumbling about the infrequency of my columns and articles. Nonetheless, I have decided to try to help you get through this crisis by generously providing: 3 Ways to Combat Rising Gas Prices!

1. Don't Drive Your Car

This is, of course, the most obvious solution. If you never take the old Plymouth out the driveway, then it won't matter that at current gas prices it takes $125 to fill up the 30 gallon gas tank, or that you only get about 2.51 miles to the gallon. If you never drive, you could care less.

Of course, I know what you're going to say. "But Tim, I have places I need to go-like work. And the kids have school and soccer practice. And then there's grocery shopping and yoga lesssons and dinner at the Richardsons and blah blah blah and...." Ok, I get the point. Not everyone can sit around the house writing not-so-funny articles and searching the Internet for Drew Barrymore
photos like me. I fully understand that some of you have a life. But just because you don't drive your own car doesn't mean you can't get around. The answer?

2. Carpool

It's seems so simple now doesn't it. Instead of using your gas-Use Someone Elses! Have someone else pay $5.50 a gallon for gas to take your kids to school. Make someone else dip into their retirement fund just so they can cover the gas bill needed to get you to the office and back everyday. Make someone else get a second job so that they can have a full tank of gas in their SUV when your daughter needs to cruise the mall. It's so simple.

Of course, the concept behind carpooling is that everyone takes turns driving. So in a normal carpool situation you would eventually be required to use your car and spend your money driving others around. But this is not a Normal Carpool Situation, this is a Tim Ward Carpool Situation (TWCPS). In a TWCPS you avoid using your own car by making it so that the other carpool participants would rather walk barefoot on 120 degree asphalt than ride with you. You achieve this by:

(a) never washing or cleaning your car. Leave it looking and smelling like the county landfill.

(b) Have the worst behaved child in your family sitting in the front seat at all times. Feed the child lots of candy so he/she is always superhyper.

(c) Refuse to discuss anything in your car except your spouses bad bathing habits, bodily fluids, hang nails, chest hair, etc.

(d) Only play reggae music on the radio. Loud!

You shouldn't have to worry about anyone wanting to ride with you ever again.

3. Ride the Bus/Subway

Many cities have a mass transit system that is an alternative to driving your own vehicle. If you live in a city that doesn't have one don't worry-you can
always move. Of course, riding public transportation does have a few drawbacks, but these can be easily overcome if you follow these simple guidelines:

1. No matter what happens never, ever make eye contact with anyone. Making eye contact is an invitation for someone to mug you.

2. No matter what happens never, ever give up your seat to anyone. This is seen as weakness, and will be taken as an invitation to mug you.

3. No matter how tempted you are never, ever strike up a conversation with the person sitting next or across from you. This is very annoying and can be taken as an invitation for someone to mug you. Or worse, for someone to talk back.

4. Always make sure you are alert to get on and off at the right stop. Getting off at the wrong stop can lead to immediate mugging.

5. Never, ever take children with you on public transportation. Fellow passengers hate children. Children make you definite mug victim material.

Well, there you have it. 3 ways to deal with rising gas prices. Hopefully, you will be able to use these methods to keep from spending twice your car's Blue Book value just going to Walmart. Hopefully, next time your friends are grumbling and ranting about the mounting gas prices you will be able to
just sit back and smile, content because the issue no longer concerns you. Hopefully, I've once more helped my loyal readers in a time of crisis. And all I ask in return as a simplethank you next time you see me. Just make sure we're not on the bus. I'd hate to have to mug you...

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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Online business information

FREE Online Report
"Where Did Your Residual Income Go?"



From the desk of Rick Kapsin 661-202-5990

Dear Online Success Seeker,
The Internet has basically destroyed the buffer zone which used to shield organizations and companies from people, opinions, and competitors and ads. This used to allow relationships to be built, skills to be developed, and loyalties to be strengthened. Sounds great, right? Well, it was, but unfortunately, this information buffer zone is no longer in existence due to the Internet.
In a nut shell, it happens like this: You are doing well at the top of a good sized organization. You are making residual income now, around $25,000 a month, have built a new home, have a new car, and paid off all of your debt. For you, life is great, and couldn’t be better.
Well, it might not be able to be better, but it could get worse, and it happens all the time. The company changed their compensation plan a little, and one of your leaders is pretty upset about it. They then decide to go on to another company with the click of their mouse. They then send an email to thousands of his or her downline, upline, and sideline. What happened? He just destroyed many people's businesses, cutting their checks in half, or more. Yes, this even includes your paycheck.
Think about it, the income you were using to pay your mortgage, car payments, investments, kids’ college fund, and retirement is all gone in a matter of minutes.
You may be thinking that you are o.k., as this hasn't happened to you, but it will at some point, and your income is based on strangers you have never met. You don't know their plans, their decisions, their family problems, or even illnesses, but your paycheck depends on what they do.
This is the way it is now on the Internet. Massive amounts of money can be destroyed overnight. Downlines can vanish because of false rumors or leaders who leave a company. Distributors can get distracted with promises of a bigger and better company to work for.
The sad thing is there is nothing you can do about it.
This is the sad reality of network marketing.
Today, the economics of MLM are changing. Ads that used to cost $500, now cost $3000. Email marketing is no longer alive. Retailing has been dead a long time, with recruiting being the focus instead of customer acquisition. This MLM industry does not offer much appeal to the white collar business man who makes a six figure income. They can’t see how they can replace that income selling vitamins and juice. No longer is the development of personal skill and a single system a focus. Now, it is a concept of trying something for a few weeks and a mentality that there will be magical tools that will do the work for you.
So what can network marketers do now?
It depends on what you want out of your business. Are you willing to deal with all of the negative things that come with this type of business? It doesn't matter what company you go with, you will face the same negative challenges stated above. You won't find a single product or plan that will fix it either.
It is not worth the time to have to explain why one opportunity is better than another, babysit, dealing with prospects who think $200 is to much to start a business, and dealing with the greed, hype, and fear of loss. There is a new concept for those who want something better. It is something called G.I.C. What is it? Generate Immediate Cash. This may just be the new revelation in the industry.
If you are looking to make real money online at home then..
www.passport2success4u.com
NOT CHECKING THIS OUT WILL BE A VERY BIG FINANCIAL MISTAKE



I look forward to helping you become successful.
Don’t be afraid to call It’s OK! I will answer.
Rick Kapsin 661-202-5990 PST
Rb.international@yahoo.com

Monday, October 3, 2011

Online Backgammon

Backgammon has a very long history nevertheless, learning how to play backgammon is simple. It is a game of skill and one that, unfortunately, many younger people today are not all that familiar with. Still, familiarizing oneself with how to play backgammon doesn’t take very long. Thanks to the rise of the Internet, learning how to play backgammon is easier than ever before and the game of backgammon is enjoying a resurgence of popularity. You can play online, download backgammon games from the Internet, and play with other people or against the computer.

Most people are familiar with the games set up’ two players, one backgammon board, and each player gets 15 chips apiece. When learning how to play backgammon, you will find that the object of game is to move the chips from the board into your home board and finally into your winning pile. The first person to successfully clear the board of all their chips wins the game. The backgammon board is divided into four parts. When looking at the board from either one of the player’s sides, the quadrant of the backgammon board closest to you is your home board, moving clockwise, you will pass over the bar and see the other half of the backgammon board, which is referred to as the outer board. Moving clockwise again to the remaining quadrant of the board is your opponent’s home board. You will notice that each quadrant has 6 points. These are the spaces that you move onto. Although the spaces are alternating colors, each chip can move onto any colored points, the color of the chip and the color of the points do not have to correspond.

The game starts with the chips in the proper place. Each player has five pieces in the first point in their home board, the one closest to the bar. They moving clockwise again, each player gets three pieces on their side of the outer board. These are placed in the point not directly next to the line, but one away from it. On the other side of the outer board, on the point furthest away from the center line, each player puts five more pieces. Moving rightwards across the board, each player puts two pieces in the opposite player’s home board nearest to their “out” position.”

Each roll of the dice shows how many points a player is allowed to move their chips. For example, if you roll a five and a four, you can move your chips a grand total of nine points. You can move one chip four spaces and the other chip 5 spaces. You must use both of the rolls if it is legally possible for you to use them. The only caveat is that you cannot move a chip onto a space that is already occupied. If a player rolls doubles, they get double the moves, for example, if you get double 6’s, you can move 4 pieces 6 points instead of two pieces 6 points. If you have a single chip on a space and a chip from your opposing player lands on it, your piece gets sent back to the center bar and from there it has to start the journey from the other side of the board. The first person to get all their chips through the board and into the safe position wins.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Online Arcade vs. Offline Arcade

Anyone who has ever been on the internet should at least have basic knowledge of arcade websites. The idea behind them is really simple. There are a lot of bored people in the world. If you’re bored, you want to play something fun. Therefore, you go to a website that has free games to play so you can waste a little time. A free online arcade is a good choice for a little entertainment during your hours of boredom.

There are many benefits to using an online arcade for your recreation time. The first is rather obvious. An online arcade is free. You can’t do much better than playing games for free. Just look at the current state of most other games. If you go to a traditional arcade, you are going to end up paying a lot of money. They will literally nickel and dime you until you’re digging that last quarter out of your pocket to beat the next level. It’s a good rush, until you realize that you somehow spent 20 dollars and have almost nothing to show for it. The same could be said about normal video games. You will either need a special gaming console or an advanced computer to play many of the new releases. Unless you just have a lot of money burning a hole in your pocket, you should probably look for a cheaper alternative. An online arcade should do just that. The games may not have the best graphics or story. They are what they are. They’re nice, little games that are fun to play without draining a lot of your computer’s resources.

Cost isn’t the only big benefit to playing games in an online arcade. Unfortunately, there are few video games currently available that are truly just pick-up-and-play games. Most video games will require a large time commitment that just isn’t practical for all of your gaming sessions. There are times when you will just want to pick up a quick arcade game that you can beat in 10 or 20 minutes. Not every game needs to be an in-depth role-playing experience which will last for 80 hours. Quick gratification can be very nice. Although, flash arcades shouldn’t be completely stereotyped as having a bunch of little flash games for quick sessions. Many websites offer ways to save your game files so that you can pick it up the next day and finish. This is especially important since it allows for these sites to offer more advanced games that are still accessible to the arcade player. Specifically, there are many little role-playing games designed to be played in little sessions over the course of a week or a month. This way, you will receive the best of both worlds in your arcade experience. You can have a game with a good story and real character development, which is still accessible for those few minutes at the end of your break.

As you can see, anyone should be able to easily fit a little online arcade time into their day. Once you find a good site, you will be able to have some good times with just a few mouse clicks.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

No Deposit Bingo for Newbies

Internet has made life much easier for the people fond of visiting casinos on the weekends. Indeed, the thrill of casinos is addictive. And the advent of Internet has seen online casino games, like bingo, reaching to the remotest corners of the world, even where gambling is not legal. And to top it all, the online bingo halls are even offering the new players a chance to play free bingo with their latest idea of ‘No Deposit Bingo’.

Starting a game involving speculation is not a small ask for conservative people who fear either about their reputation or the money they may lose initially because of their inexperience. But the online bingo halls have tried to make things a lot easier for the newbies by launching a unique program in the form of No Deposit Bingo.

In this program, the users can play free bingo worth a predetermined amount. This amount may vary in different online bingo halls. But any website offering you No Deposit Bingo must not incorporate any conditions or hidden costs before you can play free bingo. If this is not the case, then you should just leave that website and explore one of the hundred others for your free game.

Basically, under this program, you don’t have to deposit any money in order to play bingo. The online bingo halls, in this way, try to market themselves. In other words, if you try out and play free bingo and you like the game, there’s every chance that you’ll take the membership of that website and keep on depositing and playing bingo online. The allurement of No Deposit Bingo is enough for millions of new and old players to try their luck every year on hundreds of online bingo halls.

The first and foremost hurdle in your quest to play free bingo is to find out the websites that offer No Deposit Bingo program. Casinator is one such useful resource among a host of others that contain a huge list of websites that offer free bingo games for the newbies.

The best part of this program is that you don’t spend a cent and yet you stand to win good dollars just by playing the game. You just have to download bingo software and that too, absolutely free of any charges. And don’t worry! You can easily withdraw all your winnings even if you don’t deposit the money in your account after playing the game. But before you can withdraw any amount, you need to roll over the free deposit bingo bonus certain number of times. You may also be required to prove your identity by producing a valid ID upon withdrawal of winnings.

Playing No Deposit Bingo is much better for the newbies than going for expensive casino games without having even a little knowledge of either of these. At least, you know that you won’t lose any money when you play free bingo. And if you like the features of certain website, you can always deposit the money and enjoy the game for whatever time you like.