Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Story Of Genuine Belly Dancing

By Tanik Nertt

Belly dancing could be a term utilized in the West to describe ancient Arab dance. Belly dancing is really an inadequate term, since all parts of the body are used in ancient Arab dance or raqs sharqi, that is the proper terminology for the foremost poular vogue within the West. Raqs sharqi really places additional emphasis on the hips instead of belly dancing.

Belly dancing comes in many varieties of style, depending on the region and country of origin. Some designs are totally Western interpretations.

Raqs sharqi, that means Oriental dance in translation, is that the sort performed in restaurants and clubs in the West. This dance is usually performed by women, though generally by men as well. It's an improvisational dance that's most usually performed solo.

Raqs baladi, which means that dance of country, is the folk style of belly dancing performed at social events by men and girls in Middle Japanese countries.

The origins of belly dancing are unknown and typically fiercely debated. One theory is that it had been developed by ladies to aid different girls in childbirth or to demonstrate childbirth. There's no real evidence of this, however, and whereas this would possibly justify part of the dance, it definitely wouldn't justify all that is involved in belly dancing.

Another theory explains that the belly dance began in Northern Africa and spread through the Caravans to different Middle Japanese countries. There is additionally a theory that belly dancing saw its origin in Ancient Babylon. This theory follows that prior to Islam, the ladies danced and the lads played drums at social events. When Islamic times the girls were no longer permitted to dance, and therefore the ritual fell to slave girls.

The primary recorded encounter with belly dancing was when Napoleon invaded Egypt and his troops discovered Gypsy dancers. It gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries when, during the Romantic Movement, artists used it to depict romanticized version of harem living within the Ottoman Empire. It absolutely was concerning this point when oriental dancers began functioning at exhibits and the World's Honest, inflicting a lot of of a stir than many of the technical demonstrations.

Belly dancing very gained national attention at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. It is here that entertainment director Sol Bloom is credited with having concocted the phrase. There is, however, no proof that he ever used the term and newspapers of the day were using the French terminology, danse de ventre, to describe the Oriental dancing. Nonetheless, the actual fact that uncorseted women were gyrating their hips at many exhibitions of the World's Truthful brought shock to some Victorian sensibilities and set the term belly dancing into the common lexicon.

Such popularity spawned lots, if not thousands, of dancers round the country to say their acts as authentic, when most of them were improvised solos routines. The dancing became therefore fashionable that it absolutely was the subject of the many early films by Thomas Edison. A little later, Hollywood sought to maximize the Western intrigue with the orient in films like The Sheik, Cleopatra, and Salome.

Nowadays, belly dancing is a terribly excepted and appreciated form of entertainment worldwide, though we tend to will never grasp who is doing the genuine dance and who is not.

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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

The Benefits When You Choose To Go Camping In An RV

By Larry Forest

One thing most people love to do is to take vacations. One type of vacation is really popular. Camping is the type of vacation we are talking about. This type of vacation to so many people is very appealing.

One way that is one of the best when camping is to use an RV. Well this article we would like to look at the many benefits of using an RV to go camping.

First of all the benefit of going camping in an RV is the fact you have all the amenities you would need. Things like running water or toilets is very appealing to people. Without a doubt there are still a group of people who like to rough it when they go camping. But that isn't the type of person that makes up most of my clientele of my San Diego RV rentals business.

The benefit that should be mentioned next when camping in an RV is you have the ability to bring all types of food. Usually when you are camping the types of food you can bring with you are limited. Well if you choose to camp and use an RV you are freeing yourself from the limitations that normally come with bringing food to camp. That is the biggest requested item for people who rent an RV from my Campland on the Bay RV rentals service.

The last benefits is the fact you are free to move around to many different campsites. When you first go camping the first thing you need to do is set up your camp. Well if you choose to move camps there is a lot of breaking down and then moving of everything. Well when you are camping in an RV, should you decide to go to another campground, you can do so easily by just packing up and driving. This is what a lot of people who rent from my RV rentals company.

So as you can see there are many reasons to go camping with an RV. The main advantage of that is that it is extremely easy to use and comfortable.

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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

NHL Scoring Machine: Phil Esposito

By Ross Everett

Though his scoring records have been obliterated by Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, former Boston Bruins/New York Rangers center Phil Esposito is still regarded by hockey cognoscenti as one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the game. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, as is his brother Tony Esposito who was a standout goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Esposito was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and his prodigious hockey talent quickly became apparent. He was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a teenager, and made his NHL debut in'64 quickly earning a spot on the teams top line between Bobby Hull and Marcel Dionne. In'67, Esposito was traded to the Boston Bruins along with Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield. Within a few years Hodge and Stanfield blossomed into All Stars, while Esposito quickly took his place alongside his former teammate Hull as the best scorer in the league. Suffice to say that Boston fans were of the opinion that theyd gotten the best of the deal.

It was as a Bruin that 'Espo' began his onslaught against the NHL record book.. In'69, he became the first NHL player to top the 100 point mark (combined goals and assists) for the season"he obliterated the record with 126 points, which would be the first of six times that hed top the century mark. He topped 100 points in five straight seasons between'71 and'75, missing a sixth straight season by a single point with 99 in'70.

In the'70-71 season, Esposito scored 76 goals to smash the NHL's single season scoring record. That record stood for over a decade until Wayne Gretzky scored 79 for the Edmonton Oilers in'81-82. Gretzky also broke Espositos single season points record of 154. Perhaps the most amazing element of Espositos game was the frequency with which he put the puck on net"Espo had 550 shots on goal in'70-71. No one has since come close"in fact, just last Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals became the first player to come within 100 shots of Espositos mark.

In'75, Esposito was traded with Brad Park to the New York Rangers for Brad Park, Joe Zanussi and Jean Ratelle. By that point, he had been slowed considerably by knee injuries but his experience, intelligence for the game and nose for the puck made him a valuable component of the Broadway Blueshirts offense and he was named team captain. Until the very end of his career, he remained a dangerous scoring threat that all opposing teams were forced to reckon with.

After his retirement in'75, he remained active in hockey. He served as the GM of the Rangers before helping secure an expansion team for Tampa, Florida in'92. Esposito served as the President and GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning until'98. Esposito now hosts a daily hockey radio show on XM Radio, and has even done some acting appearing in a recurring role as a fire chief on the TV series Rescue Me.

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Monday, December 28, 2009

The Incredible Power of the Subconscious Mind

By Jean D Kerr

The mind is the most powerful force in the universe and you should not underestimate the power of your own subconscious mind. Remember that no matter what a person says or does all action originates in the mind. In some instances, the actions of the mind are manifested on a conscious level.

Have you ever done anything throughout your day on complete auto-pilot? Simple tasks that you just get done without thinking about why you're doing them are those controlled by your subconscious need to do them.

Your subconscious mind creates reactions within you that make you do the things you do. When you consciously take action to complete a task or do something you want to get done, that thought process originated within your subconscious mind. Imagine what you could achieve if you had the power to direct your subconscious mind to generate conscious actions within yourself that helped you fulfill all the things you dreamed.

By harnessing the power of the subconscious mind you really can unleash you're full potential. On the reverse of that, if you allow your own inner thoughts to keep repeating negative thoughts or images, then your subconscious will take hold of these and allow those to manifest instead.

Training your subconscious mind is much easier than many people believe. It's much deeper than just wishful thinking or day dreaming and a lot more powerful. Learning the simple processes required to activate the power of your subconscious can be achieved in several ways.

The easiest way to get your subconscious working to bring about positive changes in your life is using affirmations. Affirmations are a direct reminder of positive aspects of life, repeated to help you achieve a desired result.

This is why it becomes important to train your mind to always look for the positive aspects of everything you do. By learning to utilize the power of affirmations to help reinforce your own subconscious power, you're able to unlock large amounts of potential you never knew you had.

Using affirmations can help you to find the benefits of each task so the automatic response changes to become positive as you tackle it with new strength. The right affirmations can reinforce in you that you're the right person for the job. No one can do it like you can, and completing that task will lead to bigger and better opportunities.

Affirmations also help you to change a habit such as stopping smoking or stopping yourself from overeating or drinking. Scientific studies have shown that the constant repetition of affirmations, either spoken or written down, taps into the power of your subconscious mind and changes your behaviour.

There are alternative ways to harness the power of your subconscious mind. Post hypnotic suggestion is perhaps the most common, usually conducted by a qualified hypnotherapist, although self-hypnosis through meditation or recorded audio presentations have positive benefits as well.

You might also want to try brainwave synchronization or binaural beats. These are specially created sound frequencies you play through a set of headphones. The frequencies change so you hear different things in each ear. This can synchronize the separate sides of your brain which can allow you to descend into a deep meditation easily. You're able to access your subconscious more easily in this state.

Complete mastery of your subconscious mind's power takes years of training, as shown by highly trained Buddhist monks. They are able to display amazing abilities through mastering and controlling their subconscious power so that it manifests through their conscious minds. Things like levitation or breaking solid objects without pain or injury.

Understanding how you can create the life you dreamed of or the relationship you desire or even that ideal job you always wanted has been made a little easier through films and books like The Secret'. Often called the Law of Attraction, this theory shows how learning to control the power within your own mind can manifest those things you want most.

Quantum physicists are just recently learning that many ancient civilizations already understood their own ability to influence their concept of reality by learning to control their own subconscious power.

The power of the subconscious mind is far more vast them most people realize. That is why it is important to never overlook the benefits of manipulating the subconscious. Not only can you change your behaviour; using the power of your subconscious mind is also the gateway to a truly amazing new life!

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Sunday, December 27, 2009

Cleveland Manages To Beat Buffalo Despite Offensive Struggles

By Ross Everett

In a matchup between two of the worst offenses in the NFL, someone had to win. Despite producing only 9 first downs and'3 yards of total offense, the Cleveland Browns got a late game field goal from Billy Cundiff to defeat the Buffalo Bills 6-3 and win their first game of the season. The Bills had the more productive afternoon statistically, with- first downs and 288 yards of offense but were undone by three costly turnovers. Both teams are now 1-4 on the 2009 NFL season. Neither team appears to be headed anywhere but down in the NFL standings.

To successfully bet on the NFL, one needs to find opportunities to play underdogs"this is particularly true in games where neither team is expected to put many points on the board. Such was the case here, as Cleveland easily covered the pointspread as +6 road underdogs. Both teams are now 2-3 against the number on the season. The Browns have now won and covered the last three head to head matchups between the teams. The 9 points scored came nowhere near the total of 41 for an easy UNDER. The Browns have now gone UNDER in 3 of their 5 games this season, while Buffalo has OVER on three of their five posted NFL totals.

It was a game without many highlights. The Browns got on the board first with a 24 yard Cundiff field goal in the second quarter, and took that 3-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. Buffalo would tie the score in third on a Rian Lindell 36 yard field goal. That would set the stage for Cundiff to nail the game winner from' yards out with: 23 left to play. Despite todays victory, Cleveland is averaging a woeful 11 points per game this season.

The real loser in Sundays contest may have been Buffalo head coach Dick Jauron. Many were surprised that he was retained after the Bills third straight 7-9 season last year and things have gone from bad to worse so far in the 2009 NFL season. Buffalo has lost to winless teams in back to back weeks, part of a three game losing streak. Overall, the Bills have wound up losers in 12 of their last 15 games. Not that Cleveland has done much better--the win today ended a 10 game losing streak, one short of the all time franchise record.

Cleveland will have a tough road assignment next Sunday, heading to Pittsburgh to face the World Champion Steelers. Theyll return home for a game against the Green Bay Packers on October 25th before playing the Chicago Bears in The Windy City the following week. Buffalo will play the next two on the road, heading to the Meadowlands next Sunday for a game against the New York Jets followed by a trip to Charlotte, NC to take on the Carolina Panthers.

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Saturday, December 26, 2009

Glamorize Your Bank Checks with Pin-up Girls

By Alan Plastin

Absolutely nothing says glamour like the pin-up girls of vintage Hollywood. If you would like to make your personal bank checks a little more glamorous, then you should really think about getting retro-inspired pin-up girls checks. Aside from the fact that they look great, your checks will definitely be remembered.

WWII was raging in the 1940's, but Hollywood was alive and well. The beautiful pin-up girls of that time period appeared on calendars, magazines, and playing cards. They were gorgeous, alluring, and sexy. With their perfect looks, beautiful clothing, and come-hither smiles, they were not jus sex symbols-they were stars. Men and women alike loved them.

It took something special to be a pin-up girl during that era. Being a successful and beautiful movie star didn't necessarily mean that you could also be a successful pin-up girl. Indeed, it took more than good looks and sex appeal to have your face plastered on playing cards and posters. A woman had to have an allure that set her apart from other women. She also had to appear to be accessible. One of the reasons that pin-up girls became so popular is due to the fact that their images had wide appeal and were mass-produced.

Betty Grable was a very popular pin-up girl in the 1940s, and one of the first. You could find her poster "pinned up" by soldiers in their lockers during the War. An illustration containing the image of an ideal woman, the Gibson girl, was another popular pin-up girl during that time period. Carmen Miranda, Jane Russell, Veronica Lake, Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, and Ava Gardner were also popular pin-up girls in the 1940s. One of the most popular pin-up girls of all time was Betty Page in the 1950s. Even though many of her present-day fans were not alive during her prime, merchandise containing her image is still being sold today.

Even though pin-up girls still exist today, an argument exists that they no longer contain the allure and style of the women of the past. Although posters can be obtained of most of the popular female movie and televisions stars and supermodels, the sexy sirens of the past are gone.

If you adore the 1940s and 1950s, then the pin-up girls checks and their classic feel might be a great idea for you and your bank checks. The checks come in 4 rotating images so each charming lady will be different from the one before her. Not just good looking are these checks, but they can also be creative ways to showcase your personality.

If you purchase your checks online from a site you can save as much as 50% off the cost that your local bank might have charged you. The Internet is a great place to purchase bank checks anyway because you have a wide assortment to choose from. You can expect to receive your checks in around 5 days. Just remember to have your routing number and checking account number on hand when you place your order.

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Friday, December 25, 2009

Madame Butterfly: Review of the Opera

By Jeff Bridges

Giacomo Puccini is the original writer of the popular opera Madame Butterfly. If you attend this dazzling opera we recommend bringing a pair of opera glasses to enjoy it to the fullest extent. And we will tell you why.

The story of Madame Butterfly begins with a U.S. Naval Officer by the name of Pinkerton, and a Goro, a Japanese Marriage Broker. Pinkerton and Goro are looking at a quaint little house built atop a hill overlooking the bay. Pinkerton finds himself inspecting the home for his beautiful bride, and himself to live in. Pinkerton, upon completion of the home decides to buy the home for 999 years, while holding the right to cancel the agreement at any time.

The opera moves on, and we find that a wedding between Pinkerton and Butterfly is about to take place. Almost all of Butterfly's family will be coming to attend, however her uncle will not be coming due to the fact that he is a priest.

The Officer is to marry Butterfly, but does not plan on this as being a lasting marriage. His ambition is to gain the love from every beautiful woman that he meets. Although he did agree to buy the house for 999 years, he chose retain the right to cancel, to be able to leave the home, and the marriage. At this point of the opera, you are about to meet the beautiful Butterfly. Be prepared to use your opera glasses to see her charm and beauty.

Before the Japanese beauty, Butterfly, enters the opera, the American consul comes out and asks Pinkerton if he truly loves his soon-to-be bride. Pinkerton cannot commit with a yes. He only describes how mesmerized he is by Butterfly's personality which includes innocence, beauty and charm. One day Pinkerton speaks of having a real marriage to an American woman.

The Beautiful Butterfly graces the stage; Butterfly and Pinkerton are married with all of Butterfly's family in attendance. As the celebration of the wedding continues, Butterfly's uncle, the priest breaks in to the party and condemns Butterfly for renouncing her religion to marry Pinkerton. Butterfly's heart breaks and finds herself in the arms of Pinkerton being comforted.

Time passes Pinkerton and Butterfly remain happily married. Butterfly on a daily basis nearly explodes with joy and love for her Pinkerton. Then one day Pinkerton finds that he has been deployed and must do a tour of duty. On the last morning he is with Butterfly he promises her that he will return with roses, when the robin builds his nest again.

The third act opens to see that three years have passed since Pinkerton left. Every day, Butterfly watches from her windows to see if Pinkerton's ship will come in. Butterfly has fallen even more in love with the missing man as the time has passed. One day, she sees a man walking up the path. She recognizes as the American Consul who is the friend of Pinkerton. She greets him, hoping for news from the love of her life. The truth of the matter is that Pinkerton has sent him to tell her that he has married another woman, and that he wont return. The news is given by the American guiltily.

Destroyed by the news left by Pinkerton's friend, Butterfly leaves the room weeping, only to return carrying Pinkerton's son that she has given birth to. Butterfly tells the American that Pinkerton could not leave his wife and son for another woman. After some convincing she succumbs to the fact that Pinkerton did not love her, and is not to return.

What happens next, you will have to find out for yourself, by attending Madame Butterfly. The music in this opera is delightful as it is majestic, the attention to detail, and beauty of the costumes is unforgettable. Make sure you bring your opera glasses so that you can enjoy this opera to the fullest.

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Thursday, December 24, 2009

Online Casino Games Are The Same

By Simon M Skinner

There are lots of online casino sites on the Internet. It makes it really difficult to tell which ones to play or not. Most of the time they are all real online sites approved by the gaming corp. If they are not then the Corp has them removed.

Usually you can get a starting up bonus of anywhere from five to twenty five dollars to start to play the game. You get it for free but have to send yourself more money and usually they will match what you put in your casino bank.

You can deposit money from your bank account, charge cards or from pay pal. Like I said once you do that they will instantly deposit money in there as well for you. IF you win and want to use the money in real life just transfer it back through pay pal. This though, can take a few days so make sure you aren't doing it cause you have no money because you can count on not seeing this money till at least one week has gone by from when you deposited it.

There are different games on the sites as well. You can play the different slots or go and sit at a table just like in real life. There are many different games. If it is in a real casino then you can find it online. If you get stuck there are plenty of topics available in help to assist you in getting through the game. Some gaming sites even allow you to put up a avatar character instead of a blank or a real picture.

Just like with any gambling game. It can become addictive and this could lead you to a lot of unwanted problems.Should this ever become the case there are numbers posted to the website so that you can get help if you need it.

IF you like casinos but not the tables there are many different things you can do. You can even play bingo on there. Online casinos like to make sure that there is a variety of entertainment for everyone that comes to the site. There is also contests and free give aways as well. Be prepared to get invites in your email and mail as well. Just look when your signing up and if you don't want updates and promotions just check off the box that says no.

There are advantages to playing online if you like to go to the casino. During the cold winter nights you don't have to leave to go there and there is no cost of gas involved. You also never have to worry about getting a seat at your favorite table and if you like the slots you will find that their slots play similar to the ones that are at the casino so you never have to miss out either. As well most of the games are the same online as in the casino.

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Wednesday, December 23, 2009

4 Great Ways To Get Better At Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the world's most popular casino table games. It's easy to play and it doesn't have a lot of complicated rules. The main rule is pretty straightforward - if you get 21, you will win. You also can win even if you don't get 21, but those rules are easy to understand too. All you need to do is beat the dealer without going over 21. As you can see, it only takes a few simple sentences to explain this popular game.

But as easy as it is to explain, playing Blackjack successfully can be a challenge. People throughout the world love to play this game because it's easy and so much fun to play. Trying to win by beating the Blackjack dealer is both exciting and thrilling.

If you love to play Blackjack then it's natural that you'd want to learn how to improve your game. This game is simple, and the ways you can make your Blackjack play better are simple, too. Here are four tips you can use to improve your Blackjack game.

1. Count Cards. Card counting can be a little tricky, but you'll be winning more often when you get the hang of it. Don't be intimidated by this winning Blackjack strategy. Counting cards is simply a matter of keeping track of your odds of winning. Card counting takes some practice but it's a skill that's well worth learning. Detailed information on how to do it is available online.

2. Always Know The Odds. Knowing the odds is easier than counting cards. You can easily find Blackjack odds in a variety of charts and graphs online. All you need to do is memorize these charts so you will know how you stand in any particular situation. Once you know where you stand, you will know which move to make to help you win.

3. Know When to Quit. Trust me, sometimes quitting will help you win. You may not think so at first, but when you know when to quit you know how to stop yourself from losing. Although it's not quite as good as winning, losing less often is always good. So although your goal is to win, another goal should be to avoid losing. Sometimes you just need to quit, so you need to know when to call it a day. You can always come back to the Blackjack table another time. Knowing when to quit at the right time will save your money and sanity.

4. Practice Makes Perfect. The only way you will get good at something is to practice, and playing online Blackjack is no different. You need to play the game so that you can learn to get better. While you are playing, try practicing card counting. You can also work on memorizing the odds of winning. Practice will help you learn which mistakes you typically make, and once you know what they are, you can stop making them. Practice lets you start seeing patterns, so practice and you'll begin to recognize situations where you are set up to win. Every winner practices their Blackjack game.

Blackjack is a classic casino game, so the odds are good that one day you'll want to step up to a table and play. Why not increase the chances that you'll be a winner? Use these tips to learn how to be an amazing Blackjack player. When you master them you'll begin playing like a professional.

Redskins Offense In Disarray As Lewis Takes The Reins

By Ross Everett

The Washington Redskins are a mess right now. Head coach Jim Zorn has a tenuous hold on his job at best and after Sunday's---6 loss to Kansas City was stripped of his offensive play calling duties. Management installed newly hired 'offensive consultant' Sherman Lewis as the new offensive play caller and the team has set up an awkward arrangement for him to get the plays to the quarterbacks. For that reason, starting QB Jason Campbell has some serious misgivings about the efficacy of the setup.

Lewis has only been out of retirement and with the team for two weeks, and has spent this week trying to ingest a crash course on the Redskins' offensive schemes. While he was learning on the job, head coach Zorn was trying to put the best spin possible on the situation':

"I need to have composure. I need to understand what the reality of the situation is, and I think our players expect me to rise up. We expect them to play under adverse conditions. We expect them to risk it all. ... I'm conscious of what's going on. I'm not naive about what's going on, and yet I have to just hold back on any feelings and make the decisions."

Quarterback Campbell is more concerned about the convoluted system of getting plays from Lewis to him:

"There'll probably be a couple of plays I have in my head just in case if some reason it doesn't get in on time."

Here's how things are supposed to work-Lewis will sit in the coaches' box above the field and read the plays off a sheet. While Lewis has years of experience working in the so called 'West Coast Offense', Zorn left doubt that he really knows what he's doing at this point stressing that Lewis "doesn't know the protections" and "doesn't know the blitz schemes." Nevertheless, he'll be running the offense when the Redskins take on Philadelphia this Monday night.

Once Lewis figures out what to call, that's when it really gets tricky. He'll relay the plays via headset not to Zorn but to offensive coordinator Sherman Smith. Smith will then inform the quarterback what to run. Zorn is left in the role of a passive bystander on offense, though he will listen in to the playcalling on his headset.

Backup quarterback Todd Collins also shared his concern with the new arrangement:

"It is unsettling. I've never gone through this before. I've never had a play caller get changed in the middle of the season."

Lewis didn't exactly evoke a lot of confidence upon his hiring, where he revealed that he'd been calling bingo games at a seniors' center to kill time since his retirement in 2004. Still, Collins gave him a guarded vote of confidence;

"I know he's been studying last year's game against the Eagles and seems to have a pretty good idea how he wants to call the game this week. It's the same plays. He might coach them a little differently or highlight some different areas, but the offense hasn't gone under an overhaul or anything like that."

The Redskins haven't scored more than 17 points in a game this season, so maybe the thinking is that things can't get any worse. The NFL odds for Monday Night's game show the Eagles a -7 road favorite with the total set at 37'.

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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The Best RTG Casino Games

Real Time Gaming or RTG software is the top software used by leading online casinos. There is good reason for that. RTG software has the best graphics, a variety of features and is backed by a company that takes customer service very seriously. When you play RTG software casino games you will get the best experience possible.

Not only are the games amazing and fun, but there are also a variety of games that you can play. You really have no limits because almost every game you want to play from slots to poker to blackjack are available from RTG software.

Let's take a look at some of the most popular RTG software casino games.

Blackjack: Always a popular game, RTG blackjack uses 2 to 4 decks. The dealer hits soft on 17, double after a split or on any first two cards. The only way to lose first bet is if the dealer comes out with 21. There are several versions of blackjack offered from RTG. These include, Caribbean 21, Face Up and Match Play 21.

Video Poker: Another popular choice for players, video poker from RTG offers you a real experience. RTG has a large selection of video poker games. These include Pick ‘em Poker, Double Jackpot, Joker Poker and Loose Deuces.

Roulette: RTG software offers a nice selection of roulette games. In RTG roulette you have the choice of both American and European wheels. Most of the games are available to play instantly or to be downloaded.

Craps: RTG software offers craps which is a game of skill. Full double odds is the standard play in craps from RTG. Most casinos offer a chance to play for free so you can get a feel for the game and get in some practice before playing for money.

Slot Machines: One of the hottest new games from RTG software is the slots. RTG slots offer a lot of options in different games. There are random jackpots and progressive jackpots along with regular jackpot games.

These are just a sampling of the many different game options you get with RTG software. When you visit an RTG casino you will see there are plenty of choices and options no matter what game you choose to play.

RTG is Hot

There are many reasons why people love to play at RTG casinos. People simply like the experience they get with RTG software games. They take playing online to a whole new level. RTG software games offer you something that is so close to the real thing that you may start to wonder if you are at home or sitting in a Vegas casino. These games simple are the best games available in online casinos. You cannot get better graphics, better odds or a better experience than you do with RTG software games.

Actual Day Photography

By Ray Wong

On a wedding day the two most important people are the wedding couple. To get some excellent portraits, the photographer should seclude the wedding couple from the celebration for a while to capture the intimate moments after the ceremony. Not only will you get your pictures but this will give they wedding couple some time away from the celebration as well.

The portrait session will give the photographer enough time to spend with the wedding couple to capture the pictures. But this does not always happen since time is rarely a luxury anyone has; on the actual day. The time taken for pictures can well vary from an hour to no time at all. It can take up to an hour for the photographer to take the pictures.

When is the best time to take aside the bride and groom for some quality time with the photographer?

Most photographers tend to believe that the window before the reception is very suitable for portrait photography, since the couple would still look fresh at that time.

Sometimes the bride and groom would want to start the portrait shoot even before the ceremony says Bradley Hanson, award winning photographer. He generally starts by photographing the bride getting ready in such events.

Other photo journalists believe that the right time for a portrait session is just after the couple has exchanged their vows, and are still are evidently feeling the emotions of being newly-wed.

For the perfect actual day session to begin, the newly-weds should set aside some time to spend with the photographer. They should find ways to politely lose the relatives and guests to acquire the beautiful moments, so that they can be cherished for a lifetime.

Too many people trying to take pictures of the newly-weds and crying for attention may very well ruin a good portrait session on the wedding day. So the couple isn't distracted by anyone the photographer will choose to have the couple alone.

Most newly-weds start feeling uncomfortable before the camera when the portrait shoot is going to take place, says Shawna Herring, award winning photographer. Professional photographers try to talk to the camera-shy couple about things other than the portrait session so that they forget the camera is even there.

It is also recommended to choose a day before or after the wedding for the photo shoot and go with the photographer to a different location. To have a good relationship with the photographer this really seems to help loosen them up. Shortly after, couples sometimes forget the camera is even there.

It is at times impossible to achieve the perfect alone time with the photographer due to a variety of reasons. Working together with the bride and groom will help to achieve the creative portrait session.

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Monday, December 21, 2009

The Casinos Online Are Fun!

Gambling is fun, face up to it. However, we do not want it to become an addictive habit. It is a risk. But as natural to us as eating a tender, rare, mouth salivating steak and as satisfying, if you win.

No, we cannot just pick up and drive or fly to Vegas to satisfy our gambling itch. We can, however, and this is the fun part, get into a game right in our own home.

With the time it takes for you to think about going to the casino to play, is the time it will take you to surf the internet, join an online tournament and begin play. Whatever your game is - poker or blackjack, you will find the best tables to play. Without worrying about any other players affecting your play.

Now, where to go?

There are choices of course. You could, however, download software or you can opt not to download any of the available software. There are games that have no requirement to download any software in order to play. There are players though who feel that downloading a software program gives you the advantage of playing the best casino games.

The casinos online have made the process of joining truly easy for you. When entering an online casino site, you are given your choice to either download a software program or just click on another option to play without downloading. There are different ways to play a casino online and they are flash, HTML, Live Dealer and Java.

Online casinos - Flash

With flash, in order for you to join and play, you do not need to download any software. This is an advantage. No need to overcrowd the storage in your computer with the senseless entertainment you would be exposed to. Another advantage would be - if your computer crashes - you can play from another computer. Maybe your co-worker’s computer, when he’s not around of course. Disadvantage - graphics are not as good as they are with downloaded software.

Live Dealer, Java and HTML are some of the casino program software available. The best gambling is experienced on the downloaded casino software. The game play is fast paced, the graphics are the most detailed with the downloaded software. Live Dealer provides more options than HTML and Java provide. And downloaded casino software doesn‘t need the latest software to access them.

Java, HTML and Live Dealer are among the casino downloaded programs. Downloaded casino software offer the best of the casino gambling online experience. These were among the first software programs to offer online gambling. Java may still be found, but the chances are you’ll not use it since you already have Live Dealer or using flash player.

The simplest graphics and with the least options are the HTML casinos. This may work best for you if your internet connection slow and hardware is ancient.

And finally, do not become an addict! Possibly this piece of advice is useless. Since I’m sure you’ve already opened your account, in a different window, and finished your download - right!

The History Of Reno's Mapes Hotel

By Ross Everett

On January 31, 2000, the historic Mapes Hotel in Reno was imploded by 75 pounds of explosives tucked into the art-deco structures support columns. The destruction of the Mapes put an end to years of efforts to preserve the building via lawsuits, redevelopment proposals, and grass roots action. The National Trust for Historic Preservation took up the cause of the Mapes, and challenged the destruction in a suit that eventually reached the Nevada Supreme Court.

While the efficacy and justification of demolishing the Mapes is debatable, one thing that is not is the glorious history of the hotel. It was built in'47, and signaled the start of the modern era of casino gambling. Despite the notoriety of Bugsy Siegel and the Flamingo in Las Vegas, it was the Mapes that became the first building in the nation to have a hotel, casino and live entertainment under one roof. It also became the hotel of choice for celebrities staying in Northern Nevada. Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe stayed at The Mapes during the filming of 'The Misfits'. Joseph McCarthy, America's famed anti-Communist crusader, admitted to a reporter over cocktails in the Mapes Lounge that he really didn't have a list of Communists in the US despite his frequent and vitriolic insistence to the contrary.

During the 'Rat Pack' era of the 50's and 60's it became along with the Cal-Neva Lodge in Lake Tahoe the place to be seen in Northern Nevada. The 11th floor, window walled Sky Room Lounge hosted performances by a roster of entertainment legends including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Milton Berle and Mae West. Downtown Reno struggled during the'60's and 70's but the Mapes continued to prosper. The hotel finally closed in'82, due to financial problems experienced by the Mapes Family brought about by their other Northern Nevada casino holdings.

Reno has yet to experience the sort of growth that has been seen in Southern Nevada, and for that reason the destruction of the Mapes is more open to debate than the hotel demolitions to the south. Even the demolition of The Sands--perhaps the most historically significant casino in the state--is hard to argue against given the inability of such a small property to compete in the current Las Vegas marketplace and in light of the value of the mid-strip real estate.

That's not the case in Reno, where vacant land and/or buildings ripe for redevelopment are abundant downtown and in the other casino areas of the city. The official reason that the Mapes had to come down was that the city needed the land to expand its vision for downtown redevelopment. While this is certainly a much needed effort, to suggest that the existence of the Mapes was a barrier is absurd. In fact, many of the proposals rejected by the city would have gone a long way to enhance the revitalization of downtown Reno and included artists lofts, office space and other mixed used properties. Despite receiving a number of viable concepts for the Mapes Building, the City Redevelopment Authority rejected all of them and the Mapes was destined for demolition.

The role of the City Redevelopment Authority was questioned throughout the process. Overlooking the Truckee River, the hotel was on a prime location between the downtown casino area and the riverfront district. A number of sound financial proposals were presented that would preserve the integrity of the structure including condominiums, office space, and perhaps most viable, upscale senior apartments. Oddly, all of these proposals were turned down by the citys Redevelopment Agency which continued to maintain that demolition was the only viable option despite copious evidence to the contrary.

After the demolition of The Mapes Hotel, the lot remained vacant for almost a year until a temporary ice skating rink was constructed in the winter of 2001. The site now houses a permanent ice skating rink which, while not a bad use for the land, brings into question the insistence by the City Redevelopment Agency that none of the proposals to preserve the building were viable. Clearly, they had no specific plan or even general idea of what to do with the land but for some reason wanted to see the hotel come down. This has led to all manner of speculation, ranging from financial self interest to a rumor that the structure was 'haunted' and needed to be destroyed to forestall future paranormal activity in Washoe County. Whatever the reason, the city of Reno lost a valuable landmark of a more civilized era.

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Sunday, December 20, 2009

Easy Ways To Make Money With Event Photography

By Don Wong

One of the many ways you can make money as a photographer is to specialize on events. Christenings, weddings, and all sorts of other events where people create memories can be well paid business. The great thing is that all you need is a good digital camera, tons of memory cards, and some business cards.

What to do

You must be careful what events to cover if you want to make money. Only where people want to retain memories will it be worth your while.

One idea is to go to kids sports events. Get permission from the coach to click pics for the parents watching and then start clicking away. If you turn up with a huge telephoto lens like the ones used for pro coverage of events, you will be taken seriously. Make sure you get all the kids doing great action shots and then hand out flyers to all the parents watching with your web address. If you can write down the parents email address so you can email them the URL of you site then upload the pics to your web site that day and email everyone. If you have a simple shopping cart set up you can make money in a few hours as people pop in to see the pics and buy them for $20 or more a pop.

You can do a similar thing with weddings. Take all the normal pictures as part of the wedding coverage but then get your URL printed on the wedding invites and all the other wedding materials and also get an email list of all the wedding guests, offer the couple a nice 20% discount for doing this and then take lots of extra pics at the wedding of the guests doing all the things they do. Upload all the pics to your site and send the emails. You will then make a lot more money than the 20% discount it cost you because then 20 or 30 people will be also purchasing your pics at $20 or more a shot straight from your site. Charging a higher price for high res pics is also a great money spinner.

The key is to just find a corner of the market where you can take the pics and then sell them easily online.

Dog shows, fashion shows, horse shows, car shows, livestock competitions, rock shows, - the list goes on. Keep your eye out in the events section of your local paper to see what is happening. Always ask for permission to shoot pics and if you need to offer the people 10% of the income if feel you need to so you can get easy access.

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Saturday, December 19, 2009

Hunting Versus Bowie Knives

By Dylan Sabot

Can you tell the difference between a hunting knife and a bowie knife? If you were to look at a bowie knife side by side with another type of hunting knife, several differences would be obvious. What are these differences? Isn't a bowie knife still a hunting knife? While the original bowie was often used as a hunting knife, it was designed for many other purposes, as well. How do bowies differ from standard hunting knives?

Therefore, you'll find that bowie knives differ from hunting knives in several different ways. How do they differ? As mentioned, bowies are used for many different things. While they have long held a place in hunting, as well as camping, fishing and general use, they also serve a purpose in self-defense. Hunting knives, while they can be used for purposes other than those intended by the knife's creator, usually don't do an adequate job in these different areas.

Now, a bowie knife on the other hand, is designed for many different uses. Originally, the bowie knife was designed for personal protection, as well as general-purpose use in camping, hunting and fishing. This is why the blade is so large and thick - it has to be to deal with such a wide variety of different uses. While you will find that specialty knives do a better job in their very specific field, a bowie knife will outperform other knives, simply because you can use it for such a wide range of different things. You can skin with them, chop brush, gut fish, chop vegetables, cut through bone and more.

You'll also find that bowie knives have very different shapes than other hunting knives. While all bowies share the clipped point design (you'll find this on some hunting knives, too), you will also find a few other features. Some bowie knives have a Spanish Notch on the blade that can be useful when hunting or camping. Some knives also have saw-teeth on the blade's spine, though some users find these cumbersome, annoying and even dangerous in some circumstances.

Therefore, bowie knives differ from hunting knives in size, design and intended usage. While a hunting knife is usually only a single-use tool, you'll find far more benefits with a bowie. This is because a single knife can be used for multiple needs, ensuring that you don't need to carry several different blades with you all the time.

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Friday, December 18, 2009

Playing To Win Against Top Poker Players

How do professional poker players get so good? Why do they always win? What is it about them that makes them win over and over, and so much money? But the most important question is: How do I play like they do?

First, you need to learn what makes a top poker player so good. You have to start practicing your game and learn what it is the pros do to keep on top. Here are some tips the pros have handed out.

- Keep in mind that you can lose. No one wins every single hand, this is something that you just have to accept. Don't let it make you unhappy or angry, and don't give up simply because you've had a bad hand or two. No matter what happened yesterday, the odds stay the same. Keep in mind that you have the same chance of losing today as you did yesterday. The game doesn't care how good your day went, or how badly.

- Think about the big win. Everyone wants that pot. Ideally, the winner will be you. But remember, everyone has the same goal. Don't worry about them, though, focus on yourself. You're not there to make friends. In the game, look out for yourself and your hand. Keeping your eye on your cards will make you focused and give you a better chance to win.

- Keep your problems at home. A good player sits down and thinks of nothing but the game. If something happened that you can't stop thinking about, then don't play. If you bring your problems with you to the table, you will end up spending more time worried about them than thinking about winning.

- Dedicate yourself to the game. You have to focus on the table. Think about nothing else but the cards in your hand and the money in the pot. Don't let your mind wander away. If you really want to be a winner, you have to dedicate yourself 100% to the game.

Profession pokers are all about the game. They're not out there to make friends and socialize, they're there to win and win big. If you want to win like a pro, you have to play like one. The reason they look so serious when they play is because they are taking the game seriously.

These four tips should help you get started on the path to being a pro. But you also have to practice with your poker skills. The right attitude will only get you so far if you don't know how to play the game. Practice regularly and play as often as you can to get better. To be the best at the game you have to know and understand the rules as well as have the right mindset. If you put everything into being a top poker player, than you soon will be a pro. Keep these tips in mind, practice, practice, practice, and one day you will be the player other people want to be.

The Incredibly Amazing Magician

By Miles Sunkest

The other night I was witness to the most impressive demonstration of illusions I've ever seen. My friends and I got some tickets to this magic show. It was through a friend of a friend, or somebody's work or something.

The only other time I'd actually seen a magician that wasn't on TV was at my friends Confirmation party. It was in junior high school, and they had this magician come. He was OK, he did some card tricks, and pulled some coins out of my friend's ears. Nothing out of the ordinary.

But the guy we saw the other night was way different. He didn't just do some basic tricks, he did these things that I didn't even think were possible. I don't even remember this guys name, but he had the whole crowd completely mesmerized during the entire show. The way people were looking at him, I really wanted to learn some magic tricks on my own.

At first, he seemed just like any other club magician. Card tricks, pulling roses out of thing air and then making them burst into flames. General stuff like where you basically use props to do all your magic. Little did I know that he was setting us up.

After he did his "warm up" tricks, he started walking around the crowd. He would walk up to somebody's table, and talk to them. Then he would make point to reach in and either shake their hand, or put his hand their shoulder. Then walked back onto the stage, and started telling us about his childhood. While he was doing that, these people, whom he touched, started walking up to the stage like zombies. Like they were under his complete control.

When they were on stage, he made them all speak in Martian, and told the crowd they were there, and had mistaken this club for the UN. So we had to listen to a group of people give a speech, in Martian, to the United Nations. It was the strangest thing I'd ever seen. If you haven't seen a magic show recently, you should check one . I think magic may have changed from what you may remember.

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Thursday, December 17, 2009

Solo Or Multiplayer Casino Games

Internet casinos resemble the La Vegas casinos in may ways. They use intense-audio effects, a large selection of games, and flashy graphics. On the Internet though you have a choice between multiplayer or solo casino games.

In Las Vegas there are also games that are played with other players such as poker, or the games that one plays by themselves such as the slots. However, with an Internet casino you normally get to choose how you play. Numerous games are played solo but other games are played with multiple players.

Games Played Solo

One game that normally is just a solo game is slots, offline or on the Internet. This is a machine that is played by one person.

With Internet casinos, many options exist for the player to go solo with the only opponent being the computer. One game that is normally played solo is blackjack. Several of the games that can be downloaded from the Internet casinos a meant for solo play opposing the computer.

Some of the enjoyment with the casino games really is the excitement of competing and winning against the other players. This is the reason the multiplayer versions for the casino games have been and continue to be highly popular.

Casino Games Played Multiplayer

There are numerous casino games that are designed for multiplayer for you to play. These games let you socialize with others, while you display your abilities for the game.

Most Internet multiplayer casino games also have a chat room available. This chat room give the players a chance to have conversation similar to what they would have in a Las Vegas casino. This makes the whole experience seem more realistic and helps you check out the competition since you can't see them. Slots even become interactive with having the chat room to use to talk to people playing it.

Multiplayer versions are offered for most of the kinds of casino games. From bingo to blackjack to poker, you will see these versions offered so that you have the ability to interact with other people, that are playing the games too.

Multiplayer versus Solo Casino Games

Multiplayer versions of casino games give you a different type of enjoyment for your experience in Internet gaming. You can even make new friends with playing these games. Having this adds to the Internet playing enjoyment.

Internet gaming is fun and convenient, some of the Las Vegas enthusiasm for the games are lost though, if you only play solo ones. It may be faster to play the solo game which you can play at your convenience, but you will get more social interaction with the multiplayer games.

You will have to see if the rooms are open for the mulitplayer games. Most of the online casinos have more than enough rooms available so you will not have to wait that long if all are full. It is well worth the wait though, because it is so much fun to play the multiplayer games, due to the social interaction.

The Evolution Of Mens Sports Watches

By Lance Wong

Before the First World War men carried pocket watches, they were large and heavy, made to be carried in a vest pocket. Wrist watches in those days were designed for women, they were small, delicate and considered to be women's jewelry. It was the Armies of the time that saw the need for a convenient time piece that was easily accessible and durable, unlike the gentleman's pocket watch. Thus started the evolution of the Wrist Watch for Men. The Generals also saw that there were different areas of operations and therefore the requirements for each were different. This led to different specifications being written for the three areas of operations and has resulted in the main categories of Mens Sports Watches.

Mens Sports Watches have not only become a fashion statement but are in high demand by professional sports men in their respective disciplines, who also demand the best. And through past experience and growing competition the simple wrist watch has morphed into many variations of styles and functionality. This can vary from a simple analog movement of hour hand, minute hand, and second hand with a numbered rotating bezel. To a multifunctional wrist computer that can track time in three zones, time a race and sound an alarm set to a predetermined figure. The main characteristic though is a large face with bold numbers and can be read in the dark.

In looking at these three categories we can see the influence of the three main branches of the armed forces, the Airforce, the Army, and the Navy. Each has its unique requirements for the job that it is being employed in. The areas are; the Pilot or Aviator Watch, The Marine or Dive Watch, and the Racing Watch. Although a standard watch could be used for all areas, it would not stand up to the rigors, nor have the extra functionality necessary for the job.

Pilots and Aviators require their time pieces to be able to withstand the rapid transition from ground level to high altitudes with low pressure and temperatures, without fogging or loss of accuracy of time. The mariner or Diver on the other hand works in an environment that is highly corrosive, wet and sometimes have to descend depths under high pressure that could cause his watch to implode or leak creating a dangerous situation. Racing Drivers on the other hand expect their watches to operate in cold or hot conditions with constant vibrations, take a banging and keep accurate lap and stage times.

Other areas of sports have emerged in recent times that require high quality, accurate, and durable wrist watches with features specific to their discipline. Such features can vary from a compass, GPS system to a heart rate monitor. Overall the demand for Mens Sports Watches is still for the three main categories.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

A Guide To Casino Special Offers

Online casinos are increasingly popular, with gamers choosing these virtual casinos over brick and mortar establishments in many cases for their convenience. Even through online casinos are so popular, competition in this industry is stiff, with casinos always in search of promotions that will attract gamers to their casino sites.

How Special Offers and Promotions Work

These casino special offers can be a boon to gamers and casinos alike. The casinos are happy to get new players' business and of course, gamers are thrilled with the free games, sign up bonuses, extra winnings and other casino promotions that they benefit from.

Casino special offers vary from one online casino to the next, as do the terms and conditions of these offers. Gamers should always read the terms and conditions in their entirety to make sure that they fully understand the conditions of these promotional offers. Not all of these promotions are what they seem - and the last thing you want is to enter some sort of agreement which benefits only the casino.

Types of Casino Special Offers

You'll see a wide variety of different online casino promotions out there, but the ones which follow are the most commonly used by casinos in the effort to retain existing players and attract new business.

- Sign up bonuses: These are bonuses which are offered to players who are new to a given casino. When first signing up for an account at the casino, new players may be given what is essentially free money to play with. The average signup bonus is around $100, though players are usually given this amount in installments over a few month's time.

- Percentage bonus: A percentage bonus involves the casino matching (up to a specified limit) the money that you deposit into your account. This percentage may be anywhere from 10% and up, though is typically above 50% and sometimes as high as 500%.

- Matching bonus: A matching bonus is a type of casino special offer where the casino will match the amount that you put into your account. As with percentage bonuses, there is almost always a limit on how much the casino will match.

- Reload offer: This is a type of bonus which may be offered to existing players rather than new ones. These bonuses involve the casino "reloading" the player's account with money to encourage them to keep coming back and gaming at the casino.

- Preferred deposit: This is a type of casino promotion which encourages gamers to use a specific type of payment, usually through some sort of percentage bonus for this form of payment.

- Loyalty rewards: This is an offer made to players who have been with the same casino for a specified time; this is usually a bonus of some sort, though the exact type of reward varies.

- High roller reward: These promotions are designed to reward gamers who make large deposits. Typically, this is in the form of a matching or percentage bonus, though this depends on the casino.

These are just a few of the more common casino special offers and casino promotions you may find online - there are many others which you'll come across when looking into different online casinos. Casino special offers are intended to get the interest of players and there are many of these promotions which represent a good deal to players. Just make sure to read the terms and conditions carefully to make sure that what sounds like a great value actually is before you commit to anything.

Seven Critiques Of Well-Known Motion Pictures For Your Pleasure

By Von Horne

Some websites are offering lifetime memberships while others present memberships that last for a precise period of time. Whichever way it turns out to be much more cost-effective than the average video store or subscription service plus you have the added convenience of having access to all of the obtainable motion pictures and not just the ones that are at present in stock. Choose from the list below and download a great film to watch tonight.

From Nashville with Music - Some exceptional country and western music, although one would be better served to acquire one of the actors' albums rather than agonizing through this account of a New York couple who go to the Grand Ole Opry by coincidence. Cast includes Marilyn Maxwell, Leo G. Carroll, Pedro Gonzalez, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard, and Buck Owens. (87 minutes, 1969)

Tombstone - Lawman Wyatt Earp is prepared to retire. He has successfully cleaned up the streets of Dodge City, and moves to Tombstone. There he meets up with his brothers, and longtime friend Doc Holiday. Meanwhile a band of outlaws, called The Cowboys, are running wild in the region. This sets up the legendary shoot out at the OK Corral.

Like Mike - Charming movie for babies in reference to an orphaned boy who possesses sneakers that might have belonged to Michael Jordan and turns into a basketball-playing marvel however what he seriously wants is a dad. Many basketball stars appear as their selves. Cast includes Morris Chestnut, Jonathan Lipnicki, Robert Forster, Crispin Glover, and Anne Meara. (99 minutes, 2002)

On Guard - A faithful swordsman saves a child princess from the evil grasp of her malicious antagonist. The tot's dad was also the swordsman's mentor. A appealingly old-styled popcorn film that is full of action and set in the France of Louis XIV. Cast includes Daniel Auteuil, Fabrice Luchini, Vincent Perez, Marie Gillain, Yann Collette, Didier Pang, and Philippe Noiret. (128 minutes, 1997)

The Horse Whisperer - After her daughter is gravely hurt in a horse riding accident, her well-heeled mother takes the horse to a well-known horse whisperer in Montana. A romance between the two follows.

Slavers - (1978-German) C-I02 Slavers is about the slave trade commerce that went on in Africa right through the 19th century. An excellent cast is saddled with second-rate script. Cast includes Trevor Howard, Ron Ely, Britt Ekland, Jurgen Goslar, Ray Milland, Ken Gampu, and Cameron Mitchell. (102 minutes, 1978)

Apollo 13 - This motion picture recounts the amazing tale of the Apollo 13 mission to the moon. Nearing the moon, the spacecraft experiences multiple systems failures. With the oxygen supply failing and systems not functioning, they are trapped over 200,000 miles from Earth. Against impossible odds, the crew of Apollo 13, and thousands of people on the ground, all labor determinedly on inspired approaches to bring them safely home. The fact that this crew survived this mission is one of the truly wonderful stories of our generation.

Downloading movies is fast becoming the best way to get the motion pictures that you want exactly when you want them. Isn't it time for you to check out how easy and cheap downloading movies can be?

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Progressive Jackpots - What's The Big Deal?

If you have been playing in the online casinos then you have probably heard about progressive jackpots. What are they and why is everyone so excited about them? Progressive jackpots are a way to win big and there are plenty of reasons why people are talking about them.

The Definition

A progressive jackpot is not complex to understand. Simply put it is a jackpot that gets larger each time a game is played. Progressive jackpots are available on gaming machines, like slot machines. The jackpot is not just for one machine, though.

One jackpot can have several machines linked to it, so everyone playing on the machines linked to that jackpot are playing for that jackpot. This is both good and bad. On the one hand you are competing with others so your chances of winning are lessened, but on the other hand, everyone playing is building up the jackpot.

Why All the Hype?

Progressive jackpots are definitely very popular. People seem to love them and love to talk about them. Why is there so much hype about this type of jackpot?

The bottom line is that progressive jackpots offer you a chance to win some of the highest jackpots available. Since they are constantly being built up, the minute you hit the right winning combination you win a large chunk of cash. Who wouldn't want to try to win a huge jackpot?

People also like progressive jackpots because they are associated with gaming machines. Slot machines are already very popular. They require no special knowledge to play. They are easy to find and available in every online casino.

Another perk of these machines is that in order to win players are usually required to play a certain number of credits. Some players do not realize this and end up playing a minimum number of credits, so they cannot win the jackpot, but every time they play they are increasing the jackpot. This makes the odds more in favor of those who are playing the required number of credits.

Finally, playing progressive jackpots has the same odds of playing a regular machine. You have the same chance of winning, but you can win so much more with progressive jackpots. Basically, you get more for your money since you have the same chance of winning as when you play a regular machine.

Playing progressive jackpots is something you have to decide for yourself. You can stick to regular machines and still win big, but you will not have the chance to win the huge jackpots that are paid out through progressive jackpots.

When making your decision about playing progressive or regular jackpot games, make sure you think about everything. Consider the number of players and the amount of money that you have to play. Do not get tricked into thinking that you have a better chance with a progressive jackpot machine because you don't. Stick with your usually slot strategies that you use to win on regular machines and you should be fine if you do choose to play a progressive jackpot.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Win Big by Playing Progressive Jackpots

Playing Progressive jackpots is far more exciting than playing for a standard payout. These money pots can contain hundreds of thousands of dollars and it all goes to the lucky winner. No wonder everyone is buzzing about these big buck payouts. If you want to know more about how to get in on the action then read on and discover all you need to know about playing progressive jackpots.

Knowledge is King

Make sure you do your homework and understand the casino game and the rules regarding progressive jackpots before you decide to play. If you have a good understanding of the game and know how to calculate the odds it gives you a decided edge. Knowledge trumps even a wild card, and the more you know about jackpots and gaming the easier it is for you to determine the right play that will make you a winner.

Progressive Jackpot from A-Z

When you have a progressive jackpot it means that the amount of money in the pot increases each time the game is played. The payout is constantly tracked and displayed on screen to all players. Games that have a progressive jackpot are being offered on multiple sites so that they will attract the maximum interest. These types of jackpots are the highest payouts offered by casinos and gaming sites. As more players come to the table the jackpot grows. The higher the jackpot grows the more players come back to the table. This is why the payout amounts for these types of games grow so rapidly.

The only difference between slots or video poker that is played for a progressive jackpot and those that are being played for regular jackpots is the fact that the progressive jackpot pays the winner more money. There are no tricks or gimmicks involved, and the winning odds are unchanged.

Increasing the Jackpot Amount

Each time a progressive jackpot game is played and not won the jackpot amount increases.Playing for a progressive jackpot will require you to pony up a minimum number of credits if you want to be eligible for the money payout. You can still try the game without investing the total number of credits, but should you win you will not be awarded the jackpot. Any of the credits that are collected by players of a progressive jackpot game will be added to the jackpot amount, even those that come from players who have not entered enough credits to be eligible for the payout.

The money amount in a progressive jackpot grows rapidly because there are so many players trying their luck at multiple gaming sites around the world. Building a jackpot with an astronomical payout is not hard to do because of the high number of players. If you check out some of these jackpot games you will see that the payout amount is increasing almost every minute.

A progressive jackpot is reset to a minimum amount immediately after it has been won. Once this is done players can begin playing and build the jackpot amount up once again. Even when the amount is reset to a minimum number the jackpot will be rebuilt quickly.

Stick to your Playing Strategy

All casino games are played the same regardless of what type of jackpot you are playing for. A progressive jackpot does not change anything except the amount of the payout. You should remember this and stick to your usual playing style and game strategy. Do not allow those big dollar jackpots to make you forget the importance of careful, responsible playing. Some people are dazzled by the large dollar amounts they see onscreen and they start playing so free and loose that they soon have no hope of winning.

Don't be afraid to start playing progressive jackpots but just stick to your standard gaming play. Do not let large jackpot amounts intimidate you and cause to you forget the limits you set. Keep your gaming strategies in mind and never shift your playing style just because the jackpots are continuing to increase well into 6 numbers

When you opt to play a progressive jackpot game you are giving yourself a chance to win a really big payout. Still the odds for a win with these games are the same as they would be on any other game. However there is certainly more to be gained by winning one of these enormous payouts as opposed to the smaller payouts offered with those regular games.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Barbie Holiday Doll - 50 Years Old And Still Looking Good

By Ledley Withenshaw

With the holiday season just around the corner, the new crop of holiday toys will be making their appearance. Among the many favorites is the Barbie holiday doll. The enduring appeal of these beautiful dolls make them a gift that any girl, young or old, can cherish and proudly show off.

Just about every little girl dreams of being a princess and loves fairy tales of all types. The Barbie holiday doll is a wonderful way to encourage every little girl's dreams. With the fairy tale dresses and glittering jewelry this is what girls dream about opening on Christmas morning. If you want to see her eyes light up with joy then having this gift under your tree with her name on it will be just the thing.

Of course you don't have to be a little girl to appreciate the beauty of a Barbie holiday doll. Just about everyone who collects dolls has a couple of the holiday Barbie's for past holiday seasons. These dolls grow in value especially when they are unopened and in mint condition. If fact, this is a great gift for that person on your list who is an avid collector because each new year brings a new collectible Barbie doll.

The Barbie holiday doll changes each year and that alone makes them a unique gift that will be appreciated by the lucky recipient. Whether you want to buy the most current one or one from years gone by, there are many sites that sell the holiday version of the Barbie doll, you may even be lucky enough to find someone willing to part with a coveted edition from previous years. The older ones may be a little harder to find but you can find quite a few from years past if you are willing to pay a higher price.

At times you may be able to get a hold of an entire Barbie holiday doll collection. Of course this will probably be very expensive and for a little girl it may not even make a very good gift. Most very young girls want a toy they can take out and play with, not put up and save for many years to come.

Any one who likes dolls will be able to appreciate this gift. There is something about these dolls that transcends time and age. Though the dresses and jewelry and other accessories may change each year there is comfort in seeing the familiar Barbie doll. This is a gift sure to make every one smile when they receive it.

The Barbie holiday doll holds a certain magic that nothing else can compare to. Whether this is your first time or twentieth time, this is one holiday tradition that your family will treasure for years to come. Don't forget these are available during the holiday shopping season but they do sell out fast, so get yours early!

Newsflash ! Barbie toy makers, Mattel have just released their official licensed Twilight Barbie dolls. At this stage they include the Edward and Bella dolls, but recent news reports suggest that a Jacob doll will be released soon. Twilight dolls are sure to be a popular choice for fans of the movies/books and doll collectors. Demand is sure to be strong so get your Edward or Bella doll today.

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Saturday, December 12, 2009

Seven Positive Suggestions For An Amazing Movie To View Tonight

By Marisa Mckee

A further consideration for a movie download site is a extensive collection of movies to choose from. You should be able to get any movie that has been released on video. New releases that are still at the theater are not accessible on the legal sites but that is the same as the usual video store or subscription service. The selection at a good movie download service should actually be better than your neighborhood video store though because computer files don't take up actual space. Many good services also provide music and games.

Select from the assessments below and download a great movie to view tonight!

Night Nurse - Phenomenal, hard story of nurse (Stanwyck) who couldn't discount odd goings on in home where she works. Blondell adds zingy support and it is one of Gable's most remarkable early appearances. Cast includes Barbara Stanwyck, Ben Lyon, Joan Blondell, Clark Gable, Charlotte Merriam, and Charles Winninger.

After Life - This is a marvelously crafted premise of case workers at a train station between the heavens who help the recently departed to single out a lone moment from their pasts to live inside eternally. This is a serene, lyrical measure of life, death, and memory, filled with soft humor and blessedly free of some feel-good platitudes. Cast includes Aarata, Erika Oda, Susuma Terajirna, Taketoshi Naito, Kyoko Kagawa, Kei Tani, Takashi Naito, and Yusuke lseya.

Above the Law - This is Steven Segal's breakout motion picture. He plays a Chicago Cop who takes matters into his own hands. As the title implies, he is 'above the law'. He uses his large body and martial arts skills to cause havoc on the bad guys. Stars include Steven Segal, Pam Grier, and Sharon Stone.

Rhapsody in Blue - Hollywood biography of George Gershwin is largely fiction, although comes off better than most other composer biographies, seizing Gershwin's enthusiasm for his work, and some of his central conflicts. Cast includes Robert Aida, Joan Leslie, Alexis Smith, Oscar Levant, Charles Coburn, Hazel Scott, and Al Jolson.

In Enemy Country - Mediocre WW2 story, set in France and England, filmed on a back-lot. Not very persuading. Cast includes Tony Franciosa, Anjanette Comer

Sugar Town - Compelling variety of LA life characterizing a handful of characters whose lives come together - a musician hopeful who'll do anything to get ahead, an uptight lone woman who allures the unsuitable men like a magnet, and a band made up of cleaned-up '80s rock megastars, to name a few. Made on a shoestring, although intelligent and well recognized; outstanding cast contains a number of actual musicians. Cast includes Ally Sheedy, Rosanna Arquette, John Taylor, Jade Gordon, Michael Des Barres, Lucinda Jenney, and Martin Kemp.

The Search - Touching drama of American cadet Clift regarding for concentration camp survivor Jandl in postwar Berlin, when the boy's mommy glumly looks all over the camps for him. Beautifully performed and directed. Cast includes Montgomery Clift, Ivan Jandl, Aline MacMahon, Jarmila Novotna, and Wendell Corey.

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Friday, December 11, 2009

Online Real Series Slots 101

Real Series slots are slot machines from Real Time Gaming or RTG. Real Time Gaming is well known in the industry and the top software being used at elite internet casinos. RTG software is well respected for providing an amazing online gaming experience. RTG provides exceptional graphics, a wide variety of games, fast payouts and competent customer service. RTG has now expanded into offering Real Series slots that go above and beyond what you could ever get before in online gaming.

What to Expect from Real Series Slots

The thing that makes RTG stand out from other online casino software is the attention to detail. With RTG games, including Real Series slots, you get some amazing features that make your gaming experience amazing and take it to a whole new level. If you are not careful, you may actually start to think you are in a real life casino instead of playing online.

Here is an overview of the Real Series slots features:

Quick gaming experience - Real Series slots are fast no matter how fast your internet connection may be. Even the slowest dial up connections will be fast.

Amazing look - RTG is known for providing realistic and entertaining graphics. This is no different with Real Series slots. They add to the game, making it fun and exciting to play. There are eye catching animations, too, that just really add something to the game that you cannot find anywhere else.

Small cost - These RTG slots have minimum credits, so you can play a lot even if you don't have a huge budget. An additional plus is that the slots can be played with money instead of confusing credits.

Multiple pay lines - With the large variety of pay lines, winning is a lot easier. You may not win huge, but you will probably win something when you play Real Series slots.

Optional Features

Besides the features listed above, some Real Series slots games will have special features that let you win more, play more and have more fun. These special features include:

- The ability to earn free spins.

- Bonus rounds where you have the chance to win a higher jackpot.

- Growing progressive jackpots that offer the largest possible payout in the casino.

Examples of Real Series Slots

There are numerous Real Series slots form which to choose. Figuring out which one to play can be confusing. Here is an overview of some of the slot machine games you may want to give a try:

- Archilees Slot: offers free spin bonuses up to 25 spins at 3x

- Ronin: higher risk game with random bonus round to earn free spins

- Prince of Sherwood: a fun themed game that offers some unique bonus rounds

Once you play Real Series slots and compare them to other slots you will never want to go back. The overall experience with a Real Series slot machine is something that cannot quite be explained. No amount of saying how great the graphics are or how fun the games are to play will do justice to these amazing slot machines. You just have to give them a try and have a blast to see why people love Real Series slots.

Radios and airsoft

By Duncan Finch

Radios are an effective way for teams and commanders to communicate during airsoft games, but with a wide range of terrains being played on, which radios should your team choose?

It is essential to understand all the requirements before choosing a radio, such as will there be a lot of build up in the terrain you are playing in, will you be indoors or outdoors of a combination of the above? Will your radios need to be long range or used within a small team? What type of headset will you need? All of these considerations are important and should be figured out when deciding which radio to use.

One of the major factors determining a radio's effectiveness is the band. Personal radios can use one of three bands; and each band performs better or worse in different terrains.

Personal Mobile Radio or PMR and Family Radio Service or FRS are two of the most reasonably priced types of radios on the market. They tend to be more compact, have small antennas, lower power, and can operate on-- channels of the FM service. In addition, they are compatible with many types of microphones and headsets and do not need a license to operate.

However, as their signals are low powered and have small antennas, they often have difficulty penetrating forest and buildings and their effective range can be significantly shorter than quoted. In airsoft, FRS and PMR radios work well within a unit, but with their limited range they are not suitable for command.

Multi User Radio Service (MURS) radios are higher powered alternatives to FRS and PMR radios and use an FM service with five channels. As they can connect to external antennas and their signals are capable of bending over hills, they are a popular choice for hikers and climbers and do not require a license to use.

Of course, MURS radios are more costly than their lower power counterparts and do not support the wide range of headsets or mics. In addition, although they have stronger signals, their signals also do not penetrate buildings and forests and they are generally not a great choice to use in airsoft.

GMRS or General Mobile Radio Service radios are high performance personal radios that operate on very high power (up to fifty watts) and use up to sixteen duplex channels. They also utilize repeaters and are better at piercing buildings and dense forests.

However, this high performance does come with a hefty price tag. GMRS radios are expensive and often bulky and you must have a license to use them.

Therefore, which type should you buy? Budget will more than likely be a factor, so be sure to first narrow down the radios you can afford and then revisit your requirements. If you are purchasing radios for everyone on your team then your budget will probably be stricter and you should go with the FRS or PMR radios. However, if you are commanding a team or group of teams, you will probably want a GMRS radio in order to communicate efficiently.

As with anything, the final decision is your choice. Be sure to research and review your options ahead of time to avoid any issues later.

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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Real Series Slots- Understanding the Basics

If you haven't had the opportunity to play real series slots before you are missing out on crazy exciting. These slots derive from Real Time Gaming or better known as RTG. It's considered to be one of the best softwares out there and is used by almost all the elite internet casinos today. You are able to enjoy an online gaming experience much like the one at your local casino without all the people surrounding you. There are tons of games, fast payouts, and even good customer service available.

What Should You Expect from Real Series Slot?

Attention to detail is probably one of the biggest benefits to this online casino software. It's the closest thing to being at your nearby casino, and enjoying all the same types of benefits. However, you'll be able to save on gas, food costs, and even adult beverage prices by enjoying this from the comfort of your own home.

Real Series Slots Features

Quick Gaming Experience- When you play with Real Series slots you will soon realize that it doesn't matter if you have dial-up or high-speed Internet. Either way you will be able to enjoy fast gaming thanks to RTG.

Amazing Look- The appeal is uncanny, and when you see it for yourself you will realize the graphics are as realistic as can be. It just allows the game to be more enjoyable and provide you the same fun and excitement as you find in a real casino. The animations are extremely eye catching, and when you come across a casino not using RTG you will know.

Small Cost- These are the Real Series machines that have the minimum credits available. So if you don't have the biggest budget tonight, you can still win money by playing small.

Multiple Pay Lines- If you want more than one chance to win then you have to take advantage of the multiple pay line slots. There are several variations out there that range from 3 lines to 200.

Optional Features

Even though all the features above are great, you can find RTG machines that let you win more and allow for more playing time. These include:

- Earning free spins.

- Bonus rounds.

- Progressive Jackpots

Some RTG Examples

Probably the only downfall to RTG machines is figuring out which ones you want to play. So here is a short list of slots you may want to try:

- Archilees Slot: offers free spin bonuses up to 25 spins at 3x

- Ronin: higher risk game with random bonus round to earn free spins

- Prince of Sherwood: a fun themed game that offers some unique bonus rounds

We will warn you; the first time you play RTG machines, you won't want to go back to the old ones you were playing. The overall experience can't be explained. Sure we could sit here and boast about them all day, but until you have the opportunity to play them yourself, it just won't be the same.